Chapter 96: Whispers of the Heart

Lily’s mind went blank as she watched Xiao Heqing head back to the classroom.

After a long silence, she hugged her head, her thoughts exploding like fireworks.

She recalled that day on the military training field when Zheng Ran confessed to her, and she had said yes.

Though they hadn’t had much alone time in the past couple of days, he was her boyfriend now, right?

That evening after delivering the water, she had been so shy she couldn’t sleep all night.

The cup he had sipped from, Lily savored reluctantly, taking tiny sips over two whole days.

“What’s going on?!” Lily clutched her head, eyes squeezed shut, face flushed. “That fool—who’s he really dating? Did he confess to Heqing too?”

Just then, Han Wenwen stepped out of the classroom and saw Lily holding her head in distress. “Lily? What’s wrong?”

Lily quickly dropped her arms, clasped her hands behind her back, blushing with embarrassment. “Oh, nothing… I’m heading to the bathroom.”

She hurried to the girls’ bathroom to splash water on her face, clenching her fists with a surge of jealousy. She had to confront that idiot and clear this up—he had confessed to her, and she heard it herself!

He couldn’t back out now! That flirt!

The midday sun blazed over the public high school, where a beautiful lotus pond shimmered, koi fish gliding through the water.

In the nearby pavilion, the cool and aloof Jiang Qian sat on the bench, gazing at the pond’s surface occasionally rippled by fish.

Away from Lin Zheng Ran, her shyness faded, and she returned to her usual self.

“You said you had something important to tell me? What is it?”

Assistant Fang Meng held a file in her hand, standing nearby with a serious tone. “Qian Qian, have you noticed anything odd about yourself lately?”

Jiang Qian stared at the lotus pond, but her mind wandered, drifting back to Lin Zheng Ran—his profile, his determined back.

Fang Meng didn’t get a response, so she called out again. “Qian Qian? Are you even listening?”

Jiang Qian snapped back, her face turning red, then quickly calmed seeing it was Fang Meng. “What? Oh, I heard you. I feel fine, totally normal.”

Fang Meng shot back, “No, you’re not! You were just thinking about Lin Zheng Ran again!”

Jiang Qian turned away, staring at the pond with a guilty look.

Fang Meng sighed in exasperation. “I knew it—you’re in too deep. I thought it’d pass in a day or two, but as long as your curiosity about him lingers, this won’t end.”

She let out a breath, glancing at the file. “Luckily, I’ve found something key that might ease your symptoms.”

She handed the document to Jiang Qian. “Take a look.”

Jiang Qian took the file and saw it detailed the relationship between a girl named Heqing and Lin Zheng Ran.

As Jiang Qian scanned the document, Fang Meng explained.

“This girl, Heqing, is Lin Zheng Ran’s girlfriend—confirmed by her own words. From my quick investigation, they’re childhood friends who went to the same middle school. He’s always looked out for her. So, Qian Qian, that’s why you’re blushing around him…”

Jiang Qian looked at Lin Zheng Ran’s photo in the file, shyly covering her face with her hand.

Fang Meng was stunned and snatched the file back. “Qian Qian, are you even listening? Are you okay?”

After a moment, Jiang Qian composed herself and said, “I don’t know why you’re telling me this. I’m not into him. Whether he has a girlfriend doesn’t matter to me. I’m just interested in his talents.”

Fang Meng paused, surprised. “Really? So you know you’re not actually into him? That makes things easier.” Her tone softened:

“I noticed you’ve been off lately—blushing every time you talk to him. I was worried you’d fall for him, so I wanted to help you cool down.”

Jiang Qian slowly stood up, her eyes cold as frost fixed on Fang Meng:

“What are you thinking, Xiao Meng? Why would I like any guy? I swore long ago that if I ever date, he’d have to be way stronger than me in every way, or I won’t feel a thing.”

Fang Meng sat back, relieved. “That’s right, I remember that oath of yours, so…”

Suddenly tense again, she looked at Jiang Qian. “Wait, isn’t that exactly Lin Zheng Ran? How’s that different from what you wished for?!”

Jiang Qian said shyly, “Is it? Really the same?”

“Of course! Look, you’re blushing again! You can’t just fall for him because he’s capable. When looking for a boyfriend, find someone who treats you well, not just someone powerful—it could backfire! And how did this even happen?”

But Jiang Qian quickly reverted. “I told you, I don’t like him. How would that hurt me?”

Fang Meng: “.”

Was she on the verge of a breakdown?

Jiang Qian slowly got up, and Fang Meng asked where she was going.

Jiang Qian replied, “Back to the teaching building to sit for a bit, and maybe meet this Heqing girl. I want to see what Lin Zheng Ran likes about her and where I fall short.”

“Huh?” From behind, Fang Meng couldn’t see Jiang Qian’s expression, but she noticed her clenched fists as she tilted to peek at her profile.

There it was—jealousy written all over her puffed-up face.

Fang Meng stared in disbelief.

She jumped up and hooked her arm around Jiang Qian’s neck. “I’m not letting you go! You’re totally jealous right now—if you keep this up, you’ll really fall for him!”

“I won’t.”

“You will!”

“I won’t—you’re choking me, let go.”

“Who’d believe that!”

“Then tell me, what’s my reason for liking him?”

“How should I know? I’m not into him!” Fang Meng felt exhausted.

Soon it was the weekend, and Fang Meng headed home every two weeks to see her family. But as she walked in today,

she saw not just her parents on the sofa, but two uncles and aunts sitting there too.

Fang Meng’s parents introduced, “Dream’s back? Let us introduce you. This is your Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin—they’re our old classmates from years ago. We bumped into them recently.”

Lin Ying Jun and Lin Xiao Li greeted Fang Meng, “Little Dream, hello! It’s been years, and you’ve grown so much—and so pretty too.”

Fang Meng didn’t know them, but she nodded politely.

“Hello, Uncle and Aunt.”

Fang Meng’s parents laughed, “Oh, seeing Dream reminds me—your son must be all grown up too, right? Back in school, we joked about arranging a marriage between our kids when they were older!”