Spring Night of Misty Rain - Chapter 30

Cangnan is located in the subtropics; even in winter, temperatures hover around 20°C. Combined with the fact that Xu Luosu’s villa sat right on the coast, it was the perfect environment for Hawaiian shirts and board shorts.

Shen Zeyu wasn’t particularly picky about clothes. Since these were seasonal items, Luosu—operating on the logic of “one outfit per day”—prepared to buy thirty sets for her.

As Luosu put it: “These might not be the most comfortable clothes, but if you’re going to be playing in the water every day, Sister, you can just toss them when they get dirty.”

To Zeyu, this was a staggering waste. After much persuasion and several attempts to talk her down, Luosu finally, albeit reluctantly, stopped her shopping spree.

As they carried the clothes back to the villa, Luosu still seemed unsatisfied. “Actually, I think you look great in vibrant colors. Tell you what—when we get back, I’ll have a new wardrobe custom-made for you.”

She turned around, looking at Zeyu with sparkling eyes. “Do you like the designs from Quiet Night Thoughts? If you do, I’ll ask Sister Siqi to design a ‘Four Seasons’ collection for you. What do you think?”

Zeyu realized then that Luosu truly had the spirit of a “Dominant CEO.” Once the shopping high kicked in, she wanted to arrange every detail of Zeyu’s life. Zeyu felt a headache coming on and offered a tactful refusal. “That won’t be necessary. Teacher Xia’s haute couture is far too expensive for me.”

“Besides, I actually have my own tailor. All my clothes are custom-ordered from her.”

Luosu had a sudden realization. “No wonder your clothes all look the same!” They were all variations of the same style from the same shop.

Luosu walked backward, facing Zeyu with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “So, what’s the name of this shop? Next time you order something, I can give you some advice.”

Clearly, she wasn’t giving up. Zeyu sighed, her expression helpless. “You wouldn’t know it. It’s just an old tailor shop back in Jinwu.”

“Fine,” Luosu pouted, finally compromising. “But if you ever want to try something else, you have to tell me.”

“I will.”

Having successfully navigated the topic, the two returned to the villa to change.

The Contrast of Colors

Zeyu’s physique was delicate, her silhouette more akin to the lithe youths of ancient Greek sculptures. Even in a swimsuit, she cut a slender, almost fragile figure. She settled for a sports bra under the red Hawaiian shirt Luosu had bought her, paired with matching shorts and flip-flops.

She stood before the mirror, scrutinizing her reflection. She rarely wore bright colors, let alone a red this vivid. Against the crimson fabric, her exposed skin took on a sickly, translucent pallor. With her thin limbs, the effect was almost haunting.

Looking at herself, Zeyu couldn’t help but remember the times she had used glass shards to mar the skin of her own back. The memory of being covered in blood made her shudder. This look is bad luck, she thought. Maybe I should change.

But it was too late. A knock came at the door, followed by Luosu’s voice. “Sister, are you ready?”

“Coming!” Zeyu called out.

She grabbed her tablet and hurried out in her flip-flops, pulling the door open only to collide directly with Luosu.

“Whoa—” Zeyu’s frail frame hit a solid yet soft weight, and she was sent reeling back.

Luosu looked startled and quickly reached out to catch her. “Careful!”

In her haste to steady Zeyu, she pulled her forward. Zeyu, unable to control her momentum, slammed squarely into Luosu’s chest. This time, it was Luosu who gasped. “Ouch…”

Zeyu scrambled to steady herself, apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to…”

Seeing her so panicked, Luosu let out a light laugh. “It’s okay. It was just a bump; no need to apologize.” She reached out, cupping Zeyu’s face and playfully prying her eyes open. “See? I’m perfectly fine.”

Their eyes met for a moment before Zeyu’s gaze drifted downward. Luosu was wearing a blue-and-white porcelain patterned one-piece. The top featured a halter-style bikini cut that perfectly accentuated her figure. Further down, the sleek tailoring traced her flat, toned midsection before transitioning into a wrap skirt. One side of the sarong draped to her knee, while the other was knotted at her hip, exposing a long, shapely leg.

Luosu was a regular at the gym and often posted photos on social media, so Zeyu knew she was in great shape. But seeing her in person was different. It was hard to believe someone could have such a perfect physique—not a single ounce of wasted space, every line as graceful as a marble statue.

Zeyu took a step back, clutching her tablet and looking up at Luosu. “Sister Xu…”

“Yes?” Luosu asked, confused.

Zeyu looked at her with utter sincerity. “Can I take some photos of you?”

Now it was Luosu’s turn to be stunned. “Eh?”

Captured Moments

Zeyu actually followed through, borrowing a DSLR from one of Luosu’s employees and directing Luosu to pose on the beach for a serious photoshoot.

Luosu’s skin was incredibly fair. Although the swimsuit was relatively modest, her natural allure was undeniable. As Zeyu worked, several young women from the company stood nearby, practically swooning. “Seriously, President Xu’s figure is so hot!”

“Ugh, and the teacher is such a good photographer!”

In the viewfinder, Luosu lay on a beach chair, chin resting on her hand as she sipped watermelon juice through a straw. One leg was slightly kicked up, and her cheeks were flushed with a youthful, shy glow.

Hearing the gossip, Luosu’s ears turned red. “Sister, are we done yet?” she asked shyly.

