Chapter 027

At 9:30 PM, He Ye said goodbye to a student’s family with a smile and left with an umbrella. While waiting for the elevator, she checked her phone.

Team Leader: [I’m here.]  

Dad: [Tell Dad when you get home.]  

Lu Jin had sent a message half an hour ago, right after her class ended. He Ye called her father first, and when she got out of the elevator, she saw Lu Jin sitting in the lobby on the first floor. There was a shopping bag on the chair next to him and a wet umbrella at his feet.

Their eyes met, and Lu Jin stood up, silently approaching He Ye.

“Got it. I’ll take a taxi back. I’ll be there around ten o’clock and go straight to the supermarket to meet you.”  

“No need to come over; just go home and rest.”  

“Okay, let’s not talk about it for now.”

After hanging up the phone, He Ye looked at the bag in Lu Jin’s hand. 

Lu Jin said, “I passed by a fruit store and bought a few pears to moisten my throat.”  

He Ye swallowed, realizing her throat was uncomfortable from talking too much.

Lu Jin took out a white thermos cup from the bag and said, “Homemade chrysanthemum tea has similar effects. Don’t worry, the cup is new and I haven’t used it before.”  

He Ye thought to herself, “I’ve already been kissed by him like that, and now he’s emphasizing the cup issue. Is that intentional?”

She took the thermos cup, turned away from him, and took a couple of sips. The tea was slightly bitter but warmed her throat nicely. While she was putting the lid back on, Lu Jin took her schoolbag from behind, stuffed the fruit and thermos cup inside, and casually threw it over his shoulder.

“I wanted to help you carry your school bag, but I was afraid that I would be too helpful and scare you.”  

He Ye thought about how foolish she was to believe he genuinely liked helping her.

“Let’s go.”  

Lu Jin opened his big black umbrella and stood on the rain-soaked steps, tilting his head to look at her. The drizzling rain made the night seem even quieter. Since he had come to pick her up, He Ye felt guilty about keeping her distance from him and let him touch her hand.

She stepped under the umbrella, took his arm awkwardly.  

Lu Jin smiled: “This doesn’t count as a foul on my part.”

He Ye changed the subject, asking him about his day at work. Lu Jin happily shared details as they walked. After leaving the community, they waited at the bus stop, estimating they would have to wait for about seven or eight minutes.

The umbrella blocked the streetlights. Lu Jin looked at his girlfriend beside him. The night was dim, and her cheeks looked delicate, with small, full lips. That thought grew wild in his mind since the first moment he saw her.

“He Ye.”  

He whispered her name, and when she looked up confused, he quickly kissed her. Before she could react, he stood up again, pretending nothing happened.

He Ye bit her lip and looked around, relieved that no one was watching. A car sped by, blowing her hair around. The streetlights reflected on the wet ground, making everything bright and clear. 

No one spoke, but Lu Jin reached out and held her hand.  

He Ye found it strange. His hands were usually cooler than hers, but tonight they felt warmer.

The car arrived, and when He Ye bent down to get in, Lu Jin let go of her.  

“Xiaofeng Yaju, get off at the South Gate, right?” the driver asked, confirming with Lu Jin.

Lu Jin glanced at He Ye sitting next to him and said, “Yes.”  

He Ye flexed her fingers, looking outside the car.

After about twenty minutes, the car stopped. He Ye asked Lu Jin for his phone beforehand. After getting out, she stood under his umbrella and called her father: “Dad, I’m at the community. I’ll be home soon.”  

He Yong replied, “Come back soon, go to bed early, don’t wait for me.”

He Ye checked the time. If nothing unexpected happened, her father would be home in about half an hour.  

“Gone?” She turned to Lu Jin.

Lu Jin nodded but took her hand and walked to the nearby bus stop. The long billboard on the platform acted like a screen, blocking the light and separating the sidewalk from the road.

With raindrops falling, it was dark behind the screen. Lu Jin lowered the umbrella so that even if someone passed by, they wouldn’t see their faces.  

“There shouldn’t be many people here at this time.”

Though it was a public place, He Ye felt nervous with her head down. Lu Jin held the umbrella in one hand and the schoolbag with the other, making it hard to hug her.

“Stand still, don’t move,” he whispered in her ear before kissing her lips and gently tilting her head back.

Because he was so gentle, He Ye didn’t resist too much, but she still tried to pull away at times to avoid his tongue. Kissing felt like a dream of love, but the reality was overwhelming.

This is the reality: most girls who just graduated from high school still think like innocent students.

Lu Jin didn’t chase after her; he just gently stroked her chin.

He Ye panicked and grabbed his shirt.

She didn’t even realize she made a soft sound.

Lu Jin noticed and, ignoring his schoolbag, pulled her into his arms, feeling anxious again.

Suddenly, He Ye pushed him away.

She was worried about coming home late and also felt uncomfortable.

To escape, He Ye took out her umbrella and hurried away.

Lu Jin stood still for a moment before running after her.

When she heard his footsteps, He Ye slowly lowered the umbrella.

Lu Jin bent down to look inside and saw He Ye turning her head away, her face red and a bit angry.

“He Ye.”

She ignored him.

Lu Jin let his hand get wet in the rain for a few seconds before flicking water towards her.

He Ye glared at him.

Lu Jin smiled, looking into her dark eyes: “You’re really beautiful.”

He wasn’t joking; she was pretty. He Ye was quiet when studying hard but lively when a bit angry.

He Ye: …

They passed seven buildings ahead. Finally, He Ye asked him for her schoolbag.

It was getting late, so Lu Jin returned her schoolbag cooperatively.

With the extra weight of fruit and a thermos, He Ye’s arm felt heavy.

Lu Jin quickly helped her carry some.

He Ye felt a bit embarrassed.

Lu Jin said, “It’s my fault. I bought too many pears.”

He Ye: …

She glared at him again and walked away with her schoolbag.

As she was about to enter her apartment, she looked back and saw Lu Jin still standing at the corner.

He Ye hurried inside.

In the elevator alone, she curiously touched her palate with her tongue…

The feeling from her kiss with Lu Jin returned, making her blush. She was sure Lu Jin must have looked up kissing techniques and couldn’t wait to use them on her.

Her phone dinged twice.

Team leader: [Are you angry?]

Team leader: [It shouldn’t take more than five minutes.]

He Ye gritted her teeth and replied when she got home: [I won’t take five minutes next time.]

Team leader: [These things should just happen naturally.]

Ye Ziyuanyuan: [Your nature is different from mine.]

Team leader: [How about taking turns? Today is your turn, tomorrow is mine.]

Ye Ziyuanyuan: [No.]

Team leader: [You’re mistaken. Today you do what I want, tomorrow what I want, and Friday too.]

Ye Ziyuanyuan: […Have you left?]

Team leader: [See for yourself.]

He Ye really went to the balcony.

To make it easier for her to find him, Lu Jin stood under the streetlight, holding his umbrella back to reveal his blurry face and white shirt.

He Ye sat on the sofa, convinced: [Why aren’t you leaving yet? My dad will be back soon.]

Team leader: [It’s hard to type while walking.]

Ye Ziyuanyuan: [Stop arguing. I’m going to sleep.]

Team leader: [Okay, sleep early, see you tomorrow night.]

Ye Ziyuanyuan: […You said it yourself; you should listen to me tomorrow.]

Team leader: [Yes.]

Ye Ziyuanyuan: [Do you still want to see me?]