Earlier that morning in class, Lian Yu had given himself a mission, and in his mind, it was the most important task of the day. He called it, very seriously, "Mission: Avoid Ciao Ren at all costs."
Now, if someone else heard that, they would probably think it was simple. Just stay away from her, keep your distance, and mind your business. But for Lian Yu, it was anything but simple.
Because out of all the people in that lecture hall, out of all the possible arrangements that could have been made, fate decided to be cruel in the most ridiculous way. A girl like Ciao Ren ended up being assigned to his group.
And not just any girl. She was beautiful in a quiet, effortless way. The kind of girl who did not need attention but still attracted it. The kind of girl who carried herself with dignity and calm, making it impossible for anyone to look down on her.
And what did Lian Yu do in response to this rare blessing?
He rejected her.
Just like that.
If there was something like an advanced level of avoidance, then Lian Yu had clearly reached it. In fact, he had gone beyond normal behavior into something that could only be described as absurd.
When it was time to settle into groups, the classroom was filled with movement and chatter. Chairs shifted against the floor, students called out to one another, and the atmosphere was lively as everyone found their place.
As expected, Luo took the initiative.
"Let's sit together," he said casually, already moving as if the decision had been made. It was the obvious choice. In both lifetimes, they had been top students. Pairing up made sense academically and practically.
But before Luo could settle in, Lian Yu spoke.
"No."
The word came out firm and unexpected.
Luo paused and turned to look at him, confusion immediately appearing on his face.
"I already have someone reserved," Lian Yu added calmly. "Someone is staying with me."
That made even less sense.
Luo frowned slightly, trying to process what he had just heard. His eyes briefly shifted toward Ciao Ren, who was standing nearby, clearly part of their group.
"What is wrong with you?" Luo asked in a low voice, careful not to draw attention. There was genuine confusion in his tone.
Lian Yu did not react the way one would expect. He did not argue or explain in detail. Instead, he said quietly, "Trust me. I will die if I get too close to her."
For a moment, Luo simply stared at him.
The statement sounded ridiculous, but something about Lian Yu's expression made it difficult to dismiss completely. This was not the first time he had said something like this. Previously, he had made a similar comment about Sujiang.
At the time, Luo had ignored it, assuming it was just one of his strange remarks. But now, hearing it again, he could not help but feel that something deeper was going on.
Still, this was not the time for such drama.
"This is class," Luo said, keeping his voice steady. "You should not act like this. I have known you for months. You are not someone who behaves irrationally without reason."
Lian Yu did not respond to that directly.
Instead, he turned slightly and gave Ciao Ren a small, apologetic smile.
She stood there, her expression composed, but her eyes revealed a hint of confusion. She was not the type to make a scene or demand an explanation. That was part of who she was, and part of why he admired her so much.
She valued her dignity.
She would not lower herself over something like this. And that only made things harder for him.
Lian Yu sighed inwardly.
He had started calling himself foolish lately, and moments like this only confirmed it. What kind of person pushes away the person they care about the most, knowing full well it is for their own survival?
Yet, despite everything, he found a small comfort in one thing. He could still look at her.
Not directly, not obviously, but from time to time, he allowed himself brief glances. It was harmless, or at least he convinced himself that it was. As long as he kept his distance, there would be no danger.
He was simply admiring her from afar.
That, at least, felt safe.
There was another piece of relief as well. Sujiang was nowhere near him. She sat at the far end of the lecture hall, almost lost among the many students from the combined classes. The distance between them was enough that he did not have to worry about accidental encounters.
For now, that meant peace.
The kind of peace he had not expected to have today.
As the lecture began and the professor's voice filled the room, Lian Yu allowed himself to relax slightly. Things were going more smoothly than he had anticipated.
It was almost ironic.
He had expected chaos, complications, and constant tension. Instead, he found himself sitting quietly, carefully maintaining distance, and navigating the situation in the only way he could.
By staying away from the person he loved the most.
___
Lectures ended with the usual wave of noise as students packed their bags and filtered out of the classroom, their conversations overlapping in a lively hum. Luo stretched beside Lian Yu and nudged him with a grin.
"Hey, psycho, do you want to play some video games?"
Lian Yu shook his head as he zipped up his bag. "I will pass."
Luo frowned slightly. "Why?"
"I have something important to do. You go ahead. I promise I will play with you next time you suggest it." Lian Yu lifted his backpack onto his shoulder, already turning away. "I will be off now."
He did not wait for a response. His steps were long and purposeful as he left the classroom, blending quickly into the moving crowd.
By the time he arrived at the police station, the day had dulled into a quiet, gray evening. The building looked just as it had before, stern and uninviting, with an air of tension that never quite left its walls. Inside, officers moved about with practiced urgency, voices low but constant, phones ringing intermittently as if the place itself refused to rest.
Lian Yu did not pay attention to any of it. He had not come here to observe. He had come for one person.
