Falling into the rain

The sky, which was originally clear and blue, suddenly turned cloudy, and after a while, a light drizzle began to fall.

As soon as Yu Tingyu stepped out of the rehearsal room, she felt the cold air.

It was April, and spring was in full bloom. She hadn't brought a coat when she left home that morning, and now she was starting to feel the chill.

Today's rehearsal was very efficient; the teacher dismissed class early. It was only a little past five o'clock, and Wen Huaixu probably hadn't left yet.

"Tingyu, how about I drive my car over and you come with me? Let's not trouble Brother Huaixu."

Zhao Xiao glanced at the dense rain, which showed no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Yu Tingyu also thought it was feasible. After all, it would take a lot of effort to get from home to school and then to the hotel where the banquet was being held, so why bother him?

"Okay, then drive here. It's too cold outside."

Yu Tingyu hugged her arms; the cold wind, mixed with drizzle, felt like it was blowing right through her.

She was now genuinely regretting not listening to Wen Huaixu's advice that morning and wearing an extra coat. Her cold was just starting to get better, and if it relapsed, she would hear Wen Huaixu's scolding again.

"Okay." Zhao Xiao nodded, then laughed when he saw Yu Tingyu's actions, teasing, "Prioritizing style over warmth, huh? Now you know it's cold?"

As he spoke, he took off his coat and handed it to Yu Tingyu.

"I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Yu Tingyu smiled at him. She would have refused any other man, but this was Zhao Xiao, the man she knew best besides Wen Huaixu. From elementary school, middle school, high school to university, they had been in the same school and class. The only difference was that they chose different majors after entering university, but they always performed together.

According to Shen Sihe, if they had known each other since childhood, they must have had a friendship like that of two people who had shared the same pair of open-crotch pants.

Yu Tingyu took the coat and was about to unfold it and put it on when she suddenly heard a low, husky male voice from not far away.

"Little fish."

She paused, turning her head to look at the source of the sound.

Wen Huaixu stood in the rain holding a black umbrella, the brim slightly raised, his sharp and gloomy eyes staring straight at her, making Yu Tingyu's heart beat faster.

"...Second Brother, why are you here so soon?"

Yu Tingyu paused slightly upon seeing Wen Huaixu; she hadn't expected him to arrive so early.

But in Wen Huaixu's eyes, this might be a complaint that he had disturbed her time with her boyfriend or someone she was having an affair with.

After all, she was holding a garment that was clearly not her size, and it looked like she was about to put it on.

Wen Huaixu's eyes darkened. He closed the umbrella and walked to her side, his tall figure blocking the wind that was about to blow on Yu Tingyu.

"Hello, Brother Huaixu." Zhao Xiao greeted him respectfully.

Wen Huaixu glanced at his upper body, which was only wearing a white shirt, and asked him with narrowed eyes, "Aren't you cold?"

Zhao Xiao was a little flattered by the greeting and quickly said, "I'm fine, it's just that it's cold in the rain."

The conversation shifted to Yu Tingyu. Wen Huaixu glanced down at her skirt, which barely reached her calves and was billowing in the breeze, then looked up at her face and asked in a deep voice, "Now you know it's cold?"

Yu Tingyu pouted and mumbled, "It wasn't cold in the morning, and they didn't say it would rain tonight."

"You're always right." Wen Huaixu sneered, took the coat from her hand, threw it to Zhao Xiao, and then took off his own.

Yu Tingyu stared blankly as he approached and draped his coat over her shoulders.

When Wen Huaixu approached, her eyelashes trembled involuntarily, and she didn't know what to do with her hands and feet.

But he left in an instant, and a weight suddenly weighed on her shoulder. His body heat still lingered, and the fabric of his clothes clung tightly to the skin on the back of her neck.

"Dress yourself."

Wen Huaixu gave her instructions in a calm voice.

"...No need, this is much better." Yu Tingyu shook her head, casually adjusting her clothes, and the familiar scent of cedar and Longjing tea instantly filled her nostrils.

When was the last time you wore Wen Huaixu's clothes?

She couldn't remember clearly, but she knew it was a very, very long time ago.

At this moment, a warm feeling enveloped her, as if... as if he were holding her in his arms.

Suddenly realizing that the two men in front of her were looking at her, Yu Tingyu was startled by this sudden thought, and her cheeks instantly turned red.

What on earth is she thinking about every day?

Yu Tingyu felt that her "illness" was getting worse and worse. Before, it was just a dream, but now, in front of others, in front of Wen Huaixu, she could uncontrollably think about all sorts of things. If this continued, she was afraid that she would become terminally ill.

