Chapter 66: Healing Moments

While reading, Lin Zheng Ran got out of bed to find the ointment for treating sprains and injuries at home, but Heqing had no idea what he was up to.

When he returned, she heard him ask, “By the way, is your foot not hurting anymore?”

Lying in bed, Heqing suddenly realized and said clumsily, “Oh yeah, it doesn’t hurt anymore! When did that happen?”

She looked at Lin Zheng Ran approaching and suddenly thought of something, waving her hands to explain:

“Don’t think I’m lying! I didn’t trick you just to get a piggyback ride. It really hurt before, but it stopped after we got to your place. I totally forgot about it. You have to believe me! I promised I wouldn’t lie to you again.”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her, pulled back the covers to check her ankle, and said, “Explain what? I didn’t say I don’t believe you. Just give me your foot so I can look.”

Squatting by her ankle, he examined it. There was no external injury earlier, just some redness, but now it was barely noticeable.

If it’s not hurting this quickly, I figure the cold air must have aggravated your old injury, making it sting. After a hot shower, your ankle warmed up and eased the pain.

Heqing only half-listened to his words; the rest of her attention was fixed on him examining her foot.

She felt so embarrassed~

Because Wen Wen had once said that when it comes to parts of a girl’s body boys like, feet are important—especially for some guys, a pretty pair means more than anything.

They might even love to play with them.

Lin Zheng Ran carefully squeezed out a bit of ointment and said, “Since it’s not hurting, I’ll just apply a little. But mostly, you need to take care of it yourself. Avoid running around on rainy days or anything like that.”

Heqing zoned out.

Lin Zheng Ran repeated, “Are you listening?”

Snapping back, Heqing jolted and said, “Yes! Got it all.”

She bit her lip, watching him spread the ointment on her foot with his fingers, and wondered which part of a girl he liked most.

Hands? Feet? Eyes? Nose? Lips? Or something else…

Once her clothes dried, Heqing locked the bedroom door, changed, and looked fresh as new. Lin Zheng Ran walked her downstairs.

At the residential area entrance, Lin Zheng Ran asked, “Do you have money for a taxi back?”

Heqing replied, “I can walk; it’s not too far.”

Lin Zheng Ran pulled a large bill from his pocket—thanks to Wen Wen’s earnings, he’d made plenty too—and said, “Take this for a cab. Save your foot from hurting again.”

Heqing’s eyes widened at the big note, and Lin Zheng Ran added, “You can pay me back later.”

Only then did she reach out hesitantly and take it, saying, “Okay, I’ll pay you back after I win the Taekwondo competition next year and get the prize money.”

As they talked, no one noticed a girl with twin ponytails and a padded jacket approaching slowly with her hands behind her back at the street corner.

It was Lily, of course. The girl kept her head down, thinking about yesterday afternoon’s awkward encounter on the bridge with Heqing, which still made her feel deeply ashamed.

But when she and that big dummy Heqing took the bus home, Lily vaguely heard Heqing say something about coming to see her in the afternoon.

She waited at home for half the day but he never showed, so she decided to come over and check if he was around.

Just as Lily reached the residential area entrance, she spotted two figures in the distance—a guy and a girl.

She might mistake anyone’s silhouette, but not Lin Zheng Ran’s.

And was that small figure with the single ponytail next to the big dummy Heqing?

Lily quickly ducked behind a wall, peeking out to see what the two were up to.

Why was the big dummy with Heqing?

Was it to talk about yesterday afternoon?

And it looked like they were just leaving his place…

“Let me watch a bit more…” She started to say, but then noticed the fancy scarf around Lin Zheng Ran’s neck.

From afar, Heqing said a quick goodbye to Lin Zheng Ran, lingering as she added, “Well, I’m off. See you next week.”

“Okay, head back. Send me a message when you get to the dormitory.”

Heqing glanced at the scarf around his neck and carefully adjusted it for him.

Lily caught that moment, her eyes trembling.

Staring at them, she murmured, “That scarf… Did Heqing give it to him?” Yesterday afternoon, Heqing was carrying a box that looked like it held a gift, and it was big but light.

If it was a scarf inside, it all made sense.

So, Heqing had already given the gift, and the big dummy accepted it!

Suddenly, Heqing noticed her shoelace was untied and knelt down to tie it.

Lily’s eyes widened slowly because to her, it looked like a proposal!

“Is she… Is Heqing on one knee proposing to the big dummy?! Confessing?!”

Just like in her dream that day!

She saw Heqing look up and say something to Lin Zheng Ran—too quiet to hear, but Lily imagined it.

Heqing, full of emotion: “Lin Zheng Ran, marry me! That’s why I’m on one knee proposing. Will you be my husband?”

“If you’re willing, please take my hand.”

Lily gripped the wall corner tightly, biting her lip in tension.

Then she watched Lin Zheng Ran reach out and pull Heqing up.

Heqing, blushing, said, “I’m so happy right now. I need to get back to the dormitory to calm down. In a few days, we’ll go to the civil affairs office to get married.” She waved goodbye.

Lin Zheng Ran nodded, “Sure, I’ll go with you. Be careful on the way, my dear~”

Of course, that was all in her head. In reality, far away, Heqing was just tying her shoelace and checking her ankle that had hurt before, then looked up at Lin Zheng Ran and said, “My foot really doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Lin Zheng Ran helped her up: “Even if it’s not hurting, be careful. If it acts up again, see a doctor, especially over the next few days.”

Heqing nodded: “Okay, I’m heading out?” She waved at Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran nodded back: “Yeah, take it slow on the road.”

Heqing walked away, glancing back every few steps until she reached the corner to hail a taxi.

Even after getting in the taxi, she’d roll down the window and keep waving at Lin Zheng Ran.

Once Heqing was gone, Lin Zheng Ran turned to head toward Lily’s place—there was a small rehearsal at her studio that afternoon, plus yesterday’s events.

But as he turned, he spotted half a pink face and drooping twin ponytails peeking from behind the wall corner.

Lin Zheng Ran knew right away who it was: “Lily? What are you doing hiding there?”

Caught by the big dummy, Lily wanted to duck away, but her emotions overflowed and she didn’t bother pretending.

Tears welling, she stepped out, eyes shut tight, fists clenched, and shouted:

“Idiot! Jerk! Big dummy! You don’t keep your word! How could you accept someone else’s proposal?” She bit her lip, feeling betrayed and hurt, her voice choking:

“You said you’d marry me someday! If you won’t, who am I supposed to marry? Who’ll be my groom?!”

She turned to run, covering her eyes as tears poured out: “Waaah, I hate people who don’t keep their promises!”

As she dashed past Lin Zheng Ran, he grabbed her arm and said exasperatedly:

“What’s gotten into you now? What proposal? Who’s proposing to whom? And how did I break my word? Explain before you bolt!”