Chapter 41
On the contrary, she felt immensely grateful.
She appreciated that, despite the intense pressure of high school, she could still spare some of her vacation time to tutor Long Aotian.
“I’m heading out now. I’ll come back after the afternoon tutoring session,” she said.
“Do you have any money? Take some, so you can treat them to something later,” the old man replied, rummaging through a box for cash.
“I’ve got money, don’t worry about it. I’m leaving now.” Long Aotian patted his pocket, grabbing the meat and vegetables. “I’ll leave an umbrella here for you.”
After leaving one of the umbrellas he had brought from home with the old man, he finally departed.
As he walked down the street, he wedged the umbrella between his neck and shoulder, freeing one hand to text Hu Yuying.
“Are you home? I’m on my way.”
He quickly received a reply: “Long Ge, sorry, I’m not home yet.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at Nanfeng Square. I’ll be home soon.” Hu Yuying glanced up at the relentless downpour, a hint of anxiety crossing her face.
When she left in the morning, the weather had only been overcast; she hadn’t expected it to rain so heavily now.
She glanced at a nearby store.
Hu Yuying stepped inside, only to find that the cheapest umbrella cost thirty yuan, which made her hesitate.
In the end, she walked out empty-handed.
“I just saw a guy getting soaked in the rain. It was hilarious!” one passerby said.
“The funny part is, he was holding an umbrella but wasn’t using it. Isn’t that strange?” another added.
“Maybe he’s filming a drama?”
Standing at the store entrance, Hu Yuying couldn’t help but look in the direction of the conversation.
Then she saw a figure in a white shirt and tight jeans walking slowly toward her, arms outstretched, letting the rain drench him.
Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Hu Yuying froze.
Ye Liangchen paused too, then chuckled softly, looking up at the sky with a smile. “Is this our fate?”
“In the crowded square, whenever the other appears, our gazes inevitably meet.”
With that thought, Ye Liangchen quickened his pace toward Hu Yuying.
As he approached, Hu Yuying furrowed her brow in embarrassment.
The white shirt clung to him, revealing two dark spots on his chest that stood out starkly against the fabric.
“Doesn’t he feel awkward?” she thought, suddenly recalling Long Aotian’s words: “People like him, with such poor judgment, should be avoided in the future.”
“Hey! My friends, check this out—this is the sweetest novel I’ve ever read.
Oh my gosh, it’s sweeter than Grandma Tom’s strawberry pie.
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Hehe! Friends, what I’m saying is, please stick around, give five stars, urge for updates, and support...”
**Chapter 49: Why Does My Love Have to Endure So Many Trials?**
Thinking of Long Aotian’s words, combined with Ye Liangchen’s toothy grin, as raindrops slid from the corner of his mouth, created an almost drool-worthy image.
She shivered involuntarily.
Noticing Hu Yuying’s gaze, Ye Liangchen flicked his wet hair back.
With a confident smile, he said, “I figured you didn’t bring an umbrella today. I was worried about you, so I came to deliver one.”
Hu Yuying couldn’t bear to look at the two dark spots on his chest. She turned her head away and murmured, “Thanks, but it’s fine.”
“I told you, no need to be polite. Just take it. Even though I got soaked delivering it, I’m really happy because I finally got to help you.”
With that, Ye Liangchen spread his arms wide, embracing the rain, letting it pour over him, his face showing pure enjoyment.
Hu Yuying felt incredibly awkward watching this and instinctively wanted to distance herself from him.
But then Ye Liangchen crossed his arms, hugging himself.
“Hu Yuying, it’s cold today, but it can’t compete with the warmth in my heart.”
“Because I helped you, my heart feels ablaze.”
Hu Yuying watched as Ye Liangchen stood in the rain, refusing to take shelter under the eaves.
She was increasingly convinced that he might really be a bit off.
So she quietly said, “It’s okay, I’ll leave when the rain eases up.”
Ye Liangchen chuckled, “You’re worried about me, aren’t you?”
Hu Yuying was puzzled. “W-what?”
Ye Liangchen suddenly looked at her seriously, enunciating each word. “I said you’re worried about me.”
“It’s really no big deal. I’m a guy; a little rain is like a cool shower to me.”
His antics attracted a lot of onlookers.
The square was large, and many people were taking shelter from the rain, glancing over at them.
“Mom, is that guy in the rain confessing?” a little boy asked, looking up at his mother with innocent curiosity.
Children of that age loved watching TV, and such scenes seemed familiar to them.
Hearing this, Hu Yuying felt a surge of embarrassment and shot Ye Liangchen an annoyed glare.
But Ye Liangchen, noticing her expression, simply smiled confidently.
“See? Even kids can sense the love between us.”
“It’s as if our feelings have already been blessed by the heavens.”
Hu Yuying frowned and took a step back, creating distance between them. “Please don’t say such nonsense.”
Ye Liangchen sighed, a hint of melancholy in his voice as he tilted his head back, letting the rain hit his face. “I’m not being ridiculous; there are things you just don’t understand yet.”
Their emotional bond began with two wounded souls caring for each other.
Ye Liangchen had been rejected in his confession, leaving him hurt.
Hu Yuying was exhausted from being bullied.
But he had been reborn, carrying the beautiful memories of his dreams.
Perhaps that was why fate had given him a second chance—to remember everything, to come to Hu Yuying’s side early, to care for her, to save her, and to walk hand in hand toward a brighter future.
Ye Liangchen knew that saying such things would likely make Hu Yuying think he was foolish.
But did it really matter?
What was wrong with being a little foolish in love?
Hu Yuying took a deep breath; arguing with someone like him felt utterly pointless.
“Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Please let me pass; I need to go.”
With that, she braved the pouring rain, tucking her phone close to her chest, lowering her head, and rushing into the downpour.
“Don’t go!” Ye Liangchen stepped in front of her, gently tugging at her coat sleeve. “If you go back like this, you’ll get soaked.”
The rain quickly dampened Hu Yuying’s hair and shoulders, and she felt anxious.
On one hand, she didn’t want to be entangled with him; on the other, Long Aotian was still waiting for her.
Caught in Ye Liangchen’s grip, she felt both anxious and a bit angry.
But due to her personality, even when anxious or angry, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh; she just wanted to pull her sleeve away awkwardly!
Just as Hu Yuying was feeling increasingly desperate, a cold, magnetic voice came from behind.
“Let go!”
The icy tone felt even colder than the downpour.
Both Hu Yuying and Ye Liangchen froze, turning to see the source of the voice.
There stood Long Aotian, one hand holding an umbrella and the other carrying a colorful plastic bag from the market, momentarily catching them off guard.
She gazed at the tall, handsome figure standing in the rain, feeling an unexpected sense of reassurance.
She hadn’t anticipated that Long Aotian would come looking for her.
Long Aotian looked at Ye Liangchen with a half-smile, his gaze as piercing as a winter night sky, exuding an intimidating chill that made one shiver involuntarily.
Meeting Long Aotian’s eyes, Ye Liangchen instinctively released his grip.
Hu Yuying quickly pulled her sleeve back, and in the next moment, the rain was blocked as she looked up at Long Aotian, who held the umbrella over her head, a smile breaking on her face. “Long Ge.”
Long Aotian didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on Ye Liangchen.
If she remembered correctly, Hu Yuying had mentioned that this was the person who had knocked on her door earlier.
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