Chapter 356 - 192: Blame It on the Period
Shen Yuan's arm was wrapped tightly around Li Zhi's shoulder.
He held her close, shielding her completely with his body and the umbrella from the cold wind and splashing rain.
He subconsciously held his breath, not immediately breaking the incredibly intimate embrace.
Only after a brief yet seemingly endless second or two had passed.
Shen Yuan suddenly came to his senses and, as if scalded, quickly released his grip. His arm stiffly pulled away, but his hand still hovered subconsciously behind her back.
Li Zhi felt the pressure on her shoulder release and subconsciously raised her head to look at Shen Yuan.
Seeing the girl in his arms looking at him, Shen Yuan awkwardly retracted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck, a foolish, dry laugh escaping his lips. "Ahaha… th-that puddle was pretty deep, huh? Look how high the water splashed…"
Shen Yuan's voice trailed off, until only the pitter-patter of raindrops on the umbrella filled the gap between them.
The next second, Li Zhi shot Shen Yuan a fierce glare and let out a sharp huff through her nose.
The girl put on a stern face, trying her best to look angry, and scolded in a low voice, "Selaan!"
The moment the word left her lips, Li Zhi saw that not only had Shen Yuan not looked away, but he was staring right at her, slightly stunned.
Reflected in his eyes was the dim yellow halo of a streetlight and her slightly puffed-up, pouting figure.
They were standing extremely close. The boundary that had been blurred by the rain now became exceptionally clear in their silent gaze.
The warmth of his body still lingered. In the small space under the umbrella, the sensation of his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his protective embrace, seemed to return.
Li Zhi's heart skipped a beat.
The girl quickly averted her gaze. With a force born of shy annoyance, she raised her hand and lightly thumped Shen Yuan on the chest with her knuckles, as if to chase away the heart-pounding ambiguity between them.
"What are you just standing there for!"
Her hushed voice was urgent, laced with a coquettish pout she herself wasn't aware of. "Hurry up, let's go! What if those guys from the Kissing Association catch us dawdling and take a picture!"
The unexpected light tap and the content of her words snapped Shen Yuan back to reality.
The thump sent a jolt through him, but he only felt a tingling itch in his chest where her small fist had landed. He nodded hastily. "Oh! Right! Right! Let's go! Right away!"
Shen Yuan tried to muster up that same silly, boyish smile from before and played along, his tone half-joking and half-sincere. "Right then, I shall escort our dear starlet safely home!"
Li Zhi rolled her eyes at Shen Yuan. "You and your witty remarks! Let's go!"
Shen Yuan noticed that although Li Zhi was teasing him, she hadn't moved an inch, and his heart stirred.
Taking advantage of a brief lull in the rain, Shen Yuan tentatively placed his arm back on Li Zhi's shoulder.
The movement was a little more natural than before, but still hesitant, as if he were trying to confirm her silent approval.
In the cramped space under the umbrella, Li Zhi didn't seem to notice his hesitation. She simply turned to stand beside Shen Yuan, then leaned in slightly, nestling naturally into the crook of his arm.
The last traces of shy annoyance on the girl's face were replaced by a hint of slyness, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile. "You're full of little schemes, aren't you, Shen?"
Shen Yuan's breath hitched, and he didn't dare say a word.
Just as he was about to retract his arm, Li Zhi let out a soft huff and tilted her head, leaning against him even more closely, as if responding to his test with her actions.
The girl's voice became soft and light, like the brush of a feather. "Forget it. I'll just consider this a tip for holding the umbrella. Let's walk faster, you shouldn't get too wet either."
Li Zhi's words warmed Shen Yuan's heart. He couldn't hide the smile on his face, beaming like a child who'd just been given candy.
Shen Yuan secretly tilted the umbrella even more, so that most of it was shielding Li Zhi's head.
Rain fell where the umbrella didn't reach, pelting Shen Yuan's exposed arm and soaking his already damp clothes even more thoroughly.
Shen Yuan was completely oblivious to it, focused only on looking down at the ends of her hair, softened by the glow of the streetlight.
The girl's scent was especially distinct at such a close distance.
Li Zhi leaned against Shen Yuan, walking forward with light steps. Under the umbrella, all that remained was the faint warmth of their bodies and a rapport that grew ever more intimate amidst the sound of the rain.
Soon, Shen Yuan and Li Zhi arrived at the residential complex.
The two of them huddled under the umbrella, continuing along the wet paths of the complex.
The rain tapped a monotonous yet dense rhythm on the umbrella's surface, making the small space beneath it feel all the more warm and peaceful.
They crossed the main road of the complex, rounded a few buildings, and finally arrived at the entrance to her apartment building.
The eaves of the building shielded them from the wind and rain.
Shen Yuan breathed a small sigh of relief. He carefully withdrew his arm from around Li Zhi's shoulder, stood still, and briskly shook the water from the umbrella's surface, closing the wet frame with a SNAP.
The movement stretched his sleeve, revealing a large patch of fabric that had turned a much darker color, completely soaked through by the rain.
Li Zhi's gaze happened to sweep over Shen Yuan's arm as he closed the umbrella.
The rain-soaked sleeve was a glaringly dark color.
"You…"
The warmth and small sense of triumph from under the umbrella were instantly replaced by a heart-wrenching feeling.
The word that slipped out of the girl's mouth carried an urgency and ache she hadn't expected, and she subconsciously took a step forward.
Her slender fingers directly pinched the cold, drenched sleeve. The icy dampness that spread to her fingertips made her delicate brows furrow immediately.
"How did you get so wet? Didn't I tell you to watch out for yourself too?"
Li Zhi looked up and glared at Shen Yuan. The smile that had been on her face moments ago was now replaced by clear vexation and worry.
She had even forgotten the subtle atmosphere created by their little game under the umbrella, leaving only the ache of seeing him with half his body soaked.