"Adeline, I'm leaving now."

"Mhm, goodbye Linda, stay safe."

The rain was falling harder and harder. The world outside was shrouded in mist, completely obscuring the view.

In such a storm, it was impossible to run more than ten kilometers without an umbrella.

Felyn didn't want to die so young.

He didn't even have a maid yet!

The joys and sorrows of human beings are not shared. Viloti and Adeline were quite happy at this moment.

A heavy rain just happened to fall, and the person they liked didn't have an umbrella.

For the two young ladies, this was practically a free-point question.

Either pretend they also didn't bring an umbrella and stay with the person they like until the rain stops.

Or take out an umbrella and squeeze into a small space with the person they like.

No matter which option they chose, it was a win.

A heaven-sent opportunity!

But if both options were chosen at the same time, it would be a bit awkward.

"Felyn, I didn't bring an umbrella either. I don't know when this rain will stop." Adeline looked at the heavy rain outside the window, thinking to herself, please don't stop.

"If it keeps raining like this, I don't think either of us can leave."

Spending the night in the classroom with just Felyn sounded wonderful.

"Felyn, I brought an umbrella. Let's go first."

Viloti pulled a purple floral umbrella from her school bag and tugged on Felyn's sleeve, wanting to leave.

Viloti had used a little trick, specifically waiting for Adeline to admit she didn't have an umbrella first before taking hers out.

This way, Felyn could only share an umbrella with Viloti.

In front of Viloti, Adeline was a complete novice; she still had much to learn.

"Hey! Viloti!" Adeline glared at Viloti. The heaven-sent opportunity had been artificially ruined by her, which made Adeline very annoyed.

Moreover, Viloti had just said, "Let's go first," completely disregarding Adeline.

"Adeline, you can call for someone to pick you up."

Viloti pointed out the fact that a young lady like Adeline would never be trapped in a classroom just because of a mere umbrella.

"But the rain is too heavy, my family didn't come."

"My family is here. I can drop Felyn off and then come back to pick you up."

In short, she just wouldn't let Adeline and Felyn be together.

A bolt of lightning split the night sky. Thunder was coming.

"Well then, Adeline, we'll be leaving first," Felyn, who had been silent for a long time, said to Adeline.

"Felyn, how could you too..." Adeline stood up, the chair letting out a screech as it fell backward.

She hurriedly took two steps forward, reaching out to grab Felyn, but her hand ultimately froze in mid-air.

"I... I understand."

There had to be a limit to pursuing someone. If she clung to Felyn constantly, he would definitely come to hate her.

It's okay, Adeline.

It's just that Felyn doesn't like me tonight.

Tomorrow, or the day after, or next month, when Felyn doesn't dislike me as much, I can still be with him.

Just then, a deafening clap of thunder suddenly rang out, as if a god was beating a giant war drum.

By the time Felyn reacted, Adeline's hands were already wrapped tightly around his arm.

Her cheek was pressed against Felyn's shoulder, her rose-tea colored hair falling in disarray.

Her eyelashes trembled nonstop, and her whole body was tense.

This young lady wasn't acting; she was genuinely afraid of thunder.

Having spent so much time with Adeline, Felyn naturally knew that she was very scared right now.

"S-sorry, Felyn... I'm just a little scared..." Adeline's voice was very small.

If this had happened during the contract period, Felyn would usually pat Adeline's back, coaxing her while angrily scolding the heavens for being so mean as to scare her with thunder.

But tonight, Adeline could not enjoy Felyn's service.

"It's okay."

Felyn standing still without moving was the biggest concession he could make.

After ten minutes passed, the frequency of the thunder decreased, and eventually, it was no longer heard.

Adeline let out a long sigh of relief in her heart.

Only now did she have the mind to notice how close she and Felyn were.

So close that it created the illusion that she had returned to the warmth of the past.

Viloti, who had been standing beside Felyn with a cold face all this time, noticed that Adeline was no longer so scared and said, "Adeline, you can hold onto my shoulder."

"I don't want to!"

"Why? Felyn and I are both human."

"It's completely different! Can't I just hold onto Felyn?"

Seeing Adeline and Viloti bickering again, Felyn knew Adeline was no longer afraid.

He freed himself from Adeline's embrace and shook his somewhat numb arm.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier.

He had agreed to Viloti's proposal just now only because he didn't want to stay with Adeline.

As for how to get back after leaving the school, Felyn was still worried.

He didn't want Viloti to take him home.

And there were definitely no buses back to the Mist District now.

Even if he took a private car, he would first have to go to the private car stop before he could get on.

There was no sigil in this world that could summon a car.

It wouldn't be impossible to ask Viloti to borrow an umbrella.

But in such a storm, having an umbrella was the same as not having one, not to mention Felyn would have to walk more than ten kilometers.

Just as Felyn was worrying, his communication sigil vibrated.

It was a message from Daiyi.

[I saw you left your umbrella at home. Bernice and I happen to be eating near your school. Should we come pick you up?]

[Won't it be a bother?]

[Isn't it a girlfriend's duty to be a bother? I'll be there in about an hour or so.]

[Aren't you eating nearby? Why will it take over an hour?]

[My heart is near you.]

After exchanging a few sarcastic remarks with Daiyi, Felyn put the sigil back in his pocket.

She and Bernice would come to pick him up by car.

"You two can go back first. Someone will come to pick me up later," Felyn said, sitting back down in his seat.

"Who?"

"My... sister. You've met her."

Felyn really wanted to say friend or relative, not wanting Viloti and Adeline to know too much about Daiyi.

But Felyn had no friends, and not a single relative!

"Miss Daiyi?"

"Mhm."

Adeline sat back down in her seat. "It just so happens I still have some work to finish. I'll wait with you."

"Then I'll wait too." Viloti also sat back down.

The empty classroom felt very crowded with the three of them.

Felyn was sandwiched between the two of them, unable to move.

"Felyn, do you want a late-night snack? The pudding I bought for you is still well-preserved. Just let me know if you want to eat it."

"Adeline, I want to eat it. Give it to me," Viloti said, holding out a small hand with a deadpan expression.

"I bought it for Felyn. If you want to eat it, go buy it yourself!"

"Hmph." Viloti crossed her arms over her chest and let out a soft snort.

Felyn propped his face up with both hands, a pained expression on his face.

He couldn't figure out which step he had taken wrong to have ended up in this situation.

After thinking it over and over, he felt that his biggest problem was meeting these people.

(End of Chapter)