The baby slapped me, and I said, "Sit on my lap and slap me."

Countless images flashed, twisted, and spun wildly in Su Qingyao's mind.

After my father fell from the high-rise building, his body was smashed beyond recognition, with thick, dark red blood meandering beneath him.

The mother was hit by a speeding truck and thrown several meters away like a kite with a broken string; she never woke up again.

Relatives and friends who were once all smiles suddenly changed their attitudes after the father's accident, avoiding him and even speaking coldly to him.

Those menacing debt collectors blocked the villa entrance and the road to the school day after day, humiliating her and her unconscious mother with the most vulgar and obscene words, pushing, shoving, threatening, and even attempting to physically assault them...

Those lewd smiles, those slick gazes, those foul words, and the pointing fingers and whispers coming from all directions...

It hurts so much.

It's really painful.

It took her so long, gritting her teeth, and with the comfort and guidance of Brother Yunyan, she slowly crawled out of hell.

I used my busy studies, demanding part-time jobs, and the hopeful future to gradually cheer myself up.

She has moved on.

At least, we can forget about those things and look forward.

But why...?

Why bring that up again?

A sharp ringing in her ears, mixed with countless malicious sounds, almost tore her consciousness apart.

Just as she felt she was about to be swallowed by darkness, a voice pierced through the layers of noise and pain, and came in clearly.

At first, it was very light and blurry, as if separated by a thick layer of water.

"……Baby."

Then the sound became clearer and more stable.

With an undeniable gentle strength, it soothed her nerves, which were on the verge of collapse, one stroke at a time.

"Baby, look at me."

"Su Qingyao, look at me."

"Did you hear me? I'm here."

"Breathe, follow me, breathe slowly..."

The voice carried a familiar and reassuring quality, like the only light in the darkness, slowly enveloping her.

Her unfocused pupils began to focus with difficulty, and her chaotic mind struggled to pinpoint the source of the sound.

Who is it...?

Who's calling her...?

Finally, the voice reached her ears with unparalleled clarity, each word carrying a warm vitality.

"It's me, Wen Yu."

"My husband is here."

"Baby, I'm here. It's alright now, it's all over."

Wenyu.

It is Wenyu.

The name was like a powerful punch, shattering the cage that had confined her.

The surging darkness receded like a receding tide, and the grotesque images and sounds quickly blurred and dissipated.

She took a deep breath, the icy air filling her lungs with a stinging realism.

The scene before me gradually became clear.

Wen Yu squatted down in front of her, very close.

His brows were furrowed, his eyes filled with anxiety and heartache. He loosely wrapped his arms around her, wanting to touch her but not daring to use force.

His lips were still gently opening and closing, continuing to speak in a low, soft voice, like reciting a soothing incantation.

Su Qingyao stared blankly at him, at the clear, deep pool in his eyes that reflected only her image.

Then, the string that had been held up tightly, stretched to its limit, finally snapped.

Tears welled up and rolled down her cheeks in large drops.

She finally stopped suppressing her emotions and pretending to be calm, letting herself burst into tears.

Su Qingyao reached out and tightly gripped the fabric of Wen Yu's clothes, burying her face deeply in it.

Tears soaked Wen Yu's clothes. Wen Yu felt his heart was breaking and reached out to hug Su Qingyao tightly.

He lowered his head, his chin resting on the top of her soft hair, his arms wrapped tightly around her, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones and use his body heat to dispel all her coldness and fear.

He didn't say "Don't cry," nor did he offer the pale comfort of "It's all over."

He simply held her, gently patting her trembling back, letting her vent all her pain and fear in his arms.

"Cry, cry your heart out."

He whispered in her ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I'm here."

"I'll always be here from now on."

Su Qingyao cried for a long, long time, until the suffocating pain in her chest gradually subsided. Finally, she exhausted all her strength and slowly lifted her head from Wen Yu's embrace.

Her eyelashes were soaked with tears, clumped together, and her eye sockets and the tip of her nose were pitifully red.

Her gaze was still somewhat unfocused as she looked at him, lingering with fear and confusion.

"Wenyu...?"

Her voice was terribly hoarse, and her hands gripped the fabric of his shirt tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"I'm here."

Wen Yu responded immediately, his voice extremely soft. He gently stroked her cold cheek with his palm and wiped away the undried tear stains.

"Baby, it's okay, it's all over now."

Upon receiving the news, Wen Zhaoyue and Jiang Shubai immediately drove over. As soon as they stopped at the back gate of Peking University, they saw the scene in the corner.

Wen Yu was half-squatting, holding the person in his arms tightly in a completely protective posture.

He lowered his head, his voice very low, and was gently coaxing her.

Su Qingyao gripped his clothes tightly, her fingertips turning white from the effort, and she shrank into his arms, a posture of complete dependence.

Not far away, on the ground, lay several men curled up, groaning, bruised and battered, looking utterly disheveled.

Wen Zhaoyue and Jiang Shubai exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other.

Wen Yu caught a glimpse of them out of the corner of his eye and nodded.

Immediately afterwards, he gave Zhang Miaoke, who was standing to the side with a worried look on her face, a wink.

Zhang Miaoke understood and immediately jogged forward, gently supporting Su Qingyao's arm from the other side, her voice soft and gentle.

"Yaoyao, let's leave here first, okay?"

Su Qingyao's legs were weak and she could hardly stand on her own. She was supported by Zhang Miaoke and staggered a few steps.

Seeing this, Wen Zhaoyue quickly stepped forward and went straight to Su Qingyao's side, her voice gentle, "Qingyao, shall Miaoke and I take you home together?"

Su Qingyao raised her eyes, which were red and swollen from crying and almost unable to open, her vision still somewhat unfocused.

She saw Wen Zhaoyue's concerned face and felt Zhang Miaoke's familiar presence as she approached.

The gentle and safe feeling emanating from someone of the same sex, without any aggression, made her nod subconsciously.

Her mind was still a complete blank, unable to think, with only the most primal approach-avoidance response controlling her.

She wants to be close to female companions who make her feel safe, and stay away from any aggressive or dangerous masculine aura.

Apart from Wenyu.

He was the only exception.

Thinking of this, Su Qingyao tightened her grip on Wen Yu's clothes.

She tilted her head back and looked at him intently, her wet eyes filled with unconditional reliance.

Wen Yu's heart softened, yet a sharp pain gripped him.

He took a half step forward and placed a very light kiss on her sweaty, cold forehead.

"Good boy/girl."

He whispered in her ear, soothingly coaxing her in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Go back to my place with Zhaoyue and the others first, get some rest. I have some small things to take care of, I'll be right back, okay?"

Su Qingyao bit her lower lip, her eyes flashing with reluctance and lingering fear.

But she nodded nonetheless, her voice soft and slightly trembling.

"Then... hurry up and come."

"it is good."

Wen Yu smiled gently and lightly rubbed her slightly swollen eyelids.

"Wait for me for twenty minutes, baby."

"I'll be there very soon."