After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 20
Chapter 20: Rainy Night
◎The thing she most wanted to do was done by Zhiyou◎
Zhu Ling stood at the podium. The students who were just walking around aimlessly had now all obediently returned to their seats, not daring to act out.
“The school’s generator is broken and can’t be repaired in a short time. Evening study is canceled. Be careful on your way home, and try to call your parents to pick you up. Boarding students cannot linger in the teaching building and must return to the dorms immediately—no wandering around.”
After hearing this, Ye Siying felt like her soul shattered—her story-telling session was ruined—
Zhu Ling didn’t leave right away. Instead, she sat at the podium to accompany the students who were waiting for their parents.
Xie Zhiyou stood nearby, using her phone’s flashlight to help Chen Mengyin pack up. They had agreed to go home together, do homework, and if there was still time, play games or watch a movie.
With her backpack on, Chen Mengyin bid farewell to Zhu Ling, who reminded them again to be careful before watching them leave.
The rain was still heavy. Fortunately, the thunder had stopped, so Chen Mengyin no longer had to worry about being struck by lightning under a tree.
“Let’s walk closer together. Didn’t expect the rain to be this heavy.” They had left in a hurry and only brought one umbrella. Chen Mengyin opened it and turned to Xie Zhiyou. “I’ll need you to shine the flashlight for the walk to the school gate.”
Xie Zhiyou raised her already-lit phone and smiled. “Got it.”
The umbrella wasn’t big. To keep Xie Zhiyou from getting wet, Chen Mengyin pulled her into her arms and subtly tilted the umbrella toward her without her noticing.
Xie Zhiyou gave Chen Mengyin a gentle smile and wrapped her arm softly around her waist, pulling them even closer. The scent of lily of the valley mingled with the humid rain, filling the air and stealing her breath. Chen Mengyin almost thought she would drown in the rain.
She felt like a stranded fish—no matter how she breathed, the suffocating feeling wouldn’t leave.
“It’s raining so hard,” Chen Mengyin murmured. She felt like the rain was falling straight through the umbrella onto her, trying to drown her.
“Yeah.” Xie Zhiyou exhaled a visible puff of air. The rain had brought a sudden chill. Her exposed skin felt freezing—only Chen Mengyin’s warmth kept her from shivering.
She tightened her grip around Chen Mengyin’s waist, trying to soak in more warmth.
Chen Mengyin noticed and slid her hand down from Zhiyou’s shoulder to her arm, feeling the icy skin. “Your hand is freezing. If you stay in the wind any longer, you’ll catch a cold. I wonder if we can get a ride at the gate—if not, we’ll have to walk faster.”
Zhiyou gently patted her waist to calm her. “It’s okay, just feels cold to the touch. But let’s not walk too fast—roads are slippery in the rain.”
As they reached the school gate, Chen Mengyin spoke with the security guard, letting Zhiyou wait in the guard room while she used a ride-hailing app and tried to flag a cab.
Luckily, one came by soon.
Chen Mengyin got Zhiyou and got into the car.
After they got in, she placed the umbrella at their feet and told the driver, “Sir, can you turn off the AC, please?”
The driver noticed they were chilled from the rain and switched to warm air. “Turn on the heat for a bit.”
Chen Mengyin held Zhiyou’s hand and smiled. “Thanks!”
Driver: “No problem, sit tight.”
The car moved slowly. The roads were slippery from the rain, and the driver drove cautiously behind other cars.
The radio was reporting traffic updates for various districts in Yonghuai.
“Traffic accident at Xiamen Road, Hu’an District. Drivers, please be careful on the slick roads—”
“…another accident at Lincang intersection…”
“…more accidents…”
The driver muttered about how reckless people were these days, then stopped the car in front of Chen Mengyin’s house. “Kids, you’re home. Make sure to take a hot shower.”
“Got it. We’re heading in.” Chen Mengyin got out first and opened the umbrella, helping Zhiyou out.
Her hands full, she passed the house keys to Zhiyou. After opening the door, Zhiyou locked it again and handed back the keys.
“You take a shower first,” Chen Mengyin said. “Don’t rush through it just to let me go. Take your time with a hot soak, then drink a packet of cold medicine before starting homework.”
