As soon as the words fell, a lightning bolt struck, followed by a patter of rain pelting down on people.
The woman who had just insulted Lu Sisi snapped back to reality and immediately invited Di Mingjue, "It's raining, you can't go back now. The mountain road is impassable in the rain."
Shen Lin surveyed their surroundings. The village was at the foot of the mountain, and the rain was heavy. The dirt road they had come on would be impossible for cars after being soaked by the rain.
"President Di, perhaps we should camp here for the night?" Shen Lin suggested.
The woman opposite him looked expectant, her eyes fixed on Di Mingjue, waiting for him to agree.
"Brother Mingjue, I'll tidy up a room now. When the rain stops tomorrow morning, I'll go back with you to see Uncle," Lu Sisi said, making the decision for him.
And so, they stayed.
However, Di Mingjue paid a sum of money to stay in the house next to Lu Sisi. The woman who had insulted her was her aunt, who provided two rooms, but charged them for the lodging.
Lu Sisi lay in the dilapidated room, looking at the lit room next door through the broken window.
Her damn aunt had ruined her plan.
If she hadn't provided lodging, she could have shared a room, or even a bed, with Di Mingjue right now.
"Shen Lin, as soon as the rain stops, we'll set off immediately."
"Alright."
Di Mingjue occupied one room, while Shen Lin shared the other with the driver.
The rain was fierce and did not stop until midnight. In the city center, under the same sky, the rain continued to pound down.
Jiang Ziyu lay on her bed, a fairy tale book in her hand. Her gaze drifted to the window, and worry began to creep into her heart.
Qianqian tugged at Jiang Ziyu's arm, then got up and fetched a picture book and crayons from the bedside table.
"Mommy, where's Daddy?"
"Daddy went out on some business and will be back when he's done."
"It's raining outside."
Jiang Ziyu knew.
It was raining, had he picked up Lu Sisi?
Looking out the window, Qianqian, beside her, held her hand and showed her the picture book.
"Call Daddy."
Then, the phone was pressed into her hand.
Feeling the weight of the phone in her palm, Jiang Ziyu's heart became conflicted.
Should she call? Or not?
Unbeknownst to her, her finger had tapped the screen. Di Mingjue was the first contact on the call log. After a moment of internal struggle, she dialed.
A familiar female voice answered on the other end. As soon as she uttered a single word, Jiang Ziyu immediately hung up the phone.
"Daddy might be busy and doesn't have time to look at his phone," Jiang Ziyu said, placing the phone under the pillow and hugging Qianqian to coax her to sleep.
After coaxing Qianqian to sleep, she herself found it difficult to drift off.
The rain was so heavy, was he on his way back?
The speculations and anxieties flashing through her mind made Jiang Ziyu uncomfortable. She disliked this feeling. Lowering her head, she rested her cheek on Qianqian's arm. The faint milky scent of her daughter gradually calmed her turbulent emotions.
The next day.
As dawn broke, a hurried knocking sound woke Lu Sisi from her slumber.
Rubbing her eyes, she stood neatly by the door.
"Miss Lu, the rain has stopped. We need to go," Shen Lin said from outside the door.
So soon?
Lu Sisi looked up at the sky, where the sun was slowly emerging.
"Where's Brother Mingjue?"
"President Di is already at the village entrance."
This was the second time Shen Lin had called out to Lu Sisi. The first time, there was no response from inside, so he had escorted Di Mingjue to the car with the driver first.
After agreeing, Lu Sisi turned back to change her clothes, then, with her suitcase, walked with Shen Lin towards the village entrance.
Her aunt stood at the doorway, looking enviously at the soon-to-be successful Lu Sisi.
"You little slut, you've got some nerve!"
Lu Sisi pretended not to hear, expertly brushing past her.