That faint warmth, that sense of being moved, was not without a trace.
Having transmigrated into this world and become “Yan Yu,” she wasn’t without parents. It was just that the parents of this body had divorced when she was young, each starting new families. They didn’t care much for her, this “burden child,” only paying the bare minimum child support as required by law, and almost never inquired about her.
Since she was sixteen, Yan Yu had always lived alone. The so-called “family” was, to her, just a vague concept, even carrying an indescribable sense of estrangement.
If there was anyone in this unfamiliar world who gave her a feeling similar to “family,” someone she could rely on and trust… then, perhaps, it was really only this hard-to-read little sister Bai Yan’er right in front of her.
The car Bai Yan’er had called through a ride-hailing app soon stopped by the roadside. It was a clean rideshare, and the driver professionally pulled as close to the curb as possible.
“Elder Sister, be careful.”
Bai Yan’er pushed the wheelchair to the car door. She tilted most of the umbrella toward the car door, making sure Yan Yu’s head was completely covered. Then she carefully supported Yan Yu, helping her safely move from the wheelchair to the back seat. After that, she folded the lightweight wheelchair and placed it in the trunk.
When Yan Yu settled into the dry, warm car and instinctively turned her head to say “Take care on the road” to Bai Yan’er, she suddenly saw clearly—
Bai Yan’er stood in the rain outside the car door. Her beautiful pink Lolita dress was soaked in a large area, its color deepened. Her carefully styled bangs and the hair at her temples were also wetly plastered to her smooth forehead and cheeks, adorned with tiny water droplets.
“Yan’er!” Yan Yu was startled and quickly reached out to pull her. “You… why did you only worry about shielding me from the rain and let yourself get soaked?!”
Bai Yan’er merely stood in the rain and smiled sweetly at her.
“I’m fine, Elder Sister,” her voice came through the rain. “Elder Sister’s body is weak; getting caught in the rain would make you sick easily. I’m very healthy. Getting a little wet like this doesn’t matter.”
“Are you an idiot?!” Yan Yu was both angry and anxious, and even more worried. Her tone unconsciously became harsher. “Get in the car quickly! Let the driver take you back first! Or you should call another car right away. Don’t stand in the rain!”
Seeing her anxious expression, the smile in Bai Yan’er’s eyes deepened, as if she had received some precious reward. She shook her head, signaling Yan Yu to sit properly.
“Really, it’s fine, Elder Sister. My family’s driver should be here soon—he’s nearby. You should get going quickly. Don’t catch a cold.”
As she spoke, she stepped back half a step to ensure the car door could close smoothly, and nodded to the driver in front.
“Driver, please take my elder sister to Xingfuli Community. Thank you.”
Yan Yu gave instructions through the car window, still worried.
“Yan’er! You should go home immediately, dry yourself off, change clothes, and drink some hot water!”
“Okay, I will,” Bai Yan’er obediently replied. She waved at her, her smile a little blurry in the rain. “Elder Sister, be careful on the road. Send me a message when you get home.”
The black sedan slowly started, merging into the traffic that had become even more hazy from the rain.
Bai Yan’er held an umbrella, standing alone in the gradually intensifying rain, watching the car disappear around the street corner until it was completely out of sight. The gentle smile on her face gradually faded. She raised a hand to wipe the rainwater from her face. The soaked fabric clung to her skin, bringing a cold touch, but she seemed not to care.
Then, Bai Yan’er took out her phone and made a call.
“Hello, Uncle Chen, it’s me. Mm, I’m at the entrance of the ‘Palette Cafe’ next to the Art Museum. The rain is too heavy. Come pick me up.”
After hanging up, she looked down at her soaking wet, expensive dress and shoes, and let out a soft “tsk.”
Getting caught in the rain was a bit miserable, and the clothes were ruined. But being able to make Elder Sister worry about her like that… this little price was totally worth it.
The rain continued to fall without stopping.
When she returned home, the rented room was already lit with warm light.
