Chapter One: Love at First Sight

The night before I started high school, an unexplainable restlessness settled in my heart. With nothing else to do, I decided to go out for a stroll.

In the height of summer, the night air was filled with a gentle, sweet fragrance. Walking along the main street, watching the crowds finally heading home after a long day with a sense of relief, my mood gradually calmed.

But then, a noise drifting from a dark alleyway at the street corner caught my attention.

“Help—mmph—”

“Damn it, if you scream again I swear I’ll kill you!”

“Mmm! Mmm!”

At that, I suddenly realized that someone was in danger.

I’d only ever seen such things on television. Never did I expect such a thing to happen right in front of me.

There was no time to weigh whether I should help, or to consider the risk of getting hurt by the criminal. I glanced around and spotted half a brick lying under an advertising sign at the corner.

Clutching the brick, I crept slowly into the pitch-dark alley, moving quietly toward the source of the sounds.

“Smack!”

“Be quiet, or I’ll hit you again,” a man threatened in a low, vicious voice.

“Mmm! Mmm!”

The girl must have had her mouth covered, for all I could hear were muffled cries.

My eyes gradually adapted to the darkness. I could make out a man holding a girl, one hand clamped over her mouth, the other tearing at her clothes, while she fought back with all her strength.

Only a few steps separated us. The man, with his back to me, hadn’t yet noticed my approach.

I decided to act first. “Hey!” I shouted, startling the man enough that he jerked in surprise.

As he turned to see what was happening, I stepped forward and slammed the brick into his face.

He howled in pain, clutching his face and crouching down.

Seizing the moment, I dropped the brick, grabbed the girl’s hand, and yelled, “Run!”

We managed only a few steps before the girl collapsed to the ground.

“Hurry, get up!” I urged, desperate.

“My...my legs...they’re weak...” she sobbed, her voice trembling.

I looked back and saw the man already struggling to get up. Truthfully, the only reason I’d managed to bring him down was the element of surprise. If he’d been the least bit prepared, his rage could have easily turned deadly.

I hadn’t seen a knife before, but any villain out to commit such a crime would surely be carrying a weapon. If he recovered his composure, tonight might end very badly for us.

With that in mind, I quickly hoisted the terrified, limp girl onto my back and ran for dear life. All we needed was to reach a populated area and we’d be safe.

“Stop right there!” the man shouted behind us.

We’d barely gone a few steps before he was up again, stumbling after us with a glinting knife in his hand.

One look over my shoulder at the sight spurred my legs into action. I didn’t know how long we ran, but only when I saw people on the road ahead—and glanced back to find our pursuer gone—did all my strength drain away. The girl and I collapsed together on the ground.

“Are you...are you okay?” the girl’s voice came, still shaky but sweet and soft.

It took several deep breaths before I recovered enough to turn and look at her. She was sitting on the ground, concern in her teary eyes.

She wore her hair in two little braids, her delicate face streaked with tears, eyes shining in the dim light. She wore denim, and though young, she already had the shapeliness that might have drawn the predator’s attention.

I sat on the curb and sighed in relief. “I’m fine.”

“Why were you out so late? Shouldn’t you be at home?” That was what really concerned me. What was a girl doing wandering outside alone at this hour?

“I...wuwuwu...” The moment I brought it up, she broke into tears again.

“Hey, don’t cry.” I was terrible at dealing with crying girls—it left me completely helpless.

But the more I tried to comfort her, the harder she sobbed.

“It’s all right now, really,” I said, patting her shoulder awkwardly, not sure how to console someone so overwhelmed.

As I puzzled over what to do, she suddenly threw herself into my arms and just cried.

I remembered reading somewhere that crying is one of the best ways to release pent-up emotions, so I let her cry for a while.

“Hey, beautiful, if you must cry, at least don’t wipe your nose on my shirt,” I joked gently, trying to lighten the mood after some time had passed.

She couldn’t help but laugh through her tears, and in doing so, accidentally got her nose on my shirt anyway.

“Oh, come on!” I groaned, resigned to my own cleverness.

“I...I didn’t mean to,” she said, embarrassed, finally sitting up and withdrawing from my arms.

“It’s all right, I know you didn’t. And you’ve cried enough for one night,” I said, using my sleeve to wipe the last traces of tears from her cheeks.

She didn’t flinch, just blinked at me with wide eyes.

“What are you staring at? It’s not my fault I’m good-looking,” I teased.

“Hmph, narcissist,” she muttered, a sudden blush coloring her cheeks.

“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” I realized I didn’t even know her name, though she’d cried in my arms for so long.

“Oh, right, I’m Luo Si—from the character for ‘longing’,” she replied.

“Luo Si? Like ‘screw’? Nice name. So what were you doing out so late?”

“I was at a classmate’s house,” she explained.

That made everything clear. Luo Si had been at a friend’s place, and on her way home, passing through the alley, she’d been dragged in by the lurking predator.

“So, do you want to report this to the police? Make sure that criminal pays for what he’s done?” I suggested.

“The police? But what if he finds out who I am and takes revenge? Maybe...maybe we shouldn’t,” she said nervously, clutching my sleeve.

She’d clearly been frightened enough. Besides, I’d already given the guy a taste of justice with the brick. There was no guarantee the police would catch him, and pressing charges could lead to more complications. Since she didn’t want to report it, I decided not to push.

“All right, I’ll walk you home then. It’s not safe out here at night.”

“Okay,” she agreed at once, clearly still shaken.

“Don’t go wandering around alone at night again. And if you must, bring a friend.”

She nodded vigorously, like a pecking chick. I doubted she’d need further warning. As the saying goes, ‘Once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of well ropes.’ She’d probably be too scared to go out at night for a long time.

Soon, we reached the entrance to a neighborhood called Shaolai Residence.

“We’re here. Thank you for tonight,” she said.

“No need, it was nothing. You head home now—it’s late, and I should get back too.” Seeing there was a guard at the entrance, I was reassured about her safety.

“Goodbye, take care,” she called.

“Will do. Goodnight,” I replied, striding away.

“Wait, what’s your name?” her voice carried after me.

“Me? I’m Lei Feng,” I called back, then hurried off.

Of course, I wasn’t really Lei Feng. But I’d always admired Uncle Lei Feng’s selfless deeds—helping others without seeking recognition.

A quick introduction: my name is Yan Ruyu. Yes, it’s a rather feminine name, inspired by the saying, “A gentleman as gentle as jade.” My parents hoped I would grow to be gentle and refined, a true gentleman.

Back home, my parents were already asleep. I washed and hung up my half-sleeved shirt, now soaked with Luo Si’s tears and snot, then hurried off to bed.