Zeyu gave her an ‘OK’ sign. “Almost… just one more…”

Under Zeyu’s coaxing, Luosu waited for “one more” several times over. As the sun reached its zenith and the heat became oppressive, Zeyu finally called an end to the session, not wanting Luosu to burn.

Zeyu retreated to a beach chair under a sun umbrella, looking frustrated. “I haven’t shot in so long. I missed the timing on several expressions. What a waste…” She handed the camera over. “Take a look. See if there are any you like.”

Luosu scrolled through the images. When she saw the first shot—a girl running through the surf—she froze. Is this really me?

She usually didn’t think of herself as photogenic, especially in still photos. But Zeyu’s photography felt like a motion picture; it captured the exact emotion of the moment. Luosu looked up, her eyes shining. “These are amazing! Do you love photography, Sister?”

Zeyu sat back, sipping her own watermelon juice. “Not really,” she replied lazily. “In the past, when I was gathering material for scripts, I’d subconsciously collect references of people and scenery.”

She dug her bare feet into the fine sand and turned to Luosu. “Besides, according to the law of entropy, getting older and less attractive is irreversible. So, isn’t it a good thing to leave behind beautiful photos while you’re in your prime?”

Luosu nodded thoughtfully. After a moment, she shot Zeyu a sly smile. “So, in your opinion, I’m beautiful today?”

Zeyu shot her a flat look. “Please have some self-awareness regarding your own looks. Is there a day when you aren’t beautiful?”

Luosu’s face turned bright red. She pursed her lips and suddenly aimed the camera at Zeyu. “Sister…”

“Hmm?” Zeyu looked over, straw still in her mouth.

Click. The moment was frozen. Zeyu panicked, reaching for the camera. “Hey! Don’t take pictures of me. Delete that right now!”

Luosu nimbly dodged her. “No!”

Zeyu set her juice aside and lunged for the camera. “Give it here! Give it to me!”

“Haha!” Seeing her so flustered, Luosu laughed, jumped off the chair, and ran toward the water. “Come and get it then!”

A Promise by the Sea

Zeyu was no match for Luosu. Even with six months of exercise under her belt, her stamina couldn’t compete. Soon, she was defeated. She stood in the surf, bent over with her hands on her knees, panting as she glared at Luosu two meters away.

Luosu held the camera behind her back, grinning. “Sister, your stamina is really terrible.”

Zeyu was exhausted. She held out a hand, her expression stern. “Either give me the camera, or delete the photo!”

Beneath her casual exterior, Zeyu had a significant “idol burden”—she couldn’t stand the thought of an unpolished, candid “ugly” photo of herself existing in the world.

“These are my precious memories,” Luosu teased, her smile deepening. “I’m not giving them up.” She raised the camera again. “Sister, smile for me~”

Click. Luosu beamed with triumph. “Look, another precious memory.”

This was a blatant provocation. Zeyu, feeling the seawater swirling around her calves, hatched a plan. “Oh, you think you’re so bold, don’t you?”

She scooped up a handful of water and splashed it at Luosu. “Take that!”

“Ah!” The cold seawater splashed across Luosu’s chest, making her shriek. She turned to protect the camera, retreating as Zeyu launched a fierce offensive. Before long, Luosu was soaked.

The two went back and forth until Zeyu finally ran out of energy. She collapsed into the shallow water, sitting on the sand as the waves washed over her. “I’m done, I’m done… I’m going to die of exhaustion.”

Luosu stood over her, watching as Zeyu sat there with her wet curls plastered to her head. She looked adorable. But as Luosu looked down at Zeyu’s pale arms extending from the red sleeves, she saw the clusters of old scars. Her gaze darkened.

Luosu’s smile faded. “Sister…” she called out softly.

Zeyu squinted up at her. Against the brilliant blue sky and the autumn sun, Luosu stood between the sea and the heavens, the wind whipping her hair and the waves lapping at her legs. Water droplets clung to her skin like pearls.

It was a breathtaking sight. Luosu tucked a wet strand of hair behind her ear and looked out toward the deep blue horizon. “Let’s go see the ‘underwater starry sky’ tomorrow.”

She said it casually, but Zeyu’s eyes widened. “What?”

As if answering the unasked question, Luosu turned back to her, her black eyes filled with determination. “Let’s go see the underwater stars. And not just that—volcanic rivers, glacial lakes, mountain storms… every place in this world called a ‘miracle,’ let’s see them all together.”

The wind picked up, blowing Luosu’s hair across her face. In that moment, Zeyu felt her heart scatter like dandelion seeds in the breeze. A tremor ran through her chest—small and weak, yet profoundly deep.

She suppressed the feeling and asked, “Why?”

Luosu thought for a long time before answering. “Because I want your heart to become more vast.”

If your heart is vast enough to hold the whole world, then the pain will become insignificant.

Zeyu lowered her eyes and let out a helpless sigh. “You really are something…”

Luosu arched an eyebrow proudly. “And what am I?”

Zeyu looked at her radiant smile. In that heartbeat, she felt like a fish in a pond, looking up during its brief life to see a crane taking flight. Luosu was so elegant, so composed, so full of life—the polar opposite of the person Zeyu saw in herself. And yet, she was so incredibly kind.

“Nothing,” Zeyu whispered. She tucked her emotions away and forced a smile. “Then let’s go see it.”

Gentle people are the most dangerous. But having been burned once before, you already decided not to make the same mistake again… didn’t you?