The wind curved Cheng Youyi’s umbrella into an arc, and in an instant, the heavy rain assaulted her.
She let go of her suitcase with her other hand, trying to shield the umbrella, but she had underestimated the intensity of the rain. The moment her hand left the suitcase, it was swept away.
“Oh no, my umbrella.”
She reached out urgently to grab it, but the umbrella flew away, the suitcase rolled off, and she was drenched from head to toe. Her clothes clung to her body, cold and damp.
Now she felt so small, so helpless, her little head drooping, utterly disheveled.
Though she felt wronged and wanted to cry, there was no time for tears. She knew the situation was dangerous; if she didn’t find shelter soon, she’d be completely soaked.
But first, she had to retrieve her suitcase, which had rolled far away. Summoning her strength, she trudged forward, struggling to chase after it.
Even so, the wind and rain hindered her steps. To make matters worse, the downpour grew fiercer, almost obscuring her vision entirely.
The thunder grew louder too, as if trying to split the sky, deafening and rumbling. The booming thunderclaps terrified her.
Just as she was losing hope, a flash of white light appeared in the distance—a car? Finally, a car! She quickly waved her arms, shouting with all her might.
“……”
The rain was so heavy that Cheng Youyi couldn’t make out what kind of car it was until the black Bentley pulled up beside her. Only then did she realize it wasn’t a taxi.
She hesitated, unsure whether to ask for help, given how pitiful she looked.
But before she could decide, the rear door of the car swung open.
A tall, slender figure stepped out from the back seat. His pristine leather shoes were stained with mud from the ground as he strode toward her with steady steps.
Then, a black umbrella was held over her head. The man’s crisp, clean scent wafted toward her, and the hand gripping the umbrella handle was all too familiar to her.
She had only seen such beautiful hands that night, and the things those hands had done to her left a deep impression.
Cheng Youyi instinctively wanted to flee, but her waist was suddenly grasped by a large hand. The man leaned down slightly, aligning his gaze with hers, and his thin lips parted as he spoke softly, “Do you want to get in the car? I won’t force you.”
Cheng Youyi looked up in surprise, meeting his dark gaze.
As their eyes locked, she could sense the aloof aura emanating from him, chilling the air around them like frost. Uneasy, she took a step back, almost without hesitation.
Having finally escaped, she didn’t want to get involved with him again.
Noticing her refusal, a flicker of displeasure crossed the man’s brow, but it quickly vanished.
Just as he had guessed, she wouldn’t easily get into the car. That’s why he had restrained his impulse earlier, not driving up immediately but waiting until this downpour arrived.
He took off his long coat and draped it over her slender shoulders, then handed her the umbrella, his tone still cool and detached. “Be careful.”
With that, he walked around the car and got into the back seat. The vehicle hadn’t started yet, and only the faint sound of raindrops hitting the window could be heard.
Cheng Youyi’s figure slowly blurred through the windshield wipers, fading into the distance.
“Mr. Gong… this…” Wen Qing in the driver’s seat was somewhat stunned, not understanding why he would give up such an excellent opportunity.
Gong Ming remained silent, his expression grave.
He was gambling, betting that she would trust him this once.
Without receiving any instructions, Wen Qing was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether he should start the car or not.
The atmosphere remained tense until that small figure completely disappeared. Through the curtain of rain, Gong Ming ultimately couldn’t hold back.
He hadn’t expected this little one to be so young yet possess such a stubborn temperament.
“Follow her!” he commanded.
Wen Qing immediately obeyed, quickly starting the engine and soon catching up to Cheng Youyi.
She stood under a sheltered eave, her entire body trembling from the cold. Gong Ming’s oversized coat, which she was using to shield herself from the rain, was already soaked through and couldn’t offer much protection for much longer.
Wen Qing pulled the car up beside her.
Gong Ming pushed the door open and stepped out, striding to the roadside. He extended a hand toward the small, lonely figure standing in the corner, his voice gentle: “Come here.”
“You… you said you wouldn’t force me…” Cheng Youyi asked warily, clutching his coat tightly in her hands, as if worried the man would use it as a bargaining chip again. She really didn’t want to get involved in that kind of relationship with him anymore.
“I’m not forcing you. Come here, I’ll take you home.” Gong Ming patiently explained, his voice low and magnetic.
Hearing his words, Cheng Youyi hesitated. She did need a place to shelter from the rain, and he seemed to be her last hope.
“The nearest bus stop is still five kilometers away, and this rain… probably won’t stop anytime soon.” The man continued to coax her.
Little did she know, her ghostly inability to hail a taxi all day was entirely this man’s doing.
The scheming depths of this big gray wolf before her were beyond Cheng Youyi’s imagination.
She didn’t realize she was step by step falling into his trap.
“Well… alright… thank you.” She pursed her lips, weighing her options for a moment before nodding. Then she walked up to him, lifted her gaze, and blinked her large, round eyes as she looked at him, adding in a soft voice, “Just getting in the car, no… no doing anything…”
Hearing this, the man couldn’t help but chuckle. So this little one was worried about that?
It seemed he had really frightened her last time.
Gong Ming reined in his smile and agreed verbally, “Mm, no doing anything.”
Cheng Youyi stared at him with a mix of doubt and suspicion, as if questioning his sincerity.
But there was no other choice at the moment; the rain was too heavy, and she needed to find shelter immediately.
Without waiting for her to extend her hand, the man firmly took hold of her, then wrapped an arm around her waist and led her into the car.
The sudden warmth gave Cheng Youyi goosebumps all over. Although the car’s heater was strong, she still felt very cold, shivering uncontrollably.
Probably because she had been drenched in the rain, the sudden warmth made her somewhat drowsy. Slowly, sleepiness crept into her mind.
In a place the man couldn’t see, her eyelashes fluttered twice, and her eyelids gradually closed as she drifted into sleep.
The car was quiet, with only the sound of the windshield wipers sweeping across the glass and Cheng Youyi’s even, steady breathing.
Gong Ming lowered his gaze, looking at the peacefully sleeping girl beside him. A strange glint flashed in his eyes—a softness he hadn’t felt in many years.
His fingers gently brushed against her rosy cheek, the delicate texture making him give it a light pinch.
Perhaps sensing the man’s touch in her sleep, the little one furrowed her tiny brows and pouted her pink lips.
“Such an adorable child,” Gong Ming couldn’t help murmuring.
He gently picked up the little one who was leaning in the corner and cradled her completely in his arms, then took a nearby blanket and draped it over her.
The car moved through the curtain of rain, everything appearing so peaceful and serene. Only the faint fragrance lingering inside the car disrupted the rhythm of his heartbeat.
He glanced at Cheng Youyi, still sound asleep, and sighed softly.
He hadn’t expected this little girl to be so stubborn—preferring to walk in the rain alone rather than ask him for help.
“When will you ever lower your guard around me?” He gently stroked her rosy lips, whispering as his gaze grew distant.
Wen Qing, sitting in front, secretly glanced at the rearview mirror. Upon noticing his boss’s reaction, he promptly and tactfully raised the partition.
The atmosphere inside the car shifted abruptly, turning into an invisible sense of pressure.
A long while later, as the rain gradually subsided and the car finally arrived at the dormitory building of Qingbei Academy, Wen Qing dared to speak up and remind them.