It's like in a supermarket, you may have already bought top-quality beef, but there's no rule that says you can't go to the seafood section to feast your eyes.
As You Ran was looking at the sea turtle, her right cheek felt like it had been burned by a laser, making her shudder. She looked down and met Qu Yun's dark eyes.
Oh no, the beef is angry, and the consequences will be severe.
You Ran immediately looked up, shading her eyes with her hand, and exclaimed, "Ah, the sky is so blue."
"Yes, the sky is very blue," Qu Yun replied casually.
Everything seemed peaceful, but looking at Qu Yun's aloof and upturned eyebrows, You Ran's heart was like that of the Little Dragon Girl—she even slept on a thin rope.
Sure enough, the retaliation came swiftly.
That evening, You Ran was leisurely reading comics in her hospital bed when a rusty, silvery, charming laugh pierced her ears.
Upon opening the door, they found Qu Yun's ward door across the corridor wide open. He was lying on the bed chatting and laughing with two nurses, making them laugh so hard they almost twisted their backs.
One of them even boldly placed his hand on Qu Yun's arm and pinched it.
Qu Yun did not stop her, but merely glanced at You Ran quietly and meaningfully before continuing to flirt and offer her tofu.
You Ran had to admit that Qu Yun was indeed worthy of being called, killing her without her even realizing it.
This was clearly a warning to her: if she dared to look at the seafood section again, he, the beef, would be overstepping his bounds.
You Ran was well aware that 80% of the nurses in the hospital were completely infatuated with Qu Yun's face and were always lining up to take over her shift.
She looked down on a group of women who were blinded by lust, saying they were all just like her.
In order to ensure that Qu Yun could remain chaste, You Ran had no choice but to give in. From then on, whenever she encountered that sea turtle, she would immediately look down at the floor.
She could practically ask Boss Hu for a memorial archway to commemorate her chastity.
Only then was Qu Yun satisfied.
But the more You Ran thought about it, the more upset she became. He had pursued her with blood and sweat, but after winning her back, he started to enslave her. How could this be allowed?
So You Ran protested.
But Qu Yun innocently retorted, "I didn't say anything."
You Ran felt like she was choking on a quail egg while eating hot pot.
Yes, he really didn't say a word.
Before long, she came to her senses and burst into tears—it's all over, it's all over, this man's lewd skills have improved again, it seems that she is destined to be the one being suppressed in this life.
The last time I saw Gu Chengyuan was in the hospital.
As usual, You Ran and Qu Yun were mowing the lawn under the sun that noon.
"Hey, do you think if we both take a month off at the same time, won't there be some bad rumors going around at school?" You Ran asked.
That said, because the two of them were seriously injured close to the start of the school term, they both took leave. Although there was no need to worry about their studies, the gossip from their classmates was still quite damaging to You Ran.
"What do you mean by bad rumors?" Qu Yun asked back.
"For example, we elope, or I chase after you because I can't win your heart."
"It should be the second one; it's more convincing."
After weighing her own and Qu Yun's image and status in the eyes of the public, You Ran had to admit that this version of the rumor was 99% true.
You Ran sighed deeply; she was truly wronged.
As they were getting into their exclamations, they saw Gu Chengyuan over there with his head wrapped in gauze.
Although his body was wrapped in gauze, he didn't look disheveled at all; he stood tall and exuded a strong and resilient air.
He walked over and stopped two meters away from them, looking at You Ran, and said, "I want to say a few words to you."
“She’s busy.” Qu Yun nimbly turned her wheelchair around and stood in front of You Ran, clearly intending to protect her.
Gu Chengyuan ignored him, his eyes still fixed on You Ran.
After the previous incident, it would be a lie to say I wasn't afraid when I saw Gu Chengyuan again, but the feeling of fear only lasted a few seconds before I finally overcame it.
She decided to talk to Gu Chengyuan alone, not because of his request, but because she had something to say.
Hearing You Ran's request for him to rest for a while, Qu Yun remained silent for only a few seconds before doing so, pushing his wheelchair to the grape trellis more than ten meters away.
It seems that he cannot hear.
But You Ran still wanted to test it out. Like adjusting a microphone, she placed her fist on her lower lip and kept repeating, "Qu Yun is a pig, Qu Yun is a pig."
With eyes that averaged 5.2 vision, they immediately caught the tense look between Qu Yun's brows.
Quickly, wave your hand to make Qu Yun retreat another five meters.
Then, continue the sound test: "I want to have an affair, I want to have an affair."
This time Qu Yun didn't react, it seems she really can't hear.
With a relaxed mind, You Ran began her conversation with Gu Chengyuan.
"When are you leaving?" You Ran asked.
Gu Chengyuan must go to the United States for a year, otherwise his actions of instigating people to harm Bai Ling and Li Mingyu will be exposed.
This was the result of much leisurely thought.
Although Gu Chengyuan's plight is indeed pitiful, he cannot use it as a shield to escape all punishment. If you do something wrong, you must bear the consequences.
There was another reason why You Ran did this.
Bai Ling said she would go with Gu Chengyuan and take care of him.
You Ran wanted them to resolve their inner conflicts.
