Chapter 13: Standing in the Rain Under Her Apartment

The two of them couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “So what did you say?”

“Of course, I tried to put a positive spin on it. I said I was just looking at the energetic students. But then out came this guy who clearly hadn’t slept well, and he deadpanned, ‘Yeah, they’re really full of energy.'”

The two kept laughing, and at that moment, Wen Zhixian looked at them expressionlessly. “Isn’t this a bit much?”

Qin Zhaoli cleared her throat and took a deep breath. Just as Wen Zhixian thought she’d stop laughing, she let out another chuckle.

“I won’t laugh anymore.”

Seeing that Wen Zhixian was fine, they felt relieved. “Alright, we’re heading out. Get some rest.”

“Okay.” She changed her shoes and walked them downstairs.

After watching them get into the car, she waved. “Drive safely tonight.”

Once the black Bentley drove away, she turned and went back upstairs.

After taking a shower and returning to her bedroom, she picked up her phone. Looking at the contact list, she dialed her parents.

Her mother answered immediately.

“Hello, Zhixian, have you eaten? It was my fault for not asking about the full story,” Shen Ling said anxiously.

It was the first time her mom had been so eager to apologize, and Wen Zhixian felt a bit surprised by the attention.

She brushed her hair aside. “It’s okay, Mom. I left home because I was emotionally unstable at the time, but really, I’m fine now. I’ve eaten already, and Zhaoli and Kairui brought me some dinner too.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, glad you’re okay,” Shen Ling said twice, finally relieved. She then asked, “Zhixian, is your ear better? Let’s go to the hospital tomorrow and check again.”

“I woke up this morning and it was already better. I don’t need to take the medicine anymore. I’m all good.”

Shen Ling was truly furious with Gu Yuchen this time. “Zhixian, from now on, you’re not allowed to associate with Gu Yuchen. Our family can’t handle someone like him. If he dares to hit you once, there’ll be a second time. Even if he begs for your forgiveness later, don’t give in. That’s how domestic abusers are—they beg for forgiveness and then keep doing it. The hospitals are full of cases like this.”

Hearing her parents’ attitude now, Wen Zhixian breathed a sigh of relief. “Don’t worry, I won’t have anything to do with him anymore. And he won’t be begging for my forgiveness. He’s only been pestering me because I didn’t follow his plan. He’ll stop after a while.”

Shen Ling started to doubt why she ever thought Gu Yuchen was a good person. She had been fooled by his outward behavior. No matter how well he carried himself, if he didn’t treat her daughter right, none of that mattered.

They chatted for a while longer before hanging up. Before ending the call, her mother promised to make sweet and sour ribs and crispy pork for her during the next holiday.

Wen Zhixian rubbed her dry eyes and put her phone aside.

Looking back, she realized that with Gu Yuchen, aside from the title of “boyfriend and girlfriend,” nothing much had changed. Birthdays, holidays, exchanging gifts—there was never any crossing of boundaries. You could say it was the purest relationship possible.

Or maybe it wasn’t even a real relationship. They just held onto the title of lovers. To him, she was still just a younger sister. In fact, after they became a couple, he cared even less for her, simply taking her kindness for granted.

Her childhood friends had all witnessed his previous relationship. Back then, Gu Yuchen couldn’t go a day without being with his ex. He meticulously planned everything and paid attention to all the details. He understood how to be a good partner. But with her, he probably didn’t think she was worth the effort, so he never bothered.

Thinking back on all these things about Gu Yuchen, Wen Zhixian felt a sense of closure.

Being with Gu Yuchen was like asking for trouble.

Before 10 p.m., Wen Zhixian already felt drowsy and turned off the lights to sleep.

While she fell asleep easily, someone else remained wide awake until the early hours of the morning.

Qi Yanjing lay in bed, tossing and turning without a trace of sleep.

He replayed every moment of his encounters with Miss Wen in his mind.

The first time he delivered her keys, he saw her face clearly for the first time, marked by a distinct handprint. Although she had stopped crying, her tear-filled eyes evoked a heart-wrenching sense of fragility. He had paused, not because of her swollen face, but because of the brokenness she radiated. In that instant, his heart, as exaggerated as it sounds, seemed to tremble.

That wasn’t the only time he saw her cry—three times in total. Even though they could be considered mere acquaintances, there was something deeper than that.

His mind wandered back to when she asked him, with teary eyes, if he would marry her. Her eyes reflected him as she spoke, as if she were searching for a safe harbor to escape to. He almost agreed, but deep down, he knew she was just speaking out of anger, trying to act impulsively to get back at someone.

She wasn’t thinking clearly at the time.

The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became. He couldn’t understand why her words bothered him so much, or why he had the urge to say yes.

He felt a desire to offer her shelter from her turbulent life, not wanting to see her cry. He wasn’t the type of person to act on lust, but when it came to her, there was an unusual feeling stirring within him—perhaps it could be called an emotion.

A thought began to spread wildly in his mind, occupying all of his thoughts. His life had always been steady and orderly, but suddenly, he wanted to act on impulse.

After making up his mind, he finally drifted off to sleep. However, he had a nightmare and woke up after barely three hours of rest.

He changed into a formal black suit, grabbed his household registration book, and headed out into the pouring rain, umbrella in hand.

As he walked down the street with his umbrella, he thought about how Miss Wen might not go out on a rainy day like this. If he didn’t see her, it would prove that they were just passing acquaintances. If that was the case, he should let it go—they were just passing strangers, and the thought of her should fade away.

He stood outside her building for what felt like an eternity, going over various thoughts in his mind. The passersby paid him no attention.

The rain didn’t let up, instead growing heavier.

He glanced up at the sky, still dark and overcast, as if urging him to abandon his impulsive idea.

Wen Zhixian indeed hadn’t planned to go to the café that morning. However, after going to bed early the night before, she woke up and made herself a delicious breakfast.

While waiting for the food to finish in the oven, she tidied up her apartment and decided to take out the trash.

It wasn’t until she entered the elevator that she realized she had forgotten her umbrella. But she didn’t go back for it—it was just a few steps outside, after all. A brave warrior doesn’t fear a little rain.

As she stepped out of the elevator and started walking outside, she suddenly froze for a few seconds. She swore she’d never forget this moment: Qi Yanjing, dressed in a sharp suit, holding a black umbrella, standing tall and straight, looking utterly lonely as he blended into the rain.

She quickly ran out, calling his name: “Mr. Qi!”

Qi Yanjing lifted his eyes slightly, gazing at Miss Wen, who was wearing casual clothes and smiling as she waved at him, a trash bag in her hand.

She ran over through the rain, and he reached out, pulling her under his umbrella. “I’ll take care of that for you.”

“No need. Wait for me here; I’ll be right back,” she said as she dashed off without the umbrella.

Qi Yanjing handed his umbrella to her and stood under the awning, waiting.

In less than three minutes, Miss Wen returned, holding the umbrella. She closed it, still catching her breath, and asked, “Mr. Qi, why are you here?”

She was stunned when she saw him. Why was he standing outside her building so early in the morning? Did he have something important to say?

Was it because of what she had impulsively asked the day before—whether they could get married? Was he worried she might still be in a bad state and had come to check on her early in the morning?

If that was the case… he really was a good person.