The morning of the school trip dawned with a crisp chill. Autumn leaves swirled through the school courtyard as students gathered, chattering with excitement. Suitcases rolled, laughter echoed, phones snapped pictures.
For everyone else, it was the start of an adventure.
For Liang Meiyu, it felt like stepping into enemy territory.
She gripped the handle of her small suitcase so tightly her palm ached. The stares and whispers hadn't faded overnight—in fact, they seemed worse today.
"Three days with her? What bad luck."
"Hope she doesn't ruin the trip."
"Bet Zhao Yichen's the only reason she even dared to come."
Her chest tightened. She told herself to keep breathing, to keep walking, one step at a time.
---
The buses lined up in front of the gates, engines rumbling. Teachers barked instructions, directing students into lines.
Yichen appeared at her side without a word, his dark eyes scanning the crowd like a predator. The moment someone's gaze lingered on Meiyu too long, he met it with a glare sharp enough to cut. Most people quickly looked away.
On her other side, Haoran's presence was quieter but no less steady. He carried her bag without asking, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. His calm smile made it seem like nothing was wrong, even though Meiyu's heart trembled.
They boarded the bus together. Meiyu hesitated, searching for an empty seat, but before the whispers could start, Yichen slid into a spot by the window and jerked his chin. "Sit."
Her cheeks warmed. She sat beside him, her gaze flicking nervously across the aisle. Students were already whispering, some pulling out their phones to snap secret photos.
"Of course she sits with him…"
"What's she trying to prove?"
Haoran took the seat directly across, setting his bag down with deliberate calm. His eyes met Meiyu's briefly, reassuring, before he opened a book as if none of the chatter mattered.
The bus rumbled to life, carrying them away from the city and into the winding roads of the mountains.
---
For the first hour, the ride was loud with laughter and games. But the further they drove, the more the air cooled, the chatter dying down as students dozed.
Meiyu sat stiffly, her gaze fixed on the passing trees outside the window. She could feel Yichen beside her, his warmth radiating in the narrow space.
After a while, his low voice broke the silence. "You're too quiet."
She startled slightly. "I—I don't know what to say."
"Then don't," he muttered, leaning back against the seat. His eyes slid shut, but his hand brushed against hers on the seat between them. The touch was light, almost accidental, but it sent a tremor through her.
She curled her fingers inward, afraid to move, afraid to want more.
Across the aisle, Haoran's gaze flicked toward them briefly before returning to his book. His lips pressed into a thin line, unreadable.
---
By the time they arrived at the mountain lodge, the sun was dipping low, casting the peaks in gold. Students spilled out of the buses with excitement, pointing at the towering trees and crisp blue sky.
Meiyu stepped onto the gravel path, her suitcase rattling behind her. The air was clean and sharp, carrying the scent of pine.
But her moment of awe didn't last.
Her assigned roommates—two girls who had mocked her before—were already smirking as they stood together.
"Guess we'll have fun this trip," one whispered loudly enough for her to hear. "With her in our room."
The other giggled. "Hope she doesn't cry all night."
Meiyu's cheeks burned. She wanted to disappear, to melt into the earth.
Before she could respond, Haoran's hand brushed hers, steadying her. "Ignore them," he said softly. "Their words don't define you."
Yichen, meanwhile, shot the girls a look so sharp they both shut their mouths instantly.
---
Inside the lodge, the students bustled about, dragging luggage into assigned rooms. Teachers reminded everyone of the schedule: dinner in an hour, lights out at ten, hiking tomorrow morning.
Meiyu entered her shared room hesitantly. The wooden walls were warm, the beds neatly made, the air smelling faintly of cedar. But the tension was thick.
Her roommates didn't waste time.
"You take that bed," one said, pointing at the corner like she was directing a servant.
"Don't touch our stuff," the other added coldly.
Meiyu's throat tightened. She nodded silently and placed her suitcase by the farthest bed.
As she unpacked, their whispers continued.
"Can't believe we're stuck with her."
"Why do teachers always punish us?"
Her chest ached. She wanted to scream, to demand why they hated her so much, but instead she sat quietly, folding her clothes with trembling hands.
---
Dinner was a noisy affair in the lodge's dining hall. Long tables were filled with chattering students, the smell of rice and grilled fish filling the air.
Meiyu sat at the edge, picking at her food, trying to ignore the laughter that seemed to surround her.
But then—Haoran slid into the seat beside her. Yichen dropped his tray across from her.
The noise around them dimmed instantly.
"Seriously?" someone whispered.
"Both of them? With her?"
Meiyu's face heated, but the warmth of their presence was undeniable. For the first time that day, she managed a small smile.
Haoran noticed. "That's better," he murmured. "Food tastes different when you're not frowning."
Yichen snorted. "She always eats like a rabbit. No wonder she's weak."
Meiyu's lips parted in protest, but Yichen's faint smirk told her he was teasing. She almost laughed—almost.
---
Later that night, unable to sleep, Meiyu slipped out into the corridor. The wooden floors creaked under her feet, the mountain air seeping in through the cracks.
She stepped outside onto the veranda, the sky above glittering with countless stars.
For a moment, the world felt still.
Then a voice behind her: "Can't sleep?"
She turned. Haoran stood there, his jacket draped over his shoulders.
Her breath caught. "I… I didn't want to wake them."
He joined her quietly, his gaze lifting to the sky. "It's beautiful, isn't it? You don't see stars like this in the city."
She nodded, her heart fluttering.
For a long moment, they stood in silence, the night wrapping around them. Then Haoran's voice, soft but certain:
"Don't let them decide who you are, Meiyu. You're stronger than you think."
Her eyes stung. She turned away, afraid he would see her tears.
But in that moment, she believed him—just a little.
Unseen by both of them, a figure lingered in the shadows near the corner of the lodge. Lin Qian's lips curved in a cold smile.
She already had her plan.
And by the end of this trip, Liang Meiyu would regret ever standing in her way.
---
❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️
What trap is Lin Qian planning during the trip—and will Meiyu finally find the courage to fight back before it's too late?