When The Snow Falls In Autumn Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The bright strip of light at the entrance of the cafeteria is like a hot dividing line.Outside was the white afternoon sun, which caused distorted and transparent heat to rise from the asphalt road; inside there was a dim and noisy atmosphere mixed with the smell of food that had not completely dissipated.Ye Qiulan stood at the junction of light and darkness, watching Ling Xueqing’s back merge into the mottled shadows of the sycamore trees in the distance, until the light gray figure was completely invisible.

There were students who had finished their meals and came out in twos and threes, laughing and playing around. They passed by her, bringing with them waves of warm wind that smelled of sweat and shampoo.She stood there for a long time, until the cafeteria aunt on duty at the door shouted in accented Mandarin: “Classmate, give way to the door!” She suddenly came to her senses, subconsciously took a step aside, and her heels hit the threshold, feeling a slight pain.

The piece of poached egg in my stomach was heavy, with a greasy feeling of satiety, and a slight bloating that I couldn’t tell whether it was a psychological effect or a really uncomfortable feeling.She raised her hand and gently pressed her upper abdomen through the thin cotton shirt material.His own body temperature was felt on his fingertips.

She did not return to the dormitory immediately.We didn’t meet until 2:30 in the afternoon. Now when I go back, I just stare at the manuscript papers that have been sorted over and over again, or stare at the empty ceiling of the dormitory.Library…it’s too early to go there now.She stood in the shadow of the cafeteria door, looking blankly at the campus road outside that was whitened by the scorching sun.

In fact, you can find a shady place to sit for a while, such as…the stone bench over there in the metasequoia forest.Or, go to the teaching building and find an empty classroom.My thoughts turned a few corners, but my feet seemed to have taken root and did not move.His eyes unconsciously scanned the road that Ling Xueqing left.The shadow of the sycamore tree was stretched diagonally, lying quietly on the ground.

At this moment, far away in the horizon, there was a muffled sound of thunder.

The sound was very deep, almost inaudible through the thick air and the noisy human voices, like a giant beast turning over deep in the clouds.Ye Qiulan initially thought it was an illusion, or the noise coming from the construction site in the distance.But then, the originally dazzling sunlight seemed to dim a little.She looked up.

The sky was still a whitish blue evaporated by the high temperature, but an inconspicuous, leaden-gray cloud had piled up near the western skyline.The edges were rimmed with pale gold by the sunlight, spreading toward the sky at a slow but not negligible speed.

Is it going to rain?Summer thunderstorms always come unexpectedly.

Her heart moved slightly.Ling Xueqing didn’t bring an umbrella.When they were eating just now, there was only a dark one-shoulder canvas bag placed on the empty chair next to her. It was not big and didn’t look like it could hold an umbrella.She herself… doesn’t seem to have brought one either.The weather was fine when I went out in the morning, but who would have thought that after a long and sultry day, the rain has persisted until now.

Do you want… to remind her?Or, go back and get an umbrella?

As soon as the idea came up, she suppressed it herself.Ling Xueqing was probably almost at the library.Moreover, with Ling Xueqing’s temperament, even if she knew it was going to rain, she would not go back deliberately. At most, she would stay in the library until the rain stopped, or simply go back in the shower – she always seemed not to care about these little things, just like she didn’t care about her shoulders getting wet from the rain.

While he was hesitating, there was another muffled thunder, closer and clearer than before.The students who were lingering and chatting at the door also looked up at the sky. Someone whispered, “It seems like it’s going to rain.” They walked faster and dispersed towards the dormitory or teaching building.

The wind also picked up.It was no longer the stagnant hot wind before, but a gust of wind with a hint of coolness, picking up dust and fallen leaves on the ground.The blowing on the lightly sweated skin was actually a little refreshing, but it also brought more obvious uneasiness.The sky darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the lead-gray clouds expanded extremely fast, swallowing up a small half of the blue sky. The sunlight was cut into pieces, casting fast-moving, flickering light spots on the ground.

Ye Qiulan no longer hesitated, turned around and walked quickly back to the cafeteria.She remembered that there was a small convenience store near the side door on the first floor of the cafeteria, which should sell disposable raincoats.Even if Ling Xueqing doesn’t need it, she still needs it.

