During the summer break of their sophomore year, Zhou Anran and Chen Luobai didn’t go home.
Zhou Anran stayed to prepare for a small competition with her roommates and to spend more time in the lab while getting a head start on junior-year textbooks. Since she didn’t go back, Chen Luobai also stayed, finding an internship at the district prosecutor’s office.
They continued living in their respective dormitories, only spending the occasional weekend day or half-day at Chen Luobai’s apartment when they had free time.
As the summer break was coming to an end, Yu Bingqin treated everyone to a meal. She was going abroad for an exchange program next semester.
Few A University undergraduates went straight to work after graduation; most either stayed for graduate school or pursued further studies abroad. The group invited to this meal was essentially the same as the one from when Zhou Anran and Chen Luobai had reunited at the karaoke bar years ago, with the addition of Zhu Ran and a senior named Zhao who had been on an exchange program that year.
However, while the karaoke gathering had been a casual get-together, this meal was for a farewell.
Alcohol, of course, was an essential part of the dinner table.
Zhou Anran didn’t particularly like the bitter taste of beer, so she only took a few sips when toasting with everyone. Chen Luobai helped finish the remaining half of her glass.
As the dishes on the table dwindled, the atmosphere gradually became somber.
Cen Yu’s cousin, Xu Hongliang, sighed: “With Qin-jie leaving, who knows when we’ll be able to practice as a band again.”
His words caused several people who were still eating to put down their chopsticks, suddenly dejected.
Senior Zhong Wei tried to lighten the mood: “It’s not that dramatic. Our Qin-jie isn’t short on money for plane tickets. She can come back anytime during the holidays. Besides, even when Qin-jie is at school, we rarely have time to practice as a band. We only practiced more frequently in the first couple of years, when Anran and our campus heartthrob Chen first entered school.”
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Yu Bingqin smiled, which was rare for her: “That year, I hadn’t planned on practicing so many times. It was because someone begged me for help.”
Zhou Anran was stunned for a moment, then immediately turned her head to look at the young man beside her.
Most people at the table also instantly turned to look in his direction, understanding dawning on their faces.
At the center of attention, the young man appeared completely unfazed and unhurried. He calmly placed a peeled shrimp into Zhou Anran’s bowl, then slightly raised an eyebrow at her: “Why are you looking at me?”
Only the senior Zhao, who had been on exchange that year, seemed confused: “Who has such influence that they could ask Qin-jie for help?”
Zhu Ran, who had been particularly quiet all evening, finally spoke up: “Who else could it be but our campus heartthrob Chen, who schemed elaborately to chase after his wife?”
Senior Zhao looked up at the famous couple sitting across from her.
Even though she had been abroad that year and wasn’t particularly interested in gossip, she had heard that the school had welcomed a campus heartthrob whose looks rivaled those of male celebrities, causing quite a stir. Unfortunately, he was already taken, his girlfriend being the equally popular new flower of the School of Life Sciences.
Both on and off campus, many people were still waiting to see if they would break up, hoping for a chance to make a move.
But the couple had always been lovey-dovey, never giving others the slightest opportunity.
However, Senior Zhao now caught a hint of something more: “Elaborate schemes? Did they know each other before?”
Zhu Ran nodded: “They were classmates for a year in their first year of high school. Someone had been pining for Zhou Anran since high school to university, with a phone full of her photos. How else would you describe it as elaborate scheming?”
Zhou Anran was stunned again and turned to look at him once more.
Chen Luobai remained as composed as ever as if he didn’t feel he had exposed anything. When his gaze met hers, he asked in a low voice: “Do you want more shrimp?”
Zhou Anran shook her head.
This was Yu Bingqin’s farewell dinner, and although she had questions, she didn’t think it was appropriate to ask him now. She decided to suppress her curiosity for the moment and planned to inquire later when they returned.
Senior Zhao’s gossip revived the atmosphere at the table.
Senior Zhong Wei even teased Chen Luobai about his grand public pursuit of Zhou Anran during the basketball game back then.
Zhou Anran had developed some immunity to such teasing by now and only blushed slightly.