After a brief exchange, he was led through the corridors toward the holding area. The deeper they went, the quieter it became, until the noise of the station faded into a distant echo. The air felt heavier there, the presence of iron doors and confined space pressing subtly against the senses.
He was told to wait.
Lian Yu sat down, his posture relaxed but his gaze steady, fixed on the empty seat across from him. The metal table between them reflected the harsh overhead light, making the space feel colder than it actually was.
Soon, footsteps approached. There was the faint sound of movement, followed by the presence he had expected.
"Look who decided to visit," his father said
with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Do you miss me?"
Lian Yu let out a quiet scoff. "As if. I came here because this will be the last time I show up. The last time you will ever see me."
His father's expression shifted slightly, displeasure flashing across his face before it settled into something more controlled.
"Aren't you the cat I trained?" he said, his tone laced with mockery. "Is this how you take care of your master during a time of trouble? What a bad kitten."
The words lingered in the air.
Lian Yu smiled, but there was no warmth in it. Those words had once held power over him. When he was younger, they had been repeated so often that they became part of his thinking. Every mistake, every action his father disapproved of, was followed by that same phrase until it rooted itself deep in his mind.
He had believed it then. He had believed that being spared meant he was loved, while his sister suffered and his mother endured. He had mistaken control for care and silence for protection.
Now, he saw it for what it truly was. A method. A leash. Something meant to shape him into obedience without resistance. The realization no longer hurt. It only disgusted him.
"Then let me tell you something," Lian Yu said calmly, leaning slightly forward. "There are no puppets for you to control anymore. You should stop using that phrase. It does not work."
His father's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
"No one belongs to you," Lian Yu continued. "No one is something you can command or break at will. And I will make sure you stay here for the rest of your life."
There was no rise in his voice, no dramatic emphasis. Just that calm certainty carried more weight than anger ever could.
"I will make sure no one comes to save you. I will make sure you understand what it feels like to live in fear, the same way my sister did, the same way my mother did."
A faint tension appeared in his father's expression now, subtle but undeniable.
"And I will make sure you do not escape it," Lian Yu added.
For the first time, something close to fear surfaced in the man's eyes.
"You never controlled me," Lian Yu said, his voice quieter now but unwavering. "I was afraid. That is all. But you did teach me something useful." He straightened as he stood.
"You taught me how to hide what I am capable of."
He turned slightly, preparing to leave.
"And I will use that to protect the people I care about."
"Wait," his father called out, the composure in his voice cracking. "You cannot do this to me. I am your father."
Lian Yu paused, but he did not turn back.
"My father," he said, "died the moment he told me he killed my mother."
With that, he walked away, his steps steady and without hesitation. This time, there was nothing behind him worth looking back at.
__
When Lian Yu got back home, the first thing he noticed was how quiet everything felt. Not peaceful quiet, but empty quiet. The kind that makes it obvious someone is no longer there. He didn't bother calling out. He already knew.
His mother had left.
For a moment, he stood there, just looking around the living room. Everything was still in place, nothing looked different, yet the house felt completely hollow. The dining table, the couch, the faint scent of food from earlier—it was all there, but it didn't matter.
He wasn't attached to this place.
He never had been.
So instead of standing around thinking about it, he went straight to his room and started packing. His movements were quick and efficient, like he had already planned this in his head long ago. Clothes, documents, a few necessities—nothing extra, nothing sentimental.
Once he was done, he zipped up his suitcase, picked it up, and walked out of the house without looking back.
Outside, the night air hit his face, cool and steady. The city was still alive, as always, with cars passing by and distant voices blending into the background. He didn't waste time. He flagged down a taxi and got in.
"Jing'an Riverside Residence," he said.
The driver nodded and drove off.
Lian Yu leaned back slightly as the city lights passed by the window. His mind was already set. If he wanted to protect his sister, then distance was not an option. He had to be there, physically present. Anything less would be useless.
By the time he arrived, it was fully night. The apartment complex stood tall and modern, brightly lit and well maintained. It looked like the kind of place people would call safe.
He paid the driver, stepped out, and walked inside, pulling his suitcase along. The elevator ride was short, and soon enough, he was standing in front of his sister's door.
He knocked.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
"A'Yu?" his sister said, clearly surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Lian Yu gave her his usual easy smile, like nothing about this was strange.
"Hello, sister," he said casually. "I'm moving in."
She blinked, still processing his words.
Behind her, her husband appeared, and the moment he saw Lian Yu standing there with a suitcase, his expression immediately changed. He didn't even try to hide it. His face tightened, his eyes darkening with obvious displeasure.
On the other hand, Lian Yu's sister looked completely different. She was still surprised, but there was something else there too.
Relief. Maybe even happiness.
Seeing him there, standing casually like he belonged, clearly meant something to her.
The contrast between them was obvious.
Lian Yu, however, acted like everything was normal. He stood at the doorway, relaxed, confident, as if this decision had already been accepted.
Because in his mind, it had. He wasn't asking. He was staying. And that is final.