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The library's closing music began to play.

Shen Baili packed up her things and left the library. The rain outside had grown heavier.

She called the younger Butler Lin, but the line was busy.

Shen Baili lowered her phone and stared silently at the rain pouring through the darkness.

Her heart felt as cold as the rain.

Rain lashed down, knocking leaves from the trees. Shen Baili watched them fall to the ground, where the downpour battered them without mercy.

The library lights went out, and people left one after another.

Shen Baili had no umbrella. She checked her phone: five percent battery remained.

"..."

What rotten luck.

One unlucky person, one unlucky day.

Shen Baili called the younger Lin's number again, but still couldn't get through. She sent a message with her location.

The message went through. Unread.

Just as Shen Baili was about to call Butler Lin, her phone shut down from low battery.

Rain poured down. Its steady patter made everything around her seem even quieter.

Shen Baili pressed the power button. The screen lit up for a few seconds, then went dark again.

Moths circled the streetlamp, their fluttering shadows falling across the ground with an almost apocalyptic beauty.

Cars sped past on the road. Red and yellow lights appeared, then quickly vanished. Not a single taxi stopped.

Bad luck, bad luck, bad luck!

A-Deng chimed in. "Bad luck, bad luck, bad luck!"

The little orange cat sat on Shen Baili's shoulder, tail upright, meowing with great "authority."

A smile flashed across Shen Baili's face, fleeting as a night-blooming flower.

"Good luck, good luck, good luck!"

A-Deng didn't understand why, but echoed her. "Good luck, good luck, good luck!"

Bored, Shen Baili stepped through the puddles, making little tapping sounds.

"We're going to get lucky!"

A-Deng