Chapter 53: The Power Outage

Yao Jia looked up with a smile and asked Meng Xingzhe, “Did you come specifically to pick me up?”

Meng Xingzhe glanced down at her, and upon hearing her expose his intentions, his defensive mechanism kicked in automatically.

He chuckled, “You’re dreaming. How would I know where you were? I came to buy instant noodles.”

Yao Jia thought about it and realized he couldn’t possibly have known she was at the supermarket. She almost let herself get carried away.

Immediately, she admired Meng Xingzhe’s independence. Even in such heavy rain, he ventured out to buy instant noodles. If the noodle manufacturer didn’t award him the Most Loyal Customer of the Year, they would be doing a disservice to his passionate heart.

Meng Xingzhe looked down at Yao Jia and casually asked, “Didn’t you bring an umbrella?”

Yao Jia blinked and replied, “Nope, but isn’t it lucky I ran into you, who has one?”

Meng Xingzhe looked displeased. “I’m afraid we both won’t fit under one umbrella.”

“What?” Yao Jia frowned. “Are you saying you won’t give me a ride back? Meng Xingzhe, aren’t you being a bit too harsh? Don’t forget you still owe me money!”

Meng Xingzhe nodded toward the bag in her hand. “You bought instant noodles, huh? Well, then I don’t need to buy any.”

Yao Jia was stunned. How could he be so shameless?

“Let’s go, don’t just stand there. Back to the dormitory,” Meng Xingzhe said, shaking out his umbrella. “If you let me eat your instant noodles, I’ll share my umbrella with you.”

Yao Jia clenched her teeth, wondering why this guy always made her want to hit him.

She followed Meng Xingzhe to the supermarket entrance. As soon as he pushed the door open a bit, a cold wind slammed into her chest like a fist. She shivered violently and sneezed.

Meng Xingzhe closed the door again and continued his disdainful commentary. “Don’t you girls check the weather forecast before going out? Watching you shiver makes me sweat.”

Yao Jia retorted, “Why would my shivering make you sweat?”

Meng Xingzhe shoved the umbrella into Yao Jia’s free hand, unzipped his jacket, and began taking it off.

After swiftly removing one jacket, Yao Jia’s eyes widened.

He was wearing another jacket underneath!

Did he really go out wearing two jackets? Do men start feeling weak at twenty-six?

Yao Jia couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you really that afraid of the cold, wearing two jackets?”

Meng Xingzhe looked at her expressionlessly as she giggled. He realized she might not understand his intentions.

“I wore too much. Honestly, it’s a bit warm. Here, let me give you a jacket.”

He took the umbrella from Yao Jia, handed her the jacket he had taken off, and took the shopping bag from her other hand so she could put on the jacket.

Yao Jia sniffled and quickly put on his jacket. It still held some of his warmth.

It was so cozy.

She felt like she had crawled into a heated blanket on a cold winter’s day.

Meng Xingzhe opened the door again, and this time Yao Jia wasn’t knocked back by the cold wind. She faced it head-on, feeling bold and confident.

Meng Xingzhe opened the umbrella, and Yao Jia stepped under it.

Meng Xingzhe held the shopping bag in his left hand and the umbrella in his right, walking on Yao Jia’s left side, closer to the road, shielding her from the splashes of passing cars.

The rain drummed loudly on the umbrella, filling the world with its noise.

Meng Xingzhe raised his voice, “Where’s your boyfriend? Why didn’t you call him for help?”

Yao Jia shouted back, “I didn’t bring my phone.”

Meng Xingzhe continued, “Couldn’t you borrow a phone to call him? Are you too dumb to think of that, or—” He turned his head under the umbrella, looking down at Yao Jia. She turned to meet his gaze, “—or did you not memorize your boyfriend’s number?”

From Meng Xingzhe’s expression, Yao Jia sensed a mocking “your relationship is just superficial.”

She immediately retorted, “He’s busy, and I don’t want to bother him, okay?”

Meng Xingzhe snorted and turned to face forward.

