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

The night was as dark as ink, and the lawn behind Qingyun Mountain was shrouded in a tranquil darkness.

There were a few streetlights still on, but as soon as everyone arrived, all the lights suddenly went out, as if by prior arrangement.

It was pitch black all around, with only the faint light of the starry sky overhead.

"Why is it so dark..."

Xu You was a little scared. She subconsciously tried to grab Lin Lu's hand, but she grasped nothing.

"Lin Lu? Lu Wen?"

She turned around and called out twice in a bit of a panic, only to find that there was no one behind her.

The group of people who had been making a lot of noise all the way seemed to have vanished into thin air; not even their footsteps could be heard.

On the vast lawn, only she and Shen Hao remained.

"careful."

A warm, strong hand reached out from the darkness and firmly supported her arm.

Shen Hao stood beside her, his tall figure blocking the mountain wind and also shielding her from her unease.

"Don't be afraid, Youyou, I'm here."

Shen Hao's voice was tense, and his palms were sweaty. He took a deep breath, as if making a decision, and snapped his fingers towards the dark forest in the distance.

"Smack."

This is a signal.

Lu Wen, the "lighting technician" hiding next to the electrical control box in the woods, immediately pulled down the last main switch.

The Miracle of Fireflies

The next second, a miracle happened.

As if in response to the boy's courage, a first green glimmer suddenly appeared deep in the dark grass.

Then came the second lamp, the third lamp...

Countless slumbering fireflies were awakened. They slowly rose from among the grass blades and bushes, converging into a flowing, shimmering, yellow-green galaxy.

Fireflies danced and swirled around the two, transforming the dark lawn into a dreamlike world that only exists in fairy tales.

Xu You was completely stunned.

The fear vanished instantly, replaced by awe. A firefly landed lightly on the tip of her hair, like a natural hair clip.

"So beautiful..." she murmured to herself, not daring to speak loudly for fear of disturbing the little elves.

"It is beautiful."

By the faint light of the fireflies, Shen Hao looked at the halo on Xu You's profile, his heart pounding.

At that moment, he completely forgot all the "love confession essays" he had memorized countless times in his dormitory and all the cheesy pick-up lines he had found online.

All that remained for him were his most instinctive, clumsy, and sincere words.

"Young one."

Shen Hao called out to her, his voice dry and hoarse.

Xu You turned her head. Amidst the swirling specks of light, she saw Shen Hao's usually smiling eyes, now so serious it was heart-stopping.

"The dare just now... what I really wanted to say was—"

Shen Hao nervously rubbed his hands against the seam of his trousers, took a step forward, and bent his tall frame slightly to meet her gaze.

"I know I'm not smart, I'm slow at solving problems, I'm not good with words, and I always make you angry."

"I studied math like crazy during this period and got into the top 100 in my grade. It wasn't to show off to my dad or to brag."

"I'm standing here so I can confidently tell you: For you, I can endure any hardship and tackle any challenge head-on."

He took a deep breath, awkwardly scratched his head, his cheeks flushed red in the dim light:

"Youyou, I know you're timid and shy, and you like to shoulder things on your own, but in the future, could you try relying on me for a little while?"

"I'm not smart, but I'm strong and tall. From now on, I'll carry your schoolbag, save you a seat, and shield you from the sun. If anyone dares to bully you, I'll be the first to rush up and fight them to the death."

The air became quiet.

The only sounds were the rustling of leaves in the wind and the flapping of fireflies' wings.

Shen Hao looked at the silent girl in front of him and felt increasingly panicked.

Just when he was about to suffocate, he finally mustered all his courage and asked the question that had been bottled up all summer:

"Xu You, will you... be my girlfriend?"

"If it doesn't work now, I'll wait until I graduate high school! If it still doesn't work after graduating high school, I'll wait until college! Anyway... anyway, I'm just sticking with you!"

Xu You looked at the helpless, sweating boy in front of her.

She remembered him arguing with someone in the library until he was red in the face for her sake, remembered him awkwardly telling her corny jokes, and remembered the barely concealed, cautious affection he showed her every time he looked at her.

Tears welled up without warning.

"You idiot..."

Xu You cursed softly, her voice trembling with tears.

Shen Hao panicked instantly, frantically trying to wipe away her tears but not daring to touch her: "Hey! Don't, don't cry! Did I scare you? I won't say anything more, just don't cry..."

"Who told you to stop talking!"

Xu You sniffed and took a step forward.

She reached out and gently, yet firmly, grasped the hem of Shen Hao's clothes—just like that day in the library.

But this time, she didn't let go.

She lowered her head, her voice barely audible, yet it resonated clearly in Shen Hao's ears:

"Your schoolbag is very heavy... From now on, you're not allowed to complain about it being tiring."

Shen Hao was stunned.

My brain went blank for a full three seconds.

Then, ecstasy erupted like a volcano.

"Not tired! Absolutely not tired! I'd be happy even if I were exhausted!!"

He let out an excited shout, wanting to hug her but afraid of being impolite. In the end, he just jumped three feet high like a giant husky and excitedly circled around Xu You.

"Really?! You said yes?! Am I dreaming?! Pinch me!"

Seeing his silly expression, Xu You burst into laughter through her tears, her face glistening with tears that looked especially touching in the firefly light.

……

[Applause from behind the bushes]

"It's done! It's done! My pairing is a success!!"

Behind the bushes in the distance, the deer screamed excitedly and frantically patted Lu Wen's arm.

Lu Wen grimaced and covered his mouth, while still managing to free his hand to give the other person a thumbs up.

Xie Wang leaned against the tree trunk, watching the two fools in the distance who had finally succeeded in holding hands. He played with a foxtail grass in his hand, a lazy and gentle smile on his lips.

It's so good to be young.

Even if it's clumsy, it's still so passionate that it's enviable.

He turned his head and looked at Su Qinghe beside him.

Su Qinghe was also looking in that direction, his eyes reflecting the fireflies filling the sky, a scene of tranquility and beauty.

"How was it, Teacher Su? Was that assist alright?" Xie Wang whispered, seeking praise.

Su Qinghe adjusted his glasses, nodded, and smiled.

"not bad."

Xie Wangqi laughed. He reached out and plucked a firefly that had fallen from Su Qinghe's hair, then deftly and precisely caught her finger in the darkness.

Their fingers were interlocked, their palms warm.

"Let's go."

He pulled her around and walked back, leaving the romantic firefly forest to the newlywed couple.

"Let's not bother them. Shall we go back... and continue with Truth or Dare?"

"Still want to play?"

"Hmm, this time I want to hear your honest opinion."

A gentle mountain breeze blows, and fireflies fill the sky.

In this midsummer night's dream, some are just beginning to experience the thrill of first love, while others have already made promises in their hearts that extend far beyond forever.