Chapter 89: Whispers of Affection

Han Wenwen bit into the chicken steak in her mouth and held it up again: “I was having stomach pain, but Brother Zheng Ran is already taking me out for a private stroll. If I stay unhappy now, wouldn’t that be disrespectful to him?”

She leaned her face close to Lin Zheng Ran, staring at him from inches away: “Am I that easy to appease? So, if Brother Zheng Ran sees me upset, just a little coaxing will make me happy. It’s all about whether you’ll spare a moment to care for me.”

Lin Zheng Ran forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

He led Han Wenwen on through the snack street, wandering casually.

In the end, Han Wenwen got everything she wanted to eat; Lin Zheng Ran wasn’t picky, and he actually liked those foods too.

But being so greedy meant buying a lot, and after shopping, with two full bags of snacks in hand, Lin Zheng Ran pointed to the plaza steps in the distance.

Couples sat on the roadside steps there, enjoying their food.

They headed over and found a spot on the edge to sit. Han Wenwen pulled out the chicken steak she’d bitten into earlier and chewed it happily, watching kids chase each other in the plaza and people passing by.

Yet she still wouldn’t let go of Lin Zheng Ran’s arm.

Lin Zheng Ran picked up a chicken leg and started eating, reminding her, “When you’re eating, don’t cling to my arm. Isn’t it awkward like that? And you’ll get oil on your clothes.”

Han Wenwen munched on her chicken steak and pulled out the drink she’d brought that afternoon, sticking in a straw: “No, I want to keep holding on. Brother Zheng Ran, want some water?”

Lin Zheng Ran reached for it, but Han Wenwen brought it straight to his lips: “I’ll hold it for you.” After he drank, she took it back, her red lips touching the straw he’d used and sipping some herself.

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her curiously, and Han Wenwen knew exactly what she was doing, blushing as she said: “What? There’s only one drink here. Can’t we share? I don’t mind you at all.”

Lin Zheng Ran kept eating his chicken leg, brushing off the detail, and asked casually, “Still have stomach pain?”

Han Wenwen shook her head slowly: “Not anymore.” She took another sip of the drink and bit her lower lip, whispering, “So, Brother Zheng Ran, you were really worried about me?”

Lin Zheng Ran continued eating and looked off into the distance: “Why else would I bring you out? Just to change things up for your stomach, and honestly, I’ve had enough of the school cafeteria food—it’s awful, even I can’t stomach it anymore.”

Han Wenwen stared at Lin Zheng Ran in a daze, and suddenly a group of playing kids ran over without watching where they were going, nearly crashing into her. Lin Zheng Ran instinctively used his other hand to shield her.

The kid bumped into Lin Zheng Ran’s arm, and only then did Han Wenwen lean against his chest, gazing up at him.

The playing kids realized they’d hit someone and quickly apologized: “Sorry, brother and sister! Sorry!”

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t make a fuss; he just told them to play over there. But Han Wenwen watched how he’d protected her on instinct, her face flushing slightly—these were the moments that made her heart skip, things others might overlook.

Lin Zheng Ran tried to sit up straight, but Little Fox didn’t move; instead, she pulled his arm and slowly rested her head on his shoulder.

The unique scent from Little Fox made Lin Zheng Ran pause.

Before he could speak, Han Wenwen said shyly: “That scared me just now. Leaning like this for a bit will help, so don’t make me get up.”

Lin Zheng Ran knew she was faking it, but seeing her expression seemed a little different, he didn’t push.

“Then at least let me sit properly?”

Han Wenwen fixed her eyes on him: “You can sit however, it doesn’t stop me from leaning on your shoulder.”

Lin Zheng Ran settled back in and finished the rest of his chicken leg. Han Wenwen nibbled at her chicken steak, but her appetite faded, overtaken by other thoughts.

“Has any girl ever leaned on your shoulder before, Brother Zheng Ran?” She asked curiously.

Lin Zheng Ran answered honestly: “Yes.”

Han Wenwen suddenly felt a pang of jealousy: “Who?”

“Heqing. Back during that summer before middle school, we met at the station and ended up staying out overnight. She thought I was asleep and leaned on my shoulder. But given the situation and the night, I knew she was scared, so I let it go.”

Lin Zheng Ran noticed her jealous look: “Didn’t you already know about that?”

Han Wenwen recalled the story from elementary school that Xiao Qingqing had told her, and back then, she hadn’t minded at all—in fact, she’d thought it was cute.

But now, in this moment, it felt completely different; jealousy twisted in her chest, and she didn’t want to hear more.

“Oh, right… Was Xiao Qingqing leaning on your shoulder like this?”

“Not really. She wasn’t as bold as you.”

Han Wenwen perked up a bit: “Was it this shoulder she leaned on?”

“Why are you obsessing over this?”

“It matters to me! Tell me, Brother Zheng Ran!”

Lin Zheng Ran tossed the finished chicken leg into the trash bag and grabbed another chicken steak: “No. Back then, she leaned on my left side, not like you.”

Han Wenwen laughed: “Really? That’s a relief—at least this side is just for me.”

The sunset painted the sky a deeper red, and the snack street grew busier. Lin Zheng Ran’s shoulder felt more solid than it looked, making it comfortable to lean on. Comfortable enough that Little Fox shifted her crossed legs toward him.

They ended up resting on his leg too.

But as she bit into her chicken steak, her appetite vanished: “Next week, you’ll be going back to town with Xiao Heqing for the competition, right?”

“Yeah, we’ve prepared for a year, so I have to go. I promised.”

Han Wenwen went on: “And the week after that, you’ll be with Lily for her competition? Another whole week.”

“Yeah, we’ve prepared for that too, so I need to be there.”

Han Wenwen shifted her head slightly, as if to look up, her smooth long hair brushing against Lin Zheng Ran’s face, some sticking to his back from the tilt.

“So, when will you have time for me? I’ve almost earned enough for my tuition this year. Next time you take me out, what if I don’t want to play games anymore? I want you to walk around the city with me, and then…”

Her fox-like eyes locked on Lin Zheng Ran: “At night, stay with me and don’t go back. Just spend the night in my rental house, okay? Nothing more, just be there.”

Han Wenwen gazed at the dimming sky, remembering old days, and said softly:

“I’m actually pretty scared at night. Sometimes I wake up and stare at the dark room, and I can’t fall back asleep. As a kid, I used to think of Mom to get through it, but now… I think of you, Brother Zheng Ran.”

Lin Zheng Ran turned to look at her.

“Is that why you message me at night sometimes, or call out of the blue to bother me?”

Han Wenwen grinned, reminiscing about those middle school years when she’d done that, feeling a bit embarrassed:

“I just missed you. What can I do? I didn’t know I’d get this clingy once I liked someone.

Even though I’d imagined in books or shows how I’d act when I fell for someone, reality hits harder than I thought. Like right now…”

She poked his hand: “Just leaning on your shoulder like this makes me so happy, my heart’s pounding away. What about you, Brother Zheng Ran? Do you feel excited with me this close? Do you get shy?”