Chapter 25: Childhood Bonds in the Snow

“If that’s the case, then yes,” Lin Zheng Ran said calmly. “But she knew me from kindergarten.”

Lily was at a loss for words, suddenly fuming as she clenched her little fists and leaned forward like a plane taking off. “Then what am I? I’ve known you the longest!”

“Technically, you’re childhood sweethearts too. As for how long you’ve known each other, it’s about the same—she knew me from kindergarten through second grade, and you from first through sixth.”

The more Lin Zheng Ran spoke, the angrier Lily got; her cheeks puffed out as she raised her little fists to hit him.

Her punches were light and harmless.

“What’s there to get mad about? There’s no rule saying I can only have one childhood friend,” Lin Zheng Ran caught her phantom punches effortlessly. “Besides, I’m just telling the truth. You wouldn’t want me to lie, right?”

“Well, that’s true… If you lied, I’d be even madder later,” she stopped punching but shouted with her eyes closed, “But something still feels off!”

She stared at Lin Zheng Ran, angry yet strangely uneasy inside. In the end, she just huffed, flicked her twin tails, and stormed off.

Lin Zheng Ran stood there and called out, “Leaving so fast? Don’t you want me to walk you home?”

“No need! My house is right across the street! Go back and call your childhood friend—she’s waiting for you.”

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “Alright, take it slow on your way.”

Lily stopped, gritting her teeth in frustration, her little fists clenched tight as she spun around. “Walk me home! I said no, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t! Call her after you drop me off.”

“But you just said you didn’t need me to.”

“I didn’t!” she snapped. “You always pick on me, but now you’re being so obedient—what’s with that? If you want to walk me, don’t let my words stop you!”

Lin Zheng Ran thought he really didn’t mind either way; he’d come downstairs mainly to talk about singing.

Knowing that more words might make him change his mind, Lily marched up to him, looked up, and said, “You big dummy, walk me home.”

Lin Zheng Ran met her gaze with a resigned smile; these young girls were such a handful.

After seeing off the jealous Lily, Lin Zheng Ran headed back home to take the call.

As soon as Heqing answered, she asked, “Who was playing at your place just now? Was it a girl?”

Lin Zheng Ran: “…”

This winter’s snow fell heavier and earlier than usual. Even though Lily hummed jealously now and then after learning about his other childhood friend, she still took singing lessons seriously.

As the twelfth month approached, Lin Zheng Ran headed to the mall to buy some music materials for teaching Lily.

Snowflakes swirled from the sky as Lin Zheng Ran trudged through the thin layer of snow toward the mall, passing a corner.

A girl in a puffy coat, wearing leg warmers and a scarf, ended up on the same path. She carried a faint scent of jasmine.

At first, Lin Zheng Ran didn’t pay much attention; he just noticed she walked at the same pace ahead of him.

Her shoulder-length hair framed a scarf that reached her waist, swaying like a fox’s tail with each step.

After walking a bit, the girl with the scarf glanced back, sensing someone behind her.

That’s when Lin Zheng Ran realized not just her scarf, but she herself looked like a fox.

She had a delicate oval face with refined features, especially those eyes that held a natural charm, like a fox spirit reborn, full of character.

Since the mall was near the junior high he’d soon attend, Lin Zheng Ran knew the route well, but this fox-like girl seemed lost.

At a bus stop, she paused, blinking her fox-like eyes in confusion. “Where’s First Middle School? The snow’s making everything unrecognizable.”

Lin Zheng Ran casually pointed down the road. “Keep going straight, and you’ll hit it.”

The fox-like girl looked at him curiously and smiled. “Thanks, handsome.”

They went their separate ways. Lin Zheng Ran picked out the materials at the mall and took a call from Lily midway.

“Hey, big dummy, you’re out shopping? Why didn’t you invite me?”

Lin Zheng Ran browsed as he replied, “What for? I’ll grab these and come find you. Just stay put at home.”

