Peng Kai was someone who knew his boundaries. Even though the two of them were sharing an umbrella, he kept at least ten centimeters between them, so no one would get the wrong idea.
Lan Hui noticed the umbrella tilting slightly more toward her side, and half of Peng Kai’s shoulder was already soaked.
“Hey, you don’t have to go out of your way to take care of me. Move the umbrella closer to yourself. If you catch a cold just because you walked me here, I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life.”
Peng Kai didn’t say anything, and the umbrella stayed tilted toward Lan Hui.
Seeing that he wouldn’t listen, Lan Hui could only sigh helplessly and move a little closer to him. With the distance shortened, the umbrella could finally cover them both.
Suddenly, the sweet scent of shampoo drifted over. Peng Kai lowered his head and saw the girl standing very close to him, her head resting against his shoulder.
From his angle, it looked as if she was nestled in his arms.
Peng Kai’s pupils contracted in shock.
His whole body stiffened.
Sensing something off, Lan Hui hurriedly explained, “Two people under one umbrella have to get close or they’ll get wet. It’s easy to catch a cold in winter, so don’t be so uptight.”
Peng Kai didn’t reply, and the two continued walking forward.
After only a few minutes, Peng Kai suddenly shoved the umbrella into Lan Hui’s hands. “You go to the bus stop by yourself. I have something to take care of.”
With that, before Lan Hui could react, he dashed forward into the rain.
“Hey, where are you going?” Lan Hui called out in surprise.
She quickly chased after him. After all, the umbrella was his—how could she stay dry while he ran off into the rain?
“If you have something urgent, take the umbrella! The bus stop’s just a few steps away!” she shouted.
Peng Kai ignored her and kept running ahead.
Lan Hui only managed a few steps before she was out of breath and had to stop to rest.
At that moment, Peng Kai stopped in front of an SUV with its hazard lights flashing.
The car must’ve broken down. The owner was out in the rain, checking under the hood.
Lan Hui realized what was going on—Peng Kai had spotted a job, that’s why he ran off so fast! She’d thought something serious had happened!
In her line of sight, Peng Kai was negotiating with the car owner. The owner opened the trunk, pulled out a spare tire and a toolbox, then went back to sit in the car and wait.
Peng Kai started removing the old tire in the pouring rain.
The rain was heavy, and in just a moment, Peng Kai’s hair was soaked through. His black cotton jacket made it hard to tell if it was wet, but it probably wasn’t much better.
Lan Hui hurried over and held the umbrella over his head.
Feeling the cold rain stop, Peng Kai paused for a moment and looked up, only to see the little girl earnestly holding the umbrella for him.
Her cheeks were flushed, and she was breathing heavily—she must’ve sprinted over just now.
Peng Kai’s feelings were complicated. He couldn’t remember the last time someone cared about him like this.
Ever since his grandfather passed away, no one had cared whether he was getting rained on, getting sick, or even had enough to eat or wear.
Even the only person he’d ever loved, Gu Shinan, was always the one being protected and cared for by him. She accepted his care without a second thought.
“What are you doing here? Go catch your bus, this is the last one,” Peng Kai said sternly. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
Lan Hui had no intention of leaving. “The last bus just left. I’ll call a ride after you finish fixing the car.”
Never mind the task for now—just because Peng Kai was kind enough to walk her to the bus stop, she couldn’t leave him behind.
It was only a few dozen yuan for the ride anyway; she could grit her teeth and accept it.
Peng Kai was helpless and didn’t know what to say for a moment. He only managed to mutter, “Idiot.”
Lan Hui rolled her eyes at him. “We’re two of a kind.”
Peng Kai didn’t argue further. He focused on changing the tire, moving with practiced speed. In less than half an hour, he was finished.
The car owner gave him two hundred yuan in cash and sped off.
Lan Hui pulled out her phone to call a ride, but Peng Kai stopped her. “My place is only ten minutes from school. Come home with me for a bit.”
Lan Hui stared at him in shock and disbelief.
With a blank expression, Peng Kai explained, “I need to change clothes. After that, I’ll drive you home.”
He knew the girl didn’t have much money, and for people struggling in S City, nothing came easy.
She’d missed the bus because of him today, so he should make sure she got home safely.
Lan Hui agreed without a second thought. “Alright.” Saving a few dozen yuan was the best outcome—she could order a fancier meal tomorrow.
They walked for about ten minutes and arrived at a residential complex. Peng Kai led Lan Hui to the security booth. “Wait for me here, I’ll go upstairs and change. Just five minutes.”
Lan Hui nodded. “Take your time, no rush.”
Peng Kai didn’t say anything else and hurried off with the umbrella.
Lan Hui didn’t go inside the booth. She just stood under the eaves at the entrance, playing on her phone.
True to his word, Peng Kai soon drove out in a black Volkswagen. He rolled down the window as he passed the booth. “Get in.”
“Okay.” Lan Hui quickly put away her phone, opened the back door, and got in.
The car was freezing, like a refrigerator. As soon as she got in, Lan Hui shivered from the cold.
“Where do you live?” Peng Kai asked, ready to set the navigation.
“Xiangrun Community,” Lan Hui replied.
Peng Kai added, “The car just started, so the heater isn’t on yet. It’ll warm up soon.”
“Mm.”
Peng Kai was a cold person, and he barely spoke the whole way. Lan Hui wanted to make conversation, but he didn’t respond to her attempts.
There weren’t many cars on the road at this hour, so they arrived in about half an hour.
