The rain poured down in torrents, as if someone were dumping water from the sky.
It hammered against the umbrella, splashing outward before hitting the ground.
A man stood at the entrance, holding a white umbrella in one hand, his tall figure stiffening slightly.
This was the white transparent umbrella the butler had specially prepared at home.
He thought Lin Mo, being young, would surely like this kind.
Xie Guanyan had chosen it when picking one up.
Through the curtain of rain, he saw the girl wearing the uniform jacket of No. 1 High School.
Her long hair was tied into a ponytail that swayed lightly in the wind and rain.
She held a black umbrella.
Step by step, she walked through the rain toward Gu Jingchuan.
The man she loved.
Xie Guanyan had never comforted a girl before, but even he could tell.
A grown man kneeling in the rain, begging for reconciliation—that counted as sincerity.
A movie star with millions of fans—if this were caught on camera, it would make headlines for days.
Going to such lengths, surely Shan Shan would soften, wouldn’t she?
Xie Guanyan’s eyes darkened, sorrow cracking within them.
Even though he was dressed in formal attire tonight for a video conference with overseas colleagues,
he felt unbearably cold.
The wind seemed laced with needles, piercing through his clothes, his skin, stabbing straight into his heart.
The pain made it hard to breathe.
The knife wound on his right hand, the one holding the umbrella, still ached faintly, but now he couldn’t feel it.
The girl’s school uniform pulled time straight back to eleven years ago.
Countless times, he had watched just like this as she walked toward Gu Jingchuan.
Back then, he had been sad too, but not as sad as now.
Back then, the girl had never smiled at him.
But recently, he had been like a shameless thief.
Stealing chances to be with her, stealing so many of her smiles.
Even stealing the opportunity to share a room with her.
But a thief would always be a thief—someone who could never stand in the sunlight.
His gaze fell on the man kneeling in the rain.
Gu Jingchuan wore a sapphire-blue shirt, now completely soaked, clinging to his thin frame.
A shadow flickered in Xie Guanyan’s eyes, his fingers tightening around the umbrella handle.
He wanted—so badly—to grab Gu Jingchuan and demand answers.
Didn’t he know Shan Shan hated the smell of smoke? Why did he still smoke in front of her?
Didn’t he know Shan Shan liked a good physique? Why didn’t he work out?
Most importantly, why did he make Shan Shan unhappy?
Did he even realize how lucky he was?
He deserved to die!
The man adjusted his silver-framed glasses with one hand, lowering his thick, long lashes as he withdrew his gaze.
So what should he do now?
Turn back.
Don’t disturb their little reunion.
Xie Guanyan turned to leave, his grip on the umbrella unconsciously tightening. The wound on his hand tore open, a sharp pain shooting through him, veins bulging on the back of his pale hand.
But after stepping through the gate, he stopped and turned around again.
One of the unopened doors concealed his figure.
Behind his silver glasses, his damp gaze remained fixed unblinkingly on the girl in the rain.
The raindrops pelted Gu Jingchuan’s body, the pain registering faintly.
His knees ached from kneeling on the hard ground.
He had no other choice—this was his last resort.
He truly loved Lin Mo. If she agreed to get back together, he would cut things off with Li Huanyu immediately.
A man’s pride was worth more than gold.
There was no way Lin Mo wouldn’t soften at the sight of him like this.
In this heavy rain, he could catch a cold at any moment, his body ruined by the downpour.
Over the years, he had acted in many films, most of them love stories.
He had even performed this very scene before—never imagining he’d actually use it in real life.
But honestly, he was still a little nervous.
Lin Mo wasn’t like other girls. She was used to being adored.
Not like those starved for affection, who came running at the slightest beckoning.
Yet Lin Mo walked toward him, umbrella in hand.
Joy burst in his eyes.
He knew she couldn’t bear to see him suffer!
After all, he hadn’t committed any unforgivable sin.
Back then, she had been declared dead—wasn’t it normal for him to move on?