Yan Yu pushed open the door and heard Ruo Xiaozhen’s energetic voice coming from the living room, speaking at a rapid-fire pace:
“Hey? Li Wen! Quick, quick, send me a photo of your multiple choice answers so I can check! … What? You chose C for question five? No way! I picked A! I’m done for, done for!”
“Oh no! I got question seven wrong too?! Oh my god! Was the test that Old Lady Chen gave this time even humanly possible?!”
“There are only twenty multiple choice questions, and I’ve already gotten four wrong?! Help! Old Lady Chen has to save me! She has to save me! Please, consider how hard I usually work in class! I’m begging!”
It sounded like she was on a voice call with a classmate to check answers. Ruo Xiaozhen’s voice came through the door, mixed with the sounds of stomping feet and howling, vividly portraying the consequences of last-minute cramming before an exam. Yan Yu felt a little amused and found Ruo Xiaozhen genuinely cute like this. She didn’t disturb her. Quietly, she put down her slightly rain-damp shoulder bag, hung it up, then wheeled herself quietly back to her own room.
Closed the door.
Yan Yu changed into comfortable loungewear, dried her slightly damp hair with a towel, then sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up her phone.
There were two unread messages on the screen. One was sent by Ruo Xiaozhen half an hour ago: “Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu! Are you home? Did you get caught in the rain?” The other was sent ten minutes ago: “I’m done, I’m done, I feel like I’m doomed! I got a bunch of multiple choice wrong! [Crying.jpg]”
Yan Yu first replied to Ruo Xiaozhen: “Mm, I’m home. Didn’t get rained on. Don’t worry too much, it’s just a quiz.” She added a head-patting emoji at the end.
Then, she opened the chat interface with Bai Yan’er.
Yan Yu remembered that before they parted, Bai Yan’er had asked her to report that she was safe. Her fingers tapped lightly on the screen:
“Yan’er, I’m home. What about you? Remember to take a hot shower right away and drink some ginger tea to ward off the cold. Don’t catch a cold. Thank you for accompanying me today, and thank you for the umbrella and the dessert. Good night.”
The message was sent, and the screen displayed “Delivered.”
Yan Yu held her phone and waited for a while.
Time passed minute by minute. The chat box was quiet. There was no “typing…” indicator, and no new messages came in.
The sound of rain outside seemed to have lessened, but it still pattered against the window.
‘Maybe she got caught in the rain and was too tired, and had already gone to rest,’ Yan Yu thought to herself.
After waiting another moment, the phone screen automatically dimmed. Yan Yu put her phone on the bedside table, turned off the ceiling light in the room, leaving only a soft bedside nightlight. She lay down in the covers, listening to the dense rain outside the window, and closed her eyes…
—
On the other side.
Near Riverside Garden, Starry Wave One.
This was a high-end apartment complex along the river, famous for its excellent river view.
Su Qinghan’s current temporary residence was one of Dai Feng’s high-rise duplex apartments with a river view.
The apartment was decorated in a modern minimalist style, with clean lines and an open view. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of half of Jiangcheng’s brilliant nightscape. It was completely different from Su Qinghan’s former extremely luxurious and intricate residence at Emperor Rock No. 1, yet it unexpectedly matched her current state of mind: empty, cold, with a touch of loneliness.
Su Qinghan walked barefoot on the slightly cool marble floor, slowly moving to the curved observation balcony.
The river wind, carrying moisture and the coolness of the night, blew through the partially open glass door, brushing her face and stirring the black hair hanging at her shoulders.
She grasped the cold metal railing and looked out the window.
The river in the night was like a spread of ink-black silk. The towering buildings on the opposite bank were dimly lit, their reflections in the water rippled by the evening wind, turning into a flowing, hazy river of light. The lights of a cruise ship slowly glided by, trailing a swaying tail of light.
It was beautiful, but it couldn’t dispel the gloom in her heart.
She sighed softly, lowered her eyes, and looked at the phone she had been holding in her hand.
On the screen, three missed calls were clearly displayed, all from the same name—Jiang Muyun.