Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 269 268 A Walk in the Rain
Wang Boyu, the head of the senior management team, waited at the door and handed over a black umbrella at just the right moment.

Liu Ying'er took the umbrella and opened it, moving closer to Feng Xiuhu. The umbrella was just big enough for the two of them to shelter from the rain.

Feng Xiuhu stretched out his hand, and the falling raindrops landed on his palm. He felt the lingering effects of the fluctuations in the rules.

The sudden increase in rain was summoned by the Empress.

Liu Ying'er said softly, "Everything is normal in Fancheng. I did not find the divine power polymer you mentioned."

Feng Xiuhu asked, "What about the places where the rain doesn't get in?"

Liu Ying'er shook her head: "Where the rain doesn't reach, the wind blows it away; where the wind doesn't reach, moisture seeps in, but I still can't find it."

“Logically speaking, if even you can see the traces of divine power on it, then it should be very conspicuous in my search.”

Feng Xiuhu felt a little guilty—he hadn't actually noticed; it was Shi who had.

So he changed the subject: "Perhaps it's because of the god of luck, she has great faith in her own luck."

Liu Ying'er squinted at her, smiling mockingly: "Speaking of which, you still haven't explained why Good Luck came to you? Did she discover your secret?"

Feng Xiuhu said solemnly, "I walk upright and sit straight, and I have nothing to hide—I have no secrets that I cannot show to others."

Liu Ying'er pinched his waist and said with displeasure, "I'm asking you—does she know you're a god?"

Feng Xiuhu breathed a sigh of relief, realizing he had misunderstood.

He quickly patted his chest and assured her, "Absolutely not, this is a secret between the two of us. How could I tell a stranger?"

Liu Ying'er rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips.

"Take a walk?"

She pointed to the rain and asked the question.

"You're going to give me a ride?"

Feng Xiuhu scratched the back of his head shyly: "That's so embarrassing."

Liu Ying'er lightly stomped on his foot: "Give it to me!"

It's quite a distance to walk from here to Bibo Street in the Lower District.

Feng Xiuhu inwardly grumbled, but dared not refuse, only muttering under his breath, "Don't you know how to fly...?"

Liu Ying'er was too lazy to pay attention to this clueless fool, and walked straight ahead with her umbrella.

Having no other choice, Feng Xiuhu had to give chase.

"Take it."

Liu Ying'er shoved the umbrella into Feng Xiuhu's hand and complained, "You really have no sense of propriety."

Feng Xiuhu remained silent, putting on an act of accepting being beaten and scolded without retaliating.

He may indeed lack romantic understanding, but he's not stupid.

Stealing a glance at Liu Ying'er's profile, Feng Xiuhu suddenly understood.

In fact, all of Liu Ying'er's behaviors—acting coquettishly, being angry, complaining, being petty, and putting on airs—were not really expressing any real emotions; they were simply because she was reluctant to part with him.

She seemed reluctant to go back.

Feng Xiuhu guessed that perhaps she would no longer be Liu Ying'er after returning, but would revert to the aloof and powerful Lady of Wind and Rain, which was why she was so reluctant to spend these last moments of strolling.

Although Feng Xiuhu didn't know why she was "playing" Liu Ying'er, it was clear that she liked the role very much.

Thinking of this, Feng Xiuhu tilted the black silk umbrella in his hand slightly to the right. The water droplets hanging from the umbrella ribs formed a glass curtain, soaking half of his coat into a dark gray color.

Since the Empress doesn't want to leave the stage, he doesn't mind helping her and making the play even more realistic.

Noticing Feng Xiuhu's movement, Liu Ying'er turned her head to look, her pearl earring brushing against his shoulder.

She smiled at Feng Xiuhu, her pretty face as radiant as a delicate flower.

Feng Xiuhu smelled the lingering scent of hair oil in her hair, which, mixed with the rain, gave him a slightly intoxicated feeling.

The carved handle of the umbrella pressed against her palm, and for no apparent reason, Feng Xiuhu felt that this valuable umbrella had no better use than to shield her from the rain.

