The rain was about to fall.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky, crushing it. The lightning that should have been beautiful was instead tainted, only adding to the oppressive weight.
Jiang Jialie had just finished driving practice. After snatching the first shower slot in the bathroom, she was frantically working conditioner into her hair.
Once she finished showering, Zhou Ming would probably be back too, and she could go eat with him.
Yeah, maybe they could even leave campus and go for a stroll outside.
Daydreaming about the alone time she’d have with Zhou Ming, Jiang Jialie’s face lit up with joy.
She liked Zhou Ming. Everyone in high school knew that.
Even though there were no more contests for “school beauty” or “department beauty” at the academy now, Jiang Jialie still relied on her sweet, girlish temperament and figure to be recognized as one of the rare beauties on campus.
It was only natural she’d attract attention.
Jiang Jialie never entertained the thought, “A beauty like me liking you should be your honor,” nor did she feel even a trace of arrogance.
She couldn’t claim to fully understand love or affection, but Jiang Jialie was sure that she did like Zhou Ming.
They were childhood friends. When they were little, Zhou Ming would always ditch his own group of friends to play games with her that boys probably wouldn’t enjoy—like playing house.
Whenever Jiang Jialie was alone, Zhou Ming would always come to comfort her and pat his chest as a guarantee.
“They won’t play with you! But you and I are good friends—I won’t abandon you! Now it’s the two of us against them!”
“I’m your knight! I’ll always be by your side!”
Maybe it was back then that Jiang Jialie’s innocent heart was captured by Zhou Ming.
After that, Jiang Jialie became the little shadow trailing behind Zhou Ming, her small, soft hand clutching the hem of his shirt, head bowed, timid and meek.
“Zhou Ming, you’d better protect my Xiaolie well, or I won’t feel safe letting her follow you around, you hear me?!”
Jiang Jialie’s mother, seeing her daughter holding Zhou Ming’s shirt, feigned seriousness and said to him.
“I should be the one worried about letting Xiaolie follow you!”
At times like this, Zhou Ming would gently rub Jiang Jialie’s silky black hair, then lead her toward his own home.
“Xiaolie, let’s go! I’ll take you to find my mom. She’ll buy you food. We’ll ignore your mom—who wants her to separate us!”
From kindergarten to elementary school, then middle school and high school, Zhou Ming had always been the one standing by her side, protecting her.
Even when their hometown was hit by a monster tide, Zhou Ming had stood in front of her and led her to safety.
At that moment, facing the source of the monster tide—that enormous Futan-type monster —Zhou Ming had unhesitatingly shielded her.
Even when she was kidnapped, Zhou Ming risked his life to save her.
That time, Jiang Jialie had cried her heart out.
She was so terrified—terrified that Zhou Ming wouldn’t come to save her, and terrified that he would come and get hurt.
After her parents and relatives had all passed away in the monster tide, Jiang Jialie only had Zhou Ming left.
Dependence. Habit. Fear.
Would Zhou Ming abandon her someday?
Her world was tiny. Apart from Zhou Ming, there was no room for anyone else.
That was why, when she saw Gadelia getting close to Zhou Ming, Jiang Jialie resisted so fiercely.
“Why are you getting close to Zhou Ming?!”
“Are you trying to take him away from me too?!”
A storm of thoughts clashed and twisted. Jiang Jialie had to respond immediately!
Zhou Ming was hers!
No one could take him away!
Jiang Jialie used every means she could to try to drive Gadelia away.
Clearly, she failed.
Gadelia still stuck to Zhou Ming, and their relationship only grew deeper.
Even worse!
Gadelia actually told her to learn to accept!
And she used the word “we”!
“Hypocrite! You want Zhou Ming too, don’t you?!”
She said it all so sanctimoniously.
Still, Jiang Jialie trusted Gadelia’s judgment about Zhou Ming.
He was my… my… lover.
Thinking that, Jiang Jialie’s cheeks flushed. She squeezed her legs together slightly, and her hands restlessly roamed over her body.
So, Jiang Jialie pretended to form an alliance with Gadelia.
Anyway, once she’d driven away any other foxes that showed up later, she’d get rid of Gadelia too.
There was no rush for now.
“Just let you have your moment.”
Clenching her teeth, Jiang Jialie said the words one by one.
She dried herself off, got dressed, wrapped up her hair, and left the room.
Her phone rang.
She picked it up. Zhou Ming was calling her.
Her heart leaped. Full of anticipation, Jiang Jialie answered.
“Xiaolie, can you come out? I’m waiting for you downstairs.”
Zhou Ming’s voice was low, tinged with exhaustion, and carried a hidden worry.
Jiang Jialie didn’t notice.
Overjoyed, she didn’t answer. Instead, she rummaged through her closet and found a pleated knee-length dress with an off-shoulder design and a cinched waist that she thought looked good.
A thin ribbon tied at the waist, making her look slender.
Then she put on short socks and leather shoes. Amid her roommate’s good-natured teasing, Jiang Jialie rushed downstairs to find Zhou Ming.
“Zhou Ming!”
She stood on tiptoe, lightly patted his shoulder, and called his name in a voice as clear as a silver bell.
“Xiaolie, you’re here.”
Turning around, Zhou Ming forced a smile.
“You… what’s wrong?!”
Seeing Zhou Ming’s face, aged tens of years by anguish, Jiang Jialie panicked. She cupped his cheeks, her eyes filled with worry.
“What’s wrong?!”
“Did that woman Gadelia bully you?! I’ll go find her and make her apologize right now!”
“No.”
Zhou Ming looked down at Jiang Jialie’s anxious face, his heart uneasy.
He didn’t understand why Gadelia had told him to come to Jiang Jialie for an answer.
“This is deliberately dragging Xiaolie into it!”
Zhou Ming didn’t want Jiang Jialie involved.
He only wished for her to be safe, even if she knew nothing, as long as he had enough strength to protect her.
If possible, Zhou Ming also hoped Gadelia would stop getting involved in illegal matters.
But that wasn’t possible.
Zhou Ming knew it was impossible.
He himself had to rely on the power of those things now. How could he keep Gadelia away from them?
“Let’s go eat out! We can talk while we eat. Come on, Xiaolie.”
Jiang Jialie could hear the exhaustion in Zhou Ming’s voice.
She quickly took his hand and adjusted her tone to be as gentle as possible.
“I’ll do whatever you say. Where are we going? What do you want to eat?”
“I remember there’s a restaurant in Sector 15 that serves Uwe original cuisine. Didn’t you say you wanted to try foreign food? Let’s go there.”
“Okay.”
She nodded lightly, not refusing because of the high price.
She knew she had to go along with Zhou Ming for now.
“Gadelia, it must be you, that bad woman, who made Zhou Ming angry!”
Right, the restaurant.