3. Rainy afternoon

Spring rain arrived without warning.

One moment, the sky above Hangzhou was bright and clear. The next, dark clouds rolled in, and heavy raindrops began falling against the classroom windows.

The students groaned.

“Not again!”

“I forgot my umbrella!”

“Our PE class is ruined!”

Xiaoran glanced outside.

The rain fell steadily, blurring the city beyond the glass.

Normally, she loved rainy days.

But today was different.

She had forgotten her umbrella.

When the final bell rang, students rushed toward the school gates.

Some shared umbrellas with friends.

Others called their parents.

Xiaoran stood beneath the school entrance, watching the rain pour down.

“You’re still here?” Su Nian asked.

“I forgot my umbrella.”

“Ouch.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Su Nian opened her bright yellow umbrella.

“My mom’s waiting for me. Want me to call someone?”

Xiaoran shook her head.

“It’s okay. I’ll wait.”

After a few minutes, Su Nian left.

Soon, only a handful of students remained.

The rain showed no signs of stopping.

Xiaoran sighed.

At this rate, she’d be stuck here forever.

Then a familiar voice spoke behind her.

“Still waiting?”

She froze.

Slowly, she turned around.

Chen Yuze stood there.

Holding a black umbrella.

For a moment, Xiaoran wondered if she was imagining things.

“What are you doing here?”

The question escaped before she could stop it.

Yuze smiled.

“Hello to you too.”

Her cheeks warmed.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

He glanced at the rain.

“Haoyu asked me to pick up some documents from your school.”

“Oh.”

That explained it.

At least her heart had a logical reason to be racing.

Probably.

“Did your brother leave already?” Yuze asked.

“He had basketball practice.”

“So you’re stranded.”

“I’m not stranded.”

“You’ve been standing here for twenty minutes.”

“…Maybe a little stranded.”

Yuze laughed softly.

The sound somehow made the gloomy afternoon brighter.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Rain drummed against the roof above them.

Then Yuze opened his umbrella.

“Come on.”

Xiaoran blinked.

“Where?”

“I’ll walk you home.”

Immediately, she shook her head.

“No, it’s okay.”

“It’s raining.”

“I noticed.”

“You’ll get soaked.”

“I can run.”

“You’ll still get soaked.”

Xiaoran stared at him.

Unfortunately, he was right.

And he clearly knew it.

After a few seconds, she finally sighed.

“Fine.”

Together, they stepped into the rain.

The umbrella wasn’t particularly large.

To avoid getting wet, Xiaoran had to stand closer than she expected.

Very close.

Close enough to hear the rhythm of his footsteps.

Close enough to notice the faint scent of rain and coffee.

Close enough to make her heart behave strangely.

The walk began in silence.

Not awkward silence.

Comfortable silence.

The kind that didn’t need filling.

After a few minutes, Yuze glanced at her.

“How’s the sketchbook?”

Her eyes brightened.

“I already filled half of it.”

“That fast?”

“I draw every day.”

A smile appeared on his face.

“Good.”

They continued walking.

Rainwater flowed along the sidewalks.

Peach blossom petals drifted through puddles like tiny pink boats.

The city looked beautiful.

Almost magical.

“What do you want to do in the future?” Yuze suddenly asked.

Xiaoran thought for a moment.

“I want to draw.”

“Professionally?”

“Maybe.”

“You sound unsure.”

She looked down.

“A lot of people think art isn’t practical.”

“And what do you think?”

His question surprised her.

Nobody had ever asked that before.

After a moment, she answered honestly.

“I think drawing makes me happy.”

Yuze nodded immediately.

“Then that’s important.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

His answer came so naturally that Xiaoran felt warmth spread through her chest.

Sometimes, he made things sound so simple.

As if dreams weren’t impossible.

As if believing in yourself wasn’t foolish.

They reached a crosswalk and stopped for the light.

Rain continued falling around them.

For a brief moment, Xiaoran glanced up.

Yuze was looking ahead.

Calm.

Steady.

Reliable.

The image quietly settled into her memory.

A memory she knew she would keep forever.

When the traffic light changed, they crossed the street together.

A sudden gust of wind blew rain beneath the umbrella.

A few drops landed on Xiaoran’s shoulder.

Immediately, Yuze adjusted the umbrella toward her side.

“What about you?” she asked.

“Hm?”

“Your dream.”

A faint smile appeared.

“To design buildings people remember.”

“Like famous landmarks?”

“Not necessarily.”

He shook his head.

“Just places that make people happy.”

Xiaoran smiled.

That sounded exactly like him.

The rest of the walk passed quickly.

Far too quickly.

Soon, her house appeared at the end of the street.

The familiar peach tree swayed gently in the rain.

“We’re here,” Yuze said.

For some reason, Xiaoran felt disappointed.

She wished the walk had lasted longer.

Even a little longer.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Neither moved immediately.

Rain continued falling around them.

Then Yuze reached into his bag.

“I have something for you.”

Xiaoran blinked.

Again?

He handed her a folded brochure.

She opened it.

Her eyes widened.

It was information about a summer art exhibition.

“They’re accepting student submissions.”

“You remembered I like drawing?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how silly they sounded.

Yuze looked genuinely surprised.

“Of course I remembered.”

For some reason, those four words stayed with her.

Of course I remembered.

A simple sentence.

Yet it felt precious.

Before she could say anything else, the front door opened.

Haoyu stepped outside.

“There you are!”

His eyes moved between them suspiciously.

“Why are you two standing in the rain?”

“We just arrived,” Xiaoran said quickly.

“Sure.”

His grin immediately returned.

“Mom’s making dumplings.”

Yuze laughed.

“That’s my cue.”

Before leaving, he glanced at Xiaoran.

“Don’t forget the exhibition.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.”

Then he opened his umbrella again and walked away into the rain.

Xiaoran stood beneath the doorway watching him disappear down the street.

The rain softened.

The sky slowly brightened.

And for the first time, she understood something.

A crush wasn’t always dramatic.

Sometimes it was small moments.

A shared umbrella.

A remembered dream.

A simple walk home through the rain.

Tiny moments that quietly settled into your heart.

Moments that made you smile long after they ended.

As she looked down at the exhibition brochure in her hands, Xiaoran couldn’t stop smiling.

Spring rain had come and gone.

But the warmth it left behind remained.

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