The rain grew heavier, pounding down as wind and rain collided.

The private room door was suddenly pushed open. Li Xiu poked her head in and called out playfully,
“Zhou Yang, cousin—come in and have some fun!”

Her voice rang out crisp and clear down the corridor, unmistakably loud. Her gaze landed directly on Zhou Yang. She puckered her lips, about to say something else, when the man who had been standing with his head lowered suddenly lifted his eyes.

The cigarette between his lips was already half burned. His gaze was dark and deep. That single look froze Li Xiu’s pout instantly—every trace of coy sweetness vanished.

The woman in front of him was, by all accounts, sweet and pretty, her face bright and striking. Yet Zhou Yang casually looked away. He removed the half cigarette from his mouth, stubbed it out in the ashtray atop the trash bin, then straightened up.

His voice was low and languid.
“Alright. I’ve shown my face. Happy birthday in advance.”

“I’ve got something to do. I’m leaving.”

With that, Zhou Yang slipped the cigarette into his pocket and walked toward the elevator.

Li Xiu’s expression changed immediately. She remained standing there, eyes wide and innocent, about to speak.

Zhou Yang pressed the elevator button with his fingertips and added coolly, his voice edged with coldness,
“Oh, right. Delete the photos you posted on your Moments.”

“Whether it’s appropriate or not—that’s for me to decide.”

He said it without emotion. The elevator doors opened.

Zhou Yang stepped inside. There was no smile in his eyes now. It wasn’t exactly hostility—but somehow, it was more unsettling that way.

Li Yi turned to look at his cousin, then glanced at the elevator doors as they closed. Raising an eyebrow, he asked,
“What did you post on your Moments?”

He rarely used Moments himself.

Li Xiu struggled for a moment, but in the end said nothing. Her eyes reddened as she turned and slipped back into the private room. The door closed behind her.

Watching this, Li Yi thought, Guess I’ll have to check it myself.

Better hurry before she deletes it.

He was curious.

He opened Moments and immediately saw Li Xiu’s post. He tapped into the photos.

Oh—photos with Zhou Yang.

But Zhou Yang wasn’t usually that petty. After closing the image, Li Yi finally spotted the problem.

Su Hao’s comment.

Li Yi let out a laugh.
“Pfft.”

Su Hao was very busy. By the time she finished eating, the food had gone cold. At night, there were hardly any people around, and even going to the restroom required some consideration. To make matters worse, it was raining outside.

She glanced out the window during a break and suddenly felt a bit lonely. Bored, she alternated between scrolling her phone and reading her journal—it helped steady her thoughts. Still, she regretted not taking the journal home to read.

Just then, she received a WeChat message from Zhou Yang, along with several photos sent by Li Xiu.

She casually opened them and saw they were group photos of Li Xiu and Zhou Yang—six in a row.

They were in a dimly lit but atmospheric setting, seemingly a hallway.

Zhou Yang was looking down at his phone, a cigarette between his lips, looking relaxed and careless.

Li Xiu leaned against him affectionately, her expression sweet and cute.

After sending the photos, Li Xiu sent another message.

“Su Hao, do you think we’re a good match?”

Su Hao looked at the photos again. Although Zhou Yang’s full face wasn’t visible, his nonchalant demeanor seemed oddly compatible with Li Xiu.

She was about to reply—

When Liao Yun’s video call came in. Su Hao hurriedly answered. The two chatted for a while. When she exited the call, she forgot about the photos entirely.

Later, after finishing her work, she stood up to leave. As she picked up her bag, she casually checked Moments and saw Li Xiu’s post again—only then did she remember she hadn’t replied.

She commented directly on Moments instead. Private chat would require back-and-forth.

Bag in hand, Su Hao went to close the windows and realized just how heavy the rain had become. After checking the entire office, she turned and went downstairs, all the way to the first floor.

The rain curtain was thick.

City lights glowed under the night sky, hazy and blurred, a vast darkness washed with faint light.

The wind was strong. Standing at the entrance, Su Hao opened a ride-hailing app to call a car. While waiting, she finally opened WeChat—Zhou Yang’s message was still unread.

She opened it casually.

Zhou Yang:
It’s raining. There’s an umbrella at President Zeng’s office. Remember to take one when you get off work.

Su Hao froze.

Was there really an umbrella in President Zeng’s office? What if it had already been taken?

She glanced back at the elevator and the empty lobby. She was the only one there.

Going back up would take time. After hesitating for a long while, she decided not to go back for it.

She returned to the chat window, about to reply to Zhou Yang.

She hesitated.

Replying means back-and-forth, she thought. What if he misunderstands?

That man was very good at taking an inch and pushing for a mile.

So Su Hao put her phone away and looked outside instead.

Just then, a black Porsche cut through the rain curtain and pulled up at the building entrance.

Rainwater washed over the car’s body, making it gleam—like a king arriving.

Su Hao frowned.

The next second, the driver’s door opened. A long leg stepped out. A black umbrella was raised as the man walked up the steps. The umbrella tilted slightly, revealing a handsome face beneath it.

In the rain, Zhou Yang’s eyes looked faintly cold.

He stopped in front of her. His lazy voice pierced through the rain.
“Didn’t see my message?”

“Or did you see it and pretend you didn’t?”
Each word landed heavily.

Su Hao parted her lips slightly. Standing in the rain, he looked even taller than usual. Water splashed onto his pant legs, soaking his shoes.

Suddenly, she felt she might have gone too far.

She hesitated, about to speak.

But Zhou Yang tilted the umbrella toward her, then reached out and grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward. Su Hao instinctively stumbled a step closer.

Rain brushed past her face for only a moment—then she was under the umbrella. Above them, rain pattered loudly against the canopy.

The air carried a mix of dry dampness, a faint fir scent, and a trace of cigarette smoke. Above that was the man’s Adam’s apple, his open collar, and the faint outline of his collarbones.

Su Hao twisted her wrist, trying to pull free.

Zhou Yang snorted softly but didn’t let go. His gaze swept over her lashes, nose, and lips. Beneath the black umbrella, it felt like a world cut off from everything else.

Her scent had always been hard to define—just a light, clean fragrance. Zhou Yang tightened his grip slightly.

The next second, he lowered his head and kissed her amid the rain.

Drip. Drip.

Su Hao didn’t react in time.

He forced his way in. She was made to tilt her head back. She struggled fiercely, her free hand flailing until—she didn’t know what she hit—

Smack.

The next second—

The umbrella fell.

Heavy raindrops pelted her face. Su Hao shut her eyes in a mess of rain and confirm. Zhou Yang was shoved back. He narrowed his eyes at her, sharp and fierce.

Then he hoisted her onto his shoulder, took two steps up, and slammed her against the glass doors. One hand pressed against her shoulder as he demanded hoarsely over the sound of rain,
“Am I really that unworthy of liking you? Hm?”

Su Hao was soaked through as well. She clutched her small bag tightly, hair plastered to her face, looking fragile and weak.

She stared at Zhou Yang, his shirt clinging to him, those long, narrow eyes reminding her of the boy he once was—except now, they were dark and heavy.

Silence stretched for a few seconds.

Su Hao smiled faintly.
“Are you worthy?”

Her voice was gentle—but carried a chill.

Zhou Yang’s hand slid to her neck, pulling her closer until their foreheads touched. He said nothing for a long time.

Water dripped from his hair, down his face, and into his collar—an unprecedented sight of disarray.

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