As the meal was coming to an end, Yu Bingqin, sitting next to Zhou Anran, turned to her: “Will you accompany me to settle the bill?”
Zhou Anran knew that Yu Bingqin wasn’t the type to need company just to pay a bill. She probably had something to say to her. So Zhou Anran nodded and put down her chopsticks.
However, all the way to the cashier, Yu Bingqin didn’t say a word.
After scanning the QR code to pay, Yu Bingqin walked straight towards the exit. Zhou Anran hurried to follow.
The wind outside carried the heat of summer.
Yu Bingqin stopped at the entrance and finally spoke.
“A Luo started liking basketball when he was 4 and still loves it now. At 14, he said he wanted to study law in the future, and he’s persisted until now.” Yu Bingqin paused, then turned to look at her. “Once he’s set his mind on something, he generally doesn’t change it.”
Zhou Anran was taken aback again.
When she first started dating him, she often felt like she was dreaming, unable to believe that he liked her too, unable to believe that she would be the luckiest among the countless girls who liked him.
In the blink of an eye, they had been dating for almost two years.
Yu Bingqin reached out and pinched her cheek: “I’m off. Call me if anything comes up. Help me say goodbye to everyone.”
Before Zhou Anran could respond, Yu Bingqin had already descended the steps at the restaurant entrance.
The tall, slender woman was dressed all in black, taking long strides into the night. Her black hair fluttered in the wind, her silhouette exuding a cool, dashing aura.
Zhou Anran returned to the private room alone.
Senior Zhong Wei looked behind her: “Qin-jie didn’t come back with you?”
Zhou Anran nodded: “She left first and asked me to say goodbye to all of you on her behalf.”
“Just like her to avoid these sentimental farewell scenes.” Zhong Wei looked unsurprised as she stood up from her chair. “Well, let’s all head back then.”
Zhu Ran suddenly stood up from his seat and walked straight to Zhou Anran: “She left?”
Zhou Anran nodded again.
Zhu Ran turned and headed for the door.
After a couple of steps, he returned to Zhou Anran: “Did she say where she was going?”
Zhou Anran shook her head: “No, she didn’t.”
Zhu Ran took his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number, presumably calling Yu Bingqin.
The other seniors gradually left the private room.
Chen Luobai also stood up from his seat, his hand resting on Zhou Anran’s shoulder.
Zhu Ran was still on the phone.
The two of them waited for him in the private room.
It seemed that either the call wasn’t going through or no one was answering. Zhu Ran’s expression changed from initial impatience to final dejection. His hand holding the phone dropped, and he lowered his head.
He looked like an abandoned large puppy.
“Chen,” After a couple of seconds, Zhu Ran finally spoke, “Will your sister find a boyfriend abroad?”
Chen Luobai’s hand was still on Zhou Anran’s shoulder. He glanced at Zhu Ran: “How would I know?”
Zhu Ran rarely looked so downcast: “She hasn’t found anyone all these years because she thought men weren’t as interesting as her guitar and experiments. But what if she goes abroad and finds those blonde, blue-eyed handsome guys interesting and decides to give it a try?”
Chen Luobai couldn’t stand seeing him like this: “What’s the use of looking like a heartbroken fool in front of me? If you’re not a coward, go ask her directly. She’s leaving tomorrow morning.”
Zhu Ran: “Who the F*ck are you calling a coward? I’ll go right now.”
With that, he strode out of the private room.
Chen Luobai’s hand slid down from Zhou Anran’s shoulder to hold her hand, and they followed behind.
At the restaurant entrance, after saying goodbye to the other seniors, Zhou Anran turned to ask Zhu Ran, who was walking diagonally in front of them: “Where are you planning to look for Qin-jie?”
“I’ll look around the area first. If that doesn’t work, I’ll wait outside her apartment. She has to go back tonight.” Zhu Ran ruffled his hair in frustration, then waved at them. “I’m off. Wish me luck.”
Chen Luobai’s internship had already ended, and Zhou Anran, after a busy summer, planned to rest for a few days. The couple hailed a car to return to Chen Luobai’s apartment.
Halfway there, a sudden downpour began.
Large raindrops pelted down noisily.
