Jiang Lu hadn’t shown any signs of recovery even after being sick for two days, and Qi An’an was practically worried sick like an anxious mother.

He had always been quiet when ill. He never coughed, just looked low in energy. He was a little less sharp than usual, revealing a fragility he himself wasn’t even aware of.

Seeing that Yu Tianyang was already back to his lively self while her own cub still looked so listless made Qi An’an even more anxious. After school that day, she couldn’t hold it in any longer and suggested, “Jiang Lu, let me take you to the school clinic for an IV drip. You can’t just keep dragging this out.”

Jiang Lu rested his loosely clenched left fist against his lips. When he heard her words, his hand froze slightly before tightening just a bit.

After a two-second pause, he said, “No need. I’ll be better soon.”

“You’re not allowed to refuse. You’ve been running a fever. How can that be okay?” Qi An’an, not taking no for an answer, poked his sleeve. “Come on, let’s go to the school clinic.”

Her precious boy was being disobedient. He’d been so well-behaved when taking his medicine, but now just look at that pale, exhausted face. Her precious girl could show up at any time, and first impressions were everything.

Between a healthy, energetic boy and a sickly patient, who would leave a better impression? That went without saying.

Qi An’an pinched the edge of Jiang Lu’s sleeve with two fingers. He lowered his eyes to look. Her fingers were slender and pale, delicate like lily petals.

He tried to pull away, but Qi An’an quickly held on tighter.

“Hey, don’t run. You’ve been sick for days. Doesn’t it feel awful? Oh…… don’t tell me you’re afraid of needles?”

Despite her kitten-like strength, Jiang Lu didn’t shake free.

He let out a soft sigh. “I’m not.” Then added, “Okay.”

Forget it. He would accept this as a greedy little gift. From now on, they would drift apart in life, probably never crossing paths again. At least when he looked back on his youth, not everything would be darkness.

……

It had been overcast a moment ago, but as they stepped out of the teaching building, it had started to drizzle. Qi An’an held out her hand to catch the rain. “Jiang Lu, wait here. You shouldn’t get wet right now or your illness will get worse. I’ll go back and grab an umbrella.”

Even though the school clinic was only a few dozen meters from their building, Jiang Lu was still sick, so it was best he didn’t get rained on.

Before she even finished speaking, Qi An’an turned and ran off so fast that Jiang Lu didn’t have time to stop her.

His fever made his eyes look a little misty. Long after Qi An’an’s figure disappeared, he finally turned his gaze back toward the outside.

The rain fell silently like a soft veil. Jiang Lu mimicked what Qi An’an had done and reached out his hand to catch a few drops.

The rain that landed on his palm felt as light as mist, but even that gentle pressure seeped through his skin, into his veins, flowing backward— until it gave his heart a faint sting.

When he was little, his mother had brought home a man who found him annoying and eventually threw him out. That night, he also had a fever. Thunder and lightning filled the sky, and the pouring rain felt like buckets of water being dumped from above. He couldn’t even find a place to take shelter. The next day, he woke up groggy by the roadside, and his clothes were still damp.

Since that night, his world had been filled with endless rain. It had never stopped.

Until just now, when that girl had spoken in her sweet, soft voice, “You can’t get wet in the rain.” Did she know that every storm he had ever weathered had been far heavier than this drizzle?

And yet, this rain would be the most unforgettable of them all.

Jiang Lu let out a soft sigh and saw Qi An’an reappear from the corridor, jogging toward him with an umbrella already open. She stretched to hold it above his head. “Let’s go. Be careful not to step in the puddles.”

She was petite, and the way she stretched out her arms to protect him made his heart soften. A faint, tender smile passed through his eyes as he reached out to take the umbrella handle. “I’ll do it.”

The school clinic wasn’t crowded. While getting the IV, Jiang Lu cooperated with the doctor and took off his school jacket. In the next moment, both the doctor and Qi An’an frowned.

Qi An’an spoke first, her voice filled with concern, “Jiang Lu, why are you wearing so little? It’s been freezing these past two days. No wonder you’re not getting better.”

The doctor, who had been about to speak, hesitated at her chiding tone and swallowed his words. He inserted the needle smoothly and precisely, but couldn’t help glancing at Qi An’an’s face, then at Jiang Lu again. In the end, he furrowed his brow and walked away in silence.

