Chapter 666 Too Much Pressure
In her world, Qi Tongwei was the first person who made her so moved and fascinated. She had lived in a wealthy family since she was a child. Her father's halo protected her from the wind and rain, but it also made her emotional world a little barren. The appearance of Qi Tongwei, with his tenacity and intelligence from the bottom of the society, was like a unique light, shining directly into the softest corner of her heart.
At first, she just followed Qi Tongwei in the library and attended academic activities. She would reserve a seat near Qi Tongwei in advance, and quietly hand him a cup of warm coffee when he was concentrating on reading. Seeing the surprise and gratitude in his eyes, her heart was filled with sweetness. But as the relationship grew, she became more and more eager to walk side by side with Qi Tongwei openly, so there was the confession that shocked the campus.
When Qi Tongwei said no, Liang Lu felt like she was struck by lightning. Back in the dormitory, she covered herself with the quilt, her tears soaking the pillow. She could not hear her roommates' gentle words of comfort, as her mind was filled with Qi Tongwei's resolute expression. That night, she tossed and turned, her mind kept flashing back to the little moments of their time together, from the initial smile to the in-depth conversation later, every detail was infinitely magnified, becoming a thorn in her heart.
After that, Liang Lu did not really give up. She began to create chance encounters frequently. On the way Qi Tongwei had to go to class, she would pretend to pass by, holding a carefully prepared breakfast in her hand, and said in the most cheerful tone: "What a coincidence, let's eat together." But Qi Tongwei always made excuses and avoided her eyes. In the cafeteria, she would prepare Qi Tongwei's favorite dishes early, sit opposite him with the plate, and try to start a conversation regardless of the strange looks from the students around her, but Qi Tongwei's response was always polite and distant.
The rumors on campus became more and more rampant. Some people said that Liang Lu was paying for Qi Tongwei, and some people said that Qi Tongwei was ungrateful. These words cut Liang Lu's heart like a knife, but she didn't care. As long as she could get closer to Qi Tongwei, she was willing to bear everything. However, Qi Tongwei became more determined to stay away from him in this whirlpool of public opinion. His academic performance had been seriously affected. The disappointment of his tutor and the misunderstanding of his classmates made him miserable.
Once, the school organized a field practice activity, and Liang Lu did everything she could to be in the same group with Qi Tongwei. In the forest, she deliberately sprained her ankle and whispered to Qi Tongwei for help. Qi Tongwei hesitated for a moment, but still stepped forward to support her. Liang Lu took the opportunity to lean on his arms, tears burst out, and choked and said: "Tongwei, I really can't live without you, give me a chance, okay?" Qi Tongwei trembled in his heart, but still gritted his teeth, gently pushed her away, and said: "Liang Lu, don't do this, we can't go back." At that moment, Liang Lu saw the determination in Qi Tongwei's eyes, and despair overwhelmed her like a tide.
After returning to school, Liang Lu became silent and often sat by the lake in a daze. Her grades also plummeted. The teacher talked to her many times, but she was immersed in the pain of losing love and couldn't extricate herself. Her father watched his daughter become increasingly haggard, distressed and helpless, and tried to arrange a blind date for her, hoping that a new relationship could help her get out of the haze, but Liang Lu refused.
After Qi Tongwei drew a line between himself and Liang Lu, he studied hard, trying to fill his inner wounds with knowledge and redeem his delayed future. He was the first one to enter the library and the last one to leave. In the countless days and nights, he gradually found his former high-spirited self. But every night when it was quiet, he would still think of Liang Lu's tearful eyes, which was the pain he could not let go of when he was young.
Many years later, Liang Lu and Qi Tongwei met again at a class reunion. Liang Lu had married and had children arranged by her father, but the loneliness in her eyes remained. Qi Tongwei had a successful career, but he had also experienced vicissitudes. When the two looked at each other, thousands of words came to their minds, but turned into a faint smile.
At the class reunion, after a brief eye contact, Qi Tongwei was the first to look away, holding up his glass and pretending to be calm while greeting others, but only he knew that his heart was trembling slightly. Liang Lu also quickly came back to her senses, with a seemingly calm smile on her lips, blending into the lively crowd, but her eyes occasionally drifted towards Qi Tongwei, hiding the obsession that had not dissipated for many years.
When the show ended, it was already late at night, and everyone said goodbye in twos and threes. Liang Lu saw Qi Tongwei walking towards the parking lot alone, and she made up her mind and quickly followed him. "Tongwei," she called softly. Qi Tongwei paused, turned slowly, and asked politely on his face: "Liang Lu, is there anything wrong?" Liang Lu raised her head slightly, and the street lights made the fine lines at the corners of her eyes particularly clear. Although she was carefully made up, the years still left traces. "I... I just wanted to talk to you. It's been a long time." Her voice trembled imperceptibly. Qi Tongwei subconsciously clenched the car keys and forced a smile: "Yeah, it's been a long time. Are you doing well?"
After that, Liang Lu seemed to be trapped in the memories of the past, and the resentment of not getting what she wanted in the past was burning again. She found out where Qi Tongwei lived, and in the early morning, before dawn, she got up and carefully prepared breakfast, all according to Qi Tongwei's taste when he was young, with finely ground soy milk and fried dough sticks golden and crispy. She stood downstairs of Qi Tongwei's house, shivering in the cold wind, just to wait for him to come downstairs to give her this "heartfelt gift".
Qi Tongwei was shocked when he saw Liang Lu standing downstairs for the first time. When he saw the breakfast in her hand, his brows knitted instantly. "Liang Lu, what are you doing?" He said helplessly. Liang Lu's eyes were red: "I... I just want you to have something hot, like before." Qi Tongwei smiled bitterly: "Liang Lu, the past is the past, don't do this." After that, he walked around Liang Lu and strode away. The aroma of breakfast drifted in the cold wind. Liang Lu's hands froze in mid-air, and tears burst out of her eyes.
This scene was repeated over and over again. Neighbors in the community began to whisper and looked at Qi Tongwei with a little more inquiry. Qi Tongwei couldn't stand it. His career was at a critical stage of growth, and he couldn't let these groundless rumors affect his future. More importantly, he finally healed the pain caused by the entanglement. Between him and Liang Lu, it was not just the ten-year age difference, but also the gap between youth and maturity, ideals and reality. At that time, he was young and wanted to make a name for himself with his studies and carry the expectations of his family. Liang Lu's passionate pursuit, in his eyes at that time, was a sweet but dangerous burden.
Now, Liang Lu, who is almost 30 years old, has completely lost the lively spirit she had on campus in Qi Tongwei's eyes. Her persistence is no longer affectionate, but a tangle that gives him a headache. Once, Liang Lu blocked Qi Tongwei downstairs of the company, ignoring the eyes of others, and grabbed his arm: "Tongwei, can you really not give me another chance? I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have put so much pressure on you back then."