Stepping out of the elevator, the warm yellow lights spread across the grand lobby. The receptionist, wearing her professional smile, led Ji Yu and the others toward a side door where it would be easier to hail a ride. Holding an umbrella, she personally waved down a car for them before slowly retreating back inside.
Ji Yu watched Tang Li being shoved into the back seat, followed naturally by the other three, leaving only Mo Yachen and herself awkwardly facing each other.
She glanced around. Aside from the cold curtain of rain, there was nothing else. That receptionist seemed to have magic—wave her hand and a car would appear. But for Ji Yu? Forget hailing a car; she couldn't even see the street sign across the road.
At least the buses were obvious, even in the storm.
"Sis, what's wrong? …Ah? I'll be right back!"
Pretending to answer a call, Ji Yu forced a smile at Mo Yachen.
"Sorry, Senior Mo, something came up at home. I'll head off first…"
Before he could respond, she dashed toward the bus stop, splashing through the puddles.
He watched that little snowball blur into the downpour, then lowered his gaze. A moment later, he raised his hand to signal a silver Bentley.
"Phew…"
The bus was nearly empty, with barely seven or eight passengers. The glass fogged up quickly from the temperature difference. Ji Yu slipped in her earphones, chose a seat by the window, and wiped the condensation away. Catching sight of her slightly disheveled reflection, she tried to fix her hair.
Soon, the second stop arrived. It was at a shopping plaza, so a wave of people piled in—some escaping the rain, some rushing home.
The bus door hissed open.
Coins clinked. Mo Yachen stepped on, glanced around, then strode to an empty seat. With exaggerated satisfaction, he sighed in relief.
After adjusting his expression, he turned his head—and saw Ji Yu's face frozen in disbelief.
"Ji Yu, what a coincidence."
He took out a tissue and dabbed at the raindrops on his coat. To make it look real, he'd even stood in the rain on purpose before boarding, deliberately appearing drenched.
Ji Yu swallowed nervously, forcing a stiff smile.
"Yeah… what a coincidence, Senior Mo."
He returned a polite smile, then looked away.
The girl hadn't considered how he would get back, but seeing him soaked, she realized—he'd run through the rain just to catch her here.
Guilt crept in.
The window reflected her pale face under earphones, while beyond the glass, the city blurred into mist. Even stray leaves beaten down by the rain clung stubbornly to the window.
The other passengers who had seen him board in that drenched state cast knowing glances at Ji Yu, covering their smiles.
"Um… sorry. I thought you'd have a car waiting. That's why I… left on my own."
"It's fine, it's fine. Wasn't that far anyway. Cough."
The bus slowed. Everyone stretched their necks to see what was happening ahead.
Life imitating art—sometimes melodrama really did just crash down on Ji Yu's head.
Heavy rain, of course, meant traffic accidents.
Ji Yu glanced forward. The bus was stuck, and home was still ten stops away.
At the next stop, the door opened and rain gusted inside. Mo Yachen stood, tugged Ji Yu's hand, and pulled her off the bus into the storm.
"Hey—!"
She tried to protest, but the grip on her hand was firm. Powerless to resist, she covered her head with her free hand, shielding herself as best she could.
"Looks like there's an accident ahead. If you're in such a rush, the bus won't get you home in time."
"Then staying inside is better than being soaked out here! And it's freezing!"
"Dummy, I'm trying to send you home."
With a huff, he pulled off his coat and draped it over her head.
"Stay here. I'll grab an umbrella."
Moments later, he returned with a large umbrella—big enough for two.
—"Get two umbrellas."
—"One is enough, young master."
Ji Yu turned her face away, her cheeks burning red where he couldn't see.
"You clearly have a car! Why did you bother coming onto the bus to find me?!"
"I was worried you didn't know this road would be blocked, so I had my driver wait at the next stop. What, were you planning to sit on that bus all night?"
He hurried to her side, opening the umbrella above her. As he reached for his coat, he froze—the girl beneath it was tilting her face up, gazing at him like a kitten begging for a pat.
"Come on. I'll take you home."
The rain fell, steady and unrelenting. The damp chill clung to the air, even inside the crowded light rail car later.
Ji Yu's phone vibrated. She answered immediately.
"Mom, I'm almost home."
"Ji Yu, your sister and I have urgent orders to finish. We won't be back tonight. Just rest when you get home, don't wait for us."
Ji Yu blinked, her indigo eyes reflecting Mo Yachen's arm.
"Mom… you're already at the studio?"
"I didn't bring my keys…"
Mo Yachen leaned against the wall, listening quietly. When she admitted she'd forgotten her keys, he chuckled under his breath. Another label added to the girl: fragile on the outside, scatterbrained inside.
The rain blurred the city lights outside. The neon glow couldn't pierce the misty veil.
Ji Yu hung up, her lips pressed into a pout, cheeks puffed ever so slightly. He caught it.
"Need to head to your aunt's place for a spare key?"
"No. They're rushing the client's order at their house—I don't even know the address."
"Then what will you do tonight? Find Tang Li?"
"They're all drunk by now, probably snoring back at the dorms. I'll just stay at a small hotel for the night."
Fiddling with the hem of his coat, she suddenly noticed the faint scent of alcohol. Looking up, she locked eyes with the dark pupils behind his glasses.
"Ah—your coat! I almost forgot to return it."
She slipped it off and pulled his hand, helping him put the right sleeve on. When she moved to the left, she froze, realizing how close she'd gotten, then quickly withdrew.
Surprised by the fleeting intimacy, Mo Yachen was momentarily stunned. Then, calmly, he slid his left arm into the sleeve.
The train passed one stop after another. His gaze drifted from the LED station sign back to her face.
"…Why don't you stay at my place tonight?"