"Has the key not arrived yet?"
Shu Feng hurried over with a stack of wood, his brows tightly furrowed. "They texted saying it'd be here in ten minutes, but it's been twenty now. The event starts at two, and if the students arrive before we've set up..."
A girl nearby was busy counting supplies and rolled her eyes at him. "It's raining. Give them some time."
Shu Feng set down the wood and glanced outside at the drizzle. "Where's Mo Zhu?"
"Over by the stairwell corner."
Shu Feng looked over and spotted a figure standing in the shadows of the staircase.
The person had his back turned, phone pressed to his ear. He was tall, dressed in a loose black windbreaker and long pants, with a baseball cap pulled low. His height alone made him stand out—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long limbs that made clothes hang perfectly on him.
Shu Feng rushed over.
Mo Zhu sensed someone approaching and ended the call with a quiet, "Yeah, I'll be back soon. Gotta go."
He pocketed his phone just as Shu Feng reached him.
Shu Feng, flushed and sweating from hauling wood, asked, "You leaving?"
Mo Zhu slung his single-strap bag over his shoulder. "Yeah. Picking up my mom from the airport."
Shu Feng raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Auntie say she was coming back next week?"
Mo Zhu nodded. "Her company had some issues. Flight got rescheduled."
There was no stopping him now. Shu Feng stepped aside. "Fine, go ahead. We’ll handle things here. But the senior who’s supposed to bring the hall key still isn’t here."
His patience worn thin, Shu Feng grumbled, "Where the hell is she?"
Mo Zhu offered no comfort, already walking away. "Later."
Shu Feng muttered, "Cold-hearted bastard."
Outside, the rain fell steadily. The early autumn weather wasn’t exactly cold, but the dampness carried a biting chill.
Mo Zhu lowered his head to check his messages. As he rounded the corner, someone crashed into him before he could react, colliding squarely with his chest. A faint, unfamiliar scent filled his nose.
"Ow—sorry, sorry!"
The person in his arms reacted quickly, stepping back while rubbing her forehead, her hand partially obscuring her face.
Mo Zhu glanced down at the water stain on his windbreaker, frowned, and wiped it with a tissue. Without a word, he sidestepped her and kept walking.
But after just one step, a hand grabbed his arm.
"Hey, are you from the School of Architecture?"
Mo Zhu wasn’t known for his patience. Being bumped into and now stopped—his voice turned icy. "No—"
The denial froze in his throat.
Yu Zhiling smiled awkwardly and released his arm, taking a step back. "Sorry about that. You’re here for the event, right? The architecture students borrowed one of our department’s halls. My professor couldn’t make it, so he asked me to bring the keys. Do you know which room they’re using?"
She lifted a jingling keyring—apparently unsure which hall they needed, she’d brought the whole set.
Mo Zhu just stared at her, his throat working silently.
Yu Zhiling grew uneasy. The guy was tall, imposing even, probably around twenty. The hallway was dim, the overcast sky offering little light, and his cap shadowed his face.
Yet even in the gloom, his sharp, striking features were unmistakable. His gaze locked onto her, unblinking.
She was a mess—damp and disheveled—and his stare made her fidget. When he didn’t speak, she decided not to waste time and gave a slight bow.
"Sorry again for bumping into you. I’ve got things to handle, so I’ll—"
Before she could finish, a long-fingered hand extended toward her.
Yu Zhiling blinked. "...What?"
Mo Zhu swallowed. "Give me the keys. I’ll take them upstairs."
She hesitated, avoiding his intense gaze, then handed over the keyring.
Mo Zhu flipped through the keys, plucked out the one labeled A603, and returned the rest.
"I’m from Architecture. I’ll handle it."
His eyes flicked to the name tag on her jacket before lingering on her face one last time. Then he turned and headed upstairs.
Yu Zhiling: "..."
She had the strangest feeling… he’d been checking who she was.
Maybe she was overthinking it. Probably just figuring out how to address her.
Yu Zhiling had rushed here straight from a lecture. Her name tag was still pinned to her jacket. With the keys delivered, she unpinned it, wiped the rain from her face, and started back, texting as she walked.
Professor Chen: [Did you deliver the keys, Zhiling?]
Little Fish: [Yep, all set!]
She’d gotten the message during the lecture—the second-year architecture students needed a hall for an event, and her professor, who had the keys, was unavailable. So she’d stepped in.
The rain had started suddenly, but she’d been close enough to dash over without getting soaked. Still, the chilly wind outside now made her shiver.
