heavy rain

Jiang Zhun invited Lu Er to a Western restaurant near the Third Middle School. At noon, Lu Er went to Deng Lianchun's office to ask for leave.

When the middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses heard why she had come, his brows furrowed slightly in displeasure, but he still took out a sick leave slip from the table and signed it for her.

Lu Er walked towards the Western restaurant. There weren't many people in the restaurant; English songs were playing softly, creating a quiet atmosphere.

She looked down at the screen; Jiang Zhun said he was sitting by the window. Lu Er glanced at the row of seats by the window, then quickly walked over: "Brother Jiang Zhun."

"Xiao Er, you're here." Jiang Zhun smiled. He was wearing a black suit today, and his smile was gentle and refined, like a spring breeze. "Sit down."

Lu Er pulled out a chair and sat down opposite him. The waiter appeared at just the right moment, his expression perfect: "What would you two like to eat?"

Jiang Zhun handed her the menu and asked, "What would you like to eat?"

She wanted to shake her head, but thinking it would be unreasonable to refuse such a kind offer, Lu Er opened the menu and pointed to one: "Then I'll have a spaghetti bolognese."

"Two servings of spaghetti bolognese, two servings of fruit and vegetable salad." Jiang Zhun paused for a moment, then added, "And one serving of tiramisu."

Perhaps because there were few people, the dishes were quickly served one by one by the waiters. Jiang Zhun said, "Thank you for making the trip. Let's eat first."

"Thank you, Brother Jiang Zhun."

Lu Er looked at the tableware on the table and hesitantly picked up a fork. She suddenly regretted not looking up how to use Western tableware on the way.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Jiang Zhun smiled slightly and gestured for her to take the spoon next to him: "It will be easier to pick them up if you use two together."

"...Thank you, Brother Jiang Zhun."

Amidst the clinking of cutlery, Jiang Zhun looked at her face as she ate with her head down: "I visited your aunt and uncle yesterday, I hope I didn't disturb them?"

Lu Er raised her face and shook her head: "No. Brother Jiang Zhun, you're the one who spent the money."

Half of the gifts Jiang Chun sent home had labels in foreign languages, indicating they were definitely expensive.

After chewing the noodles, which were now coated with minced meat and had become fragrant, she said, "Brother Jiang Zhun, thank you, but please don't do this again next time. I appreciate your kindness, but these gifts... are too precious."

Jiang Zhun smiled gently and said, "Xiao Er, we've missed so many years, and not only me, but my parents also feel guilty. Consider this our compensation to you, so don't take it too seriously."

"Besides," his expression was filled with a gentle, flowing tenderness, "you've already called me Brother Jiang Zhun. I still have to fulfill my responsibilities as an older brother."

Lu Er was speechless after hearing this. She nodded silently and continued eating.

"Have you decided which university you want to apply to? I heard from your aunt and uncle that you've always been in the top ten of your grade. Tomorrow, in June, is the day you choose your school."

An unrelated image flashed through Lu Er's mind, driving her to blurt out the word. Lu Er said, "...Tsinghua University, I guess." As if burying her head in the sand, she added, "And Peking University too."

"Tsinghua and Peking University... the translation programs in English are both quite good. A very good goal, good luck." Jiang Zhun joked, "I thought I would follow in the footsteps of Professor Lu and Professor Xu and apply to Qingdao University. It's a pity we can't be alumni."

"Do you have any plans to go abroad in the future? I think with your talent, you can definitely do it."

Lu Er replied vaguely, "...Well, maybe."

The meal lasted until almost one o'clock in the afternoon. Lu Er glanced at the clock hanging on the wall covered with brown wood wallpaper: "Brother Jiang Zhun, I should go."

"Do you need me to take you back to school?" Jiang Zhun subconsciously tried to get up.

Lu Er habitually declined: "Thank you, Brother Jiang Zhun, but I'm going to take a walk around the school later."

