Chapter 62: Whispers of Youth

At lunchtime in the junior high girls’ dormitory, Xiao Heqing neatly folded the scarf and placed it in a delicate gift box.

She clutched the box all morning, refusing to let go, terrified it might get bumped, scratched, or mysteriously vanish.

She kept taking deep breaths, nerves fraying to the edge.

Han Wenwen returned from buying lunch outside, bags in hand: “I’m back with lunch! I even got your favorite skewered meat, Xiao Qingqing.”

Xiao Heqing sat on the bed, a bit embarrassed: “Thanks for the effort, Wenwen. I’ll handle lunch tomorrow.”

Han Wenwen shot her a smile and set the food on the fold-out table:

“It’s no big deal. Today’s your big day, Xiao Qingqing. As your best friend, I’m here to cheer you on—let’s celebrate early!”

Xiao Heqing blushed and ducked her head. Han Wenwen handed her chopsticks, and only then did she carefully set the gift box down, but moments later, her face turned pale.

Han Wenwen blinked: “Are you okay?”

Xiao Heqing stammered, trembling: “Wenwen, what if he doesn’t respond well? I’m actually a little scared…”

Han Wenwen unwrapped her chopsticks and chewed on the tip: “That’s tough to say. Lin Zheng Ran isn’t like other guys, but I can tell you one thing for sure,” she said with a grin:

“After today, your relationship with Lin Zheng Ran will definitely get closer.”

Xiao Heqing nodded slowly.

The two friends sipped drinks and ate lunch together.

Meanwhile, Lily and her mom brought Grandma home. Seated on the sofa, Grandma asked about her time at the Child Star Studio.

Holding her granddaughter’s hand: “Lily, you’ve grown up so much and become so talented. Maybe I’ll see you on TV someday!”

Lily stood before Grandma, feeling a bit shy from the praise.

Grandma asked: “But with your singing, you’ll have to travel sometimes, right? Can you handle it? Are you scared?”

Lily could be honest with Grandma:

“Grandma, I haven’t traveled far yet, but next year I’ll compete in our town. Luckily, I have this amazing guy classmate who helps me practice every day. With him around, I’m not scared at all.”

Grandma noticed the way her granddaughter lit up and smiled: “I see. That boy must be really good to you.”

Lily nodded: “Yeah, he’s great to me and super talented! He can do everything. Remember that awesome classmate I mentioned before? That’s him.”

Grandma’s eyes were full of affection: “Our Lily is the best. Grandma believes you can handle anything—no questions asked.”

Lily smiled and nodded: “Thanks, Grandma.”

She hugged Grandma tightly.

At three in the afternoon, the two girls left their dorm and home respectively. Lily held the zoo promotional flyer, while Xiao Heqing carried the box with the scarf, bidding farewell to Grandma and her best friend as they headed toward the bridge with white doves.

At the same time, Lin Zheng Ran stepped out, gripping a handful of mixed grains to feed the pigeons early.

He arrived first since his home was closest.

The flock of white pigeons seemed to sense food, flapping their wings and swooping in with a rush.

Lin Zheng Ran scattered the grains on the ground, and the pigeons quickly snatched them up.

On the roadside, Xiao Heqing stepped out of the taxi, clutching the box. She spotted Lin Zheng Ran already at the bridge.

“Lin Zheng Ran?”

She felt a surge of panic—she’d arrived over an hour early herself.

She hurried over with the gift.

Meanwhile, Lily walked from home, her twin ponytails bouncing with her nervous steps.

Seeing the figure feeding pigeons at the bridge, her face lit up in surprise: “That big dummy—he’s here so early.”

She quickened her pace and ran toward the bridge.

Both wanted to call out, but their shouts merged in the air.

“Lin Zheng Ran, why are you here so early?”

“Big dummy, what time did you get here?”

In the split second before shouting, Xiao Heqing and Lily hadn’t realized the other was there. They froze, eyes wide in shock as they stared at each other.

Their steps slowed and stopped.