Yu Zhiling sighed, watching the downpour.
Two of her roommates had gone home; the third was at the movies. No one to bring her an umbrella.
She waited a few minutes, but the rain only grew heavier.
Her phone rang—"Ms. Yu" flashing on the screen. Yu Zhiling smiled and answered.
"Mom, you at the airport?"
Ms. Yu’s voice was warm. "Just landed. Flight got delayed because of the rain. Don’t come, Niannian. Your dad and I will take a cab to the hotel."
Jiang Yingchen took the phone from his wife. "Listen to your mom. We’ll manage."
Yu Zhiling hesitated. "But the airport’s huge, and it’s your first time here. Shouldn’t I—"
"Senior, you’re going to the airport?"
A cool voice spoke behind her.
Yu Zhiling startled, covering the phone as she turned.
The guy from earlier stood a few steps away, holding a folded black umbrella, his dark eyes fixed on her.
Out of politeness, she replied, "Yeah, I am."
Mo Zhu stepped closer, opening the umbrella and holding it over her. "I’ll take you. I’m heading there too."
Yu Zhiling: "...You are?"
Mo Zhu nodded. "Picking up my mom."
She gestured at the rain. "But it’s pouring. Maybe we should share a cab?"
Mo Zhu’s voice was calm. "I’ve got a car. Just doing you a favor. Don’t overthink it."
Yu Zhiling: "..."
She nodded. "...Thanks."
He seemed quite polite. After hanging up the phone, Yu Zhiling thanked Mo Zhu again, "Thank you, sorry for the trouble."
"It's fine, no problem." Mo Zhu held the umbrella with his right hand, shifting his single-strap bag to his left shoulder. Sharing one umbrella, he tilted it toward her side, ensuring Yu Zhiling didn’t get wet.
Yu Zhiling glanced sideways, catching sight of the dampness on his left shoulder. She quickly reached out to adjust the umbrella. "Keep it over yourself. I’m already wet anyway."
Mo Zhu remained indifferent. "It’s a waterproof jacket. I’ll just wipe it off later."
Yu Zhiling hesitated. "...Sorry for the trouble."
The eight-rib umbrella wasn’t wide enough for two. Rainwater slid off Mo Zhu’s left shoulder, soaking his backpack as well.
The parking lot wasn’t far from the academic building. Once they reached the garage, Yu Zhiling hurriedly handed him tissues.
"Sorry about that. Dry yourself quickly, or you might catch a cold."
Mo Zhu looked down at her, fingers twitching slightly. Only when she raised her hand, urging him to take the tissues, did he respond with a quiet "Mm."
The jacket was indeed waterproof—just a quick wipe would do. Mo Zhu went to fetch the car while Yu Zhiling waited at the garage entrance.
A northern wind had picked up. Dressed in a straight-cut suit skirt for her presentation, she had already been drenched earlier. Even with most of the umbrella shielding her, the rain had soaked the hem of her skirt, clinging uncomfortably to her skin.
Her shoulders were still damp too. Yu Zhiling bent over to wring out the rainwater from her skirt.
The sound of an engine approached. She straightened up as a black SUV pulled up beside her.
The driver’s window rolled down, and Mo Zhu said, "Senior, hop in."
"Alright, thanks."
Yu Zhiling moved to open the back door, but Mo Zhu added, "Sit in the front. I turned on the heater—it’ll help dry your clothes."
Since he insisted, she circled to the passenger side and got in.
"Thank you. I’ve really troubled you today."
"It’s nothing, no trouble at all."
The car carried a faint scent of sandalwood. Mo Zhu adjusted the vents toward her, and the warm air instantly chased away the chill. He drove out of the garage.
Two strangers alone in a car—and he was doing her a favor—Yu Zhiling didn’t want the silence to drag on. She searched for a topic. "Are you a sophomore?"
Mo Zhu replied, "Yeah. You’re in your second year of grad school?"
Yu Zhiling nodded. "Right, I’m in finance. Is your undergrad program five years?"
"Some are four, some five. Ours is five." He paused, then asked, "Are you from Beicheng?"
Yu Zhiling shook her head. "No, my hometown is Lincheng. I just came here for school—did my undergrad here too, then stayed for grad school."
A call came through on her phone. Yu Zhiling answered quietly, lowering her voice and the volume, perhaps conscious of his presence.
Mo Zhu didn’t interrupt. When she hung up and locked her screen, he asked casually, "Boyfriend? Is he picking you up in this rain?"
