She kept this boy who exuded the scent of sunshine in her heart, before her heart turned completely dark.

After the beginning of autumn, the weather gradually became brighter, with a blue sky, white clouds, and a wind that annoyed the girls with disheveled hair.
Since she started working in the cake shop, Lv Aicao has felt that every second counts. The boss has introduced several new cakes that cater to the tastes of young people, and the shop has become popular again. She is too busy to take care of everything, so the plan to travel with Xu Yuan on National Day has to be cancelled.
It feels a bit unfair to make a wish.
Lu Aicao almost said, "Go find Le You," but after thinking about it, she finally held back her words. Since she said such decisive words last time, those two people really haven't appeared in her life again.
Well, who could have the nerve to come near me after hearing such blunt and hurtful words?
Thinking of this, Lu Aicao felt inexplicably discouraged and slowed down the pace of packing the cakes.
It was already 7:30 in the evening. The street outside the store was flashing with lights, and young men and women were eating, drinking and having fun hand in hand.
And she could only pack cakes for others here while she was hungry.
"Hello, a total of twenty-five pieces." Lu Aicao handed the cake to the customer, but when she looked up, she saw Yang Xingxue pushing the door open.
She was wearing a suit and a pair of bright yellow high heels, which made her look even more dazzling under the warm lights of the cake shop. Several male customers who were eating in the shop subconsciously lowered their voices when they saw her.
She always lives like a princess.
A bitter smile spread across Lu Aicao's lips, and she said respectfully, "Welcome." Then she continued to busy herself with the work in her hands.
The cold smile and the tone without warmth were all expected by Yang Xingxue. She did not expect to restore their former friendship, she only hoped to make up for the harm her mother had caused her.
"Ai Cao." She stepped forward and called softly, her eyes a little uneasy, "Can you talk to me?"
Lu Aicao stopped what he was doing, looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze, and after a long time he answered with a short "OK".
In fact, Lu Aicao was not surprised by Yang Xingxue's arrival, or rather, she had long been accustomed to Yang Xingxue's behavior of coming to find her afterwards.
Yang Xingxue ordered two desserts and wanted to sit down and talk with Lv Aicao, but was rejected by Lv Aicao: "I still have to work. If you have anything to say, just stand here and talk."
Regardless of the other person's expression of wanting to cry, Lu Aicao continued to work. Not wasting time for others was her principle. After all, even if the other person did nothing, he would still have branded clothes to wear, while if she stopped working, she would just starve to death.
Yang Xingxue took a deep breath and tried to make herself look serious, but no matter how she spoke, she sounded lacking in confidence.
"I'm sorry. I apologize for my mother's behavior. I know that for you, nothing I say may help, but I still want to apologize. My father and I invited you back for dinner that day. I really didn't expect my mother to do such a thing..."
"If you want to apologize, I think it's not necessary. We were not from the same world from the beginning. You don't have to apologize to me so reluctantly, or try to please me."
She really didn't want to listen to this kind of useless, boring and long graduation thesis-like words anymore. Although she would occasionally think of that hot slap in the face at night, Lu Aicao told herself that it was all in the past.
Besides, what's the use of Yang Xingxue apologizing again? Shen Ping will still target her. If Yang Xingxue shows up less often, she can forget about it as soon as possible.
"Ai Cao..." Yang Xingxue's eyes were red and her voice was tearful, "I really care about you as a friend."
"Really?" Lu Aicao smiled bitterly, "But I can't afford to be your friend."
"You really won't give me any chance?"
"Your mother doesn't want me to be friends with you. She also doubts my relationship with your boyfriend. How do you want me to get along with you? She slapped me. I can ignore it, but it will only make her angry. Can you guarantee that she won't do something to hurt me more in the future? You can't be so selfish as to let others take the risk of being hurt just because you want to be friends with me!"
Lu Aicao's voice trembled as she finished speaking. For some reason, looking at the girl crying like a pear blossom in the rain, she thought of her mother.
I miss you so deeply.
If she knew that her daughter was humiliated like this, would she run to Shen Ping out of heartache and fight her to the death?
Yang Xingxue was so shocked by the expression on Lu Aicao's face and her excited words that she was a little at a loss.
