Summer's Rose

Chapter 23: Sharing an Umbrella

It was Friday.

“Are you up, Wen wen? I made breakfast for you,” Li Jun knocked on Wen ’s door.

Wen opened the door, her voice soft, “I’m up.” The school uniform hung loosely on her frame, and a few stray strands of hair framed her face. Her small face was fair and smooth.

Li Jun sat across from her, watching silently as Wen picked the tomato slices out of her sandwich and ate a few bites before stopping.

She handed Wen a glass of warm milk. “Drink some milk, Wen wen.”

“Mm.”

Wen barely finished half the sandwich, taking a few sips of milk before saying sweetly, “I’m full, Mom. I’ll head to school now.”

Li Jun pulled out a small cake from the fridge. “Take this cake with you. Eat it if you get hungry on the way.”

Wen glanced at the mango cubes on top of the cake and said softly, “Mom, I don’t eat mangoes. I’m allergic to it.”

Li Jun’s hand froze for a moment before she smiled at Wen and put the cake away. “Then take care, Wen wen. Don’t rush.”

“Mm, I know.” Wen smiled and grabbed her school bag, ready to leave.

On the road.

As they waited for the traffic light, Liu Ma glanced at the obedient girl sitting in the passenger seat. “Madam doesn’t usually stay at home, so she may not know your food preferences. Don’t be upset with her.”

“I know, I’m not upset with her.” Wen replied and then reminded Liu Ma, “The light’s green.”

Liu Ma quickly turned her attention back to the road, stepping on the gas.

Wen arrived early; her class was nearly empty. She sat at her desk, noticing the milk sitting on her desk. She paused for a moment.

She picked it up and glanced at it before setting it back down.

Zhou Nan, as usual, had a sleepy expression. His school uniform somehow made him look wild, and he sat next to Wen .

The morning sunlight was warm, but just as the big break started, light rain began to fall.

By noon, when school was about to let out, the rain intensified, turning into a torrential downpour, the kind that seemed to promise a storm was coming.

When school ended, the rain showed no signs of stopping; instead, it kept getting heavier.

“Wen wen, did you bring an umbrella?” Alicia asked Wen .

Wen shook her head.

Alicia looked at the pouring rain and frowned. “What should we do? It’s coming down harder and harder.”

“I brought an umbrella. We can share one,” one of her classmate said.

“Alright.” Alicia nodded, then looked at Wen with concern. “But what about you, Wen wen? Three people with one umbrella will be crowded. Maybe you should take yours.”

Wen smiled at Alicia. “Someone is bringing me lunch. I can wait a bit longer. You guys go ahead and eat.”

“Alright, we’ll go ahead then.”

Since the rain had caught everyone off guard, many students hadn’t brought umbrellas, and the boys in the class were already starting to act like fathers to their ‘children.’

“Damn, you brought an umbrella this morning and didn’t remind me, huh?”

“When I brought it, I asked you guys, but you said the weather was fine and it wouldn’t rain.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But now you’ll bring me food, right? A crispy pancake, and add whatever dish you want.”

“Call me ‘Daddy.’”

“……”

“If you don’t call me ‘Daddy,’ I won’t bring it.”

“Dad... Dad, please bring me food.”

“Bring an extra one, Dad. I want the rice bowl from the first-floor cafeteria.”

“Me too, Dad. I want the clay pot noodles.”

And so, one boy with an umbrella set out, carrying the hopes of an entire dormitory.

Wen, watching the rain relentlessly pouring down, waited a moment, then stepped into the rain. If she didn’t hurry, Liu Ma would get anxious waiting outside.

Her white shoes got soaked by the rainwater on the ground, and large raindrops hit her face, wetting her hair.

Just when she wondered why the rain suddenly seemed to lighten, she saw an umbrella appear above her head, and a boy’s face, which appeared slightly stern.

Zhou Nan shoved the umbrella into her hands. “Take it.”

Wen paused, watching as he dashed back into the rain. Then, she hurried to catch up. “Zhou Nan, wait.”

She held the umbrella over his head. “Thank you for the umbrella. How could you not need it when the rain is so heavy? The umbrella’s quite big. If you don’t mind, we can share it.”

Zhou Nan was about to refuse but met her earnest gaze and simply muttered, “Mm.”

“Zhou...” Yong Ming ran out with an umbrella, and as soon as he called out, he stopped, rubbing his eyes. He confirmed that the two people ahead, sharing the umbrella, were indeed Zhou Nan and Wen .

Hao Ming nudged him with his elbow. “Why are you still standing here? Is the rain messing with your brain? Don’t you know how to walk in the rain? Or are you too hungry to move?”

Yong Ming glared at him. “Hao, your brain is always on food. Look ahead.”

Hao Ming glanced at the pair ahead and then exchanged a sly grin with Yong Ming. The two of them stealthily followed behind, watching Zhou Nan and Wen .

The two of them walked a few steps, and Wen heard Zhou Nan’s voice. “Do you want me to hold the umbrella?”

“Ha?” Wen turned to look at him, realizing she had been holding the umbrella too low, and it was pressing down on his hair. In short, the umbrella was pretty much stuck to his head.

It wasn’t her fault, though. Zhou Nan was so tall—at 5'11", he towered over her. She was only 5'5", just reaching his shoulder.

Flushing in embarrassment, Wen muttered, “Sorry,” and handed the umbrella to him.

Zhou Nan noticed her face turning red.

Such an easily shy, obedient student.

“You going to the entrance?” Zhou Nan tilted his head to look at her.

Wen nodded and pulled a tissue from her pocket to wipe the rainwater off her hair. She glanced at Zhou Nan, then handed him another tissue. “Your hair’s wet too.”

Zhou Nan took it from her and said thank you.

Their shoulders were very close now, and Wen could feel Zhou Nan’s warmth. She had never been this close to a boy before, and she couldn’t help but feel her ears heat up.

The rain kept falling heavily, and Zhou Nan paused before speaking succinctly. “Puddle.”

Wen looked down at the small puddle on the ground and stepped over it, whispering, “Thanks.”

Finally, they reached the entrance, where Liu Ma was waiting with an umbrella. Wen smiled at Zhou Nan. “Thanks for the umbrella.”

Her smile was sweet, her almond-shaped eyes curving into perfect crescents.

Zhou Nan looked at her, wondering what else she might say beyond “thank you” and “sorry.” In this short time, she had already said “thank you” several times.