4. The Campus Supporting Male Lead

Chengnan High School has a vibrant student life, filled with various festivals throughout the year, including an annual excursion. Of course, this is limited to students in their first and second years; third-year students may attend cultural and arts festivals as spectators, but the excursion is canceled for them.

Therefore, this excursion would be the last one for everyone during their high school years.

As soon as the homeroom teacher announced the news, the entire class erupted in excitement. Even the top students paused their relentless studying and problem-solving to gather around and speculate about the arrangements.

Chu Xiang’s desk mate Jiang Yuan, Wu Qiyun’s desk mate Liu Yanyan, and the two students sitting behind him all leaned over toward his desk, chatting with great enthusiasm.

"We went camping in the mountains last year, so they probably won't do that again, right?"

"I looked up the location—it seems to be at the beach!"

"Wow, the beach!" Liu Yanyan’s eyes brightened, and she immediately began to dream. "I was actually just telling Qiyun that we should go to the beach for our graduation trip!"

At the mention of Wu Qiyun, everyone looked toward the empty seat. A few days ago, Wu Qiyun’s mother had come to the school to see her, and shortly after, she had requested leave. She hadn't attended classes all week, and everyone wondered if something had happened at home.

Liu Yanyan nudged Chu Xiang, who was resting his head on his desk, half-asleep. "Chu Xiang, you have your phone on you, right? Can you ask Qiyun if she’ll be able to make it to the excursion?"

Chu Xiang opened his eyes, lifted his head slightly to look at the empty seat, and frowned. "I don’t have her number."

Liu Yanyan immediately said, "I do—wait, it’s in my phone, but I don’t have it memorized... and my phone was handed in at home..."

Jiang Yuan suggested, "She’s in the class group chat. You can just add her on QQ."

Chu Xiang grunted in agreement, pulled out his phone, found the group chat, located Wu Qiyun’s profile, and sent a request. But there was no response for a long time.

Liu Yanyan felt disappointed and worried. "Maybe something really did happen at home. I’ll ask her when I go home this weekend."

Jiang Yuan remarked, "With how hard she studies, she would have been back in class by now if it weren't something serious. She hasn't been here for days; her hands must be cramping from copying all those notes."

Liu Yanyan laughed at him. "You think she’s like us? I’m pretty sure she finished the coursework for this semester a long time ago. She usually spends her time on competition problems, preparing for the June contests."

"What?!" everyone exclaimed in shock.

Chu Xiang’s eyes widened as well. Wu Qiyun always seemed like a bookworm—and he had discovered she was indeed brilliant after asking her a few questions—but to be such an overachiever?

The spirits of average top students like Jiang Yuan were crushed. They lost interest in discussing the spring outing, sat back down, and stared blankly at their books for a moment before furiously scribbling away.

That evening, when he got home, Chu Xiang asked Yang Yunan, "Did you know Wu Qiyun has already finished the second-year curriculum?"

Yang Yunan asked, "Wu Qiyun? Who?"

Chu Xiang replied, "The study committee member!"

Yang Yunan had a sudden realization. "Oh, that nerd? She's that intense? Isn't the semester just starting? But I guess that’s normal; she’s a top-tier student. Aren't they all like that?"

He spoke with his usual cavalier attitude, showing no self-reflection or shame. Chu Xiang sighed and shook his head.

"What's with you?" Yang Yunan asked, confused.

Chu Xiang gave up on talking about academics with a slacker and changed the subject. "It sounds like we’re going to the beach for the spring trip. Have you heard any details?"

At this, Yang Yunan perked up. He had done his research.

"I checked. It’s at the beach, and we get to stay on an island for one night. The place looks amazing—facing the sea, with flowers blooming in the spring!"

Chu Xiang smiled at the poetic description, remembering how Liu Yanyan and Wu Qiyun had planned a graduation trip to the beach.

"The girls should be happy. They all love the beach."

Yang Yunan subconsciously replied, "I love it too! We can play beach volleyball. Oh, and there’s live-action CS (Counter-Strike) on the island." Then, recalling what Chu Xiang had just said, he mused, "Girls love the beach, huh... Did you know? The first and second years are going together this time. No separation."

Chu Xiang looked at him, seemingly understanding. "When talking about girls, why did you bring up the first-year students?"

