Part Two: The First Run
“Freedom does not arrive all at once.
Sometimes…
it begins with one uncertain step.”
Yu Mingyue ran.
Or rather…
She tried to.
Her steps were small.
Careful.
Almost hesitant.
She instinctively kept one hand near her chest.
Waiting.
Waiting for the familiar pain.
Waiting for the dizziness.
Waiting for someone to shout—
“Stop!”
“…”
Nothing happened.
She slowed and looked down at herself in confusion.
“…”
“…That’s strange.”
Xiao Bai floated beside her.
“What is?”
“…It doesn’t hurt.”
His little face softened.
“…Host.”
“…It won’t.”
Yu Mingyue looked ahead again.
The stone path stretched beneath the shade of the maple trees.
Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves.
Tiny patches of light danced across the ground.
Beautiful.
She had seen this garden countless times from her bedroom window.
But…
It had never looked like this before.
Because she had never seen it while moving through it.
She took another step.
Then another.
Gradually…
Her pace became faster.
The breeze brushed gently against her cheeks.
Her long black hair swayed behind her.
She laughed.
A tiny laugh at first.
Almost disbelieving.
“…”
“…I’m really running.”
Behind her…
The others quietly followed.
Not close enough to stop her.
Not far enough to lose sight of her.
Gu Mengmeng held the medical report tightly against her chest.
She looked as though she were carrying the world’s greatest treasure.
Xie Chengyi folded his arms.
His eyes never left Yu Mingyue.
Not because he expected something to happen.
Because…
For years…
He had trained himself to notice every tiny change in her breathing.
Old habits…
Did not disappear in a single day.
Gu Mingzhe unconsciously matched his pace to hers.
Watching.
Observing.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Every heartbeat.
His doctor’s instincts kept searching for danger.
Finding none.
It felt…
Strangely unfamiliar.
Only Lu Yanxi remained where he was.
Standing quietly near the entrance to the garden.
Watching the girl run beneath the sunlight.
He remembered another afternoon.
Years ago.
A little girl had stood in almost the same place.
Holding a skipping rope.
“…Yanxi-ge.”
“…Hm?”
“…When my heart gets better…”
“…Can I run too?”
He had smiled.
“…Of course.”
She had grinned brightly.
“…Then promise.”
“…I promise.”
…
The memory ended there.
Because…
Her heart had never gotten better.
Until today.
Lu Yanxi slowly closed his eyes.
His fingers relaxed at his sides.
“…I kept my promise.”
His voice was so quiet…
No one heard him.
…
Meanwhile…
Yu Mingyue was still running.
The careful little steps gradually disappeared.
She became bolder.
Faster.
The wind rushed past her ears.
Her heart beat rapidly.
But…
Not painfully.
She laughed again.
Louder this time.
“…Hahaha!”
She stretched both arms wide.
The breeze slipped through her fingers.
It felt as though she could embrace the entire sky.
“…”
“…So this…”
“…is what everyone else feels.”
No one answered.
Because no one could.
Gu Mengmeng had already begun crying.
Again.
She wiped her eyes angrily.
“…Stupid wind…”
“…It’s blowing dust into my eyes.”
Xie Chengyi quietly handed her a handkerchief.
“…You’re crying.”
“…I know.”
“…Stop looking.”
“…I wasn’t.”
“…Liar.”
Even while arguing…
Neither of them looked away from Yu Mingyue.
She suddenly stopped.
Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat.
Gu Mingzhe instinctively stepped forward.
“…Yue’er?”
Yu Mingyue bent over slightly.
Hands resting on her knees.
She took several deep breaths.
“…”
“…Host!”
Xiao Bai immediately scanned her body.
“Heart rate elevated.”
“Breathing increased.”
“Muscle fatigue detected.”
Yu Mingyue slowly looked up.
“…”
“…Really?”
“…Yes.”
She blinked.
“…That’s all?”
“…That’s all.”
Silence.
Then…
Yu Mingyue’s eyes suddenly became bright.
She straightened immediately.
“I’m tired!”
Everyone stared.
“…”
“…I’m actually tired!”
She pointed excitedly at herself.
“My legs feel heavy!”
“I’m breathing fast!”
“My heart is beating quickly!”
She looked around happily.
“It isn’t because I’m sick!”
“It’s because I ran!”
The entire garden became silent.
Then…
Gu Mingzhe laughed.
Not a restrained chuckle.
Not a polite smile.
A genuine laugh.
Warm.
Soft.
Full of relief.
“…Yes.”
He walked over and handed her a bottle of water.
“…Because you ran.”
Yu Mingyue accepted it immediately.
She drank several mouthfuls.
Then sighed dramatically.
“…Being healthy is exhausting.”
Gu Mengmeng burst into laughter.
“You’ve only run once!”
“I understand athletes now.”
“…Do you?”
“…No.”
“They’re amazing.”
Everyone laughed.
Even Lu Yanxi.
Just once.
A tiny smile.
But Yu Mingyue caught it immediately.
She pointed triumphantly.
“…Mengmeng!”
“I saw it!”
“What?”
“Yanxi-ge smiled!”
All eyes turned toward Lu Yanxi.
He calmly looked away.
“…You imagined it.”
“I didn’t!”
“You did.”
“I definitely didn’t!”
Gu Mingzhe quietly adjusted his glasses.
“…I saw it too.”
Xie Chengyi nodded once.
“…Me too.”
Lu Yanxi looked at the three people surrounding him.
Then…
He sighed very quietly.
“…You’re all becoming noisy.”
Yu Mingyue grinned.
“…That’s because we’re happy.”
His gaze met hers.
For one brief moment…
The corners of his lips lifted again.
This time…
He didn’t deny it.
The wind continued dancing through the garden.
Carrying laughter with it.
A sound…
The Lu residence had waited eight years to hear again.