Seeing her firm tone, Zhiyou gave in.
“Mooom, I’m back!” Chen Mengyin shouted toward the living room.
Li Ran came downstairs, mask still on. “You’re back! Did you get wet? I’ll make some ginger tea.”
Chen Mengyin smiled. “Not wet! Remember to add sugar!”
Li Ran teased, “You picky brat. Still making demands?”
Zhiyou interrupted with a smile before their bickering began. “Good evening, Auntie.”
As expected, Li Ran turned her full attention to Zhiyou and said kindly, “Zhiyou, come on in, don’t just stand there. Go upstairs and shower. I’ll make the ginger tea so you two don’t catch a cold.”
Zhiyou smiled. “Thank you, Auntie. We’ll head up first then.”
Li Ran waved them off. “Go, go.”
As they climbed the stairs, Chen Mengyin joked, “She loves you more than me now.”
Zhiyou patted her head. “Doesn’t matter. The one I love the most is you.”
Chen Mengyin’s face instantly turned red.
“Okay! No more of this, go shower!” She hurriedly handed Zhiyou some pajamas and undergarments and pushed her toward the bathroom.
Knowing she was shy, Zhiyou kissed her blushing cheek on purpose before heading to the shower, leaving Chen Mengyin frozen on the spot.
Ahhhhhhhh—
Chen Mengyin threw herself onto the bed and rolled around in silence.
The one thing she most wanted to do tonight was casually done by Zhiyou! And it was a kiss on the cheek!
She stopped rolling and her eyes glistened, still flustered and giddy from that light-as-a-feather kiss.
Zhiyou’s lips were so soft…
She covered her face and replayed the kiss several times before finally going downstairs to find her mom.
Li Ran had taken off her face mask and was making ginger tea.
“I’ll take over, Mom—you should rest.”
“Out of the way. You don’t even know how to make this,” Li Ran snapped.
Then she looked at her daughter’s flushed face. “Are you running a fever? Come here.”
“I’m fine, it’s just hot!” Chen Mengyin dodged and grabbed some fruit to cut instead.
Li Ran narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Really? Then why are you blushing?”
While sorting fruit, Chen Mengyin insisted, “I swear! Would I lie to you?”
“You’ve lied before, that’s exactly why I don’t trust you,” Li Ran muttered. “Anyway, when I’m done with the tea, take it upstairs—one bowl each.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Chen Mengyin prepared a fruit platter with mango, watermelon, and Hami melon, and went back to her room.
Zhiyou had just finished showering and was drying her hair. Chen Mengyin set down the fruit and drank her ginger tea first.
“Zhiyou, the tea’s on the table. I’m going to shower,” she said, grabbing her clothes.
Zhiyou nodded, understanding.
Hot water ran over her in the shower, and she let out a satisfied sigh.
She squirted some lemon-scented body wash, but wondered why even though hers was the same brand as Zhiyou’s, it didn’t smell like lily of the valley.
Did she wear perfume?
But even after sleeping over, she still had that scent. It couldn’t be that long-lasting.
She gave up figuring it out, rinsed off, dried herself, and changed.
Back in the room, Zhiyou had set a low table on the carpet to do homework. Chen Mengyin picked up the hairdryer and commented, “Isn’t this too small?”
Zhiyou replied helplessly, “Your desk isn’t much better.”
Her desk was cluttered with all kinds of junk. Doing homework on it would be a challenge.
“I forgot to clean it up…” she admitted.
Zhiyou reassured her, “It’s fine. Just for tonight.”
Chen Mengyin groaned. “Make sure I clean my room properly from now on.”
“I’ll be strict,” Zhiyou teased.
Thinking of her immaculate room, Chen Mengyin sighed, “I can do it.”
“You’re amazing!” Zhiyou clapped softly.
Hearing her praise, Chen Mengyin beamed and said proudly, “Easy peasy. Let’s start on homework. I wanna watch Jurassic World later.”
Zhiyou: “Only math, physics, and chemistry tonight.”
As they worked, Chen Mengyin reached for a slice of melon and took out her math homework—her least favorite subject.