"Take this cake with you, Xiao Er. I bought it especially for you." Jiang Zhun pointed to the tiramisu.

He looked at her with a gaze she couldn't resist, a gaze that felt like a spring breeze blowing into her heart, and Lu Er had no choice but to accept it.

-

Lu Er didn't hand the comic book to Ruan Xiyan in person; instead, she quietly placed it on Ruan Xiyan's desk. Sometimes, not giving a result isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Ruan Xiyan hadn't come to school for several days. Perhaps he did come, when no one else was in the classroom. Because Lu Er overheard people chatting after class, saying that a student who stayed in Class 18 during lunch break saw Ruan Xiyan return, pack some books into his bag, and leave.

It was also said that the art students from No. 3 Middle School, along with those from No. 7 and No. 2 Middle Schools, would undergo a joint training camp arranged by the school, supposedly at a school in another city, some distance from No. 3 Middle School.

Every word of the gossip after class reached Lu Er's ears. She thought that Ruan Xiyan's popularity had its advantages. For example, she was still able to know his recent whereabouts during these days without his contact.

But when she realized that she would no longer have anything to do with Ruan Xiyan, Lu Er felt as if a bottomless pit was suffocating her heart.

Lu Er thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile, "She's really being dramatic. She made the decision herself, and she's the one who's suffering."

Before we knew it, the senior year make-up classes were almost over. Under the blazing sun, everyone entered the classroom with a listless face to begin their afternoon lessons.

The chemistry class was going to have an experiment, and everyone was unusually enthusiastic, so they put their arms around each other's shoulders and headed to the science building.

Lu Er went to the restroom before returning to the classroom to grab her books and head out. As she walked through the front door, she was met by a pair of beautifully defined eyes. Ruan Xiyan was wearing a baseball cap and a round-neck, grass-colored short-sleeved shirt, with a school uniform draped over it for the first time in a long time. Her exposed neck was very white, like unmelted spring snow on green grass.

Lu Er's shoulders tightened instantly. She took a large step back, as if realizing she had been overly alarmed, and lowered her head, walking past Ruan Xiyan.

Ruan Xiyan came to his lab class. Coincidentally, his lab position was diagonally behind Lu Er.

Chen Xiang hadn't seen Ruan Xiyan for several days. Beside him, Ruan Xiyan's mouth was constantly moving. Ruan Xiyan's voice was rather soft, so Lu Er could only hear Chen Xiang's voice clearly, as if Chen Xiang was talking incessantly on his own.

Lu Er was annoyed, feeling that Chen Xiang talked too much, and silently prayed that the teacher would warn him.

Three minutes later, class ended. The chemistry representative had taken the day off, so the chemistry teacher beckoned to Lu Er to collect the lab equipment. Presumably thinking that one person was too slow, his eyes darted around the group of students. The students sensed his intention and quickly fled the lab.

For some reason, Ruan Xiyan fell behind. The chemistry teacher, unsurprisingly, chose him: "Ruan Xiyan, come and help us pack up."

That heavy, oppressive atmosphere, like a stone weighing on one's back, spread once again. Ruan Xiyan tidied up beside her, while Lu Er mechanically put the equipment into the cabinet, stared at it for two seconds, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, reached out and straightened the equipment.

The two finished their work and had three minutes left before class. Stepping out of the lab, they discovered the sky was overcast, as if covered in soot.

The laboratory was on the third floor. By the time Lu Er reached the first floor, the rain was already pouring down.

The weather in Huai'an is always unpredictable. Lu Er muttered to herself, then looked around worriedly. Her classmates had already rushed back to the classroom, and she hadn't brought an umbrella.

Ruan Xiyan didn't bring an umbrella either. He stood calmly in front of the rain with his hands in his pockets.

As he looked around, his eyes suddenly turned to Lu Er: "Didn't bring an umbrella?"

“…” Lu Er nodded quietly.

