You hadn’t meant to forget your keys when you made a spontaneous visit to the Time Photo Studio to surprise Lu Guang. The forecast hadn’t mentioned anything about rain, either, so you hadn’t brought an umbrella. That’s why you were now standing under the awning outside, clothes soaked with rainwater, waiting for him to arrive. As soon as he got your text, he dropped what he was doing and rushed over. So much for your surprise.

Of course, Lu Guang didn’t let you off the hook without a scolding. He unlocked the shop door and let you in before stepping inside himself and dragging you to his room. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” he asked, rummaging for a spare set of his clothes. “I would’ve gotten here earlier.”

He handed you a towel and the change of clothes, gesturing toward the restroom. “Be out within twenty minutes.” Then, he headed downstairs to start the kettle, knowing you’d need something warm. He had made up his mind as soon as he’d heard you sneeze from the other side of the door—he couldn’t afford to let you get sick.

When the sound of running water stopped, Lu Guang retrieved a blanket and draped it over your shoulders before handing you a cup of tea, letting you settle onto the couch. “You didn’t dry your hair?” he asked, frowning. When you dismissed his concern, insisting it would air dry, he let out an exasperated sigh before disappearing and returning with a hairbrush and dryer. It took him longer than it should have to spray your hair and turn on the dryer—he had been discreetly researching how to dry hair properly. Although he would never admit it, he wanted to make an effort for you.

“You have to dry your hair right away,” he muttered, carefully working through the strands. “Otherwise, you’ll get sick and start spreading disease.”