The rain intensified, making the umbrella feel small and insufficient.

Yao Jia couldn’t resist teasing Meng Xingzhe, “Hey, in TV dramas, when it rains, the male lead usually tilts the umbrella more towards the female lead, even if it means getting wet himself!”

A gust of wind blew, and the temperature seemed to drop even further. The cold pierced through Yao Jia’s jacket, making her shiver.

Meng Xingzhe chuckled, “That’s because TV dramas make men look foolish. If you both squeeze together, neither of you has to get wet. Why would anyone willingly stand outside the umbrella?”

As he spoke, he switched the umbrella to his left hand. His left arm, holding the shopping bag, was now between them, holding the umbrella. He suddenly lifted his free right arm, wrapped it around Yao Jia’s shoulders, and pulled her closer to him.

They squeezed tightly under the umbrella.

Yao Jia looked up at Meng Xingzhe in surprise, and he turned his head to look down at her. He gave her a slight nod, with a hint of roguish charm, and said, “Tell your boyfriend I don’t mean anything by this. I just don’t want us to get wet.”

Yao Jia thought this was fine; at least she wasn’t shivering as much. Meng Xingzhe’s body, nurtured by his picky habits, was like a natural heater.

The umbrella moved swiftly, covering both of them as they hurried through the rain. The cold wind and rain urged them to keep moving faster.

Meng Xingzhe held Yao Jia’s shoulders as they sped up, eventually breaking into a jog.

Yao Jia laughed as she jogged, thinking she must look ridiculous running through the rain like this. She couldn’t help but laugh at herself.

Ahead, there was a puddle on the road. Yao Jia laughed and shouted, “Slow down, slow down, I’m going to step in the puddle!”

But Meng Xingzhe didn’t slow down at all.

Just as she was about to step into the puddle at full speed, Yao Jia screamed.

But a second before her foot landed in the puddle, she felt herself lifted off the ground.

Meng Xingzhe had switched his grip from her shoulders to her waist, hoisting her over the puddle.

When Yao Jia landed, she couldn’t stop laughing and screaming. Her heart was pounding. In that moment, she felt the strength of a man.

During that brief moment in the air, she felt like a child again, like when Yao Bingkun would lift her high, making her laugh and scream with joy.

When they reached home, Yao Jia realized she wasn’t as drenched as she thought. Her pants were mostly wet, but her hair and upper body were well protected by the umbrella.

But when she looked at Meng Xingzhe, she was surprised. Except for his dry hair, he was soaked.

“Why are you so wet? Did you really tilt the umbrella towards me like a living Lei Feng?”

Meng Xingzhe laughed, “You don’t get it. As long as my head stays dry and my hairstyle remains intact, it’s like I didn’t get wet at all. I just sacrificed the rest of my body to protect my handsome head.”

Yao Jia nodded and clapped, “Your head-protection theory actually makes sense! The head does lead the body. If your head can fit through a narrow gap, the rest of your body usually can too.”

Meng Xingzhe gave her a long look, shook his head, and thought this girl’s nerves were as thick as an alpaca’s. He turned and went into his room.

After removing his wet clothes, he went into the bathroom and turned on the hot water for a shower.

Standing under the showerhead, the hot water washed over him. He opened his right hand and looked at it. Just moments ago, he had used it to hold Yao Jia’s shoulder and waist. It seemed like he could still feel the warmth of her shoulder and the soft, slender touch of her waist.

He clenched his right hand, then released it, and lightly slapped himself.

He adjusted the water temperature to cool down, hoping to make his shower a bit more sobering.

After taking a shower, Meng Xingzhe dried his hair while having a video call with Bei Luonan.

He earnestly discussed with Bei Luonan, “Do you think we should hire a really outstanding product director and design director? Our current team all shares the same mindset, focusing on functionality, technology, and intelligence. I think this is a flaw in our team composition. We should actually bring in people with different perspectives.”

