Time flew by, and Shen Qi had been running nonstop these days. During the day, she taught part-time classes at a makeup school, and at night, she took on jobs styling the young masters and ladies attending various parties. In between, she squeezed in visits to the Shen family to endure their insults and check on her brother. To save up money as quickly as possible, Shen Qi wished she could split every hour into two. Aside from the bare minimum of sleep, she was so busy she barely touched the ground.
One day, as Shen Qi was finishing her class, a heavy rain began to pour again. She realized with frustration that she had forgotten her umbrella once more. The distance from the training school to the subway station was considerable, and if she dashed through it, she’d likely end up soaked through. But taking a taxi from here to the villa was really expensive. With money so tight now, Shen Qi tried to save every penny she could. She looked up at the rain and decided to grit her teeth and bear it. Skipping the taxi fare this time would let her buy a sketchbook for her brother.
Just as Shen Qi was about to charge out, an umbrella suddenly appeared over her head. Startled, she looked up and turned around, only to freeze completely. He Yining was holding the umbrella, watching her with an expression of casual coincidence. "I happened to pass by and saw you didn’t have an umbrella. Don’t thank me too much," he said. Shen Qi was still a bit dazed. Why was He Yining here? A slight awkwardness flickered across his face as he added, "Come on, where are you headed? I’ll walk you there."
Shen Qi snapped back to reality and said, "Just drop me off at the subway entrance, please." He Yining wanted to say he could drive her instead, but then he remembered how she’d given him a fake address last time he offered to take her home. So he simply said, "Alright, I’ll walk you over." Shen Qi said nothing more, and the two of them stepped into the rain together. The downpour raged above them, while beneath the umbrella, it was quiet. They walked slowly through the rain, neither speaking, the sound of the rain masking their heartbeats. Walking side by side with He Yining, Shen Qi inexplicably felt a sense of inner peace.
He Yining didn’t know why he’d come over either. He really had just been passing by, but when his gaze swept across the crowd, he instantly spotted her. Seeing her about to rush out into the rain, he’d inexplicably asked his assistant, Xiao Chun, for an umbrella and gone over to offer it. He’d planned to just hand it over and leave, but when he met her eyes, he again inexplicably offered to walk her there. Was it really just because she had a birthmark that looked like one on the person he was searching for, making him transfer his affection to her? Or was it her avoidance and resistance that stirred his desire to conquer?
"We’re here. Thank you," Shen Qi suddenly spoke, breaking the silence under the umbrella. He Yining looked up at the subway entrance, his eyes flickering slightly. "You’re welcome. If you get sick, you won’t be able to earn money to pay me back. I’m just trying to get my compensation sooner." The brief peace Shen Qi had felt was instantly shattered. "Rest assured, President He! My practice license is still in your hands, so I wouldn’t dare slack off. Goodbye." With that, she turned and dashed into the subway station. Watching her angry retreat, He Yining couldn’t help but smile again. That smile stunned everyone nearby who was about to board the subway. He turned, and his car was already waiting behind him. He folded the umbrella, got in, and quietly drove away.
Just as Shen Qi swiped her card to enter the station, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was a call from the Shen family, she answered immediately: "Hello? What’s wrong with my brother?" Shen Yinyin’s voice came through the line: "That idiot brother of yours actually ran off, and no one knows where he went..." Shen Qi felt a chill run through her entire body. In this heavy rain, her brother had gone missing?