Leng Xuan thought about what Uncle Liu had said, about Xiao Yun’s background, and an inexplicable sense of pity arose in his heart. He deliberately sought a topic to get to know her better, making future help seem only natural. He then said, "Xiao Yun, I heard you study at Tenglong as well? May I ask which grade you’re in?"
"I’m in Class 25!"
"Oh, where do you usually live?"
"I live behind a small market near the school, in a room I rent by myself."
"Is that so? You must have to run back and forth every day, I fear that takes up a lot of time you could spend reviewing your textbooks, doesn’t it?"
"Hehe, it’s fine. My tuition and living expenses are all provided by Grandpa Ling. I don’t really do much, just deliver meals."
"Hehe, is that so!" Leng Xuan fell silent for a moment, then said, "By the way, Xiao Yun, you don’t know my name yet, do you?"
"I do know. Uncle Liu said your name is Leng Xuan and you are Sister Xue’s bodyguard!" Xiao Yun wasn’t usually fond of talking to people, but seeing Leng Xuan’s shabby dress, she felt less constrained, and as the conversation opened up, she began to speak more and more naturally.
This was precisely the effect Leng Xuan wanted. As the two of them chatted, suddenly a thunderclap resounded in the sky and a heavy rain fell silently, the rain threads continuous, carrying a desolate scent.
"This isn’t good, it’s raining."
Leng Xuan said out loud, looking around and realizing there was no place nearby to take shelter from the rain. Although the entryway had a slightly recessed space where they could briefly hide, within moments, both of them were still considerably wet.
Seeing Xiao Yun’s worried expression, Leng Xuan’s heart ached. He took off his T-shirt and spread it with both hands above Xiao Yun’s head, chuckling, "Move a little closer, it’s not good if you get soaked."
Xiao Yun’s face turned red. Since it was summer, Leng Xuan was only wearing one layer of clothing. Although he meant well, once he took off the shirt, he was left bare-chested, which was quite embarrassing for a girl. In an instant, she almost buried her head into her chest from shyness, but Leng Xuan didn’t notice these details. He stepped closer, his eyes obliquely watching the gloomy sky, wondering, "I wonder when the young miss and the others will come back?"
Not hearing a response from Xiao Yun, Leng Xuan looked down and realized he was very close to her. Seeing her head bowed and her face blushing, he finally understood and quickly took a step back. However, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of the partly visible contours of her chest through her wet shirt, which made his heart skip a beat. He turned his gaze away and stuttered, "Cough, sorry."
At those words, Xiao Yun became even more embarrassed. She knew Leng Xuan meant well; apart from Grandpa Ling, her mother, and Uncle Liu, he was the first person to ever treat her so kindly. This moved her unexpectedly. Sneaking a glance at Leng Xuan, she saw him holding his shirt with both hands to shield her from rain and wind, his own body completely exposed to the elements. Wherever the courage came from, she tugged on his arm, "Come in a bit more, you’ll get completely soaked otherwise." This brought the two of them suddenly close together, the contact sending a surge through their bodies and hearts.
For a moment, both of them felt extremely embarrassed, their heartbeats racing, their faces flushed with color.
Xiao Yun might not have been tall, but her body was well-developed. The confined space brought them so close they were nearly embracing, the skin-on-skin sensation electric. She was so embarrassed that she didn’t know what to do. After all, she was the one who pulled him closer – could she really push him away now?