Then, Lu Lin's voice rang in my ears again, "I've come to pick you up?"
The downpour lasted only a few minutes; in the blink of an eye, the rain lessened, turning from a downpour into a light drizzle. Some students had already rushed into the rain and were heading towards the subway station.
Seeing that Yan Heqing was still on the phone, Lin Fengzhi turned to Gu Xingye and suggested, "It's raining and we can't get a taxi, so why don't we call my driver to come pick us up?"
Gu Xingye responded, but his eyes were fixed on Yan Heqing.
He was concerned about Yan Heqing, the friend Lin Fengzhi just mentioned.
He treated Yan Heqing very well; would Yan Heqing let his friends stay overnight?
Mr. Lu?
Gu Xingye's brows furrowed unconsciously.
At this moment, Yan Heqing's heart gradually calmed down, and he could hear other sounds again.
It was Lin Fengzhi's voice, "Yes, at the gate of Beijing University, come and pick us up..."
Yan Heqing spoke softly, "Mm."
Click.
Through the receiver, I heard the sound of a car door opening, and the sudden patter of rain.
*
The road in front of Beijing University is lined with paulownia trees that are decades old.
It was the flowering season, and the huge, thick trunks of the paulownia trees were bent low by the weight of the purple flowers, only a few centimeters taller than a pedestrian.
A sudden downpour had just passed, and some purple flowers had been knocked to the ground, mixing with the clean rainwater to form small, uneven puddles of fallen petals.
The leaves, washed clean by the rain, turned a deep green. Fine raindrops fell on the transparent umbrella, making a crisp, pattering sound. A tall, slender figure appeared on the street, amidst the falling petals.
Just Lin Fengzhi was about to hang up the phone, his pupils suddenly widened, his expression a mixture of astonishment, surprise, and bewilderment as he stared straight ahead.
The driver's questioning could still be heard through the receiver when the phone fell directly from Lin Fengzhi's hand.
With a loud crash, Gu Xingye looked at Lin Fengzhi in surprise, "What—"
" Uncle Lu..." Lin Fengzhi's lips uttered a softer tone than ever before, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest.
The whole world seemed like a mirage to him, except for Lu Lin, who was walking towards him with a transparent umbrella and a long black trench coat.
Was Lu Lin here to pick him up?
yes!
Definitely!
Besides him, who else could Lu Lin pick up!
Overwhelmed with happiness, Lin Fengzhi's fingernails dug deep into his soft flesh, so much so that he felt no pain. He couldn't wait to step into the rain and face Lu Lin.
When Gu Xingye heard "Uncle Lu," he suddenly realized why Lu Lin looked familiar.
Lu Lin, Lu Muchi's uncle, was once a prominent figure at Beijing University.
Gu Xingye immediately looked at Yan Heqing.
At the same time, Lin Fengzhi rushed to Lu Lin, his fair face already flushed red. He spoke, his voice trembling, "Lu—"
It came to an abrupt end.
Lin Fengzhi's smile froze on his lips.
Slowly, as if stuck, her neck twisted with Lu Lin's movements.
Lu Lin held the umbrella in one hand and walked past without looking to the side.
Lin Fengzhi turned his head away--
Lu Lin quickened his pace, his dark eyes focused solely on Yan Heqing ahead. As Yan Heqing stepped out from under the eaves, Lu Lin stepped forward, tilting his umbrella to shield Yan Heqing's head from view.
Lin Fengzhi's vision blurred instantly.
Black, despairing.
For a few seconds, Lin Fengzhi wished his eyes were truly damaged, or even that he was blind, rather than admit that his Uncle Lu was walking towards Yan Heqing...
--
Gu Xingye's gaze also deepened.
Lu Lin acted as if he hadn't seen him, or rather, he genuinely couldn't see anyone else. His eyes were filled with a smile as he looked at the boy before him, and he naturally reached out to take his schoolbag. "Aren't you cold wearing so little?"
Springtime temperatures are rising, but it's still a bit chilly, Yan Heqing is only wearing a very thin jacket.
If they weren't at the entrance of Beijing University, Lu Lin would have loved to pull Yan Heqing inside his trench coat to warm up for a while.
Yan Heqing's gaze passed over Lu Lin's shoulder. Not far away, Lin Fengzhi was watching them as if he were still. He withdrew his gaze, took a step forward, and Lu Lin moved his umbrella accordingly. The two stood facing each other on either side of the umbrella handle.
Yan Heqing shook his head slightly, "It's not cold. When did you arrive?"
"When you came out with your classmates," Lu Lin smiled, "Were you having an event?"
Yan Heqing nodded. "They invited me to play ice hockey."
Lu Lin then looked at Gu Xingye, "Mind having one more person?"
He was clearly referring to himself. Gu Xingye stepped forward. He knew Lu Lin wielded immense power, and this made him even more interested. Gu Xingye smiled brightly, "It's our honor that you're willing to participate."
The rain stopped then. Yan Heqing said something to Lu Lin, stepped out from under the umbrella, and walked towards Lin Fengzhi.
He said to Lin Fengzhi with a calm expression, "That's my friend Lu Lin. He's going to play ice hockey with us, is that alright?"
Lin Fengzhi was completely unable to think straight, and after a long while, he finally managed to utter a hoarse voice, "He... is that friend who's been especially good to you?"
No wonder it smells like cedar.
So that man was Lu Lin...
Yan Heqing even stayed overnight at Lu Lin's house... they...
Lin Fengzhi's smooth fingernails actually dug into his palm, causing a sharp, persistent pain that prevented him from even crying.
He didn't want Lu Lin to like anyone else, and he especially didn't want Lu Lin to like Yan Heqing!
Lin Fengzhi finally moved. He stepped forward and grabbed Yan Heqing's arm, his ten fingers trembling uncontrollably, pleadingly looking at Yan Heqing, "Brother..."
He shook his head, hoping Yan Heqing would give a negative answer.
Yan Heqing looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Yes, what's wrong?" He suddenly seemed to remember something, glanced around, and asked in a low voice, "He and I aren't just ordinary friends. Given our relationship, is it okay to tell him?"
"..." The last trace of color drained from Lin Fengzhi's face. His breathing became rapid, and his fingernails dug heavily into Yan Heqing's coat.
Not just ordinary friends...
These words were all he could think about. He wanted to ask, if they weren't just ordinary friends, then what kind of friends were they? Best friends? Or... boyfriend?
Lin Fengzhi dared not ask.
He was afraid to hear the answer.