When a person is about to fall, they instinctively grab anything within reach—even someone they dislike.

Though the chair wasn’t high, the fear of falling still triggered an instinctive move. She leaned against Chen Yaoyi’s body to steady herself.

But by the time the girl realized it, she was already straddling him, gazing down at Chen Yaoyi with tender affection.

May’s face flushed crimson. She pressed her right hand over her mouth to stifle a coquettish whimper, her body temperature rising until it felt almost scorching.

Chen Yaoyi’s palm still rested on her cool, slender waist. The slightest pressure would make her frown with a soft pout, followed by a reproachful glare.

Neither dared to speak. Only the relentless patter of rain hitting the ground and the approaching footsteps of a boy filled the silence.

“May? Are you in here?”

Zhao Xiaoluo’s voice cut through again. May jolted back to her senses, gave Chen Yaoyi’s shoulder a light tap, then quickly rolled off him. She snatched the suit jacket from the table and draped it over herself.

The oversized jacket covered her hips completely, making her look even more petite. May fastened the chest buttons, slipped one hand out of the long sleeve to gather her damp hair, tidied up slightly, and stood to leave.

Before turning away, she pointed subtly toward the spacious space beneath the table—a silent cue for Chen Yaoyi to hide.

Her movements were brisk despite the blush and sweat on her face. Chen Yaoyi said nothing. With Zhao Xiaoluo drawing near, he simply followed her lead.

He swiftly found a shadowy spot and nimbly ducked under the table.

After all, it wasn’t the first time he’d nearly been caught like this—he handled it with practiced ease.

Amid the rain’s rhythm, a boy’s and girl’s voices drifted closer.

“Xiaoluo?”

“Ah! May…? You’re soaked! Are you okay?”

They met at the cafeteria entrance. May, having rushed over, gently blocked Zhao Xiaoluo from stepping inside.

“I-I’m fine! Just got held up by something small… then the rain started… and I got stuck here!”

“R-Right… I noticed you weren’t in class, so—ah! The teacher sent me! Seriously, the teacher! I didn’t volunteer! It was the teacher’s orders…”

“Ahahaha, Xiaoluo, you’re too cute! No need to panic~ I might get the wrong idea, you know! Hahaha!”

“P-Please don’t tease me…”

May’s bell-like laughter tugged a faint smile from Chen Yaoyi. What amused him was Zhao Xiaoluo—the timid boy. Why not just say he was worried?

“So, Xiaoluo… planning to share an umbrella with me on the way back? Haha… alright then…”

The shift was sudden. Chen Yaoyi guessed why—May had hoped for a romantic umbrella moment, only for Zhao Xiaoluo to pull a compact, body-warmed umbrella from his pocket.

This Zhao Xiaoluo really was too shy.

“T-That’s… Wait! Why are you wearing that jacket, May?”

“Eh… Um… Well…”

Zhao Xiaoluo awkwardly pivoted the topic to the jacket, clearly dodging.

May couldn’t admit it came from Chen Yaoyi. She scrambled for an excuse.

“I-I don’t know! I ran in to escape the rain and just… found it here…”

She chose evasion.

Hidden under the table, Chen Yaoyi couldn’t see their faces. He could only hope Zhao Xiaoluo wouldn’t grow suspicious.

“How lucky! Just like you, May!”

“Ahahaha… Maybe~”

“Let’s head back to class? The teacher’s probably worried…”

Zhao Xiaoluo stated his purpose, almost urging her to leave.

“N-Not yet! I-I mean… wait a little longer…”

“What’s wrong? Something else you need to do, May?”

“Um…”

Chen Yaoyi frowned, sensing unease. He leaned to peek out—but a rushing figure startled him back.

May reappeared in his view. She dashed back, dropped the jacket, grabbed her rain-dampened books, and fled again.

It looked like she’d returned for her things. But Chen Yaoyi knew: she’d hoped to linger a moment longer with Zhao Xiaoluo. She just hadn’t expected him to suggest leaving so soon.

Truth be told, a rainy day with someone you like is rather sweet. Though their time was brief, May felt warm inside—he was the first to come for her.

She wouldn’t dare wish for more.

Zhao Xiaoluo, unsure of her feelings and fearing it was all in his head, didn’t dare linger. And from May’s side—soaked as she was—it was wiser to hurry back and warm up.

“So that’s why…”

“Well, the jacket isn’t mine, and my books were still inside!”

Zhao Xiaoluo murmured in understanding.

“Ehehe, Xiaoluo~ Why avoid my eyes all of a sudden? Hehehe!”

May’s playful tease rang out. Their usual rhythm: she’d flirt with words; he’d retreat, wonder if she liked him… then doubt himself again.

Yet time and again, her teasing manner made him dismiss that flicker of hope as illusion.

“L-Let’s go! Back to class…”

“Okay! But you’re sharing the umbrella with me, Xiaoluo!”

“Eh! D-Don’t tease me like that!”

“W-Wait! Don’t run, Xiaoluo!”

Their voices faded with the rain. Chen Yaoyi finally emerged. As he slowly stood and lifted the jacket—still damp with her traces, carrying her faint scent—a quiet helplessness washed over him.

It wasn’t annoyance at their hesitation. It was the ache of watching something tender, just out of reach.