Time seemed to stop at this moment. Lu Aicao continued to work expressionlessly, but Yang Xingxue stood there like a broken robot, motionless.
If Jing Zhuoran hadn't come to pick her up and woke her up, she wouldn't have known how the situation would have ended.
"Hey, what are you two talking about?"
Jing Zhuoran, who didn't quite understand what was going on, smiled and patted Yang Xingxue's head, but looked at Lu Aicao with a questioning look.
"You're here at the right time. Take her back." Lu Aicao glanced at the two of them coldly.
Jing Zhuoran suddenly had a bad premonition, and sure enough, the next second Yang Xingxue covered her face as if she had collapsed, and then ran out of the cake shop.
"What are you still standing there for? Chase him!" Lu Aicao gave the confused Jing Zhuoran a look, and he then raised his foot and chased after him.
Lu Aicao looked at their departing backs and took a breath, but the dark clouds in his heart did not dissipate.
What she didn't expect was that Jing Zhuoran came back an hour later. He ordered a cake just like that day, and then sat by the window, flipping through a magazine.
Although he didn't say anything, Lu Aicao's intuition told her that he was waiting for her.
Soon, this intuition came true.
She got off work at eight o'clock as usual. After packing up, Lu Aicao went out the back door, only to find Jing Zhuoran had been waiting there.
His steps stopped subconsciously, and Lu Aicao had no intention of going around it.
"you……"
"Oh, I see you're getting off work so late alone, and I'm on my way anyway, so I'll give you a ride."
As if he also felt that this statement was a bit far-fetched, Jing Zhuoran loosened his collar unnaturally: "My car has been sent for maintenance, how about I take a taxi to take you back?"
"I'm going back to school today."
Although the words were decisive, they did not mean to refuse.
Jing Zhuoran seemed to be relieved and pretended to walk beside her naturally.
The street lights stretched their shadows very long, and there was a strange sense of disharmony when two unfamiliar people got together.
As a boy, Jing Zhuoran was the first to speak and break the silence: "Have you been coming back to school so late recently? "
"Well, business has been quite busy lately."
"Are you working during the National Day holiday? You seem to be very busy all the time." Jing Zhuoran looked at her pretty face with concern.
"I have to work part-time to pay for my living expenses. If I don't work, I will have no money for living expenses." Lu Aicao said truthfully.
This aroused Jing Zhuoran's curiosity, and he inquired cautiously: "Does your family not care about you?"
Lu Aicao answered such thoughtful questions fluently.
"I don't have much family. My father passed away when I was very young, and my mother..." She paused, her expression becoming dim and sad in the night, "She also died in a car accident before my college entrance examination."
Just like when he was a kid and was caught cheating by his teacher, Jing Zhuoran's heart suddenly tightened and his blood seemed to start flowing backwards.
After learning about this, he felt more guilty than ever before. It turned out that his mother was her only relative, and he had killed her only relative just like that.
She is the same age as Yang Xingxue, but she has to endure so much pain and is even suspected of seducing other people's boyfriends and climbing up the social ladder.
This series of information shuttled back and forth in Jing Zhuoran's mind.
"What's wrong with you?" Seeing Jing Zhuoran stop, Lu Aicao asked curiously.
"Ah, no, nothing."
The night wind blew , and Jing Zhuoran felt a chill on his sweaty neck. He looked at Lu Aicao with a forced smile, but his heart was filled with sorrow.
"Aicao, in the future, if you have any difficulties, please tell me and I will do my best to help you." He couldn't control himself and gently held Lu Aicao's slender wrist.
However, this action made Lu Aicao extremely alert. She pushed Jing Zhuoran away as if she was struck by electricity.
"You? Why are you helping me?"
Her face was full of doubt, as if asking, "Are you familiar with me?"
Jing Zhuoran was struck by a blow, and realized how stupid she was just now. What she said undoubtedly increased her suspicion.
However, the layers of lies piled up in his heart, suppressing the secrets hidden in his heart day and night. The pain and entanglement entangled him and made him restless. He really couldn't bear such a day.
Enough, he really had enough.
Would it be easier if I told her the truth?
If I tell her, will I be able to be redeemed? I can even stand beside her in the future and participate in her life without having to spy on her in my dreams?
His mind was in a daze and beads of sweat appeared on Jing Zhuoran's forehead.
