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Tu Hengsha sighed and said, "I'll leave first, I've scheduled an interview with the command center leaders and the armed police squad leader." The interview, which was interrupted midway due to an emergency, was rescheduled for the evening. It was uncertain whether the mission could be successfully completed with the worsening danger at night.
Xiao Xu didn't say anything. She paused for a moment, put on her raincoat, and walked out alone. Before leaving, she greeted the local residents in the classroom, and the grandma from earlier cheerfully reminded her to be careful.
The world was filled only with the sound of the torrential rain pouring down. In such a downpour, the raincoat was practically useless. Within moments, more than half of her new pants were soaked, and her shoes were filled with water once again.
As she walked out of the school gate, she vaguely heard someone calling her name. It wasn't very clear amidst the sound of the heavy rain. She merely hesitated for a moment before someone gave her a heavy pat on the shoulder. She turned to find Xiao Xu wrapped in a raincoat.
She was a bit surprised, "You came too?"
Xiao Xu didn't speak; he pointed to the building beside the school gate.
Tu Hengsha looked and realized it was a small shop.
Xiao Xu walked toward the small shop and signaled for her to follow.
She remembered she hadn't eaten anything all day. The shop opened at just the right time, so she followed him inside with her two wet shoes squishing.
Her attention was wholly on the food, even though it was just dry bread and instant noodles. Then she heard two loud thumps, and a pair of high-top rubber boots fell at her feet.
"Change," his gaze was fixed on the hems of her pants.
Tu Hengsha understood. He disliked her dirtying his pants. She felt rather embarrassed; after all, they were his pants! She quickly took off her shoes, changed into the thigh-high rubber boots, and tucked her pants into the boots. Her wet feet finally felt dry shoes, and she stomped her feet, taking a few steps, feeling extremely comfortable.
Then, the shopkeeper seemed to be waiting for something. He watched her and seemed to be waiting for something. She was a bit confused, looking at him in bewilderment.
"Pay up!" He couldn't hold back anymore.
"Oh, oh, oh!" She suddenly realized, "Sorry about that! I forgot! How much?"
"Fifty," the shopkeeper said.
She quickly pulled out a red bill, which was of course also wet, "And get me a few more breads, two bottles of drinks!"
She bought four breads, two bottles of tea, and shared half with him, "I'm starving, and you haven't eaten anything either, right? Let's make do!" showing no awkwardness in a girl treating a boy.
The always-cool Xiao Xu unexpectedly accepted without any fuss. The two finished the bread in the shop before heading out. The dry bread with tea had Tu Hengsha hiccuping incessantly, but she laughed in the rain, "I've imagined many times what it would be like to meet you again! I've also thought of treating you to a meal, but never did I expect it would be in such a place, treating you to dry bread!"
He simply walked silently beside her without a word.
Tu Hengsha was already accustomed to his silence, yet she still smiled at him, "I know you don't remember me, but it's okay, as long as I remember you. Let me formally introduce myself, my name is Tu Hengsha, a photojournalist for the Chenjiang Daily. I first met you when I was five, and at six, at Hongliu Primary School, I met you a second time, you were in third grade then. The last time I saw you was at the end of fourth grade, on the day of the closing ceremony. After that, you disappeared. It's alright that you don't remember these, we can get to know each other again. Hello, Xiao Xu, nice to meet you."
She extended her right hand, her smile blooming.
She had small, thin, exceptionally pale hands, contrasting sharply against the dreary gray of the rainy night, appearing somewhat unhealthy. Her smile was the same—pale and fragile, her lip color was even gray-white, like a daisy battered by the storm, striving to bloom yet appearing worn out.
He glanced at her, didn't respond, and strode forward.
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