Chapter 24: Bringing an Umbrella

Fortunately, it was only a shallow cut, not serious.

Li Luo easily found a small first-aid kit in Ying Chanxi's cabinet, dipped a cotton swab in iodine, and disinfected Zhao Rongjun's wound.

Then he applied a band-aid, and it was basically fine—though cooking again would surely make his finger hurt a bit.

"Uncle Ying."

"Hmm?"

"Your hand's not convenient for cooking—let me do it."

"Huh?" Zhao Rongjun frowned, tried picking up the knife himself, waved his left hand twice, still felt some pain, "You can do it?"

He'd only cooked for a while after his wife passed away, while taking care of Ying Chanxi at home.

Later, once his work became completely hectic, he never touched the kitchen again.

But even so, he was still more reliable than this kid Li Luo.

"Trust me, no problem," Li Luo patted his chest and assured him, "My family runs a breakfast shop—I learned a few things from my dad."

Hearing this, Zhao Rongjun hesitated slightly.

But remembering Li Luo's score getting into Fuyi High, and his conduct and attitude since their meeting, Zhao Rongjun finally nodded: "Try it—if you can't manage, I'll take over."

"Alright."

Li Luo took over the task, glanced at Zhao Rongjun's prepped ingredients, picked up the knife, and sliced half the pork belly into thin pieces, the other half into shreds.

The knife chopped rhythmically on the cutting board—chop-chop-chop—fast, clean, precise, making Zhao Rongjun raise his eyebrows.

You call that "learned a few things"?

Just this knife skill alone isn't something a beginner could pull off.

After prepping the ingredients, Li Luo glanced at the chicken soup Zhao Rongjun had been simmering, took out a bowl for later use, perfect for stir-frying to enhance the flavor.

Then Zhao Rongjun felt Li Luo had changed.

Dish after dish was precisely poured into the wok, stir-fried by Li Luo, and the kitchen instantly filled with aroma.

To be honest, seeing his skilled manner, Zhao Rongjun figured that even if the taste was average, it would still be far better than his own cooking.

"When did you learn to cook?" Zhao Rongjun asked, though his finger was injured, helping carry dishes was still fine—he couldn't help asking as he handed one over.

"I've been helping out at the shop every day lately—just watched enough to pick it up," Li Luo lied, "Uncle Ying, you hardly ever come home—this meal should still be yours if you want to surprise Ying Chanxi."

"That wouldn't be right."

"Don't be so formal, Uncle—I'm over here playing computer all the time, what's one meal?," Li Luo said while stir-frying, "Besides, this isn't your fault—you're injured, right? The intention matters most."

Hearing this, Zhao Rongjun fell silent, tacitly accepting.

By the time the whole table of dishes was done, it was already past five in the evening.

Li Luo had prepared a full spread—color, aroma, and taste all perfect—waiting for someone to arrive.

At that moment, Li Luo's phone rang.

He washed his hands, rubbed them hard on his apron, then opened his phone and saw it was Ying Chanxi calling.

He gestured to Zhao Rongjun, then answered the call.

"Hello? What's up?"

"Li Luo, where are you right now?" Ying Chanxi asked softly.

"At your house," Li Luo said, "What now? I already put your clothes away in your bedroom."

"Oh, thanks," Ying Chanxi said, "But I didn't bring an umbrella today—I took the bus with a classmate, but we got off at different stops—could you come pick me up at the bus stop?"

"Sure, how long till you get there?"

"About ten minutes."

"OK, see you then."

After hanging up, Li Luo looked at Zhao Rongjun.

Zhao Rongjun nodded at him: "Go pick her up—I'll clean up the kitchen."

"Alright, I'm off then."

Li Luo left the kitchen, put on his shoes, grabbed his own umbrella at the door, then took Ying Chanxi's umbrella too.

Then he stepped out, opened the umbrella, walked into the rain, heading toward the nearest bus stop.

……

On the bus.

Liu Shaowen sat in the third row, staring at the driver's rearview mirror for several minutes already.

Ying Chanxi sat in a seat near the bus's rear door, clearly visible in the mirror.

As the long-standing number-two student in Yucai Middle School, Liu Shaowen had always felt a special emotion toward the back of the number-one student.

He was the top student in the key class; Ying Chanxi was the top student in the parallel class.

Though their interactions at school were few—only exchanging a few words during competitions—

in Liu Shaowen's inner world, he believed he had long been spiritually connected with Ying Chanxi.

After all, in the vast Yucai Middle School, he was the only one who could keep pace with her.

Especially now, during Fuyi High's early admission phase.

Twenty-seven students from the school got into Fuyi High, but only Shaowen and Chanxi ranked in the top forty.

Fuyi High's summer prep class divided students into four groups based purely on scores.

Liu Shaowen and Ying Chanxi were naturally placed in Class One.

It couldn't be denied—there was some fated connection at play.

Liu Shaowen was tall, good-looking, with only slightly dark skin and glasses as minor flaws.

Back at Yucai Middle School, he'd secretly received many love letters from girls.

But since he already had his white moonlight, Liu Shaowen simply ignored all of it.

Yet he often inquired about how many love letters Ying Chanxi had received recently.

If the number was similar to his own, Liu Shaowen would feel at ease, convinced this was fate between them.

There were many similar incidents.

For example, every Monday, the school invited outstanding student representatives to speak on stage.

Over three years, he and Ying Chanxi were the ones assigned to speak the most.

Whenever school awards were involved, their names were invariably included.

