Meeting in the Rain

Tian Qing was completely unaware of what had happened the night before. When Aunt Huai didn't accompany her to school, she was only slightly surprised and then went about her day as usual. That day, the air seemed more pleasant, and a vague feeling of joy and happiness flashed in her heart... It passed so quickly that she could barely register it.

The distance from the villa where Tian Qing lived to the academy was neither too far nor too close, just enough for some reflection. And there was never a day when Tian Qing had nothing to think about. Today, the melodies from yesterday kept ringing in her head, making it impossible to focus. Sighing, Tian Qing looked up at the sky; since she couldn't think, she might as well stop trying. Her feet kept moving, without a moment's rest, without a hint of hesitation.

Absorbed in the repeating melody in her head, she didn't pay attention to her surroundings, nor did she notice someone grabbing her elbow. A gentle yank was enough to make her lose her balance and stumble forward. Caught completely off guard and startled, she could only close her eyes tightly, falling into someone's arms. The familiar scent of green tea lingered around her nose, and unconsciously, she felt a sense of dependence and peace.

He looked at her, smiling gently, still holding her in his arms. It had been so long since he was last this close to her. He truly missed her pure scent and the warm feeling of holding her. But it only lasted a moment before she pushed him away without hesitation, her cold, soulless eyes staring straight into his. His heart twitched, feeling as if someone were squeezing it. The smile on his lips had long lost its perfection, turning into a pitiful grimace.

"I... just wanted... to apologize... for yesterday!"

His voice trembled with the beating of his heart, his eyes filled with pleading and pain. She only blinked slightly; perhaps her heart also ached like a knife cut. The boy in front of her, from years ago, who used to smile, warm her, and pamper her like family, the person she had long considered a part of herself... now felt like a stranger. He kept trying to force his way into her path, only to receive coldness from the one he loved most. As for her, though her heart had long strayed to him, seeing him now felt like a thousand arrows piercing her soul.

It seemed they kept torturing each other, constantly hurting themselves and the other, yet neither had any intention of stopping.

In the distance, biting winds picked up, signaling a sudden summer storm. He wanted to walk her to school, but didn't know how to speak; the words kept catching in his throat. As for her, she quietly looked at him, then slowly turned around, quickly running into the bustling crowd. Raindrops fell with her footsteps, falling in place of the bitterness in his heart, falling in place of the tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

The schoolyard was empty; everyone had already started class. Tian Qing ran through the freezing rain, shaking her wet hair, panting. She didn't notice someone standing in front of her. A hand reached out, a white handkerchief fluttering before her eyes, and only then did she realize she wasn't alone.

The boy of her age with a bright smile and charming dimples stood right there. Though they didn't know each other, she felt a strong liking for him. She reached out to take the handkerchief, which carried only a clean, faint scent. Wanting to say thank you but unable to, she tilted her head slightly. To others, the gesture might seem impolite, but in her, it exuded a strange loveliness.

The boy's dimpled smile deepened. Taking back the handkerchief from her hand, his eyes behind his glasses narrowed slightly, not in judgment but with a hint of care.

"You're not wearing a uniform...!"

Clearing his throat, the boy finally blurted out a sentence, which honestly made Tian Qing want to bang her head against a wall. Who on earth trying to make friends asks a question like that? Tian Qing's eyes shifted slightly, and though it was subtle, it was enough to make the boy freeze for a few seconds.

"My name is Ping Ming, remember that!"

A teacher called the boy from afar. Hearing the call, Tian Qing ran upstairs. The boy watched her retreating figure and called out. Her eyes flickered slightly.

"Ping Ming! Perhaps I will remember...!"