Rain

On Monday, Lu Mingfei went to school as usual. Life as an ordinary high school student was pretty carefree.

In Lu Mingfei's memories, back in high school, only Su Xiaoqiang and Chen Wenwen could be considered his friends.

Whenever Chen Wenwen, the Literature Club president, assigned Lu Mingfei something to do, she always told him to make sure he did it. As if his promises were worth anything.

Still, her trust had always made him feel strongly drawn to Chen Wenwen.

As for Su Xiaoqiang, it was because on the first day of high school, some clueless boy had stood beside her, pointed at Chen Wenwen, and whispered, "That's probably our new class's belle."

Little Goddess had never suffered such an insult. She'd stomped hard on the boy's foot and walked off.

That boy was Lu Mingfei.

From then on, Lu Mingfei and Su Xiaoqiang had seemed like sworn enemies. Whenever Little Goddess ran into him, they'd end up arguing, and thanks to his talent for spouting nonsense, he could always make her so angry she couldn't get a word out.

But even so, all he had to do was flatter her a little, and he could mooch some snacks off her.

His younger self had been starved for affection. His parents were never around, so he'd tried to cling to every bit of warmth he could find. That was why he'd always been such a pathetic loser in middle and high school, unable to make any real friends.

But now he no longer longed to be loved, because he could hold on to everything he wanted.

When he got to the classroom, Lu Mingfei noticed something ridiculous.

Why was Little Goddess here?

Su Xiaoqiang had plopped herself down in the seat beside his. That spot was supposed to belong to some quiet, unremarkable guy.

Lu Mingfei stood a short distance away, his schoolbag in hand, silently watching Su Xiaoqiang.

"Hey, good morning, Lu Mingfei!" Su Xiaoqiang greeted him cheerfully.

"Seeing you greet me like that, I've got a whole lifetime's worth of complaints I want to unload." Lu Mingfei looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

"Let's not sweat the details. Anyway, from now on, I'm your new deskmate!" Su Xiaoqiang giggled.

"You're such a good student. Is our homeroom teacher really okay with you sitting next to me?" Lu Mingfei asked.

"I talked to our homeroom teacher yesterday. I told him you've been working pretty hard lately, and I wanted to help improve your grades. Besides, the school gym is kind of old, and my family's planning to donate money to renovate it." Su Xiaoqiang answered with a serious expression.

Lu Mingfei's mouth twitched. "That last part's the real reason, isn't it?"

Su Xiaoqiang told him not to worry. She'd already taken care of everything.

"Come on, get in." Su Xiaoqiang scooted her desk forward a little so Lu Mingfei could get past from behind.

Seeing that, Lu Mingfei had nothing else to say. He went to his seat and sat down.

"When did they get so close?"

Chen Wenwen watched them from her seat nearby, looking puzzled.

During class, Lu Mingfei listened attentively. The college entrance exams were coming up next semester, and he still hoped to get into a good university.

There was something important: his soul was powerful, and one way that showed was how quickly he learned. He'd tested it out by studying the textbooks for his first and second years of high school at home on Sunday. He could more or less learn everything after reading it once.

That gave Lu Mingfei a lot of confidence.

After class, everyone gathered in their little groups to chat.

Su Xiaoqiang opened her schoolbag and pulled out a pile of snacks, handing some around to the girls she was friendly with.

Lu Mingfei watched, a little enviously. He didn't have many hobbies, but eating was one of them. No matter which world he was in, whenever he saw something tasty, he wanted to try it. Unfortunately, he didn't have much money right now. Even when he went online, he had to get someone else to buy him a Nutrient Express.

Lu Mingfei wondered what excuse he could use this time to get some snacks from Little Goddess.

"Want some?" Su Xiaoqiang asked him after handing out snacks to her friends.

Lu Mingfei crossed his arms and put on a serious face. "Bring it on."

"Here, these are yours." Su Xiaoqiang pushed a generous pile of snacks onto Lu Mingfei's desk.

Lu Mingfei looked at the half-desk's worth of snacks. "Isn't this a bit much? I might not be able to finish all this."

"If you can't finish them, take them home. It's not like you have to eat them all right now." Su Xiaoqiang gave him a disdainful look.

"Little Goddess, you're the real deal!" Lu Mingfei stuffed the snacks into his desk without hesitation, tore open a bag, and started eating.

