Riding along like this, raindrops started falling on their heads. The cool droplets felt quite cold on their hands.

Chen An had rushed out this morning and didn’t bring a raincoat. With Cheng Lele’s brain, she couldn’t possibly think to bring a raincoat. Chen An secretly looked back and saw the little fool standing still, looking up at the sky.

What was this—could staring at it make the rain stop?

Cheng Lele lowered her head and caught sight of Chen An turning to look at her. She immediately took off her jacket to cover her head and continued riding.

She was going to persevere through wind and rain with this cold war!

Suddenly a classmate rode up alongside her: “Cheng Lele, you didn’t bring rain gear?”

Cheng Lele didn’t know him, but politely replied: “It’s fine, the rain isn’t heavy.”

“Let me lend you mine.” The person braked and took off his raincoat.

“How can that work? If you give it to me, won’t you get rained on?”

“My home is just ahead, it won’t be more than two minutes in the rain.”

“Thank you so much. How should I return it to you tomorrow?”

“I’m in Class 9, my name is Gao Peng. Or you can call me, and I’ll come get it when I have time.” He smoothly rattled off a string of phone numbers.

Cheng Lele only remembered one digit—the 1 at the beginning. She nodded blankly, pretending she’d memorized it, and said “bye-bye.”

But he didn’t leave right away. He waited for Cheng Lele to put on the raincoat, then slowly rode beside her, not seeming to fear the cold at all.

Chen An up ahead was practically performing stationary cycling, thinking what kind of world was this—wolves in front and tigers behind—couldn’t a person catch their breath anymore?

Finally, when Gao Peng reached his home, Cheng Lele let out a long breath. If she’d known earlier, she wouldn’t have borrowed this raincoat—getting rained on would have been better than this awkward parallel riding.

She pressed down on the pedal and saw that little brother’s hair ahead was already soaked. Her heart couldn’t help but waver—should she share the raincoat with little brother?

In a few days, he’d be going to the Northeast for winter camp. What if he caught a cold and fever and it affected his performance?

Cheng Lele’s self-care abilities weren’t good, but she was still sensible. She thought, no matter how much she wanted to throw a tantrum, she couldn’t delay little brother’s future.

She pedaled a few quick times, chasing after little brother.

All of Chen An’s attention was focused behind him. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, he sensed that Cheng Lele was chasing him and wanted to stop right then and there.

Suddenly someone beside him called out: “Chen An!”

Chen An’s heart tightened. Who was so immoral as to specifically ruin things?

Zhang Ruoyi rode over, took off the hood of her raincoat, and said: “You didn’t bring a raincoat? The weather forecast has been saying it would rain these past few days.”

Cheng Lele rode past unhurriedly from the side.

Chen An watched Cheng Lele’s retreating back, frowning as he said: “Yeah, forgot to bring it.”

Zhang Ruoyi said: “Let me give you mine.”

“No need.”

“My home is right—”

“No need.”

Cheng Lele thought ahead: Is little brother stupid? He’d rather get rained on than take someone’s raincoat…

But thinking about how she’d just criticized this, little brother probably wasn’t that stupid.

But that Zhang Ruoyi was persistent. She immediately continued: “I have an umbrella in my bag. Do you mind riding with an umbrella?”

Since she’d put it that way, and they were classmates in the same class, if Chen An didn’t take it, it would be offensive. He had to say: “Then thank you.”

Zhang Ruoyi took out a bright yellow folding umbrella from her bag and carefully handed it to him.

Chen An opened it and saw the umbrella surface had a cute flat-beaked yellow duck.

This was quite in Cheng Lele’s style. Chen An couldn’t help but ask: “Where did you buy this umbrella?”

Zhang Ruoyi answered, flattered: “At Women’s Street.”

“Women’s Street?”

“You don’t know? It’s at Taixi Theater, oh, behind Starlight Cinema. By the way—” Zhang Ruoyi paused, gathering courage to say, “Tomorrow is my birthday. I’m treating everyone to dinner at Mulan Palace over there. Very authentic Yunnan cuisine. Are you free?”

When Chen An heard Mulan Palace, his face could be darker than the sky. He immediately said: “I’m sorry, I have tutoring tomorrow and can’t make it. Happy birthday in advance.”

Zhang Ruoyi said: “It’s okay, thank you for the birthday wishes. I’m very happy.”

Cheng Lele up ahead only heard “happy,” and didn’t care whether this happiness came from little brother’s mouth or not. You’re in the middle of a fight and you still have the mood to seek happiness?! Hmph, I’m leaving.

This was the first day of the cold war.