"Knock knock knock..."
The sudden knocking on the door jolted Li Yun awake. He wiped the tears from his face. Even though he was separated from whoever was outside by a door, he still didn't want anyone to see him in such a vulnerable state.
"Knock knock knock..."
The soft, gentle tapping on the door rang out again, as delicate and polite as a breeze whispering through the treetops or a lover's tender, silent caress. To Li Yun, it sounded almost soothing, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Whoever was knocking was definitely a woman, and one who could turn such a simple act into something so graceful and charming must be a well-educated, cultured lady.
What did a woman who could knock so beautifully look like?
Li Yun opened the door to find a stunningly beautiful woman standing in front of him—elegant, graceful, and every bit as attractive as her reputation suggested. She was none other than Su Yuya, his mentor's wife and the woman he respectfully called "auntie."
Su Yuya was a faculty member at Donglai University, where Li Yun was studying, and her husband, Professor Zhang, had been Li Yun's mentor.
The couple had known about Li Yun's background as an orphan and had always been supportive of his life and studies. Unfortunately, life can be cruel. Two years ago, Professor Zhang had perished in a plane crash while on a research trip abroad, leaving Su Yuya and a substantial life insurance payout.
Su Yuya was twenty-eight this year, with a beauty that was both rare and captivating. She had long, flowing hair, a slender figure, and a pair of firm, high breasts that, combined with her translucent, fair skin, exuded an air of nobility.
Li Yun took a deep breath, composed himself, and forced a smile. "Auntie, what brings you here?"
"Ask me what brings me here?" Su Yuya's tone was casual, like an older sister gently scolding a mischievous younger brother. It was filled with genuine care and warmth. "Look at the time. What have you been up to?"
Li Yun's face turned sheepish as he glanced at the wall clock. It was almost six o'clock.
"You probably haven't started cooking yet, have you? I made some food. Come have some."
Li Yun instinctively wanted to say he wasn't hungry. He had no appetite at all. But Su Yuya seemed to see right through him. Before he could refuse, she said, "I know you must be feeling terrible, but you can't neglect your health just because you're upset. Eat something. Are you going to disobey me?"
With her using the "auntie" card, Li Yun had no choice but to nod. "Thank you, auntie."
He followed Su Yuya to her home, where two sets of chopsticks and bowls were already laid out on the table. Without being asked, he took his seat. This wasn't his first time at Su Yuya's home. When Professor Zhang was still alive, Li Yun and Lin Yixin used to have meals here often.
Come to think of it, Li Yun and Lin Yixin had met thanks to Su Yuya. She was Lin Yixin's aunt, and Li Yun had always been grateful to her. He just hadn't expected things to turn out this way...
"Yun, wait a moment," Su Yuya said softly.
Hearing this, Li Yun put down his chopsticks and looked up at her in surprise.
Su Yuya smiled gently and teased, "You're such a big boy, yet you're crying like a raccoon. Go wash up."
Li Yun's face turned red, and he got up and walked into the bathroom a little awkwardly. Although Su Yuya was like a mentor and an older sister to him, almost like family, he still felt a bit embarrassed about being called out like that. Maybe it was just his silly male pride getting in the way.
After washing his face, Li Yun came out of the bathroom, his face still a little flushed. He didn't quite dare to meet Su Yuya's eyes and said in a low voice, "Auntie, I..."
Su Yuya picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks and placed it in his bowl, smiling gently. "Eat first. We can talk later."
Her affectionate and caring tone made Li Yun feel a pang in his heart and a lump in his throat. He quickly sat down and began eating in silence.
The living room suddenly fell into silence. Li Yun absentmindedly shoveled rice into his mouth, his mind filled with memories of the sweet nothings, promises, and romantic moments he had shared with Lin Yixin. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even realize he had been staring blankly with his chopsticks in mid-air until Su Yuya's soft sigh brought him back to reality.
"Yun, I understand how you feel. The pain of being separated from someone you love... I felt the same way when your mentor passed away two years ago," Su Yuya's eyes glistened with tears. She wiped them away and comforted him, "But as someone who's been through it, I have to tell you that your life is still long and full of challenges ahead. You can't let this break you now."
"Auntie, I know all that, but I still can't accept that Yixin is gone..."
As Li Yun spoke, tears began to flow again. Maybe deep down, he already saw Su Yuya as family, because he didn't try to hide his emotions from her.
Tears filled Su Yuya's eyes as well. She got up, walked over to Li Yun, and wrapped her fair, slender arms around his head, her voice soft and soothing. "Cry. It'll make you feel better."
In his daze, Li Yun felt like he was back in his childhood. His early years hadn't been happy, and whenever he cried to the orphanage director about being bullied, she would comfort him in the same gentle way.
Li Yun buried his head deep into Su Yuya's ample bosom and wept like a child, as if the flood of tears could wash away all his sorrow. Unconsciously, his hands wrapped around Su Yuya's slender waist.
"Cry. It'll make you feel better," Su Yuya's delicate hand gently patted Li Yun's back, and her own tears began to fall.
Li Yun was like a wanderer who had been hurt outside and was now pouring out his sadness in the warm embrace of a mother. He didn't know how much time had passed—it felt like an eternity—before his tears finally ran dry.
Gradually, his senses and rational mind returned. The soft, elastic touch and the refreshing, pleasant scent made him realize that he was in an intimate embrace with Su Yuya.