Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Inside the Car on a Rainy Night

As soon as the car pulled out of the banquet hall parking lot, the scattered raindrops suddenly intensified. Large, bean-sized droplets pelted the car windows with a rapid "pitter-patter," like countless tiny needles tapping against the glass. Lu Chengyu immediately slowed down, switched on the hazard lights, and gripped the steering wheel steadily. The tires rolled over the waterlogged road, splashing up two shallow sprays of water.Su Wan instinctively tightened her grip on the suit jacket draped over her shoulders. The cedar scent of Lu Chengyu's cologne mingled with the crisp freshness of rain, lingering relentlessly at her nostrils. She stared at the blurred neon lights outside—once-bright street lamps blurred into warm yellow halos by the rain curtain, and shop signs flickered with double images in the downpour, as if the entire city was wrapped in a soft layer of mist."The rain came so suddenly," Su Wan sighed softly, her fingers unconsciously brushing the buttons of the jacket. "The weather forecast said it would just be a light drizzle. I didn't expect it to get this heavy."Lu Chengyu's gaze drifted from the road ahead to her. Noticing her shoulders huddled slightly, he reached out to adjust the air conditioner. "Cold? I'll turn up the temperature by two degrees." Warm air gently flowed from the vents, wrapping around Su Wan's arms and chasing away the chill brought by the rain. He then pulled a cream-colored cashmere blanket from the glove compartment and handed it to her. "Wrap this around you. My mom stuffed it in the car last time—it's very warm."Su Wan took the blanket, her fingers brushing the soft cashmere, and a warmth spread through her heart. As she folded the blanket, she noticed small plum blossom patterns embroidered on the corner, stitched with delicate, intricate needlework—clearly handmade. "Your mom is so skilled with her hands," she couldn't help but praise."She loves doing these handiworks," Lu Chengyu smiled, his eyes softening. "Last time I went home, she said she wanted to knit me a sweater. But she forgot the stitches halfway through and had the housekeeper finish it for her."Su Wan burst out laughing, imagining the serious Mr. Lu wearing a sweater knit by his mother—he suddenly seemed much more approachable and lively. Chopin's Nocturne played softly in the car, its gentle melody blending with the sound of rain, creating an unusually serene atmosphere. They chatted casually, drifting from trivial family matters to funny stories from their school days. Su Wan gradually forgot about the downpour outside, feeling only an overwhelming sense of peace in the moment.After driving for another ten minutes, the rain showed no signs of letting up, and visibility ahead grew increasingly blurred. Lu Chengyu checked the navigation. "There's a service area up ahead. Let's pull over to wait for the rain to lighten—it's too dangerous to keep driving like this."The service area parking lot was spacious, with only a few scattered cars parked in the corners. Lu Chengyu found a spot near the convenience store, turned off the engine, and the car fell silent except for the rain and the still-playing piano music. Su Wan leaned back in her seat, wrapped in the blanket, staring blankly at the rain curtain outside. Suddenly, she remembered the moonlight that night at Yunqi Lake, and the warmth of Lu Chengyu's embrace as he carried her ashore."Actually, that night at Yunqi Lake, I didn't just happen to see you fall into the pool," Lu Chengyu's voice suddenly broke the silence. His tone was lower than usual, with a hint of barely detectable nervousness, and his fingers unconsciously traced the leather texture of the steering wheel.Su Wan jolted back to her senses, nearly dropping the blanket. "W-What did you say?"Lu Chengyu turned to her. The streetlamp light filtered through the car window, casting a soft glow on his face—she could clearly see the faint pink on the tips of his ears. "I was supposed to go to Hangzhou that day to inspect a project, but when I found out your team was having a retreat at Yunqi Lake, I told my assistant to postpone it for a day." He paused, as if organizing his words. "I just... wanted to see more of you. Every night, I'd walk around the building where you were staying twice. Seeing the light on in your room made me feel at ease."Su Wan's heart suddenly raced, like a deer thudding wildly in her chest. She remembered the splash when Lu Chengyu jumped into the water that night, and the panic in his voice as he carried her ashore. "So when you heard me calling for help...""I was sitting on a bench downstairs when I suddenly heard your voice. My mind went blank," Lu Chengyu's eyes were filled with lingering fear. "I ran to the pool and saw you struggling in the water. I jumped in without even taking off my jacket. All I could think was 'don't let anything happen to her'—I was terrified you might get hurt."His words washed over Su Wan's heart like warm water, making her eyes grow slightly moist. She had always thought he was just "passing by," but he had quietly done so much for her. She opened her mouth to say something, but a loud clap of thunder boomed outside, making her instinctively lean