Campus Alliance-Never Fall North Star

People are so strange sometimes. Even though they know that the other party cannot respond and cannot see them, they still desire even the shortest answer!

Maybe it’s a turn around…

Maybe a smile...

Or maybe it was just a simple eye contact...

But now, all this has become a luxury.

In the ward, only Lu Yun's low, desperate cry echoed in the silent night, like a sad elegy.

The night was quiet, as if the whole world had fallen asleep, and only Lu Yan's grief was spreading in the silent ward.

The moonlight shone through the window onto his tear-stained face, reflecting his despair and helplessness at the moment.

The next morning, the warm sunlight, like fine gold foil, passed through the translucent gauze curtains of the hospital ward and gently sprinkled on the ground, trying to bring a touch of vitality to this slightly dull space.

The corridor outside the ward was quiet, with the occasional sound of a nurse pushing a cart passing by, the wheels rubbing against the ground, making a slight "gurgling" sound.

Outside the window, the branches of several large trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the leaves rubbed against each other, rustling, as if whispering something.

As usual, Cheng Huan accompanied Shen Jiaqi to see Ren Qifeng.

When they gently pushed open the door of the ward and saw Lu Yan in the ward, a hint of surprise flashed across their faces and their eyes were full of disbelief.

"Lu Yan?" Cheng Huan spoke first, with a hint of confusion and surprise in his voice, "Why are you here?"

At this moment, Lu Yan was sitting on the ground, leaning against the hospital bed. After hearing the sound, he struggled to prop himself up.

The light in the ward was not bright. The dim light seemed a little dim against the morning sun, just outlining Lu Yan's haggard outline.

His movements were slow and heavy, as if he was carrying a heavy burden.

Under the gaze of the two, he stood up shakily, his hair disheveled and his eyes full of fatigue and confusion.

For a moment, the ward fell into deathly silence. The atmosphere of embarrassment was like a thick fog, permeating every inch of the air, making it difficult for people to breathe.

The instruments in the ward occasionally made a few monotonous "beeping" sounds, which further highlighted the depression in the silence.

Lu Xun hesitated for a long time, moved his lips, but in the end no words came out.

He slowly raised his foot, ready to leave this embarrassing place and break the suffocating silence.

In the end, it was Shen Jiaqi who spoke first. Her voice was soft, but a little hoarse due to the worry and fatigue of the past few days: "Lu Yan! You just... don't you have anything to say to me?"

When Lu Yan heard this, he suddenly stopped walking and his body froze in place as if he was under a spell.

His head drooped even lower, a few strands of hair fell down, covering his eyes, and his hands subconsciously clenched together, his knuckles turned abruptly white due to excessive force.

His heart was like a raging sea, with self-blame and guilt like a surging tide that completely drowned him.

Once, he solemnly promised Shen Jiaqi that he would do his best to take care of Xiang Haichen, but now, Xiang Haichen is missing and his life or death is unknown.

He felt like a complete failure, a traitor to his most sacred promise.

Not only that, his two best brothers, one was lying on a hospital bed with his life or death uncertain; the other left him forever and they could never fight side by side again.

Lu Yan took a deep breath, trying to make his trembling voice sound steady, but his throat seemed to be blocked, and his eyes turned red involuntarily: "Jia Qi... are you feeling better? I actually don't know what I should say... I know it's too late for me to say anything now, I... I don't have the face to stand in front of you... I really looked in many places, almost turned over the entire city, but I just can't find him..."

At this point, his emotions suddenly became agitated, and his voice began to tremble, "I seem to always be a step late... I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!" Hot tears flowed uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes and across his haggard cheeks.

He bit his lips tightly, trying to suppress the pain in his heart and not let himself cry out, but his body was shaking slightly because of his efforts to restrain himself, as if at this moment, all his strength had been shattered, leaving only regret and pain in his heart.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!" Lu Xun said, his legs going limp.

With a plop, he knelt down in front of them: "I failed to protect Haichen... I failed to stand shoulder to shoulder with Qifeng, Achen and the others... I'm sorry for you..."

Throughout his life, Lu Yan was proud and arrogant and never knelt down to anyone easily.

The first time he knelt was to beg his father to let him go and let him stay with Xiang Haichen. At that time, his eyes were full of determination and persistence. The second time he knelt was because he lost Xiang Haichen. At this moment, he was full of despair and self-blame.

He knew very well that no matter how many times he said sorry, it would not be able to make up for the mistakes he had made. He could only use this almost humble way to beg for forgiveness from Shen Jiaqi.

"Don't kneel anymore--" Seeing this, Shen Jiaqi's heart tightened and he hurried forward, gently stroking his aching chest.

The air in the ward seemed to freeze, with only her gentle words echoing in the silent space. Looking at Lu Yan, who looked decadent and lifeless, pity surged in her heart like a tide.

Shen Jiaqi squatted down slightly, looked at Lu Yan with gentle eyes, and continued: "I have never wanted to blame you, and you don't have to say sorry. Get up quickly! I - we should all move on..."

Lu Yan suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of disbelief, as if he couldn't believe that Shen Jiaqi would forgive him so easily.

In his opinion, he had committed an unforgivable mistake and should be punished, but Shen Jiaqi's tolerance and kindness were like a warm light that shone straight into his dark inner world.

"Brother Yu, get up soon! After you have a good rest, come and see Qi Feng tomorrow!" Cheng Huan also whispered softly from the side. Her voice was gentle and concerned, with the power to soothe people's hearts.

Lu Yan slowly stood up, sniffed, and tried to calm his turbulent emotions.

He looked at Shen Jiaqi, his eyes filled with gratitude and worry: "Then don't stand for so long! Be careful not to get tired, your body still needs to recover!"

"Lu Yan! Please go out with me tomorrow!" Shen Jiaqi said.

"Okay!" After Lu Yan replied, he hurriedly left the ward with quick steps, as if he wanted to escape from this place that made him feel so guilty.

Even after he ran out of the hospital, he still couldn't calm down and his heart was still beating violently in his chest.

The streets outside the hospital were busy with traffic, the noisy voices of people and the honking of vehicles intertwined together, but Lu Yan turned a deaf ear to them.

The next day, at dawn, Lu Yan was waiting at the hospital entrance early and drove to pick up Shen Jiaqi on time.

Along the way, the two of them didn't talk much. The car was filled with a quiet atmosphere. Only the soft music flowing from the car stereo slightly eased the silence.

According to the route planned in advance by Shen Jiaqi, the car slowly drove towards the temple - Huguo Temple.

As we got closer to the Huguo Temple, the trees on both sides of the road became increasingly lush. The sunlight struggled to penetrate through the layers of branches and leaves, casting tiny, mottled shadows on the ground.

The breeze blows gently, and the leaves rub against each other, rustling. The sound seems like a soft melody carefully composed by nature, and every note carries the power to soothe people's hearts.

The faint scent of grass and trees permeates the air, blending with the fresh breath of moist soil, lingering at the tip of the nose, making people feel a sense of comfort involuntarily, as if all the troubles of the world are far away.

Shen Jiaqi and Lu Yan strolled side by side in this peaceful place. Their steps seemed aimless, but in fact they were full of searches for inner comfort.

They passed by several quaint pavilions, in which occasionally a few old men were chatting leisurely. Their voices were not loud, but their leisurely pace of life was revealed.

Shen Jiaqi's attention was attracted by a cluster of flowers beside the pavilion. Although the flowers were not gorgeous, they were blooming with vitality. She stopped for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, as if she saw the hope of tenacious growth from these small flowers.