I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

"Hmm... What a strange person, never mind~"

Because she suddenly remembered the painter she brought today. She hadn't had a good conversation with her since they met in the evening. Her first impression was just that she was very beautiful.

It’s better to have a good chat with her.

Thinking this, she began to walk towards the painter named "Jiuqidie" because they had not yet told each other their names.

"Xiao Xing~ What do you think of what I said?"

"Well...it's good, although I don't know much about writing." She answered a little embarrassedly.

"It's okay. As long as you have confidence in everything you do, everything will be fine." She noticed that there was an empty seat next to Xiaoqing, so she sat down.

"Wait... there's someone here..." Xiao Xing looked a little worried, so he reminded her.

"Oh, really... It's okay. I'll just stand up when that person comes back." She smiled and didn't care. "By the way, how was your chat with my fans?"

"Ah...it's okay. Actually, we are classmates in the same school...I just didn't expect to meet here."

Moreover, he was the "ideal counselor" that he had always fantasized about. Now that the mystery has been solved... he realized that he seemed to have had too high expectations of that person.

"Oh, isn't that fate?"

"Well... If you insist on saying it's fate, I can't refute it." Speaking of this topic, she felt inexplicably embarrassed... She didn't know if it was because she had left the Club Cooperation Club in a hurry.

"Although we haven't met each other very often, he is indeed a good guy."

"Yeah..."

Although I really don't think there is anything wrong with him...I just don't dare to get too close to him for some reason.

"Of course, my vision can't be wrong." She assured confidently.

“Ah…Is that so?”

In fact, I was shocked when we met for the first time. The amazing author turned out to be a cute-looking girl, but shorter than me... and seemed to come from a well-off family.

"Ah."

"So, when are you going to tell him that you're the author of his favorite book?"

Because Xiao Xing always felt that it was not good for Aaliyah to hide the secret from him.

"Don't worry, it's still early~"

However, Aaliyah answered her with a hint of meaning, as if she had her own thoughts.

Chapter 8: Knowing. Rain. Time

Not knowing how to continue the conversation, I just stared at her face...and she looked at me quietly just like me.

It felt like time had stopped... It was incredible because at that moment I had no time to think about anything.

"Huh... What are you doing all of a sudden? You're so serious all of a sudden. It doesn't seem like your usual self."

After she realized what was happening, she winked at me.

"Well... maybe I have too many thoughts."

"Then don't think too much. I remember that you, Sheji, are not good at thinking, right?"

Even though I know it's a joke, I still feel a little sad when I say this...

"Although it is true..."

Forget it, how can I show such a sad face in front of Xiaoye?

"But it's better not to expose me in person, right?"

Show up, my smile that has no acting skills at all.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

After returning to the hall, the teachers who were supposed to give speeches had already spoken, and then everyone began to chat and walk around casually. Of course... the topics were basically about the direction of the work and the needs of readers.

Although I was asked by some curious guys, when I answered that I was not a writer, they just laughed and left... Well, it was a writers' exchange meeting after all.

And just as Xiaoye said before, there were indeed quite a few people gathered at Aaliyah's place, and it seemed that they were all discussing creation... Well, actually I wanted to go back now, but when I thought about the fact that I hadn't had time to eat dinner yet, I shamelessly ignored those dedicated people who were so busy discussing that they didn't even eat.

Well, after all, I am just an ordinary person now. If I force myself to discuss these things with them, I might be exposed. Besides, I don’t have anything to communicate with those writers.

In my opinion, my so-called achievements were just accidental... I didn't put in any effort. Those people, on the other hand, were striving for their passions or dreams, with their own ideas and goals. I'm not talking about whether I'm inherently incompatible with them, but simply having a different mindset.

"Is it a good thing or a bad thing..."

Well, I don't understand.

But I realized another thing.

At a gathering where the attendees are strangers to each other and there are no important people present, and where there is no need to be so particular, the thicker-skinned people tend to eat better... Yes, that's me.

The image of the young author in "Literary Gathering" who was concentrating on eating appeared in my mind, because I feel that my current state is similar to his... Anyway, no one around me knows me.

......................

"Yo, Sheji, it's time to go."

Just as I was about to put my hands together and silently say "thank you for the hospitality" to the event organizer, who I didn't know exactly who it was, and the chef who had been busy for a long time, Li Moya's words suddenly came from behind me.

"Ah...is it over already?"

As I said this, I wanted to take out my phone to check the time.

"No...because it looks like it's going to rain, so those of us who live far away should leave early."

"Eh? Is that so?"

I didn't notice at all...the weather or anything like that.