When they first started the business, they thought that having like-minded people would improve efficiency. But now, seeing everyone thinking in the same direction, it has created obvious blind spots in other areas.

That’s why Yao Jia could see problems they couldn’t.

Bei Luonan nodded, “I think so too.”

Meng Xingzhe said, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Bei Luonan gave an OK sign and then said, “So, Xingxing, I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?”

Meng Xingzhe said, “The good news.”

Bei Luonan said, “Actually, after you left, I already thought of suitable candidates.”

He mentioned two names, and Meng Xingzhe’s eyes lit up as he repeatedly said, “Great, great.”

Then, Bei Luonan waited for a long time, but Meng Xingzhe just stared at him without speaking.

“Why aren’t you asking what the bad news is?” Bei Luonan finally couldn’t hold back.

“I’m just trying to make you anxious,” Meng Xingzhe said triumphantly.

He was about to hang up the video call with satisfaction.

Bei Luonan quickly spoke up, “This news is closely related to you!”

Meng Xingzhe paused his finger from ending the call.

“Then hurry up and spill it,” he said mercilessly.

Bei Luonan said, “Originally, the company received an early payment, and I was thinking of giving you some salary and bonuses to improve your living conditions. But now that we’re hiring new people, the money can’t go to you. We need to save it for recruitment.”

Meng Xingzhe: “…”

If the money isn’t coming to him, why bother mentioning it just to tempt and tease him?!

Without another word, Meng Xingzhe hung up the video call.

He put down his phone and walked out of the room, intending to ask Yao Jia what she planned for dinner and which flavor of instant noodles she was going to share with him.

But he saw Yao Jia sitting on the living room sofa, making a phone call.

He overheard that the person on the other end was Yue Xuran, who seemed to be asking her something.

Cursing at his phone for being so leaky, Meng Xingzhe turned back to his room.

**

Yao Jia quickly took a hot shower, washing away the cold rain and wind that had seeped into her veins.

Just as she came out of the bathroom, she received a call from Yue Xuran. She sat on the living room sofa, turned on the speaker, and answered while drying her hair.

Yue Xuran’s voice was gentle and full of concern, “I saw on your social media that your roommate went home, and you’ll be on your own for two days. Do you have enough to eat? It’s pouring rain today, and delivery might be difficult.”

Yao Jia assured him, “I bought a bunch of food, I’m well-stocked, don’t worry!”

In the end, she expressed her gratitude for Yue Xuran’s attentiveness and humanitarian spirit, “Thank you! Seeing my post and caring so much! With your thoughtfulness and warmth, you’re bound to make a fortune in the future!”

Yue Xuran chuckled, “Well, you’re my golden benefactor.”

Yao Jia laughed heartily. Her laughter penetrated the soundproofing strip on Meng Xingzhe’s door, reaching his ears.

He found the laughter grating, so much so that it killed his appetite, making him not want to eat at all. So when Yao Jia knocked on his door to ask what flavor of instant noodles he wanted, he simply said, “I’m not eating, I’m not hungry.”

Yao Jia saw him standing at the doorway, looking down at her with a displeased expression. She truly felt she had witnessed what it meant to change moods faster than flipping a page. Just a shower ago, he was the same person who had run through the rain with her, laughing and playing.

Casually, she shoved a pack of instant noodles into Meng Xingzhe’s hands, “Then you’ll eat whatever flavor I give you.”

Meng Xingzhe looked down and scoffed, “Junk food.”

“…” Yao Jia thought, wasn’t it just for this junk food that you braved the rain earlier?

“No sausage?” Meng Xingzhe pushed his luck.

“No,” Yao Jia replied.

Meng Xingzhe complained, “Do you even know how to eat instant noodles? Instant noodles without sausage have no soul.”

Yao Jia didn’t want to engage with him, rolled her eyes, and turned back to her room.

When she finished her noodles and went to throw out the trash, she glanced over and saw an empty instant noodle cup at Meng Xingzhe’s door.

“…”

Yao Jia thought, how lazy can he be!

