The landlord has multiple personalities and wants everyone to pay him.

At 8:10 p.m., Ye Shu took another walk around the store, checking the water and electricity to make sure everything that needed to be turned off was turned off before he prepared to leave work.

Before locking the door, he glanced out the window. It was already completely dark, and the glass was damp with water, blurring the lights outside.

That's the downside of early spring; the rain comes very frequently, and it's unpredictable. It starts raining whenever it wants, and once it starts, it doesn't seem to want to stop, just drizzling on and on.

Typical spring rain, with a slightly sticky feel, a continuous spring rain.

Ye Shu sighed. The weather forecast on his phone didn't say it would rain today, so he didn't bring an umbrella, and there weren't any in the store either.

Forget it, I'll just run back. It's just a little rain anyway. I can take a hot shower as soon as I get home, and it shouldn't be a big problem.

He glanced around the store one last time to make sure there were no problems, then walked out and prepared to lock the door.

But just as the lock was fastened, Ye Shu suddenly felt something hard pressing against his lower back.

Immediately afterwards, a woman's voice, clearly deliberately lowered, came from behind him:

"Don't move, it's a robbery!"

Ye Shu felt a shiver run through her body, and the hairs on her cheeks stood on end.

What is this? This is the second time I've been startled in one night!

However, that was only for a moment; he immediately recognized who was behind him.

He didn't rush to turn around; instead, he cooperatively raised his hands in surrender and said to his back:

"Heroine, spare my life! Stop your blade! May I ask, heroine, are you here to rob me of my money or my virtue?"

As soon as he said that, Ye Shu heard a soft chuckle behind him. Clearly, the person behind him couldn't hold back their laughter, but this was followed by two muffled coughs, and then the suppressed voice came again:

"Hmm... This heroine sees you're not bad-looking, so today, I'll take advantage of you!"

Ye Shu smiled after hearing this, put down her hand, and turned around.

The lights of the commercial street, mixed with the fine drizzle, reflected Xia Qing's figure.

She was holding a black umbrella in one hand and an identical one in the other. That must be the weapon that had been pressed against her lower back.

Xia Qing was looking up at Ye Shu with a smile in her eyes. When Ye Shu turned around, she leaned forward a little and then laughed in a domineering tone:

"Little brother, stop struggling. Just submit to me. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will come to save you."

Seeing her like this, Ye Shu also cooperated, shouting as if she were being forced into prostitution:

"Rotten throat! Rotten throat!"

The two finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter at the store entrance.

This old joke about a broken throat is actually quite old, so old it's practically stale.

But old jokes vary depending on who throws them out and to whom they're thrown.

If someone else were to play like this, it would definitely seem boring.

But if it's someone you like, saying it with a smile in their eyes on a drizzly, breezy night, then the joke contains far more than just whether it's funny or not.

The two frolicked for a while at the shop entrance. Fine raindrops drifted on their faces, cool and refreshing, but they couldn't wash away the warmth in their hearts.

Ye Shu took the umbrella Xia Qing handed her, opened it, and asked:

"Why are you here so late?"

Xia Qing leaned closer to him, and the two walked side by side, stepping on the pedestrian street tiles that had become reflective due to the rain, slowly making their way back.

"I'll pick you up. I noticed the weather was a bit off, and I realized you probably didn't bring an umbrella this morning, so I came to pick you up. I can't really let you run back in the rain, can I? If you catch a cold, I'll have to take care of you. I've had enough of taking care of you these past few days."

These words warmed Ye Shu's heart, but his personality was such that he didn't like to trouble others, so he still politely replied with a remark:

"Actually, you could run there; the rain isn't heavy."

He had barely finished speaking when he was punched in the arm.

Xia Qing withdrew her hand, glaring at him with great displeasure:

"Comrade Ye Shu, please watch your words! I braved the wind and rain to bring you this umbrella, could you please refrain from saying things that ruin the atmosphere? Why don't you use your energy to praise me? Is it so hard to say something nice?"

Looking at Xia Qing's stern face, Ye Shu only found her adorable, so adorable.

"They've practically offered me a way out, so I should hurry up and take it," Ye Shu said to Xia Qing.

"Yes, yes, yes, I know I was wrong. Well... this is truly remarkable. In ancient times, Emperor Taizong of Song offered help in the snow, a story of profound kindness that became a legend. Now, Sister Xia Qing offered an umbrella in the rain, a kindness that warms the heart like a second life! Sister Xia Qing, your kindness is truly moving and worthy of praise! If this deed isn't included in history textbooks, it would be a great loss to the historical community and a regret for future generations! I wouldn't watch this year's 'Touching China' event without you!"

Hearing that he was clearly mocking her, Xia Qing angrily raised her hand to hit him again, but this time Ye Shu had learned his lesson and dodged away.

"Shut up! You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth."

Ye Shu dodged Xia Qing's attack and smiled smugly:

"Of course, you can't expect ivory from a dog's mouth, that's basic biology. I, this dog... no, I, this person, am quite honest, and what I say is the absolute truth. Speaking of which..."

"Pah! You're really pushing your luck!"

Xia Qing was both annoyed and amused by his shameless way of climbing the pole, and reached out to pinch his arm.

This time, Ye Shu didn't dodge; she took the hit squarely, wincing in pain, but her eyes were full of happiness.

As the poem goes: "The apricot blossom rain threatens to wet my clothes, but the willow breeze is gentle on my face."

But tonight we can only match the first half of the sentence, because the wind is actually quite cold tonight.

The two walked along chatting and laughing, and anyone who saw them would find them very sweet.

Just as Ye Shu was about to turn around at the corner, Xia Qing grabbed his arm.

"Huh? We've turned this way. What's wrong, don't you know the way?"

Ye Shu shook his head and told Xia Qing that they had to go this way.

But Xia Qing didn't move. Instead, she turned her head to the other side, mimicking Ye Shu's gesture:

"Come with me."

"Huh? Where are we going?"

Although Ye Shu didn't understand where Xia Qing was going, he still turned around and followed her.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to sell you. Just come with me, I'll take you to a nice place."

Xia Qing smiled mysteriously, her excitement evident on her face.

What's going on here?

Ye Shu wondered to himself, but seeing Xia Qing's enthusiastic expression, he didn't ask.

Just go with her, she can't possibly hurt herself.

The two walked for about ten more minutes before turning into a quieter side street.

The street was quite quiet, with few people around. The two stopped in front of a small building.

This small building looks quite new. It's not tall, just two stories, and it's square, like a matchbox.

The exterior walls are off-white, and there is no sign. Only on the wall next to the door are two black artistic characters that read "Chen Chui".

Ye Shu looked at the two words and wanted to see inside, but found that the curtains were only half drawn, so she couldn't see what was inside clearly.

Dust-covered kitchen... a restaurant? A private kitchen?

"Sister Xia Qing, where is this?"

Ye Shu couldn't help but ask again.

Xia Qing didn't answer, but her smile widened even more. She pushed open the door and smiled at Ye Shu:

"Come in."