After every monthly exam and mid-term or final exam, the bulletin board displaying the school-wide rankings was Liu Shaowen's favorite place to visit.

Because there, he was always ranked below Ying Chanxi, unable to overtake her.

But no one could ever take away his second-place position.

Now, in the summer preparatory class at Fuyi Middle School, he and Ying Chanxi were the only two from Yucai Middle School.

This made him feel a special bond, as if he had become some kind of guardian knight, always wanting to do something for Ying Chanxi.

Just like today, when heavy rain fell.

He noticed Ying Chanxi hadn't brought an umbrella.

So at the end of the school day, he packed his bag early, went downstairs, and waited quietly under his umbrella on the path Ying Chanxi must take to leave campus.

In his fantasy, Ying Chanxi would arrive at the classroom building's exit, raise her hand to shield her head, gaze at the dense curtain of rain, and perhaps wear a cute expression of frustration.

At that moment, he would stand beside her, as if noticing her annoyed little expression by accident, and ask casually, "Are you taking the bus home?"

Then, after making small talk, he'd let out a light laugh: "I'm heading the same way—I'll walk you home."

The fantasy was beautiful, and Liu Shaowen waited just as imagined at the classroom building's exit.

But Ying Chanxi didn't come out alone—she was accompanied by her female desk mate from this period.

The two walked together under one umbrella toward the bus stop.

His first fantasy was shattered.

But it didn't matter.

Liu Shaowen avoided his father, who had come to pick him up, and boarded the bus, finding a seat in the front.

His guess was that the female desk mate and Ying Chanxi weren't getting off at the same stop, so he still had a chance.

Then he could pretend to be a classmate getting off at the same stop and offer to walk her home under his umbrella.

Thinking of this, Liu Shaowen perked up, his body trembling slightly with excitement.

At that moment, the bus stopped at a station.

An elderly woman boarded through the front door.

The bus had already traveled more than halfway, and all seats were taken.

Seeing the elderly woman stand holding the handrail, Liu Shaowen immediately looked toward Ying Chanxi in the back.

Then, resolutely, he stood up and said to the woman, "Grandma, please take my seat."

"No, no," the woman declined, "you sit, you sit."

"It's fine," Liu Shaowen smiled. "I'm getting off soon. Grandma, please sit."

Since Liu Shaowen insisted, the woman thanked him and took his seat.

Then Liu Shaowen straightened his chest and walked to the rear handrail, standing firm.

Though he didn't look toward Ying Chanxi, he could guess she was watching him right now.

And with admiration and praise in her eyes.

Thinking of this, Liu Shaowen stood even straighter, as if his school uniform's zipper might burst open from his expanded chest.

Then the bus passed two more stops and slowly pulled into Ouhua Street, stopping at the bus station.

Liu Shaowen saw Ying Chanxi rise, instantly snapping back to reality—he realized she was getting off.

As soon as the bus stopped and the rear door opened, Liu Shaowen stepped out first, holding his umbrella open on the platform.

He thought:

When Ying Chanxi stepped out and saw the heavy rain, he could naturally offer to walk her home under his umbrella.

"Huh?" On the platform, after opening his umbrella, Liu Shaowen turned around with feigned surprise to face Ying Chanxi as she stepped off. "You're getting off here too?"

"Yes," Ying Chanxi glanced at him, also puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Because this was the first time in over a month she had seen Liu Shaowen on the bus.

"You didn't bring an umbrella, did you?" Liu Shaowen smiled, lifting his umbrella. "It's raining hard now—I can walk you home. Your place is nearby, right?"

"Oh, thank you," Ying Chanxi politely replied, then shook her head and pointed behind him. "Someone's here to pick me up."

At these words, Liu Shaowen was stunned.

Because in his mind, the only person who could pick up Ying Chanxi at this bus stop near her home was her parent.

Was he about to meet her parents so soon?

Would that be inappropriate?

Thinking this, Liu Shaowen slowly turned around, mentally rehearsing how to greet them to make a good impression.

But when he turned and saw the boy standing there—about his own age—his expression froze.

Li Luo looked at Liu Shaowen with a strange expression, then tossed his umbrella into Ying Chanxi's arms and said, "Let's go—time for dinner."

Liu Shaowen stared at Li Luo's face and felt he looked familiar.

Then he quickly composed himself and asked Ying Chanxi casually, "Is this your brother?"

Ying Chanxi clearly paused, then laughed lightly: "Yes, yes."

Saying that, she opened the umbrella Li Luo had brought, walked beside him into the rain, and turned back to say to Liu Shaowen, "Thanks for your kindness—bye!"

His breath caught—Liu Shaowen stared at the girl's back; though none of his plans had come to fruition, it somehow felt alright.

She said thank you to me…

At that moment, his phone vibrated in his pant pocket.

Liu Shaowen quickly answered the call.

"Where did you run off to? Your school teacher said you already left! Why are you gone? I've been waiting at the school gate for twenty minutes, and you didn't answer your phone!"

"Dad! I…"

…

On the way home, Li Luo grumbled: "Who's your brother?"

"You were born a day after me—what else are you if not my brother?"

"Who was that guy just now? He looks familiar."

"Him? A classmate from the advanced class, also from Yucai, but we're not close."

【Fallen Writer's Diary】: Thanks to the patron Cucumber Niu Zha Tang~ About the extra chapter, let's wait until the book goes live… Otherwise, if the word count exceeds 200,000 within a month, we'll be bumped off the new book ranking.