In response to my question, Jiumuting who was standing next to her nodded and indicated that it was indeed the case.

"Well... there's nothing we can do about it..."

Anyway, I have wanted to go back for a long time, and now I feel good that I have a legitimate reason.

But I didn't pay much attention to the weather... However, it's almost June now, so it's normal for the precipitation to increase.

"Then I'll go notify someone I know and be back soon." As I said that, I started looking for Xiaoye.

"Hurry up, we'll be waiting for you at the door."

...............

"Oh...but I have things to do, so I won't be leaving until a little later. But don't worry, you can just take a taxi when the time comes. There are taxi apps now, so it's very convenient."

I know that... but as long as I have an umbrella, I'll still choose to walk home. The reason is not to save money or anything... but I just feel that walking home allows me to think quietly, and the time it takes to get home by car is too short.

"Well, I'll be leaving first..."

"Well...but I was the one who called you here, but I didn't talk to you after the party started...I hope you can forgive me, Sheji."

"It's okay, I'm having a great time here."

To be precise, I enjoyed the meal very much.

"That's good...otherwise I won't be able to sleep well tonight."

"No need to be so exaggerated..." I gave her a wry smile, "Well, see you next time then."

"Okay, be careful on the road."

.......................

"So...are you waiting for a car?" I saw two people standing at the hotel entrance as soon as I walked out of the lobby.

"Well, my car will be here soon, so just wait for a while." Li Moya explained to me.

"...Well, it might be a little abrupt."

No, generally speaking, you'll be considered an idiot.

"Huh? What's wrong?" She looked at me puzzled.

"I'd rather not trouble you. It's not raining yet, so I think it's better for me to run home by myself."

After all, it’s not far from my home.

"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about... If you're being polite to me, then there's absolutely no need. Besides, didn't you hitchhike once before? Why are you still..."

"Wait... Let him explain the reason first." Jiumu interrupted Li Moya who was chattering, and then looked at me, "I'm curious, why did you do this?"

"...Actually, there's no real reason. I just happened to remember that in my first few months of high school, I also had to walk home in the rain because I didn't bring an umbrella... I had the same experience in elementary school."

In the previous memories, I was the only one there, but now... there is one more person. Yes, she used to be like playing, accompanying me on the way home in the summer thunderstorm.

For some reason, I suddenly remembered this time.

"I don't quite understand... Aren't you afraid of getting wet... Don't you hate that feeling?" Li Moya asked.

"...I don't really hate it. Besides, I've experienced all of this before, so...I don't hate it."

"Oh...I don't understand."

She didn't object anymore and spread her hands to indicate that I could do what I wanted.

"So..."

Faced with a sudden strong wind that foreshadowed rain, I prepared to rush into the night streets dotted with street lights.

"Wait, take this."

My wrist was suddenly grabbed and an umbrella was stuffed into my hand.

"Ah... have you been carrying it with you all the time?" I asked her, looking at the familiar umbrella.

"What...what's wrong? Is it not possible?"

As she spoke, she turned her head to the side and pushed me.

"Okay, okay, I'll lend you this umbrella for now. Go home quickly."

"Forehead..."

Seeing that I was stunned for a moment, she continued:

"Don't even think about giving it back to me. Consider this as the price I paid for helping you this time. Please help me find the owner of this umbrella."

However, I think she should have known that I was the real master a long time ago...even if it was just a guess based on intuition.

"...Well, thanks."

Well, does this count as returning the property to its original owner?

Memories.Rain.Meaning

The wind kept blowing, ruffling my hair.

There was a hint of moisture in the rapidly flowing air, but it did not give me a refreshing feeling.

Here is the hint.

A sign of impending heavy rain.

Come to think of it, will it really work... I looked at the umbrella in my hand, wondering if it could provide me with any substantial help.

Because if it is a heavy rain accompanied by strong winds, then even if you have an umbrella it will not be of much use. It may even be better to run against the rain without an umbrella, because the strong wind may break the umbrella.

After realizing this, I couldn't help but start to worry about myself and subconsciously increased my walking speed.

If only I could get home before it rained.

Maybe everyone around me thinks so, because I can feel that their pace is obviously accelerating.

This feeling of familiarity... well, it's like an ant eager to get to a safe place when a rainstorm approaches.

Vehicles and pedestrians, infected by this subtle atmosphere, kept passing by me.

I don’t know if it’s my illusion, but the whole city seems to be restless because of the rain.

Through the neon lights illuminating the night sky, I vaguely saw flashes of light coming from the horizon, and through the slightly anxious sound of the wheels rubbing against the road, the sound of thunder faintly reached my ears.

I am now absolutely certain that heavy rain will come soon.