Love is hidden in the wind.

The cicadas chirped in the scorching summer, their sound like electric drills, giving people a headache. Even louder than the cicadas was the hysterical complaint of a girl in the bathroom— "I just knocked over the paint box, and now my skirt is covered in it!" "Do you think it's obvious? I'm wearing a white skirt! And it's red oil paint, there's no way I can show up like this." "No, I don't have time to go back and change, the art sharing event is about to start." The girl hung up the phone angrily and used a wet tissue to wipe the stains on her white skirt. As Lin Yiwei walked past her, she glanced at the girl's white skirt. The red paint had stained a large area of the fabric. Although it had been diluted with water and the color had lightened, it still looked awkward. Lin Yiwei looked away and calmly washed her hands, then dried them under the wall-mounted hand dryer. The bathroom of Feige University was as luxurious as a five-star hotel, with a faint scent of sandalwood in the air and almost no water stains on the sink. The girl twisted her body, dealing with the stain on the side of her skirt, occasionally checking her Cartier diamond watch, becoming increasingly anxious. Lin Yiwei turned around and said, "I can switch skirts with you." Chi Xiyu stopped her actions and looked at Lin Yiwei. The girl had fox-like eyes, clear and cold, without makeup, giving off a lazy and indifferent vibe. Chi Xiyu didn't have time to scrutinize her face and instead focused on her well-proportioned figure. The academy-style uniform skirt she wore made her look slender and elegant. They were of similar build; her skirt should fit. "You're willing to switch skirts with me?" Chi Xiyu asked in surprise. "The art sharing event is about to start, I can lend you mine in an emergency." Time was running out, so Chi Xiyu didn't stand on ceremony. The two girls exchanged skirts in the stall. Chi Xiyu found Lin Yiwei's academy-style uniform fit her well, while Lin Yiwei now wore her badly stained white long skirt, which was still damp and very uncomfortable. But Lin Yiwei had no choice. This was a rare opportunity, and she had to seize it. As she was leaving, Chi Xiyu raised her eyebrows proudly at her, "What's your name?" "Lin Yiwei." "From the art school?" "Yes, I'm a freshman this year." "I'm Chi Xiyu, also a freshman this year." Usually, girls who heard Chi Xiyu's name would nervously compliment her out of fear and awe. In the upper-class circles of Feige University and even the entire Qinggang City, few girls didn't want to befriend her. Lin Yiwei merely smiled politely. "You helped me a lot today. I'll repay this favor," Chi Xiyu said, grabbing her diamond-encrusted handbag and turning to leave. Lin Yiwei's smile deepened. ... She scrubbed the awkward paint stain on the white skirt repeatedly until her fingers hurt and the color finally came off. As she left the bathroom, she heard boys snickering behind her. Instinctively, she used her backpack to cover her backside. The damp skirt was suggestive, especially to young boys whose minds were filled with lewd thoughts. Lin Yiwei quickened her pace and entered the auditorium for the presentation. Luckily, everyone in the auditorium was focused on Chi Xiyu on stage, so no one noticed Lin Yiwei and her wet skirt standing at the back. Lin Yiwei looked at the oil painting on stage titled "Secret." Her heart suddenly raced. The girl in the painting stood by the window, gazing at the distant sunset, a cross necklace faintly visible around her neck. This painting, "Secret," was created by her long-lost brother, Lin Xiezhi. Now, it was signed with another name: Chi Xiyu. At this moment, Chi Xiyu was sitting elegantly on the stage, like a goddess muse, explaining her "creative" process of "Secret" to the audience— "I think everyone has their own secrets." The academy-style uniform skirt accentuated her graceful curves, and her rose-colored lipstick highlighted her fair complexion. "The girl in this painting also has her own secrets. She stands by the window, looking at the distant scenery, perhaps longing for someone in her heart." A teacher below chuckled softly. After all, "Secret" had recently won a gold medal at an international art festival. But the artist's interpretation of it was, to say the least, perplexing. The students couldn't tell anything was wrong; they looked at Chi Xiyu on stage with admiration. Without a doubt, among this year's freshmen at Feige Art Institute, she was the most dazzling, having won numerous awards both domestically and internationally, and being the treasured