It had been three months since Shen Tinglan had left for Qinghe University, the most prestigious institution in the country. The house felt different without him. Lian Yue had never realized how much his silent presence had filled the corners of their home, giving her a strange sense of calm. Now, the silence was just... empty.
Liu Yuyan often tried to get her to visit, to join them for family dinners or weekend outings, but Lian Yue always had an excuse. "I'm really busy with studies," she would say, flashing a polite smile. In truth, she had chosen to stay in the school hostel even though she could have continued living with Shen Tinglan's family. The hostel was cramped, the food bland, and the noise constant, but it offered one thing she desperately needed—distance.
She told herself it was for the best. That keeping away from Shen Tinglan's world was the only way to sort out her feelings and not burden anyone else. It wasn't just him she was avoiding, but everything that reminded her of him: the garden where they once played, the dining table where he used to silently pass her the dishes she liked, the bookshelves filled with titles they'd both read.
Her classmates admired her brilliance, often whispering about how she was likely to skip grades again. "She's a genius," they said. "No wonder she lives in the hostel. Probably needs the quiet to study." None of them knew the truth—that the hostel was anything but quiet, and that she stayed there to escape, not to excel.
Shen Tinglan had not contacted her since he left. Not a single message, not even a forwarded email. It shouldn't have hurt—he'd always been distant, reserved, and indifferent. But now she knew why. He had understood. He had seen through her carefully concealed feelings and had chosen to walk away, without saying a word.
Lian Yue often found herself staring at the ceiling of her bunk bed at night, wondering if he ever thought of her. But she never allowed those thoughts to linger. She buried herself in studies, took on extra classes, and joined every academic club she could. If she was exhausted, she wouldn't think of him. If she was successful, maybe one day she wouldn't need to.
One Sunday, Liu Yuyan visited the hostel unexpectedly. She brought home-cooked food and sat with Lian Yue in the courtyard. "Yue'er, it's been so long. You look thinner. Are you eating well?" she asked gently.
Lian Yue smiled and nodded. "I'm fine, Aunt Liu. Just busy. How is everyone at home?"
"The same. Tinglan is doing well at Qinghe. He doesn't say much, but he seems settled. He sent some books for you. Said you might like them."
Lian Yue's heart skipped a beat, but she remained composed. "Thank him for me."
That evening, she opened the package of books. On top was a note in his handwriting: "For Yue. No need to reply."
She traced the letters with her fingers, her vision blurring. It was the only communication she had received from him in months, and it was a silent reminder that he had indeed walked away.
She put the note away, wiped her tears, and opened the first book. The story began with a girl who wanted to fly but was too afraid of falling. Lian Yue read through the night.