Su Banxia ran with the bouquet in her arms, and the people around her quickly retreated, turning into mere shadows.
In her eyes, there was only the road, and she couldn’t see anyone else.
Little LuLu was not behaving well at all. He had not only prepared flowers for her but also personally came to see her. And he even wanted to lie to her and say he didn’t come, making her feel disappointed.
Shang Lu was near the grand theater, and the familiar music told her that she had not misheard.
Finally, he was willing to take that step, and it was up to her to bring them closer together.
Su Banxia’s heart raced, and the hot wind brushed past her ears. She could hear her own heartbeat, one beat faster than the other, a joyous feeling beyond words.
After growing up, she had never run like this, putting all her effort into fulfilling a promise.
Outside the grand theater, the crowd flowed in and out. She ran onto the street, scanning the crowd, searching for the man’s figure.
Shang Lu, who had been quietly waiting, saw the girl in a dance gown holding flowers through the crowd. She was so beautiful and dazzling that she immediately caught the attention of many people.
People stopped to admire her.
Suddenly, as if she had discovered something, her face lit up with delight, and her clear eyes looked over.
He heard her calling his name.
“Shang Lu.”
Su Banxia smiled and ran towards the man sitting in a wheelchair with the bouquet in her arms. He was dressed in formal attire, wearing the tie she had bought for him. His brows were cool, and his black eyes glanced at her, not entirely smoothly.
“Shang Lu.” She called out his name and quickly ran over.
Standing behind Shang Lu, Xiang Lei silently stepped back a few steps. The knot in his heart from before disappeared as he watched the girl run towards them.
She didn’t fear the strange looks from the people around; her eyes were filled with Shang Lu.
There was no doubt; she had a heart full of sincerity for him.
Su Banxia ran up to Shang Lu, supporting her knee with one hand and panting heavily. She stared at him as if afraid he would run away.
“You, you wait a moment, I need to… catch my breath…” she said.
Shang Lu said, “Xiang Lei, get a bottle of water.”
Xiang Lei retrieved a bottle of water from the car and handed it to him.
Shang Lu opened the bottle and offered it to Su Banxia. “Drink some water.”
Su Banxia’s throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire. She took the water bottle and eagerly gulped it down.
“Slow down,” Shang Lu reminded her in a calm tone.
Su Banxia shot him an annoyed look. It was all his fault. If he hadn’t planned to run away and hide the fact that he had come, she wouldn’t have had to run so fast.
After drinking some water and moistening her throat, she spoke with a hint of frustration. “Why did you come and then leave? Even if you didn’t want to be seen, you could have waited for me to go back together.”
Shang Lu’s dark eyes flashed slightly, but he remained silent.
He paused for a moment and said, “You look very beautiful today, and your dance was amazing.”
His gaze fell on the blooming pink roses, and after a few moments of hesitation, he continued, “I thought you liked pink roses, that’s why I had someone order this bouquet.”
Su Banxia looked at the bouquet, which emitted a fragrant scent. She actually loved pink roses deep down, but she had lied earlier out of frustration.
“Well, what if I don’t like them now?” she retorted.
Seeing her displeased expression, Shang Lu pursed his lips and asked, “Which type of flower do you like?”
He wanted to make amends and didn’t want to see her disappointed or upset, especially on such a grand day like this. He hoped that she would shine as beautifully in her heart as she did on stage.
Su Banxia snorted and thrust the bouquet into his arms. “I’m tired, you can hold them.”
Shang Lu had never held flowers before, and he awkwardly held the pink roses, which added a touch of softness to his handsome demeanor.
Su Banxia rubbed her arms and said, “I don’t want to go home yet. The theater is near the sea. Can you walk with me along the coast?”
…
Shang Lu, a man known for his routine and strict schedule, felt apologetic but didn’t refuse her proposal.
The theater was located near the sea, and there was a green path by the roadside that offered a view of the sea. In the evening, many people came to stroll, and there were plenty of couples who would come here for romantic walks and dates at night.
The dark blue night enveloped the earth, and the night sky sparkled with brilliant stars. The sea breeze carried a hint of salty scent, and the gentle waves lapped against the stones along the shore.
With the bouquet left in the car, the two of them strolled along the beach. Su Banxia was relaxed and carefree, her dance dress drawing attention to her.
People passing by noticed Shang Lu sitting in his wheelchair and cast sympathetic glances his way.
He was so handsome, yet he had a disability in his legs.
Shang Lu had now grown used to these looks and didn’t feel uncomfortable anymore. He quietly accompanied her on their walk.
As they approached the beach, Su Banxia took off her shoes and held them up. She turned to Shang Lu and asked, “Can we go down?”
Shang Lu nodded and said, “Yes.”
However, the wheelchair didn’t move as easily on the sandy ground, and they had to go slowly. Shang Lu knew they would need to clean it thoroughly when they got back.
Considering this, Su Banxia didn’t go too far. She tossed her shoes aside, stood next to Shang Lu, and together they gazed out at the sea.
“Shang Lu, I’ve wanted to come to the beach with you for a long time,” she said.
Shang Lu’s dark lashes trembled as he raised his gaze to look at her.
Su Banxia crouched down beside him, her fingers drawing patterns in the soft sand.
“I not only want to play at the beach with you, but I also want to climb mountains together, watch the sunrise and sunset, and appreciate all the beautiful sights in the world,” she said.
She turned her head to look at him, her gaze gentle with anticipation, and continued, “I also want to go for early morning runs with you and, when we get old, walk by the river each holding a dog’s leash.”
As she described these scenes, Shang Lu couldn’t help but visualize it in his mind. The twilight sunset, the orange light cascading over the two of them as he held her hand, strolling together.
