The sound of branches rustling in the strong wind could be heard outside.

Jiang Shuyi hadn't spoken for a long time and felt that her fingers were a bit cold.

After a while, she turned slightly and hugged Wen Yao, who was wearing her thick coat, making her feel soft and warm.

The air was filled with the scent of roses mixed with a hint of salty dampness.

It felt like the scent of rain, or perhaps the scent of tears.

". . ."

The broken light bulb in the hallway made everything look dim, and neither of them could see the other's expression clearly.

Wen Yao was silently sobbing, her shoulders still trembling.

"Wen Yao."

Jiang Shuyi let out a breath, feeling a bit helpless, and gently patted Wen Yao's back, "Don't cry."

Jiang Shuyi had never seen Wen Yao like this, and she felt a bit at a loss.

She didn't know how to comfort someone who was crying, let alone how to comfort Wen Yao.

When Jiang Shuyi first met Wen Yao, she was a professor.

Professor Wen was a rational, determined, brave, and resolute person.

Jiang Shuyi had always watched her from behind, following her for a long, long time...

So, she had always thought—Wen Yao was strong.

Wen Yao was invulnerable and immune to all harm.

Thus, Jiang Shuyi never expected that Wen Yao would cry in front of her.

Wen Yao's nose was pressed against Jiang Shuyi's chest, and her tears began to soak the fabric of her clothes.

Jiang Shuyi sighed, unsure of what to say.

"If I hadn't come today, I think you would have gone to school tomorrow just like usual."

"And then tomorrow, you would probably pretend nothing happened in front of me..."

Just thinking about her putting on a brave face as if nothing had happened made Jiang Shuyi's eyes feel a bit sore.

"...You really are too good at pretending, Wen Yao."

Jiang Shuyi's voice was a bit choked.

In the darkness, Wen Yao looked at her without blinking, her eyes glistening with tears, and she gasped for breath.

— I really want to protect her...

— I want to make her happy...

— I want her to eat well...

— I hope she doesn't get sick again...

— I hope she can relax a bit...

Wen Yao's long eyelashes trembled lightly, with droplets of water clinging to them.

Jiang Shuyi felt a pang of heartache and gently brushed the tears from her eyes, then softly said:

"If you tell me not to go, of course, I won't leave."

"As long as you ask me to stay, I will definitely stay."

"As long as you call for me, I will rush to be by your side."

— As long as you tell me to treat you well, I will definitely treat you very well.

Jiang Shuyi lowered her gaze, silently thinking.

— I will do whatever you say.

Outside, the sky was pitch black, and she could hear the sound of raindrops hitting the ground.

"It's normal to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable about me discovering your secret."

Jiang Shuyi slowly exhaled, gently patting Wen Yao's back.

"Please don't feel like you're in a difficult or uncomfortable position."

"Don't worry that I'll be angry."

"And don't worry about what that person might do to me..."

Jiang Shuyi furrowed her brows and pressed her lips together.

"In my heart, you are a wonderful person."

"You're the kind of person who is unreasonably good. A really, really good person."

Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi, biting her lip, and the next moment, crystal-clear tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"...Mm."

Wen Yao's voice was cold but carried a hint of warmth.

"But," Jiang Shuyi hesitated for a moment, "Wen Yao."

"Please don't have such bad thoughts about me."

"I've always felt very uneasy in front of you."

"I worry about whether I'm being a burden to you, and I worry about whether you dislike me."

"When you push me away like that, it hurts, Wen Yao."

Jiang Shuyi choked up a little and pressed Wen Yao's head against her shoulder.

"As long as you don't drive me away, I will always be with you."

Wen Yao's nose lightly brushed against Jiang Shuyi's neck, her cold nose contrasting sharply with the warm, wet tears rolling down Jiang Shuyi's shirt.

Jiang Shuyi's hand continued to gently pat Wen Yao's head.

The clean scent of lemon balm wafted softly into Wen Yao's nostrils, causing her to tightly grip the clothes of the person in front of her.

"Jiang Shuyi..."

Wen Yao quietly sniffed in the cold air and nodded silently.

---

Unbeknownst to them, the light rain began to grow heavier.

The two had already returned to Wen Yao's room.

Wen Yao's tears had stopped, and apart from the corners of her eyes, she looked nothing like someone who had been crying.

Wen Yao took off Jiang Shuyi's thick coat and returned it to her, then picked up her own coat from the side and put it on.

The window that the man had broken continued to let in cold wind, and the light rain blew in, wetting the floor close to the window.

The two stood in the wind, feeling a bit at a loss as they looked at the messy room.

Wen Yao stood in front of the window with a roll of tape, trying to patch up the hole in the window.

However, the hole was too large, and it seemed that tape alone wouldn't be enough to seal it.

Moreover, the tape did nothing to block the wind.

Jiang Shuyi looked through the jagged hole in the window toward the distant streetlight.

It was clearly a rainy winter, yet the streetlight...

After a moment of silence, she gave up looking at the mess and quietly said, "Wen Yao, why don't you stay at my house for now?"

Wen Yao, who was cleaning up the trash in the room, suddenly stopped her movements upon hearing this.

"It's winter now, and your home is in this state."

"And it's raining today, I'm worried you might catch a cold if you stay here."

Jiang Shuyi turned her back to Wen Yao, trying to use tape to seal the window again.

"...If you stay at my place, that person won't easily trouble you anymore."

Jiang Shuyi stretched out the tape, cut it with scissors, and replied, "Plus, I have plenty of vacant rooms at my house, so having one more person or one less person really makes no difference..."

"It's a win-win situation."

Jiang Shuyi listed out her reasons, glanced at the poorly taped window that was still leaking air, and sighed.

"Jiang Shuyi." Wen Yao quietly lowered her gaze and continued cleaning.

"Have you considered your parents?"

Wen Yao said calmly, her eyes fixed on the window that Jiang Shuyi had taped.

Her tone had returned to its usual rhythm.

"You might not care."

"But wouldn't your parents have an opinion about someone who has nothing to do with them staying over?"

"Oh, about that, it's fine, you don't have to worry." Jiang Shuyi replied decisively.

"My parents are usually not at home."

Jiang Shuyi said nonchalantly, "My dad is busy with business deals, and my mom works in the development department of a company. They're either flying around or at work most of the time."

". . ." But as soon as she said this, Wen Yao silently glanced at Jiang Shuyi.

Jiang Shuyi didn't notice Wen Yao's gaze and started taping the window again, speaking as if everything were perfectly straightforward.

"And besides, my parents are pretty understanding.." ...right?

She was somewhat unsure about Tang Wenzhen's attitude.

But, as the saying goes, the boat will reach the bridge when it gets there.

She thought to herself and repeated, "It's fine, really, you don't have to worry."

After taping the window for the second time, Jiang Shuyi clapped her hands and said:

"And if you come to my house, we can go to school together."

"We can even have breakfast together."

"The chicken soup dumplings made by my auntie are really delicious!"

Jiang Shuyi thought for a moment and began to chatter excitedly, "And there's congee. Actually, my congee is pretty average, but my auntie's congee is really good. I can't remember what it's called."

"By the way, do you prefer sandwiches for breakfast, or do you like porridge? I'll tell my auntie after I get home tonight."

"So, what do you think? Do you want to come over to my house?"

". . ."

Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi's face, pondering for a few seconds, and finally nodded.

"Mm."

---

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