Chapter 6

“No, it's nothing,” Hui River quickly shook his head. Rainwater streamed from the hems of his clothes. In just a few seconds, his clothes were soaked through from the inside out. But he didn't feel cold anymore. Knowing the other person was human, Hui River felt as if he were soaking in warm water. Hot blood flowed through his veins, and warmth instantly returned to his hands and feet.

“...You should come inside first. The rain is heavy,” Mu Nan Zhi kindly reminded him.

“Thank you.”

Back inside the lobby of the Art Building, Hui River felt completely at ease. His mood improved as well.

He wrung the water from his clothes and wiped his lenses clean.

“Classmate, what's your name?”

“Mu Nan Zhi.”

“Your surname is Mu? That's a pretty rare surname. It sounds a little familiar...”

Hui River put his glasses back on, but the moment he turned and saw the other man's face, he froze mid-sentence.

Mu Nan Zhi pressed his lips together.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

Wasn't this guy the Medical School's campus heartthrob?

He was Mu Nan Zhi?

How could it be such a coincidence? He had actually picked up his scalpel.

“School... Why are you still in the academic area this late?”

“Experiments and assignments.”

A trace of darkness flashed through Mu Nan Zhi's eyes, but he asked gently,

“What about you? What's your name?”

“Me? Hui River. Civil Engineering.”

He nervously pushed up his glasses.

Mu Nan Zhi nodded in understanding.

The two stared at the heavy rain outside, each occupied with different thoughts.

It was already eleven-thirty.

Hui River frowned and put away his phone.

At this rate, what time would he even get back to the dormitory?

Although Mu Nan Zhi wore a smile, his mood was not particularly good. He glanced sideways at Hui River, watching rainwater drip from his body.

One drop.

Two drops.

Gradually soaking the patch of concrete beneath him.

“Ah-choo...”

Hui River covered his mouth and touched his soaked clothes helplessly while staring at the downpour outside.

“It's getting a little cold. When is this rain going to stop?”

“You might be catching a cold.”

Mu Nan Zhi's voice was gentle, though it carried a distance most people wouldn't notice.

“Wait a little longer. Maybe it will lighten up.”

“Mhm.”

Hui River nodded.

As he removed his glasses to check his belongings, he suddenly remembered the scalpel was still inside his backpack.

Should he return it?

He secretly glanced at Mu Nan Zhi.

Even his side profile was handsome.

Dressed in a white shirt and black pants, he resembled a proud white pine tree.

This guy really was handsome.

No wonder he was so popular with girls.

Hui River curled his lips and was about to look away when Mu Nan Zhi suddenly turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Their gazes collided directly.

He immediately lowered his head and nervously rummaged through his bag.

Mu Nan Zhi frowned.

What exactly was this guy trying to do?

He had clearly picked up his scalpel, yet showed no intention whatsoever of returning it.

The rain became lighter.

Mu Nan Zhi decided not to bother with Hui River anymore.

He opened his umbrella, threw all those questions to the back of his mind, and started walking outside.

“You’re leaving?”

Hui River looked at him, suddenly feeling uneasy.

“Mhm.”

“Then... goodbye. Ah-choo...”

Hui River sat pitifully on the steps, sniffling.

His wet hair stuck to his face.

His misty black eyes made him look like a homeless puppy.

This person...

Mu Nan Zhi frowned.

“Which dorm building do you live in? I'll walk you back.”

The moment he said it, even he was stunned.

What was wrong with him?

Forget it.

He would just consider it taking care of a patient.

Mu Nan Zhi pressed his lips together, deeply suspicious that Hui River had deliberately rushed into the rain and soaked himself to gain his sympathy.

“Really?”

Hui River immediately jumped to his feet and walked over.

Mu Nan Zhi said nothing.

Words spoken were like water poured out.

Even if he regretted it, he would not take them back.

Hui River squeezed under his umbrella and looked up with a smile.

“I live in Building Five. Which building are you in? Won't this trouble you?”

“It won't. I live in Building Five too.”

Mu Nan Zhi stared at his face for three seconds.

Without his glasses, Hui River revealed a pair of clear eyes.

Black pupils.

Fair skin.

He looked somewhat youthful.

