Chapter 200: Whispers of Longing

Meanwhile, after sending messages to Jiang Jingshi, Lin Zheng Ran stepped out of the bathroom and sat on his bed in the bedroom.

He was just about to catch a quick nap.

Then his phone started buzzing nonstop.

On the day of the graduation ceremony, among the Three Little Ones, only Heqing had gone back to her Southern Old Home, but they had already agreed on the travel plans.

So, before leaving, Heqing promised at the Station that she’d return in a week.

But for some reason, this time Heqing was missing Lin Zheng Ran intensely—after just two days at home, she couldn’t stand it anymore, maybe because things with Fang Meng weren’t sorted out.

Or perhaps for other reasons.

Anyway, these past couple of days, Heqing couldn’t even sleep peacefully at home; she felt lonely in her bedroom, had no appetite for meals, and her mom thought it was about worrying over exam results and told her not to stress.

But Heqing replied, “Mom, I miss Lin Zheng Ran. I want to see him,” which left her mom both amused and exasperated.

“Didn’t you just get back from the North? And you said you’d go back in a week.”

Heqing hung her head at home: “That’s true, but I just miss him…”

That’s why Lin Zheng Ran was suddenly getting a stream of messages from Heqing.

Heqing: “Lin Zheng Ran, what are you up to?”

Heqing sent a picture: “Lin Zheng Ran, I saw some sticky bean buns at home today. Take a look! My mom made them. Want some? If you do, I’ll bring some when I come back next week.”

Heqing: “Lin Zheng Ran, why aren’t you replying? What are you doing? Haven’t you woken up yet?”

Heqing: “Lin Zheng Ran, I want to come see you this week. Is that okay? I don’t want to wait until next week. I can’t hold out that long.”

Lin Zheng Ran pulled out his phone and saw this string of messages, so he decided not to text back and just called her directly.

In her bedroom in the South, Heqing was thrilled; she sat up on the bed and quickly fixed the stray hairs by her temple.

Then she answered nervously: “Hello? Lin Zheng Ran? You’re awake?!”

Lin Zheng Ran leaned against the headboard and said, “What’s up with you so early in the morning?”

Heqing blinked her innocent almond eyes: “Nothing much, just the same as before. I’m still me.”

“Is that so? Do you know how many messages you’ve sent me in the last three days?” Lin Zheng Ran scrolled through his screen: “At least forty or more, and the other night at three in the morning, you messaged about dreaming of a bunch of rabbits?”

Heqing blushed at that: “Well, I did dream about them and wanted to tell you.”

“So what happened to those rabbits? I didn’t know how to reply to all those messages.”

“You could’ve just said anything. I just wanted to chat with you; it didn’t matter what about. But those rabbits were pretty unlucky—in the dream, you turned into a big bad wolf and ate them all. You were so ruthless; I couldn’t even stop you.”

Lin Zheng Ran: “.” He sighed, wondering why he never came off as a good guy in her dreams.

Heqing whispered curiously: “By the way, do we have to stick to phone calls? Can’t we switch to video? You’ve always preferred calls since we were kids; I hardly ever see your face, just hear your voice.”

Lin Zheng Ran hadn’t even realized he had that habit: “I didn’t think about it. If you want, let’s switch to video.”

Heqing perked up: “Great! You hang up, and I’ll call you back on video.”

“You hang up.”

“No, you hang up!”

“I’m not hanging up.” Lin Zheng Ran lounged on the bed: “I’m too lazy to move. You do it.”

Heqing glanced at her phone helplessly and said timidly: “But I don’t dare hang up on you. I’ve never done it since we were kids; I’m afraid you’d get mad.”

Lin Zheng Ran was puzzled:

“You’ve never hung up on me? Now that you mention it, you’re right. I remember a few times I didn’t hang up and went to the bathroom, and the call was still going when I got back.”

Heqing laughed: “That’s just how it is. I don’t have the nerve to hang up on you.”

“Go ahead and do it this time; I won’t get mad.” He suggested.

