Weather forecasts are all lies.
How could it be “good weather” when the sky is so overcast?!
Lin Luan stood at the edge of the Central Plaza in Chang City’s Cultural Creative Park, looking up at the sky. Above him, a dense layer of heavy, oppressive clouds completely blocked out the sunlight.
The air was wet and stuffy, carrying the suffocating pressure of an impending mountain storm.
How did that poem go again?
Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to destroy it.
Lin Luan sighed inwardly, thinking that at least his year of high school hadn’t been in vain.
He and Shen Yu had just finished hauling their guitar, sound system, and other equipment to the spot they’d picked in the plaza.
There was a small tree nearby, and a flower bed where Shen Yu could sit and sing while playing guitar. The atmosphere was actually pretty nice.
But now, before they’d even managed to set up the music stand properly, the weather had already turned against them.
“This weather…” Shen Yu looked anxiously at the sky, her face full of disappointment.
“Looks like it’s going to rain any minute.” Lin Luan frowned. “We can’t let the equipment get wet. Let’s find somewhere to take cover first.”
After all, they could always pick another day for the performance. The equipment, though, couldn’t afford to be ruined by rain.
No sooner had he finished speaking than fat raindrops began falling from the sky without warning. “Plop. Plop.”
The drops quickly joined into lines of rain, and in a flash became a roaring curtain of water. The crowd in the plaza shrieked and scattered in every direction, rushing to find shelter. “Hurry!”
Lin Luan reacted immediately, grabbing the most expensive guitar and the speaker.
Shen Yu quickly snatched up the chair and music stand, and together they dashed in a panic toward the entrance of the nearest shop.
It was an independent café with stylish décor, and its wide Rain Canopy provided a small area of dry ground.
They stood, a little bedraggled, under the eaves, carefully setting their equipment down on the dry ground.
“How are you? Did you get wet?” Lin Luan asked with concern.
Shen Yu shook her head. “No, luckily we found a place to hide from the rain pretty quickly.”
Looking back, they could see warm lights and the aroma of coffee streaming out from the café’s glass doors, forming a stark contrast with the chill and gloom outside.
“I’m sorry, Lu’an.” Shen Yu wiped the raindrops from her face, looking a little downcast. “We went to all that trouble for nothing, and I even got you caught in the rain.”
“Come on, what are you talking about? I’m your manager, aren’t I?” Lin Luan smiled.
“Ah.” Shen Yu looked like a shy little rabbit, her cheeks turning a little pink.
Lin Luan looked up at the sky. The clouds were still as thick as ever.
The rain was only coming down harder. Who knew when it would stop…
If they ended up stuck here for a while, maybe they should buy a coffee from the shop?
“Ding-a-ling.”
Just as Lin Luan was thinking this, the café’s glass door behind him was gently pushed open. The bell hanging on the door jingled softly.
Lin Luan turned around and saw a woman of elegant bearing step out, dressed in a simple and refined qipao. She looked to be about forty, her hair done up in a delicate bun, her face warm and gentle with a smile.
“Excuse me, you two. I saw you carrying instruments in when you ran in from the rain. Are you musicians planning to perform?” Her gaze fell on the guitar in Shen Yu’s arms and the speaker by her side.
Her voice was soft, blending with the sound of the rain, carrying a clear, refreshing quality.
“Yes, ma’am, we were planning to perform in the plaza, but then it suddenly started pouring…” Shen Yu hugged her guitar, nodding a little nervously.
Lin Luan echoed, “That’s right. We wanted to do some street performances to see how it goes. Are you the owner of this café?”
“You could say that.” The lady smiled.
Lin Luan felt a little uneasy.
Were they going to be kicked out for not buying anything? Wasn’t it a trend lately for café owners to be really strict…
He’d heard that these hip little cafés often had rules as complicated as something from a thriller novel.
The owner’s gaze lingered for a moment on Shen Yu and the guitar in her arms, then moved to Lin Luan—simple clothes, but a handsome face—and her smile grew warmer.