Yu Zhiling blinked, realizing he must’ve heard a male voice. She quickly clarified, "No, no. It was a senior from the year above me. Just some paperwork."
"So you don’t have a boyfriend?"
"...No."
She wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but after her answer, Mo Zhu’s lips might have curved slightly. But when she looked closer, he was focused on the road, eyes fixed ahead.
The drive to the airport took forty minutes—forty minutes of conversation. Surprisingly, Mo Zhu was quite talkative.
His name was Mo Zhu, an uncommon surname. He was five years younger, a sophomore in architecture, from a local family with business-owning parents. He didn’t elaborate on their industry, and she didn’t pry.
As they arrived, Mo Zhu parked outside. Yu Zhiling’s clothes had mostly dried from the heater. Rain still fell, and just as she reached for the door, Mo Zhu caught her wrist.
"Senior, let me get out first."
His palm was large enough to encircle her entire wrist. Through the thin fabric of her blazer, his skin radiated warmth, a stark contrast to her cool temperature.
Before she could pull away, Mo Zhu released her.
He stepped out, circled to her side, and opened the door, holding the umbrella overhead. Looking down at her, he said, "Come on, senior."
Yu Zhiling exhaled. "...Alright, thanks."
Inside the airport, Mo Zhu closed the umbrella and asked, "Which gate are you heading to?"
Yu Zhiling checked her phone. "They’ve already arrived—they’re at the café."
"Mm." Mo Zhu held out his phone. "Let’s exchange contacts. I think you left your keys in the car."
At his words, she patted her pockets—he was right.
"Ah, I really did forget."
She’d placed them on the passenger seat after getting in and walked off without them.
Mo Zhu watched as she pulled out her phone to scan his QR code. A friend request notification popped up on his screen.
Yu Zhiling said earnestly, "Sorry for the trouble. Just message me when you’re free, and I’ll come pick them up. No need to deliver them."
"Sure, no problem." Mo Zhu accepted the request.
In a hurry to meet her parents, Yu Zhiling bid him a quick goodbye and rushed toward the café.
Her profile picture was a cartoon fish. Mo Zhu clicked into her Moments—set to permanently visible.
She didn’t post often, maybe once a month. Scrolling down, he paused at a photo.
It showed her at the gates of Third High School, holding a bouquet, smiling brightly.
That day was the college entrance exams. She’d been picking someone up—likely a relative’s child, since she had no siblings.
Mo Zhu zoomed in. In the background, barely visible, stood a tall figure.
So it really was her. He chuckled.
"What’re you grinning at? Forgot your own mother?"
A hand smacked his shoulder. Mo Zhu pocketed his phone, deftly dodging Miao Wan’s attempt to pinch his ear.
He took her luggage, teasing lightly, "You managed to find your way out just fine."
"You little brat! Haven’t seen me in half a year, and this is the welcome I get?" Miao Wan pinched his cheek, stretching on her tiptoes—her son had grown too tall for easy scolding.
Mo Zhu was in a good mood, eyes crinkling as he wheeled her luggage, enduring her swats without complaint.
Once the bags were loaded, Miao Wan opened the passenger door and spotted the keys.
"What’s this?"
Mo Zhu slid into the driver’s seat, glancing over before tucking them into the dashboard compartment. "School keys."
Miao Wan plucked a strand of hair from the seat, narrowing her eyes. "You little rascal. Since when did you let a girl ride in this car? I haven’t been back in six months—this isn’t my hair."
Mo Zhu chuckled softly without saying a word, starting the car and driving away from the airport.
Miao Wan caught on immediately: "Are you in a relationship?"
Mo Zhu: "No."
"So... you haven’t succeeded in winning her over yet?"
"Mm, haven’t even started pursuing her."
"Wait, you’re actually planning to chase someone?" Miao Wan’s voice brimmed with excitement. "What does she look like?"
"Quite pretty."
"Is she from your university?"
"Yeah."
"Same class?"
"No. She’s a second-year grad student in Finance."
Different majors—and not even the same year.
Miao Wan paused, doing the math. "Second-year grad student... you’re only a sophomore, so that means..."
Mo Zhu knew what she was getting at: "Five years older."
Suddenly, Miao Wan remembered something, her pupils flickering. "Hold on—is this the girl from last year, the one near Third High’s gate? The one you had your dad look into for a whole year?"
Just then, the light turned red. Mo Zhu stopped the car and turned to look at her. He was in high spirits today, his dark eyes brimming with amusement.
"Yeah. It’s her."