Heqing shook her head vigorously, even though Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t see it:

“No way! No girl would hang up on the boy she likes. I can’t do that. You hang up; I want to video chat with you. Stop teasing me.”

Lin Zheng Ran fell silent.

Finally, the call ended.

Heqing froze for a second, then grinned and quickly video-called him back, curling up on the bed with her legs tucked under her, holding her phone just so, her face sweet and adorable.

Once the video connected, Heqing saw Lin Zheng Ran’s helpless expression and burst out laughing:

“Lin Zheng Ran, you’re exactly the same as the day we parted. No difference at all. Why that face?”

Lin Zheng Ran: “You’ve got me speechless. And isn’t that obvious? We’ve only been apart three days; of course, I haven’t changed.”

Heqing stared hard at Lin Zheng Ran’s features, not wanting to look away for even a second: “Only three days? It feels like forever. Anyway, I miss you.”

Lin Zheng Ran studied Heqing’s cute, endearing look, giving off a naturally innocent vibe:

“I didn’t notice you being this clingy at school. But every time you go home, it’s like when we were kids.”

Heqing shyly shook her head:

“I don’t know. Maybe because at school, I see you every day. Even if I don’t for a bit, I know I can. It doesn’t scare me.

But back at my Old Home, I can’t see you, and we’re so far apart, it makes me anxious… that’s just how it is.”

As she spoke, she pointed at a hair on Lin Zheng Ran’s right side: “Lin Zheng Ran, there’s a hair sticking up on your right. Press it down.”

Lin Zheng Ran smoothed his hair: “This one?”

“Yeah, right there. Perfect now. You always look good anyway.” Heqing said, satisfied, and added that last bit on purpose.

Lin Zheng Ran asked: “You mentioned on WeChat that you’re coming this week? Not waiting until next?”

“Yep!”

“What day?”

Heqing lowered her voice and covered her mouth with one hand: “Actually, I wanted to come today to surprise you, but I couldn’t hold back and messaged you. I woke up super early, around two in the morning, and secretly packed my bags. Let me show you.”

Heqing, still in her pajamas, turned the camera to show Lin Zheng Ran the packed suitcase by her bed.

She grinned: “It’s full of stuff for the trip, and the sticky bean buns I brought for you.” She picked up a half-eaten one from the nightstand plate, showed him the filling, then munched it messily, mumbling,

“My mom made them. If you like them, I’ll learn how from her and make some for you.”

“Heh, sure, I’ll try them. But waking up at two— that’s basically no sleep last night?”

Heqing licked the sweet remnants from her lips:

“I did sleep some last night, not the whole time. And I’m not tired. Anyway, I’ll head out soon to catch the bus. Will you pick me up tonight and help me find a place to stay?”

“You can stay at my place, like last time. I’ll sleep in the Study Room, and you can have the bedroom.”

Heqing suddenly blushed and shook her head quietly; she wasn’t the little kid she used to be and had grown-up thoughts now:

“No, I don’t want to bother your Uncle and Aunt, and I don’t want to take your bed. It’s not right. This time, I’ll find a Hotel near your place and stay there myself. If you want, later…”

She stumbled over her words, almost spilling her secret thoughts:

“You can come over in the evening to hang out, stay as late as you like. I’ll wash your feet or play games with you, or whatever you want to do… anyway, I’m already eighteen.”

She bit her lip, her last words so soft they were barely a whisper, and Lin Zheng Ran probably didn’t catch them.

But Lin Zheng Ran wasn’t ordinary; he couldn’t help but chuckle, making Heqing’s face turn even redder.

“What was that? I didn’t catch the last couple of sentences.”

She shook her head and glanced at him secretly: “Nothing.”

Lin Zheng Ran thought for a moment: “A Hotel works fine; you don’t have to stay at my place. I’ll pick you up at the Station tonight and help you find one.”

Heqing nodded eagerly: “Perfect! My mom’s probably up now, so I’ll go tell her and catch the bus to see you. Wait for me!”