Mint Candy

Ye Mian had just finished a class when she took her umbrella and left the school, heading to the police station.

The situation with Jiang Chen had stirred up quite a commotion—by rights, he should have been held at the municipal police headquarters.

Not wanting to impose further, she didn’t go inside.

She bought a salmon sandwich set from a convenience store by the roadside, but all the seats were taken. So she obediently sat on a bench outside the police station, clutching her umbrella tightly in her palm, idly watching the heavy rain beyond.

A ferocious wind swept through the city with overwhelming force. The gloomy cityscape was already shrouded in murk by afternoon; not a trace of sunlight could be seen.

Ye Mian sat lost in thought, her mind drifting aimlessly.

She hadn’t come yesterday because her schedule was packed with classes.

She speculated about the reasons Jiang Chen had been taken away and the possible length of his detention. However she calculated it, he should be released from the police station within these two days.

Unless, of course, he had truly done something wrong.

On such a rainy day, hardly anyone wanted to go out. Aside from Ye Mian, only food delivery riders darted along the streets, clad in yellow waterproof gear, racing to pick up their orders.

Time passed, minute by minute. The sandwich in her hand was gradually picked clean.

One delivery rider after another passed by her, and she, out of boredom, observed their expressions.

On a day with such wild winds, the hoods of their raincoats were almost useless. Rain lashed their faces and bodies without mercy, forcing them to squint their eyes as they cycled along the slippery roads.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, a crash sounded from the street. Ye Mian turned toward the noise.

A relatively young delivery rider had fallen.

It seemed he had slipped while picking up an order. He clutched his elbow, the food bags scattered on the ground, his whole face twisted in pain.

He wasn’t far away.

“Are you all right?” Ye Mian stood up without hesitation, picking up the scattered deliveries. Fortunately, they were all pre-packaged snacks from the convenience store—just a bit muddy, but otherwise unharmed.

“I’m fine,” the delivery rider managed as he pushed himself up, wincing. He accepted the bag she handed him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Ye Mian replied, shaking her head, her gaze falling to the wound on his elbow.

He must have been in quite a bit of pain.

Yet, prompted by the overtime alert on his phone, he had no choice but to mount his scooter and speed off through the city once more.

In such miserable weather, it was a hard day for everyone.

Ye Mian watched his retreating figure and sighed. The next second, she heard footsteps behind her.

Familiar and distinct.

She turned, her eyes glazed with disbelief.

On the dark, rain-lashed street, someone emerged from the police station. Thunder rumbled dully for a few seconds, and the person she had worried about for days suddenly appeared in her field of vision.

Jiang Chen was still wearing his black trench coat, a silver earring hanging from his ear, holding his phone and a cigarette case in hand. Without an umbrella, he simply walked out into the wind and rain.

The moment their eyes met, Ye Mian finally breathed out, an overwhelming surge of relief and joy nearly drowning her.

Though she had kept telling herself Jiang Chen had done nothing wrong, a trace of anxiety had lingered.

Seeing Jiang Chen standing in the rain, she reacted faster than she ever had in her life—her feet closed the distance in a flash, and she raised her umbrella to shield him.

Her gaze was bright and intent. “Jiang Chen, I’ve come to pick you up.”

Jiang Chen paused, his breath catching as he looked at the girl who had suddenly appeared before him.

She had no idea how long she’d been waiting in this rain. The tip of her nose was red from the cold. The cuffs of her clothes were damp in varying degrees, even her long ponytail had twisted into wet strands, and her ears were flushed pink.

Jiang Chen’s heart sank.

On such a stormy day, she had so foolishly come to wait for him.

He was certain that, aside from the school authorities, the police station would not have notified anyone else of his release.

How had this girl known to come? And how long had she waited?

Rain this cold could easily make someone ill.

He closed his eyes briefly, took off his long coat, patiently accepted the umbrella from her, and with slender fingers brushed the rain from her shoulder, then carefully draped his coat over her.

His movements were gentle, and his tone as calm as ever. “It’s raining, didn’t you know? Why did you come?”

Wrapped in his coat, warm with his scent and body heat, Ye Mian’s heart beat recklessly as she repeated, “I know. I came to pick you up.”

Jiang Chen’s irritation vanished. He bent down to look at her at eye level, pointed at his own face, and said with a smile, “Did you think I couldn’t make it back on my own?”

Ye Mian blinked and replied with unshakable conviction, “Mm, I was afraid you’d get lost.”

“Heh.” Jiang Chen’s brow twitched. “Only an idiot wouldn’t know to go home when it’s raining.”

“…”

Ye Mian had nothing to say, but she vaguely felt that Jiang Chen was calling her the idiot.

But so be it—let herself be a little foolish.

She knew the conditions inside the police station’s holding room were poor, with only a single large cot. Anyone would go crazy from boredom after a few days.

In her past life, she’d seen people released from such places; those with family waiting fared better, able to laugh and cry it off. Those without anyone waiting, with that lonely look in their eyes, always made her heart ache.

She didn’t want Jiang Chen to step out into a cold, indifferent world, with no one even to speak to.

She watched Jiang Chen’s expression carefully, and, reaching into her pocket, took out a mint she’d bought earlier at the convenience store. She unwrapped it with care, pressed the candy from its wrapper, and said, “Have a mint. Once you’ve had it, let’s head home.”

Jiang Chen glanced down at her hand.

A strange, indefinable emotion flowed through him.

The girl had said nothing comforting, nothing philosophical, yet she stood before him, steadfast and real.

Even the unwrapping of the candy was done with such care.

Jiang Chen slowly lifted his gaze, studying her face intently.

Then he leaned forward and bit down on the mint, his fingers pinching up the wrapper, and smiled gently. “Thank you.”

The cool sweetness of the mint seemed to melt straight into his heart.

Ye Mian could feel the warmth of his breath on her fingertips, and when he leaned in to take the candy, his face was suddenly so close.

Those beautiful, expressive eyes looked right at her, the curve of his lips perfect. Ye Mian couldn’t help but blush.

Heaven knew, she hadn’t meant to feed it to him!

She’d thought Jiang Chen would at least reach out his hand, but instead he’d simply brought his head forward.

She had nearly fainted from the sheer handsomeness of the moment.

Before she could recover, Jiang Chen said coolly, “Let’s go, I’ll take you back to school.”

Ye Mian glanced at the sky—indeed, it wasn’t a day to be lingering outdoors. Besides, Jiang Chen must be exhausted; he hadn’t eaten or slept well inside, and needed proper rest.

She matched his stride. “No need to see me off, I can go back myself.”

Jiang Chen looked away and smiled. “I have to go get my car too.”

Only then did Ye Mian agree to go with him, reaching into her pocket again for a strawberry candy. The sweet blend of milk and strawberry melted in her mouth.

The fog in her heart seemed to lift in an instant.

…

They hailed a cab and sat together in the back seat.

It was the first time Ye Mian had ever sat with Jiang Chen in the back.

The weather was terrible, visibility poor. Many cars involved in accidents lined the road, and at one intersection, an electric scooter had crashed straight into a traffic light, its front end smashed beyond recognition.

Jiang Chen’s expression darkened.

He pressed his brow and closed his eyes.