Just not quite the type most girls liked.

“What a coincidence.”

Hui River silently admired Senior Sister Miao Listening Hill's investigative abilities.

“I'd heard that medical students and Civil Engineering students lived in the same building. I thought it was just a rumor. Turns out it's true.”

Mu Nan Zhi remained expressionless.

“Mhm.”

“Thank you. Without you, I probably wouldn't be getting back to the dormitory tonight.”

“It's nothing.”

The vehicle lane was flooded and difficult to walk through.

Mu Nan Zhi pulled him onto the pedestrian path.

“Ah-choo...”

Hui River sniffled.

“Am I really going to catch a cold? Even my shoes are soaked through.”

Serves you right.

Mu Nan Zhi smiled faintly.

“When you get back, rest well and drink plenty of hot water. You won't get sick that easily.”

Seeing his smile, Hui River stared blankly for a few seconds.

“It's strange. I've never seen you around the dormitory building before.”

For someone as outstanding as Mu Nan Zhi, he shouldn't have had no impression at all.

“Maybe our schedules just happened to be different.”

Raindrops fell with soft pattering sounds, landing in roadside puddles and splashing into countless tiny droplets.

Hui River's clothes were already mostly soaked.

He deliberately occupied very little space beneath the umbrella, leaving most of it for Mu Nan Zhi.

But the umbrella was only so large.

The two inevitably stood very close together.

Their bodies occasionally brushed against one another.

Hui River could clearly tell that Mu Nan Zhi was a few centimeters taller than him and quietly estimated his height while they walked.

Chatting as they went, they eventually reached the dormitory area.

The roads outside the dormitory buildings had been poorly constructed.

Not only did the drains clog easily, but the pavement itself was uneven.

Whenever there was heavy rainfall, water inevitably accumulated.

Looking at the vast stretch of standing water ahead, Hui River lowered his head and noticed the other man's shoes, a brand he couldn't even identify.

“I can help support you while we walk across the flower-bed steps. That way your shoes won't get wet.”

Mu Nan Zhi hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

“Thank you for the trouble.”

He stepped onto the stone edging of the flower bed.

Hui River happened to be standing on his left.

Mu Nan Zhi held the umbrella in his left hand, only to realize his right hand couldn't reach Hui River's shoulder for support.

Before he could figure out a suitable posture, Hui River had already reached out and wrapped an arm around his waist.

“This should work, right? If you don't mind my clothes being wet, you can lean closer.”

As soon as Mu Nanzhi's body stiffened, his face immediately darkened. Unfortunately, it was too dark around them for Hui River to notice.

"...Let's just do it this way," Mu Nanzhi said.

His waist had always been a sensitive spot. Being grabbed like that instantly sent an electric current shooting from the top of his head down through his body. He pressed his lips together and forcibly endured the discomfort.

Hui River looked puzzled.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

Mu Nanzhi tightened his grip on the umbrella handle and lowered his eyes to hide his expression.

He must have water in his brain to have listened to Hui River's suggestion.

"Let's go."

"Oh."

Hui River supported Mu Nanzhi. Seeing him walking unsteadily, he could not help feeling worried.

"Be careful."

"Mm..."

As soon as his waist was squeezed again, Mu Nanzhi could no longer endure it. He grabbed Hui River's hand.

"Don't pinch my waist."

He wrapped an arm around Hui River's shoulders, placing most of his weight on him.

Hui River apologized.

"Sorry."

He immediately moved his hand away.

However, their current posture was rather subtle. Their faces were very close together. Raindrops struck the black umbrella, producing a steady pattering sound.

Looking at Mu Nanzhi's face, Hui River could not help admiring it.

Mu Nanzhi lowered his eyes.

"It's fine."

He rarely got angry at people. In his eyes, that was extremely impolite behavior.

But ever since meeting this guy Hui River, he...

He let out a tired sigh.

"Then should I support you here?"

Hui River's hand moved downward and touched Mu Nanzhi's butt.

The atmosphere instantly froze again.

Heaven and earth could bear witness—he truly had no intention of taking advantage of him.

Just as Hui River was about to apologize, Mu Nanzhi spoke.

"Just like this. Let's go."

"Okay, okay."

Hui River let out a sigh of relief.

