Chapter 17 – The Unexpected Rain
It was a warm, late afternoon when Su Zaizai left school, the sky heavy with clouds that hinted at an impending storm. She clutched her bag tightly, hurrying along the familiar streets, hoping to make it home before the rain started in earnest.
Halfway down the road, the first drops began to fall. Zaizai groaned and quickened her pace, but the rain came faster than she expected, soaking her hair and the hem of her uniform.
"Zaizai!"
She looked up and froze. Zhang Lurang was jogging toward her, holding a large black umbrella. He didn't say anything as he reached her, only extended the umbrella so that it covered both of them.
"Thanks," she muttered, slightly breathless, as they started walking together under the shared cover.
The streets were nearly empty, the rain tapping against the umbrella in a soothing rhythm. Zaizai found herself walking closer than usual, careful not to let her shoulder brush his, though her heart was pounding.
"You always seem to end up in the rain," Lurang said calmly, his eyes glancing at her without judgment.
Zaizai laughed nervously. "I can't help it! It just… happens."
He didn't respond immediately, just walked beside her, the silence between them comfortable. Then he spoke softly, "You should carry an umbrella more often."
Zaizai felt a warmth spread through her chest. "Maybe… I will," she said, almost shyly.
For a while, they walked in companionable silence, the city around them blurred by the rain. It was one of those rare moments where Zaizai felt a deep connection, not through words or grand gestures, but simply through shared presence.
As they reached her street corner, Lurang finally spoke again. "Be careful on your way home."
Zaizai looked up at him, her heart fluttering. "I will… thank you, Lurang."
He nodded once, then turned to leave, the black umbrella disappearing down the wet street. Zaizai watched him go, feeling a strange mixture of happiness and longing. The small moments — the quiet support, the shared umbrella, the attention he gave without asking — were slowly weaving something delicate yet undeniable between them.
That day, Zaizai realized that some connections didn't need words. Sometimes, they were formed in the rain, in silence, and in the quiet gestures of someone who truly cared.
And with Zhang Lurang, she knew these moments were only the beginning.
End of Chapter 17