The doctor showed no obvious expression, but Jiang Lu continued watching his back long after he had left.

Having grown up experiencing the warmth and coldness of human nature, Jiang Lu had become unusually perceptive. A single look from someone was enough for him to grasp the meaning behind it.

Not long after, hushed voices drifted from the back room.

“Kids these days……

Yeah, way too early……

Back when we were young……

Aiya, what can you do……”

Jiang Lu lowered his gaze again, empty and quiet, a touch of cold desolation in his eyes.

Qi An’an, however, was completely unaware of all this. She sat in the chair beside him, still scolding him softly.

“The temperature dropped these past two days, so why didn’t you layer up? I thought you weren’t wearing your jacket because your inner clothes were thick, but they’re just as thin! Ugh, this is my fault. If I had noticed earlier, I would’ve told you to bundle up……”

“Qi An’an.” Jiang Lu interrupted her, his voice low, “You should go back now.”

Huh? Why was he suddenly sending her away? Was she being too noisy? Probably. She had just sounded exactly like a nagging mother forcing her kid to wear thermal pants.

Qi An’an sneaked a glance at Jiang Lu’s expression. But he kept his head down, his cool profile unreadable and his emotions hidden.

Being stared at by those clear, gentle eyes only made Jiang Lu’s throat feel even drier. He tried to ignore the warmth of her gaze and the sudden stirrings in his heart. “I just want to be alone for a bit. Thank you for bringing me here. In the future……”

In the future, it would be better if she stayed far away from him.

Although Qi An’an couldn’t grasp the deeper meaning in Jiang Lu’s words, she could see that he looked even more exhausted than before. She had no choice but to nod and agree with him. “……Alright, I’ll head back first. Take good care of yourself. When this bottle of fluid finishes, remember to ask the doctor to change it to the next one, or you might get blood reflux.”

Qi An’an stood up, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and handed over the umbrella. “I’m leaving the umbrella with you. Don’t get caught in the rain on your way back. Oh, and remember to wear something warmer tomorrow. I’ll be checking. If you’re still dressed this thin, I’ll……”

The words slipped out smoothly, but Qi An’an suddenly realized she had nothing she could use to threaten him with. Feeling deflated, she finished, “Anyway, wear something thicker. If the fever keeps up, that smart little brain of yours will be cooked into mush.”

Ah, being a mother was so exhausting. There was never an end to the worrying. Qi An’an sighed inwardly. Thankfully her precious girl was a sweet and considerate little darling. When the little darling came to look after this disobedient boy, Qi An’an could finally relax and just enjoy the fluff.

While Qi An’an wandered in her sugary daydream, she completely missed the deep gaze that Jiang Lu cast in her direction.

Though his face remained pale, his eyes shone brightly, as if filled with stars, flickering with clear, scattered light.

────ρя


By the time Jiang Lu finished his IV, it was already getting dark. A few students lingered near the school gate, some buying snacks, others chatting in small groups.

Directly ahead stood a couple in school uniforms, both dressed in white. Their hands were secretly clasped beneath their loose sleeves.

The boy was tall and upright. The girl was petite, her hair tied into an adorable bun.

In the past, Jiang Lu used to hate seeing such scenes the most. But today was strangely different. He looked twice and felt nothing unpleasant.

The girl skipped along lightly, cheerful and lively, radiating a charm that was hard to ignore. Jiang Lu’s gaze softened slightly as he watched her back, lips pressing into a faint line.

As they walked, the girl suddenly turned her head, tiptoed, and boldly kissed the boy on the cheek.

Her profile was completely unfamiliar. In an instant, it shattered some hollow illusion inside him, and Jiang Lu came to an abrupt halt.

His brows furrowed and he clutched his stomach.

It took a long time for the wave of nausea to subside. Slowly, Jiang Lu lowered his hand, closed his eyes, and sneered bitterly.

……

When Jiang Lu returned home, Qin Meng was standing in front of the mirror applying lipstick. The color was loud, the kind that looked cheap.

She wore a low-cut dress in bright red, the hem stopping just at the tops of her thighs— gaudy yet beautiful in a vulgar way.

