C10 The Heavy Rain

Being alone with Zhao Lei in the mountains was making Lee Qian somewhat uneasy. With no place to hide, she shyly turned away, adopting an ostrich-like approach to avoid the current awkwardness.

Lee Qian's behavior signaled to Zhao Lei that she was no longer the little girl she once was. He realized he should be mindful of their proximity to prevent any rumors from spreading. While it wouldn't be a significant issue for him, it could be quite damaging for her reputation.

"Haha, why hasn't this rain let up yet?" Zhao Lei chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood as he noticed Lee Qian's discomfort.

But it seemed that fate had other plans. The rain not only persisted but intensified, with hailstones as large as thumbs and raindrops the size of beans pelting down.

As the weather worsened, Zhao Lei furrowed his brows and grumbled, "What terrible weather—these hailstones are massive. Looks like we're going to be stuck here a while longer before we can head down the mountain."

He was speaking to Lee Qian, but when she didn't respond after some time, he turned to look at her and was taken aback. Lee Qian was ghostly pale, her lips colorless, as she hugged her shoulders and shivered uncontrollably.

Zhao Lei's concern grew. He quickly asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm... so cold!" Lee Qian's voice shook. She wanted to move closer to Zhao Lei for warmth but was too embarrassed to get too near.

It dawned on Zhao Lei that Lee Qian was freezing. The mountain temperature had plummeted after the rain, and now with the hail, it was even colder. Both of them were soaked through, which only added to the chill.

Zhao Lei, having consumed the Immortal Dew, had a much stronger constitution and wasn't bothered by the cold. Lee Qian, however, was not as resilient, and her freezing state was no surprise.

He touched her hand and felt its icy tremble, confirming she was indeed severely cold. With the relentless downpour and hail showing no signs of stopping, Zhao Lei knew that if they didn't find shelter soon, Lee Qian was at serious risk of falling ill.

Zhao Lei's first instinct was to build a fire to keep Lee Qian warm, but lighting fires on the mountain was strictly forbidden to prevent forest fires. Besides, the rain had soaked all the wood, rendering it useless. Even if Zhao Lei was willing to break the law for Lee Qian's sake, he lacked the means to start a fire.

Feeling helpless, Zhao Lei tried to reassure Lee Qian, "Summer storms are usually brief. Just hang in there a little longer. It'll warm up once the sun comes out."

But the weather was unpredictable, and as they waited, the rain showed no signs of letting up. Lee Qian's shivering intensified, her lips turning a worrying shade of blue. Zhao Lei realized they couldn't go on like this.

With a brief hesitation, Zhao Lei removed his shirt and said softly to Lee Qian, "I'm sorry, I really don't have any other options!" Without waiting for her response, he draped his shirt over Lee Qian, then took her small hands in his, trying to transfer some of his body heat to the shivering girl.

Lee Qian's body continued to shake, frighteningly cold to the touch. Holding her hand felt like clutching a block of ice, causing Zhao Lei to shiver involuntarily. He understood the gravity of Lee Qian's condition and, gritting his teeth, moved closer to share more of his warmth.

Lee Qian, numbed by the cold, was slow to comprehend what was happening. Only when she began to feel warmer did she realize the situation. Her pale cheeks flushed with a sudden warmth, and she instinctively tried to shift away, aiming to maintain some distance from Zhao Lei.

"Don't move!" Zhao Lei said sternly, "Your body temperature is dangerously low. If you don't stay warm, you could get seriously sick."

Lee Qian wasn't overly concerned about falling ill, but if she were incapacitated, there would be no one to care for her ailing father. With this in mind, she stopped squirming and remained still in Zhao Lei's embrace.

Gradually, with Zhao Lei's help, Lee Qian began to feel warmer. Her trembling subsided, and color returned to her lips. The thought of being so close to a young man made her cheeks burn even hotter, and she knew without looking that she must be blushing deeply.

What Lee Qian didn't realize was that Zhao Lei was also feeling unsettled. As she gradually warmed up, he no longer felt like he was sitting next to a block of ice.

