Chapter 10

Li Ze: "Can Oil-Paper Umbrellas be bought?"

"They can," Xin Chun said.

Ivy: "I want to wear a beautiful qipao and buy an Oil-Paper Umbrella to collect too—no, two of them. One to use and one to collect. But would it look strange if I put my hair up?"

Ivy gathered up her brilliant golden hair.

Xin Chun: "Not at all. A qipao would bring out a different kind of beauty in you. You're very beautiful, Ivy. You'd look even better with your hair up."

A smile spread across Ivy's face at his words. "Such a sweet talker. You really know how to compliment people."

Xin Chun pursed his lips shyly. "I was only telling the truth."

Ivy laughed again, amused by him. She could not help walking over and planting a kiss on Xin Chun's face. "You really are a sweetheart."

Xin Chun froze for a moment, then grew even more embarrassed.

Ivy cast Owen a discreet glance. "Who knows who'll end up being lucky enough to have you, sweetheart."

Two days before the festival began, Xin Chun received an unexpected call from an unfamiliar number.

When he answered, Shao Kang's voice came from the other end.

"How did you get my number?" Xin Chun frowned.

Shao Kang: "I'm sorry. I got this number from Zhao Gang."

"Xin Chun, we barely had a chance to speak that day before you left B City. I thought it over and over, and I didn't want to leave myself with regrets. I didn't want to miss my chance with you."

"So I came to Jingu Town."

When Ke Hang learned of this, he said in surprise, "Shao Kang actually chased you all the way here? He really refuses to give up. Chun, are you going to meet him?"

Xin Chun: "Yes. I've repeated the same things to Shao Kang many times. There's no possibility between us. I don't know why he's so persistent."

"This time, aside from making things clear to him again, I'm going to make Shao Kang give up completely and stop bothering me."

Ke Hang: "If there's anything you need help with, tell me."

"Okay."

Chapter 10

The day before the festival, a light drizzle began falling outside. Xin Chun arrived at the teahouse with an umbrella, where he had arranged to meet Shao Kang.

Shao Kang had brought an umbrella as well and was leaning against a table by the window.

As soon as Xin Chun sat down, he said directly to Shao Kang, "You shouldn't have come to Jingu Town. You won't find the answer you want here."

Shao Kang gave a bitter smile. "You won't give me even a single chance, Xin Chun?"

Xin Chun: "Back in university, I made it very clear to you many times that we weren't suited for each other. There was no possibility between us."

"Shao Kang, you're a proud person. Don't waste any more time on me. During the period after university when we didn't keep in touch, I'm sure you were doing just fine."

There was no reason for Shao Kang to become so hung up on him and pursue him relentlessly just because Xin Chun had appeared in B City and they had met once.

He had come to Jingu Town because he was unwilling to accept it.

Xin Chun understood that very clearly.

Two cups of tea sat on the table, neglected at the moment, with neither of them intending to take a sip.

Shao Kang: "I can tell you don't dislike love between people of the same sex, and you've never dated a girlfriend either..."

"But that doesn't mean I'll be with you," Xin Chun cut him off.

"I don't understand. Am I not good enough?"

Xin Chun: "That's not the issue. If we have to define our relationship, you're only my senior. Nothing more."

It could not go any further.

Shao Kang fell silent for a moment upon hearing that. "Do you like your boss, Xin Chun?"

Xin Chun looked up. "Why do you ask?"

Shao Kang: "That night at the bar in B City, you would rather choose your boss than give me even the slightest possibility. Your boss, he treats you..."

Shao Kang suddenly stopped there. His gaze passed through the teahouse's wooden window and looked outside. Amid the curtain of rain, strung together like beads, someone stood there.

Following Shao Kang's gaze, Xin Chun turned to look. It was Owen.

Before meeting Shao Kang, Xin Chun had specifically asked Owen to come find him.

"Help me out, Owen. You don't need to come inside. Just wait for me outside."

"You want him to misunderstand our relationship?" Owen understood what Xin Chun meant.

Xin Chun nodded. "Yes. That way, Shao Kang probably won't keep entertaining any hopes."

"Okay." Owen agreed.

But now Owen had come—why was he not holding an umbrella?

The rain was not particularly heavy today, yet a faint mist of water already clung to Owen's hair and shoulders. His dark green eyes looked like gemstones soaked in light.

He was shrouded in the hazy rain, possessing a uniquely captivating charm. When his eyes met Xin Chun's, the unconscious smile that curved at the corner of his lips made Xin Chun smile along with him.

The expressions they revealed made Shao Kang's face darken.

Xin Chun turned to him and said, "Senior, I've already said everything that needed to be said."

"It wasn't easy for you to come all the way to Jingu Town. Tomorrow, the town will be holding its unique Oil-Paper Umbrella Festival. If you're interested, Senior Shao Kang, you can stay for a day and attend it before returning to B City. I'll be leaving now."

Xin Chun politely bade Shao Kang farewell.

Then, without waiting for Shao Kang to react, he stood up, took his umbrella, and quickly left.

After leaving the teahouse, Xin Chun opened his umbrella and walked toward Owen. Only when it covered both of their heads did it block out the curtain of rain.

Xin Chun looked up and asked, "Where's your umbrella, Owen?"

"I met a little girl on the way who didn't have one, so I gave it to her." Owen discreetly glanced into the teahouse before answering.

"Then we'll share one umbrella on the way back." As he spoke, Xin Chun naturally reached out and touched Owen's face. A few droplets of water clung to Owen's face, and his skin had turned cold. Xin Chun used his sleeve to wipe away the rainwater.