Gong Yao's expression was equally serious: "I will do everything in my power to protect you, even if it costs me everything."

Lin Zhenzhen's eyes flickered slightly, her pupils reflecting Gong Yao's parted lips.

After a moment, she smiled and said, "Oh, it's not that exaggerated. Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself."

"Okay, let's go."

Gong Yao led the way, with Lin Zhenzhen following closely behind.

The mountain road was not easy to walk. When they encountered a rugged section, Gong Yao would deliberately turn back, spread his arms, and protect Lin Zhenzhen's back.

After walking for about half an hour, the two finally arrived at the mountaintop terrace.

Lin Zhenzhen looked up at the dark clouds drifting in the sky not far away.

"It was sunny just a moment ago, but now that we've climbed the mountain, the sky has turned cloudy."

Lin Zhenzhen turned her head and saw that Gong Yao's expression was a little dazed, so she quickly comforted him, "I've never seen what it's like when it rains on a mountaintop before. It should be quite interesting."

"There seems to be a cave over there. Let's hide inside for a while and go down after the rain stops."

Gong Yao shook his head: "After it rains, the mountain road will become extremely muddy, and it will be very dangerous to go down the mountain then."

He took out a water bottle from his backpack, unscrewed it, and handed it to Lin Zhenzhen: "Rest for a bit, then we'll head back the way we came as soon as possible."

"Alright."

Lin Zhenzhen took the water and drank a sip. After resting for a while, the two began their journey back.

On the way down the mountain, Lin Zhenzhen looked at the dark clouds that were getting closer and closer and casually remarked, "It feels like it's always raining every time I see you."

Gong Yao chopped aside a small clump of thorns blocking his way with his bare hands: "Well, after all, Ancheng has a humid climate, so it's normal for it to rain a lot."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "I just didn't expect that our first meeting in the capital would be in such bad weather. It's really a bit of a downer."

Lin Zhenzhen put her hand on his shoulder: "It's okay. As long as we meet more often, we can reduce the chances of encountering bad weather when we meet."

“Yes, you’re right.” Gong Yao’s mood seemed to have finally improved. “It’s just that now I need to follow strict leave application and approval procedures to enter and leave the school, so I may not be able to see you often.”

"It's okay. If you can't leave the school gate, I'll just stand outside your school wall and chat with you through the fence."

Lin Zhenzhen suddenly remembered halfway through her sentence: "Is it also troublesome for you to ask for leave today?"

"It's a bit of a hassle." Freshmen don't actually get a holiday during military training, but Gong Yao applied to his counselor on the condition of increasing the amount of training, and in exchange, he got this half-day off.

"To celebrate my birthday?"

"Hmm." Gong Yao stopped in his tracks. "Didn't we agree that I would wish you a happy birthday every year?"

In that instant, Lin Zhenzhen heard her own heart pounding, and a certain phrase formed in her chest, ready to burst forth.

A thunderclap suddenly exploded in the sky.

Immediately afterwards, a torrential downpour began. Lin Zhenzhen couldn't dodge in time, and her t-shirt was instantly soaked, revealing the black semi-circular outline underneath.

Gong Yao's breath hitched. He took off his coat and draped it over Lin Zhenzhen.

Lin Zhenzhen was confused: "It's okay, I'm not cold."

"Wear it." Gong Yao turned his face away, looking to the side.

Lin Zhenzhen lowered her head and, after seeing the beautiful scenery before her, belatedly felt a little shy.

Gong Yao got on the motorcycle: "I'll take you back to school later. Go back and change your clothes."

Lin Zhenzhen leaned her head forward: "And what about you?"

"I'm going to get something, I'll be right back to you."

"Okay, see you later."

Lin Zhenzhen got off the car at the door closest to the dormitory building.

As soon as she reached the entrance of the building, she was stopped by several people, who then mysteriously pulled her into the dormitory.

A girl with her hair in a ponytail was holding her phone, looking somewhat nervous.

"Xiao Zhen, we just heard that you were eating with a boy in the cafeteria, and a lot of people saw you. Is that true?"

Lin Zhenzhen nodded: "That's right."

The other three people in the dormitory gasped instantly.

Lin Zhenzhen frowned: "Can't I eat with other people?"

The girl with the bob haircut jumped out excitedly, saying, "No, the problem is that the other person is a guy!"

“Right now, those photos are only circulating in our small group. If someone with malicious intent sees them and posts them online, how can you explain yourself?”

"What's wrong with that? Just say what you mean, I'm not going to distort the facts."

"Sigh, that's not how it works. In this internet age, the old saying 'If you're upright, you have nothing to fear' is no longer fashionable. You're a female celebrity, after all..."

Hang Shuzhu, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Xiao Zhen, what are you looking for?"

Lin Zhenzhen paused for a moment, then looked up: "Documents or contracts should always have a paper copy kept."

"Don't you usually keep these things in the red file folder in your drawer? Look there."