"Mm," she murmured, nodding slightly.

The boy's dark eyes lit up as if ignited by an inner spark, the dappled light scattering across his lashes, his gaze shimmering.  It was clear he was truly happy.

Even now, Xia Yao couldn't understand why he'd said those words that day.  They hadn't interacted much back then. Zhou Ye, as class monitor, was patient with everyone. Perhaps it was simply his duty. Xia Yao had never expected anything more. Yet, that day, he'd offered her the exclusive right to him.

Walking beside him now felt surreal. She flexed her fingers, remembering the warm, firm feeling of his hand holding hers.  She couldn't seem to forget his warmth. She wanted to touch him again…

But when she glanced at him, his arm was bent, his slender, pale hand tucked into his pocket. He didn't seem to have the same thought. Xia Yao quickly looked away, her gaze fixed on the ground ahead, her ears burning. She bit her lip, chastising herself for her increasingly bold fantasies.

The sky was overcast, a gentle breeze caressing her skin. The occasional car horn pierced the quiet. Then, without warning, fat raindrops began to fall.

Swish, swish, swish…

Her vision blurred as the downpour intensified, creating a dense curtain of rain that obscured the passing cars, leaving only a string of headlights faintly flickering.

"It's raining," Zhou Ye said suddenly. Xia Yao reacted a moment too late as he grabbed her wrist and started running.

They were near a small park, with no shelter in sight.  Across the street, however, was a row of shops. Zhou Ye, worried she'd get soaked, ran quickly. But halfway across, Xia Yao's strength faltered. She leaned on her knees, letting him pull her along, shaking her head.  "I can't… I can't run anymore."

Without a word, Zhou Ye turned and scooped her up into his arms. Xia Yao gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. She inhaled his clean scent, mingled with the fresh rain. Even in the downpour, his body felt warm.

The scenery blurred as they ran. Then, after a bumpy moment, the rain stopped falling on her head.  He set her down, her right foot touching the ground first.

"Looks like it won't stop anytime soon…" Zhou Ye stood under the awning, looking up at the impenetrable wall of rain, then down at the drenched girl beside him. He'd meant to say he'd call a cab for her, but as his eyes met hers, his throat constricted, his gaze fixed.

Her thin uniform clung to her body, revealing the lace at the top of her chest.  She looked so slender, yet a distinct cle*vage was visible between the curves of her bre*sts. The soaked fabric hinted at the soft, white skin beneath.  Her waist and chest looked softer than anything in the world.

Zhou Ye's Adam's apple bobbed in his throat. He clenched his fists, his lips parting slightly as he took a slow breath. He casually placed a hand on the front of his pants, shifting the hard ridge pressing against his thigh, trapping it against his underwear.  It was so prominent that as soon as he adjusted his underwear, it sprang free again.

He knew it was just teenage hormones, that boys his age were driven by instinct, like dogs in heat. But he didn't want to feel that uncontrolled, primal urge towards her.  They were still in high school. It wasn't right. She was too young. And if her family knew he'd done anything… her father would probably come after him with a knife.  He would, if it were his daughter.

"Achoo!"

The girl beside him sneezed, covering her mouth as she shivered in the wind.  Zhou Ye snapped out of his reverie, realizing what a jerk he'd been.  Lost in his own thoughts, he hadn't even noticed she was cold.

Xia Yao sniffled, then suddenly felt herself pulled against something warm and solid.  A hand pressed on her shoulder, holding her still, enveloped in his embrace.

"Hold on tight if you're cold. I'll call a cab now."

His voice, a pleasant baritone laced with tenderness, came from above. Feeling his protective embrace, Xia Yao's heart pounded in her chest. Nervous, but unable to resist, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Mm," she whispered in response.

Grateful for this rare closeness, she pressed closer, her lower abdomen touching his.  And that's when she felt it, something hard, pressing against her.  As the implications dawned on her, her mind went blank, unsure what to do next.