It's Raining, Let's Go Back

Before the banquet, Bai Yunsheng made a special trip to the barbershop to have his slightly long hair cut shorter, revealing his brows and eyes. With his back straightened, he looked like an entirely different person. After returning home, Bai Yunsheng put on the custom-made suit Feng Yanshan had given him. Bai Yunsheng had always resembled his mother, with almost no flaws in his appearance. It was only that those years had worn away his spirit, making him seem wretched and unpresentable.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Bai Yunsheng felt somewhat unfamiliar. He had bent over for too long, lowered his head for too long—so long that he had nearly forgotten the remarkably good looks his mother had given him.

The banquet seemed to have already begun, with voices of all kinds coming from outside. Bai Yunsheng gathered his thoughts, pressed his lips together, smiled at the mirror, then turned and walked out. Rounding the corner and crossing a long corridor, the dazzling splendor of the hall gradually came into view.

Bai Yunsheng had never attended a banquet like this before, and he could not adapt to it right away.

People around him gradually began looking his way.

"Who's that?"

"Why haven't I seen him before?"

"He's so handsome. Which family is he from?"

"..."

"Fuck!" The murmurs were briefly interrupted by a sudden curse.

Zhang Cheng stared at Bai Yunsheng in the distance, his jaw nearly dropping. He tugged at the person beside him. "Take a look! Isn't that Bai Yunsheng?"

The person beside him, holding a wineglass, looked in Zhang Cheng's direction, and the same "Fuck" slipped from his mouth.

The two looked at each other, then simultaneously turned to look at Bai Yunsheng again.

Zhang Cheng said, "That's Bai Yunsheng, right?"

The other person nodded.

Zhang Cheng said, "He..."

His black hair had been neatly styled to either side. He had slender, perfectly shaped willow-leaf brows and slightly upturned eyes that carried a faint aloofness when they were not looking at anyone. The lines of his nose were smooth and soft, and then there were...

Zhang Cheng's gaze traveled downward and landed on Bai Yunsheng's red, full lips.

Bai Yunsheng noticed Zhang Cheng's gaze and looked over with his chin raised, only to withdraw his eyes almost immediately. A strange, indescribable emotion swiftly passed through his gaze.

Zhang Cheng cursed inwardly. "Where's Tingfan?"

"Probably with his dad."

Zhang Cheng casually took a wineglass from a passing attendant's tray. "Come on. Let's go meet him."

The two of them headed toward Bai Yunsheng.

Zhang Cheng said, "Well, if it isn't the Feng Household's illegitimate son?"

Bai Yunsheng's eyes shifted slightly, and he gave a light laugh. "Young Master Zhang, where's your brother?"

Zhang Cheng frowned, not understanding why Bai Yunsheng had suddenly brought up Zhang Heng. "What do you want with my brother?"

Bai Yunsheng said, "Nothing. Seeing you just made me think of him."

"After all, whenever the Zhang Household is mentioned, Chairman Zhang is the first person everyone thinks of."

The Zhang Household had two sons.

The eldest, Zhang Heng, was exceptionally intelligent. He had entered the group at an early age and, despite his youth, had firmly taken the position of chairman of the Zhang Household. The second son, Zhang Cheng, was mediocre in ability, caused trouble everywhere, and was a typical spoiled playboy.

Whenever the Zhang Household was mentioned, people only ever remembered Zhang Heng. Whenever Zhang Cheng was brought up, there was not a single person who did not shake their head and sigh.

Without showing it, Bai Yunsheng stabbed right into Zhang Cheng's sore spot.

Sure enough, Zhang Cheng's expression changed the next second. He stepped toward Bai Yunsheng. "You want to die?"

Bai Yunsheng raised his brows.

The person beside Zhang Cheng added, "Bai Yunsheng, are you tired of living?"

Bai Yunsheng said, "Are you planning to start something here? If I remember correctly, a very important person is coming today. Are you sure you want to make trouble at a time like this?"

At the mention of that important person, both their faces changed abruptly, as though they had remembered something. The hostility in their eyes receded somewhat. Zhang Cheng looked Bai Yunsheng up and down and threatened, "It's fine. We have plenty of time."