It was warm and beautiful, just thinking about it made him want to smile.
But he couldn’t do it; his heart throbbed painfully.
Shang Lu tightened his grip on the wheelchair’s armrests, straining so hard that his veins bulged. He restrained and suppressed the surging emotions inside him.
“I…” His voice was hoarse.
Su Banxia knelt on the ground, holding his left hand and looking up at him.
“I’ve consulted with doctors, and your legs can still be treated. As long as you receive proper treatment and persist in rehabilitation, there’s a sixty percent chance you can stand up again,” she said.
“Shang Lu, could you please try it, if not for yourself, then for me?”
She didn’t want others to immediately notice his disability. Even the slightest physical imperfection seemed enough to overshadow all his brilliance.
He should be proud, radiant, like a scorching sun that no one could wound, despise, or ridicule. She desperately wished for him to regain his radiance and break free from the darkness.
He could run on the sports field with his friends like he did in high school. He could elegantly raise a golf club and hit the most beautiful shot. He could even ride a horse with an aristocratic air, as if he were a noble young master.
He could have had it all if it weren’t for that accident.
Shang Lu lowered his gaze, his black eyes deep and inscrutable, showing no emotion.
Her eyes, clear and bright, filled with shimmering waves, were sincere and passionate as she gazed at him with boundless hope.
Finally, he understood why she had wanted him to watch her performance so badly.
Su Banxia’s earnest plea and her hopeful gaze touched something deep within Shang Lu. He continued to meet her gaze, his black eyes revealing the turmoil of emotions beneath the surface.
After a moment of silence, Shang Lu finally spoke, his voice carrying a sense of vulnerability and determination. “I will try, for you.”
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Su Banxia’s lips as she felt a surge of joy and gratitude. She released his hand and stood up, extending her hand towards him. “Come, let’s walk together by the beach. We have so many beautiful sunsets and sunrises to witness in the future.”
Shang Lu reached out, gently taking her hand, and together they resumed their walk along the shore. In that moment, with the moonlight dancing on the waves and the gentle sea breeze caressing their faces, they both felt a profound connection and a glimmer of hope for the future.
Why did she make another request of him, yet her only request was for him to stand up? The wall within Shang Lu’s heart crumbled without the need for weapons. She easily defeated him with just a few words, her determination evident.
Something strange seemed to have entered his heart, and a surge of emotions made it difficult for him to control himself. His gaze fixed on her tear-stained cheeks.
His body acted before his mind, as if fate had taken control. He leaned down and kissed her passionately.
This unexpected kiss startled Su Banxia. Her pupils dilated slightly as she felt the warmth of his lips. He didn’t seem to know how to kiss; it was as if he wanted to devour her, and his lips were so intense that they even broke the skin, causing a slight stinging sensation.
Amidst the kiss, Su Banxia’s heart raced. In response to his passion, she instinctively clung to his neck.
Eventually, she fell asleep on his lap, and she didn’t remember how they returned.
In her half-awake state, she thought that Shang Lu was usually reserved and seemed distant and difficult to approach. This was probably the first time he had expressed his emotions so intensely.
The next day, when she woke up, she realized that he hadn’t given her an answer.
Moreover, in the afternoon, she received a message from Shang Lu’s assistant, informing her that there were some issues in the overseas market, and Shang Lu would be on a business trip abroad for two months.
Su Banxia sent several messages, bombarding him with various emojis, but Shang Lu didn’t respond.
…
A call from Lin Qingya brought good news. “Banxia, you won first place in the Flower Goddess Cup competition!”
Su Banxia was dressed in her pajamas, pouring herself a glass of water. She calmly responded to Lin Qingya’s extreme excitement, saying, “Sit down, don’t get too worked up.”
“How did you know I was standing?” Lin Qingya asked in confusion as she took a seat.
Su Banxia smiled and replied, “I’m getting to know you.”
Lin Qingya continued enthusiastically, “Banxia, you’re really amazing. Your scores from the judges far surpassed all the other students. Winning first place this time is well-deserved, and it must have really hurt the pride of Mu Ruxue and Xu Leyi.”
“Some people not only can’t compare to your family background but also can’t match your dancing skills. They’re only fit to be sore losers.”
As Su Banxia listened to her friend’s complaints, her thoughts kept drifting back to Shang Lu.
She knew that they couldn’t afford to wait for two more months. The longer they delayed Shang Lu’s treatment, the more complicated it would become.
“Banxia, are you even listening?” Lin Qingya questioned her.
Su Banxia snapped back to reality and replied, “Sorry, go on.”
“What’s your dad thinking? He treats his adopted daughter and his biological daughter equally. Pushing you into a marriage for a merger, I mean, it’s not that Shang Lu isn’t good, but your dad has some issues,” Lin Qingya remarked.
“I’m not trying to instigate anything, but your dad is definitely not thinking straight,” Lin Qingya said. “Mu Ruxue posted screenshots of her friends consoling her in the group chat after she lost the competition, and your dad actually sent her an apartment as a gift.”
Ninety-nine percent of people can complain about their parents, but if a friend criticizes someone’s parents, they might end the friendship immediately. This type of friend lacks emotional intelligence and a sense of boundaries.
Su Banxia knew that Lin Qingya was venting on her behalf. She understood that her friend was standing up for her.
“It’s okay,” Su Banxia said calmly. “I can reclaim it later.”
She had gathered substantial evidence of her father’s infidelity, and at this point, all she needed to do was reveal the truth. The most challenging part was how to inform her mother without causing her excessive heartbreak. A woman who had given her all, while her husband was thinking about his so-called first love, and even supporting a mistress with their finances—no woman could accept that whilst maintaining absolute calm and rationality.
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