There were already several students crowded in front of the convenience store who also came to buy rain gear.She squeezed in. There were only the last two disposable raincoats on the shelf. They were made of thin plastic paper and looked cheap and transparent.She took one, thought about it, and then took the other one in her hand.While queuing up to pay, I looked out through the dirty glass window of the convenience store. It was almost like evening outside. The wind was strong, and the dense canopy of the sycamore tree was blown wildly, making a loud crashing sound, and fine branches, leaves and dust were flying all over the sky.Big raindrops began to fall, first one, then two, hitting the cement floor heavily, leaving behind dark dots. Then, dense rain curtains poured down violently without warning, instantly submerging the whole world in deafening roars and white water vapor.

After paying, she held the two light raincoats and stood under the narrow eaves of the convenience store.The rain was so heavy that the wind carried the raindrops and swept them sideways. Even if I stood at the innermost eaves, my trouser legs and shoe uppers would soon get wet.There were almost no pedestrians on the road, only a few bicycles lying in the rain and being washed away.The outlines of distant buildings are blurred behind the water curtain.

From here to the library, we have to walk through an open area without any obstruction.If you rush out now, even if you put on this simple raincoat, you will definitely get wet all over.She looked at the thin plastic film in her hand, and then at the violent rain outside. The impulse in her heart to “send an umbrella” was mostly extinguished by the cold reality.

We can only wait for the rain to subside a little.

She leaned against the cold wall and looked at the waterfall-like water curtain outside the eaves.The sound of rain swallowed up everything, and the world seemed to be left with only this noisy, boundless gray.The air is filled with the moist smell of dust and fishy smell caused by rain hitting the ground, as well as the untimely and cloying sweet aroma emanating from the oden machine at the door of the convenience store.

The waiting time was sticky and long.The rain showed no sign of abating, but intensified. Occasionally, a pale light flashed across the sky, and a few seconds later, thunder exploded overhead, causing the glass windows to buzz and tremble.The convenience store was packed with people taking shelter from the rain. Complaints, laughter, and the sound of music playing on their mobile phones mixed together, making it suffocating and suffocating.

Ye Qiulan felt that the stagflation caused by the piece of poached egg in his stomach became more obvious, and he even felt a faint sense of nausea.She frowned and unconsciously pressed her fingers on her stomach again.Did you eat too quickly, or is the weather boring?Maybe both.

I don’t know how long it took, maybe only ten minutes, but it felt like hours.The rain finally let up a bit, from a downpour to a heavy rain. Although it was still violent, at least I could see the outlines of nearby objects clearly.The wind has also become lighter and the rain lines are much more vertical.

Can’t wait any longer.I have to work on manuscripts in the afternoon.Moreover, in the library…could Ling Xueqing be waiting too?Or has she gone back in the rain?

Ye Qiulan tore open the packaging of a raincoat, and the thin plastic made a squeaking sound.She awkwardly pulled her raincoat over her body and pulled her hood up, even though she knew it was probably useless.The other raincoat was folded carefully and stuffed into the outermost layer of the canvas bag. It was covered with a notebook to prevent it from being punctured by the contents of the bag.

Taking a deep breath, she rushed into the rain.

Ice-cold rain fell from all directions in an instant.The hood of the raincoat was not stable at all and slipped backwards when the wind blew. The cold rain immediately poured into her neck and flowed down her back, making her shiver.His trouser legs and canvas shoes were soaked almost as soon as he stepped into the rain, clinging heavily to his skin.My vision was blurry, and I could only rely on my feelings and memories to run towards the library.

The sound of rain hitting the raincoat made a crackling sound, mixed with his own heavy breathing and heartbeat.The whole world seemed to be left with only the cold wet feeling and mechanical running.She carefully protected the canvas bag on her chest, the manuscript papers and books inside, and the spare raincoat to prevent them from getting wet.

When we ran to the open square, the rain seemed to be getting heavier.The water on the ground is already very deep, and it will cause high splashes when you step on it.She was panting from running, and the cold rain flowed down her hair and into her eyes, which was astringent and painful.The dull pain in her stomach seemed to be amplified by the vibration of running, and it tightened gradually, forcing her to bend down slightly and slow down.

Just as she was about to cross the square and run to the path with partial eaves leading to the library, her feet suddenly slipped.It was a loose tile under standing water.She whispered “Ah”, lost her balance, and stumbled forward.