"actually……"
The words just came to her lips, and Lu Aicao raised her eyebrows slightly, with an expression of "you say, I listen".
Jing Zhuoran seemed to be bewitched, and the secret that he thought he would keep buried forever was now on his lips.
However, at this moment, a bright light came from behind, followed by a noisy whistle sound.
In just a moment, the trajectory of fate was completely disrupted.
With a scream, Lu Aicao was knocked down by a motorcycle rushing over from behind. Then, she rolled on the ground several times and passed out.
A long, long time later, Lu Aicao often wondered, if Jing Zhuoran had told the truth at that time, would she have let go of the hatred?
But there are no ifs.
Lu Aicao didn't remember when she was sent to the hospital.
When she opened her eyes, she was already lying in the ward. Looking at the white bed sheet and the gauze bandaged on her hands, Lu Aicao felt as if she was in another world.
"You awake? Are you okay?"
Lu Aicao had never expected that Yang Xingxue would be the first person to appear in front of her. She was embarrassed and stunned.
"Zhuoran called me and told me that you were in trouble, so I rushed here immediately." She held Lu Aicao's hand tightly, and the concern on her face did not seem fake.
At the same time, Jing Zhuoran entered the ward carrying a bag of food.
"You're awake? That's great." He breathed a sigh of relief, his tone gentle, "The people who hit were two kids racing. I've already sent them to the police station. Don't worry about the medical expenses, just take good care of yourself here."
His eyes never left Lu Aicao, which made Lu Aicao very embarrassed.
But Yang Xingxue had no time to pay attention to him, she just held her hand with great guilt. Lu Aicao's injuries did look serious, with scrapes on both knees, arms, and forehead. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like she can go to class the next day.
"Thank you." Her voice was a little hoarse, and the pain in her body was clearly felt. Lu Aicao looked at the two of them with a bleak expression, and her head hurt more and more. "Don't worry about me. It's so late. You should go back first."
"How can you do that? There's no one to take care of you!" Yang Xingxue almost rushed to say this. Judging from her expression, she had no idea that Lu Aicao had other relatives.
It seems that Le You is indeed keeping his mouth shut.
After taking a breath with great effort, Lu Aicao sat up straight. Thinking of everything that happened before she fainted, she couldn't help but look at Jing Zhuoran: "What did you want to tell me before?"
Jing Zhuoran was obviously stunned by this question. He subconsciously glanced at Yang Xingxue, and then shook his head slightly under Lu Aicao's scrutinizing eyes: "Nothing."
The faint fire in his heart gradually went out. Lu Aicao concealed his expectant eyes and raised a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth.
He didn't have the courage after all.
With the help of Yang Xingxue, Lu Aicao changed into a comfortable position, covered herself with the quilt, and planned to have a sleep, and then ask Liang Bo and others to pick her up the next day.
Jing and Yang also thought that she needed to rest, so they decided not to disturb her. But to their surprise, just as they were about to leave, Yang Jianye and Shen Ping came to the hospital in a hurry.
The noisy sound woke Lu Aicao up from her daze. When she looked up, she saw Yang Jianye standing beside the bed, looking at her with great concern.
It would be a lie to say that she wasn't surprised. Lu Aicao was even a little flattered and touched. However, this slight feeling of being touched disappeared immediately when she saw Shen Ping looking at her coldly.
"How are you now? Are you feeling okay? I just found out about this, so I'm late." Yang Jianye rubbed his palms, his concerned eyes filled with a fatherly look.
Lu Aicao didn't know that when he saw her sleeping just now, he was almost certain that she was his other daughter, because she looked exactly like Lu Ruoping when they were sleeping.
"Oh, I'm okay, thank you for your concern." Lu Aicao looked at him in a daze, a little at a loss.
"I told you it was okay, but you came all the way here and even delayed the client." Shen Ping complained unhappily.
"Could you please say less! It's a delay, but I still need customers?" Yang Jianye retorted to his wife in an uncharacteristic manner.
Shen Ping just snorted coldly because of her face.
"Uncle, I'm really fine, you guys should go and do your work, I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."
The four people she least wanted to face were standing in front of her. This feeling was very torturous. Lu Aicao sincerely hoped that they would leave quickly.