daughter of the Chi family, her future was bright. * The side door of the auditorium opened, and several boys walked in laughing, making quite a commotion, completely ignoring the ongoing live-streamed art sharing event. They took seats in the back row of the auditorium, carelessly making themselves comfortable. One of them even threw a basketball, which hit the wall with a loud bang. The audience murmured, some frowned in disapproval, but no one dared to voice their complaints. Feige University was full of heirs from Qinggang City's elite families; they were powerful and influential, acting as they pleased in any situation. A tall boy whistled at Chi Xiyu. Chi Xiyu knew him, Deng Xiao, the second son of the Deng real estate family, who had been pursuing her for a long time. She rolled her eyes and ignored him. Finally, a teacher couldn't stand it anymore, got up to call for discipline, and asked them to quiet down. But these rich kids were unruly; instead of quieting down, they laughed and made even more noise. As the sharing session was about to be disrupted, a slender figure walked into the auditorium. He wore a white shirt, lazily leaning against the backrest, playing with a lighter between his fingers, his moonlight silver rimless glasses giving him a scholarly yet rogue appearance. No one failed to recognize him. He was Xie Bo, the son of the richest family in Qinggang City. Deng Xiao initially acted recklessly, but once Xie Bo came in, a single intimidating glance from him silenced Deng Xiao, who sat still like a sealed cat. Xie Bo greeted his friends with a smile and exchanged low remarks with them. Some friends made suggestive jokes about him and Chi Xiyu. Xie Bo didn't care, continuing to play with his lighter, his demeanor arrogant and carefree. Seeing him, Chi Xiyu blushed, her voice softening. She emphasized that "Secret" winning the gold medal at the international art festival was thanks to her parents, supportive friends, and... a very special person to her. Her eyes glanced subtly at Xie Bo. Xie Bo smiled at her briefly, then politely but indifferently looked away. Casually turning his head, he noticed a slender, unnoticed figure by the side door. The sheer white curtain billowed with the wind. Lin Yiwei stood by the empty corridor window, clutching the cross necklace at her chest, almost suffocating. Her brother had been away for years, cutting off all contact with her. Where had he gone? Why was his painting signed with Chi Xiyu's name? As she pondered, footsteps approached behind her. The white curtain fluttered, revealing a young man's sharp, prominent brow bone. Xie Bo. Seeing him, Lin Yiwei was startled and instinctively turned to run, but the young man grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. She was held tightly in his arms. His fingers were long and defined, with a tattoo on his wrist. A black snake, hissing in an S shape. "I thought I was mistaken, but it really is you." "Let me go," she said, panicked and lowering her voice. "I don't know you." "Don't know me?" he whispered in her ear, his breath warm, "It's been less than a month, and you've already forgotten how you cried and begged me to go slower that night?" "…" "I didn't cry, and… I didn't know you were Xie Bo!" "Now you know?" "Knowing that, I deleted your number. I'm sorry, but I really don't want to get involved with you." The young man chuckled softly. Footsteps approached, and Xie Bo pulled her into the white curtain. Students passed by, noticing the intimate figures behind the curtain, but not knowing who they were, nor did they care to look closely. College campuses were full of couples in love, nothing unusual. Lin Yiwei felt her heart racing. If anyone at Feige Art Institute knew about her relationship with Xie Bo... All her careful planning would be ruined. Xie Bo whispered in her ear, "I'll come find you tonight." "Tonight won't work, I'm on my period." "Liar." "It's true, I just dirtied my skirt, and I went to the bathroom to clean it." Xie Bo's hand reached behind her, feeling through the thin fabric. Lin Yiwei felt his embrace tighten. "Xie Bo, I was wrong that night, I shouldn't have provoked you. But it has to be consensual..." Xie Bo's expression softened slightly at her words. He adjusted her collar and looked her over. She was so petite and thin, almost skeletal, a stark contrast to his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Her indifferent appearance had a kind of worldly weariness, yet the red mole between her brows added a touch of inexplicable allure. Xie Bo didn't want to force her, nor did he need to .