Chapter 44: Echoes of Friendship and Freedom

Heqing overheard the recent conversation and called through the wire fence, “Wen Wen, did you just say you’re not planning to go to high school with us?”

Han Wenwen gave an awkward chuckle, relieved that Heqing hadn’t misunderstood the rest, and scratched her head.

“It’s not that I don’t want to; it’s just my grades are too poor to get in.”

The enthusiastic Heqing didn’t see it as a big issue. She slipped around the fence and hurried over to Han Wenwen’s side.

Clenching her little fists, she brimmed with confidence yet nervousness, “If your grades are low, I can tutor you! With daily lessons from me, you’ll pass high school for sure. We’re the best of friends—how can we let that separate us?!”

Han Wenwen stared at her dear friend, sweating inwardly, thinking things weren’t that simple.

Lin Zheng Ran caught the hidden look in Han Wenwen’s smile and seemed to foresee the outcome.

Sure enough, from that day on, Heqing started setting aside time in the dorm and on weekends to tutor Han Wenwen regularly.

Han Wenwen appeared diligent and didn’t want to disappoint Heqing’s enthusiasm, but her grades barely budged.

Of course, this stemmed partly from Han Wenwen not being naturally inclined toward studies, and partly because she knew good grades wouldn’t help. She needed to become self-reliant, which distracted her completely.

So, after another month or so, when the end-of-year exams for eighth grade came out, Heqing saw Han Wenwen’s scores had only improved by a tiny bit and nearly burst into tears from frustration.

Han Wenwen spent the whole evening in the dorm comforting Heqing and promised to study harder going forward.

Only then did Heqing manage to calm down a little.

That summer after eighth grade, Han Wenwen didn’t go back to the Southern Old Home with Heqing. Instead, she made up an excuse that her uncle had come to the North, so she’d stay there for a while before returning.

Heqing had no choice but to take the high-speed train back alone.

One day, as Lin Zheng Ran headed downstairs to buy something, he spotted a certain fox girl at the Residential Area gate asking the guard, “Grandpa, what’s the landlord’s phone number around here? I want to rent a place and check the price.”

The moment she finished, she noticed Lin Zheng Ran coming out of the gate, and their eyes met from a distance.

Han Wenwen was unusually shocked. She smiled at Lin Zheng Ran and turned to run away.

But Lin Zheng Ran called out to her, “I know a place with cheap rent that’s not far from school. It’s small, but it might suit you just fine.”

Han Wenwen stopped in her tracks, surprised, and turned back to Lin Zheng Ran. She laid out her situation honestly, holding up five fingers, “But I only have a five-hundred yuan budget.”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded, knowing exactly why, “No wonder you couldn’t find anything. But it’s enough.”

Ever since his System had shown his Charm reaching forty half a year ago, Lin Zheng Ran noticed that as long as he didn’t bother anyone, people easily felt like helping him.

So, Lin Zheng Ran led the mostly silent Han Wenwen to a residential area called Jin Xiu Hua Cheng.

They found the landlord and mentioned wanting to rent for a month first.

The landlady initially saw two kids wanting to rent and refused, “Get an adult to talk to me about this. And no deal without a deposit—I’ve never done business like that.”

Han Wenwen sighed, expecting as much.

But when Lin Zheng Ran spoke up, everything changed, “Sister, we’re just students from New City First Middle School, and we’re locals…”

He gave a few simple reasons, which Han Wenwen thought were pointless—after all, her sweet talking hadn’t found a no-deposit place in days. Yet, the landlady lit up at the handsome boy’s words,

“Oh, what a sweet-talking young man, calling me sister and all!” The landlady chuckled, covering her mouth, “Alright, for you two kids, no deposit it is. But the contract still needs an adult to sign.”

Han Wenwen was stunned that she’d agreed so easily. Lin Zheng Ran hadn’t even said much—how did he pull that off?!

She quickly nodded in understanding, her tone surprised, “That’s fine. I’ll tell my uncle, but it’ll take a few days for him to come over.”

Lin Zheng Ran followed up, “Sister, can we stay here for a few days first and have the adult sign the contract later?”

The landlady kept smiling, “Sure, sure, anything for you, handsome boy. How could I not give you face?”

Lin Zheng Ran grinned, thinking his ability was pretty useful.

“Thanks, sister. You’re so kind.”

The landlady blushed at the compliment.

“What a sweet talker you are!”

The landlady showed them to a safer empty room—a single space over thirty square meters with just a bathroom and bedroom, but it was spacious and clean, complete with a basic wooden bed and table with chairs.

It even had surveillance at the door, so there was no worry about danger.

The landlady handed the keys to Lin Zheng Ran, “Just have your adult come within a week to sign the contract, and then you can stay as long as you like.”

“Okay, thanks, sister.”

Once the landlady left, satisfied and beaming from the praise, Han Wenwen took the keys from him in a daze.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “This is your room from now on.”

She stood beside Lin Zheng Ran, taking in her very own little space.

Incredulous, she laughed, her eyes sparkling with emotion, “Lin Zheng Ran, you’re amazing!” She asked, “You don’t know that sister already, do you? Otherwise, why would she be so agreeable?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied bluntly, without a hint of embarrassment, “Maybe it’s because I’m handsome and have a sweet mouth.”

Han Wenwen paused, then burst out laughing and nodded, tilting her head with a grin, “Lin Zheng Ran is handsome—the handsomest guy I’ve ever seen.”

Han Wenwen lay flat on the bare wooden bed.

Gazing at the spacious, cozy room, she breathed in the air of stability and freedom, “This feels so happy. It’s the first time I’ve ever had a room of my own.”

Lin Zheng Ran sat on the bed frame, “It’s just renting, not buying.”

Han Wenwen closed her eyes and smiled, “Lin Zheng Ran, you don’t get what’s in my heart. Some things only I understand.”

Lin Zheng Ran blurted out, “After sitting next to you for so long, I can guess. You’re like a fox who hates owing favors, so living with your uncle never felt like home—you always felt in debt. And the girls’ dormitory was even worse.”

Han Wenwen, lying on the bed, opened her eyes in surprise at his words, her mind flashing back to the wish she wrote during the Heart-Linking Festival.

[I hope my future man knows what I want.]

Lin Zheng Ran turned back and added, “This is really your own room, even if it’s temporary. At least it’s free.”

Han Wenwen listened to the whole thing, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks.

The phrase “true destined one” popped into her mind.

But in an instant, she caught the oversight and sat up quickly, confused, “Wait, Lin Zheng Ran, how do you know about my uncle?!”

Lin Zheng Ran winced and confessed, “Actually, last year at the supermarket, I happened to pass by that street and overheard a bit. I just never mentioned it. Do you remember that day?”

Han Wenwen’s fox-like eyes widened slowly, realizing for the first time that she had no disguise in front of him.

He had known about those things all along.

Han Wenwen instinctively hugged her arms around herself for protection, her face red as she said, “Lin Zheng Ran, how could you be so sneaky…”