And in the entertainment industry, scandals were inevitable.
As the girl approached step by step, his heart pounded faster.
Dressed in her school uniform, she looked just like the radiant, lively girl he had seen on the podium during their first year of high school.
The black umbrella’s handle matched her jade-white fingers gripping it, a striking contrast.
Closer.
Closer.
Gu Jingchuan’s lips curled unconsciously.
Then he heard the girl say, “Rain-soaked bro, here’s some midnight snacks. Eat when you’re tired from kneeling.”
Gu Jingchuan: “……”
Gu Jingchuan: “…………”
He couldn’t believe his ears, mouth hanging open as he looked up. “Huh?”
Lin Mo took in Gu Jingchuan’s drenched state, his sparse, limp hair plastered to his scalp.
She felt her vision darken.
Did he think this was some short skit?
Not even a gold miner could dig up someone this dense!
The girl’s melodious voice, mingled with the wind and rain, reached Xie Guanyan’s ears.
Excitement surged behind his silver glasses, fingertips tingling.
His breathing quickened, chest rising and falling rapidly as he hid behind the door.
Shan Shan hadn’t forgiven him. She hadn’t!
Lin Mo bent down, placing the takeout bag in front of Gu Jingchuan.
Raindrops pattered against the paper bag.
Still gaping in shock, Gu Jingchuan froze as rainwater dripped into his mouth.
He tried to speak.
A “gulp” later, he swallowed the rainwater first.
Lin Mo: “……”
Her vision darkened again. “Are you here for an all-you-can-drink buffet?”
The thought that this black mark would follow her for life made her want to bash her head against tofu and end it all.
Gu Jingchuan’s lips twitched violently, but he pretended nothing had happened, putting on a lovesick expression. “Lin Mo, I’ll keep kneeling here until you agree to take me back!”
Lin Mo rolled her eyes. “Kneel as long as you want.”
She had made herself perfectly clear. Did he really think he could guilt-trip her?
Too bad for him—she had no morals to be tripped!
Or rather, her moral boundaries were… flexible.
For example, she should return both the snacks and the umbrella, but the umbrella could wait.
No way was she catching a cold over this.
Holding her phone in one hand, she opened WeChat and tapped on Xie Guanyan’s chat window.
Lin Mo’s long, thick lashes fluttered.
Thank goodness Xie Guanyan hadn’t seen Gu Jingchuan’s half-bald head or his rainwater-drinking act. Otherwise, she’d never live it down!
She’d wait for him at the courtyard gate, put down her umbrella the moment he appeared, and drag him inside.
No way would she let him witness Gu Jingchuan’s pathetic rain-kneeling spectacle!
Her jade-white fingers typed:
【I’m back. It’s raining outside—bring an umbrella.】
Sent.
The next second—
“Ding!”
A notification chimed right beside her ear.
Lin Mo’s eyes widened, her neck turning stiffly.
A strikingly handsome man in a white suit stood behind her, holding a transparent white umbrella.
Lin Mo: “……”
Aaaaaaaah!
How long had he been there?!
Actually, it didn’t matter—from this distance, he must have seen Gu Jingchuan’s disgraceful display!
She forced a smile bitterer than fate.
Some people might look alive, but inside, they were already long gone.
Hearing Lin Mo’s rejection, Xie Guanyan had stepped out from behind the door, umbrella in hand.
His long legs strode through the rain without hesitation.
Now, the two of them stood face to face.
A black umbrella and a white one bumped into each other.
The bright-eyed schoolgirl in her uniform had an unmistakable flicker of awkwardness in her clear, cool gaze.
Yet she curved her eyes into a smile.
Setting down the black umbrella in her hand, the white one immediately shifted above her head, sheltering her from even a single drop of rain.
The girl took a step closer to the striking man beside her, and the white umbrella followed, adjusting to cover them both.
Tilting her head up, she said to him, "Let’s go, Xie Guanyan. We’re heading home."
