A Quiet Homecoming

Going out in the rain was undoubtedly one of the most miserable experiences imaginable. Especially for the second-generation rich kids who hadn't checked the weather forecast and had left home without an umbrella, while their drivers weren't allowed to enter the school gates. The raindrops felt less like water and more like acid, and every one of them wore a tight frown as they hurried along.

Under such circumstances, it stood to reason that no one would have the mood to pay attention to others.

But Fu Liangxia was too unique. She was walking slowly in the rain with her backpack on, her figure graceful and her steps swaying. Her jet-black hair swept across her slender waist, and beneath her ink-wash brows, a faint blush colored her eyes. Passing students couldn't help but steal glances back at her.

Since when did their school have such a... stunning girl?

Looking closer, she seemed a bit familiar.

"Sister Xu Cai." The lackey reluctantly tore his gaze away from Fu Liangxia. "The umbrella you wanted."

He was a student from another class, and his father worked as a manager at the Xu family's company. After receiving Xu Cai's message to bring an umbrella to the school gate, he'd rushed over with it at top speed.

But as he passed Fu Liangxia, he couldn't help slowing down.

The girl seemed to be surrounded by an invisible barrier, so at ease that she seemed out of place with everyone else. It felt like passing her even slightly hurriedly would be a desecration...

Xu Cai, who had been staring at the boy running toward her car, finally withdrew her gaze and shot him an impatient look. "What are you looking at? Taking your sweet time."

The lackey quickly shook his head, instinctively not wanting anyone to notice his thoughts.

But the more he tried to hide it, the more curious Xu Cai became. She followed his earlier gaze and paused, her expression turning thoughtful.

Of course, Xu Cai had seen the posts on the forum, but she wasn't a fan of Su Xingshu, and she had enough financial standing herself that she didn't need to read people's moods or follow the crowd.

Still, she had to weigh her options. If Fu Liangxia had truly offended the F4, then there was clearly no need to befriend her.

But with the situation still unclear, there was no need to make enemies. She simply pretended not to see anything and turned toward where she'd originally been headed.

"For me?"

Fu Haoyao, leaning against the car door, lifted his eyelids and glanced at the umbrella offered to him, then looked at the slightly shy Xu Cai in front of him.

"Getting soaked will give you a cold."

Surprised that Fu Haoyao had actually acknowledged her, Xu Cai's voice rose with excitement.

Fu Liangxia, who had already walked not far away, happened to see this scene. The boy stood with his hands in his pockets, his brows cocky and untamed. His slightly rain-dampened hair did nothing to diminish his handsomeness; instead, it added a faint, elusive vulnerability.

Xu Cai stared at him, almost lost in a daze.

"You're really slow." But before Fu Haoyao could respond, Xu Cai saw him suddenly straighten up, squinting past her.

Puzzled, Xu Cai turned around and found Fu Liangxia standing a few steps away, her hair flowing like a waterfall, her delicate face beautiful, like a white lily blooming in the rain.

Xu Cai's expression froze for a moment. As she realized Fu Haoyao was speaking to Fu Liangxia, a strange sense of surrealism washed over her.

How did they know each other?

They seemed to be on fairly good terms, too.

Fu Haoyao was waiting for her? Where were they going together?

Countless questions flashed through Xu Cai's mind in an instant.

Then she heard Fu Liangxia offer a weak apology, though there was no real remorse in her tone.

"Get in the car already." Fu Haoyao looked at her, his tone neither pleasant nor unpleasant. "Do you know how long I've been waiting here for you?"

Fu Liangxia: ...

She knew. Three minutes.

Xu Cai, meanwhile, misunderstood his meaning, assuming he was complaining about the rain. She hastily offered the umbrella with both hands. "Young Master Fu, this umbrella is brand new, still sealed. Please use it. You'll get soaked again when you get out of the car."

Fu Haoyao waved his hand casually. "No need."

Rejected, Xu Cai bit her lip, a little hurt. "Do you hate me that much?"

After all, they'd seen each other at parties plenty of times, and their families had dined together privately. There was no need to embarrass her in public like this.

Hadn't he noticed some classmates already looking their way?

