CHAPTER 384: CHAPTER 384: LAST BUS

Evening, the sky had already grown gloomy before five.

Amidst the rumbling thunder, the rain finally began to fall.

The sound of the rain created a blurred curtain over the city.

Susan Wilde stood up and closed the office window, cutting off the sound of the rain, and stood by the window watching the city being washed by the rain.

The phone on the desk rang insistently, and Susan Wilde turned to check it, deliberately waiting a few seconds before answering when she saw the caller ID.

"What time do you get off work?" came Shawn Rhodes’ voice from the other end.

Susan Wilde: "It’ll be a little late today."

Shawn Rhodes: "Mom wants you to come back for dinner."

Susan Wilde: "...I’ll be working overtime tonight; just let her know."

Shawn Rhodes paused, not questioning whether she was really working late or meeting someone, just said: "Call when you get off, I’ll come pick you up."

Susan Wilde wasn’t sure if Shawn was being considerate due to Mrs. Rhodes’ pressure or some other reason. It was unlike him, and she worried about his unpredictable mood, concerned that he might change his mind and leave her stranded.

So Susan Wilde said, "I’m not sure when I’ll finish work; the rain should stop by then, and I’ll come back on my own."

Even though he anticipated her refusal, Shawn Rhodes still felt a bit blocked inside: "Alright, get back early."

Susan Wilde felt that Shawn Rhodes was acting strangely, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what was different.

She wanted to wait for the rain to stop before returning, but it was almost ten o’clock, and waiting any longer would mean missing the last bus.

As she packed her things and went downstairs, the staff there were also beginning to close up.

"Boss, why are you just coming down? That handsome guy was waiting for you downstairs for a long time."

Susan Wilde glanced at the spot Simon Rhodes usually liked to sit, and it was empty.

The receptionist said, "He was here since after six. I wanted to call you, but he told me not to disturb you. He waited for several hours, went out a moment ago, but his car is still outside."

Susan Wilde walked out and looked around but didn’t see anyone.

Just then, across the street, the bus she needed to catch arrived, and Susan quickly opened her umbrella and dashed across the street.

She successfully stopped the bus.

Normally crowded during rush hour, the bus was quite empty at this late hour.

She dropped her fare and chose a window seat, looking out, and saw a familiar figure emerging from the convenience store by the roadside.

Susan Wilde quickly rolled down the window, waving and smiling at him. Simon Rhodes had already seen her, and with long strides, ran towards her despite the rain.

The bus driver noticed someone running towards the bus and stopped again, reopening the previously closed doors.

Simon Rhodes got on, used the change he got from buying cigarettes at the convenience store.

As the bus slowly started, Simon sat beside Susan, "Why didn’t you wait for me?"

Susan Wilde smiled and said, "But the last bus wouldn’t wait for me."

Simon Rhodes: "Good thing I caught up."

Susan looked down at the cigarettes he had just bought and asked, "I remember you didn’t smoke before."

Simon Rhodes: "I just started a bit recently."

He then continued, "If you don’t like it, I’ll quit."

Susan Wilde looked up at him, pursed her lips and said, "When I visited your house last time, I saw a lot of heart medications..."

Simon Rhodes lowered his gaze and chuckled lightly, "You noticed? An old issue, no big deal, don’t worry."

Susan Wilde: "But you should still smoke less, it’s harmful."

Simon nodded, putting the pack of cigarettes into his pocket: "This is the last pack, once it’s gone, I won’t buy more."

Susan Wilde smiled, somewhat skeptical, but she knew he was sensible.

Simon Rhodes: "Why are you so late getting back today?"

Susan Wilde: "I intended to leave when the rain stopped, but it just never did."

Simon Rhodes: "You had an umbrella, why worry about the rain? If you couldn’t leave, why not call me to pick you up."

Susan turned her head to look at him and asked, "Then why didn’t you tell me you were waiting for so long downstairs?"

Simon Rhodes: "I heard you were working upstairs, so I didn’t want to disturb you. I had just gone to the convenience store to buy cigarettes; who knew I’d see you getting on the bus when I came out. Luckily, I managed to catch you."

Susan Wilde pursed her lips and smiled, turning to look out the window.

In the rain and mist, the light at night was split by the rain running down the window, creating a peculiar kind of scenery.

Originally five people were on the bus, but they got off one after another, leaving just the two of them for the second half of the ride.

When they arrived, the rain was lighter than before, sounding gently as it hit the umbrella.

Due to his height, Susan Wilde had to raise her hand high to cover Simon with the umbrella. After he got off the bus, he naturally took the umbrella, lightly holding Susan’s shoulder as they walked along the roadside.

This time, Susan Wilde didn’t stop him from seeing her home. Such a rainy day seemed to influence emotions and judgment.

Despite wearing a short-sleeve shirt, she thought his embrace felt very warm.

She liked such rainy days, with an umbrella big enough to shelter her and the person she liked...

It was just a five or six-minute walk from the bus stop to the Rhodes Family villa, but even pacing deliberately slowly, they covered the distance quickly.

As they neared the Rhodes’ gate, Susan Wilde said, "Here we are, you should head back early too."

Simon Rhodes nodded and handed her the umbrella, "When can we finally come home together?"

Susan Wilde lowered her gaze and pressed her lips together, not answering his question, only returning the umbrella, "I’m already here, just a few steps and I’m inside, take the umbrella."

Simon Rhodes: "Then let me walk you a bit further."

Susan Wilde politely declined, "I’m worried his family might see us."

Simon Rhodes sighed, "Skylar, how long will we keep doing this?"

Susan Wilde looked up at him, pressed her lips together, and didn’t answer.

She stepped back, moving outside the umbrella, "You should go back, I’m worried the rain might get heavy again."

Simon nodded but suddenly pulled her back, not giving her time to react.

The tenderness of his lips made Susan’s heart race.

He quickly let her go, "Go inside now."

With her cheeks flushed, Susan glanced at him twice, then ran off shyly.

Simon Rhodes smiled as he watched her run into the house; only then did he turn and walk away.

When Susan returned, the door was open, and as she pushed it open, Shawn Rhodes was standing by the door, looking at her expressionlessly.