When Wang Cheng came out to find Shi Sui, this was the scene that greeted him.

Despite the relatively spacious counter, Shi Sui and Lu Huaizhi were pressed tightly together.

Wang Cheng stared at their arms, which were practically overlapping, with an indescribable expression of bewilderment.

Yet, Shi Sui’s expression was cold and his gaze was as resolute as a soldier heading into battle.

“Uh, isn’t it hot squeezing together like that?” Wang Cheng was puzzled; his friend’s face was already flushed from the heat.

Shi Sui didn’t even look up. “Spit it out.” He was almost finished with this page of problems, and then he could finally kick Lu Huaizhi away.

“Oh, remember when I posted the video of our basketball game on the school forum? Someone reposted it to Third High’s forum. A bunch of girls are howling about how handsome you are.” Wang Cheng smiled and handed his phone to Shi Sui. “I just wanted to show you the jealous faces of those Third High punks.”

Shi Sui gave it a casual glance.

Wang Cheng had somehow snuck into the Third High forum. At the top of the page was a thread marked with a bright red “Hot” tag.

The Handsome Guy from First High is Killing It!!!

Inside was the video Wang Cheng had edited. The comments below were filled with screams; even through the screen, Shi Sui felt like his ears were going to burst.

[Ahhhh! I knew Shi Sui was good-looking before, but he suddenly looks even hotter now, don’t you think?]

[I’ve seen enough of Shi Sui. Did you guys notice the little handsome guy who shot the three-pointer at the end? He’s still in his school uniform—so cute and handsome!]

[I heard he’s a top student? Holy sh*t, he’s got a natural halo.]

[Sisters, let’s form a group to go to First High and ‘fish’ for handsome guys!]

Shi Sui’s gaze lingered on the word “fish” for a second before he looked away indifferently. If these girls knew the guy they liked was gay, their hearts would probably shatter into a million pieces.

[There’s a great chance coming up. I heard our sports meet will be held jointly with First High this time. We can look at handsome guys legitimately!]

[Hell yeah! Can’t wait!]

However, a few nitpicky comments appeared occasionally.

[Wait, you guys aren’t actually going to cheer for the opponents, are you? Don’t start trouble.] [The men at First High are all scrawny. Do you girls have any taste?]

Shi Sui fully sensed the resentment from Third High. He raised an eyebrow. “A joint sports meet with them?”

“Yeah, I heard rumors before. Looks like the news is legit,” Wang Cheng replied. “You have no idea how tilted those Third High kids are. They’re talking big in their school group chat, saying they’ll grind us into the dirt at the sports meet.”

“Didn’t you teach Brother Niu and his gang a lesson in South Lane last time? They don’t even dare to go to South Lane now. They’re probably hoping to get their revenge at the meet.”

“Seems they haven’t been beaten enough.” Shi Sui twirled his pen, his tone airy. “Let them come.” Maybe he could get some practice in privately.

Wang Cheng gave Shi Sui a thumbs up. When it came to being arrogant, no one beat Shi Sui.

“Shi Sui fought people from Third High?” Lu Huaizhi suddenly asked.

Wang Cheng: “Yeah! It was probably those few days right after you transferred. A group from Third High was bullying some girls. Shi Sui ran into them and cleaned them up.”

Lu Huaizhi tilted his head toward Shi Sui and asked softly, “Was it that time?”

Shi Sui gave a perfunctory grunt. “Mhm.” Getting caught by Lu Huaizhi after a fight and then being blackmailed into tutoring—thinking about it was embarrassing.

“Hey, hey! What are you two whispering about?” Wang Cheng tried to shove his head into the counter. “I want to hear too.”

But as soon as his head poked in, Shi Sui ruthlessly pushed him back out. “It’s already crowded enough. What are you joining in for?”

Wang Cheng clutched his face pathetically, his eyes full of grievance. “Shi Sui, you’ve changed. I used to be your only love. Now that the Top Student is here, you only have eyes for him…”

Shi Sui heard a soft chuckle from beside him and couldn’t help but glare at Lu Huaizhi.

Lu Huaizhi suppressed the curve of his lips. “Okay, I won’t laugh.”

Wang Cheng found their interaction quite interesting. Lu Huaizhi pursued while Shi Sui dodged; when Shi Sui flared up, Lu Huaizhi would take a step back. No one could truly win.

“But, Top Student, is your attention entirely on Shi Sui? Your phone has been buzzing non-stop.” Wang Cheng pointed at Lu Huaizhi’s phone on the desk, which was lighting up every few seconds.

The remaining trace of a smile in Lu Huaizhi’s eyes vanished completely. “I’m going out to make a call.”

He left the internet cafe, intending to go to the street, but he didn’t realize it had started raining. He could only stand under the eaves outside to return the call.