Zhou Anran turned her head to look outside. The rain blurred the taxi windows, making everything outside appear hazy.
She turned back to Chen Luobai: “I hope Zhu Ran won’t get caught in the rain.”
Chen Luobai reached out and pinched her face, his tone slightly cool: “You seem quite concerned about him.”
Zhou Anran: “…”
How could he be jealous of this too?
Zhou Anran held his hand and shook it gently: “But isn’t he your best friend?”
“Getting caught in the summer rain isn’t a big deal.” Chen Luobai paused, “Besides, my sister responds better to a softer approach. If he looks more pitiful, it might work better.”
Zhou Anran didn’t say anything more.
When the taxi stopped at the entrance of the residential complex, the sudden downpour hadn’t stopped, but the intensity had decreased slightly.
Chen Luobai said to the driver in the front: “Driver, could you please wait here at the entrance for a moment? I’ll go to the convenience store over there to buy an umbrella and come back for her. I’ll pay extra for the waiting time.”
Zhou Anran looked at the rain outside.
It wasn’t really that heavy anymore.
She didn’t want him to get wet alone just to buy an umbrella for her.
“Let me come down with you.”
Chen Luobai pinched her face again: “It’s still raining outside. What’s the point of you coming down?”
Zhou Anran covered her face: “It’s just a few steps, and didn’t you say getting caught in the summer rain isn’t a big deal?”
“Zhu Ran can get wet, I can get wet, but you can’t.” Chen Luobai gently ruffled her hair. “Be good, wait for me in the car.”
It was the first time Zhou Anran had heard him use this word with her outside of special circumstances. Her ears grew slightly hot, but the young man had already opened the car door and gotten out.
The driver in the front turned around with a smile: “Miss, your boyfriend treats you very well.”
Zhou Anran’s lips curled into a smile: “Yes, he does treat me very well.”
The distance from where they had stopped to the convenience store outside the residential complex was indeed very short. Chen Luobai quickly returned with an umbrella.
As the car door opened, Zhou Anran looked up to see him standing outside with a black umbrella. The hand holding the umbrella made the black handle appear even more starkly white. His black hair was dampened by the rain, falling slightly messily over his forehead, but it didn’t detract from his handsomeness at all.
Even after nearly two years of dating, Zhou Anran’s heart still raced when she looked at him like this.
Yu Bingqin had told her that once he set his mind on something, he wouldn’t change it.
She wouldn’t either.
There was no one else who could always keep her in their thoughts like this, and no one else who could make her heart flutter so consistently.
After entering the apartment and changing their shoes, Zhou Anran pushed him towards the bathroom: “You should take a shower first, or you might catch a cold.”
Chen Luobai moved forward with her gentle push, then turned back to look at her with a smile: “You should at least let me grab some clothes first. Otherwise, if I come out directly, you’ll get shy with me again.”
Zhou Anran’s face heated up as she pushed him into the bathroom: “I’ll get them for you. Go in and shower quickly.”
Then she casually closed the door.
A low, pleased chuckle came from inside.
Zhou Anran touched her ear and went to the wardrobe to get his clothes.
Although he often appeared unpretentious, he was quite particular about many things in private. For example, he found most pajamas on the market ugly and often used comfortable T-shirts and casual pants as substitutes for sleepwear.
After getting the clothes, Zhou Anran walked back to the bathroom door and knocked.
Perhaps the sound of water muffled the knock, as there was no response.
Zhou Anran knocked again.
Still no answer.
Zhou Anran had no choice but to turn the doorknob herself. The shower glass was anti-fog, and with the high summer temperatures, she could see the tall figure of the young man in the glass enclosure as soon as she entered. Her ears instantly became burning hot.
She immediately averted her gaze and called out: “I’ve put your clothes on the rack here. I’ll go make you some ginger tea.”
“Mm.” A lazy response came through the sound of the shower.
Zhou Anran’s face was still burning hot, and she felt too embarrassed to stay any longer. She turned to leave.
But just as she took a step forward, a wet and scorching large hand suddenly gripped her wrist.
In the next second, Zhou Anran was pulled into the shower.