Young Brave Hearts – CH 061

Chapter 61

When Lu Rangchen said this, there were passersby nearby.

The passersby were quite curious, glancing at the strikingly good-looking couple. Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought some internet celebrities were filming a skit.

He actually hated people staring at him.

But at that moment, he didn’t know why he could ignore them, holding Zhu Yunque’s IV drip, neither advancing nor retreating, as if he would stand there and wait for her to finish the IV drip if she didn’t answer.

Even his eyes seemed to say, “You won’t answer? Fine, we’ll just stay here today, and you aren’t going upstairs.”

Zhu Yunque knew his terrible temper.

So she didn’t struggle.

She simply said, “Lu Rangchen, I have a headache.”

Her pronunciation was soft and weak, like someone suffering from a sickly illness.

It wasn’t an act, nor was it a pretense.

Her cold had come on badly, and even though she’d gotten an injection yesterday and felt much better, she still felt unwell.

Not to mention, it was drizzling.

Seeing how genuinely uncomfortable she seemed, Lu Rangchen’s brow furrowed slightly, and he held his breath, trying to suppress his discomfort.

In the end, he went along with her and opened the door.

The rest of the way upstairs, he didn’t speak to Zhu Yunque, even when she tugged at him in the crowd. He just glanced at her with drooping eyes, then lazily looked ahead.

Zhu Yunque knew what he was angry about.

Even though he hadn’t said it.

She just knew.

She wasn’t trying to control him; she wasn’t that confident. She was just gambling, gambling on whether she was that important to Lu Rangchen.

And it seemed she won.

Upon reaching the seventeenth floor, the two got off the elevator and arrived at their door.

There was a three-tiered shoe rack by the door.

On the rack were three pairs of shoes.

Two pairs of men’s slippers and one pair of men’s sneakers.

Lu Rangchen glanced at them almost imperceptibly, remembering the woman on the phone yesterday asking Zhu Yunque about men’s shoes.

Zhu Yunque knew he was looking.

She didn’t say anything, simply opening the door with her uninjected hand.

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted from inside.

A familiar scent, similar to her own.

Lu Rangchen snapped out of his reverie and followed Zhu Yunque inside, but hesitated instinctively for a moment after entering.

Zhu Yunque turned to look at him and said, “The slippers by the door are new, the same size as yours.”

Her expression was remarkably calm as she spoke, her gaze direct and unwavering, as if she didn’t care what he might think or that he’d seen through her.

But Lu Rangchen was incredibly clever.

He knew her too well.

She always seemed impassive, yet she would subtly draw you in, making you feel compelled to be led by her.

Eight years ago, and eight years later, it was the same.

Like a vicious cycle.

Lu Rangchen’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he merely raised his chin slightly and said, “I’ll take you inside first.”

His tone was unreadable.

And even less discernible was whether he intended to stay.

He went inside, hung the IV drip on the curtains, and settled Zhu Yunque in.

On a large, long fabric sofa, she reclined, her slender body falling back down, the cardigan over her sundress slipping from her soft, white shoulders.

He caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye.

Lu Rangchen expressionlessly looked away, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. Just as he turned to leave, Zhu Yunque suddenly grabbed his hand.

Her delicate fingertips, like tender buds, clung to his large, warm palm, cool as jade.

His heart felt as if pricked by a needle. Lu Rangchen stopped, looking down at her.

Zhu Yunque lay before him, her skin a blood-red white, her doe-like eyes clear and bright, and her gaze unwavering yet ambiguous.

She said, “Are you leaving?”

Her slightly damp voice was like feathers disturbing his heart.

Her eyes seemed to grasp something important, unwilling to let go.

Lu Rangchen tensed his jaw, stared at her for a few seconds, then impatiently looked away.

The flame of desire flickered for a moment.

Zhu Yunque’s throat tightened slightly, and for a fleeting second, her fingers loosened their grip.

But just before she let go,

Lu Rangchen spoke in a deep, calm voice, unhurriedly, “Didn’t you want steamed fish?”

His tone held a hint of annoyance.

Yet, it was still somewhat warm.

So warm that Zhu Yunque’s heart skipped a beat.

Her almost dead heart began to beat vividly again.

Two seconds of silence followed.

Seeing her silence, Lu Rangchen glanced at her again, his gaze flat, and said, “Do you have any at home?”

“…”

Of course, she didn’t have any at home.

She didn’t know how to make it, and no one would make it for her.

Even the words she uttered yesterday were just a thoughtless, impulsive test; Zhu Yunque never imagined they would become reality.

It was Lu Rangchen who chose to bow his head for her again.

She couldn’t quite describe what hurt her more at this moment. Zhu Yunque pursed her lips and finally released her hand.

Lu Rangchen walked to the door, and as he pushed it open, he turned back to ask her, “What’s the door lock code?”

Zhu Yunque glanced at him, remaining silent for several seconds.

Lu Rangchen suddenly laughed.

That laugh contained a hint of impatience. He was actually angry, angry that he had been repeatedly manipulated by a woman, and powerless to do anything about it.

At most, he would have just snapped at her harshly, saying, “Zhu Yunque, are you mute?”

