Chapter 202: Holiday Outings

Lin Zheng Ran, I’m on my way! I’ll snap a photo of me heading out and send it to you. I’ll call when I’m nearly there.

Lin Zheng Ran replied quickly: “Got it. I’m just going to grab some more sleep. Hit me up if you need anything.”

“Okay! You rest up.”

Heqing hopped into a taxi toward the station, while Lin Zheng Ran lay in bed in the Northern Small Town, scrolling through his phone.

He thought that if Heqing was coming, they could kick off the trip a bit earlier and spend extra days exploring the mountains.

He set his phone down, pulled up the covers, and was about to close his eyes for a quick, relaxing nap.

But then his phone dinged again. Lin Zheng Ran figured the girl must have something else on her mind.

It turned out this time it wasn’t Heqing calling—it was Lily.

Lin Zheng Ran answered: “Hey, what are you up to now?”

Lily’s tsundere tone came through the phone, a sharp contrast to Heqing’s earlier sweet voice—full of energy even when shy.

“What do you mean ‘what are you up to now’? I haven’t messaged you today, and this is my first call since break started. Why does it feel like we’ve been chatting forever? Wait, did Heqing just call you?”

Her tsundere instincts kicked in, full alert.

Lin Zheng Ran stared at the ceiling: “You’re sharp as ever. What’s up?”

“I knew it!” Lily said, a hint of jealousy in her stutter: “I don’t have anything specific. Can’t I just call my boyfriend? We’re the closest, after all—doesn’t that count?”

“Sure you can, but I know you. You don’t call much unless there’s something on your mind. Texts are more your style.”

Lily sighed: “You’re right about that.”

“Of course I am. You’re my girl, after all.”

Lily blushed: “How do you say stuff like that so boldly? So shameless.” She giggled quietly on her end, cleared her throat, and added: “Do you have time today? I want to get my hair done. Could you come with me?”

“Get your hair done?”

“Get your hair done?”

Ten minutes later, Lin Zheng Ran came downstairs.

Lily stood at the Residential Area entrance in jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, twirling her hair around her fingers as she thought. Spotting him, she waved excitedly: “Zheng Ran! Over here!”

She ran straight toward him.

Lin Zheng Ran eyed the length of her hair, which only reached her mid-back: “It’s not even that long. Do you really need a trim?”

Lily lifted a ponytail:

“It’s not just a trim. I mainly want to dye it. Remember back in high school, you said I’d look good with yellow hair? I’ve been thinking about it ever since and waited until after graduation to do it.”

Lin Zheng Ran chuckled unexpectedly.

Lily clenched her fists, puzzled: “Why are you laughing? Did you forget?!”

“I didn’t forget. Let’s go then.”

He started walking, with Lily following, catching up: “So what was that laugh about? Tell me! You’re making me curious!”

“I was just thinking this day has finally come. I wonder how cute you’ll look with yellow hair. I’ve been curious since we were kids.”

“Really? That curious?”

“Yeah, yellow is the classic tsundere color. You’re finally leveling up to the full package.”

Lily put her hands behind her back and walked beside him, grinning: “I’m not tsundere! Tsundere are losers—I’m a winner.”

Lin Zheng Ran reached out and ruffled her hair.

The touch made Lily go quiet, and as he stroked her head, she tried to grab his hand to hold it.

But he pulled back just as their hands met.

Their fingers brushed, and Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her.

Lily looked away awkwardly, withdrawing her hand: “What? Why are you staring?”

Lin Zheng Ran just huffed and kept walking.

As they walked side by side.

Lily snuck glances at his hand on her side and gently bumped it with the back of hers, testing if he’d hold on.

He caught her looking and she quickly turned away.

After the third bump.

Lin Zheng Ran stopped teasing and gripped her hand firmly.

Lily froze, biting her lip in shy silence, their fingers intertwining as she smiled to herself.

“Zheng Ran, what have you been up to at home these past few days? You haven’t had time to hang out or anything.”

“I’ve been pretty busy. Mom and Dad dragged me to visit relatives, and there are a ton of company things I couldn’t handle during exams. I’ve been sorting through them the last couple of days.”

Lily said with concern: “That sounds exhausting. I thought you’d be relaxing. Is there anything I can help with?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll head to the company the day after tomorrow to go over the big stuff with Jiang Jingshi. She’s already handled most of it, so it’ll just take a couple of days to wrap up.”

Lily tried to picture it: “If you’re tired, just let me know. I can give you a massage like they do online, or you could rest your head on my lap to unwind.”

Lin Zheng Ran gave her a strange look.

Lily blinked shyly: “What? That’s all I can really do. I can’t help with the other stuff, but if I can, I will.”

Lin Zheng Ran tucked her hand into his coat pocket.

He thought that for relaxation stuff, he didn’t need Lily or Heqing—a certain fox was best at massages and easing tension.

Whenever Lin Zheng Ran felt worn out, that fox always found a way to help him recharge.

Thanks to the System, he rarely felt tired anyway.

They reached the Hair Salon, which was packed. With break in full swing, lots of students were getting fresh cuts, especially those heading to college—plenty dyeing or perming their hair.

Lin Zheng Ran and Lily paused at the sight of the crowd.

The owner, amid the hustle, asked: “Haircut?”

Lily: “Dye job.”

The owner said: “That’ll be a short wait. There’s a girl ahead of you in line.”

Lily thought for a moment and whispered: “Zheng Ran, let’s check out somewhere else first and come back later. I have a place in mind!”

“Where to?”

“You’ll see. I’ll lead the way!”

Lily took charge, guiding Lin Zheng Ran by taxi to a new spot in town—a men’s clothing store.

The store was spacious with a steady stream of customers.

Lily beamed: “Ta-da! I spotted this the other day when I was out with Mom. We browsed, and the clothes are so fresh and stylish.”

“So, you’re thinking of getting me some clothes?” Lin Zheng Ran asked curiously.

“Exactly! Remember back in high school when you came with me to the salon, and then we went to that place, and I wrinkled your shirt? I promised to buy you a new one.

I’ve been meaning to, but life got busy. I almost ordered online, but that felt half-hearted. So today, I want to pick something out myself to make it special!”

Lin Zheng Ran suppressed a laugh: “My dear girlfriend Lily, that shirt-wrinkling incident was back in freshman year. We’re out of high school now—it’s been two years.”

Hearing him call her that, Lily’s expression turned playful and annoyed:

“Well, what could I do? I’ve been thinking about it the whole time, but sophomore and junior years flew by with you so busy—it felt like a blink! One thing led to another, and here we are. Maybe I should add something else as an apology besides the clothes!”

“Add something?”

“Add something?”

Lily closed her eyes and balled her other hand into a fist: “Anything you want! Name one thing, and I’ll say yes. Whatever it is, I’m in!”

“Anything?” She stared at Lin Zheng Ran’s eyes, stammering: “I mean… I’m your girlfriend, so any request… I’ll go for it.”

Lin Zheng Ran eyed her amused expression and smirked: “Deal. You said anything goes.”

Lily didn’t expect him to agree so fast, and with him staring at her hair, her face flushed:

“What are you thinking, Zheng Ran? Don’t go too far! I said I’d do anything, but… be gentle with me.”

As she spoke, she suddenly covered her backside.

Then she recalled how Lin Zheng Ran had once held her twin tails.

Lin Zheng Ran teased her straight-faced:

“Don’t worry, people don’t break that easily. I’ll take it slow. Come on, let’s shop for clothes first.”

“Ah?!” Lily let him pull her into the store, her heart racing and mind blank with embarrassment.