226: complex

After Lu Chen left the company, his heart was a tangled mess of complex emotions.

Yet, his face remained calm, exuding the unique authoritative aura of a superior.

He got into his car, his long fingers skillfully inserting the car key, his movements steady and powerful.

Then he started the car and drove to the school.

At the school gate, students came and went, chatting and laughing, their youthful vigor overflowing.

But it couldn't dispel the heavy gloom in Lu Chen's heart.

Just as he stopped the car, a familiar figure caught his eye.

Xun Xiaoxiao, petite and delicate, was wearing a light blue floral dress.

The floral pattern on the dress was fresh and elegant, and as she walked, the skirt swayed gently, like a vibrant sea of flowers.

She had her hair loosely tied into a bun, with a few playful strands falling around her fair neck, highlighting her pretty face.

Xun Xiaoxiao also saw Lu Chen. In an instant, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes, and her small body trembled slightly.

She subconsciously bit her pink lower lip, her hands nervously clutching her skirt, knuckles slightly white from the effort.

After hesitating for a long while, she took small, timid steps towards Lu Chen.

Lu Chen stood by the car, his posture straight, his expression indifferent, his deep eyes quietly watching Xun Xiaoxiao approach.

An aura that made people dare not approach him easily emanated from him.

Xun Xiaoxiao walked up to Lu Chen, her head bowed low, almost buried in her chest, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum: "Mr. Lu... Mr. Lu."

She secretly looked up, her gaze like a startled fawn quickly sweeping over Lu Chen, then quickly lowered her head again, her cheeks flushed with two spots of red from tension.

Lu Chen's thin lips parted, his voice low, betraying no emotion: "What are you doing here?"

He crossed his arms, tilted his head slightly, and looked down at Xun Xiaoxiao, an invisible pressure radiating from him.

Xun Xiaoxiao shrank her neck and mumbled softly: "I... I came to see Sister Mengyao."

As she spoke, her toes tapped uneasily on the ground, her head still not daring to lift.

Upon hearing the name "Chen Mengyao," Lu Chen's pupils imperceptibly contracted, but his face maintained its unperturbed expression.

He nodded slightly, his tone flat: "How has she been recently?"

After speaking, he narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing into the distance, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Xun Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, then mustered the courage to say: "Sister Mengyao... she's not doing so well."

As she spoke, she looked up at Lu Chen, her eyes full of worry, her hands unconsciously clasped together.

"She locks herself in her room all day and doesn't eat much. I'm really worried about her."

Xun Xiaoxiao's brows were slightly furrowed, her face etched with anxiety.

Lu Chen's expression remained unchanged, but his tightly clenched fists betrayed the turmoil within him.

He was silent for a long time, then said in a low voice: "I'm sorry to her."

Upon hearing this, Xun Xiaoxiao was startled, her eyes widening instantly, filled with disbelief.

In her impression, Lu Chen had always been aloof, calm, and reserved, never showing his emotions, and had never expressed such guilt.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but was choked by the sudden shock.

It took her a long while to find her voice again, stammering: "Mr. Lu... Mr. Lu, what... what did you say?"

Lu Chen lowered his gaze, his thick eyelashes casting a shadow over his eyelids, making it impossible to discern the emotions in his eyes.

He didn't repeat himself, just sighed softly.

Xun Xiaoxiao looked at Lu Chen's stern face, a trace of pity rising in her heart, and softly consoled him: "Mr. Lu, don't blame yourself too much. Sister Mengyao just can't accept it for now; she might be better in a few days."

She tiptoed slightly, trying to see Lu Chen's expression, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze.

Lu Chen's lips curved into a faint, fleeting bitter smile, so quick that one might think it was an illusion.

He shook his head slightly, his tone calm but with a hint of helplessness: "It's not that simple."

His gaze drifted towards the school gate, a complex emotion flashing in his deep eyes, quickly hidden away again.

Xun Xiaoxiao was silent for a moment, then spoke again: "Actually, Sister Mengyao still cares about you very much. Although she doesn't say it, I know she waits for you every day."

As Xun Xiaoxiao spoke, her eyes were fixed on Lu Chen, full of expectation.

A faint light flashed in Lu Chen's eyes, then quickly returned to calm.

He gazed at Xun Xiaoxiao, his voice steady and strong: "Really?"

