Chapter 173: Chapter 173

The rain poured all night, turning into a light drizzle by morning.

Several chunks of dark clouds gathered in the sky, as if brewing the next storm.

Autumn winds bitterly rustle, autumn rains carry the chill.

A young girl walked slowly along the edge of the sidewalk, holding an umbrella.

In the misty rain, the girl strolled unhurriedly, her presence serene, like an enduring landscape painting.

A black sedan drove from the distance.

Inside the car, a young man sat in the back seat, Bluetooth earphones perched on his ears.

He had glanced out the window casually, but suddenly, his calm eyes imperceptibly tightened.

The driver abruptly hit the brakes.

"Young Master, is something wrong?" the driver asked with concern.

The young man replied indifferently, "My mind feels sluggish. Since the weather is cool, I’d like to walk for a while. You can head back."

With that, he picked up the umbrella placed beside him, grabbed his backpack, opened the car door, and stepped out.

The driver said nothing more; the young master had been independent since childhood. If not for Madam’s insistence, he would likely ride the bus to school every day.

In places beyond Madam’s watchful eyes, the young master granted himself small liberties—of course, nothing so foolish as reporting them all to her truthfully.

Sometimes, turning a blind eye is the highest form of discretion.

But the driver had to personally witness the young master enter the school gates before he could feel at ease, so he drove at a snail’s pace, following behind.

The young man walked on the pavement at a leisurely pace, umbrella in hand.

The cement ground was imprinted with rows of footprints, soon to be overlapped by newer ones.

On the wall, sprawling rose vines climbed and thrived, their vibrant red blooms savoring the nourishment of autumn rain, blooming unrestrainedly in their final season.

Beneath the wall, two figures holding umbrellas walked one behind the other.

Curiously, the two maintained synchrony in their steps, keeping a distance that was neither too far nor too close.

Like two ends of a parallel line, they held an inexplicable equilibrium.

When they reached the intersection, the light ahead turned red, and the girl stopped, waiting quietly at the corner.

Soon, a shadow fell beside her.

A rosy floral fragrance drifted in the wind.

Shen You’an turned her head instinctively.

The young man held an umbrella, his features beneath the chilly autumn rain faintly aloof.

His hand gripping the umbrella handle tightened slightly, the knuckles appearing pale and slender.

Yet he did not look at her, as though she were a passing stranger, unworthy of any attention.

Shen You’an glanced at him briefly, then withdrew her gaze.

Just then, a car turned the corner beside them, its wheels splashing through a shallow puddle in the road, sending water flying in all directions.

"Careful...!" The young man suddenly stepped forward, shielding her with his umbrella against the unexpected spray.

Shen You’an staggered slightly, her foot landing on an uneven stone. Instinctively, she grasped the corner of the young man’s jacket to prevent herself from falling.

But in doing so, her forehead accidentally bumped against his back.

In that instant, she seemed to sense his body freeze.

The light at the intersection silently turned green at just that moment.

Shen You’an swiftly let go, stepping back, "Sorry."

The young man turned around and glanced at her quietly.

The edges of their umbrellas touched, forming what felt like an enclosed world amidst the misty drizzle.

For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still.

A second, or perhaps eternity.

The young man pressed his lips together slightly, said nothing, and walked across the crosswalk, gripping his umbrella tightly.

Shen You’an gazed up at the figure fading into the rain, her brow furrowed slightly, before following him forward.

After crossing the street and walking another five or six hundred meters, the school came into view.

More and more students passed by, all hurrying with umbrellas, leaving the two unnoticed as they walked, one behind the other, along the wall’s edge.

As Shen You’an entered the classroom, she was immediately met with Gao Yuyue’s radar-like gaze.

Gao Yuyue’s glance inexplicably landed on Liu Runxi, who walked past Shen You’an.

Strange. These two were always the first to arrive, yet today they were late.

And they entered one after the other—definitely suspicious.

Shen You’an ignored her and headed straight to her seat.

At that moment, Leng Yunyang sauntered into the classroom carrying his backpack, his collar unkempt and the buttons of his school jacket left undone, radiating a sort of casual insouciance.

Paired with the mischievous smirk on his face, it made several girls’ hearts skip a beat.

Gao Yuyue rolled her eyes; this guy never wore his uniform properly.