“Mom, I was doing a practice paper. I didn’t see it.” “It’s raining outside. I’m going back later. I’m not home.” “I’m doing fine. Stop talking about it.” “I’m not going back. Wherever he is, I am.”

The door to the counter opened, and Shi Sui instinctively looked up. Seeing it was Lu Huaizhi, he was about to look away when he paused.

Who annoyed him? He was fine when he went out.

Seeing the dark wet patch on Lu Huaizhi’s shoulder, he asked, “Is it raining?”

“Mhm.” Lu Huaizhi used a tissue to wipe the water from his shoulder. “I got your jacket wet.”

Shi Sui didn’t care about such a small thing. “Did anything else happen? Like someone looking for trouble?”

Lu Huaizhi looked up. “Hmm?”

Shi Sui: “Forget it, nothing.”

Probably just unhappy about getting rained on. What a young master’s temper.

At that moment, Wang Cheng was reaching for the snacks on the counter, only to have his hand slapped away by Shi Sui.

Wang Cheng clutched his reddened hand, about to complain about the violence, when he saw Shi Sui pick up the snack basket and place it on the counter partition right in front of Lu Huaizhi.

Wang Cheng: “?”

Shi Sui said with a straight face: “This is for the customers. You didn’t spend any money today, so you’re not allowed to touch it.”

Lu Huaizhi, who also hadn’t paid, looked at the snacks, paused, and then reached out to take a bag of Bugles.

Wang Cheng looked on with glee. He’s dead. The Top Student is going to get hit.

But when Lu Huaizhi stuffed the Bugles into his pocket, Shi Sui didn’t say a word.

Shi Sui was looking down, organizing the papers on the desk. His shift was almost over; he could leave soon.

“Wait, Shi Sui, look at the Top Student!” Wang Cheng called out.

Shi Sui looked up at Lu Huaizhi, then back at Wang Cheng. “Look at what?”

Wang Cheng was stunned. “He stole a snack!” He pointed at Lu Huaizhi’s obviously bulging pocket. “Right there!”

Shi Sui looked coldly at Lu Huaizhi. “Did you take it?”

Lu Huaizhi remained expressionless. “No.” Shi Sui: “Fine.”

Wang Cheng: “?” “Are you two teaming up to play me?”

Before Wang Cheng could investigate further, Qi Sizheng hurried out of the booth, checking his phone. “Did you guys get the rainstorm alert?”

Wang Cheng’s attention was diverted. “What rainstorm?”

He tapped his phone and indeed saw a weather alert in the notification bar— [Ancheng Yellow Rainstorm Alert.]

Lu Huaizhi spoke: “The rain was indeed getting heavy when I was outside just now.”

“F*ck, no wonder it felt so stuffy this afternoon!” Wang Cheng frowned. “Shi Sui, did you bring an umbrella?” “Never mind, why am I asking you? You never have that stuff.”

Wang Cheng asked Qi Sizheng: “Monitor, did you bring one?”

Qi Sizheng shook his head.

Summer rainstorms come whenever they want; no one had predicted it. The four of them stood at the counter, staring at each other.

“Are we supposed to walk back in the rain?” Wang Cheng couldn’t help but look back at his booth. “How about we just crash here for the night?”

Qi Sizheng refused immediately. “My parents will worry. At worst, I’ll just walk back in the rain. It’s not far.”

“You don’t know sh*t!” Wang Cheng looked at him in his full school uniform and leaned in to scare him. “Haven’t you seen the news? Rainy days are when things happen most easily.”

“Robberies under the cover of rain, kidnappings, murders…” Wang Cheng got more excited as he spoke. “Even the taxi driver you hail might be a bad guy.”

“That’s enough,” Shi Sui interrupted.

He didn’t know if Qi Sizheng was scared, but he knew Lu Huaizhi had leaned closer to him again.

Wang Cheng shrugged. “I just wanted to let the monitor experience the nightlife of an internet cafe. Anyway, even if I stay out all night, my dad probably won’t notice.”

He sighed. “Shi Sui, do you think our grades are bad because we lack love and care?”

Wang Cheng blinked sorrowfully at Shi Sui, trying to find some common ground.

Shi Sui didn’t bother joking with him.

Just then, Li Lulu came to take over the shift. Seeing the four of them empty-handed, she raised an eyebrow. “It’s pouring outside. You don’t have umbrellas?”

Wang Cheng looked like he’d seen a savior. “Sister Lulu, save us!”

In the end, the four of them stared at the pink “Princess” style frilly umbrella in their hands, falling into a dead silence.

“Wait…” Wang Cheng tried to find the words. “Is there nothing else?” They were four grown guys; how were they supposed to go out with this?

“Take it or leave it.” Li Lulu toyed with her freshly painted nails. “If you don’t want it, go home soaked.” They were all young guys; a little rain was nothing.