Yang Yunan felt inexplicably guilty, though he didn't know why he should feel that way in front of Chu Xiang. "Why can't I mention it? It just crossed my mind... Chen Qian, doesn't he talk about his 'little junior' every day? His girlfriend is a first-year!"

Chu Xiang chuckled and joined in teasing Chen Qian. "Ever since he got a girlfriend, he’s completely left us behind."

Yang Yunan nodded in agreement and patted Chu Xiang on the shoulder. "Chu Xiang, you can’t be like that. Never put romance before friendship."

Chu Xiang replied pointedly, "I should be saying that to you. Don't go forgetting your brother here once you start falling for someone."

Yang Yunan laughed. "Only a dog would put romance before friendship!"

Chu Xiang burst into laughter.

The day before the deadline for the excursion sign-ups, Wu Qiyun returned and managed to make it in time. Liu Yanyan might have asked her if something happened, or maybe she hadn't; regardless, no one brought it up. Once she returned, everyone went back to their usual routines.

For the first few days, Chu Xiang observed her quietly and noticed that she seemed perfectly normal. In fact, she was even more diligent, burying her head in her work whenever she had a free moment, as if trying to make up for lost time.

Seeing her so focused, Chu Xiang assumed everything was fine and stopped paying attention.

One evening after the first period of night study, Yang Yunan dragged Chu Xiang to the playground, wanting to spy on Chen Qian’s date. Chu Xiang was pulled along like a petty thief in a movie, stealthily trailing the couple from afar. He watched as the boy and girl walked side by side, their hands brushing against each other occasionally. The boy’s fingers twitched several times until he finally hooked his pinky around the girl’s.

The girl trembled and tried to pull away, but the boy firmly grasped her hand.

"Oh my god, they’re holding hands!" Yang Yunan was as excited as if he were the one holding her hand.

Chu Xiang actually felt a stir in his own heart. The romance of adolescence was truly pure and alluring. It was a pity that he was only surrounded by this foolish, straight-laced guy and had no one to share such a hazy, budding affection with.

Chen Qian and his girlfriend continued walking around the track in silence, hands linked, until they reached the shade of some trees. Chen Qian stopped and turned to face her.

Yang Yunan gripped Chu Xiang’s arm tightly. "Are they going to kiss?!!!"

Chu Xiang’s arm hurt. Just then, the bell for the next class rang.

Chu Xiang said, "Class is starting. Let’s go."

Yang Yunan refused. "The best part is about to happen! Wait, just wait!"

Chu Xiang dragged him away. "That’s Chen Qian’s first kiss. If you keep peeping, you’ll traumatize him."

Yang Yunan didn't care; he just wanted to watch the show, but he didn't dare make a scene for fear of being caught. He was forced away by Chu Xiang, his neck craning back to look at the shadows.

They sauntered back, and by the time they reached the classroom, the students were already on the third set of eye exercises. Yang Yunan slipped through the back door to his seat. Chu Xiang entered calmly through the front. As he passed the front rows and reached Wu Qiyun’s desk, he stopped.

The girl was performing the eye exercises with standard precision, but tears were streaming down her face. It was a quiet, motionless kind of crying—besides the tears flowing, she was as calm as if she were genuinely doing the exercises.

Chu Xiang understood that feeling. A year ago, when his grandfather passed away, the original owner of this body had been exactly like this, and those emotions had been passed on to him.

A slender hand reached out and gripped her wrist, stopping the mechanical movement.

Wu Qiyun opened her eyes in surprise. Her vision was blurred by tears, but through the mist, she saw a look of rare, earnest concern on Chu Xiang’s face. He pulled her toward the door.

Wu Qiyun struggled for a moment, but she couldn't break his grip. Fearing that a scene would draw the attention of her classmates and reveal her tear-streaked face, she had no choice but to follow him out of the classroom.

Chu Xiang held her wrist as they walked, only slowing his pace once they were out of the school building.

Wu Qiyun tugged at her wrist. "Chu Xiang..."

He let go and kept walking. "If you’re feeling stifled, walking helps. The playground is dark; no one can see you." Cry if you need to, he thought; you don't have to wait for those few minutes of eye exercises.

