After the two finished eating, Sheng Qi took her back to the club. A full set of test papers, plus grading and explanations, with Sheng Qi occasionally sneering at her intelligence along the way—by the time it was over, it was already dark. Bai Tang glanced outside; due to the weather, a torrential rain was pouring down in the darkness, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Just as Bai Tang walked to the window, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky. A thunderclap boomed right in her ears. Bai Tang: "..."
"The oath you swore a few hours ago, and now heaven's ready to strike you dead!" Sheng Qi's cool voice sounded behind her, laced with an indescribable mockery. "That's some real credibility!"
Bai Tang turned around, meeting the unabashed teasing in Sheng Qi's eyes. She grinned. "Pretty one, what if I stood outside right now and let lightning hit me? Would it directly unblock my meridians and let me bring you back a first-place score tomorrow?"
"Go ahead and try, see if it can strike you dead!" Sheng Qi stared at her darkly.
Bai Tang chuckled. "Just kidding."
"Heh..." Sheng Qi fixed her with a cold laugh.
Bai Tang: "..."
Heh your sister!
Sheng Qi withdrew his gaze, tidied up the documents in front of him, then grabbed the car keys and walked toward her. "Come on, I'll take you back to rest."
Bai Tang looked at the pouring rain outside and said with a smile, "Let's wait until the rain eases up a bit."
Sheng Qi glanced at the rain outside the window, thought it over, and went along with her. He returned to his desk, intending to handle some paperwork, but found himself unable to focus. Sheng Qi lifted his gaze, his eyes landing on the girl standing with her back to him by the window. She was quietly watching the rain outside, her expression calm, as if lost in thought or sensing something. It was rare for her to be so still. Outside, the rain was loud, thunder and lightning creating quite a commotion. But that usually lively girl was so quiet. Even the aura radiating from her seemed tinged with a kind of stillness. Sheng Qi stared at her deeply, as if seeing this different side of her for the first time. And in this quietness, she seemed more real, yet it stirred an inexplicable heaviness in his heart. Sheng Qi couldn't help but frown. He watched her, but she seemed unresponsive, as if immersed in a deep contemplation. Instinctively, Sheng Qi got up and walked toward her. When he was about half a meter away, she seemed to snap out of her reverie, turning to look at him with a fleeting daze that vanished in an instant, replaced by a bright, roguish smile.
"Pretty one, here to watch the rain with me?" The girl grinned mischievously, tilting her head slightly as she looked at him, speaking in a flippant tone. "How about we go for a romantic stroll in the rain?"
Sheng Qi stared at her expressionlessly, his deep eyes as if trying to see right through her. "What were you just thinking about?" he asked.
"About you!"
The words slipped out of the girl's mouth, playful and affectionate.
Sheng Qi fixed his gaze on her, knowing she was lying, but for once, he didn't press further. After a long moment, he looked away, simply standing quietly beside her, his eyes on the window. Bai Tang was taken aback. She had a whole set of sweet talk ready, but now she couldn't use it. "Aren't you supposed to keep asking?" she couldn't help but ask.
"Oh... so that was a lie just now?" Sheng Qi asked indifferently.
Bai Tang: "..."
"No, it's the truth, I swear!" Bai Tang raised her hand in an oath.
"Boom—"
Thunder and lightning roared across the sky, shaking the heavens.
Sheng Qi turned his head, his gaze cool as he looked at her, one eyebrow slightly raised.
Bai Tang: "..."
Damn it, did it really have to cooperate with a thunderclap like that?!