But remembering that she had borrowed his umbrella and coat to safely return to the dorm, she decided not to fuss over it. She went over and picked up the empty cup as well.

That night, the two of them stayed in their respective rooms, not crossing paths, which made for a peaceful coexistence.

Before bed, Yao Jia unexpectedly received a phone call. It was her sister’s number, but when she answered, it was her mother, Gan Yu, on the other end.

Gan Yu told Yao Jia, “Your dad and I are at your sister’s place. She’s doing well, so don’t worry. We heard there’s a big storm back home today, and the temperature has dropped sharply. We’re a bit worried about you. Did you get caught in the rain? Your dad asked me to remind you to wear an extra layer when you go to work tomorrow. Don’t just run out without a care.”

After Gan Yu’s reminders, her sister Yao Hui took over the call. Her sister asked, “Xiao Jia, why didn’t you come with mom and dad? I miss you!”

Yao Jia said, “I made a bet with dad, I have to work for three months without taking leave, or I’ll lose. Once I’ve completed the three months, I’ll come visit you myself.”

Yao Hui laughed and tried to chat with her about this and that, as if she didn’t want to hang up. It made Yao Jia feel like her sister was reluctant to end the call, trying hard to keep the conversation going.

She also tried her best to cooperate, enthusiastically agreeing with her sister’s mature thirty-something interests.

By the time she hung up, Yao Jia felt a bit exhausted. Running against the wind and rain from the supermarket hadn’t tired her out as much as this call did.

Running tired her body, but this call tired her mind, having to carefully choose her words.

This emotionally draining call left Yao Jia with complex feelings. Her parents were across the ocean with her sister, forming the most standard family of three, full of mutual understanding and love.

But they were also concerned about her, calling her on such a stormy night. Even Yao Bingkun had reminded her to wear an extra layer tomorrow, though his concern still carried a hint of criticism about her carefree nature.

Yao Jia put down her phone and turned off the light. Having been soaked by the rain during the day, she was exhausted. As soon as the room went dark, sleepiness enveloped her.

She didn’t even have time to charge her phone before falling asleep.

Halfway through the night, she was awakened by a loud pounding on the door.

The knocking was anxious and urgent, as if something monstrous was threatening the knocker’s life.

Yao Jia tried to turn on the light, but after hitting the switch, nothing changed. The room remained pitch black.

She pulled back the curtains to look outside. The rain was still pouring, the sky was starless, the moon hidden by thick clouds, and there wasn’t a single light from the buildings across.

The power was out.

Yao Jia realized.

She jumped out of bed and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, Meng Xingzhe rushed in, grabbing her arm, “Do you have a flashlight?”

His voice had a hint of anxious hoarseness.

Yao Jia shook her head, “No.”

“What about your phone? How much battery does it have? Can I use it as a flashlight?”

Yao Jia went to get her phone, only to find it had run out of battery and shut itself off.

“My phone’s dead,” Yao Jia announced, sensing Meng Xingzhe’s despair.

He held onto her arm, as if that was the only way he could find some peace from his anxiety.

He told Yao Jia that he had woken up in the middle of the night to find his bedside lamp off.

Yao Jia could imagine the scene of someone afraid of the dark waking up to find the light out, filled with anxiety and unease.

Meng Xingzhe continued, saying he immediately went to hit the main light switch, but when the light didn’t come on, he realized it was a power outage.

He quickly picked up his phone, turned on the flashlight, and called the hotline to ask when the power would be restored.

The person on the other end of the line informed him that the storm had affected their area, causing issues with the power lines. They had already dispatched a team working overtime in the rain to fix it, but it would take a few hours at least. If all went well, power might be restored by morning. The person kindly reassured him, “Sir, don’t worry. Just get a good night’s sleep, and when you wake up, the power should be back on.”

“But I can’t sleep without the lamp on. I can’t even close my eyes, you understand?” Meng Xingzhe said, gripping Yao Jia’s arm with some agitation.

