"Okay, then I'll go get a room nearby later."
"In that case, why don't you just sleep at my place?"
Xu Chacha rented a house near the school. The room was small, a two-story loft. Occasionally, when she was out late and didn't want to go back to the dormitory, she would stay there overnight. Since cooking was not allowed in the dormitory, she would sometimes go out to buy groceries and invite the three foodies over for a meal.
"You..."
“What’s wrong with sleeping at my place?” Xu Chacha glared. “Isn’t my place even better than a hotel?”
"No." Wen Mubai was amused by her reaction. "I was just worried it would be inconvenient for you."
"What's inconvenient about it? I'll just put the key on the bedside table, and you just need to remember to lock it when you go out."
"Okay," Wen Mubai nodded. "Whatever you say."
"Knock knock—" Someone was knocking on the window glass, interrupting the two people's conversation.
Xu Chacha turned her head and saw that it was Jiang Shu, who had just left not long ago.
She had an umbrella over her head and another in her hand. Xu Chacha looked up at the sky and realized that it had started raining outside without her noticing.
For some reason, the automatic door suddenly stopped responding. Xu Chacha stood up and pressed the switch from the inside, and Jiang Shu finally came in.
"It's raining, I've come to bring you an umbrella." She handed the one in her hand to Wen Mubai, "Goddess, you didn't bring an umbrella, did you? Here, you can use this to go back."
Xu Chacha pointed to herself, "And me?"
“Come back with me.” Jiang Jiang pointed to his large umbrella. “Isn’t this umbrella big enough?”
"..."
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Jiang Shu asked.
"No need to bring it next time, you're all wet. We can just buy one at the convenience store."
“That’s true.” Jiang Shu felt her IQ had dropped a bit today. “But every little bit helps. You have enough umbrellas to open another convenience store.”
Now it was Xu Chacha's turn to lose face. She has a bad memory and doesn't like to check the weather forecast before going out. She often finds herself in situations where she doesn't have an umbrella halfway through class and has to run to a convenience store to buy one. Before she knew it, she had accumulated quite a few umbrellas.
"Let's go, or the access card won't be able to be swiped."
"I have to take my aunt to school first." Xu Chacha took the umbrella from Wen Mubai and exchanged it with Jiang Shu's large umbrella. "You go back first. I'll keep an eye on the time. If I'm late, I won't come back."
"Not coming back?" Jiang Shu slowly savored these three words, secretly taking a small bite of sweetness.
It's best if they don't come back.
"Alright then, be careful on the road." Jiang Shu answered as readily as possible, and even urged them, "Hurry up, the rain might get worse if we go any later."
Xu Chacha: "Oh...bye then."
She picked up her umbrella, and as Wen Mubai followed behind her past Jiang Shu, he politely nodded and smiled at her, saying goodbye.
Xu Chacha opened the umbrella, and the water droplets on it splashed and almost got on her. Seeing this, Wen Mubai took the umbrella from her hand and said, "Let me do it."
"I'll hold on, but you still have to carry your luggage, it's inconvenient." Xu Chacha went to get it back, but Wen Mubai raised his hand to dodge her.
"When the tall person holds the umbrella, both of them are comfortable."
Xu Chacha: ?
"Wen Mubai!" She was about to explode!
Wen Mubai didn't react at all, and simply raised his arm for her, "Little girl, take my arm."
"Who's the little kid?" Xu Chacha's anger was about to explode.
From a young age, she never understood how Wen Mubai, who seemed so aloof, could so accurately strike at her points of anger with just a few words.
Is this some kind of special ability?
"Are there any other people here?" Wen Mubai glanced around, his tone softening slightly. "Hold on to each other, so you don't get wet."
Xu Chacha was slightly appeased, and with a pout, she hooked her arm around her hand, saying, "I'll help you push the luggage."
"No need, let's go." Wen Mubai took the lead and stepped into the rain, and Xu Chacha could only quickly follow.
Perhaps Jiang Shu's jinx was truly proven true; they hadn't walked far when the rain started pouring down harder and harder, the umbrellas rattling loudly as the raindrops pounded against them, and a chilly wind was blowing down their necks.
Xu Chacha shrugged. She thought she was just going out for hot pot today, and since the restaurant was nearby, she didn't wear a coat. Now she was getting goosebumps from the cold.
Wen Mubai noticed her expression out of the corner of his eye. "Take it."
She handed the umbrella to Xu Chacha, then unbuttoned her coat and raised it to cover Xu Chacha's head.
Xu Chacha pressed her neck, paused for two seconds, and smelled the unique scent of Wen Mubai on the coat. Her ears suddenly felt hot.
"Aren't you cold?" She turned her head to look at Wen Mubai's bare shoulder.
"It's not cold." Wen Mubai had already taken the umbrella back from her hand. "Just make sure you don't get wet."
Xu Chacha tightened her grip on her coat and followed her slowly. Perhaps this was just Wen Mubai's way of taking care of her out of a sense of responsibility as an elder, but she couldn't hide the fact that she was still touched.
This care, in particular, seems to be something she enjoys exclusively.
...
After going around the back street and waiting for one more traffic light, you'll arrive at the loft apartment that Xu Chacha rented.
Wen Mubai closed the umbrella, walked towards the elevator, and pressed the number "6" as he remembered it.
Xu Chacha stood behind her and then noticed that her top was mostly wet, the thin fabric clinging to her slender shoulder blades. She recalled that the umbrella had been tilted more towards her side.
