The plum rain season in the south always arrives unannounced. Shen Zhixia curled up by the bay window of her rented apartment, listening to the patter of raindrops striking the glass. Suddenly, her phone screen lit up with a notification from the university alumni group. A photo from a wedding banquet stung her eyes—Lin Xubai stood in a sharp suit next to a gentle-looking bride, the diamond ring on his ring finger flashing dazzlingly under the studio lights.
The rain outside grew heavier. Shen Zhixia dug her fingernails deep into her palms as memories from five years ago rushed back like a tide.
It was the summer of 2018 when Shen Zhixia first stepped onto the university campus. At the orientation gala, her roommate dragged her along to join the excitement. On stage, Lin Xubai sat strumming an acoustic guitar, his clear voice cutting through the noisy crowd and landing straight in Shen Zhixia's heart. After the show, driven by some inexplicable impulse, she waited for him backstage and used the excuse of returning a dropped scarf to get his contact information.
Chapter 194