Seeing him enter, Qin Meng shot him a glance and scoffed coldly, “What’s the point of going to and from school dressed up in that fake skin every day? Do you think that’ll make me give in and let you study in peace and take your college entrance exams? You little bastard, don’t kid yourself. I’ve already settled your price.”

Jiang Lu carefully wiped the raindrops off the umbrella, folded it with precision, and paid no attention to her words.

Qin Meng let out a mocking laugh, swaying her hips as she walked over. “Whether you like it or not doesn’t matter. This is your fate. I suffered to bring you into this world, gave you this pretty face, and let you live in peace for all these years. I’ve done more than enough for you.”

“Suffered to bring me into this world?” Jiang Lu slowly repeated her words. “But you didn’t expect to be rejected as someone’s mistress, did you? Regretting that bad investment now?”

Qin Meng’s face darkened instantly. Jiang Lu’s words stabbed straight into her heart. That was the one humiliation she could never speak of. After all her years navigating the pleasure scene, she’d finally slipped up. Who knew how many people secretly mocked her?

Back then, that man had made countless promises, saying he didn’t like his wife, only her. After she got pregnant, he wasn’t even flustered, told her to keep the baby, and even said his first son was named Jiang Hai. If she gave birth to a boy, he’d be named Jiang Lu and become the second young master of their household. He’d bring them home and make her his second wife.

She had known deep down that men’s sweet words were just flowery lies for the moment. Yet she had still been duped by her rich-man fantasy and wrecked herself completely.

Qin Meng stared at Jiang Lu, trembling with fury. All these years, Jiang Lu had never wasted breath on her. Whenever he did speak, his words drove her into madness.

Her voice turned icy, her hatred for that man pouring entirely onto Jiang Lu. “Even if it was a bad deal, I didn’t come out completely empty-handed. I still have you. I may be stained through and through, but don’t think you’ll get out clean either. I won’t let you go. What you and that bastard owe me, I’ll collect from you, every single bit.” Qin Meng’s gaze was like that of a vengeful ghost. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. Trying to climb up? Run away? Get rid of me?”

She suddenly burst into laughter. “I heard your grades are good. Then go ahead, be a top scorer. When you do, I’ll make sure the whole world knows what kind of woman the top scorer’s mother is, and what kind of filthy little bastard you are. You didn’t forget, did you? That year when you won that ridiculous city-wide model student award?”

Jiang Lu licked his teeth. Of course, he hadn’t forgotten. He had just accepted the certificate from the principal when the lunatic burst in from who-knows-where, tore up the certificate, grabbed the microphone, and screamed that he was a slut selling his body. Her venomous curses had lasted nearly a full minute before the security guards finally came to their senses and pulled her away.

From that moment on, not only had his honor been stripped away, but his life had plunged into an endless nightmare. The filth she splashed on him could never be washed off.

And still, Qin Meng’s venom spewed on.

“Remember this. Even if I die, I’ll ruin you! You want to shine, to stand in the spotlight and be applauded? Dream on! I’ll skin you alive at your brightest moment and show everyone what kind of disgusting freak you really are! I’ll drag you into hell and make sure you never dare to climb out again!”

Jiang Lu listened, his face expressionless.

Then Qin Meng’s rant paused. Her eyes landed on the little yellow umbrella in Jiang Lu’s hand. The canopy was decorated with cartoon ducklings, clearly a girl’s umbrella.

She raised her brows, squinted thoughtfully, and reached out. “Where did this umbrella come from?”

Jiang Lu instantly raised his arm. “Don’t touch it with your filthy hands.”

It had been a long time since she’d seen him react this strongly in front of her. He was usually cold and unaffected, watching her like a clown. His response today was quite amusing.

She chuckled with meaning. “Which girl gave this to you? I’ll ask around. I didn’t expect you to have such skills. Even someone rotten to the core could get someone to stick around. My little spawn really is gifted, just like me.”

Jiang Lu slowly smiled, for the first time seriously facing Qin Meng. His aura now was like a demon climbing out of the depths of hell, so chilling it made one’s blood freeze.

He parted his lips and enunciated every word, “Qin Meng, you don’t seem to know me very well. So let me warn you. If you dare utter a single word out there, I will make sure you understand what true hell really means.”