Chapter 195: Whispers of Youth and Secrets

At the practice room door, Lin Zheng Ran and Han Wenwen walked in one after the other.

During their intimate moment in the storage room earlier, Han Wenwen hadn’t expected five minutes to fly by so quickly. The original three minutes felt too short, so Lin Zheng Ran had stolen two more, but she still craved more.

The sensation on her lips left her longing, a magical and comfortable experience she never imagined.

The moment their lips met, it felt like her entire nervous system melted away.

She should have tempted Brother Zheng Ran sooner.

Yet, with these thoughts swirling, Han Wenwen tried to act normal, but her cheeks still flushed red.

Her legs felt a bit unsteady too.

Lin Zheng Ran seemed more at ease once inside the practice room, though the sweet taste from Han Wenwen’s lips lingered on his teeth.

This little fox was deliciously sweet.

“Lily, Heqing, you two made it?”

Lily bounded over first, her tone as lively as ever, laced with a touch of pride:

“The classroom was boring, so I came to see how everyone’s performing their acts.” The subtext was clear: I’m not here just for you.

Lin Zheng Ran reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

Lily’s face turned red as she glanced around, spotting several girls staring with envy and jealousy.

She felt both proud and shy, stammering with her hands behind her back: “W-why are you touching my head with so many people around? I’m not a kid anymore.”

Han Wenwen watched from the side, a twinge of jealousy rising, but she kept quiet.

Heqing approached slowly, her eyes on Lin Zheng Ran’s hand stroking Lily’s head. Though jealous, her focus shifted more to Lily’s earlier comment.

Does Wenwen have a crush on Lin Zheng Ran?

Heqing had thought it impossible before, since they’d all been together so long and Wenwen would have shown signs by now.

But on second thought, maybe not—because she hadn’t considered it until now. Looking closer, Wenwen did seem to care for Lin Zheng Ran in subtle ways.

Even when Lin Zheng Ran played the field, Wenwen got jealous, though she claimed it was just to fit in.

But if that was a lie…

Could it be true? Has Wenwen been secretly crushing on Lin Zheng Ran all along?!

Heqing turned to Han Wenwen, who stood quietly watching Lin Zheng Ran and Lily: “Wenwen? What were you and Lin Zheng Ran up to just now?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied smoothly: “We went to drop something off for the teacher. It was too much for one person, so I asked Han Wenwen to help.”

The little fox couldn’t find words right then.

She was still savoring the earlier sensation, licking her lips as an itch built inside, afraid speaking too much would give her away.

Heqing called out again: “Wenwen?”

It startled Han Wenwen out of her daze: “What?” She responded to Heqing with an awkward, smiling squint: “What’s up, Xiao Qingqing?”

Han Wenwen went over and linked arms with Heqing.

Heqing smiled and shook her head: “Nothing, just noticed you spacing out.”

Han Wenwen whispered in her ear: “My period’s coming soon; that’s why I’m out of it.”

“Oh, yeah, I think yours is due around now, Wenwen.”

Han Wenwen chuckled softly, but her eyes drifted back to Lin Zheng Ran stroking Lily’s head, filled with jealousy as she thought, When will he stop?

That’s enough already.

Heqing studied Han Wenwen’s expression, glancing between her and Lin Zheng Ran, wondering if Wenwen was really fixated on him.

After a short chat, Lin Zheng Ran led the three girls to the judges’ table and sat them down.

He said: “You three can sit here. The view’s great, and you’ll get to see all the behind-the-scenes action of the performances.”

Lily, with her twin ponytails, sat to Lin Zheng Ran’s right, while Heqing and Han Wenwen took the left.

Lily marveled at the spot: “This view is amazing.”

“Oh, Zheng Ran, I thought of something the other day. You were the student rep in high school, so will you be the student council president in university? I mean, even there, I don’t think anyone could outshine you. You’d definitely get it, right?”

Lin Zheng Ran knew exactly what Lily was hinting at:

“What are you up to? You didn’t get to be the discipline committee member in high school because of singing practice, and now you’re craving it, aren’t you?”

Lily scratched her head, blushing as she looked away:

“What do you mean ‘craving it’? I just think managing discipline builds character. Plus, I heard university gives credits for it, and it’s meaningful for keeping the campus in order. If you’re president, I’d love to be the disciplinary department head.”

Heqing asked sweetly: “Lily, you want to join the student council? Won’t it be busy, though?”

Lily knew a bit about it:

“Normally, yeah, there are events, but if Zheng Ran’s president, I’d be busy with him. And as chair, he’d have a big office.” She spread her arms wide: “We could hang out there all the time, join activities together—sounds perfect!”

Heqing nodded in understanding, smiling: “I get it. I’ve seen something like that in an anime. Count me in too!” She raised her hand.

Han Wenwen chimed in with a sly fox-like squint: “Me too. I’ll be Lin Zheng Ran’s secretary. I remember the university student council has a secretariat for handling his documents and such.”

Lily was thrilled about this: “Great! Let’s make it official. If Zheng Ran’s president, we all join. If not, we skip it and keep things as they are.”

Heqing agreed happily but gave Han Wenwen a knowing glance.

Over at the props team, Fang Meng was still checking the items for tomorrow’s use. She glanced toward the judges’ table where the three girls chatted lively with Lin Zheng Ran, and a subtle discomfort crossed her eyes.

Her phone buzzed again—it was from Jiang Qian.

Jiang Qian: “Did Lin Zheng Ran ask why I didn’t show up? If not, forget it.”

Fang Meng thought this was the third time Jiang Qian had asked.

Fang Meng replied: “Not yet; he’s still busy. I’ll let you know when he does.”

Jiang Qian: “Got it. No surprise there.”

Though she said that, the second miss in the villa buried half her face in a pillow, puzzled: “Why hasn’t he asked about me? Why not?”

Luckily, it was before lunch.

Everyone in the practice room finished rehearsals, and Lin Zheng Ran planned to take the three little ones out for a bite.

That’s when he noticed Fang Meng still tallying props and casually asked:

“Oh, Fang Meng, isn’t Jiang Qian here today?”

Fang Meng blinked: “Jiang Qian had something come up; she’s not at school, but she said she’ll be here tonight to practice piano with you.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled: “Alright. You should go eat too; don’t rush the props—plenty of time this afternoon.”

“Okay.” Fang Meng’s cheeks tinted pink.

After Lin Zheng Ran left, Fang Meng pulled out her phone to reply to Jiang Qian: “He asked about you—just why you didn’t come.”

In the villa, Jiang Qian’s heart raced at the message:

“Really? How did he ask? What did you say? Tell me every word—I knew he’d ask!”