By the time Jiang Youwan returned to school, it was already ten in the morning.
The rain outside had lightened somewhat, and a chilly autumn breeze swept past her fingers as she reached out of the car door.
Just as she was about to bid Huo Linyuan goodbye, she saw the man stretch out his long legs and step out of the car with ease.
It was currently break time between classes, and the campus was bustling with people. Perhaps to avoid misunderstandings, Huo Linyuan didn’t offer her his suit jacket again. Instead, he handed her a brand-new warm-colored shawl.
The shawl bore the logo of a luxury brand and was clearly expensive. Jiang Youwan didn’t take it. The man simply unfolded it and wrapped it around her, his voice low and steady.
“During early pregnancy, your immune system is weaker. Getting sick and taking medication could affect the baby’s development. You heard what the doctor said, didn’t you, Wanwan?”
“Besides, I’m not an outsider. I should at least give the little one a welcome gift.”
With meticulous care, he adjusted the shawl around the young woman standing in the cold wind, then held the familiar black umbrella over her head.
“Let’s go.”
The young woman, who was being so attentively looked after by him, was momentarily stunned and asked in confusion, “Where to?”
As far as she knew, Huo Linyuan had never shown interest in Huo Jinchen’s studies, nor was he an alumnus of S University. In all the years he had been a prominent figure in S City, he had never once set foot inside the campus.
Yet now, on a whim, he wanted to enter the school with her.
“I contacted the university president. I’m planning to donate a few buildings to your school.”
The young woman, with her rosy lips and fair complexion, looked up at him and asked earnestly, “Is it because of Jinchen?”
Hearing this, the man chuckled softly, the curve of his lips carrying an indescribable hint of coldness.
“No.”
“When I was Jinchen’s age, I was already completely self-reliant. If he needs me to donate a few buildings just to graduate smoothly, I’d truly look down on him.”
The coldness in his tone was unmistakable.
At this moment, Huo Linyuan’s demeanor perfectly matched Jiang Youwan’s long-held stereotypical impression of him.
For a moment, Jiang Youwan was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.
As Huo Jinchen’s girlfriend, she should, in principle, defend him. Yet it was true that Huo Jinchen couldn’t compare to Huo Linyuan at the same age.
Moreover, university coursework wasn’t overly strict, and there were opportunities for make-up exams. If someone couldn’t graduate normally from university and had to rely on their family donating buildings to do so, not only would Huo Linyuan look down on them, but everyone would likely see Huo Jinchen as a spoiled, good-for-nothing heir.
The young woman’s thick, dark eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings in the autumn rain. After a few seconds, she finally found her voice again.
“So, Mr. Huo, are you planning to play the role of a great philanthropist?”
The man looked at her deeply, his dark phoenix eyes almost pulling her in.
“No.”
His low, pleasant voice echoed beside her ear, carrying a lazy, casual amusement.
“But if Wanwan likes the idea, Mr. Huo playing the role of a great philanthropist isn’t out of the question.”
“After all… our Huo family’s little treasure is still being held hostage in your hands.”
The young woman, her face as fair as jade, felt her ears grow warm and quickly turned her head away.
Today, Huo Linyuan was being deliberately improper, teasing her on purpose.
Her tea-colored leather boots tapped against the bluestone pavement. With each step, a small splash of water flew up from the gaps between the loose stones. Fine raindrops fell onto the umbrella, and the chill of autumn permeated the air everywhere.
The cashmere shawl lent an air of elegance, accentuating the girl’s striking beauty beneath the black umbrella with a touch of coolness and detachment. Only the faint blush on her cheeks hinted at her delicate charm.
Few students walked along this bluestone path. Amid the gentle patter of the drizzle, even time seemed to slow into tranquility.
Huo Linyuan casually brushed aside a low-hanging branch, his deep voice carrying a steady cadence.
“Wanwan, your situation is different now. You need to be extra careful in your daily life. As a young girl living alone, I can’t help but worry.”
The girl beside him pursed her lips, as if wanting to argue, but the man continued speaking.
“I’ve noticed you’ve lost quite a bit of weight recently. The university cafeteria food and takeout probably don’t suit your taste. I’ve found a housekeeper who can cook—she’ll take care of your daily needs.”
“Thank you, Uncle, but I’m used to being on my own. I don’t need a housekeeper.”
Her voice was clear and crisp, prompting the man to glance at her again.
His brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of concern in his eyes.
Yet the girl wrapped in the shawl walked with light steps, her expression calm and composed, showing no trace of sorrow.
“So, Wanwan, do you plan to keep skipping meals and vomiting indefinitely?”
His voice was soft, dissipating into the fine rain.
The girl turned her head to look at him, her gentle voice tinged with gratitude.
“You’ve already helped me so much, Uncle. I don’t want to trouble you further, and I don’t want to owe the Huo family too many favors.”
Favors were harder to repay than money.
She had nothing to offer, and she couldn’t repay them.
“I don’t find it troublesome.”
The man standing beside her was tall and imposing, his dark eyes like the boundless sea at night, with scattered moonlight shimmering on the surface.
Under his profound gaze, the girl’s slender figure was fully reflected in his eyes.
“He is the heir of the Huo family. He’s merely exercising his rights a little earlier.”
The bewildered girl stared at him blankly, her pupils clear and bright. Strands of hair brushed against her delicate face, even grazing her lips, which looked tender and alluring.
She was so obedient, so endearing, yet half her life had been tossed about in storms.
Huo Linyuan tightened his grip on the umbrella handle, a dull ache piercing his heart.
He suddenly wanted to stroke her hair, just as he had on that night of desperate intimacy, and tuck her bit by bit, completely, into his embrace.
To shield her from all the storms in this world.
A sudden gust of cold wind swept through.
Scattered raindrops mingled with droplets from the leaves, slanting toward them. Without a second thought, Huo Linyuan wrapped one arm around her, pulling her into his embrace.
Her slender waist felt almost too delicate to hold, and her soft hair brushed against his Adam’s apple, sending a tingling, electrifying sensation through him.
A familiar fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, and he heard the sudden, heavy thumping of his own heartbeat echoing in his chest.
The umbrella tilted downward, casting an overwhelming darkness that obscured everything, momentarily transporting him back to that night.
The girl in his arms nestled softly against his chest, her gentle voice trembling with obvious panic, stumbling over her words.
“U-Uncle…”
A sudden downpour erupted, large raindrops pelting down chaotically as the wind howled sharply in their ears.
Huo Linyuan lowered his gaze, his long, straight eyelashes casting deep shadows beneath his eyes.
He knew he should let go of her politely and appropriately, but he could barely restrain himself.
He wished he could hold her even tighter, press her into his embrace, engrave her into his bones and blood, until they became one.
The wind and rain roared, overwhelming the world.
The man’s deep voice was hoarse, suppressing emotions that were almost breaking through the surface,
“Wanwan…”
“Uncle?”
Huo Jinchen’s voice sounded at an inopportune moment, tinged with hesitation,
“Is that you, Uncle? What are you doing here?”