CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 149: MISSED IT!

"I think I forgot my phone in the pavilion!"

Yan Xinxin spoke as she turned around hurriedly.

"Mo Chuxi, could you please take Xi back first? I’ll call a car and return later!"

"Mrs. Yan, we’re about to head back. You..."

"Sorry, Teacher Lin, I forgot my phone up there. I need to go retrieve it. You all can leave ahead without waiting for me. I’ll catch a ride back by myself."

After explaining, Yan Xinxin dashed out of the car in a hurry.

Mo Chuxi slightly furrowed his brows, his sharp gaze fixed on the dark, heavy sky outside the car window, faintly sensing a trace of unease...

Yan Xinxin quickly ran toward the mountainside, but midway through, she began to feel exhausted.

She had been walking all day today and used up too much energy.

"Boom—"

The sudden roar of thunder echoed.

Yan Xinxin raised her eyes, only to have a cool drop of rain fall onto her face.

It’s raining. A thunderstorm.

Summer had truly arrived...

Yan Xinxin dared not waste any more time. If the rain got heavier, even if she found her phone, it might already be ruined.

Thinking about the photos she’d taken earlier today, Yan Xinxin quickened her pace and ran uphill.

The rain was steadily intensifying as she arrived at the pavilion halfway up the mountain. Her small face was drenched, but fortunately, her climbing clothes were waterproof. Seeing the phone lying on the bench, she let out a relieved smile.

"Thank goodness! It wasn’t lost or wet!"

Yan Xinxin carefully picked up the phone, opened the photo album, and looked at the last picture she had taken. Her rain-speckled face showed a hint of comfort and contentment.

In the photo, there was her, her son... and Mo Chuxi.

"Yan Xinxin!"

Mo Chuxi’s voice suddenly rang out behind her.

Startled, she turned around sharply, seeing the man holding an umbrella, walking toward her with his composed, handsome face.

Yan Xinxin froze momentarily, instinctively putting her phone into her pocket.

"Why are you here?"

"Did you find your phone?"

"Yes, I did!"

Yan Xinxin smiled and nodded.

"What’s with the silly grin? If you’ve found it, let’s leave."

"..."

Again with the insults!

Yan Xinxin pressed her pink lips together but said nothing, quickly stepping forward to follow him.

The rain poured down more densely from the sky, and Mo Chuxi held the umbrella in his right hand. Suddenly, he lifted his left arm and pulled Yan Xinxin into his embrace.

The sudden closeness felt like their hearts had collided—it created an unexplainable spark.

Yan Xinxin’s cheeks flushed, her thoughts turned chaotic, and she didn’t notice the stairs beneath her feet—she slipped!

"Ah—"

"Thud!"

"Yan Xinxin!"

Mo Chuxi reached out anxiously to grab her, but Yan Xinxin still fell with a thud, kneeling onto the cold, hard, slippery stones.

He quickly discarded the umbrella and crouched down to help her up, his brows furrowing tightly as he began to speak.

"Yan Xinxin, how can you be so foolish? You can’t even walk properly."

"..."

Mo Chuxi extended his hand to lift her to her feet.

"Hiss."

Yan Xinxin winced at the pain, spreading open her right palm to glance at it. A notable wound had appeared, leaving streaks of fresh blood.

Mo Chuxi noticed it immediately and took a bottle of water from his pocket. Unscrewing the cap, he held her injured hand firmly.

"Bear with it."

He spoke as he poured water to clean the wound on her palm.

Yan Xinxin flinched from the pain, her instinct to withdraw met by his strong grip on her hand.

Momentarily stunned, she lifted her gaze toward the man’s focused, stern face. His eyes seemed to carry a trace of genuine concern.

After cleaning the wound, Mo Chuxi took out his handkerchief and carefully bandaged her injured hand.

The tenderness of his actions left Yan Xinxin utterly mesmerized.

Mo Chuxi lifted his deep-set gaze and noticed Yan Xinxin’s flushed cheeks and dazed expression. Reaching out, he wiped the raindrops from her face.

But after just a couple of strokes across her delicate, rosy face, he felt his heartbeat quicken. Overwhelmed by impulse, he leaned in and kissed her lips...