He took a small step forward, his tall figure enveloping Xun Xiaoxiao, creating an invisible sense of pressure.

Xun Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, saying eagerly: "Really, Mr. Lu. If you still care about Sister Mengyao, go and talk to her properly. Don't let her be sad like this anymore."

Tears welled up in Xun Xiaoxiao's eyes, and she clasped her hands together as if in earnest prayer.

Lu Chen's gaze passed over Xun Xiaoxiao, looking deep into the school, where his memories with Chen Mengyao were hidden, and where his deep-seated guilt and longing were buried.

He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly. After a moment, he said in a deep voice: "Alright, I'll go see her now."

With that, he took long strides towards the school gate, his steps steady and powerful, his back exuding an undeniable resolve.

Xun Xiaoxiao watched Lu Chen's receding figure, silently hoping that Lu Chen and Chen Mengyao could resolve their misunderstanding and reconcile.

She stood there until Lu Chen's figure disappeared behind the school gate, then turned and left.

At this moment, the sunlight fell on her, outlining her slender silhouette, just like her silent, warm, and sincere blessing for the two of them.

Lu Chen stood outside the classroom door, his figure straight, his stern face seemingly shrouded in frost, his expression completely unperturbed.

His gaze was fixed on the tightly closed door, his deep eyes hiding complex emotions that were difficult to fathom.

His hand hovered in mid-air, mere centimeters from the door, yet it seemed to be separated by an unbridgeable chasm.

His fingertips trembled slightly, but ultimately did not fall. After a moment of deadlock, he slowly lowered his hand, clenching it into a fist, letting it hang by his side.

A gentle breeze swept past, stirring the stray hairs on his forehead, but he remained oblivious, exuding a cold aura that kept people at a distance.

Deep down, two emotions clashed fiercely: on one side, an overwhelming longing for Chen Mengyao, like a tide threatening to drown him.

On the other side was the warning of reason, reminding him that some past events were not easily forgotten, and the path ahead was still fraught with thorns.

This torment of internal struggle was hidden beneath his unperturbed exterior, imperceptible to others.

After much hesitation, he finally gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

Just as he took a step, that familiar, heart-stirring voice came from behind him: "Lu Chen."

His steps halted abruptly, his body instantly tensed, his back ramrod straight, like an unyielding mountain.

But his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed the tremor within him.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly turned, his gaze falling on Chen Mengyao, who was a few steps away.

Chen Mengyao's complexion was slightly pale, her light blue dress gently rising and falling with her breathing, her eyes filled with complex emotions: grievance, longing, and a hint of stubbornness.

Her lips trembled slightly, as if she had a thousand words to say, but swallowed them back.

"Why did you come?" Chen Mengyao spoke first, her voice containing an imperceptible catch.

Lu Chen's thin lips pressed together. After a moment of silence, he coldly uttered a few words: "Just passing by."

His tone was flat, his face still holding that distant expression.

But only he knew that as he spoke those words, his heart felt as if an invisible hand had tightly squeezed it.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mengyao's expression froze, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, and she silently lowered her head.

Her hair fell, obscuring the expression on her face, and Lu Chen couldn't see how she looked at that moment.

But her slightly trembling shoulders pierced his eyes.

Lu Chen turned his head away, no longer looking at her, and took large strides to leave.

His steps were hurried, as if he was fleeing something, each step exceptionally heavy.

Chen Mengyao watched Lu Chen's retreating figure, that tall yet somewhat lonely back, and tears blurred her vision.

Recalling the bits and pieces of their past, the sweet moments and the quarrels, longing overwhelmed her like a surging tide.

Just as Lu Chen was about to turn the corner and disappear completely from her sight, Chen Mengyao seemed to make up her mind, suddenly lifted her head, her eyes flashing with resolute light, and rushed forward, embracing Lu Chen tightly from behind.

Her arms wrapped forcefully around Lu Chen's waist, her face pressed against his broad back, her voice choked with sobs and full of affection: "Don't go, Lu Chen, please."

Her body trembled slightly, and hot tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking Lu Chen's shirt.

Lu Chen was frozen in place by the sudden embrace, his body stiff. His hands instinctively rose, then slowly fell.

His breathing became rapid, his chest heaving violently, and his inner defenses collapsed at that moment.

He slowly turned around, looking at Chen Mengyao's tear-streaked face, his eyes filled with tenderness. He raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on her face, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a rare treasure.

