Yun Mi was lowering her head, gently brushing the grass clippings and dust off her light pink skirt, pretending nothing had happened, her fist clenched tightly.
She frowned and looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes, her tone calm. "Chen Yiyang, why are you here?"
Chen Yiyang only looked at her and said in a deep voice, "Your hand."
Yun Mi played dumb. "What hand?"
The boy's gaze landed behind her, carrying a clear hint of displeasure.
Yun Mi pressed her lips together, was about to say 'it's nothing,' when her wrist was gently pulled.
To protect Jiang Miyan just now, she had slid heavily across the ground. The back of her hand was already scraped raw, blood seeping out.
On that old injury, the line of her arm looked slightly deformed, covered with fine scratches. With even a little force, her whole hand trembled uncontrollably.
Yun Mi instinctively tried to pull her hand back.
As she pulled, her entire hand shook violently.
Chen Yiyang stood very close to her. The scorching sun clearly illuminated every trace of emotion on his face.
He lowered his eyes, thinking how, in just a short time, Yun Mi had gotten hurt again. He said, "Let's go to the school hospital."
Yun Mi was indifferent. "It's just a small injury..."
She was cut off. "Let's go."
After the arts/science split, Yun Mi had gradually stopped obsessing over whether to be with Chen Yiyang. Whether she liked Chen Yiyang, or Jiang Miyan, Xu Zhiyu liked him, it didn't really matter.
A crush didn't need to be known by the other person.
Rather than the awkwardness of being together day and night after confessing her feelings, she would rather keep it quietly in her heart.
The school doctor examined her and said it wasn't serious, just that the old injury hadn't fully healed and the force had pulled on the nerves—she might never be able to use full strength.
Chen Yiyang accidentally glimpsed Yun Mi's previous medical record on the computer.
Patient's own account: On January 17, 2025, at 3:27 PM, her arm was struck by an iron wine crate weighing approximately 23.72 kilograms.
During summer break, there was only one doctor on duty at the school hospital. After finishing the treatment, he walked over and smiled teasingly at the silent boy. "Can't peek at patient privacy."
Chen Yiyang stood tall, his long frame silent.
Even when the doctor teased him, his expression didn't change. His throat tightened, and he remained silent.
Yun Mi came out holding an ice pack against her arm and saw Chen Yiyang. She put on a nonchalant air, pursed her lips, and said, "I told you it was nothing. Such a fuss!"
She rolled her eyes and tried to make a funny face to lighten the mood, but Chen Yiyang didn't respond like usual.
He only looked down at her and said flatly, "Wait here. I need to make a call outside."
"Huh? Something urgent?"
Chen Yiyang waved his hand and didn't answer.
At the end of the long corridor, dappled light fell through the tree shadows.
Chen Yiyang walked silently to the corner and dialed the number at the top of his contacts. His thin lips were pressed tight beneath his high nose bridge.
The phone rang several times before it was picked up.
Wen Liangyu and Chen Yiyang didn't keep in touch often, and the last time, they'd had a disagreement over choosing arts or sciences. She was surprised to get a call from her son. "What's—"
Before she could finish her puzzled question, Chen Yiyang spoke. His first words were: "Mom, happy engagement. I've fallen for someone."
The belated blessing from nearly a month ago caught Wen Liangyu off guard. Before she could react, Chen Yiyang paused slightly, then, word by word, clear and solemn, added:
"It's Yun Mi."
Author's note: No additional note.