"Since that time, I've always kept an umbrella in the classroom to ensure I always have one available."

Lin Li came in wearing a raincoat this morning, and the umbrella in his hand is the spare one from his classroom locker.

Chen Tianming: "(;☉_☉)?"

"Wait, wait a second! Did you forget to bring an umbrella when parachuting? That's not just a rain issue anymore! What exactly are you feeling lucky about!"

Lin Li calmly said, "On rainy days, it's easy for blood stains to spread everywhere. It's a hassle."

Chen Tianming inexplicably calmed down too: "True, I guess."

"Sigh, but there's no need to buy another one at the small shop; it'd be a waste of money. Let's make do this week; it probably won't rain next week. I already wrote a note in my backpack in the morning, so the first thing I'll do when I get home this week is put the umbrella in my backpack."

Chen Tianming stated his plan, then voiced his concern:

"Hope I remember to bring my backpack this week and remember to check it."

Who can understand the despair when you prepare everything because you have something tomorrow, put it all in your coat pocket for convenience, only to wear the wrong coat the next morning?

Chen Tianming understands.

And remembering to check the backpack after returning home on the weekend after the exams is an even greater challenge.

"How about this, Tianming, I suggest writing 'right on target' on your thigh. You have to go to the bathroom when you get home, right? This way, you'll see it and remember to take the umbrella." Lin Li suggested.

Chen Tianming's lower eyelid twitched slightly: "Explain why seeing these three words would remind me to take the umbrella."

"Because that's the number of times a traitor appeared among you guys. Normally, seeing it, you'd naturally associate it with going without, which isn't the reason why you immediately remembered to bring an umbrella?" Lin Li calmly said.

"Stop slandering and stigmatizing normal people here!!" Chen Tianming really couldn't stay calm.

"If you think that's still unreliable, you could write 'no protection' with an upward arrow next to it."

"Hoo—" Chen Tianming let out a long sigh, smiled and said: 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Hehe, Lin Li, you're so handsome, have you thought about trying some punk or street style? I think you'd really suit lip piercings, like maybe a hundred and eighty on the upper and lower lips."

Honestly, if I did write it, I'd definitely remember to bring the umbrella while peeing, not because of Lin Li's association, but because I'd wonder why I did such a silly thing, recall today's conversation, and then take the umbrella.

Of course, just because a suggestion is effective doesn't mean the person giving it doesn't deserve criticism, so Chen Tianming still had to retaliate.

Lin Li frowned slightly, as a cultivator, how could he miss the hidden sarcasm in Chen Tianming's words.

The dignity of a cultivator is inviolable!

Counterattack begins!

Chen Tianming furrowed his brows, looked up at the gray clouds and continuous rain, pondered: "Lin Li, look up, what can you see?"

"Umbrella." Lin Li lifted his head following the remark and, seeing the black umbrella, answered.

"Why can't I see it?"

"How would I know."

"Then tell me, why is the umbrella tilted entirely your way?"

"The wind is strong, blowing it."

"There's no wind at all, damn it! Move the umbrella closer, you barely shared any with me, my right shoulder and everything below are soaking wet!"

"Down below is wet?"

"..."

Chen Tianming suddenly calmed down: "Lin Li, tell me, if you couldn't joke, what else is left in your life?"

"Have you read the classical novel 'Yellow Dream'? It has a line, 'Like birds fleeing after the feast, leaving a desolate land all clean.' I think, that's the answer."

Seeing Chen Tianming suddenly start talking about lofty topics like life, Lin Li became a bit more serious too.

"Makes sense."

...

Arrived at the classroom.

Shook off the damp umbrella and left it open at the stairway entrance to dry; would collect it later so it wouldn't block others for too long.

Glancing into the classroom, there were a few people inside, but only he from the midday trio had arrived.

With that, he just stood in the corridor, bent down, watching the droplets forming under the metal railing, not quite ready to fall. He flicked at each one using a finger-flicking motion.

Full droplets shattered one by one.

Fun and enjoyable.

Even after cultivating, one shouldn't forget their origins.

As a child, Lin Li used to press under with his palm, clearing entire lines of droplets as he walked along, but ever since getting a clump of bird shit one time, Lin Li matured and became more composed.

"What are you doing?" A voice, chilly and pleasant like stream water, sounded from behind, laced with a hint of amused curiosity.

Lin Li turned around, Chen Yu Ying stood not far away with a light-colored umbrella. Rainwater slid down the umbrella ribs, her pale cheeks accentuated by the cool rainy weather, eyes clear like obsidian soaked in rain, quietly smiling at him.

——Whenever Lin Li saw Chen Yu Ying, he felt there were so many words to describe her.

Every beautiful thing seemed closely tied to her.

Ding Sihan stood beside Chen Yu Ying, organizing her umbrella as well.

Lin Li looked at her.

Hmm.

Human.

That's human!

Although Lin Li didn't say anything, Ding Sihan felt the gaze was quite insulting, so she flipped a middle finger at Lin Li, muttered a few words in return, and then headed back to the classroom alone.

Sensible.

Retracting the initial assessment, just describing Ding Sihan as human seemed too economical with words; had to add 'good'!

A good person!

"I was wondering if it will rain on the weekend." Lin Li came to his senses and answered Chen Yu Ying's question with a smile.

"Do you want it to rain or not?" Chen Yu Ying took a few steps closer, gently asked.

"I don't like rainy days," Lin Li shook his head without hesitation. "On rainy days, I have to hold an umbrella and can't use both hands to hug you. It's annoying."

Her cheeks suddenly flushed. Chen Yu Ying pursed her lips, perhaps stained with leftover sugar from lunch, slightly sweet.

Even though Chen Yu Ying often spoke candidly, it didn't mean she could coolly handle Lin Li's occasional direct remarks.

Thus, she lowered her eyelashes slightly, and when she raised them again, her eyes glistened with moisture:

"Then shall I hold the umbrella for you?"

"I want you to hold me with both hands too."

"Then we should both wear raincoats?"

"A layer of raincoat on the hand, a layer on the body, counting yours too, it means hugging you would require going through four layers of raincoats, that's even worse."

The girl gently hummed, holding her chin in her hand, tilted her head, seemingly pondering and weighing the options.

Finally, she lifted her face and smiled tenderly at Lin Li, nodded vigorously:

"You're right, rainy days, annoying."

It felt like whatever he hated, she'd also think was the most hateful thing in the world.

"Right? Rainy days, annoying." Lin Li laughed too.

"Hmm~"

Not far away, at the stairway entrance.

Wang Yuezhi, just coming out with an umbrella, wore a blank expression; rain dripped from the umbrella tip, forming a small puddle near his feet.

Everyone.

Don't forget.

Prison King's WeChat name, from start to now, has always been:

"Rainy Day."