At the door.
The small stream of the Yuan River had risen quite high due to the rain, almost overflowing the stone steps and onto the road, making it wet.
Su Qing's spotless white canvas shoes were splattered with mud, large and small.
The town was small to begin with, with its courtyards intertwined. After turning down the alley, it wasn't long before they arrived. A hint of tension permeated the dim air.
The courtyards here were uneven, not neatly arranged. Those near the river were mostly dilapidated. At the back of the alley, only a single light bulb was lit under the eaves of a house.
"Jiang Sui, I arrived home."
The rain had slowed down a bit now, its drizzle spiky and shimmering, creating a beautiful spectacle. Su Qing leaned sideways and spoke slowly, interrupting the momentary silence.
The boy, holding an umbrella, stared at her silently, his brow softening slightly, as if he was enjoying their company. He curled his lips, gave a slight nod, and nodded, motioning her in.
Raindrops dripped down the umbrella, pattering onto the ground.
Ripples formed, small, gentle circles.
The boy even handed her the umbrella handle, but as if he didn't want to let her go, he spoke.
"Are we familiar now, Su classmate?"
Perhaps because they hadn't spoken a word the entire trip, Jiang Sui's voice was slightly hoarse. He cleared his throat, put his fist to his lips, and stared at her.
This was what she had said to Jiang Sui that day. Su Qing didn't take the umbrella, but simply looked up at him, her eyes quiet, as if preparing an answer, though they were too clear.
Jiang Sui wonder what turbulent waves lay beneath the silence, so he leaned in closer.
"It doesn't count at all. We're not familiar with each other. Just now, our hands were...!"
Buzzing.
Like a bee flapping its wings beside her ear, the girl's face flushed red.
Su Qing turned and ran, decisively and swiftly closing the door.
She fled in panic.
The moment the door creaked shut, Su Qing felt a long-lost, inexplicable feeling wash over her. She bit her lip, her hands pressed against the door, her heart aching with anxiety.
Su Qing bit her lip, feeling uneasy. Her heart pounded. The warmth of those wet, warm hands seemed to still linger in her palms, lingering.
"Qing Qing, you come back already ah. Come inside. Mom made you some egg soup."
Su Rao's condition had improved somewhat recently, which was the only thing that made Su Qing happy. Su Rao's voice brought her back to her senses, but seeing her daughter's pale face, she worry.
"Qing Qing, what's wrong with you? Are you tired from studying?"
Su Qing shook her head. "I'm fine, Mom. I just haven't been getting enough rest lately." As she supported Su Rao back inside, Su Rao realized her daughter hadn't brought an umbrella.
"Qing Qing, how did you came back without an umbrella?"
Ever since that incident, Su Rao has paid much more attention to Su Qing, observing every detail with even greater care.
"A classmate brought me back."
Hearing his daughter's voice, Su Rao's inner uneasiness finally dissipated somewhat. "Okay, Qing Qing, spend more time with your classmates. Why don't you invite her over?" Making friends is always good, and this sign lifted Su Rao's mood, and even her complexion.
Su Qing lowered her eyes and replied, "It's too late, and she has homework to do, so she went home first."
"It's too late, yes. You must bring her over next time."
"Okay.