A bad premonition suddenly welled up in Liang Sheng’s heart. After hesitating for a moment, she hurried over to Teacher Dong Yue. “Teacher, given this weather, we should head down the mountain and get back to the hotel!”
Su Ze, on the other hand, was inwardly thrilled. He happened to be standing right next to Dong Yue and immediately countered upon hearing Liang Sheng’s words. “Think about it carefully, Liang Sheng. The mountain path will be slippery in this rain. What if someone slips and gets hurt?”
It did make some sense. Though Liang Sheng knew Su Ze had no good intentions, she had to admit there was a point to what he said.
“But this little tent?” Liang Sheng shot Su Ze a fierce glare. “Do you really think it can hold up if the rain gets heavier? We’d all end up soaked to the skin like drowned rats! Better to go down now while we can. If we stay up here too long, get drenched, and the students catch colds or fevers, can you take responsibility for that?”
“You…” Su Ze was left speechless.
Before Teacher Dong Yue could even respond, the principal issued an order in line with Liang Sheng’s suggestion: descend the mountain.
This wasn’t how the original plot went… Liang Sheng pulled out the umbrellas she had prepared in her backpack ahead of time. The rain wasn’t supposed to start at this point before. It seemed Akino Hoshiko had acted alone this time.
Liang Sheng grabbed five umbrellas. She dashed off to the first-year group with one and handed it to her cousin, Liang Jin. Then she ran to the third-years with another and gave it to Gu Yuqi. The remaining three she kept, handing one to Ni Sihan.
“An’an, Young Miss—you two planning to share with anyone?” For this Shura Field dilemma, she decided not to meddle and let the two of them sort it out.
“Anyway, I’m sharing with you, Liang Sheng.” Lu Ziqing lifted her chin. “I’m not that close to the others. It’d just be awkward with nothing to talk about.”
Look at that—our Young Miss Lu Ziqing was still being stubborn, no matter the situation.
“No, wait.” Liang Sheng awkwardly pulled a raincoat from her bag. “I’m wearing a raincoat.”
“Th-then… then why didn’t you say so earlier!” Lu Ziqing felt a wave of shame for her earlier jealous outburst, her face turning as red as a freshly boiled shrimp.
Liang Sheng stifled a laugh. Watching you two compete like that really was entertaining—pure drama!
“If… you want to share with An’an, then this one’s for you two~” Liang Sheng offered the fourth umbrella to Lu Ziqing.
Lu Ziqing snatched the pink folding umbrella. “I’ll use my own! Let those two share one! Hmph!”
She was clearly sulking at Liang Sheng.
Oh dear~ Liang Sheng decided to tease the little tsundere a bit more.
“Hey… actually, Young Miss, your umbrella is way bigger than Ni Sihan’s. If An’an and Ni Sihan share, one of them might still get wet.”
Lu Ziqing glanced back at the flustered Song An’an. Hmph! That timid, hesitant look of hers was infuriating! Lu Ziqing turned away. But… if she caught a cold… wouldn’t that make her indirectly responsible?
For all her tsundere ways, Lu Ziqing had a kind heart—a classic case of sharp tongue but soft heart.
“Fine…” Lu Ziqing awkwardly opened her umbrella and turned back, glaring at Song An’an. “What are you standing there for? Get over here already! Don’t you know you’ll catch a cold in this rain?”
Haha~ Liang Sheng found Young Miss Lu Ziqing especially adorable and endearing right then.
“See~” Liang Sheng leaned close to Lu Ziqing’s ear and whispered, “Young Miss, you’re such a beautiful girl with a good heart~ I like it~”
Mmph!
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Lu Ziqing’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 153”
“Tch~ I just don’t want her catching a cold in the rain and passing it to me in the dorm!”
No matter who she faced, Young Miss Lu Ziqing’s tsundere nature was unmatched.
Song An’an scurried over and slipped under the umbrella.
The rain poured harder—”Whoosh! Howl!”—the wind picking up too, whipping so fiercely it was hard to keep eyes open.
Liang Sheng slipped on her raincoat and offered the last umbrella to Teacher Dong Yue.
“Ah, no need.” Dong Yue already held one. “Su Ze gave me this one.”
So he’d beaten her to it? Liang Sheng wasn’t worried. It was just an umbrella—a small favor couldn’t have that much impact.
But then she glanced over.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability Toward Su Ze: 30”
Damn! Liang Sheng suddenly remembered: this sly dog Su Ze had that Canon Law about “giving a girl what she needs most in the moment.” That had to be it! So enviable! What a powerful System! It made her green with envy!
The last umbrella for… huh? Liang Sheng spotted Ye Yuzhe from the next class over, wearing a pink hat and looking a bit panicked.
Sigh~ Might as well do him a favor. She could squeeze more money out of He Wennuo later and stick it to the Male Lead.
She wouldn’t let him beat her this time! She was going to be the Three-Second Woman!
Looking up, she caught Su Ze anxiously scanning the crowd.
Perfect! Liang Sheng bolted over to Ye Yuzhe in a flash.
“Here, Yuzhee—for you~” Liang Sheng grinned and stuffed the umbrella into his arms.
“Th-thank you…” Ye Yuzhe looked both shocked and delighted.
“Ding~” Favorability increased.
“Ye Yuzhe’s Favorability Toward Liang Sheng: 62”
“No need to thank me~” Liang Sheng waved it off with a flourish and turned to leave. “If you want to thank someone, thank He Wennuo—he asked me to look after you!”
“Thank you!” Ye Yuzhe repeated.
He looked down at the umbrella in his hands. Mr. He Wennuo… Then he glanced up to see Su Ze jogging over.
“Yuzhee, don’t catch a chill. Here’s an umbrella for you.” Su Ze wore an innocent, harmless smile, looking every bit the sunny boy-next-door.
Ye Yuzhe inwardly cursed himself. He knew He Wennuo liked him, yet here he was, using the man to fulfill his own dreams of romance.
And now, the boy he actually liked stood right in front of him, breathless from rushing over with an umbrella. How could his heart not stir?
“Ding~” Favorability rose sharply.
“Ye Yuzhe’s Favorability Toward Su Ze: 86”
“Ding~” Heartthrob Value increased.
“Ye Yuzhe’s Heartthrob Value Toward Su Ze: 25”
Ah, looks like the childhood sweetheart outshines the sudden hero this time! Liang Sheng glanced back, unable to help sighing.
Would Ye Yuzhe return Su Ze’s umbrella? Or reject it? Liang Sheng stood in place, waiting to see Ye Yuzhe’s choice.
Su Ze knew Liang Sheng was behind him. He turned, flashing her a smug grin.
