C15 Past Events

Last night, Qu Ningyuan couldn't sleep a wink. Thoughts of Chen Huan kept him tossing and turning. In truth, he had been quite happy when they were together. They had attended the same school from elementary through high school, and Chen Huan was famously the school beauty, turning heads in every class she entered. Qu Ningyuan was utterly captivated the first time he laid eyes on her.

His mind drifted back to their high school days when many classmates vied for Chen Huan's attention. Qu Ningyuan, sharing a class with her, had written her secret love letters, only to be met with rejection. She was solely dedicated to her studies.

Both Qu Ningyuan and Chen Huan lived in the same direction and walked the same route home. As Chen Huan grew more beautiful, it became a problem for her. She caught the attention of some local troublemakers who had been expelled from their school for their unruly behavior.

These troublemakers had known Chen Huan from school, where they had tried to woo her with love letters and flowers, only to be turned down. Chen Huan had a reputation for being an ice queen, and despite the numerous admirers, she remained indifferent.

One of the delinquents, humiliated after Chen Huan rejected his public display of affection, sought to save face in front of his friends. After school, he planned to intimidate her into compliance.

However, these thugs only intended to frighten Chen Huan, not to cause real harm. But they hadn't counted on Qu Ningyuan stepping in. Without a word, he confronted them, and a fight ensued. They felt compelled to defend themselves once Qu Ningyuan threw the first punch. What started as a bluff escalated into a serious altercation, leaving Qu Ningyuan battered and bruised, with some injuries even drawing blood.

After the thugs had their way and fled, only Qu Ningyuan and Chen Huan remained. Seeing Qu Ningyuan bleeding profusely truly frightened Chen Huan. Without hesitation, she rushed him to the hospital.

Qu Ningyuan's heroic act of saving the damsel in distress quickly became the talk of the town. He had shed so much blood for a woman that he ended up in the hospital, and before long, everyone assumed Chen Huan was his girlfriend. After all, why else would he sustain such serious injuries for her?

Chen Huan was deeply moved. Every girl dreams of a knight in shining armor coming to her rescue in times of peril, and Qu Ningyuan was not only handsome but had bravely stepped in to save her, suffering grievous injuries in the process. At such a tender age, it was only natural for Chen Huan's heart to flutter.

"How are you feeling? Does the wound still hurt?"

Chen Huan had stayed by Qu Ningyuan's side all night in the hospital. Even when his parents arrived, they couldn't persuade her to leave, insisting on staying with him. Qu Ningyuan's parents quickly realized that their son had fallen for this young lady, willingly getting hurt for her. They found it hard to object and simply let Chen Huan remain to keep Qu Ningyuan company.

"It doesn't hurt, not one bit."

Upon waking, Qu Ningyuan saw Chen Huan by his side, offering warmth and comfort, which made his pain subside significantly. With her there, he felt no pain at all; he would willingly take a stand for her again if needed.

Chen Huan was overjoyed to see Qu Ningyuan awake, but his blank stare made her blush. His feelings were all too clear.

"Qu Ningyuan, what are you staring at?"

Chen Huan asked, a hint of irritation in her voice.

Qu Ningyuan, realizing Chen Huan was a bit upset, quickly responded with a smile.

"Don't be mad, please. You're just too beautiful; I got lost in looking at you. Are you hurt at all? Be more careful in the future. You might not be so lucky next time."

"I understand. Thank you for your help this time."

"How about I walk you home from now on? I'll keep you safe."

"Okay."

Qu Ningyuan was pleasantly surprised by how quickly Chen Huan accepted his offer. It was unexpected, but it made him happy. The prospect of seeing her more often by walking her home every day was delightful. He figured that spending so much time together might eventually lead to her falling for him.

Word of their arrangement spread, and Qu Ningyuan, already well-known at school, found his popularity increasing. Following the incident, everyone began to regard Chen Huan as Qu Ningyuan's girlfriend, and she no longer received love letters or flowers from anyone else.

Qu Ningyuan was diligent in escorting Chen Huan home daily, showering her with attention. His persistent efforts paid off when Chen Huan finally reciprocated his feelings and agreed to be with him.

Back then, there was an innocence to relationships; people believed that being together meant never parting, that holding hands was a commitment for life. Time seemed to move slower, and Qu Ningyuan considered those days the best of his life.

His parents were healthy, his family was stable, and having the person he cherished most by his side was the greatest joy. Yet, fate has a way of striking when you're at your peak. The tragedy that befell his family caught him completely off guard.

The day before his father's accident, Qu Ningyuan had argued with him over money for some equipment, which his father refused to provide, leaving him resentful. When the accident happened, he was dismissive on the phone, too curt during their last conversation. Looking back, he was filled with regret for his immaturity, wondering if his thoughtlessness was the reason fate took his father away.

His father's accident was a devastating blow, leaving Qu Ningyuan with no heart to attend to anything else. Despite his mother's efforts to work, their financial situation worsened. He had to cut back on personal expenses and no longer felt confident enough to take Chen Huan on dates.

The subsequent events seemed inevitable. Chen Huan's mother disapproved of a futureless, impoverished boy like him, kept her daughter away, and pressured them to end their relationship. Young and headstrong, Qu Ningyuan couldn't stand the humiliation and refused to seek out Chen Huan again. He and his mother moved away, leaving no way for Chen Huan to contact him, not even offering a final farewell.

Qu Ningyuan had never anticipated the depth of Chen Huan's feelings for him. But what good did it do to dwell on that? Ultimately, if they were to meet again, they could only be friends. He feared he might not even have the right to embrace her anymore. He hoped she would forget him, erase all memories of their past, and find a man who would treat her well and be deserving of her. He felt too inadequate to be worthy of her.