Chapter 126: Don't Follow Strangers

The day after Shu Shu and Pei Muyin went to participate in the competition.

Shu Lingchen opened his eyes in the 1600-square-foot flat; the house was empty, Mom and Sis couldn't use their phones because of the competition, and only in the evening did they hastily send him a voice message saying "good night, good night".

Thus, this morning.

Left-behind child, like a lost soul, the little turkey chick baby, lifted his schoolbag and walked straight out the door.

The front door was shut from outside, and in the umbrella stand by the cabinet in the entryway, two umbrellas sat peacefully.

…

Another day passed in this grueling way.

Shu Shu and Pei Muyin's competition should be over, but they still can't come back today; they have to wait at the hotel until the results are out on the third day.

Probably not wanting to go back so early to face an empty house, when the school bell rang, Shu Lingchen didn't get up, deciding to finish his homework in the classroom before heading home.

He still had to study hard.

First of all, it's so that next time he can go to the competition with Mom and Sis, instead of staying home alone.

The boy buried his head in his work, writing furiously, his profile unusually focused—so focused that he didn't notice the thunder rumbling outside, followed by the patter of heavy rain.

Only after he finished the last character and put down his pen did Shu Lingchen's senses return.

The patter of rain filled his ears, striking the already waterlogged road with unusual clarity; even the originally bright sky was darkened by clouds.

Everyone had left, and Shu Lingchen was alone in the classroom.

He then recalled that the night before Mom left, she had warned him that the forecast said it would rain these two days, telling him to remember to bring an umbrella when going out.

He forgot.

However, when luck turns against you, everything goes wrong.

Shu Lingchen wandered around the classroom but couldn't find a single umbrella, even though on usual sunny days a row of them hung by the windowsill.

Tsk.

Shu Lingchen grabbed a handful of hair, first tidied his schoolbag, slung it on, and as he went downstairs he took out his phone, hesitating whether to ask Bo Luo Zai to pick him up.

But after typing a line, he ultimately didn't send the message.

Bo Luo Zai had said earlier that morning his grandfather's birthday was today, and they were preparing to celebrate at a restaurant; he guessed the whole family was happily eating together now.

He couldn't be so inconsiderate.

What about someone else?

Shu Lingchen still didn't find anyone.

It was getting late, everyone had gone home, so he decided not to bother anyone.

Shu Lingchen walked to the first floor, stood on the steps, and looked up at the rain falling like threads, praying it would stop soon.

But perhaps because An Shi hadn't seen rain in a long time, this downpour came as if it were free, showing no sign of stopping.

He counted from one to a hundred, then back down to one; Shu Lingchen simply gave up, wrapped his head in his school uniform jacket, and prepared to sprint to the school gate to hail a cab home.

Just then he saw a black car steadily stop outside the green belt ahead.

Transparent raindrops struck the car one after another, making its body gleam brighter and look brand new; from afar it even gave off a mysterious, noble aura.

Shu Lingchen narrowed his eyes to look.

He felt the car was somewhat familiar.

Before he could figure it out, the driver's side door opened.

A dark large umbrella was first pushed open outward, then as the umbrella lifted, a tall male figure appeared inside it, and finally a distinct-knuckled hand on the curved handle.

With a "pat" sound.

The hand's owner closed the car door, his leather shoes stepping lightly in the shallow puddles, walking through the rain toward him.

Shu Lingchen felt that this person was walking toward him.

He stared until the person stepped onto the stairs, stopped in front of him, lowered the umbrella, revealing a face with cold, delicate features.

Two pairs of identical dark eyes met.

The former's gaze was mature and cold, while the latter's was slightly more youthful.

Shu Lingchen widened his eyes in bewildered surprise: "How, how is it you?"

Pei Du lowered the umbrella, rainwater streaming down its surface to the tip and then to the ground, leaving tiny traces; his voice low and calm: "Going home?"

…

Pei Du had just finished his trip and landed in An Shi not long ago.

The driver had originally taken him to Yujingyuan; upon arriving at the apartment building entrance, he looked up and saw most windows lit, except the sixteenth floor, which was pitch black.

Inside the building, a food-delivery worker was repeatedly pressing the call button for the resident at the elevator, obviously unable to get through.

Pei Du raised his hand to glance at the Starlight Watch on his wrist.

At this hour, he shouldn't be asleep yet.

Pei Du knew that Shu Lingchen had been home alone these two days.

After observing the rain for a couple of seconds, Pei Du, lost in thought, told the driver to go into the underground parking lot, then went upstairs to fetch the car keys.

Within five minutes, a Bentley set off from Yujingyuan toward An Shi San Zhong.

…

Shu Lingchen certainly wanted to go home—but not with a "kidnapper"!

Seeing Pei Du, Shu Lingchen instantly went on high alert, almost writing "You have ill intentions" on his face; he stiffened his neck and warned, "I—I'm not allowed to go with strangers by my aunt."

As the boy hesitated noticeably, Pei Du lowered his lashes, a fleeting sharpness glinting in his dark pupils before vanishing.

He had come straight over.

He hadn't changed clothes, still wearing formal attire; the impeccably tailored handmade suit amplified the aloof chill of a superior, and Pei Du silently surveyed the boy's full-face rejection, seeing that the boy wasn't afraid of him but was dissatisfied with him over something.

In a moment, Pei Du spoke:

Mu Yin told me before the competition that you were alone at home, hoping I could look after you. Just now I saw the food delivery person try calling 1600 but couldn't get through. It's raining, so I guessed you were still at school.

As soon as he heard his sister's name, Shu Lingchen's expression shifted slightly.

If you're not at ease, you can call Mu Yin to check; they should have just finished and are preparing to return to the hotel.

The phone was handed to Shu Lingchen; he lowered his head and saw on the screen a note labeled 'daughter'.

No need.

Shu Lingchen thought, he couldn't make that call.

Before leaving, Mom had clearly told him to bring an umbrella; if he made this call, wouldn't it be tantamount to admitting he hadn't taken care of himself?

It's only been two days.

Shu Lingchen didn't answer the phone, cleared his throat twice, and said, "Well, then I'll trouble Mr. Pei."

That meant he agreed to ride in Pei Du's car.

Pei Du reopened the umbrella, lifted it, Shu Lingchen walked over, and they stood shoulder to shoulder under the same umbrella; the boy muttered awkwardly, "Shouldn't you always bring two umbrellas when picking someone up?"

Next time.

Shu Lingchen: "?"

Next time, what next time—next time he doesn't need him to pick him up!

…

When getting in the car, there was another awkward thing.

Sitting in the back seemed to treat the person as a driver, which was impolite, but Shu Lingchen…… didn't really want to sit next to Pei Du.

He didn't wait for him to hesitate a few seconds.

He then saw Pei Du toss the phone straight onto the passenger seat, as if it were a casual move.

The phone took up the space.

Thus, Shu Lingchen naturally took the back seat.