Lu Fan emerged from his small clinic. The rain, which hadn't been heavy initially, suddenly poured down like a deliberate act against him as he took a few steps.
Lu Fan considered returning, but the thought of Liu Ruyan's frightened expression spurred him onward. He hurried towards the village branch, his feet sinking into the mud.
The raindrops, driven by the wind, were sharp and fierce, stinging his eyes. Relying on his familiarity with the village, he quickly reached the entrance of the village branch. A flash of lightning split the night sky, and Lu Fan suddenly spotted a figure climbing over the courtyard wall of Wang Yan's house ahead.
"Damn it... did a thief really break into Wang Yan's house?" A thought flashed through Lu Fan's mind. With a whoosh, he dashed forward and kicked out.
"Oh my god! Who the hell kicked me!" A curse, accompanied by the sound of a fall, mingled with the wind and rain, reached Lu Fan's ears.
"Wang Laowai?" Lu Fan immediately recognized the voice as Wang Laowai from the village. This guy, with his bad legs, still dared to go out thieving. Humph! Lu Fan remained silent and rushed forward, delivering another kick.
"Ow... damn it! You son of a bitch! Believe it or not, I know who you are, and I'll extort you dry!" Kicked and scrambling, Wang Laowai cursed again.
"Damn it! I really can't let him know it's me." Hearing Wang Laowai threaten to extort him, Lu Fan was instantly scared into stopping his attack. He turned and ran to the wall of the village branch, hiding himself.
Wang Laowai got up from the ground, grumbling and walking away. Only then did Lu Fan get up and push open the gate of the village branch.
The gate wasn't locked, suggesting Liu Ruyan had left it open for him. Lu Fan ran directly to Liu Ruyan's dormitory door and knocked gently.
"Lu Fan! Is that you?" Liu Ruyan's weak voice came from inside.
"It's me!" Lu Fan said, wiping the rain from his face.
With a rustle, the door opened. Liu Ruyan stood in the doorway, wearing her pink bear pajamas. Seeing Lu Fan soaked, she quickly ushered him inside.
"The rain outside is so heavy, you... you... take off..." Liu Ruyan intended to say "take off your clothes, they must be uncomfortable clinging to you like that." But the words caught in her throat. If he took them off, what would he wear?
"Heh heh! It's fine, you sleep. I'll keep you company here." Lu Fan chuckled, took off his shirt, wrung out the water, and then wiped himself dry with it.
"Don't use your clothes to wipe yourself! Why don't you go wash up!" Liu Ruyan felt a bit embarrassed. He had braved the storm to come here, and she couldn't just let him be like this...
The dormitory wasn't large, and the bathroom had been hastily built for the village head's temporary stay. Although simple, it had a shower. Lu Fan was thoroughly drenched and didn't hesitate to enter the bathroom.
Upon entering, he found the bathroom perfumed by Liu Ruyan's touch. The walls and all the fixtures were in shades of pink, even the shampoo bottles were pink... What's this...? Heh heh! Liu Ruyan's discarded undergarments? Haha!
As Lu Fan entered the bathroom, Liu Ruyan regretted it. Her recently changed undergarments were still hanging inside, uncollected. Oh dear... she felt so shy just thinking about it. She wondered if Lu Fan had any peculiar habits...
With a splash, after a shower, Lu Fan felt much more comfortable. But then he realized... what would he wear out? He couldn't possibly walk out naked, wrapped only in Liu Ruyan's pink bath towel, could he?
Hearing the sound of running water stop, Liu Ruyan gently knocked on the bathroom door.
"Lu Fan! I don't have any suitable clothes for you either. How about... how about you wear this for now!" The bathroom door was opened a crack. Liu Ruyan turned her body away, and a small hand reached in, holding a long blue dress.
"Cough cough cough..." Lu Fan nearly choked on his own saliva. He had never worn a skirt in his life.
A moment later, Lu Fan emerged wearing the dress.
"Pfft..." Liu Ruyan burst into laughter. It was hilarious to see this grown man in a small skirt. Her laughter made Lu Fan chuckle foolishly as well.
After a bout of laughter, the two fell into awkward silence again. How would they sleep on a bed that wasn't very large?
"Ruyan! You sleep. I'll stay here and keep you company." Lu Fan pulled over a small stool and sat beside the bed.
Liu Ruyan's pretty face flushed. She suddenly regretted letting this boy come over. She, a young woman, sleeping with a young man standing beside her. It would be a miracle if she could sleep.
Somewhat awkwardly, she got into bed and snuggled under the covers. Liu Ruyan's heart pounded erratically.
Crack... Rumble... Suddenly, a flash of lightning accompanied by rolling thunder struck.
"Ah...!" Liu Ruyan cried out in surprise, burying her head under the covers in fright.
"Don't be afraid! I'm right here beside you!" Lu Fan moved the stool closer to the bed and said to Liu Ruyan.
"Can... can I hold your hand?" Liu Ruyan timidly poked her head out from under the covers and asked.
"Okay!" Lu Fan extended his hand.
Liu Ruyan reached out her small hand and grasped Lu Fan's large one. She immediately felt a sense of calm. However, she was still too shy to look at Lu Fan, so she hid her head under the covers.
Lu Fan looked at the delicate and lovely Liu Ruyan before him, and his heart began to stir slightly. Sigh! He was here to keep her company; he couldn't scare her. Thinking this, he suppressed his inner urges...
Rumble... Crackle...
The thunder rolled outside, and lightning continuously illuminated the night sky.
The rain stopped at some point. The next morning, when Liu Ruyan opened her eyes, she found Lu Fan asleep, slumped by her bedside. His large hand was still holding hers.
Liu Ruyan's pretty face flushed. This guy really hadn't done anything untoward. Looking at the tall, one-meter-eight man wearing her small skirt, Liu Ruyan couldn't help but laugh again.
She gently withdrew her hand from Lu Fan's, quietly got out of bed, retrieved her clothes, and slipped into the bathroom to change. She glanced up at Lu Fan's clothes hanging there; they were clearly dry.
"Pah... this scoundrel didn't even wear underwear?" Seeing a pair of large boxer shorts hanging on the rack, Liu Ruyan's pretty face instantly turned scarlet. She hastily gathered her own undergarments and fled the bathroom.
Lu Fan opened his eyes and stretched. Sigh! Sleeping like this, sitting up, was really uncomfortable!
"You're awake! Your clothes are dry. Hurry up and change, then... then go back. Don't let anyone see you slept here," Liu Ruyan said, her face flushed, seeing Lu Fan awake.
"Ah?... Ah!" Lu Fan looked out the window. Although it was dawn, it was still very early. During the off-season, not many people would be up this early. He stood up and went into the bathroom to change back into his clothes.
"Ruyan! It rained half the night. There might be mushrooms in the mountains. I'll go pick some. Come to my place for dinner tonight," Lu Fan said suddenly, turning back at the doorway.
"Okay!" Liu Ruyan nodded shyly.
Watching Lu Fan leave the village branch, Liu Ruyan suddenly patted her chest softly and murmured to herself, "Sigh! Stop overthinking. There won't be any outcome with him."