The two of them gazed at each other in silence, a thousand words conveyed in that deep gaze. Past misunderstandings and estrangements seemed to gradually dissipate at that moment.

Chen Mengyao hugged Lu Chen tightly, her body trembling slightly, hot tears streaming down her cheeks and soaking Lu Chen's back.

She buried her face deep in Lu Chen's back, her voice choked with sobs and full of affection: "Don't go, Lu Chen, please."

Her arms wrapped forcefully around Lu Chen's waist, as if once she let go, Lu Chen would completely disappear from her world.

Lu Chen was frozen in place by the sudden embrace, his body instantly stiff. His hands instinctively rose, then slowly fell.

His breathing became rapid, his chest heaving violently, and the hard fortress within him collapsed at that moment.

After a long while, he slowly turned around, looking at Chen Mengyao's tear-streaked face, the coldness in his eyes instantly replaced by tenderness.

He raised his hand, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a rare treasure, softly wiping away the tears on her face.

Chen Mengyao looked up, her eyes misty with tears, at Lu Chen, her lips trembling slightly. A thousand words were stuck in her throat, and for a moment, she didn't know where to begin.

In her eyes, grievance and longing intertwined, like a sharp sword piercing directly into Lu Chen's heart.

"Why... why did you do this to me?" Chen Mengyao choked out, her voice trembling.

"You left without a word, and there's been no news for so long. Do you know how I've managed to get through it?"

Her voice, choked with sobs, echoed in the silent corridor, hurting Lu Chen's heart.

Lu Chen opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but his throat felt blocked, unable to make a sound.

He looked at Chen Mengyao's pained expression, his heart filled with guilt, and could only raise his hand to gently caress her cheek, his thumb tracing the tear stains on her face.

"I..." Lu Chen finally spoke, his voice hoarse and low, "I had my reasons. I didn't want you to get involved in those complicated matters; I didn't want you to get hurt."

His eyes were full of helplessness and pain, as if those past experiences were unhealed wounds.

Chen Mengyao listened, a flicker of anger in her eyes: "Do you think this was for my own good? Don't you know that compared to those unknown dangers, I'm more afraid of losing you. You didn't tell me anything and just made decisions on your own. What do you take me for?"

Her hands tightly gripped Lu Chen's shirt corner, her knuckles white from the effort.

Lu Chen was speechless and could only lower his head slightly, avoiding Chen Mengyao's gaze.

He knew that his actions had indeed caused Chen Mengyao too much pain. Those unspoken words, those self-righteous protections, had all become the barrier between them at this moment.

"I'm sorry..." Lu Chen said in a low voice, full of apology, "It was my fault. I shouldn't have borne everything alone; I shouldn't have made you face all this by yourself."

He slowly raised his head, looking at Chen Mengyao with a firm gaze, "But believe me, my feelings for you have never changed."

Chen Mengyao bit her lower lip, tears sparkling in her eyes. She looked at Lu Chen, seemingly trying to discern the truth of his words.

The surrounding air seemed to solidify, with only their hurried breathing echoing in the silent space.

"Then why are you only coming back now?" Chen Mengyao asked softly, her voice tinged with anticipation, yet also a little afraid to hear the answer.

Lu Chen took a deep breath and slowly said: "I spent a long time resolving those issues. I thought I could handle everything before coming back to you, but I didn't expect to still cause you so much distress."

His eyes were full of regret, and he reached out to gently smooth the stray hairs by Chen Mengyao's ear.

Chen Mengyao was silent for a moment, then suddenly threw herself into Lu Chen's arms and burst into tears.

Her cries echoed in the empty corridor, releasing all the grievances and longing that had accumulated during this time.

Lu Chen held her tightly, gently patting her back, as if that could soothe all her pain.

"Don't ever leave me again, okay?" Chen Mengyao murmured in Lu Chen's arms, her voice tinged with a plea.

Lu Chen nodded vigorously, his chin gently brushing against the top of Chen Mengyao's head: "Mm, I won't, never again. No matter what happens, we'll face it together."

His voice was deep and firm, like a promise for a lifetime.

Sunlight streamed through the window at the end of the corridor, outlining their warm figures.

The past misunderstandings and pain gradually dissipated at this moment, leaving only their embracing figures, speaking of the preciousness of being reunited after loss.