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Third School Building.

The lights in the classroom had already been turned off, and everyone had already left. The entire building was quiet, yet standing alone at the bottom of the stairs was a solitary figure—Qin Shiqing.

She was used to staying in the classroom until the lights went out during evening self-study and was in charge of locking up the classroom each day, so she often ended up being the last to leave.

Tomorrow was the college entrance exam, and tonight, even Tang Yan, who was usually by her side, had left early.

Because Tang Yan believed that the night before the exam should be a time to relax as much as possible, she had not stayed with Qin Shiqing tonight.

The heavy rain arrived without warning, and the teaching building was now empty.

As she watched the rain pour harder and harder, showing no sign of stopping anytime soon, Qin Shiqing knew she needed to go back and rest early in preparation for the exam. She couldn't afford to wait any longer.

She raised a book over her head, using it as an improvised umbrella, and was about to rush out of the building.

Just then, a dark shadow appeared on the school path, walking directly towards the third teaching building.

The girl was slightly surprised.

Who would be coming to the building at this hour?

From the shadow's height and outline, it seemed to be a boy.

Could it be him?

A flash of hope flickered through Qin Shiqing's heart.

As the figure drew closer, she saw his face, and her expression of anticipation instantly turned into one of shock.

Zhao Mingxuan wore a smug grin.

Didn't expect it to be me, did you?

Qin Shiqing was one of the class officers in charge of closing the classroom doors after evening study sessions, and tonight it just happened to be her turn. With the sudden rainstorm after the lights turned off, Zhao Mingxuan, being quick-witted, thought that the goddess might get stuck in the rain, so he came over, hoping for a lucky encounter. To his surprise, it had actually worked out.

The lucky one this time is me!

Zhao Mingxuan's heart raced with excitement as he strutted into the building with what he thought was the most charming posture.

At that moment, he felt like the brave knight rescuing a damsel in distress!

"Qin Shiqing, you haven't left yet? I was just going back to the classroom to grab an exercise book, but I ran into you! Hey, you didn't bring an umbrella?" Zhao Mingxuan asked knowingly.

"Uh, I didn't expect it to rain so suddenly." Qin Shiqing nodded slightly.

"It's fine, I brought one. How about I walk you back to the dorm?" Zhao Mingxuan said casually, though inside he was grinning from ear to ear.

Qin Shiqing glanced at him and noticed that Zhao Mingxuan was only holding one umbrella.

"I didn't think you'd still be in the building. Otherwise, I would've brought an extra umbrella!" Zhao Mingxuan didn't reveal anything.

In truth, he hadn't planned on bringing a second umbrella.

Walking under the same umbrella as the goddess, strolling together in the rain on the night before the exam—how romantic!

And it was a perfect "Hero saves the Beauty" scenario. Who knows? If the goddess is moved, she might even fall for him.

Why bring an extra umbrella? That would be foolish.

So he had pretended to go back to get some exercises, setting up a so-called "chance encounter."

I really am a clever little fox!

Zhao Mingxuan couldn't help but feel pleased with himself.

Qin Shiqing hesitated for a moment. "Thank you, Zhao Mingxuan, but no need. After all, the boys' and girls' dormitories are in different directions. I'll just wait a little longer. Maybe some girls will pass by, and I can just share their umbrella."

She was too smart to miss Zhao Mingxuan's intentions.

There was no way Zhao Mingxuan had come to the classroom just to grab an exercise book. Clearly, he had an ulterior motive.

If Zhao Mingxuan had brought an extra umbrella to lend her, she would have been grateful, but his behavior was a little too opportunistic and calculating.

She'd rather refuse politely and wait for someone else to pass by, even if it meant getting wet.

Zhao Mingxuan was relentless. "It's no trouble at all. It will only take a little more time. Qin Shiqing, don't wait anymore. No one else is coming at this hour!"

Just as his voice trailed off, another figure suddenly appeared in the darkness.

No way…!

Am I cursed to keep running into people today?

Zhao Mingxuan was a little flustered, but quickly regained his composure.

It's fine. Maybe this person is just passing by.

Moreover, the figure was tall and definitely a boy.

Heh, as long as it's a boy, that's fine. This way, Qin Shiqing won't be able to share the umbrella, and there's no excuse to refuse me!

"Pitter-patter, pitter-patter…"

The figure ran frantically through the rain, splashing water everywhere with each step.

Zhao Mingxuan couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder.

Is this person in such a hurry to reincarnate or something?

The rain makes the ground slippery. Doesn't he fear falling flat on his face?

Suddenly, a flash of lightning split the sky, illuminating the night for a brief moment, revealing the figure's face.

