Era: Rise from the Wilderness

The hurried footsteps and the clinking of keys grew closer, like drumbeats striking the taut strings of their hearts.

Lu Ruoxi hastily wiped her wet eyes with her sleeve, then quickly pressed the back of her hand against her burning cheeks.

Li Yunjing quickly took two steps back, creating a "safe" distance, and his eyes swept across the tabletop rapidly.

Fortunately, the account books and money had already been put away, and there were only two empty water glasses and some scattered draft papers on the table.

"Snap!"

The key turned, and the door was pushed open.

A middle-aged couple walked in.

The man was wearing a neatly pressed black suit, glasses, and had a refined yet serious expression. He was carrying a black briefcase.

The woman was dressed in a well-fitting light blue suit, her hair neatly pulled back, exuding a capable air. She was carrying a net bag filled with freshly bought vegetables.

It was Lü Ruoxi's father, Lü Wenhua, and mother, Su Yumei.

The two were clearly not expecting guests to be home. When their gazes fell on Li Yunjing, who stood tall in the center of the room with a slightly awkward posture, they were both taken aback for a moment before looking at their daughter.

"Dad, Mom, why are you up so early today?"

Lu Ruoxi spoke first, her voice half an octave higher than usual, visibly nervous, and her forced smile was somewhat stiff.

"There wasn't much to do at work this afternoon, so I came home early."

Lu Wenhua put down his briefcase, his gaze lingering for a moment on his daughter's slightly flushed cheeks and evasive eyes, before turning to Li Yunjing and asking politely but scrutinizingly, "And this is...?"

Hello, Uncle and Aunt.

Li Yunjing steadied himself, took a half step forward, bowed slightly, and put on a polite but slightly shy smile, trying his best to look like a well-behaved student. "My name is Li Yunjing, and I am Ruoxi's high school classmate."

"Oh, classmate."

Su Yumei placed the groceries by the door and walked over, a polite smile on her face, but her eyes were also scrutinizing. "I don't think I've heard Ruoxi mention this much before? Please sit down, don't stand."

"Mom, he's the Li Yunjing from our class that I mentioned before."

Lü Ruoxi quickly added, trying to make the atmosphere more natural, "He heard that I was going to register at school tomorrow, so he came over... came over to say goodbye to me."

As she spoke, her eyes glanced at Li Yunjing, a hint of pleading in them.

"Yes, uncle and aunt."

Li Yunjing picked up the conversation, speaking sincerely, "It's because Ruoxi is going to university, and a few of us close classmates wanted to come and see her off."

"I just happened to be passing by today, so I came up to sit for a while and chat with Ruoxi."

"I didn't expect you two to be back so soon."

He tried his best to make his explanation sound reasonable and in line with normal interactions between classmates of this age.

But the lingering heat on her cheeks and Lü Ruoxi's obviously unnatural expression still created a subtle tension in the air.

"How did Xiao Li do on his college entrance exam?"

Lu Wenhua hummed in agreement, walked to the sofa, sat down, picked up the newspaper from the coffee table, flipped through it, and asked casually, "You got into university too, right? Where are you planning to study?"

This question was like a fine needle, gently pricking me.

Li Yunjing remained composed, maintaining her polite smile: "I didn't do very well on the exam, I didn't perform well, so I plan to repeat a year and try again next year."

He answered frankly, without deliberately avoiding the question or showing any sign of frustration.

"Retake the exam, huh?"

Su Yumei was pouring water when she heard this. She paused, glanced at her daughter, and handed a glass of water to Li Yunjing. "Retaking the exam is a good thing. Settle down and work hard for another year."

"It's okay for a boy to be a year late."

Despite saying that, the underlying message that "getting into university is the right path" was still subtly revealed in her tone.

Listening from the side, Lü Ruoxi felt a little uneasy and couldn't help but interject, "Mom, Yun Jing... he has his own ideas, he doesn't necessarily have to..."

"Ruoxi,"

Lu Wenhua interrupted her daughter, her tone calm but undeniable, "It's a good thing that Xiao Li is ambitious and has chosen to repeat a year."

"It's good for you young people to exchange and learn from each other's experiences."

He changed the subject and looked at Li Yunjing again, "Where will you be attending the repeat class? Has it been decided yet?"

"It's settled, it will be at our No. 25 Middle School."

Li Yunjing answered respectfully.

"No. 25 Middle School... Hmm, the teaching conditions are alright."

Lu Wenhua nodded, asked no more questions, and picked up his teacup to take a sip.

The atmosphere was subtly tense.

"Little Li, why don't you stay for dinner tonight?"

Su Yumei seemed to want to ease the tension, and said to Li Yunjing with a smile, "We just bought some groceries."

"No, no, thank you, Auntie."

Li Yunjing quickly waved his hand, "My family is waiting for me to come home too."

"I just came over to say a few words to Ruoxi, and then I'm leaving."

He knew he shouldn't stay any longer; if he did, it would only lead Lü Ruoxi's parents to have more unnecessary speculations.

"Alright then, the friendship between classmates is precious."

Lu Wenhua put down his newspaper, stood up, and said, "Ruoxi, see your classmate off."

"Um."

Lü Ruoxi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed.

"Uncle and Aunt, I'll be going now."

Li Yunjing politely bid farewell to Lü Wenhua and Su Yumei again, saying, "Sorry to bother you."

Take care, come visit again when you have time.

Su Yumei saw her to the door.

Lü Ruoxi accompanied Li Yunjing out of the house and into the stairwell.

In the dim light, the two looked at each other and saw a hint of relief at surviving the ordeal and a lingering tension in each other's eyes.

"That scared me to death..."

Lu Ruoxi patted her chest and said softly, her face still flushed.

"I almost did too..."

Li Yunjing gave a wry smile and lowered his voice, "Your parents... have quite a presence."

"That's just how they are."

Lu Ruoxi looked at him with some helplessness, then looked at him with concern, "Are you... alright? My dad..."

"fine."

Li Yunjing shook his head, regaining his composure. "As expected. I'm leaving. You... go back. Remember what we agreed on."

"Um."

Lü Ruoxi nodded vigorously, her eyes softening with longing once more. "Be careful on the road. Write a letter."

Li Yunjing looked at her deeply, as if trying to etch her image into his heart, then turned and quickly walked down the stairs.

Lu Ruoxi stood at the entrance of the building, listening to his footsteps gradually receding into the distance until they completely disappeared, before slowly turning around and going home.

As soon as I opened the door, my parents' inquisitive gazes immediately fell upon me.

"Your classmate... looks quite energetic."

Su Yumei said casually as she picked vegetables.

"Yeah, he's a nice person."

Lu Ruoxi gave a vague reply, not daring to say more, and quickly slipped back to her room. She closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Unconsciously, his hand touched his lips, where the electric-like temperature and sensation still seemed to linger.

My heart was still racing, and my cheeks were still burning.

That flustered yet sweet first kiss, and the shock of her parents' sudden return, were like ice and fire intertwined, leaving her unable to calm down for a long time.