The sky seemed to have a hole, pouring rain cascading down like a waterfall. Under the relentless storm, the short distance from the port to the guesthouse felt like an endless journey.

Qin Yao held an umbrella tightly while the young man beside her carried a backpack in one hand and a suitcase in the other, striding forward against the wind and rain. She gripped the umbrella handle firmly, thankful for her weight, which kept her from being blown away.

The wind was so fierce that the umbrella was nearly useless, offering only minimal protection for her head.

Her chest and back were soaked, and her two braided pigtails were dripping wet, looking shinier and blacker. Stray strands of hair clung to her fair cheeks, making her delicate face appear even smaller, with an exotic charm.

Qin Yao took small, hurried steps forward, panting slightly as she tilted the umbrella toward Gu Cheng.

The young man was nearly twenty centimeters taller than her, making it difficult for her to hold the umbrella high enough. However, since he was helping carry her luggage, it didn’t feel right to leave him entirely unprotected.

Thank goodness she had managed to recruit a strong helper; otherwise, how could she have possibly made it back to the guesthouse in this rain?

After walking some distance, the buildings on either side shielded them from the wind, which gradually died down. Qin Yao continued to hold the umbrella mechanically, keeping her head down and saying nothing.

Several times she wanted to speak, but when she remembered that Gu Cheng’s true level of goodwill toward her was a flat “0,” she swallowed her words in frustration.

What does a goodwill rating of zero mean? It means he has no positive feelings toward you at all.

It felt like slapping a warm face against a cold wall—completely self-defeating.

Even setting aside any romantic notions, having a stranger feel absolutely no goodwill toward you was hardly a pleasant thought.

Qin Yao couldn’t help but wonder if there was something unlikable about her. Was it because this body was overweight?

If he disliked her because of her weight, then it was his loss for having no taste.

Qin Yao pressed her lips together. If his goodwill rating were at least a “10,” she might muster the enthusiasm to chat with him more. But since this was purely a matter of duty, she decided that once they reached the guesthouse, she’d thank him politely and part ways. After all, she had her pride too.

Goodbye, little brother.

“Take care of yourself,” Gu Cheng reminded her when he noticed Qin Yao angling the umbrella toward him, leaving most of her body exposed to the rain.

Qin Yao glanced at him without responding.

Internally, she grumbled: Don’t flatter yourself. It’s not for you; I’m protecting my luggage.

Her suitcase and backpack were somewhat water-resistant, but they were filledwith the original owner’s hamster snacks. If they got soaked, it would be a disaster.

Gu Cheng kept his gaze forward. The downpour didn’t bother him much, but the umbrella above him caused more annoyance than comfort. Qin Yao struggled to hold it, and the handle and umbrella kept bumping into his head.

He had been forced to stoop and bend his neck for quite a while.

How had things come to this? Maybe he shouldn’t have tossed that piece of chalk earlier.

Gu Cheng turned his head and, almost involuntarily, glanced at the young woman beside him. The storm raged, rain pouring down. She held the umbrella intently, her skin fair and smooth, her cheeks flushed pink and glistening wet. She looked like a ripe peach, full and tempting.

This chatterbox had finally gone quiet.

The petite girl had to take quick, small steps to keep up with him.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Qin Yao couldn’t help but exclaim when a strong gust of wind turned her umbrella inside out. The handle wobbled wildly, threatening to fly out of her hand.

Gu Cheng, his hands full, used the side of his face to steady the umbrella handle before clamping it between his shoulder and neck.

Qin Yao quickly grabbed the umbrella. By now, they had reached the shelter of a roof, and the guesthouse was close.

She exhaled in relief, glancing at Gu Cheng. The young man had his head tilted back, raindrops—or perhaps sweat—trickling down his chiseled jawline, leaving a clear trail.

It was then Qin Yao noticed his impeccable jawline and the smooth contours of his face. His nose, in particular, was striking—tall and straight, with a slightly upturned tip visible from the side. It was perfection.

Qin Yao pinched her wrist.

Originally, she had planned to thank him and say goodbye, but now she was reluctant. With such a handsome face, she wanted to steal a few more glances. Gu Cheng’s appearance hit every one of her aesthetic preferences.

Both of them were drenched. Qin Yao’s dark clothing hid the dampness well, but Gu Cheng’s white shirt clung to him, revealing his skin tone and the outlines of his muscles beneath.

At that moment, Qin Yao realized just how fit this guy was.

No wonder he could carry her luggage all this way without breaking a sweat.

“Thank you,” she said.

Gu Cheng replied, “It’s nothing. I’ll—”

Before he could finish, Qin Yao swiftly stuffed a peeled White Rabbit candy into his mouth.

For someone of her size, her speed was astonishing.

Retracting her hand, Qin Yao’s fingers brushed against his lips. His lips were soft, and she was surprised at her own boldness.

—It must have been the desire to finish off all the candy and biscuits without wasting any.

What surprised her even more was the slight redness creeping up the young man’s cheeks.

Oh my, how pure.

Seeing his reaction, she decided to act shamelessly. “My room is on the third floor. Can you help me carry my things up? They’re so heavy, and I can’t manage.”

Before he could respond, she squatted down, hugged her suitcase, and turned her back to him, looking utterly pitiful.

Gu Cheng stood there silently.

With the candy still in his mouth, he couldn’t decide whether to chew it or spit it out.

Out of her sight, his posture straightened, and he stood as rigid as a watchtower by the harbor. His slightly narrowed eyes carried a trace of anger, and his handsome face lost all its earlier gentleness.

