Chapter 2

Zhang Sao had an unfortunate experience.

Shortly after leaving the house, she somehow stumbled into the garden pond. Although the pond wasn’t deep and was filled with water lilies, she should have been able to climb out on her own. However, when she was found, her ears and mouth were full of mud. A few more minutes, and she might not have survived.

When the security guards finally pulled her out, she was lying on the ground, retching and coughing up several ornamental fish.

Everyone gasped and took a step back in horror, and Zhang Sao fainted on the spot. Before passing out, she glared fiercely at Yue Yin, her usual malice mixed with a hint of fear.

She stared daggers at Yue Yin, who simply smiled back.

Ever since she had returned to this home, Zhang Sao had frequently targeted her, belittling and spreading vicious rumors that Yue Yin was doing unsavory things outside, claiming it was to “earn money” while still in school.

Such arrogance, and what a mouth to twist the truth!

Yue Yin’s little brother, standing beside her, looked worried. “Sis, do you think the old witch will tell on you when she wakes up?”

The old witch loved to cause trouble and complain to their parents, which would inevitably end with Yue Yin getting scolded. He had tried explaining to their mom, but no one believed him. Their dad just dismissed him, saying, “It’s an adult matter, don’t meddle.”

Yue Yin chuckled, “Don’t worry. Maybe if we’re lucky, she won’t survive it.”

Xiao He, the maid, who was nearby, heard this and felt a chill run down her spine.

Zhang Sao was immediately rushed to the hospital, and the Shen family’s staff suddenly became very well-behaved. After that night, no one dared to say a word against Yue Yin. They avoided her as if her presence alone could summon disaster, fearing that a careless word would send them to join Zhang Sao in the hospital.

Behind closed doors, they began whispering that there was something sinister about Yue Yin.

Elsewhere, Yue Yin sat in front of her homework, staring off into space.

With her long black hair and straight bangs framing her face, her dark eyes looked vacant. “Physics homework is so hard. I barely understand a thing in class… Gravity is why we can’t fly? What’s acceleration again?”

After sitting through a morning of classes, everything had gone in one ear and out the other. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand, rather, she simply couldn’t be bothered.

Just as humans wouldn’t try to understand the mind of an ant, a god has no interest in trivial human knowledge. Still, Yue Yin struggled to understand why people couldn’t fly—something about gravity and acceleration.

If she weren’t worried about being dissected in some lab, unable to enjoy snacks and novels in peace, she’d show her physics teacher what “flying” really looked like.

Slumping over her desk, she scratched her head. “Being human is exhausting. Why do I have to do homework every day, and why do humans even need to go to school?”

Beside her, Jiang Suliu, the top student of the elite class, watched her antics with a mix of amusement and disbelief. He glanced at the paper she’d been stuck on for over ten minutes.

Jiang Xuliu was a true academic prodigy, having already completed his high school courses with private tutors, and was now focused on advanced competition-level material.

With a quick glance, he could solve her question easily. But for Yue Yin, it was a different story.

Frustrated, she turned around and happened to meet his gaze. Jiang suliu looked away, giving a small hint, “The answer is 9.”

Yue Yin paused, then wrote it down. She coughed lightly, “You might not believe it, but I’m actually the great Moon Goddess, fallen to Earth after losing my divine powers.”

Jiang Xuliu raised an eyebrow. “So, studying stress can actually drive people mad?”

And Yue Yin did feel the pressure. Being human was hard—homework had to be done correctly, or you’d get scolded for mistakes. It almost made her want to destroy the world.

As an actual deity of mischief, she decided to recruit some followers to offer her tribute, buy her snacks, and run errands. Of course, the candidates couldn’t be poor or failing students.

Then she set her sights on Jiang Suliu—the top student from a prestigious family and the high-ranking “untouchable” in the class.

She clenched her fists and made a grand declaration: “Jiang Suliu, join my Moon Cult!”

He barely blinked, calmly replying, “Yue Yin, you know that promoting superstitions in school is illegal, right?”

Yue Yin blinked, confused.

He continued, “Spreading superstitions on school grounds is against the law. At best, you’ll get a reprimand, at worst, you could be detained.”

With a faint smirk, he added, “Do you want to end up in jail?”

Yue Yin’s smile faded.

After a long pause, she relented. “Fine, forget the cult. But how about letting me copy your homework?”

Jiang Suliu barely held back a laugh but quickly suppressed it.

Then she added, “Don’t worry. I’ll repay you.”

She held up her hand as if making a phone call, “When you’re on the verge of death, give me a ring.”

Jiang Xuliu let out a dry laugh and spent the rest of the period ignoring her.

Which was understandable. He had offered her help, and she repaid him by pretending to curse him.

