Friendship Beyond Ordinary Friends

Lin Yu knew that at this moment, he had to be thick-skinned.

And being thick-skinned had always been Lin Yu’s specialty.

Walking to the bedside, Lin Yu sat down beside Xia Muzhu and gently took her delicate hand, which rested limply on the edge of the bed.

Xia Muzhu didn’t resist, letting Lin Yu’s large hand envelop her fair, slender fingers. Yet, she still refused to look at him, occasionally letting out a quiet sob as she turned her face away.

“Zhu-zi jie?”

Lin Yu called softly.

Xia Muzhu didn’t respond, her gaze stubbornly fixed on the wall.

Undeterred, Lin Yu gave her hand a light squeeze and called again, his voice tender:

“Zhu-zi jie?”

Still, Xia Muzhu refused to acknowledge him, her expression resolute as if she had sworn never to speak to him again. Yet, paradoxically, her hand remained pliant in his grasp.

Understanding her unspoken feelings, Lin Yu grew bolder, gently pulling her into his embrace.

Just as he had expected, Xia Muzhu didn’t struggle. Instead, she melted into his arms, soft and warm.

Holding her close, Lin Yu was momentarily dazed by the sensation of her fragrant, delicate body pressed against him.

He had always thought the first girl he’d be this intimate with would be… her.

Shaking off the brief distraction, Lin Yu felt an odd sting in his eyes. Blinking rapidly, he quickly regained his composure.

Now wasn’t the time to dwell on such thoughts.

What’s done is done…

At least, thank goodness.

He had never made any promises to her…

Suppressing the surge of emotions inside him, Lin Yu took a steadying breath and refocused. His hand, resting on Xia Muzhu’s slender waist, slid downward until he found her other hand. Clasping it tightly, he murmured:

“Zhu-zi jie.”

“Let’s be together, okay?”

At his words, Xia Muzhu’s body trembled visibly. She turned her face away again, her voice choked with tears:

“No.”

“Why not?”

Lin Yu couldn’t hide his shock—he had never imagined Xia Muzhu would refuse.

Pulling her hand free, Xia Muzhu wiped her tears and said bitterly:

“You don’t even like me. Why should I be with you?”

Hearing this, Lin Yu exhaled in relief, realizing she simply didn’t want to trap him out of obligation.

He caught her retreating hand again, his voice coaxing:

“Zhu-zi jie, who said I don’t like you?”

“I’ve liked you for a long time.”

“Otherwise, why would I go to such lengths to help you?”

“Plenty of people face danger in this world, but you’re the only one I’ve ever helped!”

“That’s because I like you!”

Xia Muzhu lifted her head, her tear-reddened almond eyes glaring at him accusingly as she sobbed:

“You’re lying!”

“If you liked me, why did you keep avoiding me afterward? Why wouldn’t you see me?”

“And now you suddenly say you like me!”

Her voice grew more and more aggrieved, fat tears rolling down her delicate cheeks.

“I’m not lying!”

Lin Yu met her gaze squarely, his tone earnest:

“I avoided you because I was afraid you’d be in danger again.”

“Do you remember what happened back then?”

“When you stood up for Xia Yueshan at that bar, I could tell you’d be in trouble afterward.”

“I wanted to protect you, so I did everything I could to stay close—visiting your house every day after school.”

“But in the end, it still happened.”

“And in a way, it was because of me.”

“That incident shook me badly.”

“I… I just couldn’t face you after that.”

His words were laced with sincerity, and since ninety percent of them were true, they were nearly impossible to refute.

Xia Muzhu’s tears fell harder as memories of the past resurfaced, mingling guilt and gratitude in her heart.

Seizing the moment, Lin Yu pressed on:

“Zhu-zi jie, I’ve felt drawn to you since the first time we met.”

“As we spent more time together, I realized how kind you are.”

“I loved every moment with you.”

“Looking back, I think I already liked you back then.”

“But afterward…”

“…I was afraid I’d bring you more misfortune, so I buried those feelings.”

“Now…”

Here, Lin Yu tightened his embrace, ignoring the distracting softness pressed against his chest as he swallowed hard. Meeting Xia Muzhu’s eyes, he spoke with deliberate clarity:

“This situation has made up my mind.”

“From now on…”

“Let me protect you, okay?”

At this, Xia Muzhu’s defenses crumbled completely. She wrapped her arms around Lin Yu, burying her face in the crook of his neck as she wept uncontrollably.

Lin Yu held her gently, stroking her back in slow, soothing circles as he waited for her to calm down.

After what felt like an eternity, Xia Muzhu lifted her head. Wiping her tear-streaked face, she looked up at Lin Yu, her deep blue eyes swirling with conflict.

“But… you already have a girlfriend,” she whispered between sobs.

“Since when do I have a girlfriend?”

Lin Yu feigned shock, his tone incredulous.

He knew exactly who she meant, but playing dumb was necessary—it made that other girl seem insignificant in his heart.

“That girl… the one you went to the movies with,” Xia Muzhu sniffled, her voice tinged with jealousy. “The one you played claw machines with.”

“Oh, her?”

Lin Yu adopted an expression of sudden realization, as if he’d only just remembered. He chuckled dismissively.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Our relationship is… complicated.”

“Basically, I helped her with something big, and she returned the favor.”

“We’re just a bit closer than regular friends, that’s all.”

“But I don’t have feelings for her.”

“Now that high school’s over, she’s leaving for college out of province.”

“We probably won’t even see each other again.”

“Besides, I’ve been buried in studying this whole time—when would I have had the chance to date?”