The expected pain of falling into the cold water did not come.A strong hand grasped her arm steadily and in time, with great force and irresistible force, and forcefully pulled her forward body back.

She stood firm in shock, and through the blurred vision and the flowing rain, she saw the hand holding her arm. The fingers were long, the joints were slightly white from exertion, and the nails were neatly trimmed.From the wrist up, there are light gray cotton sleeves, which have been soaked by the rain and have become darker in color. They stick tightly to the skin and outline the clear lines of the forearm.

She followed the hand and raised her head in surprise.

Ling Xueqing stood in front of her.So close.

She was also wearing a transparent disposable raincoat, which she probably bought near the library. The quality seemed slightly better than Ye Qiulan’s, but it was just as embarrassing.The hood of the raincoat was blown to the back of his head by the wind, and most of his long dark hair was wet. A few strands were messy and stuck to his pale cheeks and neck, and water was dripping from the ends of his hair.The rainwater slid down her clear jawline, rolled over the slightly undulating collarbone wrapped in a soaked gray crew-neck shirt, and sank deeper into the collar.There were also fine drops of water hanging on her eyelashes, and they trembled as she blinked.

She just stood in the pouring rain, holding Ye Qiulan’s arm tightly with one hand, and… holding a dark, equally soaked shoulder canvas bag in the other hand.Her breathing was also a little quick, and her chest was rising and falling slightly. When she looked at Ye Qiulan, her usual calmness was replaced by an extremely strong, almost sharp emotion – mixed with the panic that had not completely faded away, and something as heavy as the rain curtain that quickly settled down after confirming that she was okay.

“Why are you running?” Ling Xueqing said, her voice a little blurred by the sound of rain, but it still had her unique clear texture, even deeper and harder than usual.”Can’t you see the slippery road?”

Ye Qiulan froze completely. The grip on his arm was clear and hot, imprinted on his skin through his soaked clothes.The rain was cold, but the small piece of skin held by Ling Xueqing seemed to be burned.She could smell the crisp cedar scent on Ling Xueqing’s body. After being soaked by the rain, it became moist and rich. The strands wrapped around her, mixed with the smell of the rain itself, and wrapped her tightly.

“I…” She opened her mouth, her throat was tight, and rainwater flowed into her mouth, with a faint earthy smell. “I thought… you didn’t bring an umbrella…” She felt stupid as soon as the words came out of her mouth.Does Ling Xueqing look like she’s carrying an umbrella now?

Ling Xueqing didn’t speak, just looked at her, his eyes sliding from her soaked bangs to her equally wet eyes with a hint of panic and embarrassment, then to the wrinkled, almost useless transparent raincoat she was wearing, and finally, it stopped at the canvas bag she was tightly protecting on her chest.

The rain was still pouring down, hitting the two of them, forming a stream of water flowing down.The surrounding area was empty except for the white curtain of rain and the sound of rushing water.They were like two isolated islands trapped in the center of a heavy rainstorm, standing abruptly on the edge of the water-filled square.

“Go over first.” Ling Xueqing finally released his grip on her arm, but when the force was removed, Ye Qiulan actually felt a hint of weightlessness.Ling Xueqing raised her finger and pointed to the entrance of a path with a corridor not far away. Then, naturally, he pulled her closer to him, almost half-protecting her with his body, and led her towards that direction quickly.

Her hand was instead placed on Ye Qiulan’s back. She didn’t use any force, but it was a clear gesture of guidance and protection.Ye Qiulan followed in a daze, stepping on the cold water under his feet. His legs and feet were a little weak due to the fright and running just now, and the dull pain in his stomach had not subsided. However, under the unquestionable envelope of Ling Xueqing, those discomforts were temporarily relegated to the edge of consciousness.

It was extremely difficult to walk just a few dozen meters away.The wind and rain were still fierce, and Ling Xueqing almost tilted most of her raincoat towards Ye Qiulan, making her exposed shoulders and back even more wet.Ye Qiulan wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, he was met with cold rainwater. He could only passively follow her pace and stumbled into the path with narrow eaves.

The space under the eaves was so cramped that it could barely block the rain falling vertically, but the wind swept the rain in diagonally, and it was still impossible to completely avoid it.But it’s much better than outside.At least we could take a breath and see each other’s faces clearly.

The two of them leaned against the cold mottled wall, panting.The rain dripped down along my hair, cheeks, and clothes, and soon accumulated a small puddle at my feet.