He felt he had been making a fuss over nothing. Among guys, putting arms around shoulders and hugging each other was common enough.

Mu Nanzhi did not seem like a petty person either.

But why was he a little afraid of him?

A bit like that guy Hao Road...

Hui River thought about it for a while, but ultimately did not take this little incident to heart.

About a few minutes later, the two returned to the dormitory building.

Mu Nanzhi closed the umbrella and walked up the steps.

He lowered his head and glanced at his sneakers, vaguely feeling that he had suffered a loss.

Then he looked at the drenched back of the young man.

The white T-shirt clung tightly to Hui River's back muscles, outlining a pleasing curve and faintly revealing the color of bare skin underneath.

This guy had secretly watched him in the laboratory.

Secretly kept his scalpel.

Deliberately gotten soaked in the rain to win his sympathy.

And just now...

Hui River tugged at the dormitory entrance door.

"It's locked."

Pressing himself against the glass door, he peered inside.

"Even the dorm auntie has gone back to sleep. Mu Nanzhi, looks like we'll have to climb in."

Mu Nanzhi was just about to take out his campus card.

Hearing that, he stopped.

"Climb in?"

Hui River turned around.

"Look, there's a window here, but it's locked."

Then he pointed toward a staircase window above them.

"But that one isn't locked. I'll climb up there first, then come down and open the first-floor window."

Mu Nanzhi visually estimated the height.

The second-floor window was at least four meters above the ground.

"Have you climbed something this high before?"

"No."

"But I should be able to climb it. I'll go try."

Hui River threw his bag onto the ground and stepped out of the dormitory building.

The rain had not stopped and carried a chill as it drifted onto his body.

Hui River had always been naturally athletic.

Had his family not strongly opposed it, he would have attended a sports school long ago.

Ever since middle school, he had frequently been selected for school athletic meets.

He believed climbing a wall a few meters high would not be difficult.

Besides, there was a small tree growing beneath the second-floor window.

He leaped upward and grabbed the trunk.

His legs pushed against the rough bark, and after only a few movements, he climbed into the treetop.

Mu Nanzhi stood beneath the eaves, watching him inch his way into the second-floor window.

This guy really did have some skills.

After entering, Hui River immediately waved at him.

Mu Nanzhi nodded.

Sure enough, less than a minute later, Hui River ran downstairs and opened the first-floor window for him.

Hui River pushed the window open.

"Grab my bag and climb in."

"Mm."

In the end, Mu Nanzhi never took out his campus card.

At first, he had indeed wanted to watch Hui River make a fool of himself.

But he had not expected him to be this capable, climbing up to the second floor in just a few moves.

As a result, he could only grit his teeth and climb in through the window as well.

After Mu Nanzhi successfully climbed inside, Hui River immediately slung his bag onto his back.

"It's really late. I'm heading back to the dorm."

Mu Nanzhi brushed the dust off his clothes.

"Okay."

"Mm, goodbye."

He was soaked from head to toe and had long since wanted to run off.

The moment he finished speaking, he dashed up the stairs like a streak of smoke.

Mu Nanzhi stood where he was, watching him leave.

Then he smiled helplessly and headed toward his own dormitory room.

Bzzz.

While climbing the stairs, Hui River took out his phone.

He discovered that the dormitory group chat was full of messages.

Speechless, he thought that these guys had only now remembered him.

[Brother Dong: Has Hui River gone missing? It's so late and he's still not back. The dorm is almost out of hot water.]

[Dorm Leader: What! He's still not back? I was gaming just now and didn't even notice.]

[Dorm Leader: Look, my newest wife. Escaped bad luck and entered Europe. Feels great.]

[Screenshot]

[Brother Dong: Emmm, Brother Road, did Hui River contact you? I only just saw the WeChat message he sent half an hour ago.]

[Hao Road: No. I'm going to sleep.]

[Hui River: You heartless animals. You only noticed I was gone now. I'm almost back already!]

[Dorm Leader: Hahaha, good that you're coming back. Then I'll continue gaming.]

The dormitory group chat returned to silence.

Hui River also reached the door.

He put away his phone and opened the door to enter.

The memory ended.

Hui River changed into clean clothes and walked out of the bathhouse.