Page 18

"Thank you for coming, Owen," Xin Chun said softly. "I think Senior Shao Kang should finally give up completely this time."

Owen's eyes had widened slightly at Xin Chun's action, but upon hearing those words, his heartbeat settled. His dark green eyes deepened as he said, "Is that not enough? Should we take it a step further?"

"Hmm?"

Owen leaned forward slightly and placed an incredibly gentle kiss on Xin Chun's cheek. The warmth of his lips seemed to brand itself there, instantly dispelling the rain's chilly dampness. Heat rose through Xin Chun's body, and his lashes trembled.

After the kiss, Owen leaned close to Xin Chun's ear and whispered, "Now that is enough."

From afar, the two looked as though they were whispering sweetly beneath the umbrella.

Shao Kang was still in the teahouse and naturally saw the scene. His mood immediately turned as bitter as the tea.

"Let's go." Owen covered the back of Xin Chun's hand holding the umbrella with his own. Walking shoulder to shoulder, they left together in an intimate posture.

Elsewhere, a little girl in a duckling-yellow raincoat skipped home beneath her own umbrella. When her mother saw that her daughter had returned with an extra umbrella in hand, she could not help asking where it had come from.

The girl answered, "A handsome uncle gave it to me."

On the way, Owen asked Xin Chun what he thought about Shao Kang chasing him from B City all the way to Jingu Town.

Xin Chun said, "I don't think anything of it. If I had feelings for him, I would have fallen for him back in college. I wouldn't have waited until now."

"Before I went to B City, Senior Shao Kang and I had never been in contact. I don't think he necessarily has to have me."

"When we were in college, after realizing he couldn't win me over, he actually dated several boyfriends. It's just that I was always cold toward Shao Kang. Maybe people who are hard to get always seem more special."

"He had always succeeded in this regard, yet he failed with me. He was probably unwilling to accept that."

Perhaps Shao Kang himself had never realized that his self-proclaimed "deep affection" was not precious at all.

Even after getting together with someone else, he would often put on a longing, unrequited expression whenever he faced Xin Chun, as though if Xin Chun were willing to nod, Shao Kang could break up with anyone for him at any time.

Xin Chun was sometimes utterly baffled. He had clearly done nothing, yet Shao Kang's exes would occasionally come make trouble for him, even threatening him and bluntly accusing Xin Chun of ruining their relationship.

Although Shao Kang would later find out and quickly settle the matter, it still caused Xin Chun no small amount of trouble.

From then on, Xin Chun had tried to avoid him whenever possible.

Self-indulgent sentiment was not a good thing.

The two avoided the puddles at their feet as they walked. The rain was still falling, but being close to each other felt warm.

Owen said, "I really want to know what kind of person you would fall for, regardless of gender."

Xin Chun turned to look at Owen and answered without hesitation, "Someone who keeps me in his heart. In his world, I am the most important person."

The next day, Jingu Town's festival began. The sky had cleared a little from early morning, and the sun was out, though it was not especially bright.

Ke Hang said, "It probably won't rain today, right?"

As someone who had grown up in Jingu Town, Xin Chun told him, "Not necessarily. It'll probably stay dry in the morning, turn overcast at noon, and drizzle in the afternoon."

Ke Hang said, "But the weather forecast doesn't say it'll rain today."

Xin Chun said, "Trust me, not the weather forecast."

Still, there was no need to bring umbrellas today. Countless oil-paper umbrellas would be hung all along the street.

Since Ke Hang's mentor and classmates were visiting Jingu Town for the first time, and Ivy, Li Ze, and Miko were also experiencing a festival like this for the first time, Xin Chun, as a local, acted as their guide and planned out the day's route.

First, the girls went to change into qipaos and get hairstyles and makeup that suited them.

The shop had many styles of qipao, along with hairpins, beaded floral ornaments, and everything else one could need. There were far fewer options for men, mostly long gowns and Zhongshan suits.

Xin Chun and Owen did not plan on changing. Xin Chun wore a T-shirt and jeans with white shoes, simple and fresh, while Owen wore a shirt

and vest

that highlighted his well-built figure and long legs.

Ke Hang and Li Ze were curious about the long gowns. After choosing some, they went into the changing rooms and came back out. Looking in the mirror, they discovered that they looked rather ridiculous.

Ke Hang in particular had fashionable, lightly curled tea-brown hair. After putting on a long gown, he looked thoroughly mismatched, mainly because his face did not suit it either.

Li Ze looked slightly better than him.

But when Ke Hang's mentor changed into a Zhongshan suit, it suited him perfectly and gave him the air of a scholar. His mentor was clearly pleased with the outfit as well and immediately paid for it.

"I should change back," Ke Hang said disappointedly. He could not even spend money if he wanted to.

Li Ze also planned to change out of his.

Ke Hang said to Xin Chun, "Chun, aren't you going to pick one and try it on?"

Xin Chun said, "No."

His attitude was firm.

Ke Hang looked at Owen again and thought that a handsome mixed-race guy in a long gown would probably look even stranger. Better not to see that.

Once Ke Hang had changed back into his own clothes and sat beside Xin Chun, he found an opportunity to ask, "How did your talk with Senior Shao Kang go yesterday?"

Xin Chun said, "We made everything clear. He texted me this morning. He has already left Jingu Town and gone back to B City."

There had been another line in the text—wishing him and Owen well.

Ke Hang said in surprise, "He gave up that quickly? I thought Senior Shao Kang came all the way to Jingu Town with a long-term plan to win you over."

He had only just arrived before leaving again. His attitude was rather decisive, so Ke Hang could not help being curious. He had not even needed to help.

"Chun, what exactly did you say to him?"

"I let him understand the difference between people. Naturally, he retreated in defeat."

Owen looked over, amusement coloring his eyes.

Ke Hang was bewildered. "What does that mean?"