The elevator doors opened, and she silently took out her keys to unlock them and let people in.
Because Jiang Shu and the others often come here, there are always extra disposable slippers on hand. She took a pair apart and gave them to Wen Mubai.
"Go take a shower first," she said, her tone harsh, as she squatted down to speak. "You're all soaked."
"Do you think I'm as delicate as you?" Wen Mubai seemed unfazed by his wet clothes, changed into slippers, and walked inside.
Xu Chacha doesn't stay here often, but the room is still very clean. There's still a lingering smell of air freshener in the room, and she covers her nose, feeling a little uncomfortable with the smell.
"You go inside first, then I'll open the window, otherwise you'll catch a cold." Xu Chacha pushed her from behind, "Tell me you're not as delicate as me, your constitution is even worse than mine."
Wen Mubai was happy to listen to her rambling like a little adult, and followed her lead into the bathroom.
The bathroom has a wet and dry separation. The shower room isn't big, but it's enough. There are Xu Chacha's usual bath products on the shelf, and there are several clean towels inside the vanity cabinet.
She took off her clothes, threw the rain-soaked wad of fabric into the laundry basket, stepped in barefoot, and turned on the shower.
She reached out and waited a few seconds for the water to turn hot. Then she turned the water temperature up a bit before closing her eyes and letting herself sit under the running water.
Her long hair quickly became wet and clung to her slender, snow-white neck. She lowered her head slightly to brush it aside, then turned and tilted her head back to bring her entire face close to hers.
She had been on a plane for more than ten hours, and then transferred to a car and took a taxi. She was actually exhausted, but now she seemed much more relaxed and comfortable.
Xu Chacha's power bank is always useful, no matter when.
Wen Mubai seemed to have thought of something, and he smiled slightly.
...
Xu Chacha watched Wen Mubai go inside before opening the window to let in fresh air until the smell of the air freshener dissipated, then quickly closed it again.
She hung Wen Mubai's coat on the hanger and got up to make the bed.
Actually, the bed was made very neatly, but she was just... Xu Chacha pulled the pillow over and smelled it.
Hmm, it's alright.
Xu Chacha looked around as if she had done something wrong, then put the pillow back in its original place.
Seeing that the rain outside was getting heavier, Xu Chacha didn't want to go back to the dormitory. She pulled an air mattress out of the closet, took out the inflator, and assembled it in a few quick movements.
Zhu Zhu bought this thing and left it with her; I didn't expect her to use it first.
She moved the small table on the first floor to make room for the air mattress, and then lay down on it to experience it.
Not bad, better than sleeping on the sofa.
"Cha Cha." Wen Mubai called out to her from inside the bathroom.
Xu Chacha jogged over, replying as she ran, "Yes, I'm here. What's up?"
"Please get me a change of clothes from the left side of the suitcase." Wen Mubai's voice was also closer to the door, making it a little clearer. "My underwear is in the silver zippered bag, please bring it over as well."
Underwear/breasts/panties?
Xu Chacha blushed and quickly pressed the back of her hand to her cheek to cool herself down, steadying her voice, "Oh, wait a minute."
She ran back and squatted down next to Wen Mubai's luggage. He had only brought one nightgown, so she didn't need to choose one and just took it. Then she carefully picked up the silver zippered bag and slowly unzipped it with a reverent attitude.
She didn't dare open her eyes, turned her head and reached inside to grab things randomly. Once she felt she had both, she pulled them out and wrapped them in her pajamas.
After doing all this, Xu Chacha finally breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had just completed a difficult mission.
"I brought it." She knocked on the bathroom door.
The door was frosted, so you couldn't see inside, but you could still hear the sounds. Xu Chacha soon heard the sound of running water stop, and Wen Mubai's footsteps were very light, so he probably wasn't wearing shoes again.
"Why didn't you say anything? I would have given you my bathroom slippers. Cold starts from the feet, and you're always walking barefoot; you'll easily catch a cold..."
Before she could finish reading, the door was opened, and Wen Mubai's slender arm reached out from inside, causing Xu Chacha to fall silent.
This person was originally born with a cold, snow-white complexion, but now, after being washed by hot water, her skin had a faint pinkish hue. Water droplets dripped from her smooth skin from her elbows to the ground, making almost no splash, yet the hearts of onlookers were stirred.
"Here, take it."
"Hmm." Wen Mubai picked up the clothes but didn't close the door immediately. Instead, he opened the door a little wider and poked his face out. "Are you going to wash later?"
"I showered last night, and I didn't get caught in the rain just now, so I don't need to shower anymore." She was so sleepy and wanted to go to bed early.
"Alright then." Wen Mubai lowered his eyes, took his clothes and went inside, but carelessly just left the door open without locking it.
A strange gust of wind suddenly blew the door open. Xu Chacha's breath caught in her throat, and with the fastest reaction she had ever made, she reached out and closed the door.
I will protect this woman's privacy!
The door made a loud bang, and Wen Mubai stopped in his tracks. He glanced back briefly, then quickly turned back, his expression blank.
Since only Xu Chacha was at home, she didn't need to be on guard against anything.
Xu Chacha quickly tucked herself into the blanket; at 175cm tall, curled up on the air mattress, she looked rather pitiful.
She scrolled aimlessly on her phone to distract herself from the sounds coming from the bathroom.
"Snap—"