Chapter 210: Whispers of Connection

That’s when Lin Zheng Ran’s phone suddenly rang.

It was Lily calling. She’d woken up in the hotel room after a nap of over an hour and found Lin Zheng Ran gone.

The unfamiliar surroundings made her uneasy, waking up alone in bed, so she quickly called him.

Lin Zheng Ran pulled out his phone, saw who it was, and answered.

Lily asked anxiously over the phone:

“Hey, Zheng Ran, where did you go? Why aren’t you in the room?”

Lin Zheng Ran kept stroking Han Wenwen’s head with his hand. Though the little fox felt jealous, after what they’d just done,

she still felt a bit proud inside.

While Lin Zheng Ran was on the call, she slowly sat up and edged closer to him.

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “Lily, you’re awake? I ran out of water in the room, so I went to buy a bottle. I’ll be back soon.”

“Buy water? Oh, okay, hurry back then.”

“Sure, three minutes and I’m there.” Lin Zheng Ran noticed Han Wenwen staring at him, her mouth opening as she slowly bit his ear.

With his arm around the fox’s waist, he said to Lily, “I’ll hang up now.”

After the call ended, he asked the fox curiously, “What are you up to now?”

Han Wenwen answered with a meaningful smile, “Nothing much, just testing if Brother Zheng Ran’s fire is still burning.”

“You sure know how to stir things up.”

Lin Zheng Ran pulled her close and kissed her again.

After another kiss,

Han Wenwen asked with flushed cheeks, “I didn’t get to ask earlier—was it good?”

Lin Zheng Ran shot back, “What do you think? After all, my Wenwen is amazing.”

That little praise filled her with immense pride. She thought, today’s the start—Brother Zheng Ran has turned into a real predator.

Before, he barely held her, but now he keeps his arm around her waist. It looks similar, but the difference is huge.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “I’m heading to find Lily. Take it easy on your way home.”

The little fox nodded obediently.

She walked him to the door, waved goodbye, and watched as he went back upstairs.

A twinge of jealousy crept into Han Wenwen’s heart again.

She returned to the room and sat in the spot where Lin Zheng Ran had been lying.

Leaning back against the headboard, her long hair draped over her shoulders.

The little fox had no energy left at all.

She touched her red lips with her slender fingers, feeling a bit like she’d chewed gum too long.

It was slightly tiring.

But along with the tiredness,

came an indescribable satisfaction, like savoring a delicious meal.

It lingered wonderfully.

“I saw a new expression on Brother Zheng Ran’s face just now.”

Recalling how he’d relaxed his brows earlier, her heart raced: “He looked so cute… Every time I do something, his face changes, and his eyes are all on me.”

Han Wenwen placed her hand on her thigh and slowly closed her eyes.

“Too bad we didn’t have more time—today I could’ve devoured Brother Zheng Ran completely.”

She let out a soft purr from her throat.

Imagining things…

“Brother Zheng Ran… Brother Zheng Ran, Wenwen wants you… I’ll do anything you ask, Wenwen will do it…”

Lin Zheng Ran stepped out of the first-floor room, feeling a wave of relief and ease after that hour or so.

It was like sweeping away some built-up tension from the past decade.

He bought two bottles of water from the front desk.

When he returned to the second-floor room, Lily was still in bed, covered by the sheets, recalling a dream she’d just had.

In her nap of over an hour, she’d dreamed of her and Zheng Ran in a small grove, getting wild…

The door opened, startling Lily. She asked, “Zheng Ran? Is that you?”

Lin Zheng Ran came over and set the water on the nightstand. “Yeah, you’re awake?”

With her twin tails, Lily relaxed at the sight of him, but thinking of her dream and what happened before, her palms still felt the lingering warmth.

It was from Zheng Ran.

“Yeah, awake. When are you picking up Heqing?”

Lin Zheng Ran pulled back the covers and sat on the bed again.

He checked his phone: “It’s 3:20 now. Before 4, I guess. I’ll rest for twenty minutes, then grab a cab.”

He explained, “Heqing arrives around six, but the high-speed train station is in the city center, and it’ll take me an hour to get there by car.”

Lily nodded absently.

She thought, only twenty minutes left…

Lin Zheng Ran caught her staring and asked, “What? Why keep looking at me?”

Lily stammered and quickly shook her head, glancing elsewhere: “Nothing, I’m not staring at you.”

Remembering the movie incident, Lin Zheng Ran said, “But Lily, you’re really something. You always fall asleep when we watch movies together. Do you do that at home?”

Lily said proudly, yet shyly:

“No way! I watch movies fine with my parents at home! And back in class when the teacher played one, I stayed awake!”

“That’s even more amazing.”

Lily sighed in annoyance: “Who knows? Maybe I’m just tense around you, then relax too much once the movie starts, and doze off.”

She added, “Of course, that’s just a guess. I don’t know for sure.”

Even though they hadn’t watched a movie this time, Zheng Ran bringing her here still touched her.

And the feel of their kiss was still fresh in her mind.

Her hand clenched tightly.

Suddenly, she felt Lin Zheng Ran’s hand on her twin tails.

Lily jolted: “Zheng Ran, what are you doing?”

“Nothing.” He said casually, “Just touching your hair. Gotta say, Lily, your blonde dye looks great. I imagined it before, but seeing it beats any picture—it’s adorable.”

She blushed deeply: “That good? You’re exaggerating so much?”

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t answer directly.

He just said:

“I’ve told you before, right? In my eyes, you’re the cutest girl. Yeah, you’re always bubbly, but when you walk or toss your head, those twin tails bounce around—it’s fun to watch.”

Lily pursed her lips and turned away: “Hmph! You make me sound so hyper.”

She whispered softly: “Well, as long as you like it.”

“Hmm?”

Lily shut her eyes and shouted embarrassedly: “I said, as long as you’re happy! I dress up every day just for you, you big dummy! If you think it’s cute, I’ll keep this style. If not, I’ll change it. I’m your girlfriend, so whatever makes you happy!”

Lin Zheng Ran chuckled and gently patted her head.

“You’re that easygoing?”

Lily looked down and shot back: “When have I not been good to you, dummy?”

She found his touch comforting, but wished for another kiss like before… After all, he’d soon pick up Heqing.

If not now, Heqing might stay at his place, and who knows when the next kiss would be.

But how to ask? It felt weird to just say she wanted to kiss.

Her eyes landed on the water bottle on the nightstand, sparking an idea.

“Zheng Ran, are you thirsty?”

Lin Zheng Ran was playing with her twin tails—they felt so smooth. “I’m okay.”

Lily looked up: “Okay? But you bought water because you were thirsty, right? So you must be. I’ll open a bottle for you.”

She tried to get it, but Lin Zheng Ran was still holding her hair, so she managed while he played with it.

She grabbed the bottle and tried to twist it open, but the cap was stubborn.

Lin Zheng Ran reached over: “Let me.”

He twisted it open and went to drink, but Lily snatched it: “Don’t drink yet—I’ll go first!”

Lily took a big gulp.

Lin Zheng Ran wondered what she was up to.

Her face turned red: “You know, mineral water has no taste, it’s not great… So maybe through a kiss…”

Before she finished, Lin Zheng Ran pulled her into his arms: “I don’t need the details—your face says it all. You want this, so go ahead and kiss me.”

Lily stared at him, stunned. She thought, Zheng Ran’s eyes look like he’s still craving more.

Maybe he’s thinking about our last kiss too…

She leaned in slowly, their lips met, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him fully.

But as her other hand reached for him,

she suddenly felt the spot where she’d slept—the sheet was a little damp.