They left Fengting District together and walked out onto the street.
Chen Yuan was truly stunned by the ferocity of the downpour.
He had only taken a few steps against the wind, but he already felt his body swaying, making it hard to walk steadily. The front of his shirt clung tightly to his chest, its hem flapping wildly in the wind.
The city’s drainage system was completely overwhelmed. To make matters worse, trash cans along the roadside had been blown over, spilling plastic bags, beverage bottles, and moldy kitchen scraps. This debris was swept along by the current—deep enough to submerge a person’s entire shoe—piling up at the sewer drains and blocking them completely, causing the water to rise even higher.
It was as if a skylight had been opened over Lanjing, and someone was just dumping water down on the city from above.
Six o’clock was usually the evening rush hour. On top of that, there was a school next to Fengting District, so cars picking up children were also stuck in the gridlock. Three entire streets were packed solid. The piercing blare of horns rose and fell, creating a cacophonous symphony.
Some drivers, ignoring the relentless patter of the rain, even climbed onto the roofs of their cars to see what was happening up ahead.
It was absolute chaos.
The scene was truly a spectacle.
The rain was so loud that they had to stand very close to hear each other speak. In just that short time, Chen Yuan could already feel his pants were soaked through.
"I haven’t seen rain this heavy in years," Chen Yuan said, turning around. He cupped his hands together and used his height to create a small, dry space for Jiang Yao. "Are you scared?"
"Not really."
How strange.
Jiang Yao had been terrified at first. After all, this chaotic scene was a stark contrast to the usual prosperity of Lanjing. But standing downstairs with Chen Yuan, leaning quietly against each other amidst the turmoil, she suddenly felt... excited.
Yes.
That was the feeling.
It was as if they were in their own separate space. The rest of the world was lonely and loud.
There was only her and Chen Yuan, wearing similar clothes, looking like a matched pair. Standing together, it felt like they were about to embark on an adventure, a novel journey they had never experienced before.
The first time, getting caught in the rain together.
The circumstances of their encounter were so unique. In the future, when she looked back on this chaotic storm, her mind would be filled with so many vivid memories.
Everything they experienced together had a charm that was worth savoring forever.
This... was actually a little romantic.
A woman’s mind clearly works differently than a man’s. Jiang Yao was suddenly overcome with emotion. Her heart fluttered with joy, and a bashful look appeared on her face. Sheltered in Chen Yuan’s arms, she couldn’t help but look up at him.
’Little Master, if you look down right now, I’ll give you a kiss...’
she thought to herself.
Unfortunately, Chen Yuan didn’t look down. He just gave her a reassuring smile. "Good, as long as you’re not scared."
"I’m okay because you’re here."
"Alright, let’s go!"
Chen Yuan reached out and gripped Jiang Yao’s hand tightly, then took a step forward into the flooded street. Out from under the cover of the sloping eaves, the cold, wet rain poured down on them without mercy.
He pulled Jiang Yao along as they ran forward, splashing through the deluge, one deep step after another.
Every step sent up a huge splash. The rainwater touching their warm skin made them shiver, but contrary to the physical sensation, their spirits were immersed in absolute joy.
The same feeling surged through both their hearts.
It felt like they were eloping.
They were running toward their desired destination, heedless of everything else. He led her by the hand under a night sky as black as ink. The churning clouds blotted out every speck of light, threatening to swallow even the faint glow from the streetlamps. They left a trail of cars behind them, which sat like wooden boats moored in a river, watching the runaway lovers with solemn eyes. It was like seeing two naive children holding hands, until the pair vanished into the white curtain of rain.
They ran halfway down the street, turned into a small lane, and cut through it. The sign for a ramen shop in the narrow, cramped alley flickered.
With no customers, the owner was busy piling up everything he could find in the shop to build a low, waterproof barrier. He straightened up, watching in surprise as the pair of lovers hurried past.
They wound their way back to a wide, straight main road. Their destination, as Jiang Yao had said, was Wan’s house. It wasn’t too far, but it would take at least half an hour on foot.
Running in the pouring rain was exhausting. Things got a little better when they reached the Changhuan River, as there were fewer cars and almost no pedestrians.
The river’s surface, usually glittering, was now so still it looked like ink was flowing through it. Aside from the tiny ripples created by pea-sized raindrops, there was nothing to see. Even the lights on the nearby bridge seemed to be out.
Panting for breath, the two of them stopped to rest by a street sign.
The withered willow branches by the riverbank danced wildly in the wind. Even in this sheltered spot, the occasional gust of wind would send slanted rain their way, refusing to let them be.
Chen Yuan stood in front of Jiang Yao, shielding her as he looked at her hair, which was now soaked and stuck to her forehead.
In that moment, her cheeks looked even fairer. Her light makeup had been washed away, giving her a more girlish look. There were even dewdrops clinging to her eyelashes, falling one by one with every slight tremble.
Their eyes met.
Jiang Yao suddenly asked in a loud voice, "Why are you staring at me? Do I look good without makeup, too?"
Chen Yuan chuckled in amusement. ’That’s so you,’ he thought, ’to ask something like that at a time like this.’
"You do!" he answered.
Jiang Yao glanced around. There was no one else in sight. As if she had made up her mind, she quickly stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Chen Yuan’s neck, and, to his slowly widening eyes of surprise, covered his lips with hers.
"Sweet-talker..." she said, taking a breath. "Keep it up. Every time you say something sweet, I’ll kiss you."
Jiang Yao herself couldn’t believe she had done something so bold—kissing Chen Yuan out in the open!
But she couldn’t help it.
She felt that if she didn’t kiss him now, in this atmosphere, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
Her tongue was warm and soft. As they kissed, the bitter taste of rainwater mingled at the corners of their lips, but with that touch, that fusion, and that heart-pounding thrill, the world seemed to fall silent.
Chen Yuan felt his heart beat faster and faster, the heat rising rapidly in his cheeks. He felt like if they kept kissing, he’d develop a fever—or maybe he already had one. He was growing dizzy, his mind gradually unable to think.
Jiang Yao’s body was so soft in his arms, like an overly content cat about to melt away.
After a moment, Chen Yuan went from being passive to taking the lead, pressing her against the street sign.
Under the soft glow of a streetlamp, Jiang Yao’s body trembled slightly. She was absolutely certain that, from this second forward, even if she were to die... she could never forget Chen Yuan.
She could only give all of her affection to him. Now, in the future—that would never change.
’But, Little Master... will you love me as much as I love you?’
Jiang Yao pushed Chen Yuan away. She spoke in a tiny whisper, so close to his ear that her lips brushed against it. Only then could her voice be heard clearly over the pounding of her heart.
"I... I’m not going any farther."
She spoke again, her voice a murmur.
"Let’s go home."