Although the outcome may not be optimistic, no matter what, as long as you've tried your best, you can have a clear conscience.
"The day after tomorrow." Gu Chengyuan looked down at You Ran, the shadows cast by his eyelashes under his eyes seeming to have existed since time immemorial: "But You Ran, remember this requirement clearly, one year, only one year. After that, I will definitely come back."
"Are you threatening me?" You Ran asked.
“I’m glad you’ve realized that,” Gu Chengyuan said. “Then, enjoy your last year with Qu Yun.”
After saying that, he turned around and prepared to leave.
But You Ran called him to a stop.
"Afraid?" Gu Chengyuan asked.
She shook her head leisurely, then turned her wrist over to show him. In the sunlight, there was a hideous scar on her fair skin.
Perhaps it was the glaring midday light, or perhaps it was You Ran's serene expression, but Gu Chengyuan's upper eyelids trembled slightly.
“Actually, this scar should have been there four years ago.” You Ran’s voice was slightly ethereal: “It was after you said you hated me, coupled with failing the college entrance exam, that I thought about killing myself. I had even prepared the tools. But at the last moment… I suddenly felt that life was still beautiful, so I put down the knife that I was going to use to cut my wrists.”
"Actually, I was already dead at that time. The Li Youran of the past was dead. The Li Youran who could give you warmth, who loved you wholeheartedly, who could accompany you forever, was dead. That summer, you and I joined forces to kill her. Perhaps we were wrong, but she can never come back."
"What you miss and what you want is just the me from before. But once a person takes a wrong step, everything that follows is different. You can be forgiven for your mistakes, but that forgiveness can't change anything."
She tilted her head back, the strong sunlight making her eyes squint into crescent shapes, and a light, transparent smile graced her face: "Goodbye, brother."
After saying that, she turned around and walked towards Qu Yun with light steps.
Regardless of whether Gu Chengyuan has come to his senses, and regardless of what trouble he might cause a year from now, You Ran is no longer afraid.
Having gone through what has happened during this period, she has a lot of confidence in herself and Qu Yun—the two of them are both stubborn and argumentative, and although they argue constantly when they are together, neither of them can do without the other.
Therefore, it is very, very difficult to separate them again.
Whether Gu Chengyuan behind her had come to his senses or remained steadfast, whether he stood silently or stormed off in anger, she no longer cared.
Because her vision was too narrow, it could only hold one person, Qu Yun.
Walking under the grape trellis, looking at Qu Yun's handsome face cast by the shadows of the vines, I was overjoyed—his nose was a nose, his eyes were eyes, and his mouth was a mouth.
She walked over and reached out to pinch his cheek, but Qu Yun grabbed her hand.
He looked up, his eyes absorbing the coolness of the lush greenery.
"You need to change your temper. How can you always give me that look? Don't forget your current situation. A tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs. Be careful, or I'll push you and your chair into the pool!" You Ran took advantage of Qu Yunshang's injured state and limited lethality to quickly utter these harsh words.
But Qu Yun's casual remark completely softened her: "I heard you're going to have an affair?"
It turned out that she could still hear it, and You Ran began to wonder if Qu Yun was the second brother in the Calabash Brothers.
There was no time for a DNA test, so You Ran quickly explained, "Just kidding, with my short legs, how could I possibly climb up there?"
"We can climb a ladder," Qu Yun suggested.
"Is that okay?" You Ran asked, her voice filled with surprise and delight.
Qu Yun smiled, and suddenly a shower of peach blossoms fell from the sky: "Of course... but after you climb up the wall, I'll move the ladder away and watch you jump down and fall to your death."
Looking at that stunningly beautiful face and hearing those cruel words, You Ran burst into tears.
If she were to be with a man like that, she would be crushed until not even a trace of him remained.
Once their injuries had healed, the two immediately returned to school.
Before entering the dormitory, You Ran felt secretly uneasy, afraid that the students would look at her with suspicious eyes and ask in an uncertain tone, "Li You Ran, just tell the truth today, what exactly happened between you and our counselor?"
But she was overthinking it; her roommates never connected her with Qu Yun at all.
It should be said that no one in the entire school ever associated her with Qu Yun.
In the end, You Ran couldn't help but steer the conversation in that direction: "When Counselor Qu and I took leave at the same time, didn't you guys think there was anything strange about it?"
"What could be wrong with you guys?" the roommates retorted.
“For example, what if he and I spend some time together during this period?” You Ran said.
This statement was met with a burst of laughter.
That evening, I told Qu Yun about it, and his only reaction was a curt "He brought shame upon himself."
Then, he continued to work on his lesson plan while looking down at his notebook.
You Ran, feeling depressed, swallowed a whole box of chocolates.
After returning to school, Qu Yun asked You Ran to move into his house, but You Ran firmly refused, adhering to the principle that distance makes the heart grow fonder.
However, since it was her senior year, her roommates had all found internships and moved out of the dorm one after another. She was afraid to sleep alone at night, so You Ran had no choice but to abandon her principles and officially start living with Qu Yun in secret.
On her first night after moving, You Ran realized a truth: never go near a hungry wolf.