Chapter 148: Whispers of the Evening

The afternoon slipped away without me realizing what I’d done, and darkness slowly settled in.

In the afternoon, Han Wenwen took a special trip to shower.

When she came out, the room was filled with a fresh, inviting scent—the fox-like fragrance from her body.

At dinnertime, Lin Zheng Ran called his parents to check in.

He asked if anything was going on at home this week.

Mom Lin Xiao Li usually answered the phone: “Hey, Ran Ran? Nothing much here. How are you at school? Missing your parents?”

Though Lin Zheng Ran had returned to the small town this week, he told his parents he was staying in the dormitory. Otherwise, telling them he was spending the night with Han Wenwen would worry them.

They’d never agree, fearing something might go wrong.

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “School’s the same as always. Glad nothing’s up at home. As for missing you, yeah, I do think about you both.”

His casual mention made Lin Xiao Li feel shy for him, marveling at how different her son’s personality was—he could say things others might hesitate over straight out.

“Mom misses you too. Ever since you started high school, you’re gone for weeks at a time.”

“That’s just how it is in high school. Plus, things have been busy lately, and it’s easier to study at school. If there’s no issue, I’ll come back.”

He glanced at Han Wenwen leaning on his shoulder; the little fox was eating dinner but still had to cling to him.

Lin Xiao Li said, “Will you come home next week? If you do, we have guests coming over.”

“Yeah, I’ll definitely be back. But guests? What kind?”

On the other end, Lin Xiao Li exchanged a look with her husband, both smiling—they knew exactly what guests, probably the arranged marriage ones.

Lin Xiao Li waved it off awkwardly, “Oh, nothing special. You’ll find out when you get here. Want to chat with your dear dad?”

“Sure, that works. I haven’t heard his voice yet.”

Lin Ying Jun cleared his throat, “I’ve been listening the whole time.”

Then Lin Xiao Li suddenly laughed, “Your dad’s busy with work stuff at the office.”

After a couple more exchanges, Lin Xiao Li said, “If that’s all, we’ll hang up. You get back to what you’re doing, Ran Ran.”

Lin Zheng Ran agreed, “Got it. Bye, Mom and Dad.”

Once the call ended, Lin Zheng Ran took a few more bites before getting up to wash his hands and asked, “By the way, Wenwen, did you get that quilt for me?”

“Of course I did,” she replied, already ahead of him, washing her hands quickly before pulling out a large box from under the bed.

From it, she pulled out a brand-new cotton quilt.

“Ta-da!”

The quilt had no fancy patterns—just pure blue—but the material looked top-notch; Han Wenwen had spent a good amount on it.

The little fox carefully spread the quilt on the bed.

Once done, she looked puzzled, “It felt so luxurious at the mall, but here in the rental house, it just seems ordinary.”

Lin Zheng Ran finished washing his hands and came out to see the single bed now holding two quilts.

He commented, “It’s the surroundings. Your rental is just a single room, and with all the stuff on the bed, it looks a bit crowded.”

Lin Zheng Ran noticed that the little fox’s single bed was much larger than the one in his family’s study.

It even seemed almost like a small double bed at first glance.

“Luckily, your single bed is big—almost like a double. Otherwise, we couldn’t both sleep here. By the way, how much was this quilt? It wasn’t cheap, right?”

Han Wenwen leaned in and whispered the price into Lin Zheng Ran’s ear.

Lin Zheng Ran sighed, “You really went all out. Is this more expensive than your own quilt?”

“Can you compare them? When Wenwen buys something for Brother Zheng Ran, it has to be the best. Besides, it’s just a quilt—once you use it, I can use it too.” Her words hinted at more.

Han Wenwen wrapped her arm around Lin Zheng Ran’s and said seductively, “Shall we go to bed? The quilt’s all set.”

“Now?” Lin Zheng Ran checked his phone. “It’s only six-thirty.”

Han Wenwen had her own little schemes; her fox eyes darted around before settling on Lin Zheng Ran.

