Xiaobai Is Also Troubled Today

A pair of arms wrapped around Bai Tingzhi's snow-white neck from behind without a care in the world.
 
"Thinking about other girls?"

 
"Can you not hug me when you're all sweaty?" She turned around and speechlessly pushed Lin Yunian away.
 

It was just a gesture. Her strength was too weak to actually push him off.
 
If it were anyone else, Bai Tingzhi would have wanted to pin them to the ground and beat them to death.

 
"So you were thinking about it?"
 

"Am I as lustful as you think?"
 
"It's summer. The season for all things to reproduce."

 
Bai Tingzhi retorted, "Then why don't you find a girlfriend?"
 

"Not interested."
 
The same answer as always.
 

But there was something else Bai Tingzhi hadn't asked before.
 
"Really?"

 
"Really."
 

"Then why..." Bai Tingzhi pulled Lao Lin closer and whispered in his ear, "is your pen on Sang Rong's desk?"
 
"Sang Rong? Which pen?"

 
Lin Yunian frowned, as if he genuinely had no idea what she was talking about.
 

"The starfish one. You bought one for me, too," Bai Tingzhi said, looking up with a glint in her eyes, as if announcing a victory.
 
The yellowish sponge one belonged to her. Even though she rarely used it since she didn't do her homework, it was still hers.

 
He thought for a moment and finally remembered something.
 

Sang Rong sat in the row in front of him to the left, and he sat in the last row without a deskmate. The two people in front of him often used his things without asking.
 
"Just classmates. They like to use my stuff."

 
"And you don't mind?" For some reason, Bai Tingzhi didn't like seeing other people use that pen.
 

"Mind what? I'm not that stingy." Lin Yunian smiled, walked toward the classroom, and didn't forget to add, "My coat is still with Lao Peng. If you're cold, remember to get it."
 
It was early summer, so it was common to leave a coat at school. It was just that someone had wanted to save trouble and took their clothes home without bringing them back.

 
"Oh—got it!"
 

Bai Tingzhi said indifferently and continued to sit under the osmanthus tree to rest.
 
Cold? As if.

 
The rest of the classes flew by, and even lunch was a hurried affair. She felt a bit listless and had trouble concentrating.
 

She had originally planned to go to the library to study at noon, but now she felt a little overwhelmed.
 
She sat at her desk, already wearing Lin Yunian's coat. Looking back, she saw that Lao Lin wasn't in his seat.

 
The lunch break wasn't long. If she didn't sleep now, class would start soon.
 

Bai Tingzhi squinted, and her consciousness quickly blurred.
 
In her dream, it seemed to be raining heavily. The rain blew against her face, carrying the cold sting of gazing up at the starry sky on an early summer night.

 
She couldn't help but shudder, a tremor spreading through her entire body.
 

Then, a wave of heat washed over her, enveloping her. One cold, one hot, one cold, one hot.
 
Bai Tingzhi felt a little nauseous.

 
"Hiss..."
 

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!!
 
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.

 
Bai Tingzhi sat up from her desk. A faint trace of saliva was visible at the corner of the girl's mouth.
 

?
 
Hmm?

 
School's over?
 

"What are you thinking about?"
 
Lin Yunian, with his schoolbag on, stood beside Bai Tingzhi, looking down at her.

 
The students in the classroom grabbed their umbrellas and hurried out one by one. If they weren't in a rush to eat, they would inevitably have to queue up.
 

But since she and Lin Yunian were going home anyway and didn't have evening self-study, there was no need to eat here. They were often neither slow nor hurried.
 
Bai Tingzhi shook her head slowly, still not fully awake.

 
Lin Yunian found it amusing and knocked on her head.
 

Bai Tingzhi felt the pain but didn't cry out, just stupidly covered her head with her hands.
 
After a moment, she spoke. Lin Yunian thought she was finally going to scold him, but all he heard her ask was, "Did you bring an umbrella?"

 
"Yeah, two of them."
 

"Give me one."
 
"Okay."

 
He didn't need two anyway.
 

"You go on ahead." Bai Tingzhi took the umbrella from Lin Yunian and looked up into his eyes. "I need to go buy something."
 
"What is it? I'll go with you."

 
"It's not on the way," Bai Tingzhi said, shaking her head firmly.
 

"Then be careful." Lin Yunian hesitated for a moment but still gave a warning, packed up his things, and left the classroom.
 
She was dazed for a moment, then patted her face to focus. After a while, she started to pack up her things.

 
Xia Gu'an had thoughtfully left a notebook on her desk. Bai Tingzhi assumed it was left for her specifically.
 

The streets along the way were bumpy. Even though it was an asphalt road, it looked like it was poorly constructed. Countless halos reflected in her eyes, swaying back and forth.
 
Raindrops pattered on the umbrella, fell into the puddles, and became part of the rain.

 
The rain wasn't heavy.
 

But in Bai Tingzhi's world, it was a downpour. A slight, cool breeze blew against her face, and she felt like she couldn't hold on.
 
Even a girl's body couldn't be this weak, right?!

 
The lights of the commercial street grew closer. It was early, not yet closing time, so she couldn't have come all this way for nothing.
 

Whoosh!
 
The wind speed suddenly picked up for no reason, nearly twisting the umbrella in her hand out of shape.

 
She staggered to the front of a souvenir shop that hadn't closed yet.
 

She wanted to prepare a gift for Lin Yunian's birthday in advance. Maybe it was too early, but for a good bro... friend, a gift should be prepared well.
 
Bai Tingzhi had no ideas, so she planned to come and look early.

 
After walking around the store twice, she still felt like something was missing.
 

A dull ache throbbed in her forehead, lingering.
 
Bai Tingzhi frowned slightly, her eyes locking onto the ornaments on a nearby shelf.

 
Lao Pei had given her one, and Classmate Junzhu had given her one, so she already had two.
 

Lao Lin didn't have one yet.
 
He had also bought her a pen.

 
That couldn't count as a birthday gift. She wanted to buy a pendant for Lin Yunian, just as a gift.
 

But after looking and looking, she still couldn't find anything suitable.
 
None of them looked good, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) so Bai Tingzhi gave up.

 
She walked toward the door, glancing back, and as soon as she pushed it open, a strong gust of wind rushed into the shop.
 

It was pouring rain.
 
The rain fell cheaply on every corner of the town, and water flowed on the ground.

 
The streams gathered, flowing toward the drains on the street that hadn't yet been blocked.
 

Bai Tingzhi looked up at the outside. A sheet of rain passed before her eyes, and a single drop landed unhesitatingly on her slightly flushed face.
 
Cold.

 
"It's getting late." Even if the rain was heavy, it was time to go home.
 

She went out with her umbrella. The water was over her ankles, soaking her white sneakers.
 
Some shops had already closed, and the lights on the street were much dimmer.

 
Her figure staggered into the darkness.
 

"One,
 
"Two,

 
"Three..."
 

Bai Tingzhi counted the numbers, splashing through the water and creating ripples.
 
The heavier the rain, the louder the wind.

 
Her frail body was becoming harder and harder to support.
 

She carefully lifted her feet and stepped forward, one step at a time, onto the bricks that were long in disrepair.
 
Plop!

 
The brick beneath her foot was loose. She lost her footing and fell forward!
 

Her knees plunged into the cold, dirty water. She frantically threw her hands out to catch herself, and the umbrella flew out of her grasp! The rain poured down mercilessly!
 
Suddenly, a large, powerful hand grabbed her wrist from behind. Another arm wrapped around her slender waist and pulled her back.

 
"Xiaobai!"