Spend Summer Chapter 15
byHearts beating in the rain
Shen Wan looked at Ji Zhao with doubt. Her gaze shifted down to Ji Zhao’s long, fair fingers. There was a small red mole on her wrist bone, particularly eye-catching.
Looking up, she saw Ji Zhao’s features soften as she smiled at her. “I can’t finish it all. Wanwan, keep me company~”
As she spoke, Ji Zhao blinked her large eyes, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
Shen Wan shook her head. “No need, I should probably just eat at the cafeteria.”
Ji Zhao immediately shot a look at Lin Jiayue. Lin Jiayue winked back, signaling “no problem.”
She took Sang Zhiyu’s arm and wheedled in a drawn-out voice, “Little Fish, won’t you eat with me? Please?”
The tips of Sang Zhiyu’s ears turned slightly red. She nodded timidly, her voice low. “O-okay.”
Hearing this, Ji Zhao stared into Shen Wan’s eyes with hope.
Shen Wan’s fingers twitched slightly, but she eventually agreed. She truly couldn’t refuse the person in front of her.
Ji Zhao and Lin Jiayue’s lunch boxes were put together, totaling three dishes and one soup.
One was stir-fried cabbage with fried tofu puffs. The cabbage was crisp and sweet, and the tofu puffs were cut in half, soaking up the savory sauce.
Another was diced chicken breast with broccoli. The chicken was cut into neat cubes and pan-fried until golden brown, contrasting beautifully with the bright green broccoli.
Then there were the cola chicken wings. The wings were pan-fried before cola was added to simmer them into a sweet and sour glaze, topped with white sesame seeds. The meat fell right off the bone.
The soup was made from pork ribs simmered with winter melon to cut through the richness, resulting in a light, sweet flavor.
Shen Wan hadn’t expected the food Ji Zhao brought to be this good. For a moment, she regretted agreeing.
She bit her lip in frustration, feeling restless and wanting to flee. Her leg muscles tensed.
Ji Zhao gave her back a reassuring pat and filled a small bowl with pork rib soup. “This is for you.”
The nerves in Shen Wan’s back suddenly stiffened. She forced herself not to move and took the bowl blankly, unconsciously whispering, “Th-thank you.”
Seeing her accept it, Ji Zhao’s expression relaxed as she continued her task. “Zhiyu, this is for you.”
Sang Zhiyu rubbed her hands together and immediately took the bowl, thanking her repeatedly.
Only after making sure the two were taken care of did Ji Zhao pick up her spoon to drink the soup, observing Shen Wan as she did.
She took a small sip. It was sweet and refreshing. The winter melon was simmered until soft, melting in her mouth and warming her entire body.
She closed her eyes in contentment.
Over the next few days, Shen Wan and Ji Zhao tacitly maintained this habit.
Shen Wan brought breakfast for Ji Zhao and bought her a bottle of cola every day; Ji Zhao brought lunch, determined to help Shen Wan put on some weight.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed since the start of the semester.
Shen Wan hadn’t lied; her money had indeed been spent on school uniforms.
Ever since the uniforms were distributed, Shen Wan hardly wore her own clothes. Only in the uniform could she be like everyone else, avoiding unwanted attention because of her attire.
Although the looks she received were sometimes well-meaning, Shen Wan still didn’t like or feel used to them. They were constant reminders of her own predicament.
She still only had two pairs of wearable shoes, but it didn’t matter. Shen Wan believed that one day, she would replace them all.
As March approached, branches grew rapidly, and the world became noisy and vibrant.
On this day, a rare rain fell in Chuzhou, gently providing life with strength.
Outside the window, the rain pitter-pattered. The wind blew against the branches, reaching toward the windowsill and bringing a chill.
It was already late at night, but the classroom remained brightly lit, standing solitary in the world.
Rain was friendly to nature, but for Shen Wan, it wasn’t so kind.
Every time the rainy season arrived, she inevitably ended up soaked like a drowned rat.
Shen Wan didn’t pack her bag. She looked out the window gloomily, wondering how to get back. She hadn’t brought an umbrella, and her bag would surely get wet.
Ji Zhao huffed indignantly to herself. Can’t you just ask me if you don’t have an umbrella?!
Just as she thought that, Shen Wan turned around, looked her in the eye, and asked, “Zhaozhao, did you bring an umbrella?”
Ji Zhao nodded like a chick pecking at grain. “I did, I did! Let’s go together.”
Shen Wan thought for a few seconds before nodding. “Then thank you, Zhaozhao.”
The four of them came down from the second floor. Lin Jiayue and Sang Zhiyu had their own umbrellas.
Shen Wan tucked herself under Ji Zhao’s umbrella.
The umbrella wasn’t large. They stood very close, their shoulders bumping occasionally. The friction between the school uniform and the cotton hoodie created a tingling sensation.
Shen Wan’s mind was in a mess. Her gaze wandered until it landed on Ji Zhao’s hand holding the umbrella.
Shen Wan’s vision had never been so sharp. In the dim light, she accurately saw the red mole on Ji Zhao’s wrist bone, moving slightly as she gripped the handle.
As if pricked by a needle, Shen Wan quickly looked away and scrambled for a topic. “Let me hold the umbrella.”
Ji Zhao readily agreed. She understood that Shen Wan felt the need to reciprocate any kindness she received. While holding an umbrella wasn’t a big deal, it would put Shen Wan at ease.
