Chapter 48: Awakening Amidst Whispers

Lin Zheng Ran woke with a start from the noise and slowly opened his eyes, turning his head.

There he saw the fox spirit—Han Wenwen—slumped in the corner, her mind seemingly frozen. Lin Zheng Ran studied her expressions and movements closely, fearing she might act like she did yesterday.

Thankfully, nothing like that happened.

Han Wenwen’s alluring fox-like eyes fluttered, her memories patchy but clear enough. Last night, she’d instinctively flirted with him in her feverish state.

“Hey there, Lin Zheng Ran, good morning?” Han Wenwen waved and smiled coyly, her lips pursed.

Her expression mixed with an indefinable awkwardness.

Lin Zheng Ran sighed in relief and sat up slowly. Last night, her clinginess had kept him awake, so he’d held her hand until the early hours before quietly pulling away, his palm sweaty.

“So, you’re back to normal? How do you feel today?”

Han Wenwen checked herself. “Much better than yesterday. Waking up feels comfortable, though I’m a bit sweaty.”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at the comfortably set air conditioner. “Sweating’s not bad. But hold off on showering until you’re fully better.”

“Okay.”

Instinctively, Lin Zheng Ran reached out and touched Han Wenwen’s forehead. Her cheeks flushed red, but with her clear mind, she quickly composed herself and stared at him blankly.

He nodded. “Still a bit warm. Summer fevers don’t clear up fast. Let’s check your temperature again.”

He got out of bed, found the thermometer, and tossed it to her before heading to the bathroom to turn on the water.

Once he was in the bathroom, moving with easy confidence, Han Wenwen’s expression finally cracked.

She covered her face in embarrassment, muttering to herself about her flirty words from last night. “What on earth did I do? I hope Lin Zheng Ran doesn’t remember a thing.”

She slipped the thermometer under her arm as Lin Zheng Ran came back from the bathroom.

He said he was going to buy breakfast, and as he headed out, Han Wenwen called after him. “Yesterday… thanks for staying with me, Lin Zheng Ran. For getting the medicine and food. I might’ve ended up in the hospital otherwise.”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced back at her smiling face.

“I’d like to say it’s nothing, but after what you did yesterday…”

Han Wenwen knew he hadn’t forgotten; she felt utterly awkward and tried to play innocent, holding up a finger.

“I was feverish, you know? People do weird things when they’re sick. Consider it a favor I owe you—I’ll make it up somehow!”

“That works. When you have the cash, treat me to a few meals. What do you want for breakfast? I’ll grab it downstairs.”

Han Wenwen thought for a moment and said in unison with Lin Zheng Ran, “Dumplings?”

They both paused, struck by the uncanny sync—it wasn’t the first time.

Lin Zheng Ran nodded. “Got it.”

As he turned the doorknob, Han Wenwen asked the question weighing on her mind. “Lin Zheng Ran, besides all that flirting last night, did I say anything else that might have shocked you?”

She watched him intently, dreading that she might have spilled secrets.

Mainly because last night her thoughts had blurred between reality and dreams, leaving her confused about what was real.

Lin Zheng Ran recalled what she’d said yesterday afternoon.

Things about liking him and the Heart-Linking Festival.

“You said a lot, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Not really shocking.”

Han Wenwen relaxed, though a twinge of regret crept in. She didn’t want to break up Lin Zheng Ran and Xiao Qingqing, but…

If she’d confessed her feelings in that state, what would his answer have been?

“Oh, and just so you know, Lin Zheng Ran, even though I was bold yesterday, I’ve never acted that way with any other guy when I’m sick. You’re the first!”

Lin Zheng Ran just acknowledged it and headed downstairs to buy food.

Hearing the door close, Han Wenwen muttered to herself, “He never gets embarrassed no matter what I say. Does he have no interest in me at all?”

Her mind went blank for a while before she quickly grabbed a mirror from the table to check her face.

With her oval face, fox-like eyes, and delicate mouth, she saw no flaws—Han Wenwen knew she turned heads, which explained all the admirers.

“Am I not pretty enough? That can’t be. So why do other guys blush when they talk to me, but not Lin Zheng Ran?”

She stared unhappily at her reflection. “This is what it feels like when the one you like doesn’t feel the same. It’s awful. What kind of girl does he even like?”

Soon, Lin Zheng Ran returned with the dumplings and found Han Wenwen on the phone with Xiao Heqing.

Xiao Heqing’s sweet voice came through: “Wen Wen, when are you coming back? It’s been over a week.”

Han Wenwen waved at Lin Zheng Ran as he entered and tried to sound casual with her best friend. “I’m not sure when my uncle will finish up here. It might take a while longer. I’ll let you know when I’m heading back, Xiao Qingqing.”

Xiao Heqing sighed. “Alright. Oh, and…” Her voice turned anxious. “I called Lin’s Aunt yesterday! She said Lin Zheng Ran wasn’t home—he stayed over at a classmate’s to take care of some injured animal?”

Han Wenwen’s eyes widened, glancing at Lin Zheng Ran unpacking breakfast on the bed. She leaned back, sweating. “Oh, really? Where could he have stayed?”

Lin Zheng Ran, sitting nearby, could hear the conversation but pretended not to.

Xiao Heqing sounded worried. “I have no idea. Lin’s Aunt said it was a male classmate’s place, something about caring for a hurt animal?”

Han Wenwen broke into a sweat.

Xiao Heqing puzzled over it. “Wen Wen, you’re in the same class. Do you know if he has any close guy friends? I’ve never heard about this. It just seems off. I’m really worried.”

Han Wenwen smoothed her hair and snuck a peek at Lin Zheng Ran.

Xiao Heqing continued, her voice shaky. “What if he went to a girl’s place instead? Or maybe Lily’s?” She sounded like she might cry.

Han Wenwen quickly reassured her:

“Don’t think that, Xiao Qingqing. It’s impossible! You know Lin Zheng Ran—he wouldn’t do something like that!”

Her mind raced. “As for close guy friends, he doesn’t really have any. Maybe it’s just an excuse. Remember when he took the bus to see you? He probably made up a reason then too—who knows what he was up to?”

Xiao Heqing whimpered. “So, does that mean he was with another girl? Why lie otherwise?”

Han Wenwen turned to watch Lin Zheng Ran eating breakfast, slowly biting her lip.