The morning air in the mountains was sharp enough to sting. Mist curled between the trees, clinging to the wooden beams of the lodge. Students bundled into jackets, fastening hiking boots and buzzing with excitement.
For Liang Meiyu, the excitement felt distant. She tied her shoelaces slowly, her fingers trembling just enough to betray her unease.
The teacher's voice carried through the crisp air: "Everyone, line up! We'll hike in groups. Stay together, don't wander off!"
Groups quickly formed—friends clustering together, laughter spilling easily. Meiyu stood awkwardly at the edge, clutching her backpack. Her assigned roommates pointedly avoided her, whispering with sharp glances.
"Over here."
Yichen's voice cut through the noise. He stood with his hands shoved into his pockets, his dark hair falling carelessly over his eyes. His expression was unreadable, but his gaze on her was firm.
Before she could move, Haoran stepped up beside her, his calm presence grounding. "She's with me," he said evenly, looking directly at Yichen.
The tension between the two was palpable, sharp as broken glass.
Meiyu's chest tightened. She hated being the reason for their silent war.
The teacher, oblivious, clapped his hands. "Alright, Zhao Yichen, Xu Haoran—you'll both be responsible for your group. Make sure no one falls behind."
And just like that, the three of them were assigned together.
---
The trail wound upward into the mountains, the path covered in a blanket of fallen leaves. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, dappling the forest floor.
Meiyu walked in the middle, acutely aware of Yichen just ahead of her and Haoran just behind. It felt like being trapped between fire and water.
The whispers from other groups followed them.
"Of course she's with them again."
"She really knows how to act pitiful."
"Do you think they'll fight over her?"
Meiyu bit her lip. The old her would've shrunk under the weight of their words, but after everything, something inside her had shifted. She kept walking, eyes fixed ahead, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter.
Still, the sting of their voices lingered like thorns.
---
The first few hours passed quietly. Birds sang in the trees, the crunch of footsteps filled the silence. The path grew steeper, the air thinner.
At one point, the trail narrowed sharply, a sheer drop yawning to one side. Students slowed, their chatter fading.
"Careful here," the teacher called out.
Yichen glanced back at Meiyu. Without a word, he reached out, steadying her elbow as they passed the narrow section. His touch was firm, grounding.
Her heart thudded. She wanted to tell him she could manage, but the truth was—the warmth of his hand steadied her more than the ground beneath her feet.
Behind them, Haoran's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Instead, he adjusted her backpack straps when they slipped, his touch light, respectful.
Caught between them, Meiyu's chest felt like it might burst.
---
Unseen, a few groups behind, Lin Qian walked with a bright smile plastered on her face.
She had waited for this moment. The plan had been simple: during the hike, she would switch the markers on the trail, leading Meiyu into a dangerous detour.
No one would question it if the "outcast" happened to wander off.
And if something happened to her? All the better.
Her fingers brushed the ribbon she had tied on a hidden branch earlier. Soon, Meiyu would walk into her trap.
---
By midday, the group stopped for a short break near a clearing. Students collapsed on rocks, drinking water and munching on snacks. The mountains stretched endlessly in every direction, the horizon painted with pale mist.
Meiyu sat on a fallen log, sipping from her bottle. Her gaze wandered to the trees, where the light seemed to shimmer strangely.
Something tugged at her chest. A faint trail veered off to the right, marked with a bright ribbon fluttering in the wind.
Was that part of the path?
Before she could ask, her roommates passed by, smirking. "Don't fall behind, Liang Meiyu. You wouldn't want to get lost."
Her throat tightened. She looked toward Yichen and Haoran, who were both distracted—one arguing with a teacher, the other helping a classmate tie their shoelaces.
Against her better judgment, Meiyu rose to check the ribbon. Just a few steps. Just to make sure.
But the ground shifted under her foot.
The soil gave way with a sudden crack.
"Ah!"
Her scream split the air as she stumbled toward the edge of a hidden slope.
---
"Meiyu!"
Two voices roared her name at once.
Yichen lunged first, grabbing her wrist with a grip that burned. His body strained, muscles taut, as the earth crumbled beneath her.
At the same time, Haoran reached from the other side, his hand catching her arm, steady and sure.
The world tilted—her body dangling between the abyss and their grasp. The roar of wind filled her ears, her heart hammering.
For one terrifying moment, she thought she would fall.
But then—two forces pulled her back at once, dragging her to solid ground. She collapsed onto the dirt, gasping, her palms scraped and knees bruised.
Yichen's face was pale, his eyes blazing with fury. "Are you insane?!" he snapped, voice trembling. "What were you thinking, wandering off like that?"
Haoran knelt beside her, his hands gentle as he checked her arms. "Are you hurt? Does anything feel broken?" His voice was soft, but his eyes were storm-dark, a rare crack in his calm mask.
Meiyu's lips parted. The fear still choked her throat, but more than that—the realization burned:
If not for them, she might have disappeared into that abyss.
And if she kept letting herself be dragged around, manipulated by others… sooner or later, she really would fall.
She clenched her fists. Something had to change.
---
Far down the trail, Lin Qian watched with narrowed eyes. Her plan had failed—but this wasn't over.
If anything, seeing Meiyu being saved by both boys only deepened her hatred.
This wasn't the end. It was only the beginning.
---
❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️
Now that Meiyu has tasted real danger, will she finally fight back against those trying to break her—or will Lin Qian's schemes keep tightening around her until she can't escape?