Chapter 181: Warehouse Whispers

The mouse spotted humans and panicked—most mice would bolt, but this one acted strangely cocky. Instead of running, it charged at Fang Meng with shrill squeaks.

Fang Meng’s face paled with fear as she clung tighter to Lin Zheng Ran. He swiftly kicked the little mouse away.

It sailed through the air in a graceful arc, vanishing into the warehouse clutter.

He glanced at Fang Meng, her face buried in his arm: “It’s gone now. You’re scared of a little mouse? I thought you practiced martial arts?”

Fang Meng looked back, saw the mouse had disappeared, and her trembling heart eased a bit. She replied:

“Does practicing martial arts mean I’m not afraid of mice? Everyone has their own fears.”

Lin Zheng Ran met Fang Meng’s gaze, his eyes drifting down without thinking.

He noticed that after she stood, her pants had a huge tear, revealing her pink lace underwear clearly.

It was youthful pink lace underwear.

Her top was also pink underwear, fully visible from the side.

Fang Meng caught Lin Zheng Ran’s stare and shyly squatted, yanking at her torn clothes: “Pervert! Stop looking!”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed: “You’re the one who came to me, right? How does that make me the pervert?”

“I…” her voice softened: “Then don’t look anymore.” She knew it was her fault.

“How about I grab my jacket for you? I hung it outside the warehouse when I came to move stuff.”

Fang Meng glanced up: “Okay, thanks.”

“Wait here.”

As he moved to leave, Fang Meng grabbed his pant leg, worried: “Come back quick—there’s a mouse, and I’m scared.”

Lin Zheng Ran turned to the anxious Fang Meng, recalling how for over a year she’d watched him with a blank expression, like Jiang Qian’s unyielding guard, showing no emotion.

But lately, she was expressing feelings—blushing, fearing, worrying—emotions that rarely surfaced before.

Fang Meng asked: “Why aren’t you speaking? And what’s that look on your face?”

Lin Zheng Ran said: “Nothing, just thinking we’re getting to know each other better. Don’t worry, I’m not going far; I’ll be back soon.”

He handed her his phone: “Use this to call Jiang Qian and ask her to bring you some clothes.”

“Mm.”

Fang Meng took the phone, squatted down, and watched Lin Zheng Ran leave the warehouse, her cheeks flushed.

Holding the phone, she muttered: “Getting to know each other better? What does that mean?” Scenes from last week’s KTV singing flashed in her mind, making her heart race. She sighed quietly afterward.

She tried to steady her heartbeat and stop overthinking.

Lin Zheng Ran stepped out, found his jacket hanging outside, and headed back.

This moment was accidentally spotted by Jiang Qian on the playground, who was tallying attendance.

Her cool eyes fixed on Lin Zheng Ran’s odd actions in the distant warehouse. Class wasn’t over yet; why was he fetching his jacket?

And hadn’t he gone to call Fang Meng?

Yet after so long, Fang Meng hadn’t appeared, and Lin Zheng Ran had returned to the warehouse multiple times.

Jiang Qian felt puzzled and suddenly thought of rumors about couples. Though Lin Zheng Ran had denied it, still…

She approached the PE teacher: “Teacher, I think we’ve got most of the count. I need to use the restroom.”

The PE teacher took the sheet: “Alright, I’ll handle the rest. Go ahead.”

“Thanks, teacher.”

As Jiang Qian neared the warehouse, her phone in her pocket vibrated.

She checked it and saw Lin Zheng Ran calling.

She didn’t answer; instead, she slipped through the door gap into the sports warehouse.

She heard sounds from the corner.

Fang Meng: “Did you get the jacket?”

“Yeah, but your top’s full of dust and torn. Might as well toss it—don’t want it dirtying my clothes.”

“Huh?”

“Huh what? It’s already wrecked, and you’re still in your underwear. What’s the big deal?”

Jiang Qian froze. Taking off clothes? Was that what she just heard?

She held the vibrating phone.

Moving closer, she saw something and her eyes widened in shock.

In the corner, Lin Zheng Ran had just removed his jacket.

Fang Meng had already taken off her top.

She was down to her underwear on top.

Her pants were in shreds, and the two were up to something unclear.

Lin Zheng Ran and Fang Meng spotted Jiang Qian suddenly, and the three stared at each other.

Jiang Qian, shocked, clenched her fists, her face twisting in despair: “Are you two that desperate… planning to hook up here with the door wide open?”

Fang Meng waved frantically: “No, no! Qian Qian, you misunderstood! We’re not!”

After some explanation.

Jiang Qian reluctantly believed:

“So, you went to get something, your top got torn, then your pants, and stuff fell from the shelf, making it worse until Lin Zheng Ran found you like that?”

Fang Meng, now in Lin Zheng Ran’s jacket, sat aside: “Yeah, it’s ridiculous, but that’s what happened. I have no idea why I’m so unlucky.”

Jiang Qian noted Lin Zheng Ran’s clothes were fine and said: “Alright, it’s a stretch, but I buy it more than you two getting it on here with the door open.”

Fang Meng looked up, confused: “What do you mean? I don’t get it.”

“Nothing.”

In Jiang Qian’s mind, she couldn’t accept Lin Zheng Ran and Fang Meng being intimate, so she went with the other story.

Fang Meng and Jiang Qian locked eyes.

They both recalled their recent conflicts.

Lin Zheng Ran said: “Jiang Qian, Fang Meng can’t leave like this. Ask your driver to bring her some clothes.”

Jiang Qian nodded: “Got it.”

She quickly grabbed her phone and called the driver.

Before it connected, Fang Meng said softly: “Thanks, Qian Qian.”

Jiang Qian glanced at her and smiled: “No problem. Even though you’re not my assistant anymore, we’re still best friends. It’s nothing.”

Fang Meng’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked up at Jiang Qian.

Jiang Qian spoke with the driver about the clothes; he promised to arrive in ten minutes.

After hanging up, she added: “He’ll be here in ten minutes. Hang tight.”

Fang Meng nodded.

In the quiet ten minutes that followed, Fang Meng sat on a gym mat.

Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Qian stood across from her.

Lin Zheng Ran felt the vibe was right—no need to wait until afternoon. He said: “I’ll step out for air and watch for anyone coming for Fang Meng. You two chat here.”

He left the warehouse.

Only Fang Meng and Jiang Qian remained in the corner.

Both women glanced toward where Lin Zheng Ran had been, understanding his intent.

The friends exchanged looks, hesitated briefly, then Jiang Qian and Fang Meng both gathered courage and clenched their fingers.

Almost at once, they spoke:

“Qian Qian, I’m sorry about last time.”

“Xiao Meng, I’m sorry about last time.”

They paused, stared at each other, then burst into laughter.

Like girls do, once they started, they couldn’t stop.

Jiang Qian and Fang Meng sat together on the mat.

They openly shared their thoughts with each other.