Yang Xingxue, who was standing by, saw the fatigue in Lu Aicao's eyes, so she urged her father to hurry up.
Yang Jianye responded perfunctorily, and then gave Lu Aicao a business card: "Aicao, call uncle if you have anything in the future."
He seemed to want to say more, but in the end it only came down to this sentence.
Lu Aicao took the business card and responded softly.
Shen Ping, who was standing by, finally couldn't sit still anymore and asked sarcastically, "Aicao, how come you are with Zhuoran by chance? Did you make an appointment?"
These words were like a stone thrown into the water, causing ripples.
Before Lu Aicao could answer, Yang Xingxue and Jing Zhuoran denied it in unison.
"Auntie, I ran into Ai Cao on my way home."
"Mom, you always say these nonsense, is it interesting?" Yang Xingxue was extremely disgusted with this statement. She did not believe in her mother's intuition, nor did she want to find out what was going on. Besides, she had already caused enough harm to Lu Aicao.
In contrast to the two people's impatience, Lu Aicao just looked at Shen Ping calmly, then smiled and said: "You have heard the explanation, can you leave now?"
Lu Aicao didn't want to hide her hostility towards her at all. After all, she had already hit someone and her face was already torn.
"Shen Ping! You are an adult now, please be careful with your words!" Yang Jianye scolded Shen Ping in a low voice.
Lu Aicao couldn't hear the rest of the words clearly and didn't want to listen. She didn't even look at the two people, but fell down and covered her face with the quilt.
After a few minutes, they finally left.
Lv Aicao poked her head out from under the quilt and breathed heavily. She took out her cell phone and finally couldn't help but sent a message to Liang Bo.
She really couldn't stand this cold place filled with the smell of disinfectant but devoid of any human touch.
Liang Bo arrived half an hour later, accompanied by a sleepy Xu Yuan and the Le siblings, who were completely unexpected by Lu Aicao.
As soon as Xu Yuan came in, he threw himself on Lu Aicao and started crying softly.
Liang Bo glanced at Lu Aicao and finally let go of his worry. Then he stood silently in front of the window and looked outside.
Xu Yuan cried and said some things that worried her to death. Lu Aicao patted her shoulder and comforted her softly, and her eyes moved awkwardly to the Le brothers and sisters beside her.
Le You took a deep breath, looking like he was fine.
However, the worry in Le Chengyu's eyes did not disappear when his eyes met Lu Aicao's. He just looked at the weak Lu Aicao quietly without saying a word.
"Why did you come together?" Xu Yuan stopped sobbing, and Lu Aicao asked softly, her eyes moving to Liang Bo, with clear meaning in her eyes.
Liang Bo immediately made a swearing gesture: "I didn't ask them to come. It was Xu Yuan who told Le You, and Le You brought her brother here."
"Hey, Lu Aicao, my brother and I come to see you with good intentions, could you please stop being so heartless!" Le You was so angry.
Xuyuan clapped her hands, and she calmed down unwillingly.
This subtle action was seen by Le Chengyu, and he couldn't help but pay attention to Xu Yuan. But this action made Lu Aicao's heart jump for no reason.
"It's late at night now, Liang Bo, I'm fine, you take Xu Yuan home first, she has to go to class tomorrow." Lv Aicao ordered him to leave again. She originally wanted Liang Bo to stay with her for the night, but now three more people were involved, so after thinking about it, she decided to stay here and wait until tomorrow to be discharged from the hospital.
Liang Bo hesitated to speak, but after looking at everyone, he nodded. He had a lot to ask Lu Aicao, but since everyone was here, he couldn't ask.
"Take Le You away by the way, I have something to say to her." Le Chengyu, who is always gentle, said this with a cold expression.
Liang Bo was a little annoyed by his commanding tone and looked like he wanted to swear, but was stopped by Lu Aicao.
"Take them away, and be careful on the road."
"Wormwood!"
"Let's go." Lu Aicao said earnestly.
"Then you guys have a good chat. Call me immediately if you have any problem." Liang Bo glanced at Le Chengyu tit for tat and agreed.
Xu Yuan reluctantly gave instructions for a long time before he was willing to leave.
During this process, Le Chengyu was always by Xu Yuan's side, gently assuring her that he would help take care of Ai Cao. Because of Le You, Xu Yuan was not averse to Le Chengyu, so he left with peace of mind.
