First Rain, First Love

«The sky wept heavy,
cold tears that fell,
A boy stood shivering,
No tale to tell.
The world rushed past,
not sparing a glance,
Alone in the storm,
caught in a trance.»

The rain poured heavily, making the streets empty and the air cold. Lan Wangji stood under a small bus stop, hugging himself tightly. His school uniform was wet, and he shivered as the cold wind blew. He didn't have an umbrella, and the bus he needed to go home was nowhere in sight.

His teeth chattered as he looked at the empty road.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of a bicycle bell. He looked up to see an older boy riding a bicycle, wearing a bright Red raincoat. The boy looked happy, even in the heavy rain, with a big smile on his face.

«Through the curtain of rain, a figure drew near,
The boy's smile,
Was soft and sincere.
An umbrella offered,
a hand outstretched,
In that moment our eyes connect »

The boy stopped his bicycle near the drenched Lan Wangji. He pushed back his raincoat hood and asked, "Hey, are you okay?"

Wangji didn't answer. He wasn't used to talking to strangers.

The boy looked at him closely and said, "You'll get sick standing here. Do you have an umbrella?"

Wangji shook his head.

"I thought so," the boy said with a chuckle. He opened his backpack and pulled out a folded umbrella. "Here, take this. I can't leave you here like this. The rain is too much."

Lan Wangji stared at him, unsure. His parents always told him to be careful with strangers. But the boy's smile was so warm, and his voice was gentle. Slowly, Wangji reached out and took the umbrella. "Thank you," he said softly.

The boy smiled even brighter. "Come with me. I'll take you somewhere safe."

Lan Wangji hesitated but nodded. He climbed onto the back of the boy's bicycle, holding onto the back of his raincoat carefully.

"Hold on tight!" the boy said as he started to pedal.

The ride was bumpy, but the boy kept talking. He talked about the rain, how much he hated math, and how his snacks always disappeared at home. Wangji didn't say anything, but he listened. The boy's cheerful voice made him feel a little warmer.

After a while, they stopped in front of a small, cozy house. The boy got off his bike and helped Wangji down.

"Mom! I brought someone home!" the boy called as they stepped inside.

A woman walked out of the kitchen. She looked surprised when she saw Wangji. "Who is this?" she asked.

"I found him at the bus stop," the boy explained. "He didn't have an umbrella, so I brought him here."

The woman smiled and shook her head. "You're always helping people," she said proudly to her son. Then she turned to Lan Wangji. "Come inside, dear. Let's get you warm."

She gave them towels and dry clothes. Lan Wangji changed and sat down at the table. The boy's mom brought them warm bowls of soup that smelled really good.

"Call your family," she said while giving her phone to Lan Wangji. "Let them know you're here."

Lan Wangji nodded but didn't know the address. The woman took the phone and spoke to his family instead. "They'll pick you up once the rain stops," she told Wangji with a kind smile and went into the kitchen again.

Feeling a little braver, Lan Wangji turned to the boy. "Thank you for helping me," he said quietly. "I'm Lan Zhan Courtesy- Wangji."

The boy grinned. "Lan Zhan, huh? I'm Wei Ying Courtesy - Wúxiàn."

Lan Wangji nodded, but his face turned red when he saw the older boy looking at him with a sweet smile.

"And No need to thank me," Wei Wúxiàn said with a laugh. "It's only natural to help someone who needs it."

Lan Wangji's cheeks turned even more red, and he lowered his gaze. He wanted to say something, but his voice felt stuck in his throat. After a moment, he quietly said, "Thank you again... Wei Gege."

Wei Wúxiàn smiled brightly. "You're welcome, Lan Zhan. By the way, which school do you go to?"

Lan Wangji hesitated for a moment, still feeling shy. "Gusu Middle School," he answered softly.

"Oh, Gusu Middle? That's close to my school! I'm at Yunmeng High," Wei Wúxiàn said. "It's just a bit further down the road. What year are you in?"

"Third year," Wangji replied, looking at his hands. He glanced up briefly at Wei Wúxiàn, then looked away again.

"Ah, middle school! Those were fun times," Wúxiàn said, leaning back in his chair. "But high school is a whole other world. I'm in my first year, and let me tell you, the homework is no joke."

Lan Wangji nodded, his fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. "Do you... like your school?"

"Yeah, it's fun! The teachers are strict, but my classmates are great. There's never a dull moment," Wei Wúxiàn said. "What about you? Do you like Gusu Middle School?"

Lan Wangji hesitated again, feeling nervous about talking too much. "It's... nice. Quiet."

"Quiet, huh?" Wúxiàn chuckled. "I bet you're one of those top students who always behaves in class, right?"

Lan Wangji's cheeks turned even redder. He shook his head slightly but didn't say anything.

"That's okay! I could never sit still for long," Wúxiàn said with a grin. "If we were in the same school, I'd probably be the one getting you in trouble for talking too much."

Lan Wangji's lips twitched into a small smile, though he quickly looked down to hide it.

Wei Wúxiàn saw it nevertheless and leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "You're really shy, aren't you?" he asked gently.

Lan Wangji's blush deepened, and he nodded faintly. "I... don't talk much."

"That's fine," Wei Wúxiàn said, his tone warm. "You don't have to say much. I'll do the talking for both of us!"

Lan Wangji peeked up at him, his heart fluttering at the older boy's easy smile. "Thank you," he said again, his voice almost a whisper.

"Hey, you already said that!" Wei Wúxiàn teased, reaching out to gently ruffle Wangji's hairs. "No need to be so formal, Lan Zhan."

«His touch was like sunlight, tender and light,
A balm in the cold,
a star in the night.
Each word he spoke,
a melody sweet,
The rain seemed to soften where their hearts did meet»

Lan Wangji froze at the touch, his face burning as he ducked his head shyly. He didn't pull away, though. Somehow, the gesture felt comforting.

For the first time, Wangji felt warm-not just from the soup, but from the presence of the cheerful boy sitting across from him. He glanced up one more time, meeting Wúxiàn's bright eyes, and felt his heart skip a beat.

That was the day Lan Wangji first fell in love-with the boy who smiled like sunshine after a storm.

«The first love of his life,
born in the rain.»