A few months ago, Yaxi went to A-City with the school choir for a performance. Because the pianist fell ill, Chen Ling took over as the accompanist.
When he arrived, all the girls in the choir were buzzing with excitement. During late-night chats at the hotel, Chen Ling was the star. There was even a bold girl who stripped off her bra, wearing only a camisole, and knocked on his hotel door. He turned her away with, "It's cold, put on more clothes," and she left wrapped in a towel from his room.
Yaxi, at the time, was just a cold bystander. She thought everything Chen Ling had came from his parents, and she looked down on him for it.On the return trip, the school didn't arrange a bus from the airport back to the city.
It was already 11 p.m., and Yaxi silently cursed the teacher for not giving prior notice. She decided to lie and say her parents had already arrived, planning to sit at the airport until dawn and take the next day's subway back to her empty home.
A taxi was too expensive; she couldn't afford it.
The teacher called out each student's name, and those whose parents had arrived would say, "Already here."
Yaxi's parents had divorced when she was young, and a year ago, her mother left to work in another province, rarely returning. She had endured countless humiliating moments like this, forced to lie in front of everyone to feign safety and dignity.
"Yaxi!" the teacher called her name.
She was about to raise her hand and speak when a voice cut in, drowning her out.
"Teacher, Yaxi's parents can't make it. I'll take her home—it's on my way."
Startled, Yaxi traced the voice to its source.
The airport lights bathed his face in a warm, pale glow. Yaxi immediately noticed the small mole at the corner of his eye—reddish-pink and undeniably sexy.
It was Chen Ling, the one everyone adored.Before she could process it, Chen Ling took her suitcase. His jade-colored veins crisscrossed his arms and hands. Yaxi realized he wasn't frail—she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze.
"Sorry, classmate, I overheard your phone call by accident. No offense meant, but if your parents can't pick you up, it'd be safer if I took you home," he said politely, his tone laced with apology.
He was clearly helping her, yet it felt as if he'd done something wrong.
Most importantly, he avoided mentioning the things that would embarrass her.
On the phone, she'd cut ties with her mother, telling her not to come looking for her.
She'd also said it was fine—just a night at the airport; it didn't matter where she slept.
Yaxi's eyes grew hot with tears.