Dong Yue (GL) · Chat

The sun was blazing hot, curling the plaster edges of the adobe house. I squatted under the old locust tree in the corner of the yard, crushing a grass stem to pieces between my fingertips—from inside the house came the raspy voice of Dong Yue's father, mixed with Dong Yue's faint, tearful cries, piercing my ears like a thorn. "That guy is an abuser! How could I have a good life if I marry him?" Dong Yue's voice trembled fiercely, her tearful protest sounding exceptionally weak in the sultry air. "A good life? I'm finding a way out for her!" Old Man Dong's voice suddenly spiked higher. "I've already accepted the betrothal gift. Does she have a choice? Tomorrow I'll dig out the household register and settle this marriage!" I stood up abruptly, my knuckles turning white. Turning my head to look at Dong Yue, who was curled into a ball in the inner room, her eyes were as red as soaked cherries. When she saw me, her tears started falling again. I had long seen through the people in this village. Numb bystanders, spectators—nobody would truly say a fair word for Dong Yue. Except for her, this lousy village didn't have half a thing worth holding onto. I strode into the inner room and grabbed Dong Yue's hand. Her hand was icy cold, still trembling slightly. "Dong Yue, come with me." Dong Yue froze for a moment, looking up at me through tear-filled eyes, teardrops still clinging to her eyelashes: "Go? Where to?" "To Haicheng." I gripped her hand tightly, my voice resolute. "With me around, no one can force you to marry that kind of person." She opened her mouth, suddenly remembered something, and asked softly, "Then... then the neighbor auntie said before that marrying someone means being together for a lifetime, and you promised..." My heart softened. My fingertips gently wiped away the tears on her face, my voice softening yet remaining firm: "That wasn't just fooling around—it was a promise I made to you. Starting today, we really will be together for a lifetime. First, grab your household register and ID card, and while my dad is out in the fields, we'll leave." Dong Yue looked at me, her tears stopping. A small light slowly brightened in her eyes, and she nodded vigorously: "Mhm! I'm going with you!" Opening 2: Hasty Departure The cicadas buzzing outside the courtyard wall were irritably noisy. Taking advantage of Old Man Dong carrying his hoe off to the fields, I quickly slipped into Dong Yue's room. She was squatting in front of a wooden chest, her fingers trembling as she searched through it. Hearing the noise, she whipped her head around, lingering panic still on her face. "Did you find them?" I lowered my voice and reached out to help her. Dong Yue stuffed the household register and ID card into my palm, her little face pale: "My dad locked the household register inside the wooden chest, so I stole the key... If he finds out, he'll definitely chase after us." I tucked the documents into my coat, reaching out to hold her hand: "Don't be afraid. You have me." Her hand was still trembling, but she took the initiative to lean closer to my side and whispered, "Can we really go to Haicheng? Will it be very dangerous on the way?" "Even if it's dangerous, it's better than staying here." I pulled her toward the courtyard, the glaring sunlight forcing our eyes half-shut. "Once we reach Haicheng, we'll find a small apartment, get jobs, and live a good life. No one will ever find us." When we reached the dirt road at the entrance of the village, Dong Yue suddenly stopped in her tracks. As if remembering something, she looked up at me: "I said before that I wanted to marry you, and you said you agreed... Is that true? You're not just teasing me?" I stopped and looked into her eyes seriously. Her eyes were like clear mountain springs, clean and pure. "Of course it's true." I paused and added, "From the day you said you wanted to marry me, I planned to protect you. Now I'm just turning that plan into reality." A faint blush bloomed on Dong Yue's cheeks, and she lowered her head, softly responding, "Then... then let's hurry up and catch the bus." I smiled and ruffled her hair, pulling her along as we ran toward the bus station. The wind blew past our ears, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees. Dong Yue's footsteps followed behind me, no longer hesitating, but gradually picking up speed. Opening 3: Determined to Go Together Standing at the doorway of the Dong family yard, I watched Old Man Dong's figure disappear at the far end of the ridge, then immediately turned and shouted toward the inner room: "Dong Yue! Let's go!" Just as I spoke, Dong Yue ran out clutching a cloth bundle. The bundle was stuffed full, containing a few changes of her clothes along with the secretly stashed household register and ID card. Running up to my side, she asked out of breath: "Are we leaving? Will my dad come back soon?" "Let me take that!" I snatched the cloth bundle from her hand, slung it over my shoulder, and took her hand. "We're heading to the station right now to catch the bus to Haicheng." Dong Yue's steps were somewhat rushed, yet she followed me closely without shrinking back in the slightest. Encountering a few neighbors along the way who pried curiously at us, I intentionally straightened my back, shielding Dong Yue at my side to keep those prying eyes off her. Arriving at the station, I pulled Dong Yue toward the ticket window. She suddenly stopped and looked up at me, a hint of trepidation mixed with determination in her eyes: "Can I really go with you? To a completely unfamiliar city, with no family and no one we know..." "Yes, you can." I turned to look at her, saying earnestly, "With me around, even a stranger city can become our home. Don't be afraid; I'll take good care of you." She fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly recalled something earlier and whispered, "I didn't understand before that marrying someone means being together for a lifetime when I said I wanted to marry you... Do you think I'm really silly?" I smiled, reaching out to gently pinch her cheek. "Being a little silly is better. That way, you'll only rely on me, only follow me, and we'll never be apart for a lifetime." Dong Yue's face instantly flushed red, but she nodded vigorously: "Then I'll be silly for a lifetime. You can't leave me behind." "Never." I bought the tickets and pulled her toward the waiting area. "Now, our new life begins the moment we get on this bus."