“…”

Zhu Yunque shook her head, then looked away, like a helpless child, turning her face to the sofa.

The soft back of her head faced Lu Rangchen.

Lu Rangchen choked for a moment, his stubborn heart softening slightly.

The next second, he heard her soft voice whisper, “1006.”

It was that instant.

Lu Rangchen seemed to suddenly realize something, his brow furrowing.

1006, October 6th.

That was the date they first got together.

Counting down to the date of their breakup, they had only officially dated for a little over four months. For most people nowadays, four months wouldn’t even qualify as a deep relationship, but for Lu Rangchen, those four months were enough to change his life forever.

Suddenly, it all seemed rather ridiculous.

Both powerless and laughable.

It’s laughable that someone like him would get himself into this state just for a first love, yet he was powerless to accept even the smallest bit of sweetness from her, even if it was mixed with shards of glass.

Of course, he understood why Zhu Yunque had hesitated and remained silent earlier.

She was the same person who had been so resolute in their breakup, yet she used the days they spent together as her door lock code.

But who could say for sure?

Was it just a habit she’d forgotten to change, or was it intentional, a deliberate attempt to manipulate him?

How much sincerity could she possibly have?

Lu Rangchen didn’t know, nor did he know what she was trying to do.

He was too lazy to think about it anymore. He just gave a self-deprecating laugh, tossed out a “Zhu Yunque, you’re pretty tough,” and slammed the door shut.

A while passed like this.

Zhu Yunque finally turned to look at the doorway.

The air faintly carried Lu Rangchen’s pleasant scent, the ebony and sandalwood incense he’d somehow switched back to.

She sniffed.

Whether it was because of her illness or because of Lu Rangchen, she didn’t know, but her eyes suddenly reddened.

That day, Lu Rangchen kept his promise.

There were very few places selling live fish nearby, so he had to drive to a large supermarket to buy fresh seafood and seasonings before rushing back to remove the needles from Zhu Yunque.

Having had their previous conversation,

The atmosphere between them seemed to have improved considerably.

Although quiet, it was far less awkward and oppressive than before.

Of course, they didn’t exchange any meaningful words; it was simply Lu Rangchen asking her where his things were, and she telling him.

It had to be admitted that Lu Rangchen was quite capable.

Despite being a pampered and privileged young man from childhood, he was remarkably capable in everyday life, able to do everything well, even taking care of his ex-girlfriend out of kindness.

The kitchen, which was usually deserted, suddenly came alive.

The sounds of cooking and stir-frying, along with Lu Rangchen’s signature footsteps, made Zhu Yunque feel overwhelmingly at ease, so much so that she drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

When she woke up again, Lu Rangchen was already preparing to remove the needle.

He had been looking down as he peeled the tape off the back of her hand, but when he noticed her groggily open her eyes, he glanced at her, chuckled, and said, “Zhu Yunque, you’re quite carefree. Aren’t you afraid I’ll abandon you?”

“…”

For some reason, Zhu Yunque didn’t like hearing him call her by her full name all the time.

But she couldn’t say anything.

She could only frown and sit up.

Lu Rangchen assumed she was afraid of pain, so he instinctively clenched his teeth, slowing his movements and making sure they were steady. By the time Zhu Yunque reacted slightly, his swift movements had already removed the thin needle from the back of her hand.

The speed was so fast that she felt no pain at all.

Blood, however, seeped through the tape.

Lu Rangchen skillfully pressed on the bleeding spot. The sudden pain made Zhu Yunque hiss softly, then she bit her lip.

“…”

Lu Rangchen glanced at her, then softened his pressure, saying, “Press it yourself.”

He released her hand as he spoke.

Zhu Yunque obediently pressed the tape, her stiff body becoming more flexible.

She couldn’t help but say, “You are quite skilled.”

Lu Rangchen hummed in agreement, getting up to remove the IV drip, casually saying, “When my mother was very ill, I was the one who watched her during her IV drips.”

To be fair, it was a rather unintentional remark.

But in Zhu Yunque’s heart, it felt as heavy as a knife.

Lu Rangchen, belatedly realizing what was happening, felt a pang in his heart and immediately looked at Zhu Yunque.

As if by unspoken understanding, their eyes met again.

Their gazes lingered; only when looking at each other could they feel the reluctance to part, the unwillingness to look away.

But hurting each other inevitably brought guilt.

Zhu Yunque’s face was pale and fragile, her lips almost bloodless, yet she forced a smile and asked, “How has Auntie been all these years?”

Hearing this, Lu Rangchen’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he finally looked away.

Lowering his gaze, he rolled up the dropper, his tone indifferent, and said, “She’s doing well. She’s been happy all these years and has found a new love. You don’t need to—”

He didn’t finish his sentence.

Zhu Yunque interrupted him, saying, “And what about you?”

“…”

The movement stopped, and Lu Rangchen stared at her intently, his gaze dark and unwavering.

His eyes flickered like candlelight on a rainy night. Zhu Yunque met his gaze, her voice slightly hoarse and strained. She said, “These past years, how have you been? Have you been happy?”