The sky was overcast, as if it was about to rain any moment.
Autumn rain was a rare thing, just like the car wheels rolling over the emerald leaves that had drifted to the roadside.
But Liu Xie’s home wasn’t far from the school, so she couldn’t wait for a heavy rain. Even though the traffic was getting heavier because of the holidays, kicking up more dust, it still wouldn’t delay the coming of the rain.
Liu Anran had always understood Liu Xie’s little thoughts. Now, the Maybach carrying both of them was slowly driving along the overpass.
“Looks like we won’t make it in time for the rain,” Liu Anran said.
Liu Xie, however, didn’t really mind. “It’s fine. Even if it rains, it’s not at night. Otherwise, I’d definitely make you go out and see if Odin is out there.”
Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she added, “What are the folks at home thinking, starting to introduce you, a minor, to girls? They’re actually agreeing to puppy love now? Has our family gotten this desperate?”
Right after the overpass was a traffic light, so Liu Anran had time to respond to his good sister.
He patted the steering wheel in his hand, the meaning clear without words.
The fact that he was driving now meant he had a license, and having a license meant he was already an adult.
And: “I remember I’ve emphasized to you many times, I’m only a few months younger than you.”
Liu Xie was stunned. “Really? How come you age several years in just one year?”
“Do you even hear yourself right now?”
Liu Xie, in the back seat, covered her forehead and flopped onto the genuine leather seat, breathing in the car’s musk.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Liu Anran was still just a little brat, so how did he suddenly grow up this much when she wasn’t paying attention?
How did things suddenly get to the point where they were talking about marriage, about starting his own family soon?
She distinctly remembered what Liu Anran looked like when she picked him up from a pile of garbage, dirty from head to toe, so pitiful.
She distinctly remembered how Liu Anran looked when he received his first birthday present from her, crying and embarrassed.
She distinctly…
She distinctly remembered that Liu Anran was still young, that there was still plenty of time for them to be together.
The blonde girl straightened her blue skirt that draped to her ankles, and the slightly wrinkled sleeves of her white top. She even pulled out a small mirror to fix her posture and manner.
She needed to mind her appearance, so she wouldn’t be looked down on by the other family when she was brought along for a matchmaking meeting.
Although, it seemed unlikely that anyone would look down on a family member’s appearance when they pulled up in a Maybach.
The light turned green, and Liu Anran finally had to shift his gaze from Liu Xie back to the road, to the dashboard.
“It’s still early. We have to go home first, and then see how Mom and Dad want to arrange things,” Liu Anran said offhandedly.
Liu Xie listened calmly, simply rolling up the wrinkled sleeves of her white top and crossing her beautiful legs into a figure-four.
She rolled the car window all the way down, then leaned her head out toward the window, opening her mouth as if trying to feast on the heavy, flowing wind.
Seeing Liu Xie like this, Liu Anran inexplicably felt more at ease.
A slight smile formed at the corner of his lips, and he rolled his own window all the way down as well.
Blonde hair fluttered in the air, like scattered starlight falling.
Feeling thirsty, Liu Xie rummaged around the front passenger seat but couldn’t find anything to eat.
She pulled her head back in, watching Liu Anran multitask, and saw him casually pull out an opaque water bottle.
It was probably her good little brother’s usual coffee stuffed in the bottle, but since she was thirsty, it seemed she didn’t have a better option.
So she took it and took a sip.
It was damn iced black tea, with extra ice.
Judging by the smug curve of Liu Anran’s lips, this wasn’t a pleasant surprise—he’d clearly planned it all along.
“Were you so sure I’d come with you today?” Liu Xie felt a bit annoyed, like she’d been seen through.
Luckily, Liu Anran’s answer was good enough for her.
He said, “I’ve always been trying to figure out what you like.”
That made Liu Xie break into a grin.
She really wanted to nudge her good little brother’s shoulder at that moment, but Liu Anran was driving.
So she waved her arms around for a while, finally blurting out, “Well? How’s the signature Lao Da drink? Tastes good, right?”
Liu Anran’s expression changed in an instant, running the gamut before condensing into one sentence: “To each their own.”
“Tch.” Liu Xie rolled her eyes at Liu Anran.
The car kept moving, and the sky grew even gloomier than before.
They’d left school around ten, and now Liu Xie’s stomach was starting to growl.
Thinking about how she just drank her good little brother’s water, and now was about to ask him for food, she felt it might damage her dignity as the older sibling.
While she hesitated, two raindrops struck the windshield, like silver needles piercing a dream, poking a hole in the dust-filled world.
It was raining.
But unfortunately, they’d already left the overpass, and it wasn’t quite dark enough yet.
“Do you like the rain?” Liu Xie didn’t rush to roll up the window, even though the drizzle was threatening to turn into a downpour.
She rested her hand outside the window, feeling the chill of the rain.
All the stuffiness and oppression from before the rain was released in that moment, turning into a refreshing breeze, carrying the unique scent of autumn rain.
The breeze blew into the car, lifting her smooth, beautiful blonde hair, blowing into the boy’s unwavering eyes.
He saw the girl’s quietly delighted expression, saw her catching raindrops on the car door, saw her tilting her head to look at him with joy.
The cars behind flashed their lights, honking at him.
Probably because the green light at the intersection had come on, and his gaze had lingered a bit too long.
He would never forget that rainy night.
Liu Anran hated the rain, hated that night when he was a powerless child, nearly rotting away in a pile of garbage in the rain.
But he also loved the rain, loved that he, a pitiable lamb, had welcomed his one and only savior.
“I really like the rain,” Liu Xie said. “You probably don’t know how great it feels to jump straight into a mud puddle.”
That’s right, his savior always liked things that were a little out of the ordinary.
Liu Anran had planned to roll up the window—he really should have.
Rain, with all its dust, would make people look a mess if it soaked their clothes, and it wouldn’t do the leather seats any good, either.
“I like the rain, too,” Liu Anran said, rolling his half-closed window all the way down again.
How could he not like the rain?
“I thought you were the kind of stubborn old fossil who’d never change, but I guess you and I do see eye to eye sometimes.”
Liu Xie raised her eyebrows.
Liu Anran didn’t say anything, just kept that charming curve on his lips and started the car.
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