“This rain doesn’t look like it’ll be stopping anytime soon.” She smiled.
“You’ve brought all your equipment—what a shame it would be to just head back. How about performing a few songs here, under our Rain Canopy?”
She gestured elegantly to the wide canopy overhead.
“It’s dry here, and people passing by to escape the rain can hear you as well.” She spoke gently. “And if your performance is good, I’ll treat you both to a hot cup of coffee.”
“Huh? Really?!” Shen Yu was surprised. “Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome,” the owner said kindly. “If you need an outlet, there’s one by the wall. Good luck with your performance.”
With that, she retreated into the café, smiling and nodding at them through the glass window.
Lin Luan gave the owner a slight bow.
So she really wasn’t one of those “strict” types. He’d totally misjudged her.
They plugged in their equipment, adjusted the speaker and microphone, and Shen Yu sat down on the folding chair with her guitar. She and Lin Luan exchanged a smile.
On this unexpected stage, Shen Yu gently plucked the strings.
[The light of morning makes up for all uncertainties]
[Waking up too early, drowsiness lingers]
Her guitar accompanied her soft voice, flowing outward. Shen Yu’s gaze lowered, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her cheeks, like a scene straight out of a painting.
[Just want to follow your steps back home]
[But these ambiguous feelings tell me I can’t]
At first, only a few passersby hiding under the nearby eaves glanced over curiously, but soon, people hurrying past began to slow their steps.
People who had been anxiously watching the sky and waiting for the rain to stop gradually quieted, their attention captured by the gentle girl singing and playing guitar under the Rain Canopy.
[Behave normally, keep my composure]
[Too much and I might stumble]
The café customers sitting by the window put down their books and phones, tilting their heads to listen to the live performance coming in through the glass.
Some quietly took out their phones to record this unexpectedly beautiful moment.
And Lin Luan stood just a short distance behind Shen Yu.
He was stunned.
He was a rough guy—never paid much attention to music, didn’t know much about songs. He’d only been getting ready on the side in case something happened.
But as Shen Yu started to sing, Lin Luan found himself transfixed by her focused profile.
He’d seen many sides of Shen Yu.
When she was little, crying behind him; quietly playing piano; even just recently, blushing in cosplay…
But he’d never seen Shen Yu like this.
She really was just like… an idol.
Shining.
[What do I do, what do I do, what do I do]
[Should I, shouldn’t I, stop these thoughts]
Shen Yu swayed gently as she sang, clearly noticing Lin Luan’s dazed gaze. She turned slightly, gave him a smile, and softly sang the chorus.
[I want to possess you]
[Possess your beauty]
Shen Yu’s song lingered in the rain, carrying all the tangled thoughts of a young girl’s heart.
And all of it was captured by a young woman hiding under the eaves across the street, recording everything on her phone.
She’d originally just noticed the street performance and started recording a clip to post to her Moments.
But when she saw Shen Yu and Lin Luan’s meaningful exchange through the screen, she knew she’d caught something special.
Her sixth sense told her—this video would go viral.
“It’s so good…” the girl murmured, zooming in and aiming the lens at Shen Yu’s face.
Shen Yu, completely lost in her music, didn’t notice the cameras recording her.
She finished the last line, her fingers gently muting the vibrating strings, the final notes fading into the sound of the rain.
After a brief silence, applause broke out from all directions.
The café owner pushed open the door and came out, her face glowing with appreciation. “You sang beautifully. Come in, both of you. As promised, I’ll treat you to coffee.”
Only then did Shen Yu come back to herself from the performance. She looked at Lin Luan, her eyes sparkling as if filled with stars.
Lin Luan gave her a thumbs-up.
“That’s my girl.”
After the two of them entered the café, behind them, the girl who had recorded the video posted it to social media.
The caption read:
[Angel Voice encountered in the rain—what kind of heavenly live performance is this?!]
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