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墨書 Inktalez
Lin Xu opened her eyes, the ceiling of the hospital room coming into view. She slowly sat up, recalling the events of yesterday's competition, a wave of dizziness washing over her.
"You're awake?" Lu Ming's voice came from the doorway as he approached the bed with a cup of warm water. "How do you feel?"
Lin Xu took the cup, gently sipping from it. "Much better, thank you." After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Has the competition result come out?"
Lu Ming adjusted his glasses, hesitating to speak. Seeing his expression, Lin Xu already had a sinking feeling in her heart.
"I didn't do well, did I?" she said with a bitter smile.
Lu Ming sighed. "You participated despite having a high fever; that's already impressive."
Lin Xu lowered her head, her fingers tightly gripping the blanket. She knew what this failure meant. It was her last chance, her final opportunity to prove herself.
"Ye Feng... he..." Lin Xu started but faltered, unsure how to continue.
Lu Ming's expression grew complicated. "He came by, but I sent him away."
Lin Xu looked up, surprise flickering in her eyes before it dimmed again. She understood that Lu Ming was trying to protect her, yet she couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.
"I want to be alone for a while," Lin Xu said softly.
Lu Ming nodded and left the room. The moment the door closed behind him, Lin Xu could no longer hold back; tears streamed down her face.
She recalled that night at the bar, images of Ye Feng fighting off thugs to protect Xia Mo flashing through her mind. She knew Ye Feng only had eyes for Xia Mo, yet why did she still rush in without a second thought?
"Ye Feng... what do you really think of me?" Lin Xu murmured to herself, her vision blurred by tears.
A few days later, Lin Xu returned to school. Her grades plummeted like a cliff dive, dropping from second in her class to eighth. When the evening study bell rang, she slipped away to the rooftop of the teaching building.
Standing at the edge of the rooftop, Lin Xu gazed at Ye Feng's classroom in the distance, her expression vacant. The cool night breeze tousled her hair as if trying to carry away all her pain and confusion.
"There you are," Lu Ming's voice broke the silence of the rooftop.
Lin Xu didn't turn around; she simply responded with a soft "mm."
Lu Ming walked over and stood beside her in silence for a moment before suddenly asking, "What do you like about Ye Feng?"
Lin Xu paused, looking at Ye Feng's silhouette illuminated by distant lights. Slowly, she replied, "He’s like a mirror that reflects a different version of me."
Lu Ming was silent for a moment before quietly saying, "I feel something similar." His gaze drifted elsewhere, hinting at his feelings for Xia Mo.
Lin Xu turned to look at Lu Ming and was surprised to see complex emotions flickering in his eyes. She suddenly realized that she wasn't the only one suffering for love.
"Lu Ming... you..." Lin Xu began but hesitated again.
Lu Ming shook his head, revealing a bitter smile. "It's nothing. We're all the same, aren't we?"
The two stood silently on the rooftop, each lost in their own thoughts. The distant lights gradually dimmed, and the night deepened.
Two weeks before the college entrance examination, a shocking rumor spread through the school: Xia Mo and Ye Feng had been called in by their parents due to their intimate behavior outside of school.
Lin Xu and Lu Ming walked home from school, deliberately avoiding the topic, a subtle understanding hanging between them.
"Lin Xu," Lu Ming suddenly spoke up, "are you okay?"
Lin Xu forced a smile. "What could possibly be wrong with me?"
Lu Ming hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately just gave her shoulder a gentle pat.
The next day, while washing her hands in the restroom, Lin Xu was unexpectedly cornered by Xia Mo and He Miao.
"Lin Xu, did you spill the beans?" He Miao asked coldly.
Lin Xu looked bewildered. "What beans?"
"Don't play dumb!" He Miao raised her voice. "You told the teacher about Xia Mo and Ye Feng dating outside of school!"
Lin Xu turned to Xia Mo in shock, who was looking down and remained silent.
"I didn't..." Lin Xu began to protest but was cut off by He Miao.
"You’re just jealous of Xia Mo!" He Miao sneered. "Do you really think Ye Feng would like a bookworm like you?"
Before she could finish, He Miao raised her hand as if to strike Lin Xu. At that moment, a hand suddenly grabbed He Miao's wrist.
"You have no right to hit her!" Lu Ming's voice was icy and piercing.
He Miao struggled to break free, but Lu Ming's grip was evidently much stronger.
"Lu Ming..." Lin Xu looked at the suddenly appearing Lu Ming in surprise.
Lu Ming released He Miao's hand and turned to Xia Mo. "Do you really believe it was Lin Xu who spilled the beans?"
Xia Mo lifted her head, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "I..."
Just then, Ye Feng hurried over. Upon seeing the scene before him, his expression darkened instantly.
"What’s going on?" Ye Feng asked coldly.
He Miao immediately stepped forward, pointing at Lin Xu. "Ye Feng, it was her who told!"
Ye Feng looked at Lin Xu, his eyes filled with disappointment and anger. "Lin Xu, I never expected you to do this."
Lin Xu felt her heart twist painfully. "Ye Feng, I really didn't..."
"Enough!" Ye Feng interrupted her. "I thought you truly considered me a friend, but I didn't expect you to be so despicable!"
Tears welled up in Lin Xu's eyes, but she fought to hold them back. Taking a deep breath, she looked at Ye Feng and said, "Ye Feng, I don't want to be friends with you anymore."
With that, she turned to leave. Ye Feng reached out to stop her, but Lu Ming blocked him.
"Step aside!" Ye Feng glared at Lu Ming.
Lu Ming coldly replied, "You have no right to touch her."
Ye Feng was taken aback for a moment before sneering, "I see. You two are in cahoots, aren't you?"
Lin Xu turned back and said to Ye Feng, "Think whatever you want. From today on, we are no longer friends."
With that, she took Lu Ming's hand and left the restroom. In the corridor, Lin Xu finally couldn't hold back any longer; tears streamed down her face.
"Why... why does he believe He Miao so easily?" Lin Xu choked out.
Lu Ming gently patted her back without saying a word. He knew that at this moment, any words of comfort would be unnecessary.
From that day on, Lin Xu and Ye Feng were completely estranged. In the last two weeks before the college entrance examination, they didn't speak a single word to each other. Lin Xu poured all her energy into studying as if she could numb her heart through it.
On the night after the exams ended, Lin Xu stood alone on the school playground, gazing up at the starry sky.
"It's over..." she whispered, unsure if she was referring to the exams or the relationship that had come to an end.
Just then, she felt someone approach her. Turning around, she saw Lu Ming.
"You came," Lin Xu said.
Lu Ming nodded. "I figured you'd be here."
After a moment of silence, Lin Xu suddenly said, "Lu Ming, thank you."
Lu Ming was taken aback. "Thank me for what?"
"Thank you for always being by my side," Lin Xu said softly. "Without you, I might not have gotten through this time."
Lu Ming smiled lightly. "There's no need to thank me; we're friends after all."
Lin Xu looked at Lu Ming and suddenly felt something shift within her heart. She didn't know what this feeling meant, but she knew that from today onward, her life would turn a new page.
"Will we still be friends in the future?" Lin Xu asked softly.
Lu Ming looked at her, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. "Of course, we will always be friends."
Lin Xu smiled; it was the first genuine smile she had shown in many days. In the distance, the horizon began to lighten with a pale glow, signaling that a new day was about to begin.
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