In the summer heat, with everyone dressed in minimal clothing, the proximity between the two inevitably led to some embarrassment. Lee Qian's cheeks turned a deep shade of red.

Thankfully, the downpour eventually subsided, and finally stopped altogether. Though the mountain paths remained somewhat treacherous, they were certainly safer than during the rain.

Zhao Lei let out a relieved sigh, "It's finally stopped. We'll be able to descend the mountain soon!"

Lee Qian gave a small nod and murmured, "Mr. Zhao Lei, could you... could you let go of my hand now?"

Zhao Lei quickly released the girl's delicate hand, touching the back of his head in an awkward gesture. "I wasn't thinking. I really didn't have a better solution at the moment. I hope you're not upset with me!"

Lee Qian hung her head low, her face the color of a ripe tomato, and in a barely audible voice, she replied, "No... it's okay. I... I'm not upset!"

Her shy demeanor sent a ripple through Zhao Lei's heart, but he quickly regained his composure. "Now that the rain has stopped, we should make our way back to the village quickly so your father won't worry."

The bashful Lee Qian nodded and went to retrieve her bamboo basket. Her heart sank, however, at the sight that greeted her. The shelter had been too small to protect their baskets, which had been left outside. The wild vegetables inside were completely drenched; in the sweltering heat, they would soon spoil, rendering Lee Qian's efforts for the day in vain. Zhao Lei's harvest of polygonum multiflorum, however, was less affected by the water and remained unspoiled.

Noticing Lee Qian's eyes brimming with disappointment, Zhao Lei shook his head in silent sympathy. He patted her head reassuringly, as he had done in the past, "With the weather being so unpredictable today, it's a blessing we're able to return home safely. Don't be disheartened. I'll help you gather more wild vegetables over the next couple of days to make up for today's loss."

Lee Qian's spirits lifted slightly as she managed a smile for Zhao Lei and accompanied him down the mountain.

The rain had ceased, yet the mountain trail remained slick with mud. To prevent Lee Qian from getting hurt, Zhao Lei shouldered both bamboo baskets for the descent.

Upon reaching the entrance of the village, Lee Qian paused and softly said to Zhao Lei, "Mr. Zhao Lei, about earlier... I really appreciate what you did."

Zhao Lei chuckled at her flushed cheeks and, in a familiar gesture, ruffled her hair. "No need for thanks. Hurry on home now, don't keep your dad waiting!"

"Okay!" Lee Qian nodded and scurried off.

Zhao Lei, meanwhile, was eager to assess his vegetable field, especially after the recent downpour and hail. Any damage to the young plants could mean significant loss.

Arriving at the field, he found Hu Qiang already there. Zhao Lei quickened his pace and greeted him, "Uncle Hu, what brings you here?"

"I was concerned after the storm, so I came to check things out," Hu Qiang replied with a smile. "You're lucky; hardly any hail hit your field. Looks like there's no damage!"

Touched by Hu Qiang's concern, Zhao Lei responded with a grateful smile, "Thanks a lot, Uncle Hu."

"What are you talking about?" Hu Qiang feigned annoyance. "We've been neighbors for decades, and I've watched you grow up. It's the least I can do!"

As Hu Qiang surveyed the lush vegetable field, he couldn't help but marvel, "In just a few days, the seedlings have shot up. These high-tech cultivated varieties are truly remarkable!"

Zhao Lei grinned, pleased with Hu Qiang's approval. "Exactly, you can rest easy now, right?"

"Rest easy, indeed!" Hu Qiang chuckled, nodding before heading home contentedly.

With the vegetable field unscathed, Zhao Lei too returned home for a well-deserved bath. However, stepping out of the bathroom, he let out a wry smile. In his rush to check on the field, he'd inadvertently brought Lee Qian's bamboo basket with him. It looked like he'd have to make a trip to return it.

When Zhao Lei arrived at Lee Qian's doorstep with a bamboo basket in hand, he overheard a young man's voice inside, enthusiastically explaining to Lee Qian the advantages of attending university in the city.