Ye Qiulan first went to check his canvas bag.The outer layer is a little wet, but the manuscript papers and books inside are separated by notebooks and hard folders, so it doesn’t seem to be a big problem.She breathed a sigh of relief and then remembered something. She hurriedly opened the outer layer of the bag and took out the well-folded and dry disposable raincoat.

“Here…here.” She handed the raincoat over, her voice still a little unsteady and breathy, “I bought it from the cafeteria convenience store…maybe, maybe it won’t be of much use.” She looked at Ling Xueqing who was even more soaked than herself. The raincoat was useless, and she felt a wave of helpless annoyance in her heart.What does this mean to me?Hindsight?And this light plastic is really useless in a heavy rain like just now.

Ling Xueqing lowered her head and looked at the neatly folded transparent raincoat handed to her, then raised her eyes to look at Ye Qiulan.Ye Qiulan’s face was covered with rainwater, and his hair was wet and stuck to his forehead and cheeks. His face was a little pale, and his lips had no color. Only his eyes, under the wet eyelashes, showed obvious concern and a hint of clumsy embarrassment.

She did not take the raincoat, but suddenly stretched out her hand, and lightly touched Ye Qiulan’s equally cold and moist forehead with her cold fingertips.”You don’t look good.” She said, her tone regaining some of her usual calmness, but there was still a trace of imperceptible tension in her voice. “Did you fall just now? Are you still feeling uncomfortable?”

The touch passed by, but it seemed to carry a weak electric current.Ye Qiulan shrank his neck subconsciously and shook his head: “No, I didn’t fall… It’s just that I may have been in a hurry and my stomach was a bit…” She stopped talking, thinking that this reason sounded very hypocritical.

Ling Xueqing’s eyes moved down to her hand that was still unconsciously pressing on her stomach, and she paused for two seconds.”It was too late to eat in the morning, and I ran away just now.” She stated, and then, to Ye Qiulan’s surprise, he took the dry raincoat, but instead of using it himself, he shook it open, stretched out his arm, and directly covered Ye Qiulan with the raincoat – outside her old, soaked and wrinkled raincoat.

“Wear it.” Her movements were undeniable and neat, and her fingers quickly pulled up the hood of Ye Qiulan’s raincoat, although the hood quickly slipped to the side because it didn’t fit.”It’s easy to catch a cold if wet clothes stick to each other.” When she said this, her eyes glanced at Ye Qiulan’s cotton shirt, which looked even thinner after getting soaked, and she frowned almost imperceptibly.

The two layers of thin plastic paper covering the body felt even weirder and awkward, but it did isolate the cold and sticky feeling caused by direct contact with the skin due to some wet clothes.Ye Qiulan stood in a daze, letting Ling Xueqing manipulate him, looking at her close-at-hand eyebrows that were particularly clear and profound after being soaked by the rain, and at her slightly pursed, light-colored lips when she was adjusting the brim of her raincoat.

“What about you?” Ye Qiulan finally found his voice and looked at Ling Xueqing’s gray thin shirt that was also soaked.

“I’m fine.” Ling Xueqing said briefly, taking half a step back to put some distance between them.She raised her hand and pushed a few strands of long hair that were soaked and stuck to her cheeks behind her ears, revealing the outline of her ears that had been washed whiter by the rain.Her breathing had calmed down a lot, but her chest still rose and fell slightly, and the soaked fabric clung to her body, outlining clear lines and trembling slightly with her breathing.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little subtle.Under the narrow eaves, there were only the two of them, and the never-ending sound of rain outside.The soaked clothes brought a certain sense of exposure, but under the cold skin, the blood was quietly flowing faster.After the adrenaline from running and being frightened just now faded away, something more secret and indescribable quietly grew in this damp, rain-isolated space.

Ye Qiulan felt his cheeks feel a little warm, even though his body was still cold.She lowered her eyes, not daring to look at the undulating curves under Ling Xueqing’s soaked clothes. Her eyes fell randomly on the rainwater gathering at her feet.”Why did you…come out?” she asked, her voice so soft that it was almost drowned out by the sound of rain. “Shouldn’t we wait in the library for the rain to stop?”

Ling Xueqing was silent for a moment.The rain ran down the tips of her hair, drop by drop, and landed on her shoulders that were also soaked, leaving deeper traces.