"There's nothing we can do about it then," Ruan Xiyan said to herself, her arms peeking out from under her school uniform jacket. Then, to Lu Er's surprise and confusion, he wrapped her in his jacket.

For the first time, Lu Er was incoherent: "Ruan...Ruan Xiyan, what...are you doing?"

"Run, squad leader!" Lu Er wanted to say, "Your coat is covering my eyes," but unexpectedly, a strong force suddenly gripped her wrist. Ruan Xiyan pulled her into the rain.

The rain was torrential, and it was clear that the two who ran into it would not emerge unscathed. White raindrops pelted their arms, legs, and shoes, sending chills through them.

They crossed the playground. The only sound on the playground seemed to be the torrential rain.

But Lu Er knew there was also the frantic pounding of her heart. Like rain and sunlight simultaneously piercing her ribs, her heart was both cold and hot.

Lu Er seemed to hear that song again. The song was called Eleven.

If there are some things you like, you can only leave them in the heavy rain.

At this moment, she would rather remain frozen in this instant forever.

...

When they ran back to the foot of the senior high school building, they were both soaking wet. Ruan Xiyan took off his baseball cap, and the grassy green of his clothes had turned into a deep, lush green pine needle color from being soaked.

"..." Lu Er's vision finally cleared. She was panting, her school uniform clutched in her hand like a hot potato, unsure whether to take it or return it. "Thank you. That uniform... I'll wash it and return it to you."

"...You left a comic book at my house." Lu Er calmed her breathing and said nervously, "I put it in your drawer, remember to take it with you."

Ruan Xiyan looked at her and said, "Then I don't want it."

She lowered her head: "...Then let's throw it away."

Ruan Xiyan's gaze wouldn't waver an inch: "Are you going to throw away everything that's connected to me?"

"..." Lu Er felt as if her throat was being clamped by scissors, unable to utter a single word. She tried her best to keep herself from looking at him and said in a low voice, "Ruan Xiyan, let's just leave it at that, okay? Let go."

Ruan Xiyan fell silent. Lu Er couldn't stay any longer; she felt that if she stayed another second, her thoughts would be exposed.

Lu Er had just turned away when her wrist was grabbed again. She turned back in surprise.

Ruan Xiyan's eyes always seemed to sparkle and shine. And now, he gazed at her with those same clear eyes and said with utmost seriousness, "Then what should we do? I don't want to let go."

-

The rain didn't stop even after school ended. Tomorrow is the monthly break, which means there's no evening self-study tonight. The bell rang, and all the senior students excitedly poured out of their classrooms.

The girl sitting in front of Lu Er lived far away and didn't bring an umbrella. Lu Er, who was on duty, lent her her umbrella, lying that she had another one. In reality, she planned to wait until the rain subsided before going home.

The girl thanked her gratefully, and after she left, Lu Er was left alone in the classroom.

She swept the floor, her back bent, but her mind was in turmoil. Ruan Xiyan's words had affected her for the entire afternoon.

No, no, I can't think about it anymore. Lu Er shook her head, struggling to expel that sentence from her mind.

The rain didn't stop until she finished her chores. Lu Er looked at the increasingly dark sky, calculated the time of the last bus, and took advantage of the rain gradually subsiding to run out of the school with her schoolbag on her head.

Lu Er successfully boarded the last bus. The bus was full of people, and she held onto a handrail, her thoughts drifting to the window.

Walking along the roadside were the same students from No. 3 Middle School, off-school. They carried colorful umbrellas, like colorful flowers.

Lu Er paused slightly. She saw Ruan Xiyan, who was holding a yellow umbrella and chasing and playing with his friends.

Lu Er turned her face away, her eyes automatically avoiding that scene. Her schoolbag still contained that hot potato: Ruan Xiyan's waterlogged school uniform.

Ruan Xiyan is leaving, isn't he? How am I going to return this school uniform to him?

The thought of this gave Lu Er a headache.