The Silent Girl

Blurb:

In a dim room,

Lu Yuan curled up on the bed, his clothes torn and disheveled, barely hanging on.

His slender body was covered in bruises and wounds, especially around his waist, where the crisscrossing marks looked gruesome and terrifying.

He held himself tightly, his head buried deep in the crook of his arms.

"Stop crying," Lu Yu said, standing quietly beside him and offering an awkward attempt at comfort. Beneath the boy's black hair, she saw red marks scattered across his snow-white neck, and sorrow filled her eyes.

"...I'm not crying."

Lu Yuan slowly raised his head. His voice was low and hoarse, but his beautiful face was spotless. His black gemstone eyes held not even a trace of moisture, as still as a pool of dead water, without the slightest ripple.

"I'm not crying," he repeated, stubborn and insistent.

Looking at him like this, Lu Yu didn't know why, but her heart felt as if it were being torn apart. It hurt so much.

She gently embraced the boy.

"Stop crying," she repeated.

Lu Yuan stiffened all over. A familiar scent reached his nose. After a long while, his body finally relaxed, and his trembling hands wrapped around her, tightening their hold as he buried his face against her neck.

"I told you, I'm not crying."

"Mm, I know." Lu Yu felt the coolness against her neck as tears slid down her cheeks.

You weren't crying. I was.

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