“I see you haven’t arrived yet.” She said in a calm tone, but looked at the white rain curtain outside, and the lines on her face looked a little stiff, “It’s raining too much.”

It’s that simple.Six words.I didn’t say worry, I didn’t say looking, I just stated a fact: you didn’t arrive on time and it was raining heavily.

But Ye Qiulan’s heart was gently grasped by these six words.Ling Xueqing came out to find her.In this sudden and violent thunderstorm, walking from the library to here…she might even have gone to the cafeteria?Ye Qiulan didn’t dare to think about it, he just felt that the heavy emotion in his heart was injected with hotter and more sour liquid, making it swell and hurt.

“I’m sorry…” She apologized subconsciously, “I should have come out earlier, or… I shouldn’t have run away.”

“No need to apologize.” Ling Xueqing interrupted her, her voice still calm, but with a sense of ending the topic.”It’s good that nothing happened.”

There was another moment of silence.There is only the sound of rain, endless.Ye Qiulan was wrapped in two layers of ridiculous raincoats and looked at Ling Xueqing’s soaked back.She stood there, her back still straight, but her slightly undulating shoulders and hands hanging by her sides with dripping fingertips revealed a trace of imperceptible fatigue, or… some kind of self-suppression after the aftermath of the confrontation with the bad weather and the panic just now.

The dull pain in my stomach came again, this time it was clearer, with bloating and a hint of pulling pain.Ye Qiulan couldn’t help but raised his hand and pressed it again, and took a gentle breath.

This subtle movement did not escape Ling Xueqing’s eyes.She turned her head, her eyes fell on Ye Qiulan’s hand pressing her stomach, and then moved to her slightly pale face.

“Does it hurt a lot?” she asked, her voice lower than before.

“It’s okay…it’s just a bit boring.” Ye Qiulan shook his head, not wanting to appear too squeamish.

Ling Xueqing said nothing more, just looked at her, something in her eyes changed slightly.Under the usual calm inspection, there seems to be something else, something like a measure, or… some kind of hesitation before making a decision.

A few seconds later, she suddenly took a step closer to Ye Qiulan.

The distance suddenly narrowed.Ye Qiulan could even see the tiny water droplets condensed on her eyelashes, and could smell the moist and rich cedar scent mixed with the smell of rain on her face.She subconsciously wanted to retreat, but her back was pressed against the cold wall.

Ling Xueqing stretched out his hand, but instead of touching her, he reached over her shoulder and reached towards the wall behind her – there was a small niche sunken in there, which was probably used to store fire hydrants or something. It was located so high that you wouldn’t notice it at all.Ling Xueqing’s hand fumbled in the niche, and when she retracted it, she actually held a small, flat object wrapped in waterproof material.

She deftly opened the waterproof layer, and inside was a plastic-sealed, palm-sized first aid kit. It was very simple and contained only a few individually packaged stomach medicines (probably common medicines used by students), two band-aids and a small pack of sterile cotton pads.The writing on the package shows that this seems to be an “emergency point” placed by school logistics a long time ago, and it may have been forgotten.

Ling Xueqing took out a tablet of stomach medicine, checked the expiration date, then broke off one pill and handed it to Ye Qiulan along with a half bottle of drinking water (probably unfinished) in a small sealed plastic bag that she took out from the pocket of her soaked pants at some time.

“Take some medicine first.” She said, her tone non-negotiable. “We don’t have hot water, so we’ll make do with it.”

Ye Qiulan was completely stunned.She looked at the pills and the half bottle of water in Ling Xueqing’s hand, then looked up at Ling Xueqing’s calm face, her mind going blank.How did she know there was an abandoned emergency point here?How could you…carry sealed drinking water with you?

“You…” Her throat was dry.

“I’ve paid attention to it before.” Ling Xueqing explained calmly, as if it was no big deal, “It occasionally works.”

Ye Qiulan took the pills and water.The bottle of water is cold, but when I hold it in my hand, it feels slightly hot.She took out the pills and swallowed them with the slightly cold pure water.The water flowed through my dry throat, bringing with it a strange sweetness.

Ling Xueqing watched her finish the medicine, put away the remaining water and tablets, put them back in the alcove, and covered them again with waterproof material.Movements are skillful and natural.

