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Ye Wenyu felt less cold. Jiang Zhiming stood beside her, like a thick wall, making her feel warm and at ease. However—

She glanced at Jiang Zhiming in surprise. In her previous life, she only knew him as a petty person who relentlessly climbed the ladder of fame and fortune. She never expected that he had once treated others with such meticulous care and consideration.

Jiang Zhiming only knew that the girl he liked was looking at him. His face flushed, his hands trembled, his heart pounded wildly, and he was filled with immense joy. A buzzing sound filled his ears, his mind went blank, the whole world disappeared, he couldn't hear the wind or the rain. All he could see was her, and he seemed to hear soft music. His heart was as sweet as if he had eaten honey. He looked at her with a silly smile.

Ye Wenyu only saw that Jiang Zhiming's eyes were as bright as the stars in the sky, and his face was full of smiles. Not wanting him to misunderstand, she lowered her head and politely said to him, "Thank you."

The rain seemed to be getting heavier. The two people stood under the umbrella, waiting for the parents to come forward for consultation.

Jiang Zhiming asked Ye Wenyu happily, "You're here to find a tutor too?" The rain was getting heavier and the wind was getting stronger, but he didn't feel cold at all. On the contrary, he felt hot all over because of his excitement.

Because of the rain, there were few people in the park, especially in this corner where college students were looking for jobs. It was so quiet that you could hear each other's heartbeats—hers slow, his fast, thump-thump-thump, strong and powerful.

Jiang Zhiming's face turned even redder.

Ye Wenyu felt as if she and Jiang Zhiming had been abandoned on a deserted island, and a strong sense of loneliness enveloped her.

She wanted the rain to stop quickly, hoping that once it stopped, the parents would come out to find the tutor. But fate seemed to be against her wishes; the rain poured down harder and harder, like a thick, silvery curtain of water being drawn across the sky and earth.

Seeing Ye Wenyu staring blankly at the rain, Jiang Zhiming thought that perhaps the rain was too loud and she hadn't heard him, so he asked her again, "Are you here to find a tutor too?"

Ye Wenyu finally came to her senses and realized that he had already asked twice. If she didn't respond, it would be very impolite. So she could only nod and say yes.

She thought to herself with annoyance, "The world is so small, like a matchbox, isn't it? Otherwise, why do I keep running into old acquaintances?"

She didn't want to run into Jiang Zhiming.

Jiang Zhiming was overjoyed to hear her answer. He clearly remembered that when they met at the entrance of Q University Library, she had frankly told him that she was from a poor family and not only poor but also without a complete family. Although he did not doubt her in the end, he still did not quite believe it because she was too beautiful, had an extraordinary temperament, and wore very neat and beautiful clothes. She did not look like a child from a poor family at all.

But after meeting her today and getting her answer, he believed it. Would a rich family's child be out looking for a tutor in this gloomy autumn weather?

He thought happily, "So she's just like me! We're from the same world, fellow sufferers in this world, why should we need to have known each other before?"

Upon realizing this, Jiang Zhiming tilted the umbrella in his hand towards Ye Wenyu. This girl was so beautiful and strong, yet her background was so pitiful. He couldn't help but want to take good care of her and cherish her. Although his abilities were limited at the moment, he would do his best with all his heart and strength.

Jiang Zhiming felt a sweet warmth in his heart and kept making silent vows.

Ye Wenyu didn't notice anything amiss. She said with some worry, "The rain suddenly started so heavy. It looks like we won't be able to find a tutor today." Her voice was full of disappointment.

Jiang Zhiming was also out looking for work. Ye Wenyu was right. As the rain got heavier, there were fewer and fewer pedestrians and vehicles on the road. There was no chance of finding a job today. Logically, he should have been disappointed and sad. However, he was still very happy because he met Ye Wenyu on his way to find a job.

He suddenly smiled at her and said, "Have you ever heard a song called 'The Song of the Pipa'?"

Ye Wenyu was completely baffled. It seemed there was such a song, adapted by young people today from Bai Juyi's poem "The Song of the Pipa," a popular tune with operatic elements, possessing a unique beauty that had recently become very popular. "Turning the pegs and plucking the strings a few times, before the melody is formed, the emotions are already palpable, each string a suppressed longing, as if lamenting a life of unfulfilled ambitions, lowering brows and delicate hands continuing to play, expressing the boundless feelings in one's heart"—using Bai Juyi's poem as lyrics would undoubtedly result in some of the most beautiful and moving lyrics in the world.

What does it mean that Jiang Zhiming suddenly brought this up?

Jiang Zhiming laughed, "That day, I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. 'The gate is deserted, horses are few, the eldest daughter marries a merchant. A merchant's wife, a merchant values ​​profit over parting. Last month, I went to Fuliang to buy tea, coming and going. At the river mouth, I guard an empty boat. The moon shines brightly around the boat, the river water is cold. In the deep of night, I suddenly dream of my youth. I weep in my dream, tears staining my makeup red on the railing—'" As he spoke, he began to sing, his operatic style incredibly melodious and moving. Especially the way this operatic style was sung by a man's deep, resonant voice, it had a strangely stunning quality.

She never expected Jiang Zhiming to have such a good voice; in her past life, she had no idea.

Jiang Zhiming continued to sing softly and wistfully in the rain: "We are both wanderers from the ends of the earth, why should we need to have known each other before? Since I left the capital last year, I have been living in exile in Xunyang City. Xunyang is a remote place, without music, and I have not heard the sound of strings and bamboo flutes all year round. Among those present, who wept the most? The Sima in the river, his blue robe soaked with tears—"

At this point in the song, Jiang Zhiming stopped, gazed at Ye Wenyu with deep affection, and mustered his courage to say to her, "The reason I like this song is because of those two lines, 'We are both wanderers from the ends of the earth, why should we need to have known each other before?'" His voice trembled, like leaves in the wind.

What? Ye Wenyu was filled with doubt; she didn't quite understand. What did Jiang Zhiming mean by that?

Ye Wenyu raised her head in confusion and looked at Jiang Zhiming, who had spoken. What did he mean by "We are both wanderers in this world, why should we need to have known each other before?"

Is it her and him?

She looked at him under the umbrella, puzzled. Jiang Zhiming's face was flushed, like a man who was drunk. She was stunned for a moment and saw that his eyes were shining like obsidian, and there was an uncontrollable joy in them.

Could it be?

Ye Wenyu's heart began to race. In her previous life, Jiang Zhiming, as Lin Tingyue's fiancé, appeared before her when she was contemplating suicide in despair. He invited her to elope with him and start a new life. He confessed to her that he did not like Lin Tingyue and that he truly loved her!

Ye Wenyu found it laughable. She had never liked Jiang Zhiming, so naturally she wouldn't agree to his decision. Besides, in her previous life, Lin Tingfeng had gone completely mad in her later years, and any man who got close to her would not have a good ending. So she wisely rejected Jiang Zhiming. Later, he and Lin Tingyue had a falling out. Lin Tingyue abandoned everything in the Lin family and went to the west to become a volunteer teacher. As for Jiang Zhiming, he eventually saw through everything, became indifferent to everything, and became a monk.