After buying everything, he was leaving the mall when he ran into the fox-like girl again—she seemed to be there for shopping too.

On their second meeting, the little fox nodded politely at Lin Zheng Ran for his earlier help.

Lin Zheng Ran nodded back.

As they passed, the little fox pulled out her phone and updated her best friend: “Hey, Qingqing? I checked out First Middle School—it’s nice, even if they wouldn’t let me in. Looks so pretty!” She covered her mouth, listening. “Got it, got it. I’ll snap a couple photos and tell you all about the trip when I get back.”

Because he needed the bus, Lin Zheng Ran carried his things to the stop. In this small town, buses only came every half hour.

The snow fell harder, blanketing the whole city in white except for the roads. Even the bus shelter had a thick layer of snow.

He waited alone for ten minutes.

Finally, another person showed up for the bus.

But she looked awfully familiar.

Han Wenwen, carrying her purchases, spotted the boy for the third time and tilted her head in surprise.

Lin Zheng Ran was even more puzzled.

They shared a smile, standing on opposite sides of the bus stop.

Lin Zheng Ran gazed into the distance and suddenly remembered something: Heqing’s best friend from the south was a fox-like girl, wasn’t she? Something like Wenwen? But she probably wasn’t as similar as this one.

On the other side, Han Wenwen tapped her phone screen, her fingertips pink from the cold.

After chatting with her best friend, she flipped through her photo album and spotted a picture from last year’s Heartstring Festival half a year ago.

Legend had it that after seeking a fated match at the festival, your true love would appear within a year. Even if you hadn’t met them yet, you’d cross paths in some scenario.

Han Wenwen smiled as she sent the school photos to Heqing, still wondering how her true love might show up.

A cat’s meow interrupted Han Wenwen’s chat and snapped Lin Zheng Ran from his thoughts.

Both turned to look behind them.

There, on a branch of the tree behind the bus shelter, a kitten was stuck and meowing pitifully from the cold.

Without a word, Lin Zheng Ran and Han Wenwen moved together to check it out.

The trunk was straight and tall, and with the snow, climbing was impossible.

“Can we save it? That little cat will freeze if it doesn’t come down,” Han Wenwen asked.

Lin Zheng Ran looked up at the shivering kitten. “You grab a box, and I’ll find a stool. Let’s try.”

“Okay.”

They quickly gathered what they needed and returned.

Lin Zheng Ran positioned the old chair under the tree while Han Wenwen steadied it.

Holding the large box, Lin Zheng Ran called for the kitten to jump in.

Maybe sensing their kindness, the kitten tried to leap but slipped; luckily, Lin Zheng Ran caught it in the box just in time.

It startled Han Wenwen.

Once safe, Han Wenwen crouched down, stroking the kitten’s head with a big smile.

“This doesn’t seem like a stray. I see something on its neck,” she said.

“Let’s wait here; maybe someone’s looking for it.”

“Yeah.”

At the bus stop, they stood together as Han Wenwen cared for the kitten on the ground. “I’m Han Wenwen.”

“Han Wenwen…” Lin Zheng Ran thought; that was exactly Heqing’s best friend’s name.

“Lin Zheng Ran.”

“You’re a Lin?” Han Wenwen looked up in surprise.

“Why?”

Lin Zheng Ran’s gaze was different from other boys—lacking the usual immaturity. Han Wenwen, good at reading people, noticed right away and shook her head with a smile. “Nothing, your name’s nice.”

She stroked the kitten’s head, wondering if the Heartstring Festival was that accurate. She’d met so many guys, but only this one’s eyes felt so indifferent, and everything had lined up so perfectly.

Han Wenwen spoke again.

“If we’re meant to be, we might meet again,” she said with a tilted head and a charming smile.

Lin Zheng Ran thought, if you’re really Heqing’s best friend, then yes, we will.

“Maybe.”

“”