Brother! This is the adoption certificate. I don't want your sister-in-law!

Su Xiao handed over the completed application form, which Zhang Fan took, flipped through, and asked a few more questions.

Su Xiao didn't hide anything and roughly described the scale of Quan Quan in Jingcheng: eleven branches, plus the community store near the vegetable market, with a stable monthly revenue of six figures.

He deliberately avoided mentioning Shenyuan Group's exclusive channels, as well as its layout plans in Shanghai.

But these things alone were enough to make Zhang Fan restless.

Zhang Fan sprang up from his chair, walked around the desk, grabbed Su Xiao's hand, shook it hard twice, and switched his expression from "indifferent" to "wish we'd met sooner."

"Su Xiao, why didn't you say so sooner! Our Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department needs someone with practical experience like you the most. Don't worry about the shop; I'll report it to the school right away. Go back and refine the business plan, and submit it to me by next Monday. The rent will be the school's minimum standard; it's not expensive, and you can definitely afford it."

Su Xiao's arm ached from being shaken so much, and she thought to herself that this man's mood changed faster than turning the pages of a book.

But he still smiled and thanked her repeatedly.

Zhang Fan escorted him all the way to the office door, patted him on the shoulder, and told him to come to him if he had any difficulties in the future.

Su Xiao nodded in agreement, and by the time she walked out of the administration building, it was already dark.

He wandered off to the cafeteria alone.

There weren't many people around at that time. He ordered braised pork and stir-fried vegetables, and found a seat by the window.

I had just taken a couple of bites of my food when I suddenly heard a loud pattering sound outside the window, followed by a downpour of raindrops, dense and heavy.

Su Xiao looked up at the sky and cursed inwardly because he hadn't brought an umbrella.

He took out his phone, scrolled to group 409, and prepared to send a message asking someone to send him a game.

I had only typed half a word when someone gently patted my shoulder from behind.

He turned around and saw that it was Tang Qiyuan, the branch secretary of the Communist Youth League, standing behind him, holding a long black umbrella and smiling.

Su Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Secretary of the Youth League Committee, what a coincidence, you're here for dinner too."

He breathed a sigh of relief; this time he was safe, and he would have an umbrella to get back to his dorm later.

Tang Qiyuan said, "It's quite a coincidence."

Su Xiao shamelessly replied, "Then let's go together, it's raining outside."

Tang Qiyuan pulled his hand back and put the umbrella away.

He scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Um, Su Xiao, this umbrella isn't for you."

Su Xiao's smile froze for a moment.

Tang Qiyuan pushed the umbrella forward and lowered his voice: "Could you take this umbrella to Li Qi for me? Just say it's from me."

Su Xiao followed his gaze and saw a tall figure standing at the entrance of the cafeteria.

Li Qi stood with her back to them, staring motionlessly at the rain outside the door.

Su Xiao turned around, her face filled with shock: "You want me to bring you an umbrella?"

Tang Qiyuan nodded, his face slightly flushed. "Brother, I'm sorry. I'll treat you to a meal next time. Last time I asked for her contact information, but she didn't give it to me. I was afraid it would be too presumptuous of me to deliver the umbrella myself this time. But you're different. You're the only one in the whole class who's close to Li Qi. If you deliver it, she'll definitely accept it."

Su Xiao cursed inwardly, "You sure know how to find people."

Seeing Tang Qiyuan's nervous yet expectant expression, he still reached out and took the umbrella from him: "Okay, okay, I'll help you."

Tang Qiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, thanked him repeatedly, and patted him on the shoulder: "I'll definitely treat you to a meal next time."

He left after saying that.

Su Xiao looked down at the umbrella in her hand.

It has a long black handle and a large canopy; it looks brand new.

He looked up again at the figure waiting for the rain to stop at the door, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

He walked over slowly, carrying his umbrella, and stood next to Li Qi without speaking immediately.

At this moment, Li Qi was staring blankly at the rain outside.

Wu Mengmeng had gone back to her dorm to take a shower earlier, but she was a step too late and got stuck at the door by the rain.

She was a little annoyed, thinking that if the rain didn't stop, she would have to send a message to Wu Mengmeng to bring her an umbrella.

