Jian Ran let out an "Ah" and looked at Chu Lulin, a bit dazed.
They stared at each other for a few seconds. An elusive, obscure light flickered in Chu Lulin's eyes.
He smiled, revealing his neat little dimples. "Someone once told me, love what you do, and the more challenging it is, the more fun it becomes."
Jian Ran blinked.
So, when he saw her grumpy expression back then, his first reaction was to feel challenged?
Tsk~
She patted Chu Lulin on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Young man, believe me, with this mindset, you'll succeed at whatever you do!"
"I'll take your word for it, Big Sister."
Jian Ran replied smugly, "Absolutely!"
After that, she silently let out a breath.
Just now, she had felt something eerie. When Chu Lulin said, 'At that moment, I only had one thought—how to make you happy,' a strange notion had stirred in her heart.
She subtly shook her head, as if trying to shake off those untimely thoughts.
How could a simple and honest boy like Chu Lulin have any messy ideas?
She was overthinking.
Summer weather is like a child's face—it changes in an instant.
Just a while ago, when they left the Embroidery Workshop, the sky was clear and sunny. Now, dark clouds suddenly gathered, and raindrops as big as beans began to fall.
But unfortunately, they had already left the village and wandered into an open area. They couldn't find a place to take shelter immediately.
"Let's go that way. There are houses there—we can take cover under the eaves." Jian Ran pointed to a nearby spot, using her hand to shield her head.
Though it was still some distance away, it was the best option for them at the moment. Going back to the village would be even farther.
"Okay, Big Sister, hold my flowers for me."
Chu Lulin quickly took off his shirt jacket, spread it open with both hands, and raised it high to shield both their heads.
Because of the shirt jacket, the distance between them suddenly closed. They could feel each other's breaths and catch the faint scent of mint—either from his body wash or laundry detergent—on Chu Lulin.
Raindrops drummed a dense, continuous rhythm on the shirt jacket, as if isolating them in a world of their own.
Jian Ran paused and looked up at him.
He looked back at her apologetically, his eyes clear and pure. "Sorry, I forgot to bring an umbrella. This should help a little."
Jian Ran suddenly laughed. She realized that Chu Lulin was indeed a simple, honest kid, his mind filled only with work.
At the same time, she felt a bit ashamed. Because of his unintentional words, she had briefly entertained the illusion that Chu Lulin liked her.
It seemed the misunderstandings and teasing over the past few days had subtly influenced her, making her flatter herself.
Sigh, she really needed to reflect.
"Do you think you're a god? How can you think of everything? Come on, let's go." Jian Ran smiled.
Chu Lulin responded with an "Okay." The two ran through the rain, shielded only by a thin shirt jacket.
As they ran, their shoulders accidentally bumped. Through the wet cloth, their skin touched, feeling each other's warm body heat.
Chu Lulin's breath caught. He instinctively looked down at Jian Ran, relieved to see no unusual reaction on her face.
The distance was neither too close nor too far. After Jian Ran's self-reflection, they finally reached the shelter of the eaves.
"Big Sister, dry yourself first."
Chu Lulin handed Jian Ran a small pack of tissues. The shirt jacket was too thin, so they both inevitably got a bit wet.
"Thanks."
Jian Ran actually wasn't very wet. Chu Lulin was much taller than her, and during the run, besides the shirt jacket, he had used his body to block much of the rain.
She couldn't help but glance sideways at Chu Lulin. She had always known he was tall, but this was the first time she clearly felt their height difference.
Jian Ran was 1.7 meters, which was relatively tall for a woman. But Chu Lulin could easily cover her by raising his arms—he must be at least 185 centimeters or more.
"How tall are you?"
Chu Lulin was startled, not understanding why she suddenly asked, but he replied honestly, "I'm 186 centimeters barefoot, usually around 188 in shoes."
Jian Ran nodded. It was about what she guessed.
He was tall even among men.
"You should dry yourself too."
He was obviously much wetter than her. Rainwater dripped from his bangs onto his face, slid down his neck, and finally disappeared into his collar.
He smiled and responded, then raised his arm to wipe the rain off his face.
Jian Ran immediately understood—he had given her all the tissues.
But the small pack was already used up. She rummaged through her shoulder bag and found only the handkerchief she had embroidered earlier.
"Use this."