After doing this, she leaned against the wall opposite Ye Qiulan again, with less than one meter between them.The rain seemed to have become lighter again, from the heavy rain to the drizzle of moderate rain, and the sky was a little brighter, no longer the oppressive darkness.

“Take a rest.” Ling Xueqing said, “When the rain subsides, go to the infirmary.”

“No need to go to the infirmary…” Ye Qiulan said quickly, “It should be fine after taking the medicine.”

Ling Xueqing glanced at her and didn’t insist, but she didn’t agree either.She just turned her gaze to the continuous rain outside the eaves, her face was calm, and she didn’t know what she was thinking.

Ye Qiulan took a sip of the remaining water, and the cold liquid slid into his stomach, which seemed to really relieve the feeling of bloating.The effect of the medicine is not that fast, it is mostly a psychological effect.But holding this bottle of water, wearing two layers of ridiculous raincoats, standing under this narrow, isolated eaves, next to Ling Xueqing, who was soaked but still straightened her back, an extremely complex sense of security, mixed with the sourness and fear that had not dissipated before, and the subtle warmth that slowly rose at this moment, wrapped her tightly.

The sound of rain gradually became regular and no longer violent.The wind has stopped, and there are only vertical raindrops, falling rustily on the leaves and the ground, forming a trickle, flowing happily along the roadside stones.The world has been washed fresh by the rain, and even the air has become clearer.

“Manuscript…” Ye Qiulan suddenly remembered the afternoon agreement, “Maybe in the afternoon…”

“Another day.” Ling Xueqing said simply, “There’s no rush.”

It was another two simple words, but it carried her usual intensity of setting the tone for the matter.Ye Qiulan said “Oh” and stopped talking.It’s okay, she looks so embarrassed now and has an upset stomach, so she really can’t calm down to discuss academic matters.

The two of them stood quietly, listening to the rain.No one suggested leaving, as if this small, damp roof had become the only reasonable place to go after a heavy rain.Time was slowed down and flowed thickly.Ye Qiulan secretly looked at Ling Xueqing from the corner of his eye.The lines of her side face seemed softer in the gradually brightening sky. Her wet hair stuck to the side of her neck, and the water droplets slid into her collar along the graceful curve of her neck and disappeared.Her eyelashes were long and drooped, casting a small, light shadow under her eyes.The lips were slightly pursed, and the color was very light, as if they had been washed away by the rain.

She is so good looking.Ye Qiulan thought vaguely in his heart.Not the kind of eye-catching and aggressive good-looking, but the kind of clean, calm, distant yet inexplicably attractive good-looking.Like the pine forest after snow, it is cold and alienated, but it has its own tenacity and lasting power.

As if aware of her gaze, Ling Xueqing suddenly turned her face.

Ye Qiulan had no time to dodge, and his eyes met.Ling Xueqing’s eyes were washed by the rain and looked particularly dark and bright, clearly reflecting her slightly panicked and ridiculous look wrapped in two layers of transparent plastic.

Ling Xueqing looked at her without saying a word, but his calm gaze stayed on her face for a moment, and then the corners of her mouth seemed to bend upwards very slightly.The arc was so small and so fast that Ye Qiulan almost thought it was an illusion, a trick of light and shadow refracted by the rain.

But at that moment, she seemed to see a tiny crack in the ice deep in Ling Xuequing’s eyes, revealing something extremely rare and almost soft.Like a glimmer of light leaking out when the clouds in a hazy sky occasionally crack, although it is fleeting, it really existed.

Ye Qiulan’s heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat, and then started beating wildly, causing pain in his chest.She hurriedly lowered her head and stared at the tips of her dripping canvas shoes, but the tips of her ears burned uncontrollably.

The rain is finally about to stop.There were only sporadic, intermittent raindrops left, falling from the corners of the eaves, making a lonely “ta, tap” sound.In the distant sky, the clouds dispersed, revealing the washed, clear gray-blue behind.

Ling Xueqing stood up straight and moved her somewhat stiff shoulders.”Let’s go,” she said, “I’ll take you back to the dormitory to change clothes first.”

Her voice returned to complete calmness, as if the subtle fluctuations in that moment had never happened.

Ye Qiulan gave a soft “hmm”, pulled up the two layers of wrinkled raincoat on his body, and followed Ling Xueqing out of the damp eaves that briefly protected them.