Chapter 3: The Most Beautiful Thing Isn’t a Rainy Day

The setting sun cast its golden rays through the window, bathing the freshly cleaned living room in warm light.

Facing the light, Li Huangxuan looked at the girl in front of him. Her silhouette was outlined in a soft golden glow.

“To reward you,” Lin Ximeng suggested, “let’s have hot pot for dinner.”

“I don’t feel like moving. There are still some leftovers from lunch—we can just heat them up,” Li Huangxuan replied, his laziness flaring up again.

“No way,” Lin Ximeng said firmly. “Today’s our first day meeting. Going out to eat feels more ceremonial.”

Li Huangxuan sighed inwardly.

We’re just roommates for a month, not dating—what kind of ceremony is she talking about?

Trying to avoid going out, his mind raced to come up with an excuse. Then he remembered the weather update he’d seen earlier.

“The forecast says it’s going to rain tonight. Maybe we shouldn’t go out.”

Lin Ximeng waved it off. “Do you trust me or the weather report? I’ve already picked a hot pot place—it’s just a few steps away.”

But when they finally left the apartment, Li Huangxuan realized he had been completely tricked.

Clearly, this “goddess” had a very different understanding of what “a few steps” meant.

They walked under a canopy of phoenix trees, crunching fallen leaves beneath their feet—for a full half hour.

With Lin Ximeng’s looks, she drew attention everywhere they went. Plenty of men cast jealous glances at Li Huangxuan, which gave him a small ego boost.

That tiny bit of pride just barely made up for the walk.

Once seated at the hot pot restaurant, the server handed them the menu.

Without hesitation, Lin Ximeng picked up a pen and began marking dish after dish.

Three minutes later, she handed the menu to Li Huangxuan. “See if there’s anything you want to add.”

He glanced at it and was once again stunned.

Every dish she’d picked perfectly matched his tastes.

He held the pen for a while, then put it down. There was nothing more to add.

Is this fate? Like we’re destined to be food buddies?

“That’s all,” he said, handing the menu back to the server.

The server smiled. “Our house specialty is spicy catfish—would you two like to try it?”

“No, thanks!” Li Huangxuan and Lin Ximeng answered in unison.

They looked at each other and laughed. The atmosphere between them warmed.

The server walked away, slightly disappointed.

Li Huangxuan asked tentatively, “You don’t eat fish either?”

Lin Ximeng sipped her tea. “Not really a fan.”

A shadow passed over Li Huangxuan’s face. “I stopped eating fish when I turned eighteen. Every time I see it, I think of a friend. He was so talented, but heaven took him too early. And me? I’m a nobody, yet I’m still here.”

Five years ago, he was a carefree teenager.

Now, out of college and new to the working world, he was constantly ordered around, stuck in a monotonous job with no creativity.

He barely earned enough to survive—sometimes even needing help from his parents.

Like so many young people, he had no clue where his life was headed.

“Did your friend… have a love story that left a deep mark on him?” Lin Ximeng asked softly.

Li Huangxuan looked up, surprised. “How did you know?”

“I just guessed. Someone that exceptional is bound to be popular with girls,” Lin Ximeng said with a smile. Then she suddenly changed the subject: “Wait… don’t tell me you’ve never been in a relationship?”

Li Huangxuan felt as if a knife had stabbed him right in the heart—he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

She’s so pretty—how can she be this ruthless with words?

In situations like this, the best strategy is to change the subject.

“You said you came here to clear your head. Did something bad happen? A breakup?” he asked.

“Something like that,” Lin Ximeng replied, her smile fading. “I came looking for memories.”

Hearing that, Li Huangxuan felt slightly comforted. So even a girl this beautiful can go through heartbreak.

Whoever hurt her must be a total jerk.

“Let’s not talk about sad things.” Lin Ximeng waved it off.

The jade bracelet on her wrist jingled softly.

She raised her teacup. “Cheers, roommate. Here’s to a pleasant co-living experience!”

The way she said it sounded a little strange to Li Huangxuan, but he still raised his cup and clinked it against hers.

Soon the food arrived, and the two began happily cooking their hot pot.

Lin Ximeng was very attentive, constantly placing cooked tripe, beef, and duck intestines into Li Huangxuan’s bowl.

Maybe because he didn’t interact with girls much, Li Huangxuan found the feeling oddly wonderful.

This girl in front of him had a mix of boldness and tenderness.

Definitely the kind of girl many guys would fall for.

Halfway through the meal, a soft autumn rain began to fall outside the window.

Well, sometimes weather forecasts do get it right.

“I told you we shouldn’t come out. And you’re not even dressed warm enough,” Li Huangxuan said awkwardly, trying to express concern.

“It’s fine. The most beautiful thing isn’t a rainy day,” Lin Ximeng smiled, “it’s the eaves we once stood under to hide from the rain.”

She wore a black, lightweight jacket over a white T-shirt.

It was fine inside the restaurant, but it would definitely feel cold once they stepped outside.

Li Huangxuan, having grown up watching countless TV dramas, knew that this was the moment when the guy should offer his jacket.

But he had no idea how to do it naturally—without looking like he was trying too hard.

What if she refuses? That would be so embarrassing…

When it was time to pay, Lin Ximeng insisted on footing the bill.

“I told you back at home that this meal is on me. You can get the next one,” she said.

“When’s the next one?” Li Huangxuan asked.

“Tomorrow, I guess. It’s Sunday—you’re not working anyway,” she replied casually.

As they stepped out of the hot pot place, the rain showed no sign of stopping.

The night wind blew cold against their skin.

Taxis sped past, none of them available.

After much inner struggle, Li Huangxuan finally gritted his teeth, took off his jacket, and draped it over Lin Ximeng’s shoulders.

His toes curled in his shoes the entire time from the nerves.

Lin Ximeng turned around, her eyes soft like water. “Aren’t you cold?”

“Nope. We just had hot pot—I’m still warm,” he said, trying to sound tough while wearing just a T-shirt.

“But your arms are covered in goosebumps.”

“I was born with goosebumpy skin.”

Under the dripping eaves, the girl’s smile was radiant.

The boy’s hair was damp with rain, swaying slightly over his forehead.

There was something endearing about his awkwardness.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, they finally managed to catch a cab.

By the time they got home, both of them were completely soaked, like a pair of drowned rats.

“You go take a shower first and dry your hair,” Li Huangxuan said. “Otherwise, you’ll catch a cold.”

Lin Ximeng looked at his dripping wet hair. “What about you?”

“I’ve got short hair,” he replied casually. “I’ll just towel it off. Once you’re done, I’ll go in.”

Lin Ximeng nodded and headed to the bathroom, quickly taking a hot shower to wash away the chill from her body.

She came out smelling faintly of shower gel and knocked on Li Huangxuan’s bedroom door.

“Hey, I’m done. Hurry up and take your shower.”

From inside, Li Huangxuan responded, but his voice sounded shaky.

Lin Ximeng opened the door and saw him sitting there, both hands clutching his head, his face contorted in pain.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, concerned.

“Old problem from three years ago,” he said through gritted teeth. “Hasn’t flared up in a long time. It’s nothing.”

Still as stubborn as ever.