The footsteps splashed through puddles, mingling with the endless rhythm of the rain. Under the shelter of his umbrella, Jiang Yichen walked slowly along the dimly lit path. The night was cold, the downpour relentless, soaking the world in silver shadows.
Somewhere behind him, hurried steps echoed—faster, closer. Yichen turned just as a figure collided with him. The impact sent him stumbling to the ground, his umbrella falling to the side with a dull thud.
For a heartbeat, time stilled. A tall figure leaned over him, their eyes locking beneath the pale glow of the streetlamp. The stranger wore a mask, his face hidden, but his eyes—his eyes shone with a brilliance Yichen had never seen before, like the fiery sunset casting its glow across the sea.
Yichen's chest tightened, though he couldn't explain why. Quickly, he pushed the man away and struggled to his feet, shivering as the rain clung to his soaked clothes.
"Don't you have eyes?" Yichen snapped, brushing water from his hair.
