Chapter 188: Whispers of the Heart

The boy’s name was Jiang Cheng Xin, and he was always right in the middle of the class rankings.

He wasn’t particularly standout in looks, but he had a certain handsomeness, though his personality was extremely shy.

Because his name reminded Lin Zheng Ran of a character from a film or show he’d watched before, it stuck with him. Seeing Jiang Cheng Xin’s serious expression now, Lin Zheng Ran blinked in surprise and said, “What did you say?”

Jiang Cheng Xin froze for a second, realizing what he’d blurted out, and quickly waved his hands.

“No, no, no! I misspoke. I didn’t mean I like the class monitor. I meant I like a girl in our class and wanted to ask the class monitor for advice!”

Lin Zheng Ran frowned. “Ask for my advice? Who do you like?”

Jiang Cheng Xin glanced around the hallway to make sure no one was nearby and whispered, “It’s Fan Mo Mo from our class. I’ve liked her for a long time.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at the program list in his hands. “I’ll hand this to the teacher first. We can talk more when I get back.”

“Okay.”

He delivered the program list to the office.

Lin Zheng Ran headed with him to the rooftop entrance, unaware that Jiang Qian was just coming up the stairs and glancing over.

Since the rooftop door was locked, they could only sit by the entrance. This spot was usually quiet and undisturbed.

Jiang Cheng Xin sat on the steps and said:

“Fan Mo Mo and I were classmates in middle school. We met in eighth grade when she had just broken up with her boyfriend. She was crying a lot at school,

so I went to comfort her, and that’s when I started liking her. Over the years, we’ve stayed friends. I’ve occasionally bought her treats, and sometimes she’d give me things, though that didn’t happen often.”

Lin Zheng Ran stood nearby, curious. “Not often—how many times are we talking?”

“Two or three times. After we started high school, she really liked those expensive bananas, saying it was for practicing her skills.” He chuckled. “She’s always into driving around. Sometimes if she didn’t finish them, she’d give me a couple.”

Lin Zheng Ran said, “Go on.”

Jiang Cheng Xin hesitated. “Well, now that high school’s ending, I asked her about her college plans a few days ago and found out we’re applying to the same school. I was thinking, does that mean she might like me too? I want to confess while I have the chance.”

Jiang Cheng Xin looked up at Lin Zheng Ran. “I know the class monitor has a lot of girls around him.” He explained,

“I’m not saying you’re a player or anything, but you do have a ton of pretty girls around you. That’s why I wanted to get your take on this.”

No sooner had Jiang Cheng Xin finished than a faint sound came from downstairs.

Startled, Jiang Cheng Xin jumped to his feet and gripped the railing, peering down. “Who’s down there?!”

Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Cheng Xin looked toward the stairwell on the floor below and saw Jiang Qian standing there.

Jiang Cheng Xin was shocked. “Deputy class monitor?”

Lin Zheng Ran said, “Jiang Qian?”

Jiang Qian’s eyes were as cool and unchanged as ever, though inside she felt a bit awkward. “I was just passing by, but I heard everything.”

She had seen Lin Zheng Ran sneak off with a boy to a corner when she went to the classroom and hadn’t planned to follow, but then she thought, what if it’s a fight? She could help him out.

So she came to check and ended up overhearing it all.

Jiang Cheng Xin said, embarrassed, “The deputy class monitor heard it all?”

Jiang Qian stepped closer. “Yeah, I did.”

Lin Zheng Ran asked her, “How is this place on the way anywhere?”

Jiang Qian felt a little sheepish about admitting the truth, but her voice stayed icy. “Just out for a walk. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. Sorry.”

Jiang Cheng Xin waved it off. “It’s fine.”

She turned to the boy. “Can I share my thoughts?”

Jiang Cheng Xin sat back down, his face twisted with uncertainty.

“Sure, of course. The deputy class monitor’s a girl, so you’d understand girls better.”

Jiang Qian stood next to Lin Zheng Ran and said:

“Personally, I really don’t recommend you confess to Fan Mo Mo. Your personalities are too different. She’s lively in our class and gets along with everyone,

while you’re so quiet. Even though you’ve been friends for years, I think the chances she likes you are slim.”

Jiang Cheng Xin hung his head, his hands clenched together. “I guess that’s how it is…”

Jiang Qian asked Lin Zheng Ran, “You think the same, right?”

