Chapter 56: Whispers of Affection

[As a reward for selecting a weapon, the Demonic Cult Enchantress used her exclusive secret technique on you. You gain +1 Strength, +1 Energy, and +1 Stamina.]

[Still, the Demonic Cult Enchantress seems to be paying more attention to you. For you, this could be an opportunity or something else entirely.]

In the late afternoon dusk, Lin Zheng Ran woke up from bed feeling refreshed.

Han Wenwen had finished her massage earlier and was lying next to him, her eyes full of the deep affection typical of a teenage girl as she stared at his sleeping features.

When Lin Zheng Ran opened his eyes and turned his head, she quickly switched back to her usual self and greeted him with a smile: “Lin Zheng Ran, you’re awake?”

He asked curiously: “What time is it? Didn’t you sleep?”

“I just woke up too.” Han Wenwen checked her phone: “It’s a little after 3 p.m. How was your nap, Lin Zheng Ran?”

“You know, it was actually pretty great.”

He marveled at how long he’d slept—Han, the little fox, really had some skill.

After tidying up a bit, Lin Zheng Ran and Han Wenwen left the rental house and headed downstairs.

Lin Zheng Ran remembered what the system had mentioned before, and he’d noticed over the past few days that Han Wenwen was acting a bit different from usual:

“You and Heqing aren’t up to some mischief again, are you?”

Han Wenwen couldn’t help but laugh at his sudden comment, covering her mouth as she walked beside him: “Lin Zheng Ran, you always know everything. Little Qingqing does have some big plans lately, though.”

“Big plans?” He really had no idea what that silly girl was brainstorming every day: “What kind of big plans?”

Han Wenwen tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, giving him a meaningful look: “I can’t spill the details, Lin Zheng Ran, but it’s something pretty bold.”

Lin Zheng Ran thought back to past events and found it all a bit absurd.

The little fox waved goodbye to Lin Zheng Ran at the entrance of the residential area: “I’ll head back to school to keep Little Qingqing company. Take it easy on your way home, Lin Zheng Ran.”

Lin Zheng Ran replied, telling her to be careful too, then turned and left.

Han Wenwen kept waving for a long while, her cheeks flushing slightly as she watched his retreating figure, her fingers gently touching her red lips.

Then she turned and made her way to school.

Over the past few days, Little Heqing had been online picking out scarf yarn, debating colors and styles with Han Wenwen for ages.

In the end, the two best friends decided gray was the best choice—it suited a certain guy’s style perfectly.

A few days later, the scarf yarn Little Heqing ordered online finally arrived. She hugged the package like she was preparing for an epic battle, with yarn balls and knitting needles spread all over the dormitory bed.

Han Wenwen sat on the bed, stunned: “So much stuff?”

Little Heqing fumbled through the instructions, counting all the items, and said in a panic: “I had no idea! I thought it was just yarn and needles, but there are all these extras.”

As she spoke, a yarn ball rolled off and went skittering across the floor.

Little Heqing quickly jumped down to chase it, making things even more chaotic.

“How did it fall?” She dusted off the yarn in a hurry.

Han Wenwen laughed at her cute antics and picked up the instructions to check them, murmuring at the last line: “Set aside an hour a day, and it should take about a month and a half to finish.”

Han Wenwen was surprised: “That’s a long time—a month and a half, and we’ll be on winter break by then!”

Little Heqing gathered the tangled yarn back to the bed, already overwhelmed just from unwrapping it:

“It’s fine—I calculated it. If I can spare two hours a day, and more on weekends, I can finish in less than two weeks. Otherwise, it’d be useless by the time break rolls around.”

Han Wenwen hugged her knees: “Little Qingqing’s going all out for that confession.”

Little Heqing blushed and lowered her head.

From that day on, Little Heqing made an effort to spend as much time as possible learning to knit, especially in the evenings and on weekends without Lin Zheng Ran around—that was her best chance to speed things up.

She’d hide under the covers, carefully weaving her confession gift bit by bit.

Truth be told, Little Heqing wasn’t great at knitting.

At first, even Han Wenwen picked it up faster, but Little Heqing would sometimes get confused, staring at the instructions in frustration: “Wait, did I stitch this wrong again? Now I have to unravel it!”

But practice makes perfect, and she gradually got the hang of it.

The downside was that time started running short because of her learning curve—Han Wenwen would catch her still knitting under the covers after lights out or early in the morning.