closer to Lu Chengyu. Her hand accidentally brushed against his arm.Both froze. Su Wan's cheeks instantly burned like fire. She tried to pull her hand back, but Lu Chengyu gently pressed it down. His palm was broad and warm, the heat seeping through her thin shirt, making her heart race even faster."Don't be afraid—it's just thunder," Lu Chengyu's voice was soft, as if comforting a child. "It'll pass soon." He didn't let go of her hand, but gently patted the back of it—his touch gentle yet restrained.Su Wan stole a glance at him. The streetlamp light caught his eyelashes, casting faint shadows. His gaze was fixed on her, filled with a tenderness she had never seen before—like the starry sky at midnight, drawing her in irresistibly. The car was quiet, filled only with the sound of rain, thunder, and their increasingly rapid breathing. An ambiguous atmosphere spread like mist, wrapping around them both.After a moment, Lu Chengyu released her hand. "Wait for me. I'll go to the convenience store to buy some hot drinks." He opened the umbrella and stepped into the rain, the black canopy quickly soaking up the water. Su Wan watched his retreating figure, the warmth of his palm still lingering on her fingers, her heart feeling full to the brim.A few minutes later, Lu Chengyu returned, holding two cups of hot ginger tea and a warm roasted sweet potato tucked in his arm. "I saw they had roasted sweet potatoes at the store. I thought you might like one," he handed her a cup of ginger tea. "Drink it while it's hot to ward off the cold. The sweet potato's still warm—hold it to warm your hands first."Su Wan took the ginger tea, the warm cup pressing against her palm, the heat spreading from her fingertips to her heart. She took a sip, the faint spiciness of ginger blending with sweetness spreading across her taste buds, chasing away the last trace of chill. "Thank you, Mr. Lu," she whispered, her voice carrying an unconsciously dependent tone.Lu Chengyu watched her sipping the ginger tea, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Still being so polite with me?" He peeled the roasted sweet potato, revealing the golden flesh steaming with heat, its sweet aroma instantly filling the car. "Do you want a bite? It's actually really good."Su Wan took a bite—the sweet potato was soft, glutinous, and more delicious than any she had ever tasted. They shared the sweet potato and finished their ginger tea, the chill completely gone from their bodies. Outside, the rain gradually lightened, leaving only a fine drizzle falling.Lu Chengyu restarted the car and continued on their way. This time, he didn't drive too fast, and the car glided smoothly through the night. As they approached Su Wan's neighborhood, he slowly pulled over but didn't unbuckle his seatbelt. Instead, he turned to look at her.The streetlamp light filtered through the window, making his gaze seem unusually sincere. "Su Wan," he said, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness and anticipation. "I've been really happy getting to know you these past few weeks. I don't want to be just your work partner, or only see you during project meetings. From now on... can you give me more chances to be part of your life? Like going to that old-fashioned wonton shop you mentioned, or visiting that light installation exhibition you talked about last week."Su Wan looked into his eyes, and she could clearly see her own reflection in them. She remembered all the little moments from these past weeks—how he remembered she didn't eat coriander and always told the waiter to leave it out; how he knew she loved succulents and specially chose an apartment with a south-facing balcony for her; how he silently came to her rescue at the gala, and bought her hot ginger tea and roasted sweet potatoes on this rainy night. These details were like stars, gradually converging into a galaxy in her heart.She bit her lower lip, then nodded gently, her voice soft but firm: "Yes."Lu Chengyu's eyes suddenly lit up, like lanterns being illuminated, filled with surprise and joy. "Then... tomorrow morning, I'll wait for you at the breakfast shop outside your neighborhood? I remember you like their soybean milk and fried dough sticks.""Yes," Su Wan nodded again, her cheeks still burning.As she opened the car door to get out, Lu Chengyu suddenly called out: "Su Wan." She turned back, and he held out a black umbrella. "The rain hasn't stopped completely. Take this. I'll come pick it up tomorrow morning."Su Wan took the umbrella and walked into the neighborhood. She glanced back—Lu Chengyu was still sitting in the car, waving at her through the drizzle. She waved back with a smile, then turned and walked into the building.Back home, Su Wan leaned against the door, still clutching the umbrella that carried the scent of cedar. She thought of the warm air and ginger tea in the car, of Lu Chengyu's sincere gaze and gentle smile, and her heart continued to race. So this was what it felt like to be cherished, to be taken seriously—it was wonderful.The rain continued to drizzle outside. Su Wan walked to the window and watched as Lu Chengyu's car slowly drove away. She knew that from this rainy night onward, the defense mechanism in her heart had been completely melted by his gentle affection.