Chapter 25: Pure Love Rain, I Want to Walk with You!

Li Chunsheng nearly crashed into the elevator. Normally quick enough, today it felt agonizingly slow, like a snail.

Faster! Just a little faster!

Li Chunsheng’s mind raced with images of how hard Liu Xia’s journey must have been to reach here.

Braving the icy rain? Huddling under eaves, inching forward?

Those thoughts stretched the distance endlessly, tormenting his heart.

“Senpai… she must be freezing and exhausted right now, right? It’s all my fault; I didn’t notice sooner…”

Time crawled in anxious waiting, yet flew too fast. When the elevator dinged open, Li Chunsheng shot out like an arrow, sprinting straight for the building entrance.

Stepping outside, biting wind and rain lashed his face. His eyes instantly found the small figure huddled under the eaves just beyond the door.

It was Liu Xia.

The girl was shivering uncontrollably, white puffs escaping her mouth; clearly frozen stiff.

Her thin maid outfit was soaked in patches, clinging to her body, outlining her slender contours. She looked utterly pitiful, like a drenched puppy, yet her gaze stayed fixed on the building exit.

The warm lobby was mere steps away, but she chose to squat in the cold rain, holding a tiny umbrella, waiting for him.

“She… she could’ve waited inside where it’s warm…” Li Chunsheng’s nose stung as realization hit. “Ah, she must be worried… about triggering facial recognition in the lobby and exposing she has no ID, right?”

He couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted toward the figure.

“Senpai!”

“Eh?” Liu Xia’s ears twitched. She turned, delighted. “Chunsheng~”

The girl struggled up from her crouch and hurried toward him.

“Ah…!”

Perhaps from squatting too long, her legs were numb. She stumbled forward, about to fall into the rain.

But Li Chunsheng reacted instantly. In the moment her body tilted, he flashed to her side and caught her soft waist firmly with both arms.

His hands felt startling softness through the fabric, a slightly cool warmth seeping into his palms.

“Ah… they say girls’ body temperature is naturally higher than men’s, and they feel cold easier… she must be colder than me right now?” Pity surged in Li Chunsheng’s heart.

Yet this was the girl who, ignoring cold and fatigue, had walked all this way with her frail body just to bring him lunch.

Seeing the bento box clutched tightly in her hands, Li Chunsheng understood why Senpai had come so far; she was afraid he’d go hungry…

She’d done the same countless times when he was still in school and she was male.

Back then, though only a few years older, she had been both brother and father to him. In this world, no one else could ever treat him better than Liu Xia.

Looking back now, he’d taken her efforts for granted, never feeling this intense heartache and guilt until today.

Why… why hadn’t he noticed sooner? If he had, maybe he could’ve prevented her degeneration.

Yes, how laughable. He only truly saw her constant care and deep gentleness after she became a girl.

What took me so long? He’d just raged at Mu Shengling without interfering in Senpai’s actions.

In the end, was this sudden intense concern for her truly pure?

Or… was it hypocritical affection born from subconscious desire for her female body?

No… absolutely not… Li Chunsheng warned himself repeatedly, yet his eyes stayed glued to the delicate face in his arms.

Caught steadily by her junior, after the initial panic, Liu Xia naturally fell into Li Chunsheng’s warm, solid embrace.

“Wuu… making such a fool of myself in front of my junior…”

Showing her pathetic side to her junior left the girl mortified. Her cheeks burned crimson. She struggled lightly to escape his arms, but her numb legs refused to cooperate, only pressing her closer to his chest.

Helpless, she buried her scorching little head deeper into his embrace, ostrich-like, trying to hide her embarrassment.

But that embarrassment melted like spring snow upon feeling Li Chunsheng’s comforting warmth.

Already chilled to the bone by the cold spring rain, the girl couldn’t help sinking into this safe, warm harbor.

“Chunsheng’s body… so warm…” Beyond warmth, his faintly delicious scent made her a little intoxicated.

Where else could she find somewhere this warm and nice-smelling?

For a moment, the girl grew greedy for the warmth, reluctant to leave her junior’s arms. But the deep-rooted “senior” pride in her bones made her push gently away once her legs regained some strength.

Liu Xia hurriedly smoothed her messy clothes and hair, revealing a gentle smile.

“Chunsheng, you must be hungry, right? Here~ this is the bento you forgot today. It’s full of your favorites.”

Li Chunsheng looked at her like this, heart aching. His voice was low.

“Sorry, Senpai…”

“I actually let you walk through the rain like this. It’s all my fault. I’ll give you pocket… no, living expenses right now!” He started reaching for his black-iron card.

But his movement was stopped by Liu Xia’s cool little hand.

“It’s okay, Chunsheng. You don’t need to give me money.” The girl shook her head with a smile. “I’m a ‘fugitive goblin’ right now. Taking public transport would only expose me more, right? Walking… walking is actually safer!”

“And I’m already so grateful you’re letting me stay! I absolutely can’t take money from my junior who’s risking so much. Besides, Chunsheng, generating gold coins isn’t easy for you, is it?”

Li Chunsheng gazed deeply at Liu Xia, knowing she meant every word sincerely.

No matter her situation, the girl in front of him always put others first. That was why she’d been the respected, relied-upon senior to all the younger kids at the orphanage.

Yet even now, in dire straits, Senpai still acted this way. It left Li Chunsheng with a lump in his throat, unable to speak.

Liu Xia saw his expression and seemed to understand. She giggled, tiptoed, and reached up to ruffle his soft hair playfully.

“Hehe~ don’t make that bitter face! It’s ugly!” She said lightly on purpose. “I even wore the maid outfit specially to bring you a loving bento. That’s huge face for you!”

“Hmph, your colleagues must be green with envy. Use that as side dish and enjoy your lunch!”

Without waiting for a reply, Liu Xia shoved the bento into his hands, tilted her head thoughtfully.

“Hm… I checked the computer before leaving. Seems the rain will last all day…”

“Then take the umbrella too… remember to come home early for dinner!”

“No way!”

Li Chunsheng tried to refuse, but Liu Xia pressed a finger to his lips, shaking her head.

“No way. Chunsheng, aren’t you getting a bit too gentle lately?”

The old Chunsheng wasn’t this considerate toward me… Could he have developed feelings he shouldn’t…?

No, no way! That’s too rude to think…

He’s probably… just pitying my situation… Geez, I’m the senior… this is embarrassing…

Her feelings tangled, Liu Xia forced a carefree tone.

“You, don’t get fooled by my current weak appearance. Inside, I’m still a bloodthirsty goblin…”

She paused. “And I’m a real stand-up man. I’m not that delicate. Just a little rain; no big deal…”

“Save that thoughtfulness for a real girl, okay?”

Without saying more, Liu Xia quickly stuffed the umbrella into his other hand and dashed into the rain.

“See you tonight!” In the rain, the girl turned back, waving vigorously with a smile bright as summer flowers.

Li Chunsheng stood frozen, clutching the still-warm bento and small umbrella, heart aching inexplicably.

In that instant, countless memories of the boy who used to bring him meals overlapped with this small, fragile girl.

“Why, Senpai? Why, even now, won’t you take better care of yourself?”

Unable to bear it any longer, he charged into the rain after the fading figure.

He wanted to stand by her side, hold up a clear sky for her.

“Senpai!” Li Chunsheng caught up, raising the small umbrella high, tilting it over the slender figure in the rain.

“Eh…?” The girl stopped in surprise, looking up at him, puzzled.

Rain slid down Li Chunsheng’s dark hair. He gazed at her, voice quiet but unwavering.

“From now on, let’s walk together!”