He quickly shook his head, thinking that it must have been the woman's spell at the marriage temple that had affected him.

They walked very slowly.

As they passed by the darkened department store window, their overlapping shadows were reflected in the glass.

Liu Ying'er deliberately stepped into the puddle with her high heels, the splashing water startling the reflection of the person in the water. Looking at Feng Xiuhu's wet trousers, Liu Ying'er revealed a sly smile of triumph.

Helpless, Feng Xiuhu took her hand and pulled her out of the shallow puddle.

Liu Ying'er acted as if she was perfectly at ease.

"This shawl was ordered for me here by Wan Laiqiu."

She pointed to the dark entrance of the department store: "He has served me for so many years, and the clothes he picks out are becoming more and more to my liking."

A languid voice drifted through the sound of rain.

At midnight, the streets are stripped of their embellishments, leaving only the rustling of leaves in the rain, like countless listening ears.

Liu Ying'er led Feng Xiuhu into the alley, saying it was a shortcut.

Wet wisteria vines hung from the top of the blue brick wall, the carved iron gate of a house creaked, and the shadows of two people were stretched long in the dim light coming through the stained glass window.

Liu Ying'er suddenly asked, "You still haven't told me how you and Hao Yun met."

In the quiet atmosphere, Feng Xiuhu was caught off guard.

"Uh, that was just a coincidence..."

"coincide?"

Liu Ying'er suddenly turned around and pinned Feng Xiuhu against the wall.

Her breath was sweet as orchids, and she met Feng Xiuhu's gaze without flinching: "Many wonderful stories begin with a coincidence."

Feng Xiuhu looked down and saw that the tips of her leather shoes and her high heels formed an ambiguous angle, like an unfinished Chinese character "八" (eight).

Feng Xiuhu couldn't help but swallow, but there was no point in hiding it, so he answered truthfully.

"It was a church initiation ceremony. When I used 'Echo of Good Fortune,' I called her... To be honest, I don't know the principle behind it, but it was because of this contact that she came to Sail City to find me."

Liu Ying'er narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingertips brushing away the raindrops on his Adam's apple: "Master Feng's heart is beating faster than the jazz drums in a nightclub."

Feng Xiuhu said, "Because the girl was too close."

Liu Ying'er remained noncommittal, only giving him a sidelong glance.

She took out a cigarette from Feng Xiuhu's inner pocket, lit it, and then offered it to Feng Xiuhu's mouth.

Feng Xiuhu held a cigarette in his mouth, the smoke billowing from his lips filling the space between the two men who were gazing at each other.

The atmosphere seemed a little too ambiguous.

Liu Ying'er seemed to realize this as well, and took a half step back.

She looked down and fiddled with the lighter in her hand: "You're supposed to be a true god, yet you use this little gadget. Don't you find it embarrassing?"

Feng Xiuhu replied in a low voice, "If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. If you don't act convincingly, you can't even fool yourself."

These words seemed to have a hidden meaning. Liu Ying'er glanced at him, wondering whether Feng Xiuhu was referring to himself or to her.

She seemed to have lost interest, shoved the lighter back into Feng Xiuhu's hand, and said defiantly, "Let's go."

They remained silent for the rest of the journey.

The two entered Bibo Street, and Feng Xiuhu escorted Liu Ying'er to the small courtyard.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that Wan Laiqiu was already waiting at the door with an umbrella.

"Let's leave the umbrella to Master Feng as a keepsake."

Liu Ying'er handed the shawl to Wan Laiqiu and stepped across the threshold.

She suddenly turned around, a smile playing on her lips: "Remember to send me flowers next time we meet."

With that, Liu Ying'er left without looking back, walked into the courtyard, and disappeared behind the door.

Wan Laiqiu nodded slightly to Feng Xiuhu: "No need to see me off."

Feng Xiuhu and the old man never had much in common, so he turned around and walked away.

After walking a distance, he couldn't help but look back one last time.

But all I could see was Wan Laiqiu wiping away the water stains left on the steps in front of the door—as if the play of the willow warbler had come to an end.

(End of this chapter)