Ji Zhao: “Sure, here.”
Shen Wan took it. Her fingers accidentally brushed against the back of Ji Zhao’s hand. It felt like being burned, but she forced herself to grip the handle tightly.
As she held the umbrella, her arm unconsciously tilted, keeping Ji Zhao firmly covered.
Rain splashed around them as they walked straight ahead. The canopy of the umbrella created a world of their own.
Neither of them spoke again, enjoying the romance of the rainy night.
But their hearts kept beating in the rain, echoing in every corner of Chuzhou.
Outside the school gates, Sang Zhiyu left first since her home was in a different direction, leaving only the three of them.
A beautiful woman was waiting nearby. Seeing Ji Zhao and Lin Jiayue, she immediately walked over. “You’re finally out. Let’s go.”
Ji Zhao cried out in surprise, “Mom, why are you here?”
The woman under the umbrella smiled. “I came to pick you up since it’s raining.”
Ji Zhao nodded and introduced her mother to her friend. “Mom, this is the new seatmate I told you about—Shen Wan.”
Ji Zhao’s mother observed Shen Wan carefully and greeted her with a warm smile. “So you’re Wanwan. Zhaozhao talks about you all the time. You really are a little beauty, just as she said.”
Hearing this, Shen Wan lowered her head shyly and said softly, “Hello, Auntie.”
Rarely interacting with elders, Shen Wan felt a bit awkward and didn’t know what to say, standing there dazed.
But Ji Zhao’s mother didn’t need her to say much. She beckoned them over. “I drove here today. Get in, I’ll take you all home.”
Ji Zhao coaxed sweetly, “Mom is the best! I love you most!” Then she grabbed Shen Wan’s wrist and pulled her into the car.
Lin Jiayue also smiled sweetly and made a finger heart. “I love Godmother most.” Then she hopped in too.
By the time Shen Wan reacted, her mind was still a bit foggy. How did she end up in the car?
She looked at Ji Zhao, who was looking out the other side. Her gaze shifted down to the hand still holding her wrist.
They were already in the car, but Ji Zhao hadn’t let go, as if she had forgotten.
A warm sensation spread from where they touched, making one feel at a loss. It was a hidden secret in this rainy day, inside the dim car.
Outside, the rain fell heavily, leaving streaks on the glass windows.
The neon lights still shone, and Shen Wan’s eyes were filled with a soft, peaceful, and satisfied glow.
Ji Zhao didn’t let go, and Shen Wan tacitly didn’t bring it up, quietly watching the scenery outside.
The silence was eventually broken by a question. “Wanwan, where do you live?”
“Auntie, I live—” Shen Wan paused, then said, “You can just drop me off at Central Avenue. I live there.”
Ji Zhao’s mother nodded in understanding. “Alright, I’ll stop there.”
The car moved slowly at first before picking up speed, soon arriving at Central Avenue.
Shen Wan turned and said, “I’ll head out now. Thank you for the ride, Auntie.”
Ji Zhao’s mother waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. I wouldn’t feel right letting you girls walk alone in this rain.”
Shen Wan pursed her lips and said slowly, “Regardless, thank you, Auntie.”
She checked the road, reached out to open the door, and Ji Zhao quickly stuffed the umbrella into her hand. “Open the umbrella first so you don’t get wet.”
Shen Wan didn’t say thank you this time; she simply took it and opened it.
Standing on the sidewalk, Shen Wan silently watched the car drive away. Raindrops splashed against the umbrella and trickled down the ribs to the ground in silence.
Shen Wan turned and walked through a small alley. The world was suddenly divided into different zones.
The alley was very narrow, lined with old houses on both sides. The plaster was peeling, and the corners were covered in moss. As she walked under the eaves, she was occasionally splashed by dripping water.
Behind her was Central Avenue, bright and dazzling, but this place felt abandoned by the world, completely out of place.
踏进楼梯间，湿滑到需要小心到再小心才能不摔倒，房門大敞，濃重的酒氣飄出來。
Stepping into the stairwell, it was so slippery that she had to be extremely careful not to fall. A door stood wide open, and the heavy stench of alcohol wafted out.
Shen Wan wanted to turn and leave, but in this weather, where could she go?
Shen Jianye was still drinking. Shen Wan didn’t understand—what was so good about alcohol? Why did so many people like it, willing to lose themselves in a drunken stupor?
He had probably won some money. Seeing Shen Wan enter, Shen Jianye didn’t pay her any mind. He only cracked an eye open briefly before closing it again and taking another swig of liquor.
The veins on Shen Wan’s forehead throbbed. She tiptoed into her room and locked the door.
She didn’t go out again. With one ear listening to the sighs of drinking outside, she slowly wiped the umbrella dry.
The moment the umbrella was dry, a burst of snoring came from outside, mixed with uncontrollable coughing. It was a heavy cough, likely from phlegm, shaking the very house.
Shen Wan was used to it. She put the umbrella away, took out her books, and started her daily homework.
She continued until midnight. Shen Wan glanced at the moonlight. Since it had just rained, the sky seemed wrapped in a thin, hazy mist.
Because she never knew when Shen Jianye would return, Shen Wan usually kept a kettle of water in her room. After a simple wash, she lay on the bed and slowly closed her eyes.
She slept without dreams, and her biological clock woke her up punctually the next morning.