The Gentle Breeze Reflects in My Eyes - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Gu Yitong didn’t give Zhao Yasu an answer right away.

Since bringing Lusheng home, the time she spent at the company had decreased significantly. Although Qi Die didn’t say anything, Gu Yitong felt guilty. Right now, the company was in its busy season; taking half a month off would mean dumping the entire burden onto Qi Die’s shoulders. It felt selfish.

However, if Zhao Yasu had suggested this competition, it meant it was an undeniable opportunity for Lusheng. And that concert—if it weren’t a prestigious event, Zhao Yasu wouldn’t have brought it up. Gu Yitong felt a flicker of irritability, unable to find a way to satisfy both responsibilities.

In the afternoon, Ye Li brought the Braille music scores. Seeing Lusheng holding them as if they were the most precious treasures in the world softened Gu Yitong’s mood slightly.

When she stepped out of the lounge, Qi Die was sitting at her desk. Seeing her come out, Qi Die pushed a cup toward her. “Cold medicine. Drink it.”

Gu Yitong frowned. “I hate that stuff.”

Qi Die rolled her eyes. “Listen to your voice. Even if it’s just so you don’t infect the rest of us, drink it now.”

Resigned, Gu Yitong picked up the cup and downed the bitter liquid in one go, her face contorted in distaste.

“Da Lei said he’s treating us to dinner tonight. Want to come?” Qi Die asked. Da Lei was Qi Die’s boyfriend and their former college classmate.

Gu Yitong set the cup down, the lingering bitterness making her wince. “I’ll pass. I’m going to the martial arts hall tonight.”

Whenever she felt under the weather, Gu Yitong headed to the dojo. She claimed that “sweating it out” was the best cure. Qi Die knew this habit well and didn’t press further. However, seeing Gu Yitong’s thin lips pressed into a tight line, Qi Die sensed something was wrong. “What is it? Something is bothering you?”

The words to ask for leave were on the tip of Gu Yitong’s tongue, but she swallowed them. She shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Really?” Qi Die clearly didn’t believe her, but seeing Gu Yitong’s persistence, she let it drop.

…

After work, Gu Yitong didn’t take Xia Lusheng home; instead, they went to the martial arts hall.

On the way, Lusheng reported on her Braille progress with a hint of excitement: “Teacher Ye said I have a great memory. I’m the fastest learner she’s ever had! She said if I pass the quiz next week, she’ll start teaching me how to read music scores!”

Gu Yitong listened with a smile. “Is that so? Our Lusheng is amazing.”

Upon arriving at the hall, Gu Yitong led Lusheng inside. Someone spotted her and waved enthusiastically. “Senior Sister! It’s been so long! Hey, who’s the little girl?”

Lusheng instinctively hid behind Gu Yitong.

“My sister, Lusheng,” Gu Yitong introduced.

“Lu Sheng? What a coincidence! Same surname as me! We’re practically family!” Lu Feng exclaimed excitedly.

Gu Yitong corrected him flatly: “Her surname is Xia. Lusheng—’Lu’ as in deer. And put away that leery look of yours.”

Without giving him a chance to argue, she led Lusheng to the backyard where the younger disciples were practicing. A man in black martial arts attire was supervising them with a training whip. He turned, saw Gu Yitong, and smiled, dropping the whip to walk toward her.

When he was three paces away, he suddenly launched a sweeping kick. Gu Yitong dodged nimbly, pulling Lusheng back a step. The man didn’t stop, lunging forward with a hook. Fearing for Lusheng’s safety, Gu Yitong dodged while shouting, “Wait! Senior Brother!”

Lusheng, not knowing what was happening, stumbled along as Gu Yitong pulled her left and right to avoid the strikes.

Lu Yuan stopped and looked at her. “Fight back! Why are you just dodging?”

“My sister is here. Don’t hurt her. Let’s take it to the platform.”

Lusheng vaguely understood what they were talking about and gripped Gu Yitong’s hand tighter.

They moved to the sparring platform. Gu Yitong led Lusheng to a seat below and beckoned Lu Feng over. “Lu Feng, watch over Lusheng for me,” she instructed. Lu Feng, realizing Lusheng had a visual impairment, felt a pang of sympathy and agreed immediately.

As Gu Yitong turned to climb onto the platform, Lusheng suddenly grabbed her clothes, her face full of unease. “Yitong-jie.”

Knowing she was worried, Gu Yitong rubbed her head. “Don’t worry, I won’t get hurt. I just need to sweat out this cold.”

Lusheng hesitated but slowly let go.

Gu Yitong changed her clothes and stepped onto the mat. She stretched her limbs and smiled at Lu Yuan. “Senior Brother, please go easy on me.”

Lu Yuan gestured for her to come at him. Gu Yitong didn’t hold back, launching a high kick that carved a beautiful arc through the air. Lu Yuan dodged and tried to grab her ankle, but she twisted away like a snake. Back and forth they went, the intensity rising as they truly began to spar.

The younger disciples gathered around, cheering at the exciting moves.

“Senior Brother, watch her lower body! Her stance is shaky!” “Sister! Hit him! Now’s your chance! Go… YES!”

It wasn’t a formal match, just a friendly spar among family, so the atmosphere was rowdy. The master allowed this, saying that keeping one’s focus amidst external distractions was a vital part of training.

Lu Yuan wasn’t in a hurry. He focused on wearing down Gu Yitong’s stamina while looking for an opening. After a few more exchanges, he narrowed his eyes, closed the distance, grabbed her, and executed a skillful throw.

With a loud thud, Gu Yitong was slammed onto the mat.

Below the stage, Lu Feng got excited. Seeing Gu Yitong fall, he jumped up and yelled, “Get up! Get up! Senior Sister, get back in the fight!” The other disciples joined in, clapping and shouting her name, urging her to counterattack.

Beside them, Xia Lusheng’s hands and feet turned ice-cold. She couldn’t see what was happening; she could only piece together a terrifying picture from the fragments of shouting around her.

Lu Feng’s excited roar made her feel as if she were in an ice cellar. Her mind was a chaotic mess. Did Yitong-jie fall? Is she hurt? What happened?

The more baseless the guess, the more terrifyingly real it felt.

In reality, Gu Yitong was perfectly fine. They sparred often; winning and losing was normal, and they knew how to control their strength. She jumped back up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and charged back in with renewed vigor.

The fight continued, both of them thoroughly enjoying the thrill.

In the midst of the chaos, Lu Feng’s voice suddenly rang out, trembling and helpless: “Sister… stop… stop fighting. Look at Lusheng…”

Gu Yitong, who currently had the upper hand, caught the name out of the corner of her eye. She froze instantly, her heart skipping a beat.

The next second, she let go of Lu Yuan without a word, leaped off the platform, and rushed to Lusheng’s side. She grabbed Lusheng’s wrist, trying to pry open her clenched fist, but Lusheng only gripped tighter.

Bright red blood was dripping from Lusheng’s palm. Her fingernails were dug deep into her own flesh.

Gu Yitong tried to pry her fingers open again, her own hands slick with sweat. “Lusheng, be good. Listen to me. Let go of your hand.”

Lusheng didn’t hear her. She was as still as a doll, her face so pale it was almost transparent. She seemed to have retreated into a world of her own, completely oblivious to the pain in her hand.