Su Xiaoqiang propped her chin on her hand and quietly watched Lu Mingfei eat. He didn't notice at all.

"What a glutton," Su Xiaoqiang thought. But it was wonderful that Lu Mingfei liked them so much. Bringing all those snacks had been worth it.

The girl's mood brightened.

That afternoon, the sky outside was terribly dark. The once-clear sky had filled with heavy clouds. Lu Mingfei frowned at the gloomy sky, hoping it wouldn't rain by the time school let out. He hadn't brought an umbrella.

Things never went the way you wanted. The moment the bell rang, raindrops as big as beans began to fall, thick and fast. Thunder boomed, and a torrential downpour arrived right on cue.

Private cars weren't usually allowed on campus, but the weather was so awful that parents worried their kids would get soaked. After coordinating with the school, they were allowed to drive in.

Lu Mingfei stood by the classroom window, wondering how he'd get home. Quite a few classmates had already left in their family's cars.

Looking at the weather, Lu Mingfei remembered a typhoon once. The storm that day had been even worse than this one. He'd been getting ready to go home just like today, but the rain was simply too heavy.

He remembered seeing Shilan High School's legendary Chu Zihang sheltering from the rain under the eaves. But unlike Lu Mingfei, he'd seen the piano prodigy Liu Miaomiao from their class invite Chu Zihang to go with her, saying she could drive him home.

As befitted Shilan High School's legend, Chu Zihang had turned Liu Miaomiao down outright.

Lu Mingfei had watched Liu Miaomiao's family driver open a huge black umbrella over her head. She'd taken off her strappy sandals, and the driver had crouched down to help her put on her rain boots. Hiding beneath the umbrella, Liu Miaomiao had carefully made her way toward the black BMW waiting in the rain with its headlights on.

He'd been freezing then. Seeing Liu Miaomiao invite Chu Zihang, who had refused, he'd figured the two of them weren't even going the same way.

So he'd shouted to Liu Miaomiao from under the eaves, "Hey, hey! Liu Miaomiao, Liu Miaomiao! Give me a ride!"

"Go home on your own, Lu Mingfei! My house isn't even in the same direction as yours!" Liu Miaomiao had called back without turning around.

Lu Mingfei had crouched beneath the eaves, watching the BMW glide silently into the rain. Its taillights flashed, its engine roared, and then it was gone.

He'd stood up, his neck crooked and his head drooping, and slowly walked along beneath the eaves.

Once he'd left the shelter, he'd ducked his head, wrapped his jacket around it, and dashed into the rain like a stray dog.

He'd caught a pretty bad cold after he got home.

Thinking back on it, Lu Mingfei felt a little sorry for his younger self.

"Lu Mingfei, it's raining outside. Want a ride home in my family's car?" Su Xiaoqiang asked, seeing him staring out the window.

Lu Mingfei blinked. "But my house isn't in the same direction as yours."

"What does that matter? Just get in. We'll drop you off first. Come to think of it, I don't even know where you live. This is a good chance to learn the way." Su Xiaoqiang put her hands on her hips as she spoke.

"My family's car is here. Come on." Su Xiaoqiang pushed Lu Mingfei out of the classroom before he could object.

Uncle Chen was already waiting by the Mercedes-Benz S500, holding a black umbrella.

When he saw Su Xiaoqiang pushing a classmate along, Uncle Chen took another umbrella from the car and walked over.

"Uncle Chen, this is my friend Lu Mingfei. Please take him home with us." Su Xiaoqiang pointed at Lu Mingfei.

"Of course, miss. Mr. Lu, take this umbrella and come with us." Uncle Chen handed Lu Mingfei the umbrella he'd taken from the car.

Lu Mingfei silently took it and got into the car with Su Xiaoqiang.

In the car, Su Xiaoqiang and Lu Mingfei sat together in the back of the Mercedes-Benz S500. She told him the latest gossip from class, and Lu Mingfei exclaimed in surprise again and again.

When they reached his aunt and uncle's house, Su Xiaoqiang grinned at him. "Now I know where you live. I'll come hang out during the holidays!" As she spoke, she handed Lu Mingfei the umbrella so he wouldn't get wet getting out.

Lu Mingfei nodded. "Just let me know before you come."

"Got it. See you, Lu Mingfei!" Su Xiaoqiang waved to him through the car window.

"See you!" Lu Mingfei stood in the rain under the umbrella and waved back.