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Join the ServerAfter school, it started to rain.
At first, it was just a light drizzle, soft and misty against the skin.
But before long, it turned into a torrential downpour, pounding against the ground with loud splashes, quickly forming a thin layer of water.
He Ting hadn’t brought an umbrella. Looking at the dense curtain of rain outside, he scratched his head helplessly.
Du An had originally planned to take him home, but He Ting refused.
Whenever it rained in this city, traffic became a complete nightmare.
The Du family and the Gu family were in opposite directions, if Du An dropped him off first and then drove back, who knew how late he’d get home?
Du An dropped him at a bus stop. The wind was strong, carrying the rain inside. The shelter did little to protect him.
Water dripped from his hair, his clothes clinging uncomfortably to his body. He Ting anxiously looked around.
No buses. No taxis either at rush hour.
Cars were packed tightly together on the road, horns blaring endlessly, traffic completely stalled.
He Ting couldn’t help but sigh.
****
Li Le packed up his schoolbag and was about to leave when he looked up, and saw someone unexpected.
“Senior!” he called out in surprise.
Gu Qiuhang had also spotted him and nodded.
“Have you seen Tang Xi?”
Li Le’s foot had already healed. He walked over with a smile.
“You came to pick him up? He left quite a while ago.”
Gu Qiuhang frowned. Seeing the bad weather, he had driven over early, but the rain worsened, and traffic had delayed him. Even rushing, he was still late.
He sighed and asked,
“What about you? Your family hasn’t come yet?”
Li Le smiled shyly.
“My parents are working late today.”
He hesitated, then added softly,
“If it’s okay… could I go with you? I’ve always wanted to ask you about painting.”
Gu Qiuhang paused. Li Le quickly added,
“If it’s inconvenient, it’s fine, I can go to the library.”
“It’s fine,” Gu Qiuhang said. “Let’s go. Our homes are in the same direction anyway. It’ll be easier for your family to pick you up.”
He opened his umbrella and sheltered Li Le. The wind blew rain onto his own shoulder.
****
As they stepped out of the school gate, traffic had loosened a bit.
“Hey, Tang Xi,” Li Le pointed.
Gu Qiuhang looked over and saw He Ting standing in the bus shelter. A tall boy was using a towel to dry him.
He Ting looked miserable, completely soaked.
Gu Qiuhang instinctively moved forward, but before he could reach him, He Ting had already gotten into the car with that person.
Sitting beside Su Bei, He Ting smiled.
“So lucky I ran into you. I waited forever and couldn’t get a ride.”
Su Bei ruffled his wet hair.
“You’re soaked. Drink some ginger soup when you get home, or you’ll catch a cold.”
“Mm.” He Ting nodded.
“By the way,” Su Bei said, eyes bright, “I want to introduce you to someone soon.”
“Huh?” He Ting widened his eyes. “Wait, you’re not taking me to meet your parents, right?”
Su Bei flicked his forehead.
“What are you thinking?”
He Ting laughed at himself.
“Then who are you introducing me to?”
For once, Su Bei looked a little shy. He smiled with pressed lips.
“Holy- no way,” He Ting blurted out. “You have someone you like?”
Su Bei nodded.
“Yeah. A very special boy.”
He Ting lit up.
“So my mission is complete, right?”
“Tch.” Su Bei glanced at him with a half-smile.
“You’re in a hurry to cut ties with me?”
“Not really,” He Ting laughed. “Being rumored with you boosted my vanity a lot. Honestly, I’ll kind of miss it.”
Su Bei chuckled.
“You’re sharp. But I haven’t won him over yet. If it doesn’t bother you, keep acting with me.”
“Oh,” He Ting said, brushing his wet hair back. “Then make sure you explain it to him first. If he hears rumors and misunderstands, that’d be awkward.”
Su Bei slung an arm over his shoulder.
“If I hadn’t met him, I might’ve fallen for you. You’re too thoughtful.”
He Ting shoved him away.
“Get lost.”
Gu Qiuhang’s world suddenly fell silent.
All his attention was fixed on that car.
Through the rain, he saw He Ting’s bright smile, and Su Bei’s affectionate gestures.
Then, like slow motion, the car merged into traffic.
Gradually, sound returned, rain, engines, people… and Li Le’s voice.
“Senior? What’s wrong?”
Gu Qiuhang helped him across the street.
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
****
By the time they reached the Gu residence, it was already 8:30. The rain had mostly stopped, leaving only occasional droplets falling coolly.
He Ting got out of the car and waved goodbye to Su Bei.
Another car pulled up in front of him. The window rolled down, and Li Le leaned out from the passenger seat.
“Tang Xi.”
He Ting bent down and smiled.
“You’re here.”
Then he looked at the expressionless Gu Qiuhang.
“Good evening, Young Master.”
Gu Qiuhang said nothing. The car slid past him into the driveway.
Though it was summer, the wind cutting through his wet clothes made him shiver.
He Ting hurried inside, changed clothes, and came downstairs. Gu Qiuhang and Li Le were already seated at the table.
Li Le was sitting in He Ting’s usual spot, so He Ting moved to another seat.
Gu Qiuhang glanced at him and subtly shifted, still ending up seated opposite him.
A bowl of ginger soup was on the table.
“I saw you at the school gate,” Gu Qiuhang said. “So I had Aunt Zhou prepare this in advance. Drink some.”
He Ting smiled.
“Thank you, Young Master.”
After dinner, they went upstairs. Gu Qiuhang went to his study to handle work, while He Ting stayed with Li Le to chat.
When Gu Qiuhang came down, he heard He Ting’s voice from outside the door:
“Our young master likes fish, shrimp, and also…”
Then laughter.
“He should be back soon. I’ll head out first so I don’t disturb you.”
Gu Qiuhang’s expression darkened, almost stormy.
The moment He Ting stepped out, his wrist was grabbed, and he was pulled into his own room.
Bang, the door slammed shut.
Gu Qiuhang pinned him against the wall and asked in a low voice,
“What do you mean?”
He Ting winced in pain, struggling.
“You misunderstood, Young Master. I didn’t say anything bad about you.”
Gu Qiuhang didn’t move. His eyes were fierce, slightly red.
“I asked, what do you mean?”
“I…” He Ting lowered his head, his wrist hurting. “I’m sorry. Li Le asked, so I told him. I thought it might help your relationship. I won’t talk about you anymore.”
But Gu Qiuhang only gripped him tighter, his eyes reddening further.
He repeated again and again,
“What do you mean?”
He Ting panicked. His eyes reddened, lips bitten into a glossy pink.
“You’re hurting me…”
Gu Qiuhang stared at him, breathing heavily. Slowly, his grip loosened.
Only after He Ting left did he finally let out a quiet breath.
He felt deeply wronged. Gu Qiuhang had been so unpredictable lately, it left him helpless and confused.
He Ting muttered inwardly,
“System, what did I even do? What meaning did I have?”
System: “…Weren’t you trying to ‘promote’ him?”
He Ting: “Does he even need promoting?”
System: “I have a dating handbook. Want to read it?”
He Ting: “I’m annoyed. Stop it!”
System: “…”
****
Gu Qiuhang returned to his room.
Li Le’s eyes lit up when he saw him.
Gu Qiuhang walked over slowly and said,
“From now on… don’t come to the Gu house anymore.”
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Read : Did Mr. Villain Cross Into the Wrong Book?
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