“We don’t have anything else planned for tonight. We got back from home early today, and we’ve handled everything we needed to. Wouldn’t it be nice to soak our feet and lie down? Don’t you think so, Brother Zheng Ran?”

Lin Zheng Ran wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but lying down early for some rest sounded fine.

Han Wenwen excitedly went to get the foot basin, “I’ll fetch the water. You just sit on the bed, Brother Zheng Ran!”

Lin Zheng Ran said, “I’ll brush my teeth while I’m at it.”

But Han Wenwen wouldn’t have it, “No, no! Don’t brush yet, Brother Zheng Ran—I’ll do it for you. Just wait a bit.”

Lin Zheng Ran was puzzled, remembering their chat from earlier in the bed.

“Are you serious, Wenwen? How are you going to brush my teeth?”

Han Wenwen set the foot basin on the floor, filled it with hot water, and let it cool. “Of course I’m serious. Why couldn’t I brush your teeth? I’ve learned how, you know?”

“Learned it?”

“I looked it up online specially. You’ll see once we try, Brother Zheng Ran.”

Han Wenwen went to Lin Zheng Ran’s side, grabbed a new toothbrush from the cabinet, and picked up her own too.

She waved them in front of him—one blue, one red. “Which one do you want, Brother Zheng Ran? The blue one’s new, and the red one’s mine.”

Lin Zheng Ran was surprised that the two toothbrushes looked identical except for the color.

Girls and their things were truly fascinating.

Guys’ toothbrushes usually got worn out after a while.

“The new one on the left.”

Han Wenwen pouted a little, though she had guessed he’d pick that. Oh well.

She pretended to be disappointed and said, “Alright,” then squeezed toothpaste on it.

She wet it a bit so it wouldn’t dry out the mouth while brushing.

“Ah~ Show your teeth first, Brother Zheng Ran, so I can brush the outside, then open up.”

It felt like we were playing house.

But Lin Zheng Ran indulged the little fox, baring his teeth, and Han Wenwen couldn’t help but laugh, “You look so cute like that, Brother Zheng Ran!”

She carefully brushed the surfaces of his teeth.

After the outside, she had him open wider to brush inside.

Then she curiously asked, “Your teeth are in great shape, Brother Zheng Ran—no cavities and so straight. Do you take good care of them?”

“I don’t have that much free time.”

“Do your teeth ever hurt?”

“Nope.”

Han Wenwen had filled his mouth with toothpaste foam, “I’m a bit jealous. If I eat too much sugar, my teeth ache, but I brush regularly, so I avoid cavities.”

Cavities… Lin Zheng Ran suddenly thought of the time Jiang Jingshi burned her finger. Though his all-encompassing mastery let him learn anything quickly, medical skills needed tools or materials on hand, which wasn’t always convenient. He wondered if he could find a way to make that area faster.

After brushing, he made a mental note to explore that further.

Han Wenwen handed Lin Zheng Ran a cup of water, “There, rinse your mouth and spit out the gunk.”

She was incredibly attentive.

Once done, Han Wenwen looked over his sparkling teeth with a huge sense of satisfaction.

She even made him check in the mirror.

Standing beside him, she asked eagerly, “Didn’t I do a great job, Wenwen? I told you I have a natural talent for taking care of Brother Zheng Ran. Even Xiao Qingqing couldn’t match me at this.”

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t argue; from daily massages to all the little personal touches, Han Wenwen was clearly better at caring than Heqing.

Her happy expression beamed, her invisible fox tail practically wagging as if to say, Praise me, praise me!

Lin Zheng Ran played along, “You’re really something.”

He gently stroked her head.

The little fox felt completely content, “Now, let’s get your feet soaking. I’ll brush my teeth quick.”

“Okay.”

When Lin Zheng Ran settled back on the bed, Han Wenwen turned slyly and eyed the toothbrush he’d used, now charged up.

She squeezed a bit more toothpaste on it carefully.

With a blush, she started brushing her teeth with it.

The cleaned toothbrush was no different from new, but knowing it was his made her heart race, especially sneaking it like this.

What she didn’t notice was Lin Zheng Ran returning to the bathroom suddenly.