But Lin Zheng Ran shook his head. “No, I don’t. I’m all for Jiang Cheng Xin confessing. After all, a small chance is still a chance.”

Jiang Qian was surprised.

Jiang Cheng Xin looked up, a mix of excitement and nerves. “The class monitor really thinks that? You believe confessing is a good idea?!”

Lin Zheng Ran looked serious as he analyzed. “Of course. High school graduation is the perfect time for it. If not now, when? How do you plan to do it?”

Jiang Cheng Xin stood up, gesturing with his hands. “Like, set up candles and balloons, maybe in a park? I just wanted to get your advice.”

It was a good thing Lily wasn’t around, or she’d find this all too familiar.

Lin Zheng Ran suggested, “Don’t make it that complicated. Just get a small bouquet. The key is the sincerity. Find a quiet spot for just the two of you and say what’s in your heart.”

“That simple?” Jiang Cheng Xin asked, doubtful. “Wouldn’t making it more formal boost the chances?”

Lin Zheng Ran held up two fingers. “Then get two bouquets. Double the odds.”

“Huh?”

“That’s settled. What about the date?”

“Well, I was thinking after the graduation ceremony. I’m singing at the party, and that song’s for her.”

“Sounds good.”

Lin Zheng Ran patted his shoulder approvingly. “Then good luck! Get ready for it.”

Jiang Cheng Xin nodded vigorously, full of confidence. “Got it! No problem!”

After hearing Lin Zheng Ran say that, Jiang Qian added, “Yeah, give it your all. Maybe it’ll work out.”

“Thanks, class monitor and deputy class monitor! I hope your love lives are happy too!!”

Jiang Qian’s expression flickered at that, her face flushing red as she watched the boy head downstairs. He walked a few steps before realizing:

“I didn’t get this wrong, did I? The teacher mentioned recently that the deputy class monitor and class monitor are a couple, right?”

Jiang Qian stayed silent.

He laughed and waved as he left.

The second miss glanced back at Lin Zheng Ran, but he didn’t pay any mind to rumors like that—after all, he’d dealt with plenty growing up.

The second miss steadied her emotions, and once she spoke to Lin Zheng Ran, her tone softened considerably, losing its cold edge:

“Why did you encourage him to confess? From what I see, his chances of failing are ninety-nine point nine percent—basically zero.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at Jiang Qian with a helpless smile. “You can just say one hundred percent. This isn’t a math problem with exact probabilities.”

“So why?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied casually:

“No real reason. Confessing isn’t a big deal in life. If you want to, just do it. Besides, since he came to me for advice, that means he’s been thinking about it for days, maybe months.

Do you think if I told him not to, he wouldn’t do it? He’d confess eventually—it’s just a matter of time. Better to know the result now than chase for two years in college and find out then.”

Jiang Qian nodded. “That makes sense, but for something that’s bound to fail, couldn’t we just tell him the truth and stop him?”

Lin Zheng Ran added:

“You don’t think he knows it’ll probably fail? Liking someone always comes with risks—it’s not guaranteed. And when you said that earlier, didn’t he say ‘I guess that’s how it is’? That means he knows the odds are slim.”

Jiang Qian paused, taken aback.

Lin Zheng Ran laughed:

“Winning and losing is normal in life. If you’re always hesitant, you’re not really living it. I admire his courage. If it fails, he can learn from it and try again.

Even if he gets heartbroken, he’ll get over it eventually. Everyone deserves a successful confession someday. You can’t let past failures stop you from trying—what’s the point of holding back forever? It’d just keep you stuck and unhappy.”

As Lin Zheng Ran brushed past Jiang Qian and headed down from the rooftop, he glanced back. “Right? And at first, you didn’t think he should, but you ended up supporting him.”

Jiang Qian stared into Lin Zheng Ran’s confident eyes, and something from her elementary school days flashed in her mind—things she’d always avoided. A faint smile crossed her face.

“Yeah, though I only said that to go along with you.”

“And now?”

Jiang Qian’s lips parted slightly. “You’re right. I support him confessing now too.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled and continued downstairs.

Jiang Qian watched his figure fade into the distance.

Her face was flushed with color.

She pressed a hand to her chest, clutching her clothes.

Her long lashes trembled, her eyes shimmering as she murmured to herself, “My heart’s racing so fast… What’s happening to me?”