Chapter 267: Whispers Under the Stars

Lin Zheng Ran thought that having more girlfriends would actually mean fewer intimate moments.

After all, they balanced each other out.

On a trip like this, he couldn’t just stick with one.

“Alright, come over tonight.”

Heqing was overjoyed.

Her joy made her forget everything else until Lin Zheng Ran took her hand and happily headed down the mountain.

Only when she saw Lily and Wenwen did Heqing suddenly remember, like her memory snapping back, that she hadn’t done a thing she was supposed to!

Remember, the ‘Girlfriend Alliance Plan’ started with Heqing complaining there were too many, since Wenwen already knew about it all.

In the end, both Lily and Heqing lost.

By the time they returned to the picnic spot, it was already 6 p.m.

Even though summer nights fell late, the moon was about to rise by then.

In those few hours, Lily and Han Wenwen had set up tents for all four of them.

The tents faced each other, with blankets in the middle and four tents clustered around like a courtyard layout.

It formed a simple square setup.

Back at the campsite, Lin Zheng Ran looked at the neatly arranged tents and praised the two: “You did a great job! Wenwen and Lily, thanks for the hard work.”

Han Wenwen and Lily beamed at the compliment.

But when they glanced at Heqing, she shrank back, embarrassed and shy.

As if saying, “I let the team down.”

The three women gathered one last time.

Heqing hugged her knees tightly, burying her face in them.

As the loser, Lily couldn’t judge, so she just asked, “You didn’t succeed either?”

Heqing mumbled like a faint buzz:

“Yeah, I didn’t even bring it up. I’ve always listened to Lin Zheng Ran since I was little. How could I argue with him or go against his ideas? I just can’t do that.”

Lily chuckled.

“Miracles don’t happen every day, but I get it.” She patted Heqing’s shoulder.

Heqing peeked up slightly, as if checking on her friends: “Oh, and I broke the rules too. I did more than just hug with Lin Zheng Ran. I’ll punish myself with an ice bucket challenge when we get back. Sorry about that.”

Lily looked awkward, pulling her hand back but adding, “That’s understandable.”

Han Wenwen watched Heqing and Lily’s guilty expressions, but the little fox didn’t sigh this time. Instead, she picked up a mirror and a comb from the side.

She started combing her long, flowing hair.

Taking her time.

Lily and Heqing turned to Han Wenwen.

Heqing said, “It’s all on you now, Wenwen.”

Lily noticed Han Wenwen’s expression shift to serious confidence and wondered why. She had seemed less sure when setting up the tents earlier—how did she get so bold suddenly?

“Han Wenwen, you’re that confident?”

The little fox smirked, her enchanting eyes glancing at them before she set down the comb and mirror.

“It’s not about confidence; it’s that I’m the only one with a shot left. I have to win. Just trust me and watch.”

Heqing and Lily exchanged looks, feeling a spark of hope again.

They said in unison:

“Go for it, Wenwen.”

“You got this, Han Wenwen!”

Han Wenwen flashed an OK sign: “I’ve got the upper hand.”

She stood up and went to find Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran was drinking water, thinking it was the last one.

Han Wenwen smiled brightly: “Brother Zheng Ran, let’s chat alone?”

Lin Zheng Ran finished his bottle of mineral water: “At this time, there’s not much to see on the mountain anymore.”

“Then let’s not go up. How about we talk in the car? As long as I’m with you, Brother Zheng Ran, I don’t mind where we go.”

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t refuse.

Seeing him agree, Han Wenwen waved back at Lily and Heqing: “I’m chatting with Brother Zheng Ran. You two head to your tents and relax. We’ll eat dinner together when I get back.”

Heqing and Lily called back from a distance that it was fine.

So, Lin and Han walked together toward the distant parking area.

The fox moved with a graceful, alluring sway.

Once they were far from Heqing and Lily,

Han Wenwen said softly: “I know I’ve been a hassle today, dragging you back and forth, Brother Zheng Ran.”

Lin Zheng Ran eyed the nearby parking lot: “It’s alright. We’re here to have fun, and I’m not tired.”

At the car, Han Wenwen stood straight, tilting her head with a worried gaze, her tone playful and affectionate as she stared at the man she loved:

“Don’t pretend you’re not tired. Just walking around must have covered a lot of ground, right? Did they even tell you that we’re taking turns to chat because of the girlfriend count thing?”

Lin Zheng Ran opened the car door: “I know.”

“You look like you figured it out ages ago, Brother Zheng Ran?”

“I’ve known you three for a while now.”

Inside the car, they went to the back seat. Lin Zheng Ran got in first, and Han Wenwen slipped off her shoes, baring her pale feet as she sat sideways on his lap.

After closing the door, she studied him closely without a word.

She leaned in and lightly kissed his lips, ignoring their agreement, then bit her lip jealously:

“I knew I couldn’t convince you, Brother Zheng Ran. If I could, it would’ve happened back in middle school. Why wait until now?”

Lin Zheng Ran’s reaction was both surprising and expected.

“So, you’re giving up on persuading me?”

Han Wenwen held one of his hands, resting her face on his chest:

“Not giving up, really. I never planned to. If you want as many as you like, go ahead. I’m just your little fox—how could I go against my master’s wishes? It’s unthinkable.”

Lin Zheng Ran gently stroked her head:

“I can see you’re full of jealousy today. Back when we kept things secret, you’d get jealous if I was nice to Heqing or Lily. You seem okay now, but I know it’s built up inside.”

Han Wenwen’s flirtatious eyes trembled.

She huffed lightly, her voice sour as she played with his hand:

“Since you know, don’t bring it up. I admit I’m super petty. Those six hours were torture—I knew you were getting close with them, taking all their affection, but what can I do?

All I could manage was to lose on purpose and go last, so I could spend more time with you. Every extra minute counts.”

Han Wenwen’s jealousy ran deep:

“But about you being a playboy, even now I think, what if I’d met you first as a kid? I’d have stuck to you every day, and maybe you wouldn’t have fallen for anyone else. Not seven, and in my heart, not even two—I can’t handle that.”

She laughed as she said it: “But in reality, I’m the third one you met, so… sometimes I’m glad you’re the flirtatious type. Otherwise,”

She imagined a darker future:

“What would I do? If you only loved Heqing and not me, I might not have gotten into high school three years ago and we’d have split up. If that happened, my life could’ve ended back then.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Lin Zheng Ran held her close.

Han Wenwen kissed his cheek again, her voice wheedling:

“It’s not nonsense. If you weren’t there when I had that fever, or during New Year’s, what would I have become? Without you, Brother Zheng Ran, I wouldn’t have the drive to keep going. The world wouldn’t miss me.”

Caught in the moment, tears welled in Han Wenwen’s eyes.

Lin Zheng Ran wiped them away with his fingers and kept stroking her head to soothe her.

Han Wenwen smiled gratefully, clutching his hand tightly as she leaned into his embrace:

“Luckily, you do love me. Even if I get jealous over your ways, life stays interesting, and seeing you every day makes me happy. So, seven it is. As long as you’re happy, I am too.”

She nuzzled his chin with her head: “To me, you’re the most important, the absolute most.”