Chapter 10

When Lin Shizhao walked out of the alley, the sky had already darkened. The night descended, growing deeper, as if a thin layer of black gauze covered the sky. The darkness wrapped around the girl's slender figure. The streetlights flickered, their glare making it difficult to look directly at them. Lin Shizhao carried a pale yellow school bag, one hand gripping the strap, her fingers rubbing back and forth anxiously. Tears welled up in her eyes—she really wanted to cry her heart out. She stopped, crouching by the roadside, overwhelmed by the events of the day. Thick clouds rolled in from the horizon, covering the sky like a heavy blanket. Soon, a fine drizzle began to fall. The rain trickled down, gradually soaking her hair and clothes. Using her school bag to shield herself, Lin Shizhao ran towards home. As she ran, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. The rain blurred her vision, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but the grip tightened, fingers rubbing against her skin. Lin Shizhao blinked, finally making out Gu Helin’s face. Annoyed, she snapped, "Could you be gentler? Do you think my wrist is a chicken claw?!" "What’s wrong with you? Did you swallow a bomb? It’s so late, why aren’t you home yet?" Gu Helin held an umbrella, tilting it slightly toward her. "What does it matter to you if I go home or not? Mind your own business!" Lin Shizhao quickened her pace, unwilling to share the umbrella with him. "Hey! Don't hang around with Tan Jiang and those idiots anymore. They’re bad news." Gu Helin chased after her, worried she’d keep getting wet. "And you think you’re any better? Do you think I want this?" Lin Shizhao’s tears streamed down her face, her eyes turning red. She hated herself for being so weak, for letting her tears fall so easily. Gu Helin suddenly pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly, as if trying to merge her into his own body. One arm wrapped around her slender waist, while the other gently stroked her damp hair, soothing the distressed girl with uncharacteristic tenderness. Pressed against him, Lin Shizhao froze in place, unsure of how to react. Her nose tingled, and more tears spilled down uncontrollably. They trailed down her cheeks and onto Gu Helin’s neck, their warmth making his throat tighten. As she stood there, enveloped in his embrace, Lin Shizhao regretted it deeply. Her first hug—gone just like that! Give me back my first hug! Both of them were drenched in rain. After a long time, Gu Helin finally loosened his grip, gently wiping away the tears on her face. "You pervert! That was my first hug!" Lin Shizhao lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes quivering, cheeks flushed red. "Well, do you want to hug me back? It was my first hug too, you know. I think I got the worse deal here." Gu Helin raised an eyebrow before adding, "Consider it compensation for emotional damages." "You’re insane!" Lin Shizhao pushed his hand away. Yet, for some reason, she felt a warmth in her heart, like a child sucking on a piece of candy—sweet and comforting. "No more crying from now on. You look awful when you cry." Gu Helin smirked, picking up her pale yellow school bag from the ground, slinging it over his shoulder, and grabbing her hand. "Who are you calling ugly?! You’re the ugly one!" Lin Shizhao shot back, unable to resist arguing with him. "Yeah, yeah. I’m the big ugly monster, and you’re the little ugly monster." Gu Helin playfully flicked her forehead. Later, after Lin Shizhao had showered, Gu Helin made ginger tea. He carefully poured a bowl and knocked on her door. Lin Shizhao had just stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, her long black hair cascading down, partially concealing her fair skin. Her bangs clung to her forehead, and her delicate skin glowed with moisture. "What is it?" Lin Shizhao’s voice was soft and pleasant. "I made ginger tea. Drink it before you sleep so you don’t catch a cold tomorrow." Gu Helin stood at the doorway, smiling. It was the first time he had treated a girl so gently and seriously. Someone who had never even cooked before actually went out of his way to make ginger tea for her. He probably couldn't even tell the difference between sugar and salt. "You… just leave it at the door. Thanks." Lin Shizhao initially wanted to refuse, but the words stuck in her throat. "I’m coming in~" Gu Helin placed his hand on the doorknob. "No! Stop! I just finished showering!" "Why so desperate to keep me out? It’s not like I’m going to eat you. I’m not some ferocious beast, am I?" He smirked. "I told you, I just showered! Boys and girls shouldn’t be too close! Don’t you understand that?!" Lin Shizhao’s face turned scarlet. Ignoring her protests, Gu Helin pushed the door open. Lin Shizhao instantly turned away, her back to him. "I left the tea on your desk. Don’t forget to drink it. Uh… goodnight." Gu Helin set down the bowl and turned to leave, not lingering. "You pervert! I told you not to come in!" she huffed as he walked out of the room. Gu Helin simply smiled, humming a tune. It had been a long time since he had felt this happy. When he was younger, the kids at kindergarten never played with him. They used to mock him for not having a mother. One day, he had asked his father, Gu Zhiwei, why they said that. "Dad, where’s my mom? Why do the other kids say I don’t have one? They all have moms picking them up after school, but I don’t." "Xiaolin, who said you don’t have a mother? She just went somewhere far away. She’s very busy right now. If you behave, eat well, and grow up strong, she’ll come back. Okay?" "Okay! I’ll be good and wait for Mom to come back." The little boy's voice was soft and obedient, making one’s heart ache. Gu Zhiwei had always been too busy to take care of him, leaving the housekeeper in charge of picking him up. He had never truly felt the warmth of a home. When he got older, he realized the truth—his mother was gone. And he hated his father for lying to him, for failing to give him the love a parent should. He became increasingly stubborn and prone to fights. His classmates feared him, unwilling to associate with him. But because he was a top student from a powerful family, the teachers could do little more than punish him by making him stand outside the classroom. By middle school, he had grown cold and withdrawn, preferring silence and learning to suppress his emotions. His only real friend was He Junming. Back then, He Junming was timid and often bullied. One day, Gu Helin caught a group of older students beating up a small, trembling boy in a school bathroom. The bullies, clearly high school seniors, were forcing him to talk as they kicked him. "I’ll bring the money tomorrow—please, just let me go," the boy pleaded. But the bullies didn’t stop. Unable to watch any longer, Gu Helin lunged at them. Recognizing him, they quickly backed off. Perhaps it was fate, but from that day on, He Junming stuck to him like a shadow, declaring they were now brothers. At first, Gu Helin ignored him, but over time, he grew used to his presence. Under Gu Helin’s influence, He Junming became braver, no longer the timid boy he once was.