Chapter 117: Holiday Morning Reunions

The second morning of the National Day holiday, the sky was still dark.

Most people were up early, eager to leave school and catch rides home, so the dormitory buzzed with activity.

Lin Zheng Ran was among them; after all, those three little ones didn’t like taxis and preferred the earliest bus, just like Heqing.

No one knew why, but it seemed they shared Heqing’s mindset.

Lin Zheng Ran left the dormitory around five, heading to the school gate—better early than late. He hadn’t been reading; instead, his mind wandered to other things, like how relying on the little ones for rebate money was too slow lately.

He felt it was time to take matters into his own hands; he was developed enough to handle more now.

Today, Han Wenwen and Lily would head back to the small town with Lin Zheng Ran, while Heqing was going to her old home.

As Lin Zheng Ran waited at the gate in the dim early light, a soft, sweet voice called out from afar: “Lin Zheng Ran!”

He turned and saw Heqing running toward him, out of breath.

“You’re here so early? And alone? Where’s Han Wenwen?”

Heqing had her small backpack on and giggled at his words, which might or might not count as concern. A girl in love always arrives early to see her sweetheart.

“My high-speed train leaves at six, so I need to get there early. Han Wenwen’s still packing. I came down just to find you—I figured you’d be early, but not this early.”

Lin Zheng Ran picked up on the key point in her words: “Came down to find me? Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing at all,” she said, shaking her head.

Sometimes Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t quite follow the girl’s train of thought: “It’s only six. Why book such an early train? You used to go home around eight or nine during holidays and sleep in.”

Heqing stood beside Lin Zheng Ran:

“Oh, I just wanted to get home early to buy gifts for Mom and Grandma. And I know you all are taking the six o’clock bus, so I booked the same time. That way, I get to see you a bit longer this morning.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled: “Is that necessary? We’re together every day anyway.”

Heqing blinked innocently: “We see each other every day, but that doesn’t stop me from missing you. Even daily meetings can’t erase the want, and with a whole week ahead where I won’t see you, I had to come early just for this moment.”

Lin Zheng Ran tapped her forehead lightly with his finger.

She let out a soft “ouch,” though it didn’t really hurt.

Blushing, she rubbed her forehead and glanced back, seeing Han Wenwen hadn’t arrived yet. She asked Lin Zheng Ran: “Where’s Lily?”

“She hasn’t shown up either. You’re the first one here. They usually don’t come until at least five-thirty, and it’s only twenty past now.”

Heqing’s ears turned red, maybe from the morning chill: “Oh, so no one’s here yet… just you and me.”

She looked up at Lin Zheng Ran, as if hinting at something.

Lin Zheng Ran stared back, curious about what she was up to.

Heqing fidgeted with her hands in front of her, then glanced at his.

“Um, well, while they’re not here yet… are your hands cold? Want me to warm them up?” she asked hesitantly.

Lin Zheng Ran eyed her playful awkwardness: “Warm my hands? I think you’re colder than I am this early.”

“Cold? I’m not cold, but I guess girls’ hands are cooler than boys’.” Heqing cupped her hands like she was holding water and blew warm breaths into them:

“There, now mine are warm. Let me warm yours. Otherwise…”

She glanced back nervously: “Otherwise, they’ll be here soon—Han Wenwen’s on her way. Come on, quick.” She sounded urgent.

Amused by her, Lin Zheng Ran held out his hand.

Heqing quickly grasped it with both of hers, blowing warm breaths into his palm, beaming with joy:

“There, that should warm you up. The breath from your mouth is as warm as body heat—around thirty-seven degrees, I think. Han Wenwen told me boys find that cozy.”

“Thirty-seven degrees is cozy?”

Lin Zheng Ran wondered if that little fox meant something else; her words often had layers.

After all, she was far more mature than innocent Heqing.

But straightforward Heqing only half-understood such things and used the moment to lean closer to Lin Zheng Ran.

She inched as near as she could.

Unbeknownst to them, not far from the school gate, Lily—who usually woke to her alarm around five-thirty—had stirred an hour earlier today.

She tossed and turned in the dormitory, unable to sleep, her mind heavy with thoughts from the past week. After a quick wash, she headed downstairs, figuring she’d wait at the gate for the bus.

Maybe someone else would be early too.

But as she approached, she spotted Lin Zheng Ran already there and started toward him to say hi.

Then she heard Heqing call his name and instinctively ducked away.

Hidden in the bushes, she watched as Heqing talked to him, getting closer and closer until he extended his hand.

And there she was, holding it and blowing on it. From her spot, Lily couldn’t hear the words, but the intimacy made her eyes widen with jealousy.

Heqing cupped his hand and warmed it with her breath.

That close moment left Lily biting her lip, her face flushing as she hid deeper in the bushes.

“They’re holding hands! Does that mean Heqing and Zheng Ran are really together? Was everything she said true?”

Even further back, neither Lily nor Heqing knew that as soon as Heqing had gone downstairs, Han Wenwen had rushed to pack and follow.

She suspected Heqing was off to see Lin Zheng Ran and hurried to the gate.

The little fox arrived just in time to catch the hand-warming scene, her lips pursing in envy. But then, she heard a rustle from the bushes ahead.

Peering closer, she spotted Lily spying too.

In that instant, an odd lineup formed: Han Wenwen watching, then Lily, then Heqing and Lin Zheng Ran.

Luckily, Heqing had to catch her high-speed train, so she couldn’t linger.

Han Wenwen couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped out, acting casual: “Xiao Qingqing, Lin Zheng Ran! Why are you both out so early? Especially you, Xiao Qingqing—you didn’t even wait for me.”

Heqing jumped at the sound and quickly let go of Lin Zheng Ran’s hand.

Her face red, she fumbled awkwardly, not knowing where to put her hands.

In the bushes, Lily shrank back in a panic.

Though Han Wenwen pretended not to notice, she shot Lin Zheng Ran a jealous glare as she approached, which he caught.

Han Wenwen smiled and reminded: “Xiao Qingqing, isn’t it time for your train? You’ll miss it if you don’t hurry.”