章節 71: Chapter Seventy-One: After the Storm
Chapter Seventy-One: After the Storm
The winter dusk faded quickly, leaving the infirmary bathed in the faint glow of streetlights outside. Lydia Moore's face, pale and unreal, gradually blurred in the dim light as the IV drip quietly flowed into her veins. Julian Reed sat by the window, his gaze fixed on her. His back had grown stiff from sitting in the same position for so long, and every time Lydia furrowed her brow in discomfort, his own face mirrored her tension.
In her sleep, Lydia suddenly whimpered in distress. Julian instinctively grasped her hand, hoping to reassure her with his presence. The roughness of his calloused fingers against her soft skin stirred something deep within him. Unable to contain his emotions, he whispered, "I'm sorry... If I'd known this would happen, I would never have left for that performance abroad. I'm so sorry..." When he first heard the rumors spreading through the school that Aaron King was determined to expel Lydia Moore, he had immediately set out to find her. But after searching everywhere with no success, he finally overheard someone mention that Lila Yu had taken her away.
In that moment, his heart had nearly stopped. The fear of losing her, coupled with the memory of her bright, radiant smile, swirled in his mind. It was then that he realized he had fallen for her long ago, unable to let her go. "You have to get better soon. From now on, I'll protect you and never let you get hurt again." Julian's smile brought warmth to the cold infirmary. He carefully placed her hand back under the blanket, his movements tender and light, his gaze so full of affection that it seemed it could overflow.
Behind him, Elena Rivers had been standing for a long time, the scene before her leaving her feeling disoriented. Julian Reed sat so close, yet it felt like he was miles away. In the soft glow of the dim light, his eyes were filled with such deep love, as if they held the most beautiful emotions in the world—but all of it was for someone else. She should have known, shouldn't she? The way he looked at Lydia Moore during rehearsals had already given away his feelings.
With a bittersweet smile, Elena turned and left quietly, her shadow stretching long across the cold floor.
After days of pushing herself to the limit, Lydia Moore finally fell ill. The doctor advised her to take some time off from school to rest and prevent her cold from developing into pneumonia. Elena Rivers requested a week of medical leave on her behalf and stayed in the dormitory every day after school to take care of her. Meanwhile, word quickly spread throughout the school about how Julian Reed had openly rescued Lydia Moore from Lila Yu and carried her to the infirmary. His heroic act, coupled with his constant care for Lydia in the following days, led to widespread speculation and a flurry of rumors.
Different versions of the story circulated among the students. Some said Lydia had been secretly dating Julian Reed while also trying to seduce Aaron King, and when Aaron found out, he felt betrayed and wanted her gone. Others claimed that the tension between Julian and Aaron had existed for a long time, and Lydia had merely become an unfortunate pawn in their rivalry. Regardless of the true cause, the school was abuzz with gossip about the conflict between the two most prominent figures at Sakura Academy. No one wanted to see these two at odds, and the situation only made things more complicated.
On one side was Aaron King, the proud and domineering prince of Sakura, while on the other was Julian Reed, the esteemed student council president and musical prodigy. One was determined to drive Lydia Moore out, while the other seemed just as determined to protect her. The students were torn between continuing the harassment or backing down.
But as Julian Reed visited the dormitory daily to check on Lydia, and with Aaron King mysteriously absent from school during this period, the students gradually lost interest. The storm that had raged for over a week finally subsided. The once-tense atmosphere at Sakura lifted, and the campus returned to its peaceful, serene state, basking in the gentle sunlight after the rain.
After an unusually cold spell, the weather began to warm slightly. Though the tall trees now stood bare, the school had placed pots of fragrant white narcissus and various orchids around the campus, adding a touch of warmth and life to the winter landscape.
In the early morning, the sky was a brilliant blue, free of clouds. The wind, carrying a hint of cold, rippled across the clear surface of the ice-cold lake, sending glimmering waves across the water. The Sakura campus was quiet and still.
In the girls' dormitory of the Sea Sakura District, Lydia Moore lay in bed, peacefully asleep. Perhaps the recent events had left her utterly exhausted, as she had been sleeping for long stretches, with dark shadows clearly visible beneath her lashes.
Elena Rivers gently tucked the warm blanket around her and, satisfied that she was still sleeping soundly, walked over to the window, lost in thought as she gazed outside. The fresh morning dew sparkled on the glass, reflecting the soft sunlight, filling her eyes with a sense of hope. After a while, a soft knock at the door startled her, and her heart began to race. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she opened the door.
Standing outside was Julian Reed, his smile as elegant and warm as ever, his lips curving in a way that could melt anyone's heart. "Good morning, Elena," he greeted her, his voice as smooth and melodious as a cello, causing a flutter in her chest. She was momentarily speechless, struck by the brightness of his eyes that outshone even the stars. Without a word, she stepped aside to let him in.
"Thank you," Julian said with a slight nod, walking straight to Lydia's bedside. Watching her sleep, his deep eyes sparkled with a tender light, his gaze filled with the kind of love that made the world seem like a better place. "She hasn't woken up yet?" Julian asked softly, his eyes never leaving Lydia's face.
"No, she fell asleep early after taking her medicine last night," Elena replied, trying to push aside the pang of sadness in her heart.
"I made some light porridge this morning. Please help her drink it when she wakes up. It's still a bit hot, so it might take a while to cool down," Julian said, carefully removing a thermos from a beige paper bag. His handsome profile glowed softly in the morning light, exuding a gentle, reassuring aura. His long, pale fingers looked as if they could bring warmth and comfort to anyone.
Even though all his care and attention were meant for Lydia Moore, Elena Rivers couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her heart. She realized that she should be grateful to Lydia, shouldn't she? Without her, Elena would never have had the chance to be so close to him these past few days. Julian Reed was like a beacon of light, drawing people in with his natural nobility, making it impossible not to be captivated by him. She had fallen for him completely, and there was no way out.
Just then, Julian Reed handed her a sandwich in a paper box. Elena stared at him, almost overwhelmed by the gesture, looking at him with eyes that held a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
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