Chapter 24

As night deepened, the mountain breeze suddenly turned chilly, and the clouds, like spilled ink, gradually darkened the entire sky. Song Mingye instinctively pulled Song Linchuan closer, grabbing a thin blanket from the side and covering his legs: "It's chilly in the mountains at night, don't get cold." Song Linchuan snuggled closer, his nose brushing against Song Mingye's neck, his voice soft: "Brother, I'm a little sleepy."

Chu Xiaoche noticed the change in weather, got up and turned off the string lights in the yard. He turned to Qi Zihao and said, "It's getting windy. Let's go back to the room so we don't catch a cold." Qi Zihao was looking through the photos on his camera. Hearing this, he nodded and got up with him. Before leaving, he didn't forget to grab the maple leaf specimen on the stone table.

Jiang Ziyu had just finished putting away his art supplies when Mu Nanjin grasped his hand, his fingertips warm to the touch. "Why are your hands so cold?" he said, putting Jiang Ziyu's hand into his pocket. "Come on, let's go back to our room." Jiang Ziyu's cheeks flushed slightly as he let him lead him, following softly.

Not long after I returned to my room, a light rain began to fall outside the window. The raindrops pattered against the glass, and the mountain mist gradually thickened, enveloping the entire Red Leaf Valley in a hazy veil.

Song Linchuan leaned against the headboard, looking at the rain outside the window, somewhat disappointed: "I was planning to get up early tomorrow to watch the sunrise, but now I definitely won't be able to." Song Mingye sat down beside him and reached out to ruffle his hair: "It's okay, we can watch the sunset after the rain stops. Red Leaf Valley is beautiful in the rain too." He paused, then got up and took a thick coat from his suitcase. "Put this on, don't catch a cold."

Song Linchuan obediently put on his coat, then suddenly remembered something and tugged at Song Mingye's sleeve: "Brother, do you think Zihao and the others might also feel it's a pity?" Song Mingye smiled: "Maybe, but we can ask them to do something else together."

In Chu Xiaoche's room, Qi Zihao was leaning against the window, looking at the red leaves in the rain, somewhat dejected: "My sunrise photos are ruined." Chu Xiaoche walked over, hugged him from behind, and rested his chin on the top of Qi Zihao's head: "Don't be sad. When the rain stops, I'll go with you to take pictures of the red leaves in the rain. They're beautiful too." As he spoke, he took out a bookmark made of red leaves from his pocket, with Qi Zihao's name engraved on it. "This is for you. I made it in the yard just now."

Qi Zihao's eyes lit up. He took the bookmark and smiled happily, "It's so beautiful! Thank you, Xiaoche." He turned around and kissed Chu Xiaoche on the cheek, his cheeks slightly flushed.

The atmosphere in Jiang Ziyu and Mu Nanjin's room was unusually quiet. Jiang Ziyu sat at the table, watching the rain outside the window, a paintbrush in his hand, but he didn't paint. Mu Nanjin walked to his side and asked softly, "What's wrong? Aren't you going to paint?"

Jiang Ziyu shook his head, his voice soft: "I want to paint a stream in the rain, but the light is too dim." Mu Nanjin smiled, took a portable desk lamp out of his bag, and placed it on the table: "This will light it up." As he spoke, he sat down next to Jiang Ziyu, took out a book of poems, and said, "I'll keep you company. You paint, and I'll read poems to you."

Jiang Ziyu nodded, picked up his paintbrush, and began to depict the stream in the rain. Raindrops fell on the water's surface, creating ripples, and red leaves swirled in the water, making the scene exceptionally gentle. Mu Nanjin's voice was deep and gentle, and against the backdrop of the rain, it was particularly moving.

After some time, Song Mingye knocked on Chu Xiaoche and Jiang Ziyu's door. "Want to play some games together?" he said with a smile. "We can't go out anyway because of the rain, so let's have some fun."

Everyone gathered in Song Mingye's room, sitting around the table. Song Linchuan pulled out a deck of cards: "Let's play Truth or Dare!"

Qi Zihao lost the first round; he chose truth. Song Linchuan smiled and asked, "What do you like most about Chu Xiaoche?" Qi Zihao's cheeks flushed, and he glanced at Chu Xiaoche beside him, whispering, "I like how good he is to me. No matter what I want, he will give it to me." Chu Xiaoche held his hand, his eyes full of doting affection.

Jiang Ziyu lost the second round, and he also chose truth. Chu Xiaoche raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who is the person you've drawn the most?" Jiang Ziyu's ears turned slightly red, and he secretly glanced at Mu Nanjin, whispering, "It's...it's Nanjin." Mu Nanjin's lips curved into a smile, and he reached out and gently patted the back of Jiang Ziyu's hand.

Song Mingye lost the third round and chose Truth. Qi Zihao immediately suggested, "Give Song Linchuan a princess carry and walk him around the room three times!" Song Mingye laughed and got up, picking Song Linchuan up without hesitation. Song Linchuan exclaimed in surprise, quickly wrapping his arms around his neck, pressing his cheek against his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat.

Mu Nanjin lost the fourth round; he chose truth. Song Linchuan asked curiously, "When did you start liking Jiang Ziyu?" Mu Nanjin looked at Jiang Ziyu with gentle eyes, "From the moment I saw him quietly painting at the guesthouse, I was attracted to him."

The game went on until late at night, and the rain gradually subsided. Everyone returned to their rooms, the air still filled with laughter and chatter. Qi Zihao leaned against Chu Xiaoche's chest, listening to the rain outside the window, and quickly fell asleep. Chu Xiaoche gently patted his back, his eyes tender.

Jiang Ziyu had finished painting the stream in the rain, and Mu Nanjin was helping him pack up his art supplies. "Are you tired?" Mu Nanjin asked softly, "Get some rest." Jiang Ziyu nodded, leaned on his shoulder, and closed his eyes.

Song Mingye held Song Linchuan in his arms, looking at the gradually clearing sky outside the window, and said softly, "When the rain stops tomorrow, let's go collect maple leaves and make bookmarks." Song Linchuan nodded, snuggled into his arms, and had a sweet smile on his lips.

The night rain gradually subsided, and morning light filtered through the clouds, bathing every corner of Red Leaf Valley. Three couples nestled together, feeling each other's warmth, their hearts filled with happiness. They knew that the autumn rain hadn't dampened their spirits; instead, it had deepened their bond. In the days to come, no matter what storms they faced, as long as they stood hand in hand, they would surely usher in their own sunny days.