So while he ignored her, she shrugged and returned to reading her manga.

Two periods later, rain began to fall, accompanied by an orange alert for a storm. The school announced that everyone should leave early to avoid the worst of it.

Excited by the unexpected free time, the students eagerly headed home.

Yue Yin had dozed off in class and only woke up half an hour after school had let out.

“Yue Yin? Wake up.” Jiang Suliu frowned as he shook her awake. “Everyone’s gone. Why are you still here?”

He had been at the office to fill out a form for a summer program and returned to find her still asleep at her desk.

Yawning, she stretched. “Everyone left already?”

“Yes, there’s a storm tonight, so they dismissed us early.” He collected his things and headed for the door without another word.

The rain was already pouring as they reached the school entrance, where Jiang Suliu’s family driver was waiting. He stepped into the car without hesitation, while Yue Yin stood under the awning, staring at the rain.

Only then did he remember Yue Yin’s circumstances.

Rumor had it that she was an unwanted stepdaughter brought into the Shen family, unloved and ignored. Her classmates had whispered as much, but he hadn’t known how much was true.

Watching her stand there, he realized no one from her family had come to pick her up, even with a storm raging.

It made sense now why she spent so much time lost in her manga, skipping class, or drifting off to sleep—an escape from her lonely reality.

Jiang Suliu took a couple of steps, hesitated, then turned back.

He saw her standing there, small and alone, looking at the rain with a hint of sadness.

Frowning, he asked, “Do you have an umbrella?”

She looked up, startled. “Huh?”

Without another word, he opened his umbrella and offered, “I’ll walk you home.”

From the teaching building to the school gate, it was a distance of several hundred meters. Even if Yue Yin managed to catch a ride home after leaving school, she’d still be drenched on the way out.

August’s weather was still hot, so most people wore light clothing, and it wasn’t ideal for girls to be caught in the rain.

Moreover, the rain was pouring down, and with the news warning of a storm, Jiang Suliu was concerned about the risk of leaving Yue Yin stranded at the school.

As he held the umbrella out in front of her, Yue Yin finally understood his intent. She blinked and suddenly said, “Thank you for your kindness.”

She looked up toward the sky and replied, “But it’s okay. It’ll be sunny again soon.”

As she quietly muttered something under her breath, the falling raindrops started to fade away. The gray skies cleared, and golden sunlight began breaking through the clouds. A rainbow stretched across the sky, vivid and colorful. In an instant, the previous storm and thunder felt like a distant dream.

This change seemed to happen almost in response to her words. The moment she finished speaking, the clouds dispersed, and the world was bathed in sunshine as if her words alone had brought about the weather change.

Yue Yin’s murmur was so soft that no one else around heard it—except for Jiang Suliu.

The sudden shift in weather surprised the people around them. The driver exclaimed, “Did the rain just stop?”

“That downpour ended so suddenly! What’s going on?”

“Whoa, didn’t they say there’d be a typhoon? This weather is acting really strange!”

Someone joked, “Maybe someone’s transcending to immortality over here. I’m posting this on social media…”

Around them, voices of astonishment filled the air as the screens on the commercial street displayed weather updates, warning of the impending typhoon and urging citizens to avoid staying outdoors.

Jiang Suliu stood still, staring in disbelief.

For a moment, he even doubted his own ears.

He looked over at Yue Yin, watching her as she stood beneath the eaves, gazing up at the rainbow with a serene expression.

Sensing his gaze, Yue Yin turned to meet his eyes. Her clear, calm look seemed as though she had expected this outcome all along.

“Did you…know the rain would stop?” Jiang Suliu asked, uncertain.

Weather forecast? He quickly dismissed the thought. If the forecast had predicted clear skies, the news wouldn’t have issued a storm warning.

Yue Yin tilted her head and gave him a sidelong glance, her tone light. “Of course, I knew. I’m a god.”

The words came out so naturally, and her face—so beautiful it seemed almost otherworldly—glowed softly in the misting rain. A delicate light seemed to envelop her, adding a gentle radiance to the air around her.

Perhaps it was her words, or maybe the sudden break in the storm that led him to a strange conclusion. For just a moment, Jiang Suliu found himself truly believing her, thinking that perhaps she really was some fallen deity on this earth.

His gaze lingered on her, unable to look away.

As he watched, stunned, Yue Yin suddenly smiled, waved, and said, “Jiang Suliu, I’m heading home now.”

She pointed at the umbrella he held, adding, “Don’t forget to call me.”

With a burst of sunlight pouring down around her, the dark-haired girl in her school uniform stepped into the light.

She walked forward with an easy stride, her figure as if a seed sprouting roots in Jiang Suliu’s heart.