She stared at the rain and couldn't help but mutter something under her breath.

"This damn weather."

"Cough cough." A coughing sound suddenly came from the side.

Li Qi was startled and turned her head sharply.

Su Xiao stood next to her, holding the long-handled black umbrella, which was not yet open.

She hadn't had time to hide her startled expression, and it was all seen by Su Xiao.

Su Xiao glanced at her, somewhat surprised.

This usually cold and aloof class monitor has a rather sharp tongue.

"The rain is quite heavy." Su Xiao pretended not to hear anything.

Li Qi's face flushed slightly. She quickly turned her head away, pretending to look at the rain, her voice a little stiff: "Yes...yes."

Su Xiao found her expression amusing.

He teased her deliberately, "You don't seem to really like rainy days?"

Li Qi froze for a moment, then quickly said, "No, I quite like rainy days."

"Oh, okay, then take your time and enjoy it." Su Xiao smiled, snapped open her umbrella, and walked straight into the rain.

Li Qi stood there, stunned.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Rainwater splashed at her feet, cold and wet.

Su Xiao took two steps with the umbrella in hand, then suddenly stopped and looked back at her.

The raindrops pattered against the umbrella.

His voice came through the rain, tinged with amusement: "Just kidding. Are you coming or not? I'll take you back to the girls' dormitory."

Li Qi blinked, hesitated for two seconds, then raised her hand to shield her head and jogged under his umbrella.

The umbrella was large enough for two people to walk side by side, but she still kept a half-fist distance between them.

She lowered her head and whispered, "Thank you."

Su Xiao shrugged: "It's okay, it was just something I did. Anyway, this umbrella isn't mine."

Li Qi slowed her pace, "What do you mean?"

Su Xiao said, "This umbrella was given to me by Tang Qiyuan. He asked me to give it to you. He said he was afraid you wouldn't accept it if he gave it to you himself."

Li Qi's face darkened.

Su Xiao quickly added, "I know you're in a difficult position, so I offered to hold the umbrella for you. You don't owe him a favor."

Li Qi's expression softened.

Before she could say anything, Su Xiao added with a smile, "But now you owe me a favor."

Li Qi immediately tensed up again and turned to look at him.

Su Xiao looked at her tense profile and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Just kidding, let's go."

Li Qi breathed a sigh of relief and secretly glared at him.

She suddenly realized that this boy wasn't just a glib-tongued scoundrel as she had previously thought.

The two walked slowly along the school path lined with sycamore trees.

The rain pattered on the umbrella, like someone beating a small drum, and the air was filled with the smell of rainwater and mud.

Li Qi was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke up: "How's things going with your shop?"

Su Xiao was somewhat surprised and turned her head to look at her.

Her gaze was fixed on the rain in front of her, her profile quiet.

Su Xiao said, "It's approved. The application has been submitted, and we're waiting for the school's approval."

Li Qi nodded: "That's good. What are you planning to do?"

Su Xiao said, "It's still secondhand recycling. We have channels in Jingcheng and a market in Shanghai. If Quan Quan can be established, you can come and help out."

Li Qi thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

She didn't say much, but that "okay" made Su Xiao feel that she seemed to have gained something since the beginning of the semester.

When they arrived at the girls' dormitory, the two saw Wu Mengmeng running towards them with a floral umbrella in the distance.

She didn't see Su Xiao, only Li Qi, and ran while calling out, "Xiao Qi, I was just about to look for you."

When she ran up to him, she realized there was another person standing under the umbrella.

Wu Mengmeng was stunned for a moment, then laughed and pointed at Su Xiao with her finger: "Consider it a good deed you did."

Li Qi quickly ran to Wu Mengmeng's umbrella and waved to Su Xiao.

Su Xiao waved her hand, indicating that she was welcome.

Wu Mengmeng asked him, "Is everything settled at the shop?"

Su Xiao shrugged: "With me in charge, is there anything I can't handle?"

After saying that, he turned and walked into the rain, and Wu Mengmeng called out behind him, "Be careful on the way."

He didn't turn around, but just waved to them with his back turned.