Chapter 109: Whispers of the Night

Heqing hadn’t expected him to agree so quickly and quickly sat up: “Really?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied as if it were the most natural thing: “Of course. I promised to grant you one wish back then, and I’ll follow through. As long as it’s not too outrageous, I’ll agree to anything you say.”

“Anything?”

Though she was thrilled, Heqing suddenly felt like she’d missed out. It seemed if she’d asked for something more, he might have said yes too.

“Can I say it again?” she asked.

“Of course not. You can’t take back a wish. It’s a one-time thing,” Lin Zheng Ran refused firmly.

Seeing her confused, wronged, and feeling cheated, Lin Zheng Ran patted his shoulder as a gesture of compensation.

Heqing didn’t get it at first: “What?”

But she caught on right away, her face flushing and heart racing.

Lin Zheng Ran picked up his book again:

“Lean on me and rest a bit. Otherwise, you’ll just sit there all night watching me, and you won’t get sleepy. You played in that competition all afternoon and must be exhausted, even if you didn’t get hurt. Leaning on me will make you more comfortable.”

Heqing bit her lip, feeling like everything tonight seemed unreal.

Today, he’s been so kind to me.

Even if it felt like a dream, she quickly scooted closer to Lin Zheng Ran.

Dream or reality, she just wanted to be close to him.

But she asked one more time: “Can I really lean on you?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Heqing tentatively gripped Lin Zheng Ran’s arm with her small hand, slowly shifting her upper body’s weight onto his shoulder.

With her hair down, Heqing looked especially relaxed.

She felt the solid strength of Lin Zheng Ran’s arm and breathed in his scent, a wave of indescribable happiness washing over her face, like colorful bubbles floating around.

“Your shoulder is so comfortable, feels so sturdy…”

Lin Zheng Ran frowned at Heqing leaning on his shoulder: “What do you mean ‘so sturdy’? Can you even describe it right?”

Heqing quickly looked up, afraid he’d get mad and make her stop: “I didn’t mean it like that! I just meant it’s really comfortable to lean on. Your arm is strong and solid, not what you think!”

Lin Zheng Ran ignored the silly girl and went back to his book.

Heqing let out a relieved breath.

At least he didn’t kick me out.

Thinking she was being clever, Heqing eyed his arm and slowly slipped her hand between it and his body, trying to hook onto it like in TV dramas.

She was careful not to let him notice, moving just a little at a time, though Lin Zheng Ran knew exactly what she was up to and just let it slide.

Finally, she succeeded in wrapping her arm around his, grinning to herself about how smart she was: “Lin Zheng Ran, why are you always reading books?”

“What else would I do? What do you do at night?”

Heqing thought for a moment, counting on her fingers: “Chat with Wen Wen, about clothes, makeup, school stuff, and…” Her face turned red, and various naughty topics.

Wen Wen loved talking about that stuff.

Lin Zheng Ran flipped a page: “Talk about what?”

Heqing shook her head like a bobble: “Nothing much… Let’s not talk about it! But I mean, don’t you ever have fun? Studying every day must be so tiring. It makes me worry about you…”

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t hold back a laugh this time, looking at her like she was absurd, but Heqing meant it sincerely.

She gazed at him earnestly.

Lin Zheng Ran advised: “Close your eyes and rest for a bit. When you get sleepy, head back to your room. You’ve got another competition tomorrow.”

Heqing nodded, her feet tucked under the covers, happily resting against Lin Zheng Ran’s leg as she shut her eyes.

It felt just like a dream today.

Lin Zheng Ran smells so good. Oh right, Wen Wen told me to ask if he thinks I smell nice… I haven’t asked yet.

They say people who like each other can smell a scent on one another. I can smell his, but I wonder if he can smell mine.

To Lin Zheng Ran’s surprise, Heqing fell asleep on his shoulder in no time.

It barely took two minutes before her breathing steadied.

She was out like a light.

Staring at Heqing’s peaceful sleeping face, her long eyelashes stood out. Even though they’d been together a lot, you can overlook beauty when you’re used to it.

But sometimes, Lin Zheng Ran noticed the sweet charm on Heqing’s face that outshone many pretty girls.

Though this little girl was really tired today. She hadn’t slept earlier because her mind was full of random thoughts, but once she relaxed, she dropped off fast.

Lin Zheng Ran carefully got out of bed and scooped her up in his arms like a princess, carrying her to the bedroom.

He tucked her in under the covers.

Heqing’s face still glowed with happiness as she murmured in her sleep: “Lin Zheng Ran, we’ll be together forever, right?”

Lin Zheng Ran stroked her head: “Of course.”

He closed the door and left the room.

The next morning dawned bright and sunny.

Heqing woke up comfortably in bed, then realized she was at Lin Zheng Ran’s home.

She bolted upright, memories of last night flooding back: “No way! Was all that just a dream?! It can’t be!!”

Lin Zheng Ran knocked on the door: “What’s with the racket? Get changed and come eat breakfast.”

Hearing his voice, Heqing quickly asked: “Lin Zheng Ran! Don’t go, I need to ask you something!”

Lin Zheng Ran opened the door, used to her quirky ways: “What now?”

Heqing, still in her pajamas, blushed and stammered: “I mean, did I… did I come to your room last night?”

Lin Zheng Ran just looked at her blankly.

Heqing stared back, clueless.

Lin Zheng Ran said: “I carried you here after you fell asleep. It wasn’t a dream like you just shouted. Now get up.”

Heqing was flooded with joy, too happy to speak.

Her face lit up with delight as she smiled sweetly at him.

“Okay! I’m up right now!”

In the bedroom, she changed clothes, her inner homemaker stirring again as she neatly folded the blankets and straightened the bed.

While tidying, she hummed happily: “Not a dream, not a dream, it’s all real!”

She skipped out of the bedroom.

“Where are Uncle and Aunt?” she asked.

Lin Zheng Ran sat at the coffee table eating breakfast: “They went out to buy stuff. Probably back this afternoon. But we won’t be here; we’ll head straight to school.”

“Oh, okay!”

Heqing washed her hands and sat next to Lin Zheng Ran, turning to stare at him.

She wanted to say something.

Lin Zheng Ran looked back: “What’s up now?”

The lovesick girl couldn’t resist whispering: “I want to lean on your shoulder like last night…”

Lin Zheng Ran kept eating: “Fine, but win your match today. Don’t lose to that Lin Xue.”

“Really? Got it!”

Heqing shifted her chair, hooked her arm around his, and rested her head on Lin Zheng Ran’s shoulder, her little feet swinging under the chair.

“This bread is so good. Here, let me feed you some.”

“No thanks, I have my own hands.”