Summer has always been a rainy season.

Just yesterday, the sky was clear and bright. Today, dark clouds gathered, pouring down a deluge.

With a project deadline looming at work, Xia Chuan left early without waiting for Qian Yu’s call.

After eating breakfast alone, Qian Yu absentmindedly grabbed an umbrella and stepped out into the gray streets.

Few pedestrians braved the downpour—whether from the gloomy weather or the early hour, she couldn’t tell.

Head lowered, she replayed Xia Chuan’s words from yesterday in her mind.

*Because you’re weak, anyone can bully you? What twisted logic…*

Qian Yu disagreed fiercely. His reasoning felt absurd. Yet she couldn’t muster a proper rebuttal.

Wasn’t reality itself proving Xia Chuan right?

*Weakness is a sin…*

Sometimes, the world simply refused to be fair.

She dared not dwell deeper. The thought threatened to crush her spirit.

She desperately wanted to help Xiao Yu. But remembering her own helplessness, Qian Yu’s chest tightened.

*What can I do? I’m just a student. I can stop bullies when I see them… but what about after?*

*They’ll only hurt her worse when I’m not around.*

That’s why those two had dared to keep extorting Xiao Yu yesterday—despite her warnings.

*Maybe my "help" only made things worse… No wonder Xiao Yu hates me.*

Qian Yu’s gaze dropped as the thought settled.

Lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed arriving at school.

Rain blurred the building’s outline, casting a heavy, suffocating weight over the campus.

Time slipped by. First period began.

Qian Yu couldn’t focus. Xiao Yu’s seat sat empty.

Classmates acted as if she’d never existed.

Since it was the homeroom teacher’s class, Qian Yu hesitantly raised her hand.

"Teacher… why isn’t Xiao Yu here today?"

Mr. Bai was on month-long leave. A substitute now handled homeroom duties.

Most teachers would scold a student for interrupting class. But seeing Qian Yu ask, the teacher instantly softened.

Every teacher adored this polite, top-ranked student.

"Xiao Yu? You mean Guan Jinyu? I don’t know. She didn’t call in sick. Probably just busy."

The teacher answered honestly.

(Qian Yu called her "Xiao Yu" because it sounded like "Xiao Yu"—Guan Jinyu’s nickname.)

"Then… didn’t you call to check on her?" Qian Yu frowned slightly.

Teachers usually called absent students.

"Well… I planned to after class. I’ll update you later. Let’s focus on the lesson now."

The teacher hesitated. Truth was, she hadn’t considered calling. *An average, quiet student like Guan Jinyu? Her absence hardly matters.*

But she forced a smile, making excuses.

Qian Yu sighed softly and lowered her hand.

*Fine. I’ll ask after class.*

She opened her textbook—just as a man in a white collared shirt burst in.

"Ms. Qin! Why are you still teaching? There’s an emergency!"

"What happened?" The teacher froze, dread pooling in her stomach.

The man glanced at students, then whispered urgently:

"One of your students is attempting suicide!"

"What?!"

Qian Yu reacted first. With Xiao Yu absent, only one person fit that description.

"Where is she?!" The teacher finally snapped out of her daze.

"The science building next door!"

The teacher rushed out. The man followed.

"Our classmate’s jumping? Who?"

"Who else? Guan Jinyu’s missing."

"Pfft. Scaredy-cat Guan would never jump. Probably just bluffing."

"No class now anyway. Let’s go watch!"

"Let’s go!"

Boys whooped, already heading out. Some girls followed—not out of cruelty, but concern for a classmate.

Everyone turned to Qian Yu, the class’s center of gravity.

"Eh? Where’s Goddess Qian Yu?"

Her seat was empty.

—

Qian Yu had slipped out right after the teachers.

*It can’t be Xiao Yu. They must be mistaken…*

She repeated this like a prayer while sprinting down corridors.

But unease coiled tighter in her chest. Her steps quickened.

Rain hammered down. She’d forgotten her umbrella. No time to turn back.

She plunged into the downpour.

The science building stood next to the main hall. She arrived breathless.

Below the rooftop, teachers and students huddled under umbrellas, pointing and whispering at the figure on the ledge.

Rain soaked Qian Yu instantly. Her uniform clung to her skin, outlining her slender frame.

Some onlookers swallowed hard, stealing glances.

Qian Yu ignored them.

Rain weighed down her limbs. She lifted her gaze to the rooftop.

Through the misty veil, she could only make out a girl’s silhouette.

*Xiao Yu… is that you?*

Without confirming, she bolted inside.

Qian Yu excelled at sanda—but as a technique-focused fighter, not an endurance one.

Gasping, she reached the rooftop.

A crowd blocked the door to the terrace. The principal and homeroom teacher stood among them, arguing.

"Principal, let me in! We can’t just watch her jump!"

The teacher’s voice shook. *If a student dies under my watch, my career is over.*

Her panic was for herself, not the girl.

"Ms. Qin, I understand your worry. But she threatened to jump if we approach. We must wait for police!"

The principal sighed, patting her shoulder.

"Fine…" The teacher relented weakly.

"Teacher… Principal…"

Qian Yu stepped forward, hesitant.

"Mo Qian Yu? Go back to class! This isn’t your place!" The teacher scowled.

The principal recognized the star student too. "Mo Qian Yu, what are you doing here?"

"I’m sorry for leaving class. But Xiao Yu is my friend. Please… let me talk to her."

Qian Yu gripped her soaked skirt, worry etching her face.

"We heard the warning. We must wait for police," the principal said gently.

"But what if she jumps before they arrive? I can calm her. I’m her friend."

Qian Yu stood firm.

The principal hesitated. *What if she’s right?*

"Alright. But go alone. Don’t startle her."

"I will." Qian Yu nodded instantly.

The principal unlocked the rusted iron gate. Rain sprayed through the opening.

"Need an umbrella, Mo Qian Yu?"

"No thank you."

She stepped into the storm. The gate clicked shut behind her.

Through the rain, she saw the lonely figure perched on the ledge.

Even without seeing her face, Qian Yu knew.

*Xiao Yu…*

*So it really is you…*

*But why…?*