章 3: 3. The Beautiful Star
After getting dressed, Lu Chen took a deep breath before re-entering the room.
The room was quiet, with only the faint sound of sobbing coming out of it.
The woman in the hospital gown sat on the edge of the bed, her back turned to him. Her short hair just reached her ears, revealing a slender, delicate neck. The elegant lines of her figure suggested a beauty, but the face reflected in the mirror was grotesquely scarred.
Even without her saying anything, Lu Chen could understand why she was so heartbroken. With her face burned to such an extent, even the strongest of women would weep in private. If her mental fortitude were any weaker, she might not even have the will to live.
"Miss, please don't cry. You'll make yourself ill," Lu Chen gently urged.
He Suyan suddenly turned her head, startling Lu Suyan so much that he nearly fell off the bed.
Seeing his reaction, He Suyan let out a bitter laugh, her tears flowing even more freely. "I've become this hideous. I might as well be dead."
Seeing the deep sadness and despair in her eyes, Lu Chen felt a wave of guilt. What was wrong with him? Knowing she was already in a fragile state, he still showed that he was startled, only deepening her wounds.
He quickly sat down beside her and said, "Please, don't do anything rash. If you harm yourself, what will your parents, your family, do? Have you thought about them?"
Unexpectedly, Lu Chen's words only made He Suyan cry harder.
Completely at a loss on how to console a girl, Lu Chen panicked. What did he say wrong this time to make her so heartbroken?
As he began to tear up himself, he found his vision blurring with emotion.
After crying for a while, He Suyan noticed that he wasn't saying anything to comfort her. Puzzled, she looked at Lu Chen, only to see him staring blankly into space, tears streaming down his face—a face that, though delicate, bore a quiet strength.
"Why... why are you crying?" Her voice, clear and gentle like a flowing stream, broke through Lu Chen's thoughts. He snapped back to reality, realizing that he had been moved to tears by memories of his recently deceased father.
A bit embarrassed, Lu Chen forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, just thinking about something sad. By the way, I don't know your name yet. You're still in a hospital gown, so I should take you back to the hospital."
"No... I don't want to go back!" He Suyan recoiled to the corner of the bed like a frightened animal. The thought of facing the media after returning to the hospital made her shudder. She was certain that if the media saw her current appearance, they would sensationalize it, spreading the news everywhere. When that happened, she feared she would lose even the last shred of courage to go on living.
Seeing her reaction, Lu Chen felt a headache coming on. Although he didn't understand why she was so terrified of returning to the hospital, he knew he couldn't keep her here either. He was about to head back to school and he couldn't just take her in.
"My name is He Suyan. Please, don't send me away. I'm scared…" Her helpless gaze pierced into Lu Chen's heart, making him lose his focus for a moment. What kind of eyes were those, to so completely reveal the desolate and lost inner world of their owner?
Lu Chen seemed to forget her disfigured face for a moment and instinctively nodded. But he quickly caught himself, becoming wary. 'Why did I suddenly lose focus? Could she possibly possess some kind of charm spell?'
With this thought, Lu Chen scrutinized He Suyan, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't detect any sign that she had cultivated such a technique. All he saw in her clear eyes was gratitude.
With a sigh, Lu Chen began to feel a headache coming on. 'Why did I agree to let her stay? I need to get back to school soon!'
He glanced at He Suyan and sighed, "He Suyan, it's not that I want to turn you away, but I'm still a student. I have to go back to school and can't stay here with you."
He Suyan had thought she could hide here, but… suddenly, she burst into tears and, with a wail, hurled herself toward the wall.
Startled, Lu Chen quickly dashed forward, intercepting her just in time.
As he caught her in his arms, a faint fragrance filled his senses. It was his first time holding a woman so closely, and his body tensed slightly.
Seeing her desperation and disregard for her own life, Lu Chen felt a surge of anger. Just as he was about to scold her, he was caught off guard as she suddenly leaned in, and her scarred face came closer.
Before Lu Chen could react, He Suyan's lips met his in a kiss.
Boom! Lu Chen was utterly stunned. When he finally regained his senses, he realized she was kissing him awkwardly, yet with a hint of madness.
With a long sigh, Lu Chen understood her actions. It was clear that the immense pressure she was under had driven her to this point.
"Ouch!" A sharp pain shot through his lips. Lu Chen pushed her away and caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. His lips had been bitten, and tiny beads of blood were slowly seeping out.
A trace of blood lingered on He Suyan's lips as the wildness in her eyes gradually faded, leaving her sitting there in a daze.
———
On the train back to school, Lu Chen sat engrossed in a book, a woman beside him. She wore a wide-brimmed hat and a veil, giving her an odd appearance.
Opposite them sat a family of three. The parents had an air of distinction, clearly people of high standing, and between them sat a young girl, about fifteen or sixteen, with delicate features. She was a budding beauty, though the faint bluish mark between her eyebrows slightly marred her looks.
Yue Heng had been staring at the veiled woman. In her mind, such a sight was only seen on TV, and now there was one right before her eyes, sparked her curiosity.
Yue Heng's parents noticed their daughter's behavior, and though they knew it was impolite to stare, for certain reasons, they merely smiled apologetically at He Suyan and let their daughter continue.
He Suyan, of course, noticed the curious gaze from the young girl across from her. A few days ago, she might have felt terrified or angry, but now, sitting beside Lu Chen, she felt a faint warmth in her heart.
She thought back to the past few days when she had managed to convince Lu Chen to take her away from the place that had changed her life forever.
She had clung to him like a lifeline, her only hope in a sea of despair, much to his frustration.
As the train sped along, Lu Chen quietly read his book, He Suyan gazed out at the passing scenery, and Yue Heng continued to watch He Suyan.
Suddenly, a pained expression crossed Yue Heng's face, and her small body began to tremble involuntarily, a soft whimper escaping her lips.
Her parents, who had been keeping a close eye on her, immediately grasped her small hands, their faces filled with concern.
It was clear that Yue Heng was enduring some unbearable torment, her tiny hands clutching her parents' hands as if drawing strength from them.
———
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