Lily eyed the box in Xiao Heqing’s hands; Xiao Heqing stared at the flyer in Lily’s.

They gripped their items a little tighter.

Lin Zheng Ran heard the voices and turned to look at them.

The three stood by the bridge, gazes locked, an awkward silence spreading like a fog.

Lily’s eyes trembled as she fixed on the box. Whatever was inside, it had to be a special gift! Was Heqing really here to confess?

Xiao Heqing stared at the flyer, swallowing nervously.

Why was Lily here? Was she also confessing?

Suddenly, both girls blushed and turned to Lin Zheng Ran:

One too shy to speak up.

The other fumbling awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

Lin Zheng Ran broke the silence: “What are you two spacing out about?”

Their faces burned with embarrassment, minds reeling.

Unaware of the tension, the pigeons cooed and flapped, white feathers drifting down around them.

Back in the girls’ dormitory, Han Wenwen sat on the bed, her slender fingers touching her lips where she’d kissed someone’s forehead.

Her face showed a mix of shyness and jealousy.

That afternoon, a heavy rain poured down. The three ended up in the same taxi, with Xiao Heqing and Lily soaked and silent, their faces flushed.

No matter what Lin Zheng Ran asked, they just stared at the floor, utterly mute.

The next day, the rain stopped, but the roads stayed slick.

The morning sun was decent, and Xiao Heqing walked slowly along the roadside, still holding the box with the scarf.

Yesterday afternoon, she hadn’t given the gift—first Lily showed up, then the downpour ruined everything.

Spotting a little golden retriever stuck in a damaged sewer grate, she rushed over: “Don’t bite, okay? I’ll get your paw out.”

The puppy whined a few times, as if understanding, then lay still, tail wagging slowly.

Xiao Heqing approached carefully, squatting down while balancing the box in one arm and freeing the paw with the other.

With only one hand, she struggled, reluctant to set the box on the ground.

She tugged hard, and the paw came free, but momentum sent her plopping into the wet mud.

Mud splashed up, covering the puppy in grime and water.

She yelped in surprise, quickly checking the stains on her backside, awkwardly patting them only to make it worse.

The puppy shook itself off, flinging mud everywhere like a washer on spin, splattering Xiao Heqing.

She squeezed her eyes shut, clutching the box tightly in terror.

Mud dotted her clothes, and some even landed on the box.

Realizing its mistake, the puppy whined apologetically, keeping its distance as if saying it didn’t mean to.

Xiao Heqing ignored it at first, checking the box and opening it to see the scarf—luckily, it was still clean and new.

She sighed in relief, then smiled at the puppy: “It’s fine, really. My backside’s already a mess anyway; I’ll have to wash up. Go on, be careful and don’t get stuck again.”

The puppy whined again, watching her from afar as she walked away.

Muddy and disheveled, Xiao Heqing reached the kindergarten gate—they’d both attended here. Nostalgic memories flooded back.

After a moment, she continued to a nearby riverbank, where she placed tissue on a bench to avoid soiling it before sitting.

She examined the mud spots all over herself, her mood sinking.

“I figured I’d find you here. Didn’t you hear what I said last night when I dropped you two off?”

Xiao Heqing’s expression shifted from pitiful to surprised at the familiar voice: “Lin Zheng Ran?”

Lin Zheng Ran stood nearby, eyeing the mud on her hair, clothes, and especially her backside: “How did you end up like this? Been playing in the mud?”

Xiao Heqing jumped up, flustered and embarrassed, hugging the box: “I-I was just saving a puppy and fell. What are you doing here? And what about last night? I don’t remember anything.”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed, recalling the rainstorm yesterday when he called a cab for Lily and Heqing.

The whole ride, those two sat red-faced and silent, ignoring him like statues lost in thought.

Both seemed completely zoned out.

Lin Zheng Ran reached out, and Xiao Heqing thought he might tap her head, so she shut her eyes. Instead, he paused, then lightly tapped when she peeked, making her yelp.

Lin Zheng Ran said: “Come on, I’ll take you to my place to clean up. And didn’t you have something to tell me?”