Zhao Mingxuan's expression froze, his mouth falling open as if he'd just eaten something foul.

"Su, Su Zelin!"

Damn it, what a dogshit luck! Even rescuing the beauty is a competition now!

Looks like I'm not the only clever one around here!

Su Zelin slowed his pace. Thanks to the momentary brightness from the lightning, he also saw Qin Shiqing at the bottom of the building.

Phew, I made it!

In his past life, Qin Shiqing had underperformed in the exams, and he suspected that the sudden downpour had played a part in it.

The night before the college entrance exam, she was the one in charge of locking up the classroom.

The rain had come so suddenly, and many people returned to the dorms earlier than usual. She might not have had time to get an umbrella and would have to rush back in the rain.

It was also during her period, and her immune system was naturally weaker, plus she had caught a cold.

After being drenched in the rain, her cold worsened, and her condition deteriorated significantly.

Su Zelin remembered that during the exams, Qin Shiqing had looked really unwell. At the time, he had thought it was due to her period. Now, he realized it was a combination of her period and a serious cold.

This time, he couldn't let her catch another cold and perform poorly again. If they both ended up in the same city for college, who knows what kind of tangled mess it would cause.

So, Su Zelin had decided to bring her an umbrella.

But he was afraid he wouldn't make it in time, so he rushed straight to the teaching building without asking anyone else for an umbrella.

When he saw Zhao Mingxuan, Su Zelin was a bit puzzled.

Why is he here? And he brought an umbrella?

Everyone knew that Zhao Mingxuan had designs on Qin Shiqing, so why should she get caught in the rain on the night before the exams if Zhao Mingxuan already gave her an umbrella?

Had he guessed wrong?

Having sprinted all the way from the boys' dorm, even though Su Zelin was in great physical shape, he was now slightly out of breath, his chest rising and falling with each inhale.

But despite the fatigue, he forcefully suppressed the thumping of his heart and walked up to Qin Shiqing, calmly saying, "Idiot, I knew you didn't bring an umbrella!"

Qin Shiqing looked at his feet.

Because he had run in the rain, Su Zelin's sneakers and jeans were soaked and covered with mud.

He had also bought a single umbrella, but the difference was that Su Zelin had done so out of concern, while Zhao Mingxuan had clearly been calculating.

Zhao Mingxuan's intentions were deliberate, but Su Zelin's were simply to avoid missing her.

Qin Shiqing's eyes softened.

"Take it!" Su Zelin shoved the umbrella into her hands.

"And you?" Qin Shiqing asked.

"Zhao Mingxuan brought an umbrella, didn't he? We're on the way, so I'll just share with him." Su Zelin shrugged.

"Who the hell wants to share with you?" Zhao Mingxuan snapped, visibly upset.

He had already lent her the umbrella, and now Su Zelin wanted to share his?! There was no way!

"Don't you think you're being a little petty?" Su Zelin muttered, "It's just sharing an umbrella. It's not like I'll get you pregnant. As class leader, shouldn't you be more helpful?"

"Don't you see how small my umbrella is? There's no way two people could fit!" Zhao Mingxuan was about to explode in rage.

This was absurd! Even 'Hero saving the Beauty' was being stolen from him! Where's the justice in this world?

Where is the law, the fairness?!

At that moment, Qin Shiqing spoke up, "Zelin, stop giving the class leader a hard time. Take me back to the dormitory."

Zhao Mingxuan stood frozen, dumbfounded.

He quickly tried to explain, "Uh, Shiqing, you misunderstood, I didn't mean it like that. I can take you, I came first."

Qin Shiqing smiled faintly, "No need, didn't you say this umbrella is too small, it won't fit two people? And you still need to go back to the classroom to grab your exercises, don't delay."

Zhao Mingxuan was left speechless, realizing he had only shot himself in the foot.

At this point, Su Zelin frowned and asked, "I take you there? Why, aren't the boys and girls dormitories on different roads?"

"Forget it, I'll give you the umbrella back, I'll go by myself!" Qin Shiqing immediately shoved the umbrella back into Su Zelin's hand, grabbed a book to cover her head, and rushed out.

In that very moment, Su Zelin saw the same scene unfold once more, and his heart clenched.

"Not again," Su Zelin thought. He couldn't bear to see her rush into the storm once more.

Women, what a trouble!

With a quiet sigh, Su Zelin quickly caught up with her, walking briskly.

Back at the school building, only Zhao Mingxuan remained, standing alone.

He watched the two figures disappear into the distance, and after a moment, he snapped out of his daze.

"Hey, Su Zelin, actually… I wouldn't mind letting you share the umbrella!"