After they left, Le Chengyu and Lu Aicao were the only ones left in the huge ward, and the atmosphere was a little awkward for a while.
"How is your injury? Does it still hurt?" Le Chengyu sat down and looked at Lu Aicao closely, asking with concern. His eyes were straight and deep, as if he wanted to see through Lu Aicao, but his eyes were so gentle.
At this moment, the eighteen-year-old Lu Aicao finally understood that love is so fascinating and irresistible.
"Not bad." Lu Aicao spoke sparingly, lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers, trying to calm her beating heart.
"Aren't you curious about what I want to ask you?" His voice was soft and magnetic, and in this cold night, it sounded more beautiful than any other moment.
"If you have something to say, just say it quickly. I still want to sleep." Lu Aicao glanced out the window unnaturally. The moon was bright and the stars were sparse outside, which made her irritable heart even more uncomfortable.
"I know some things, and combined with what I knew before, I have some guesses. Is Jing Zhuoran related to your mother's death?"
It turns out he knew everything.
Lu Aicao turned around and looked at him: "Yes."
"Is that why you approached him?"
"yes."
"So this car accident was a self-torture trick you planned to make him feel more guilty and pay more attention to you?"
"Le Chengyu, what do you mean?" Lu Aicao felt her self-esteem insulted again. She laughed in anger and picked up the pillow next to her and threw it at Le Chengyu, "Get out of here!"
Why does this boy always look at me like this? Why do I always have different expectations of this boy?
Perhaps it was the pain from the wounds on her body, perhaps it was the shock she had suffered before, or perhaps it was the various grievances she had experienced some time ago, mixed with the grief and indignation at the moment, Lu Aicao could no longer hold back and began to cry, covering her face.
However, almost at the same time, a warm embrace wrapped her, and then a soft and warm hand gently touched her face and wiped her tears.
"That's good." Le Chengyu rested his thin chin on the top of Lu Aicao's head. His Adam's apple slid up and down, and his gentle voice entered Lu Aicao's eardrum, like a sedative, making her stop crying immediately.
There was clearly no sign of apology, and clearly no gentle apology at all, but she was comforted by just a hug.
Lu Aicao subconsciously grabbed his collar, refusing to let go as if she was angry. At this moment, she suddenly felt extremely disgusted with herself, because she seemed to have become the kind of girl she hated the most, who loved to make trouble.
"Before I came here today, I was wondering if you did this on purpose. I was afraid that you were doing this on purpose and playing with your own body. Lu Aicao, you know, the ruthlessness emanating from you really makes people worry that you will suddenly do something to hurt yourself. I don't want to see you get hurt, not at all, even if you hate me so much."
Lu Aicao raised her head slightly and looked at Le Chengyu stupidly.
Le Chengyu just looked back at her quietly, while gently tucking her hair behind her ears. He didn't know that although Lv Aicao seemed calm at the moment, a tsunami had already occurred in her heart.
How could I hate you? How could I possibly hate you?
Because they are afraid of paying more attention to you, they want to stay away from you, drive you away, treat you coldly, or even pretend to hate you.
These emotions about Le Chengyu, like secrets written in a diary, were buried in a corner of her heart. She never intended to share them with others, but at this moment they surged out.
"I don't hate you." Lu Aicao looked at him sincerely, her voice trembling slightly.
"Really?" Le Chengyu took a deep breath, as if a heavy burden had finally been put down. Then, he smiled contentedly, "That's great."
Le Chengyu stayed with Lu Aicao in the hospital all night, falling asleep quietly beside her bed. Then he woke up earlier than her the next day and prepared breakfast for her.
Liang Bo, who arrived early in the morning, stood at the door and did not dare to come in after seeing Lu Aicao eating hot buns while Le Chengyu served her tea and water.
"You...are not going to be together?" Liang Bo asked in shock.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Lu Aicao rolled her eyes at him.
Le Chengyu smiled and said nothing.
Of course not together.
How is it possible to be together?
Lu Aicao couldn't help thinking of what she said to Le Chengyu before going to bed last night. He held her small hand in his big hand and listened to her confused but very clear chatter.
"Don't focus on me anymore. I'll be sad."
