Chapter 108: A Cozy Evening Visit

It wasn’t quite late at night; through the window, lights still glowed in other homes.

Heqing, with her new idea in mind, slowly sat up in bed.

But as she started to get out, she heard Lin Xiao Li’s voice from the living room: “Zheng Ran, has Xiao Qingqing lain down?”

Startled, Heqing froze, not daring to move.

In the study, Lin Zheng Ran was setting up the single bed when he heard his mom curiously ask; it sounded like she plopped down on the bed: “She just lay down, so she probably hasn’t fallen asleep yet.”

Lin Xiao Li: “Is that so? Then I’ll go check on Xiao Qingqing. This is her first night staying over at our place.”

So Heqing heard Lin’s Aunt knocking on the door.

Panicked, she quickly burrowed back under the covers, frantically straightening the blanket, her small hands clutching the edges as she lay still and proper.

Lin Xiao Li, in her pajamas, knocked and called out: “Xiao Qingqing? It’s Aunt. Are you asleep?”

Heqing pretended to be sleepy—she had a little scheme in mind, acting tired to shorten the chat with adults and sneak off later: “Mm, Aunt, I’m not asleep yet. What is it?”

“Nothing much, just checking if you’re comfortable. This is your first time staying over, after all.”

Heqing replied politely: “I’m sleeping great. You can come in, Aunt; no need to stay outside.”

Lin Xiao Li opened the door and peeked in, seeing Heqing blinking her little eyes. The two looked at each other and suddenly broke into silly smiles.

Lin Xiao Li sat on the edge of Heqing’s bed: “Is lying here comfortable, Xiao Qingqing? I got back this afternoon and heard from your uncle that you’d be staying tonight—it made me so happy.”

Heqing grinned widely: “Sorry to bother you and Uncle. Next time I come, I’ll bring treats for both of you.”

“Ha ha, you’re so cute, Xiao Qingqing. No need! Make yourself at home here. Stay whenever you want—we can just have Zheng Ran sleep in the study again.”

In the study, Lin Zheng Ran closed the door and lay in bed, reading under a single bedside lamp. After a few minutes, he heard his mom leave her room, probably done chatting with Heqing.

She even turned off the living room lights: “Xiao Qingqing, you rest now. I’m off to bed too.”

Heqing’s voice replied: “Okay, Aunt, you go sleep. Good night.”

“Good night, Xiao Qingqing.”

Then came the sound of a door closing and lights going out; the living room turned pitch black through the crack under the door.

But about two minutes later, Lin Zheng Ran suddenly heard a sound like a little mouse scurrying around stealthily.

It came from Heqing’s room; the ‘mouse’ moved slowly and even shut the door quietly.

And it whispered in a low voice: “Lin Zheng Ran? Lin Zheng Ran? Are you asleep?”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at the door, wondering what this little mouse was up to.

Outside, Heqing waited for a response but didn’t get one; she wanted to knock but was afraid of waking Uncle and Aunt.

Spotting a gap under the door, she impulsively lay down to whisper through it, thinking he’d hear better that way.

But as soon as she said, “Lin—”

Lin Zheng Ran opened the door. At first, he didn’t see anyone, then looked down and spotted Heqing on the floor—he knew he hadn’t imagined it.

“Why are you crouching there like a little mouse?”

Heqing was terrified Uncle and Aunt might hear, so she lifted her head and quickly shushed him with a finger to her lips: “Keep it down, or they’ll hear.”

Lin Zheng Ran had no idea what she was thinking. So what if they heard? They weren’t doing anything wrong.

Heqing slowly got up from the floor, brushing off the dust—though the ground was clean since they’d mopped after dinner.

She nervously eyed Lin Zheng Ran, fidgeting with her hands: “Can I come in and talk to you?”

Lin Zheng Ran shut the study door again and sat on the bed, looking at Heqing standing there—she still talked like she did as a kid, as if confessing a mistake: “What do you want to say?”

The room was dimly lit with just the bedside lamp, making it quiet and shadowy.

Heqing stared at him, not really sure what to say; she just wanted to be with him: “I can’t sleep alone.”

“Scared to sleep by yourself?”

Heqing shook her head: “Not scared. You’re next door, so I’m not afraid. I just can’t sleep alone.” She repeated it for emphasis.

Lin Zheng Ran blinked in confusion: “So, how can you fall asleep?”

Heqing looked down, her thumbs twirling nervously as she glanced at him: “I don’t know. I just can’t sleep by myself.”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed, figuring out what she wanted, and came up with a quick fix: “Want to sit in my covers for a bit? See if that makes you sleepy, then go back to bed.”

Heqing nodded eagerly, thrilled: “Okay.”

So Lin Zheng Ran slid into the covers and lifted the side against the wall: “Come on, sit in here and warm up your feet.”

Heqing kicked off her slippers and climbed in, settling next to him with the blanket over her lower body.

Lin Zheng Ran watched her beaming face: “Will sitting like this make you drowsy?”

Heqing nodded vigorously: “Uh-huh! It will!”

Lin Zheng Ran ignored her silly grin and kept reading on the bed; the lamp’s light sharpened the lines of his profile more than usual.

Heqing stared at him until her face flushed and her heart raced—no sign of sleepiness; instead, she felt more excited.

Her heart pounded like a drum.

“Lin Zheng Ran, do you think that big sister from today is pretty?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

Heqing opened her mouth then hesitated, finally asking: “I mean, do you like her type more, or mine?”

Lin Zheng Ran saw the brave look on Heqing’s face; she’d mustered up courage to ask that.

Lin Zheng Ran thought for a moment and answered while looking at his book:

“If it’s about types, they’re similar—whether it’s the mature kind or the innocent one, they’re all the same to me. But if it’s about people, I like you more right now, since you’re always around.”

Heqing felt like she was floating, her eyes wide, shoulders tensing slightly.

Her mouth hung open.

She gazed at him with sparkling eyes, in disbelief: “Really?”

“Really. Why would I lie?”

Heqing clutched the blanket, whispering: “Then I’ll say it too—I like you…”

Lin Zheng Ran’s hand paused on his book; he turned to see Heqing’s flushed cheeks and dazed eyes: “What did you say?”

Heqing blinked, her voice soft but clear: “I said I like you.”

A brief silence hung in the air.

She couldn’t hold back; her hands covered her burning face, knees drawn up as she buried her head.

She explained: “I don’t mean anything by it! Just saying it straight—nothing like a confession, just…” She hugged her legs, mumbling like a mosquito: “Just that I like you.”

Lin Zheng Ran chuckled and let out a breath.

He set the book down: “If we win tomorrow, what’s your wish? I promised to grant you one last time—thought of anything?”

Heqing peeked out a little, seeing he wasn’t mad: “Yeah, I have.”

“What is it?”

Heqing bit her lip: “I want to hold hands—I want to hold your hand.”

They locked eyes.

“Is that so? Okay.”