Rain began to fall.

It was heavy—but just a passing shower. Maybe it’d clear soon. After all, it had rained nonstop all month. May sighed in resignation. Caught off guard, the two panicked and scrambled for shelter.

Fat raindrops instantly drenched May and Chen Yaoyi. Without a word, May bolted toward the nearby cafeteria. Even that short dash left them soaked and shivering.

May reached the cafeteria a step ahead of Chen Yaoyi. The door stood open, lights off. Outside, thick clouds swallowed the sky in gloom. A faint glow barely pierced the haze, illuminating the entrance.

They settled on a bench near the door, sitting at opposite ends with nearly a meter between them, watching the downpour.

Well—*watching* was too generous. They had no choice.

May didn’t sit right away. She tugged her white shirt free from under her pleated skirt and quickly unbuttoned the top and bottom buttons for air. Her ankle socks, now heavy and soggy, came off next. She slipped off her canvas shoes, slumped onto the bench, and tossed the socks aside. Even so, the cold hit hard—*achoo!* *achoo!* *achoo!*

“Ugh… damn it.”

She pushed her soaked hair back, tried smoothing it—no use.

A meter away, Chen Yaoyi stayed relatively dry. His thick suit repelled the rain, keeping his undershirt and lining untouched. He shrugged it off and shook water from his hair. His real misery? His soaked trouser cuffs and shoes, clinging cold and tight to his calves.

*Ding—ding—dong—*

The school bell rang faintly through the rain’s curtain—three times. Only then did they hear it. Helpless to rush, Chen Yaoyi sighed. May kept fussing with her clothes.

“Sorry ’bout this—” Chen Yaoyi glanced her way and sucked in a sharp breath.

*No wonder she’s the heroine.* He didn’t look away.

The aqua-blue strap of her top slipped off one shoulder. Water droplets glistened on her collarbone. Her ample chest, half-hidden by her arms, teased the eye. Damp strands clung to her cheeks; her soft, misty breath hovered before parted lips.

Probably heroines just came preloaded with… *exceptional* traits—figure, face, the works. So yeah, a “pure-hearted yet bitchy” high school girl needed that signature sinful charm.

Chen Yaoyi wasn’t new to female attention. Past lives? Plenty of womanizing antics—no need to spell it out. This sight didn’t fluster him. He just thought: *Zhao Xiaoluo’s a lucky guy.*

With a wife like her? Even goji berries wouldn’t save a man. Wonder how long till Zhao Xiaoluo actually wins her over…

May turned—and locked eyes with Chen Yaoyi’s utterly unguarded, lewd stare.

No shy blush bloomed on her cheeks. Instead, she bared her teeth in fury, eyes blazing with contempt.

“Drop dead.”

She hugged herself tighter, arms pressing over her chest—but the squeeze only made her curves more pronounced.

The cafeteria held yellow tables: two meters long, one wide, flanked by matching benches. Chen Yaoyi sat at the leftmost seat by the door; May, opposite.

Maximum compromise. Neither wanted the shadowy side.

“Here.”

He tossed his suit jacket onto the table—still warm, within her reach.

May instantly turned her face away. “Not a chance—”

*Ah-choo!*

“Really not taking it?” He stared at the rain, unbothered.

This time, May fell silent. Curled tight, knees hugged to her chest, shivering.

Chen Yaoyi wasn’t thrilled either. *Take it or leave it.* Honestly? If the heroine caught a cold… not the worst thing. A sick-day plot point meant Zhao Xiaoluo could visit her home.

“Suit yourself. You’re asking for trouble. Your ‘knight’ won’t come braving the rain. Just wait—catch a cold, regret it later!”

He was trying to provoke her.

“I knew you were no good!”

Nope. She wasn’t falling for it. She still hoped a rain-soaked knight might appear.

“Your little boyfriend’s not coming,” Chen Yaoyi smirked, leaning against the table edge.

“None of your business!”

“He wouldn’t risk the rain for you. Most likely—”

“You wanna bet I won’t kick you again?”

May shot up onto the bench, bare feet avoiding the floor. She stomped across and slammed her heel hard on his thigh. Chen Yaoyi grimaced, curling inward.

Her contemptuous glare and gritted teeth only annoyed him. He grabbed her ankle.

Her face flushed crimson. A soft, flustered gasp escaped her lips.

“L-let go!”

She struggled—but his cold, firm hand held fast, pinning her ankle against his thigh.

Chen Yaoyi smiled knowingly. His gaze drifted up from beneath her skirt, lingering, then rising slowly to meet her burning cheeks.

“Truth is… the moment I saw your foot, I was already—”