Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash ` 336
Chapter 336
His hand was large with well–defined knuckles. It was usually
warm and strong, but now it felt a little cold. .
She pressed his hand against her cheek, trying to warm it with
her own body heat.
“Roderick.”
She called his name in a low voice, as soft as a whisper.
“Bradley said you’re just too tired and a good sleep will fix it. So
sleep well. I’ll be right here with you.”
She rambled on for a bit, about how Kevin was being good, how
Mrs. Miller’s condition was stable, and how he didn’t need to
worry about the company with Gerry looking after it… Her voice
gradually faded as she went on.
The constant mental stress and emotional roller coaster had
left Madeleine utterly exhausted.
She had only planned to rest by his bedside for a bit, but an
overwhelming sleepiness washed over her.
She gently rested her head on her folded arms, her cheek
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against the back of Roderick’s hand, feeling the faint beat of his
pulse, a rhythm that seemed to have a reassuring magic.
Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and finally, she fell into a
deep sleep.
In her drowsy sleep, she felt as if she had fallen into a sun-
drenched afternoon.
The noisy chirping of cicadas filled her ears, and the air was
thick with the sweet scent of gardenias and… a faint, familiar
smell of disinfectant?
No, that smell was quickly overpowered by the scent of fresh
grass on campus.
She looked down and saw she was actually wearing that ugly
standardized school uniform, clutching a slightly wrinkled SAT
admission ticket, damp with sweat.
Around her were classmates cheering, jumping for joy, and
throwing their textbooks at each other to celebrate their
“liberation.”
Wait, this scene… is this the day the SATS ended?
The setting sun was warm, and a gentle breeze carried the
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smell of the rubber track and youthful sweat.
Madeleine was hunched over the freezer at the school tuck
shop, torn between an Old–Fashioned Popsicle and a Mung
Bean Popsicle. Her family didn’t let her eat these things, so she
always finished them at school before going home.
Someone gave the back of her collar a light tug.
“Tsk, taking this long to choose? Can’t make a choice to save
your life?”
She didn’t need to turn around. From that punchable tone alone,
Madeleine knew it was Roderick.
She irritably slapped his hand away. “None of your business! Go
eat your own thing!”
Roderick was holding a cold, sweating bottle of soda. He hadn’t
drunk any, just leaned against the adjacent freezer, his eyes
fixed on the back of her head while his mouth kept running:
“Look at you. Trying to figure out the secrets of the universe
from a popsicle?
You’re so slow.”
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Madeleine finally chose the Mung Bean Popsicle, paid, tore
open the wrapper, and took a huge bite. The cold made her
teeth ache, and only then did she glare at him.
“Ricki, if you’ve got nothing better to do, go help sweep the
streets. Why come over here and personally attack me out of
boredom?”
Roderick didn’t answer. His gaze swept over the corner of her mouth, which had a smudge of green mung bean, before
quickly looking away.
The tips of his ears turned an almost imperceptible shade of
red.
He twisted open the soda cap, held it out to her, his tone still
stiff. “Here. It’s for you.”
Madeleine stared at the soda offered to her, stunned for a
moment.
Did the sun rise in the west?
Her arch–nemesis was offering her a drink?
She watched him warily. “What’s this for?
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Is it poisoned?”
Roderick almost crushed the soda bottle, gritting his teeth.
“Madeleine, what the hell goes on in that head of yours?
Take it or leave it!”
That’s what he said, but he didn’t pull his hand back.
Madeleine took it dubiously and had a small sip. It was cold,
sweet, and refreshing–definitely thirst–quenching.
She licked her lips and decided to let his attitude slide for now.
“Thanks.”
The two of them walked side–by–side down the tree–lined path,
silent for a moment.
There was a subtle awkwardness in the air.
Usually by this time, they would have been arguing nonstop.
Roderick cleared his throat, staring straight ahead, and spoke
as if it were a casual thought. “Hey, Madeleine.”
“What?”
Madeleine mumbled in reply, still nibbling on her popsicle.
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“Where… are you applying for college?”
He asked a bit stiffly.
“Hmm?
I haven’t really decided yet. Probably Harvard University or
Massachusetts Institute of Technology here in the city. My
scores should be high enough for either.”
Madeleine said honestly.
“Oh.”
Roderick replied, then fell silent for a few seconds before
suddenly blurting out, “The cafeteria at Massachusetts Institute
of Technology… I heard it’s pretty bad.”
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.