This was his true nature, not the polite facade he had shown.

Gu Cheng was never an easygoing person. He had restrained his temper this long only because he hadn’t wanted to kick this overly dramatic girl back into the rain.

Kick her or not?

Since he wasn’t in uniform, now might be a good time to teach her a lesson about the dangers of human nature.

Or should he just endure it?

As sweetness spread through his mouth from the candy, Gu Cheng’s mind replayed the image of the girl struggling to hold the umbrella and quicken her pace to keep up with him.

The next moment, he sighed and relaxed, slightly bending his posture. With lowered eyes, he said, “Hold the umbrella.”

Qin Yao immediately perked up, cheerfully holding the umbrella as they entered the guesthouse together.

Her round, radiant face lit up in a smile that lacked any seductive charm due to her plumpness but instead exuded a sweet innocence.

Gu Cheng’s lips curved upward slightly.

A nimble little chubby girl.

……

Once the luggage was placed in her room, Qin Yao wiped her face with a towel and prepared to see Gu Cheng off.

The guesthouse room was small but well-equipped, with a bed, a sofa, and simple wooden furniture. A red enamel basin with a pair of mandarin ducks painted on it sat on the washstand near the bathroom, exuding a strong sense of the era.

The walls and corridors were adorned with propaganda posters, their vibrant reds contrasting with the torrential rain outside. Qin Yao descended the stairs in rhythm, her mood light and buoyant.

She imagined her steps sounded like a dainty “tap-tap,” but in reality, they were heavy thuds.

For someone who claimed not to be fat, her 140-pound frame was a solid presence.

Gu Cheng followed with long strides, his handsome face betraying subtle shock at the sound of her footsteps.

“Are you lighter than me?” Qin Yao asked blankly.

“How much do you weigh?” he asked curiously.

“Secret,” she replied, embarrassed to admit she weighed seventy kilograms. This body was indeed a bit heavy, and she was determined to lose weight, though it would take time and effort.

As she considered inviting Gu Cheng for a meal, the hunger pangs from this body reminded her of its insatiable appetite.

The soul was her own, but the body’s cravings were carved into its very being.

She would have to endure hunger and exercise to slim down.

The thought of the hardship ahead dampened her spirits.

Her thoughts were written plainly on her face. Gu Cheng, noticing, reassured her, “You’re not fat.”

Qin Yao internally scoffed, Of course you think that. You don’t have the slightest goodwill toward me.

Hmph, men.

The advantages of being chubby are that it makes it hard for others to develop romantic feelings, which, in a way, isn’t such a bad thing.

As they walked down to the first floor, the sound of children shrieking pierced through the heavy rain like thunder. It was the troublesome kid they encountered earlier, the one who ate chalk. Beside him stood a fierce-looking middle-aged woman, her voice sharp and abrasive: “Who bullied you? Who dares to mess with my son?”

The boy, Congcong, pointed at Gu Cheng, who was tall and lean, then at Qin Yao, accusingly. “It’s him! He threw chalk at me. And her—she refused to give me candy!”

The woman stormed over, her anger palpable, and began hurling insults. “What kind of people are you, bullying a child? Shameless! A pair of dogs—disgusting!”

“I’ll report you for being indecent in public and for picking on a kid!” she yelled.

As expected, the brat had an equally unreasonable parent.

“It was your son who pushed me first!” Qin Yao suppressed her anger, clutching her chest dramatically. She began gasping for air like a fish out of water, her breathing growing heavier. Her face turned pale as paper, and her knees gave out as she collapsed into Gu Cheng, who quickly caught her.

“Perfect timing. You’ll accompany me to the hospital for a checkup,” Qin Yao said, reaching out to grab the woman’s hand.

“It’s none of my business!” The middle-aged woman was startled by Qin Yao’s pale complexion. Panicking, she grabbed her son and rushed upstairs, fearing she’d be dragged into a hospital drama and made to pay compensation.

Once outside the guesthouse, Qin Yao, who had been leaning against Gu Cheng, immediately straightened up. She looked up, blinking mischievously, and flashed him a playful smile.

The rain had subsided, now falling intermittently with the wind. Only a few pedestrians wearing black raincoats hurried past on the street. Water gathered at the eaves and trickled down in streams.

Qin Yao’s hair was still damp, sticking to her cheeks. Unlike her earlier pale complexion, her smile now made her lips appear rosy, and her entire face seemed lively again.

Even the colors around them, washed clean by the rain, seemed brighter.

“You’re not sick?”

Qin Yao glared at him. “You’re the one who’s sick.”

Gu Cheng: “…”

For a moment, he genuinely thought she’d suddenly fallen ill.

“Your Sister Yaoyao is a perfectly healthy chubby girl.”

Gu Cheng couldn’t help but laugh. He wasn’t someone who smiled often. At twenty-eight, there wasn’t a single laugh line at the corners of his eyes. But now, his eyebrows curved, and the corners of his eyes reddened as he chuckled.

If his former comrades saw him like this, they wouldn’t recognize him.

Soldiers often carry traces of their training. Their posture when walking or sitting gives them away. Yet, Gu Cheng had excelled in disguise during training, showing no hint of being a soldier.

He prided himself on his outstanding acting skills. But now, faced with this lively, quick-witted chubby girl, he realized she was in a league of her own.

“You—” Qin Yao felt a little frustrated when she saw Gu Cheng smiling. She realized how close they were standing and knew she could test his affection level for her at this moment.

But she chose not to.

It seemed that chubby people naturally exuded a comedic effect. Yet, she had once been the graceful campus belle of the liberal arts college.