Missed You While Waiting in the Rain - Chapter 7

For a long time afterward, I didn’t see Han Ze again.

The school is quite large, with the dormitories for undergraduates and graduate students far apart. Unless one deliberately creates encounters, it’s unlikely to meet frequently.

Because of this, when I ran into Jiang Xingran downstairs for the twelfth time in half a month and heard him say, “What a coincidence, Xia Min. Want to go to the cafeteria together?” I couldn’t pretend it was just a coincidence anymore.

“Jiang Xingran.” I called out to him. As he turned to look at me, I carefully said, “I’ve been busy preparing my thesis lately, and with everything that happened before… In short, I’m not looking to date right now.”

“I understand.”

He nodded, not showing any disappointment. Instead, he blinked, revealing a bit of the mischievousness unique to young boys, “But it’s only temporary, not forever, right?”

He usually acts so mature and composed that it’s only at times like these that I remember he’s actually three and a half years younger than me, just a nineteen-year-old boy.

Facing him like this, I really couldn’t get angry, so I continued to persuade him, “I’m afraid of delaying you.”

“Waiting for someone you like to open up isn’t a waste of time.”

He smiled slightly, his eyes filled with tiny stars, “Besides, I’ve already waited so long before, a little more time won’t matter.”

From that day on, he stopped creating coincidences and encounters, instead openly waiting for me downstairs.

Going to the cafeteria together, going to the library together, sending me to the experimental building before heading back to class.

Jiang Xingran was like a silent stream, slowly invading my life in a gentle, unobtrusive way.

By the time I realized it, I found that apart from resting and attending classes and experiments, I spent almost all my remaining time with him.

That afternoon, as I came out of the experimental building, I immediately saw Jiang Xingran across the way.

Just as I was about to greet him, two people suddenly appeared from the side, grabbing me and calling out, “Xia Min!”

My eyes narrowed, and when I saw who these two people were, my mood suddenly tensed.

“What are you doing here?”

The middle-aged woman in front of me shared similar features with me. Officially, they were my uncle and aunt.

But in reality…

“Xia Min, don’t be ungrateful. If it weren’t for me and your dad funding your education, how would you have the chance to get into such a good school?”

She glanced around, her gaze landing on me with a hint of greed.

“After your grandpa passed away, did he leave the house in the old village to you?”

“I don’t know.”

I replied impatiently and turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm and started shouting:

“What are you doing? This is the Xia Family’s house and land. Your brother is the only male in the family, it’s meant for him! You’re just a girl, do you intend to keep it for yourself?”

Her voice was naturally loud, and now she deliberately raised it, making it even more resonant.

Passing students were curiously looking over.

Before I could react, Jiang Xingran had already walked over quickly, grabbing her wrist and coldly reprimanding, “Let go.”

He was already tall, with sharp features, and now with a stern face, he appeared particularly imposing.

My mom instinctively let go of my hand, then became somewhat indignant, “Who are you?”

Jiang Xingran glanced at me, “I’m Xia Min’s junior brother.”

My dad chimed in, “Young man, this is a family matter, it shouldn’t concern you, right?”

“Temporarily it doesn’t, but I’m pursuing Xia Min, so it might concern me in the future.”

Jiang Xingran lightly curled his lips, though his eyes showed no humor:

“Since it’s a family matter, discussing it on the roadside isn’t appropriate. How about uncle and aunt follow us to the school leader’s office for a sit-down chat?”

However, the household registration clearly states that my parents are not them, but others.

Thus, the school leaders politely escorted them out and then turned to advise me:

“Xia Min, this is ultimately a family matter, and technically, the school shouldn’t interfere.”

“But you should try to handle it, otherwise it could negatively impact your reputation, don’t you think?”

I was silent for a moment, then responded softly.

Jiang Xingran seemed to sense my low spirits, his hand hanging by his side reached over and gently held mine.

I lowered my eyes and ultimately didn’t pull away.

When we went out, those two were already gone.

But I knew very well, given their nature, they wouldn’t give up so easily.

After all, rumors say that the village in the old hometown is set to be demolished in the next few years.

When I was five, my brother was born. To register him, my parents argued at home for three days, eventually sending me to grandpa’s house, with my registration falling under my aunt who married far away.

Since then, whenever I saw them, I could only call them uncle and aunt.

During school, I was fostered with them for a while.

My mom was very vigilant. Whenever I approached my brother’s stroller, she would intercept me, casually handing me a snack to coax me away from him.

At first, I didn’t understand why, until one night I overheard her talking to my dad:

“How can we not be careful? Look at her eyes, lifeless, she surely doesn’t like Xiao Bao. There have been similar news stories before…”

I never dared to hope, thinking we were close blood relatives, surely they would have some affection for me.

Until after my college entrance exams, grandpa went to ask them for tuition fees, and after a long discussion, my mom made the final decision:

“Nowadays, the country encourages student loans, and the family isn’t wealthy. She’s an adult now, she should be independent.”

These matters, I didn’t want to delve into deeply, glossing over them in a few words, but Jiang Xingran’s expression was very serious.

“Xia Min,” he said, “From now on, I’ll walk with you every day. Don’t be afraid, next time they come looking for you, I’ll definitely be by your side.”