Wu Qiyun felt a tremor in her heart. Although she wanted to fool herself into thinking he hadn't noticed her crying, she knew that was impossible. She looked down, unconsciously following his footsteps.

Chu Xiang wasn't good at comforting people, so he simply took her to the playground, walking with her around the track, lap after lap. Occasionally, they would startle a couple of secret lovers, but he ignored them and kept walking.

Wu Qiyun’s mood shifted from sadness to embarrassment, then to a release of sorrow, and finally, to a slow, calm state. After the walk, she spoke up. "I feel much better."

Chu Xiang stopped. They were standing under a streetlamp. He lifted the corner of his mouth, his expression relaxing. "Head back?"

Wu Qiyun nodded. As they walked out of the playground, she said softly, "Thank you."

Chu Xiang looked up at the night sky. "You were the one who was strong."

Wu Qiyun shook her head. "I couldn't control my emotions tonight. I feel much better after walking it off. Thank you."

Chu Xiang spoke as if to her, yet also to himself. "I just... I once crossed a river and was nearly drowned by its currents. So, when I see someone else crossing, I can't help but want to build them a bridge, as if I had one for myself back then."

Wu Qiyun looked up at him, stunned. "Your... your parents..."

"Yes."

"Are they divorced, too?"

Chu Xiang looked down in surprise. "Divorced?"

Wu Qiyun realized that was definitely not it. But her own secrets had already been exposed. She had been feeling suffocated, and with someone so gentle beside her, she couldn't help but pour out a little. "It’ll be soon, I suppose. They’ve been fighting for over a decade... but this time, my dad is firm. The reason I took leave... my mom asked me to go find him and beg him not to divorce."

Chu Xiang found it unbelievable. "Why would she ask you to do that?"

Wu Qiyun lowered her eyes. "My dad has many other families out there, but I’m his only child. My mother refuses to divorce and has pinned all her hopes on me." What pained her even more was that her mother was like a drowning person, obsessively clinging to the idea of keeping her husband, and she had become the straw her mother was gripping onto for dear life.

Chu Xiang understood her pain. She was just a child, yet she was forced to participate in her parents' emotional entanglements and carry the burden of their failing marriage.

He reached out and patted the girl’s shoulder, which seemed to be collapsing under the weight. "It has nothing to do with you. Whether they divorce or not, it’s not your responsibility. You just need to repay their care in the future."

Wu Qiyun nodded, then couldn't help but ask, "You said 'yes' just now..."

Chu Xiang replied, "I thought you were going to say..." He smiled and shook his head. "My parents both passed away."

Wu Qiyun’s jaw dropped in shock. She suddenly regretted bringing up the topic. Seeing her face filled with guilt and regret, Chu Xiang joked to comfort her: "Does it feel a little less painful when you compare it?"

Wu Qiyun shook her head vigorously, but she didn't know what to say. Yes, by comparison, her pain seemed so insignificant; at least her parents were still alive. But such a comparison felt so cruel—that was Chu Xiang’s actual, painful experience.

Chu Xiang told her, "Human suffering cannot be ranked. In that moment, any kind of pain feels suffocating. But as long as you... walk through it, things get better." After saying this, he flicked her ponytail gently. "Let’s go. Back to studying."

The long, black ponytail swung in an arc through the air. The boy shoved his hands into his school trouser pockets and strolled lazily ahead.

Wu Qiyun stood in place, watching his slender back. The overwhelming depression of the night receded like the tide.

The two returned to the classroom one after the other, their expressions normal, as if nothing had happened.

Throughout the night, Chu Xiang sat in the back and observed her a few times, seeing only her focused, diligent back as she wrote. He was surprised at first, then smiled.

After digging into his memories, he already knew who Wu Qiyun’s father was—a famous local entrepreneur. If not for the events that happened later, he would never have guessed that such a hardworking, intense student could be the only daughter of the Wu family. But because he knew of the Wu family’s affairs, he admired Wu Qiyun even more. She was incredibly resilient, untainted by the mud she grew in, much like a blade of grass that, no matter how harsh the environment, would always grow into the determined figure she was today.

Chu Xiang’s gaze couldn't help but be drawn to her, curious to see with his own eyes how she would eventually step out of the pain and hardships imposed upon her by the Wu family and her own parents.