"You'll meet better girls."
"I'm sorry, but all I have in my heart is revenge, and I can't afford anything else."
Le Chengyu responded gently, holding her hand but never letting go. Then there was a silence. The two of them spent a long night with their own thoughts.
Of course, Lv Aicao would not tell Liang Bo about these things. She didn't want to tell anyone. Let her selfishly hide these in her heart and chew them over and over again when she is occasionally vulnerable.
She knew there was such a person in the world who was willing to give her a gentle hug, willing to reach out to her at the gate of hell, willing to tolerate her little temper in the endless night, willing to open his heart and treat her gently. Just let her keep this person who exudes the smell of sunshine in her heart before her heart completely turns black.
Although Lv Aicao's injury was not serious, it was not light either. The doctor said she needed to rest for a few days. So Liang Bo happily took her home.
Before leaving, Le Chengyu finally spoke to Lu Aicao.
He said: "I'm sorry, I can't agree to your request, because I can't give up on you."
Lv Aicao said nothing, but got into the car blankly. She opened the car window and let the cold wind blow on her face. But she couldn't wake up, and her mind was full of his words.
For the first time in her life, she didn't know how to deal with a boy.
Fortunately, after returning home, this feeling gradually disappeared.
Lu Aicao rested peacefully at home, and Liang Bo would come to cook for her every day.
However, on the fourth day of her rest, Liang Bo, who came home from get off work, brought her some bad news - someone was investigating her background.
When Lu Aicao, who was eating, heard the news, he immediately lost his appetite and hurriedly asked him what was going on.
"Another brother told me that. But it's okay. People around us know that you and I have a good relationship, so they are reserved when they speak. I have already told them not to mention the wish."
"So..." Lu Aicao seemed to be thinking about something, "Then let her investigate."
"Do you think it's Shen Ping?"
"Who else could it be if not her?" Lu Aicao raised a sarcastic smile, "She is the only one who sees me as a thorn in her side and wants to find something to hold against me to kill me. So, Liang Bo, Xuyuan's existence must not be known to others."
"Don't worry, I will definitely protect her."
At the same time, on the other side of the city, Shen Ping was sitting in a rocking chair in her garden, flipping through the documents in her hands while talking on the phone.
"Is that all you found?"
"Are you sure her mother has been raising her alone?"
"Doesn't she have any other relatives, or a boyfriend?"
"Your information is obviously missing. When you provide more detailed information, I will pay you more."
"Okay, I'll wait for your news."
After hanging up the phone, she threw the documents aside in annoyance, but Yang Jianye came to her with a pot of tea. She felt guilty and subconsciously wanted to put the documents away, but Yang Jianye got there first.
He had wanted to have some tea and chat with his wife during his free time, but he overheard the content of Shen Ping's phone call. It sounded like she was investigating someone else. Yang Jianye had a bad feeling. Sure enough, when he opened the first page of the information, he saw that it was full of information about Lv Aicao.
"What are you doing? Spending money to investigate a little girl's privacy?" Yang Jianye was shocked and angry. He could not imagine that his wife, who had been with him for decades, would do such a thing.
"I, I just want to know her background. I'm afraid she will do something to hurt our family!" Shen Ping argued.
"She's just a little girl, how could she do anything to hurt others!" Yang Jianye slammed the teapot on the table. The loud noise scared Shen Ping.
Over the years, although Yang Jianye had sincere feelings for her, he was the one who had the final say on all matters big and small at home, and Shen Ping did not dare to challenge his authority.
"Everything changed after she appeared! Of course I have to get to the bottom of it!" Shen Ping began to act pitiful, because she knew that it was indeed wrong for her to do so, and she must not let Yang Jianye take that information away.
"Jianye--" She tried to snatch the documents back in panic, but Yang Jianye pushed her hand away. A few pages of paper fell to the ground, and a photo that was sandwiched in the documents fell out.
Yang Jianye stopped tearing up the documents. His eyes were fixed on the photo and he was unable to move.
The person in that photo was exactly the same as the one in the photo he kept in the drawer. She had similar eyebrows and eyes to Lv Aicao, and she often appeared in his dreams over the years.
Ruoping...
He murmured in his heart, and something wet seemed to seep out from the corners of his eyes.