Chapter 10 | Once Wounds, Now the Bridge Between Us

The days after Wen Yan and Shen Che got back together seemed calm on the surface, yet every moment of closeness tugged at the deepest strings of their hearts.

One day, Wen Yan went to the campus library to prepare for her final report.
Shen Che was there too. They hadn’t made plans on purpose—just like before, quietly keeping watch over each other within the same line of sight.

Wen Yan sat by the window, flipping through pages, but her gaze kept drifting toward the aisle.
Shen Che walked over slowly, carrying the faint scent of coffee.
Each step he took felt as if it landed directly on her heart.

“Looking at me?” he asked in a low voice.

Wen Yan flinched slightly, her eyes flickering as she answered softly, “No.”
But her fingers clenched tightly around the corner of the book, betraying her thoughts.

Shen Che said nothing. He simply sat down across from her, quietly reaching out to rest his hand on the table, brushing lightly against hers.
That single touch felt like a reminder—
we’ve finally returned to each other.

They no longer talked about past misunderstandings, nor did they explain the coldness of those years.
The old wounds had become bridges, drawing them closer instead.

In the days that followed, Wen Yan would occasionally think of Lin Yu, or recall the long, painful wait she once endured.
Each time those memories surfaced, she would tighten her grip on Shen Che’s hand, a sense of safety rising within her—
only after losing something do you truly know what’s worth cherishing.

Shen Che, too, would think alone at night about the years when he had been forced to be distant.
He would flip through old photos, seeing her soaked in the rain, crying, and his heart would ache as if cut by a blade.
But every time, the moment he saw her nestled beside him, he felt it had all been worth it.

They began to truly share the warmth of everyday life:

Making breakfast together on weekends, the scent of eggs and toast filling the kitchen.

Taking walks along campus paths in the afternoon, teasing each other as soft laughter drifted on the breeze.

On rainy days, he would always hold the umbrella, and she would mischievously lean against his shoulder.

Wen Yan finally understood—
loving someone isn’t about hurting them, nor controlling them, but about staying by their side and slowly repairing each other’s world.

Shen Che also understood—
some kinds of love must pass through heartbreak before they can learn gentleness.

One evening, they sat on a long bench on campus, watching the sunset dye the sky gold and red.
Wen Yan leaned against Shen Che’s shoulder and said softly, “I used to think I’d never be able to fully trust someone again.”

Shen Che gently wrapped an arm around her. “But you trust me.”

She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. Tears shimmered at the edges, yet her smile was impossibly gentle.
“Yes. And I think… this time, I won’t let go anymore.”

Shen Che lowered his head and held her tightly. “Neither will I.”

In that moment, their hearts seemed to beat as one.
All the past pain, misunderstandings, and separations were transformed into an unbreakable promise of protection.