Running away from the Love-Brain

Cloudy Turning to Light Rain

The day before her twenty-sixth birthday, the weather forecast said, "Lu Mountain is cloudy, turning to light rain." The sun poked through the center of the trees, like a burning heart, while sparrows chirped in the heart of the greenery.

Chi Buyu silently gasped, "Ah—", her mouth, freshly painted with lipstick, wide open...

She bit into a pomelo slice that her grandmother had given her.

Juice splattered in her mouth, "pili pala."

She chewed fiercely a few times, shooting a glare at Cui Xijin, who was curled up on the sofa, buried under a blanket.

Lying flat, the blanket pulled from her feet to her head, only her hands were visible, palms together. A few strands of hair spilled messily out from the curled blanket.

She seemed to be sleeping deeply.

Better to sleep on the sofa all night than share a room with her!

Meng Yuhong took a bite of her half-eaten pomelo slice and handed the rest to Chi Buyu. She patted the corner of the colorful polka-dot blanket cover and stepped out, cheerfully chatting with Ruan Yan, who was basking in the sun, about the lovely weather today...

Chi Buyu chewed the pomelo fiercely.

Looking at Cui Xijin, who still had her entire face buried in the blanket, sleeping soundly, she couldn't help but stretch out her hand, mimicking a gesture of strangling from a distance, satisfied with snapping several pictures before finally putting her phone down.

At that moment, Cui Xijin began to stir.

Her hands moved slightly.

She shifted just a bit.

Chi Buyu perked up, raised her chin, picked up a small mirror to check herself, realizing she had slightly puffy cheeks from the soda she couldn't resist drinking the night before.

She pouted in worry.

She turned to look at Cui Xijin.

Cui Xijin's hand moved halfway, then stopped at her chest, looking a bit dazed from sleep. After a long pause, she slowly pulled the blanket off her face.

Her chin lifted slightly, pressing the edge of the blanket down.

Her hands slid down and naturally crossed over her lower abdomen.

Then she stopped moving.

Her expression resembled a state of meditation.

Yet, her eyes were not closed; instead, she gazed lazily at the ceiling, occasionally blinking.

Very tranquil.

Chi Buyu supported her chin with one hand. Without any makeup on, she blinked, chewing on the pomelo slice, and felt that Cui Xijin resembled an old television warming up after being turned on.

Chi Buyu patiently waited for her to "buffer."

Two minutes later, Cui Xijin was still staring at the ceiling, still blinking at a specific rhythm.

Unable to contain herself, Chi Buyu called out,

"Cui Muhuo."

Cui Xijin didn't react, keeping her eyes closed tightly.

Chi Buyu said, "Eh," getting closer, squatting down in front of the sofa, and softly called,

"Cui Muhuo!"

Cui Xijin's eyelids fluttered slightly.

Then, very slowly, she half-opened her eyes, glanced at Chi Buyu, then returned her gaze to the ceiling. After a while, she cleared her throat.