"Second Brother, let's go." Yu Tingyu quickly changed the subject, looking at Zhao Xiao and saying, "Please tell Sihe for me."

"Okay, see you in a bit." Zhao Xiao waved to her.

Upon hearing this, Wen Huaixu's eyes gradually darkened.

See you later?

Upon hearing this, he seemed to have truly become the villain who broke up the young couple.

His heart sank to the bottom, but he remained outwardly calm, handing Yu Tingyu an umbrella and instructing her, "Follow behind me."

Yu Tingyu nodded, but after taking only two steps, she realized that Wen Huaixu had blocked all the cold wind.

She looked up and saw that the man in front of her was only wearing a black shirt with the cuffs rolled up a few times, revealing his cool-colored forearms and broad shoulders, enough to shield her from the wind and rain.

Her heart began to pound uncontrollably again. She gripped the umbrella handle tightly and followed behind Wen Huaixu.

But the next moment, a beautiful figure appeared under the eaves of a house where people were taking shelter from the rain. The woman's voice was gentle, with a hint of joy in it, "Huai Xu."

The two stopped walking at the same time. Yu Tingyu looked over and saw Chen Xuning again.

Wen Huaixu lifted his eyes and looked at her face. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see Dean Wang. He was just talking about you," Chen Xuning said with a smile, then asked, "The rain came so suddenly, can I borrow your umbrella?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Tingyu felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar. Given the relationship between the two families, there was no reason for Wen Huaixu not to help with this request. However, if she agreed, there were only two umbrellas in total, which would mean that she would have to share one with Wen Huaixu.

She admitted that she was a selfish person and did not want to share Wen Huaixu with others; she only wanted him to take care of her.

She knew she was dreaming, but if another woman appeared beside him, could she please not see her?

As Yu Tingyu was lost in thought, she suddenly heard the man beside her call out, "Xiaoyu."

"Huh?" Yu Tingyu asked, puzzled.

Wen Huaixu instructed, "Come here and give her your umbrella."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuning's smile faltered for a moment.

Yu Tingyu also paused, and didn't make any move for a short time. Wen Huaixu called her again.

She then realized what was happening and handed the umbrella to Chen Xuning.

Chen Xuning subconsciously looked at Yu Tingyu, her gaze visibly pausing when it fell on the black suit jacket she was wearing, but she quickly regained her composure. She didn't take it, and gave Wen Huaixu a reproachful look, "Really, Tingyu's illness has just improved, don't let her get wet again, let's share an umbrella."

Wen Huaixu said calmly, "It's not appropriate."

Chen Xuning's smile froze for a moment, but then it deepened, as if there was a hidden meaning in her words: "That's true, there will always be opportunities in the future."

She took the umbrella and said gently, "Thank you, Tingyu."

Yu Tingyu should have been happy that Wen Huaixu didn't share an umbrella with her, but after hearing Chen Xuning's words, she felt even more uncomfortable.

after.

What beautiful words.

Chen Xuning walked alongside them and asked Wen Huaixu, "The driver's car broke down on the road, can you give me a ride?"

Yu Tingyu thought to herself, "If I won't hold an umbrella for someone, I should at least let them get in the car." But the next moment, she heard Wen Huaixu and Zhao Xiao say, "Is there any room left in your car?"

After being called out, Zhao Xiao took two seconds to react, "Yes, yes, it's just me and Shen Sihe."

Wen Huaixu glanced at Chen Xuning, but before he could speak, Chen Xuning preemptively said, "Fine, I know, it's not appropriate."

Chen Xuning chuckled softly, her voice lowering slightly, almost as if complaining, "You didn't say it wasn't appropriate that night."

Without offering further explanation, she left behind this suggestive remark and walked away in her high heels.

Yu Tingyu's hand, clutching her clothes, trembled. She wanted to look up and see what Wen Huaixu's expression was, but she didn't dare. She was afraid that if she entered his line of sight, the high wall she had built would instantly crumble, and everything hidden inside would be seen through.

"Watch where you're going." His deep, steady voice rang out from above, sounding completely unaffected by Chen Xuning's words.

Yu Tingyu finally came to her senses. She heard his soft breathing and heard the patter of raindrops on the umbrella. The aroma of cedar and Longjing tea lingering around her nose seemed even stronger. She felt like she couldn't walk anymore.

It had been so long since I'd been this close to him, but he still seemed to think it wasn't enough—

"Come closer." Wen Huaixu lowered his eyes to look at her. "Standing so far apart, are you planning to see who gets soaked first?"

Yu Tingyu didn't dare to speak. For some reason, her earlobes turned red, and she lowered her head.