Peng Kai drove her into the community. Lan Hui was very grateful. “Thank you so much for today. I’ll treat you to a meal when I get paid.”
Peng Kai just said, “No need,” and sped off.
Lan Hui wasn’t offended. He was just cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He was actually a good person—his flaws didn’t outweigh his virtues, so she didn’t mind.
***
The next day, Lan Hui felt weak and unwell at work. She had no appetite at lunch.
She suspected she was getting sick.
She’d held the umbrella for Peng Kai last night, standing in the cold rain and wind for over half an hour. She’d probably caught a chill.
Sure enough, when she went to class that evening, she felt feverish and drowsy.
At first, Peng Kai thought she was just tired from not sleeping well the night before, but her cheeks got redder and her lips started to crack. He reached out to feel her forehead, his expression tightening.
So hot!
She had a fever!
Peng Kai quickly nudged her. “Are you alright?”
Lan Hui mumbled, “I’m so hot, and thirsty.”
“You have a fever. Do you want to go to the hospital?” Peng Kai asked.
Lan Hui shook her head. “Just go to the pharmacy and get me some fever medicine.”
Peng Kai nodded. “Alright, I’ll go get some now. Take it and see if it helps.”
Lan Hui whispered, “Thank you.” Her throat was so dry that she could barely speak.
Peng Kai didn’t care about class anymore and asked the teacher for leave.
He went home to get his car and drove it to the school, just in case her fever didn’t go down and he needed to take her to the hospital in time.
Her illness today was probably because she’d held the umbrella for him last night.
He couldn’t shirk responsibility.
Peng Kai was back quickly and handed her the medicine.
After taking it, Lan Hui lay down on her desk and fell asleep.
***
Time passed quickly, and by nine that night, classmates started packing up and leaving.
Peng Kai checked Lan Hui’s forehead again. Her fever still hadn’t gone down, and he frowned. “Wake up, I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Lan Hui opened her eyes groggily. “I just want to sleep…”
“Your fever isn’t going down. If it keeps up, you could get really sick. Can you walk? My car’s downstairs; it’s convenient.”
Lan Hui’s voice was pitifully weak. “I don’t have any money.” She only had a little over a thousand yuan in her account.
One trip to the hospital could wipe out most of it—she wouldn’t survive the rest of the month.
“You’re sick because of me, so I’ll pay.” Peng Kai grabbed her backpack. “Come on.”
Lan Hui struggled to her feet, feeling like she had no bones left in her body and was about to collapse. Peng Kai quickly reached out to steady her. “Take it slow, I’ll help you.”
Leaning against him, Lan Hui felt his firm grip. “Thank you for today. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even make it down these three flights of stairs, let alone survive being sick.”
Peng Kai just shook his head and carefully helped her down the stairs. “If you still have the energy to talk nonsense, save it for the hospital.”
Lan Hui stopped talking and let him half-carry her downstairs.
Peng Kai found a nearby hospital, and after a ten-minute drive, they arrived.
He settled Lan Hui on a bench in the waiting area and ran back and forth to register her, pay fees, and go through all the tests.
Her fever was serious enough that the doctor put her on an IV drip.
By the time they left the hospital, it was already past one in the morning.
Peng Kai drove Lan Hui home, and it was after two by the time they arrived.
After the IV, Lan Hui felt much better. “Thank you so much for today. When I get paid, I’ll treat you to two meals!”
Peng Kai just replied coldly, “No need,” as he started to back the car into a parking spot.
Lan Hui was confused. “Why are you parking?”
Peng Kai turned the wheel skillfully. “I’m staying at your place tonight.”
Lan Hui nearly choked on her own saliva.
Cough, cough, cough…
“What did you say? Did I hear that right?”
“The doctor said you need to be observed in case your fever comes back. Don’t worry, I don’t have any other intentions. If you’re really uncomfortable, I can stay in the living room and check on you every two hours.”
Lan Hui said quietly, “My place doesn’t even have a living room. It’s seventy square meters split into four little rooms!”
Peng Kai:
He knew things were tough for her, but he hadn’t realized it was this tough!
“You have a kitchen, right?”
Lan Hui nodded.
“Then I’ll stay in the kitchen. I won’t bother anyone.”
Seeing his serious expression, Lan Hui was a little moved.
“I’m really fine now. Go home and get some sleep. Don’t feel guilty about my illness—it’s my own weak body.”
“Even if I hadn’t held the umbrella for you yesterday, I might have caught a cold. The wind and rain were so strong—anyone could have gotten sick. You’ve already helped me enough today.”
Peng Kai didn’t argue. He simply transferred her a thousand yuan. “Take this and buy yourself something good to eat. Take a cab instead of the bus so you don’t get sick again.”
Lan Hui couldn’t possibly accept his money—he’d already spent so much on her today.
“I can’t take it. I’ll send it back.”
Peng Kai said directly, “If you don’t accept it, you’ll just make me feel guilty. If you don’t take the money, I’ll stay here tonight to look after you!”
Lan Hui could tell he meant what he said. If she didn’t accept the money, he really wouldn’t leave. “Alright, I’ll take it. Go home and get some sleep. If I feel worse, I’ll use the money to go to the hospital.”
She wasn’t planning to spend the money, and would find a way to return it to him later.
Peng Kai nodded. “Message me if you need to go to the hospital. I can take you.”
“Okay.”
Lan Hui was touched as she watched Peng Kai drive away, only then heading upstairs herself.
Just as the system had said, the mission targets were all good people—Peng Kai shouldn’t have such a tragic ending.
She was determined to change Peng Kai’s fate.
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