Just as Zhang Cheng was about to leave, Bai Yunsheng caught his wrist. He slowly leaned toward Zhang Cheng's ear, the faint scent on him gradually invading Zhang Cheng's nostrils. Zhang Cheng could not help looking over, only to meet Bai Yunsheng's unblinking gaze. Bai Yunsheng's eyes were a standard hazel brown. It was clearly such an ordinary color, yet it left Zhang Cheng somewhat dazed.

Bai Yunsheng did not notice Zhang Cheng's distraction and said, "I don't care if you want to be Feng Tingfan's dog, but don't come provoke me again." He raised a finger and pressed it against Zhang Cheng's chest. "Otherwise, the knife that was stuck in that person's hand will appear in your chest." Bai Yunsheng spoke seriously, then stepped back. "I have nothing, so I have more to lose than anyone else." After saying that, Bai Yunsheng ignored the stunned Zhang Cheng and turned to leave.

After making a round of the hall, he finally spotted Feng Yanshan. Bai Yunsheng had just lifted a foot to walk over when Feng Zhiyou blocked his path.

Feng Zhiyou's brows were drawn tight. "Where are you going?"

Bai Yunsheng glanced at Feng Zhiyou. "I'm going to find Father."

Feng Zhiyou did not move aside. "Don't show up here before Meng Shangzhi arrives."

Meng Shangzhi?

He was the important person Feng Yanshan had mentioned.

Feng Zhiyou said, "Bai Yunsheng, no matter what you intend to do, I'm warning you: don't provoke Feng Tingfan today."

Bai Yunsheng paused. "Big Brother, you should know that ever since I appeared in the Feng Household, I have never taken the initiative to provoke your dear little brother." Bai Yunsheng emphasized the words "little brother," adding an inexplicable implication to an otherwise ordinary sentence.

Feng Zhiyou did not respond. Bai Yunsheng could not be bothered to go over to Feng Yanshan anymore. His appearance here today had already drawn plenty of attention, so his purpose had been achieved. For now, Bai Yunsheng did not want an open conflict with his eldest brother. Feng Zhiyou was not like Feng Tingfan—he was not stupid.

A few seconds later, Bai Yunsheng smiled. The curve of his lips was flawless, beautiful and vivid. "Understood. Goodbye, Big Brother."

Bai Yunsheng did not want to return to his room, so he went straight to the backyard. There was hardly anyone there, and no lights had been turned on. Only a dim yellow lamp illuminated the small patch of ground beneath it. Bai Yunsheng walked over, sat on the long stone bench, and stared blankly at the lush tree overhead.

The wind swayed gently, tugging at the green leaves on the branches.

Bai Yunsheng slowly closed his eyes. He did not know how long had passed before a soft pattering reached his ears, and cool raindrops fell onto his face.

Bai Yunsheng opened his eyes and saw the fine, misty rain beneath the lamplight.

"It's raining," Bai Yunsheng murmured to himself.

"Yes, it's raining." Another voice suddenly sounded in the quiet surroundings. Bai Yunsheng abruptly sat upright and looked toward the source.

A man stood not far away. He had no idea when the man had arrived. Quite a few raindrops had already fallen on his black umbrella, which tilted slightly forward, allowing Bai Yunsheng to see only the man's pale chin.

"Who are you? Why are you here instead of in the front hall?" Bai Yunsheng was filled with vigilance. His gaze swept over the man's chin, followed the umbrella handle to the fingers gripping it, and saw the distinct knuckles and a ruby ring on his index finger.

The man did not speak. Holding the umbrella, he walked toward Bai Yunsheng.

Bai Yunsheng did not stand. His gaze was caught for several seconds by the mole on the man's Adam's apple. A sense of familiarity rushed over him, and then his pupils constricted when he saw something. By the time Bai Yunsheng came back to himself, the man had already reached him.

The crackling rain and the rustling leaves spread through the quiet night.

Bai Yunsheng stared blankly as the umbrella tilted toward him, then slowly lifted. The man's face gradually came into Bai Yunsheng's view.

The dim yellow streetlamp fell across the man's chest.

That brooch flashed with a glimmer of light.

Thorns entwined around a bird.

"It's raining. Let's go back," the man said.