Li Lulu waved them off dismissively. “Alright, don’t stand in the doorway blocking business.”

The four of them were kicked out of the cafe just like that.

“Father, there’s only one umbrella. You should have it!” Wang Cheng handed the princess umbrella to Shi Sui with a look of “tragic” sacrifice. “You must make it back safely.”

Lu Huaizhi took off the school jacket he was wearing and handed it to Shi Sui. “You can use this to block some rain.” That umbrella was too small.

Shi Sui looked at the white lace on the umbrella and didn’t think for long. He took the jacket from Lu Huaizhi and held it over his head. Seeing Lu Huaizhi standing there dazed, he frowned. “Are you going to share that umbrella with them?”

Lu Huaizhi froze, then immediately ducked under the jacket with Shi Sui.

Once Shi Sui was sure the person was completely covered, he walked quickly into the curtain of rain before Wang Cheng could even grab him.

The rain was heavy, and the view ahead became blurred. Every step splashed up water; Shi Sui and Lu Huaizhi’s shoes were soon soaked.

Fortunately, Shi Sui was familiar with South Lane and tried to walk where there were eaves.

But they hadn’t gone far before the person beside him started breathing heavily, and a hand gripped the arm Shi Sui was using to hold up the jacket.

Despite the jacket, they both inevitably got wet. Shi Sui could feel the moisture on Lu Huaizhi’s hand and his cool body temperature.

It hadn’t even been five minutes since he took the jacket off, and Lu Huaizhi’s temperature had already dropped?

And his running speed wasn’t fast at all. Just how weak was Lu Huaizhi that he was out of breath after this short distance?

Shi Sui listened to the slightly hurried breathing in his ear and pursed his lips, but he didn’t shake off Lu Huaizhi’s hand. With Lu Huaizhi supporting him, holding up the jacket felt less strenuous.

Soon, they jogged to the bus stop.

Shi Sui took the jacket down and wrung it out; it was full of water.

Both of them were dripping wet. Water was still running down Shi Sui’s face. After all, it was just clothes; it couldn’t block that much rain.

In comparison, Lu Huaizhi was much drier; only his hair and trouser legs were a bit wet. Shi Sui, thinking he was weak, had tilted the jacket more toward Lu Huaizhi.

Lu Huaizhi wanted to find tissues in his bag to wipe Shi Sui’s face, but Shi Sui stopped him. “No need. I’ll just shower when I get home.”

Shi Sui wiped the rain from his face. “Try to hail a car.”

Lu Huaizhi took his phone from the bag in his arms and hailed a ride.

They were lucky; there was one nearby that would arrive in five minutes.

During the wait, Lu Huaizhi spoke: “I thought you would leave with Wang Cheng and the others.” After all, Shi Sui didn’t seem to like him much.

Shi Sui was wrung out his shirt, not even looking up. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just because we’re going the same way.”

The rain was so heavy and the terrain in South Lane was complex; no taxi was willing to go in there.

As Shi Sui wrung his clothes, a patch of skin on his waist was faintly visible, glistening with moisture.

When Shi Sui finished and looked up, Lu Huaizhi shifted his gaze.

Shi Sui: “The car is here.”

Lu Huaizhi got into the back seat of the taxi.

Shi Sui heard the driver ask Lu Huaizhi in non-standard Mandarin, “Where to?”

Then the driver turned around to look at the wet shoulder and trousers of Lu Huaizhi. “Young man, you’re getting my car wet. I’m charging extra.”

The rude, predatory tone immediately reminded Shi Sui of what Wang Cheng had said— [Even the taxi driver you hail might be a bad guy.]

Lu Huaizhi didn’t think much of it and was about to agree when Shi Sui suddenly stepped off the bus platform into the rain.

“How is a little water on him going to dirty your car? You think he’s an easy target?” Shi Sui stared at the driver with a grim face. “Don’t turn around for no reason. Don’t you know drivers and passengers should keep their distance?”

Shi Sui looked very fierce when he was expressionless, and the tiger head on his shirt seemed equally intimidating.

The driver sat up straight instantly.

Shi Sui noted the driver’s face and the ID information on the front seat before turning his focus back to Lu Huaizhi. “Pay whatever the meter says. Don’t be an idiot and listen to random quotes.”

Lu Huaizhi: “Okay.” Even though Shi Sui’s tone was ruder than the driver’s, he didn’t feel Shi Sui was being mean at all.

Shi Sui had the jacket over his head, but because he was leaning down, most of his body was exposed to the rain. Water was dripping steadily from his face.

Lu Huaizhi looked at the water droplet hanging from Shi Sui’s chin and, on an impulse, reached out and wiped it away.

Both of them froze.

“Are you guys going or not—” Before the driver could finish, there was a thud.

The car door slammed shut with enough force to make the vehicle shake.