Missed You While Waiting in the Rain - Chapter 9

I agreed to go to the music festival with Jiang Xingran.

However, the night before our departure, I suddenly received a call from an unfamiliar number.

When I answered, a familiar, slightly intoxicated voice came through, and I realized it was Han Ze.

Since our breakup, I had blocked all his contact information, so he probably couldn’t reach me and had resorted to using another number.

“Xia Min, can you come down to see me?”

I refused without hesitation, “It’s late, and you’ve been drinking. Go home early.”

Han Ze chuckled bitterly and then said, “I have something to tell you about Jiang Xingran.”

“…”

I have to admit, his words hit my weak spot.

I changed out of my pajamas and went downstairs.

The midsummer night remained sultry, the air thick with humidity, and Han Ze stood a few steps away, his scorching gaze fixed on me, filled with longing and a certain desperate pain.

Then he took a small box out of his pocket and opened it in front of me.

When I heard her sing “So life, it shines like a song” at that moment, all the countless tiny scars from the past seemed to heal with the rhythm and beats.

I was silent for a moment, then said calmly, “It was the path you chose all along.”

Han Ze murmured, “Yes, I’m a mess, immature, selfish, arrogant, and cowardly, but I really liked you, Xia Min. I just… felt too insecure.”

I was tired of listening to his confessions and interrupted directly, “What is it about Jiang Xingran?”

He froze in place, and after a long pause, he spoke again, his voice almost choked, “You really don’t care about my feelings at all, do you?”

I looked at him calmly, “Yes.”

Han Ze’s eyes reddened, he opened his mouth, and finally said, “I owe you an apology, and Jiang Xingran too.”

“Xia Min, the first time we met, the person who asked the junior sister to bring you a sanitary napkin wasn’t me, it was him. It was just that when you looked over, he happened to be on a call, so you saw me.”

He dropped this bombshell and didn’t say another word, turning around and slowly walking away.

I stood there, momentarily unable to process what had just happened.

Suddenly, I understood why Jiang Xingran had that expression when I mentioned it.

The next day at the music festival, I was internally debating whether to bring it up, and while I was distracted, Jiang Xingran suddenly grabbed my wrist and gestured toward the stage, “Fulushou!”

The weather that day was unbelievably clear, the scorching sun pouring down without restraint, shining on my waving arms.

When I heard her sing “So life, it shines like a song” at that moment, all the countless tiny scars from the past seemed to heal with the rhythm and beats.

I suddenly understood the purpose of Jiang Xingran sharing it with me that night.

Move forward.

Both people and time will always move forward.

And at this moment, I hope my path ahead includes him.

At dusk, after Fulushou’s performance ended, Jiang Xingran and I squeezed out of the front row crowd to the corner of the grass for some air.

I hesitated until now, finally unable to resist asking, “Two years ago at the school sports meeting…”

Before I could finish, Jiang Xingran, walking ahead of me, suddenly turned around, and before I could react, he bent down, grasped my chin, and kissed me forcefully.

The kiss didn’t last long, but my face felt like it was about to catch fire.

“Sorry for offending you.”

Jiang Xingran said in a hoarse voice, “But I don’t regret it. Two years ago, I hesitated and almost lost you, and I’ve regretted it ever since.”

I pressed my forehead against his and asked softly, “So Han Ze came to me because you told him, right?”

“Yes, not only did I tell him, but we also fought again.”

His breath was slightly rapid, calming down after a moment, “Be with me, Xia Min. I’ll make up for the security you lacked before.”

By this time, the sky had silently transitioned from dusk to night, and on the distant stage behind us, Orange Ocean was performing, singing “Summer Stone.”

“I put my summer in your hand.”

I place my summer in your palm.

This summer belongs to me and Jiang Xingran.

I closed my eyes and softly replied, “Okay.”