Fu Haoyao paused as he opened the car door. "You're overthinking it."

It wasn't that he hated her, but rather—

Without an umbrella, he and Fu Liangxia would both be drenched in a moment.

There was never an easy high-paying job in this world. If she couldn't handle it, she should just quit on his brother quickly.

He didn't need a tutor.

...

But despite his firm inner resolution, when he saw the girl in the passenger seat tug lightly at her clothes, her body trembling slightly, he still reached out and raised the convertible top, then turned on the heater.

Fu Haoyao, whose body had acted on its own: ...

Conscience was truly a curse.

Fu Liangxia, startled by his sudden action, raised an eyelid and looked at him with some confusion.

Her gaze could only be described as astonished.

Meeting such eyes in the rearview mirror, Fu Haoyao's hand on the steering wheel twitched, and the car suddenly swerved in a crooked S-pattern.

He frowned over at her. "What? I'm cold, can't I?"

Fu Liangxia: ...

She hadn't said anything.

"No, it's your car, so you can do whatever you like." As she spoke, her throat itched and she gave a light cough.

Pricked by his rebellious streak, he'd intended to switch to cold air, but at the sound of her cough, he paused and silently raised the temperature two more degrees.

Realizing what he'd done, Fu Haoyao: ...

Wait, wasn't he supposed to be teaching her a lesson?

Fu Liangxia was absolutely toxic. Every time he faced her, he ended up doing things that went against his own intentions.

It was too strange.

And also subtly irritating.

This irritation wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, but it made Fu Haoyao question himself.

What was he even doing?

Because of this strange feeling, Fu Haoyao remained silent all the way back to the Fu residence.

Fu Liangxia was happy for the peace.

When they arrived at the Fu residence, the courtyard was empty. Fu Haoyao parked in the underground garage and led her into the elevator from the second basement level.

The Fu residence certainly lived up to its reputation. From the inside out, it exuded a natural elegance. Even the built-in elevator was exquisitely decorated—not exactly luxurious, but every detail showed careful attention.

Fu Liangxia's gaze shifted from the wall paintings to the full-length mirror directly across, which clearly reflected her and Fu Haoyao's images.

The boy stood more than a head taller than her, around 185 centimeters. His school uniform fit perfectly, with two buttons undone at the collar, slightly open, revealing a lean but not frail build.

His platinum-blond hair gleamed under the overhead light, but even with such striking hair, anyone's eyes would first land on his almost wicked handsome face.

He was tilting his head back slightly, his gaze loosely focused on some point on the ceiling.

"Hungry?" he suddenly asked.

Saintland provided dinner in an à la carte kitchen style, and the food was undeniably exquisite, but few students chose to eat at school.

Fu Liangxia was the same. She hadn't eaten dinner at school, of course, but she also didn't expect Fu Haoyao to be kind enough to prepare dinner for her.

Saintland dismissed at six o'clock, and the drive from Saintland to the Fu residence took forty minutes, with the Fu residence in the opposite direction from the Fu family home.

If Fu Liangxia was to tutor Fu Haoyao, she naturally wouldn't have time to go home for dinner, so she'd packed a small bag of candy and an apple in her backpack.

—She didn't eat much for dinner.

"I'm fine," Fu Liangxia said.

Rather than eating with someone she didn't know well, she'd rather start her work quickly and get through these long two hours.

Clearly, she wasn't the only one thinking that. Fu Haoyao had similar thoughts. Upon hearing she wasn't hungry, he directly led her to his study on the second floor.

His study was vastly different from the traditional sense of a study. Compared to a 'study,' Fu Liangxia thought 'gaming room' was more fitting.

The walls were smooth black, with purple ambient lights embedded within, and two monitors that looked expensive just by their appearance sat on the desk. The bookshelves held almost no books, filled instead with game discs.

Fu Liangxia had already prepared for Fu Haoyao to be uncooperative. Based on her impressions of him, she even thought it possible he'd shout "Get out!" at her.

Because he truly hated every tutor equally.

But Fu Haoyao didn't. He brought her in without any shouting.

But did that mean he'd actually behave in class?

No, quite the opposite.

He turned on the computer and started a game.