Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

The rain continued unabated, but it was completely shut out by the heavy glass window.

Yunding Piano Room is one of the most upscale apartments in Jiangcheng.

"Click".

The fingerprint lock was unlocked.

A wave of warmth wafted over, carrying a faint scent of cedar and jasmine.

Xie Wang stood in front of the expensive wool carpet in the entryway, his feet still covered in mud from the riverbank.

He looked at his dripping trouser legs and said in a hoarse voice, "I think... I'm not going in."

Su Qinghe changed into slippers and looked back at him.

She didn't say anything, but bent down and took out a pair of brand-new men's cotton slippers from the bottom of the shoe cabinet, which were Uncle Zhong's spares.

She tossed her slippers at his feet, her tone indifferent:

"Come in. The carpet can be washed if it's dirty, but it's troublesome if you catch a cold. You have class tomorrow."

She didn't give Xie Wang a chance to refuse, and reached out to grab his wrist.

A powerful force swept over Xie Wang, who was forcibly pulled into this warm world.

"Bang."

The door closed.

"The bathroom is over there."

Su Qinghe pointed to the right, "The bathrobe is on the rack. Throw your clothes into the laundry basket, and Uncle Zhong will take care of it."

……

Twenty minutes later.

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

Xie Wang came out wearing a large white bathrobe.

His hair was still dripping wet, having just taken a hot shower. The gloomy, pale sickness had faded somewhat, replaced by a youthful flush from the steam. Only the cut on his brow bone, caused by a twig, stood out starkly.

In the living room, Su Qinghe had changed into a beige loungewear set, her long hair casually tied up, and was pouring water in front of the sink.

Hearing the noise, she came over with two cups of hot milk and pointed to the carpet in front of the sofa:

"Sit here."

Xie Wang obediently sat down.

He felt a little lost. He seemed out of place in this minimalist yet luxurious room.

Su Qinghe placed the milk on the coffee table, picked up the first-aid kit, and took out iodine and cotton swabs.

"look up."

Xie Wang raised his head.

The two were very close.

He was so close that he could see his reflection in her pupils, so close that he could smell the fresh scent of her after her bath.

Su Qinghe focused intently as she gently wiped the wound on his brow bone with a cotton swab.

"hiss--"

Xie Wang instinctively shrank back.

"Does it hurt?" Su Qinghe paused, frowning slightly.

"It doesn't hurt." Xie Wang's Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze fixed on her lips so close to his own, his voice low, "It's just... a little itchy."

Su Qinghe looked up and met his unfathomable eyes.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat sticky.

The sound of rain outside the window seemed to have faded away, leaving only the sound of each other's heartbeats.

Just then.

"Ding-dong—Ding-dong—"

The urgent doorbell rang, breaking the ambiguity and carrying an arrogant tone of "I'll keep ringing if you don't open the door."

Su Qinghe withdrew his hand and got up to open the door.

Outside the door, Lu Wen was wearing a flashy sequined jacket, carrying several bags. Although his hair was a little messy from the rain, it couldn't hide his dashing charm.

"Surprise!!"

Lu Wen held up the bag in his hand. "Wang Zi messaged me saying he got caught in the rain, but I ran two red lights to rush over and deliver the supplies!"

He squeezed through the door and immediately saw Xie Wang sitting on the carpet, wearing a bathrobe and with half-dry hair.

Lu Wen's eyes widened instantly, like copper bells.

"Holy crap?"

He glanced back and forth between Su Qinghe and Xie Wang, his expression shifting from shock to a knowing, wicked grin.

"Is this... is this paid content I can watch?"

"Did I come at the wrong time? Or should I close the door behind me and wait here for a while?"

"Shut up."

Xie Wang stood up with a dark face, snatched the bag of clothes from Lu Wen's hand, and said, "Put the things down and you can get out."

"Tsk tsk tsk, once you have a wife, you forget your mother... oops, you forget your brothers."

Lu Wen placed the bag containing Xie Wang's old notebook on the table and, as if they were old friends, tried to sit on the sofa.

"Goddess Su, look at this kid, he's got a terrible temper and he's so stubborn. I'm begging you to take him in tonight. These clothes are brand new, and his underwear is new too, so don't worry about wearing them!"

"Lu Wen!" Xie Wang's ears turned red, and he kicked him in the shin.

Su Qinghe remained calm and continued, "Thanks."

Lu Wen waved his hand and winked at Xie Wang, "Alright, I won't disturb you two... cough cough, let's have a learning exchange."

Lu Wen came quickly and left quickly.

After the door closed again, the room returned to silence, but the tense, ambiguous feeling was diluted considerably, replaced by a more lived-in atmosphere.

Xie Wang stood there silently for a while, holding the bag of clothes.

He glanced at the pitch-black night outside the window, then at Su Qinghe, who was packing his first-aid kit.

"I'll leave as soon as I change my clothes."

Xie Wang suddenly spoke.

Su Qinghe paused, looked up at him, and said, "It's still raining outside. We have guest rooms here."

"I know."

Xie Wang gripped the bag tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white.

He looked at the warm, elegant apartment.

This place was so wonderful that he became attached to it, yet it also made him acutely aware of the chasm between them.

He wanted to be a knight who could enter this place on his own merit.

"Su Qinghe, thank you for helping me out."

Xie Wang's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness: "But I can't hide under your umbrella forever."

"I have other things to take care of."

He thought of his father, who was still throwing a tantrum outside.

There are some messes that he has to clean up himself.

Su Qinghe looked into the boy's eyes.

The inferiority complex had faded away, replaced by a radiance called "ambition".

She understands him.

"OK."

Su Qinghe didn't insist that he stay. She walked to the entrance, picked up a long-handled black umbrella, and handed it to him.

"Take the umbrella away, don't let it get wet on your wound."

Xie Wang took the umbrella.

He gazed at her intently, as if trying to etch her image into his mind.

"I'm gone."

See you at school tomorrow.

"Click".

The door closed.

The boy's figure disappeared into the rainy night.

Su Qinghe stood in the empty living room, his fingers gently stroking the cotton swab box from which he had just applied the medicine.

"X, don't keep me waiting too long."