“I was going to take a cab to Bei Luonan’s place, but while I was using my phone’s flashlight to find some clothes, the battery died! Now I’m stuck, can’t even get downstairs!”

Hearing this, Yao Jia almost despaired along with Meng Xingzhe. With the power out, the elevator was unusable, and walking down the dark stairwell would be a nightmare for someone afraid of the dark.

Outside, the storm raged on. Inside, Yao Jia’s maternal instincts kicked in like a mother hen.

She asked Meng Xingzhe, “How can you fall asleep? I can’t just stand here with you all night. We have work tomorrow.”

Meng Xingzhe anxiously replied, “I need to sleep in the same room with you.”

Yao Jia nearly bit her tongue at his request.

“What? Just the two of us, and you want to sleep in the same room? Don’t use the power outage as an excuse to be shameless!”

Meng Xingzhe said, “If you refuse, by morning you might find me foaming at the mouth and convulsing on the floor.”

“…” Yao Jia was genuinely a bit intimidated by this blatant threat.

She gritted her teeth and said, “Fine, bring your blanket and make a bed on the floor, but keep your distance.”

She felt she was being more than generous.

Unexpectedly, Meng Xingzhe suggested, “…Can’t I sleep on the bed? I’ve never slept on the floor, and I think my back can’t handle it.”

Yao Jia almost slapped him.

“Meng Xingzhe, were you possessed by Tong Yumo just now?? You’re so afraid of the dark, yet you still act all coy and pretentious. Are you crazy? You come to my room to crash and expect to sleep on the bed??? What, should I sleep on the floor?!”

Meng Xingzhe mumbled, “You can sleep on the bed too.”

Yao Jia couldn’t help but kick him: “Are you blind? My bed is only four feet wide, barely enough for one person, let alone two!” Besides, that’s not the point. The point is—

“Who the hell wants to share a bed with you!!!”

Meng Xingzhe dodged her kick and quickly offered another suggestion: “How about we go to my room?”

Yao Jia flatly refused, “No.”

Meng Xingzhe said, “In my room, you can sleep on the bed.”

“And you’ll sleep on the bed too? Ha, no way.”

“I’ll use a sleeping bag.”

“…” Yao Jia hesitated.

“Please,” Meng Xingzhe said in a low voice.

Yao Jia was almost shocked, thinking she had misheard. The notorious Meng Xingzhe, actually pleading with her?!

“What did you just say? I didn’t catch that!”

Yao Jia leaned forward, offering her ear to Meng Xingzhe.

“I said,” Meng Xingzhe repeated in a low, deep voice, “please.”

The darkness seemed to solidify, reflecting his voice with a gritty, magnetic quality.

Yao Jia felt as if the sound waves were massaging her heart, softening her resolve, and she agreed.

“Then bring your sleeping bag to my room,” Yao Jia said.

“Your room is too small. My sleeping bag is long; it won’t fit.”

“…”

Yao Jia had no choice but to carry her pillow and blanket and follow Meng Xingzhe to his room.

Throughout the process, Meng Xingzhe held onto her arm with one hand while using the other to unroll and set up the sleeping bag.

It seemed that this small contact was the only thing keeping him from losing his mind to fear.

Even when he lay down in the sleeping bag beside the bed, he still held onto Yao Jia’s arm.

Yao Jia lay on the bed, her arm being pulled downward, and wondered how she could possibly fall asleep in such an awkward position. She shook her arm free from Meng Xingzhe’s grip: “You’re holding me, and it’s uncomfortable.”

After a moment’s thought, she generously offered a corner of her blanket to him. “Here, hold onto this. Pretend it’s me. There’s nothing to be afraid of, okay?”

Meng Xingzhe actually grabbed the corner of her blanket, and in the darkness, Yao Jia’s motherly instincts flared up again.

She quickly said, “Alright, let’s sleep. We have to get up early for work tomorrow.”

Meng Xingzhe, however, said to her, “Keep me company and chat for a bit. It’s so dark, not a single light, I really can’t sleep.”