Chapter 68: Headlines

“The energy rain is already falling, but why aren’t more people coming down? It’s a bit lonely out here,” Bi Qiao’an mused.

“Give it time. Once that young man brings his family out, those watching from above will realize this rain is special,” Shen Yanming said confidently. “Then they’ll join us.”

As if on cue, the young man emerged, his family in tow. The onlookers confirmed the rain’s extraordinary effect, and one by one, they too joined the crowd, savoring the downpour.

The moment the rainwater touched their skin, a wave of energy surged through everyone. Exhaustion vanished, replaced by a soothing warmth.

Soon, the ground was bustling, the hesitant onlookers now fully immersed in the experience. Anyone who heard of the energy rain couldn’t resist stepping out to experience it for themselves.

Finding the growing crowd and noise a bit much, Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an slipped away, heading toward Qingning Mountain.

Several others shared their desire for solitude, preferring to enjoy the energy rain alone on the mountainside. Figures were scattered sparsely across the slopes.

Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an ventured even further, taking the winding path to the quieter backside of the mountain. Finding a suitable boulder, they sat down, shutting out the world and peacefully soaking in the rejuvenating downpour.

Only when the rain lost its warmth did they break their peaceful trance. Hand in hand, the couple headed back home.

After a hot shower and a change into pajamas, Bi Qiao’an settled cross-legged on the bed with a bowl of strawberries. She’d pop a berry into her mouth with one hand while the other idly scrolled through Weibo on her phone.

Indeed, very few people would be sleeping tonight. Weibo was practically on fire, nearly crashing from the surge of activity.

“Energy rain” dominated the trending topics, with over ten million comments flooding in within a short time.

Butterfly Loves Flowers: “This energy rain was incredible! It felt so warm and comfortable. I’m brimming with energy, I could stay up all night!”

Susie: “Totally! Chief Alliance Officer Li definitely wasn’t lying.”

Salivation: “Agreed! My back and neck felt so much better after the energy rain. It’s a true miracle tonic!”

Apathetic Bystander: “What if we showered in this rain every day? Could we live to a hundred, look younger, or maybe even get superpowers?”

Come and Go: “Keep dreaming! Feeling a bit healthier is already pretty impressive.”

La La La: “Makes me wonder if the past rains were like this too… did we miss out on three months of this awesome stuff?”

Rice Noodles: “Be grateful, honestly. If Chief Alliance Officer Li hadn’t posted that video, we’d never have known about the energy rain. Who in their right mind stands around in the storm at night?”

Tender Love: “We truly need to be grateful. Our Qinghua nation is already at the forefront internationally.”

Unable to hold back, Bi Qiao’an left a comment too.

Chacha Li: “With the energy rain confirmed, the drought Chief Li warned about is likely real too. We should start storing water while it’s still available.”

After sending her comment, Bi Qiao’an noticed many likes and people saying they’d buy barrels of purified water. She was about to reply when a concerning question popped up: “If water does run out, does that mean there will be no vegetables or grain by that time? What then?”

The comments section exploded.

Bi Qiao’an quickly typed: “Qinghe Alliance will have a plan. For us, it’s best to follow the Alliance instructions and Chief Li’s lead. By staying united, we’ll definitely overcome this!”

Logging out of Weibo, Bi Qiao’an sighed.

Shen Yanming hugged her gently. “What troubles my little princess?”

“After reading the comments… I’m worried about our future, and I feel for everyone,” Bi Qiao’an said, leaning against him and puffing out her cheeks.

Stroking her long hair, Shen Yanming replied softly, “We suffered far more in our previous life. They have the Alliance guiding them now, which is fortunate. Qiao’an, we earned our current blessings through the pain of our past. We have a clear conscience.”

“I know, I won’t be rash. I’ll toughen up a bit,” Bi Qiao’an said, popping a strawberry into Shen Yanming’s mouth.

He chewed, swallowed, then let out an exaggerated sigh. “I just brushed my teeth!”

Bi Qiao’an giggled. With a smirk, Shen Yanming snatched her bowl of strawberries and placed it on the nightstand.

“Mrs. Shen, I need your full cooperation on a 300 million yuan project!” His hands slipped beneath Bi Qiao’an’s pajamas…

This was Qinghua’s first energy rain, and over half the population received its rejuvenating effects. However, some missed this opportunity—like the imprisoned Song family members or Chen Jin in the Xiao household.

No need to linger on the Songs. Their phones were confiscated upon arrest, and considering their crimes, no one bothered to inform them.

As for Chen Jin, her misfortune stemmed entirely from the Xiao family.

Her relationship with Xiao Fei was already strained, and the cracks only deepened over time. The first rupture happened when Xiao Fei broke his promise to buy a house, planting a seed of resentment within Chen Jin.  Further clashes with Xiao Fei’s mother turned that seed into a widening fissure.

Chen Jin couldn’t help but notice Xiao Fei’s growing distance and apathy, leading to frequent arguments. She increasingly considered a breakup, marking a second major blow to their relationship.

Then, as the rainy season devastated businesses, the Su Group began mass layoffs. Despite her caution, Chen Jin couldn’t escape the wave of termination. Before she could resolve to leave Xiao Fei, she found herself unemployed and grudgingly dependent on his family.  Xiao Fei’s already fraying patience with Chen Jin snapped. Yet, to save face, he couldn’t bring himself to ask her to leave.

The job loss drained away Xiao Fei’s remaining affection, pushing them further apart. Soon, the persistent global rains flooded the home of Xiao Fei’s older uncle. With nowhere else to turn, his uncle called Xiao Fei’s father and brought his wife and children to seek shelter.

The Xiao family’s modest home offered no spare rooms. However, family ties weighed heavily, and Xiao Fei’s father had to take them in. He delicately suggested that Chen Jin temporarily move into Xiao Fei’s room to make space.

Naturally, Chen Jin was hesitant about the arrangement but didn’t dare refuse. Without a source of income, she depended on the Xiao family’s support. Reluctantly, she shifted her belongings into Xiao Fei’s bedroom.

Xiao Fei didn’t mind much. His room had a double bed, so sharing still meant a good night’s sleep for him. What he didn’t expect, however, was the nightly presence of soft, gentle breathing beside him—an unexpected temptation that pushed him to the edge of control.