She’d whisper: “Little Qingqing, why are you still at it?”

Little Heqing jumped when the covers were pulled back, then relaxed seeing it was Han Wenwen and smiled: “I just want to finish it sooner.”

Then she’d go right back to focusing on her knitting.

Sometimes she’d get so tired she’d nod off, but then she’d slap her cheeks to wake up: “Can’t fall asleep, or I’ll run out of time.”

The little fox marveled at how dedicated she was—it must mean she really liked Lin Zheng Ran.

This Saturday was one of Lin Zheng Ran’s every-three-weeks sessions to practice Taekwondo with Little Heqing.

In the minors’ Taekwondo dojo, Lin Zheng Ran saw Little Heqing training with a girl a few years older than her.

They traded punches and kicks back and forth.

But after going at it for a while, Little Heqing—who used to be unbeatable—was losing ground, sweating heavily after just a few exchanges.

By the end, Lin Zheng Ran noticed something off in her movements, and sure enough, she twisted her foot during a high kick the next moment.

Little Heqing cried out in pain and fell to the ground.

Lin Zheng Ran and the coach rushed over right away.

The older girl, her opponent, was surprised—Little Heqing, who was usually so strong, had been off lately.

“Heqing, are you okay?!”

Lying on the ground in pain, Little Heqing gave an awkward smile. She’d been sleeping so little lately that she was worn out: “I’m fine, just a slip-up. Don’t worry, I can keep going.”

She tried to stand, but Lin Zheng Ran knelt down and said: “Don’t move, let me check.” Little Heqing couldn’t meet his eyes.

The coach came onto the mat to examine the injury, and thankfully, they found it was just minor.

The coach sighed in relief but advised: “That scared me. You’re not in top form lately—take a couple of days off. Go to the back and put on some ointment for that sprain.”

Little Heqing thought about how she’d finally gotten Lin Zheng Ran to come this week and didn’t want to rest—if she did, he’d be back in three weeks, right before break.

She waved her hands: “No, no, Coach, I’m good. I just lost my footing.”

The coach cut in firmly: “But your form’s been off since last week, and now you’re getting hurt. Take a break. Let your brother help you change and rest.”

Little Heqing was at a loss for words and glanced timidly at Lin Zheng Ran, who was watching her, feeling too ashamed to look up.

Lin Zheng Ran went with Little Heqing to the backstage area and got the ointment.

Wearing her snow-white Taekwondo uniform, Little Heqing sat on a chair with her injured foot bare, not daring to speak because she knew she’d get scolded.

Lin Zheng Ran’s tone wasn’t harsh; he just unscrewed the ointment and asked normally.

But to Little Heqing, it felt deafening.

“What happened?!”

Little Heqing shrank her neck at his words, looking upset: “Nothing… I just kicked too high by accident.”

Lin Zheng Ran eyed her curiously: “Kicked too high? I’ve noticed since this morning that you’re not yourself—your moves lack power, and your reactions are slower. Especially that last kick…”

Little Heqing gripped the chair, head down, staring at her bare foot, biting her lip like she was ready to take the scolding.

Lin Zheng Ran stopped there, remembering what Han Wenwen had said a few days ago, and let out a breath. He wondered what this girl had been pouring her energy into lately.

“Put your foot on my leg.”

Little Heqing paused: “Huh?”

Lin Zheng Ran said clearly: “I said, put your foot on my leg so I can apply the ointment.”

She reached out hesitantly: “I can do it myself, really.”

But when her hand touched the ointment box, she realized he wasn’t letting go. She glanced up at him, not daring to meet his eyes, and slowly pulled her hand back, clutching it tightly.

She looked like a frightened sparrow.

Lin Zheng Ran ordered: “Hurry up.”

Little Heqing flinched and turned, obediently placing her foot on his leg, her eyes glistening: “Don’t be mad…”

“Who said I was mad?”

Little Heqing thought he was mad anyway, so she whispered to soothe him:

“I know I messed up—you can yell at me all you want, just don’t get upset yourself. I just…” She peeked up: “…zoned out for a second. A break will fix it…”

She almost added, “Don’t leave so soon—stay with me a bit longer,” but bit it back.

Lin Zheng Ran gave her a speechless look and got to the point: “What have you been up to lately?”

“Ah?” She blushed in surprise—was he onto her? “What do you mean… what?”