ATLAS TRANSLATES

Chapter 23: Sharing an Umbrella

That Friday morning.

“Are you up? Qiao Qiao, Mom made you breakfast,” Tian Ling knocked on Jiang Qiao’s door.

Jiang Qiao opened the door, her voice soft: “I’m up.”

The school uniform looked somewhat loose on her. A few strands of hair fell around her face, which was small and fair. Tian Ling sat across from Jiang Qiao, watching as she silently removed the tomato slices from her sandwich, took a few bites, then stopped.

She handed Jiang Qiao hot milk: “Have some milk, Qiao Qiao.”

“Mm.” Jiang Qiao ate less than half the sandwich and took a few sips of milk, then politely said to Tian Ling: “I’m full, Mom. I’m going to school now.”

Tian Ling took out a lunch box with a small cake from the fridge: “Take this cake with you. Eat it if you get hungry in the morning.”

Jiang Qiao looked at the mango pieces on the cake and said softly: “Mom, I’ve never eaten mango.”

Tian Ling’s outstretched hand noticeably paused, then she smiled at Jiang Qiao and took the cake back: “Then be careful on your way, Qiao Qiao.”

“Mm, I know.” Jiang Qiao picked up her schoolbag and prepared to leave.

On the way, while waiting at a red light, Auntie Liu looked at the well-behaved young girl in the passenger seat: “Madam isn’t home often, so she might not know your eating habits well. Don’t blame her.”

“I know. I don’t blame her,” she replied, then reminded: “The light’s green.”

Auntie Liu turned her attention back to driving and pressed the accelerator.

Jiang Qiao arrived very early, with few people in class yet. She sat at her desk and noticed extra milk there, clearly surprised. She picked it up to look, then put it back down.

Xu Si still had that sleepy face. The school uniform gave him a somewhat wild look. He sat next to Jiang Qiao.

The morning sun was nice, but during the long break it suddenly started drizzling. By noon dismissal, the rain was getting heavier, feeling like a storm was coming.

After class, the heavy rain showed no signs of stopping, instead getting even stronger.

“Qiao Qiao, did you bring an umbrella?” Luo Xing asked.

Jiang Qiao shook her head.

Luo Xing looked at the heavy rain outside and said worriedly: “What should we do? The rain’s getting heavier.”

“Luo Xing, I brought an umbrella. The three of us can share one.”

“Okay,” Luo Xing said, then looked at Jiang Qiao again: “But what about you, Qiao Qiao?”

Three people under one umbrella was already crowded, otherwise they could have included Jiang Qiao.

Jiang Qiao smiled at Luo Xing: “Someone’s coming to bring me lunch. I can wait a while. You go ahead and eat.”

“Then we’ll go eat first.”

Because the rain came unexpectedly, many students hadn’t brought umbrellas. Many boys in class started playing out father-and-son scenes.

“Hey, you brought an umbrella this morning and didn’t tell me?” “I asked you all if you needed umbrellas, but you said the weather was nice and it wouldn’t rain.” “Oh right, that did happen. Then bring me some food? Crumbling biscuits, any side dishes are fine.” “Call me dad first.” “…” “No daddy, no food.” “D…daddy, please bring me food.” “Bring one more portion, daddy, I want the rice with gravy from the first floor cafeteria.” “Me too, daddy, I want rice noodle soup.” …

And so, one boy with an umbrella set off carrying the hopes of his entire dormitory.

Jiang Qiao watched the endless rain, waited a while, then stepped into it. If she didn’t go to the entrance soon, Auntie Liu would worry. Her white shoes got splashed by rainwater, and large raindrops hit her face, wetting her bangs.

Just as Jiang Qiao wondered why the rain suddenly seemed lighter, she saw an umbrella appear above her head, along with the boy’s somewhat fierce-looking face.

Xu Si pushed the umbrella into her hand: “Use the umbrella.”

Jiang Qiao was stunned for a moment, watching him run back into the rain, then hurried after him: “Xu Si, wait.”

Jiang Qiao held the umbrella over his head: “Thank you for the umbrella, but how can you not need one in such heavy rain? This umbrella is quite big. If you don’t mind, let’s share it?”

Xu Si was going to say no, but meeting her earnest gaze, he just said “Mm.”

“Si…” Yang Shikun came out with an umbrella, started to call out, then saw the two people ahead. He rubbed his eyes, confirming that the two people sharing an umbrella were indeed his brother Si and Jiang Qiao.

Hao Ming elbowed him: “Why are you standing here not moving? Did the rain make your brain wet? Forgot how to walk? Or just too hungry?”

Yang Shikun glared at him: “Big-head Hao, you only think about food all day. Look ahead.”

Hao Ming looked at the two people ahead, then exchanged knowing smiles with Yang Shikun. The two mischievously stood behind watching Xu Si and Jiang Qiao.

After walking a few steps, Jiang Qiao heard him say: “Should I hold the umbrella?”

“Huh?” Jiang Qiao turned to look at him and realized she was holding the umbrella too low, pressing it against his hair. Simply put, she had the umbrella right on his head. Though it wasn’t really her fault – Xu Si was much taller than her. She was only 165cm, barely reaching just above his shoulder.

Jiang Qiao embarrassedly said a quiet “sorry” and handed him the umbrella.

Xu Si noticed her face was red again. Such an easily embarrassed good student.

“Going to the entrance?” Xu Si turned to look at her.

Jiang Qiao made an “mm” sound, then took out a tissue to wipe her rain-dampened hair. She looked at Xu Si and offered him a tissue too: “Your hair is wet too.”

Xu Si took the tissue and said thanks.

Their shoulders were very close, and Jiang Qiao could feel Xu Si’s body warmth. She had never been this close to a boy before, and her ears felt very hot.

The rain continued heavily. Xu Si paused and said concisely: “Puddle.”

Jiang Qiao looked down at the small puddle on the ground, stepped over it, and said a quiet “thank you.”

Finally reaching the entrance, Jiang Qiao saw Auntie Liu waiting with an umbrella, then smiled at Xu Si: “Thank you for your umbrella.”

The girl smiled sweetly, her almond eyes curving.

Xu Si looked at her, wondering what else she liked to say besides “thank you” and “sorry” – he had heard her say thank you several times in just this short while.