Startled, Han Wenwen yanked the toothbrush from her mouth and held it in front of her.

With foam in her mouth, she asked, “What is it? Why’d you come back?”

“Where’s the towel for drying feet?”

“Over there—I’ll get it in a minute.” She glanced aside.

Lin Zheng Ran grabbed the towel to leave, but caught sight of Han Wenwen brushing while her pink toothbrush sat unused and dry in the cup.

Han Wenwen felt guilty and stared at his reflection in the mirror, staying silent.

Lin Zheng Ran tapped her head lightly before walking out, “You don’t mind it being used?”

The little fox flinched and shot back, “What do you mean, dirty? I don’t get it!”

Lin Zheng Ran ignored her and left.

Once he was gone, Han Wenwen peeked back and continued brushing, thinking, What’s dirty about it? It’s just a toothbrush he’s used—I’d love to share even more with Brother Zheng Ran.

After finishing, the little fox hurried to Lin Zheng Ran’s side and jumped onto the bed, “I’m skipping a wash; I showered this afternoon.”

“Alright.”

Han Wenwen cleared the clutter from the bed, straightening the quilts again.

Watching Lin Zheng Ran sit on the edge, soaking his feet and scrolling his phone, she slipped behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Resting her head on his shoulder, her whole upper body pressed against his back, with a soft warmth spreading.

“What are you thinking about, Brother Zheng Ran?” she asked playfully.

“Nothing much—just about Lily’s stuff next week, her rankings.”

Han Wenwen covered his mouth unhappily, “Shh! Don’t talk about that. The mood’s so nice—why think of other things? You should be focused on tonight.”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her, his voice muffled under her hand as he teased, knowing her thoughts, “What’s there to tonight? Time to sleep, right?”

The little fox pouted, annoyed but unable to say it outright, “Well, yeah, but…”

She bit her lip, her shy frustration making her look adorable.

Lin Zheng Ran laughed and pried her hand away, “Okay, get into your quilt. I’ll join once I finish here.”

“How can I lie down now? I still need to empty your foot water—and wash your feet.”

Lin Zheng Ran thought she was overdoing it, “Really, I can handle it myself this time.”

But Han Wenwen wasn’t having any of it; she got off the bed, knelt on the mat, and reached into the basin, her captivating eyes defiant, “I told you I’d do these things. What do you mean, no need?”

Han Wenwen’s mindset differed from Lin Zheng Ran’s; he saw it as a simple task, but she found it intimate and was eager to do it.

Plus, if she didn’t, someone else might snatch it up later.

Washing feet was different from other things—it happened at night, and since she’d done it today, it stayed that way.

Otherwise, it could turn into soaking together, maybe even cuddling in the water, and if another girl took that…

Han Wenwen could picture it: once things progressed, whoever soaked feet with Brother Zheng Ran might keep him in her room all night.

“You just don’t get it,” she said suddenly. “I said I’d do it, so no sneaking and washing yourself.”

From that moment, Lin Zheng Ran lost control over his own foot washing.

In the end, though, he emptied the water himself because Han Wenwen had done enough for one day.

He patted her head, “You can handle it next time. I’ll do this one. Go wash your hands and get in bed.”

Hearing about bed made Han Wenwen nod shyly like a pecking chick.

“Then I’ll wait for you on the bed, Brother Zheng Ran.”

Night deepened, stars twinkling outside the window.

Though faint chatter from kids or adults still drifted in from the residential area, the room was peaceful.

Lin Zheng Ran and Han Wenwen slipped into their quilts; he stared at the ceiling and sighed comfortably.

Han Wenwen lay on her side, watching him, her mind anything but relaxed—pure tension.

Her voice turned sultry, “Shall I turn off the light?”

“Not playing on your phone a bit longer?” he asked.

Han Wenwen bit her lip and shook her head slowly, “Who needs a phone when I’m with Brother Zheng Ran? It’s a waste of time.”

She used the remote to shut off the light, plunging the room into darkness.

In that moment, the little fox’s mischievous thoughts stirred, with no intention of sleeping quietly.