The Wind Heard Her Confession - Chapter 11: A Blinding Crush part 2

As Lin Yuran approached the bike shelter, she found herself utterly bewildered. The carport was empty. Not a single vehicle was parked there, including her own bicycle. Lin Yuran scanned the surroundings, certain there were no other bike racks. She was sure she had parked her bike here.

Did I really lose my bike? Lin Yuran couldn’t believe it. This was like adding insult to injury for her already strained finances. She was furious.

As Chi Ye drove past her, he stopped, rolled down his window, and asked, “Why haven’t you left?”

Lin Yuran, still seething with anger, furrowed her brow and vented her frustration:

“My bike’s gone! I thought this place was called ‘Wealth Center.’ How can someone even steal bicycles here? My bike wasn’t worth much anyway. Why would anyone steal it?! It’s just plain evil!”

Normally, someone would at least offer a few words of comfort or join her in cursing out the thief. But Chi Ye suddenly laughed, his hand hovering near his temples, and his arm shook as he clutched the car window.

Lin Yuran grew even more upset.

“What are you laughing at? Is this supposed to be funny? This happened in your Ranye’s parking area! It means you guys aren’t managing things properly, and you’re just laughing!”

Chi Ye continued to laugh for a while before he finally managed to control himself. 

“Looks like rain. Come on, I’ll give you a ride home today.”

Lin Yuran glanced up at the sky to check the weather. The sky was dark and moonless, with not a single star visible. The air was thickening with the promise of rain.

It looked like it was really going to rain. Lin Yuran didn’t like taking the subway, especially late at night like this, so she didn’t bother with politeness. She walked over, opened the passenger door, and got in.

“Sorry to put you out, President Chi.”

Watching her fasten her seatbelt, Chi Ye’s lips curved slightly. He reached out to turn on the car’s music, then pressed down on the accelerator.

The whole ride, neither of them talked much. Only the music from the car stereo flowed around them. The rain finally started falling, gradually getting heavier.

Lin Yuran tilted her head to watch the lonely streets through the curtain of rain, her mind wandering from the exhausting day.

When they reached the entrance to Warner Grand Garden, Lin Yuran undid her seatbelt. Chi Ye didn’t stop the car but drove straight in.

“The rain’s really coming down,” he said. “Which building and unit are you? I’ll drive you right to your door.”

Lin Yuran looked at the fine beads of rain streaming down the car window. “Building 5, Unit 2.”

At the door, before getting out of the car, Chi Ye leaned over from the driver’s seat, picked up two boxes of Western-style pastries from the back, and handed them to her. “A friend gave them to me. I don’t like them, but they’re yours if you want them for a late-night snack.”

Not only is he giving me a lift, Lin Yuran thought, he’s also trying to fob off some of his stuff on me. That’s not quite right. She rushed to decline. “No, thanks. I’m not hungry.”

Chi Ye shook his head. “I don’t want them anyway. I’d have to throw them away. Where’s your junk bin?”

Geez! What a waste of food from that young master.

Lin Yuran was helpless, “What a waste to throw it away. I’ll take it for when I get hungry late at night.”

She accepted the pastries with a smile. “Thanks for seeing me off, old classmate. And thanks for the treats.”

Chi Ye chuckled. “You’re welcome.”

Back home after washing up, Lin Yuran realized she was actually quite hungry and too tired to cook. She decided to snack on what she had.

She opened the box Chi Ye had given her. Despite saying he didn’t like them, it seemed all the pastries were her favorites. Sea salt and herb cookies, brown rice and green tea financier, buttery coconut macaroons, lemon Madeleines, and dark chocolate brownies. 

Before, she used to be very picky about these desserts. She wouldn’t touch anything too sweet or greasy. Yet coincidentally, she loved every single treat in the box.

In high school, Chi Ye had often brought these fancy pastries from home to share with the class, always in several boxes. That was one big reason why he’d been so popular.

While other students had to share a box among themselves, her desk partner Chi Ye would give her a whole box to enjoy on her own. She could eat whatever she liked and leave the rest uneaten, which Chi Ye would then toss to Gu Jiaze.

It had been years since she’d tasted these treats. As Lin Yuran bit into a financier, she felt a sudden burst of happiness.

The fine mist of summer rain had washed away the city’s heat for the night, leaving behind a temporary chill.

As she stepped out of her apartment building in the morning, a cool breeze swept across Lin Yuran’s face. The fresh air after the rain felt wonderful, and she felt a surge of irritation. This perfect weather was ideal for cycling, but her bike had been stolen. Now she had to squeeze onto the subway during rush hour, just thinking about it made her head spin.

As she walked from the neighborhood towards the subway station, a black car followed behind her and honked twice.