Chapter 113: Promises and Pocket Change

This time, the two didn’t take the bus because Saturday mornings had fewer people and plenty of seats.

But heading back to school in the afternoon would be packed.

Lin Zheng Ran hailed a taxi to go to school, and while waiting, Heqing suddenly asked, “Let’s talk about something—I want to give four thousand yuan from the prize money to Mom and Grandma. Is that okay?”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her. “Of course, it’s your money, so you can spend it however you like.”

Heqing nodded with a smile, then took four thousand yuan from the remaining eight thousand after their meal and tucked it into her pocket, leaving four thousand behind.

She handed the remaining four thousand to Lin Zheng Ran.

“Here, the rest is for you.”

Standing on the street, Lin Zheng Ran looked puzzled. “Why give it to me?”

Heqing replied as if it were obvious:

“Don’t you remember? I said before I’d give it to you. After all, you taught me Taekwondo, so I wouldn’t have won without that.”

She recalled the past: “Back in middle school, we said if the prize was two thousand yuan, I’d give half to Mom and the rest—one thousand—to you for nine hundred, then Wen Wen and I would spend a hundred on snacks.”

Mentioning snacks made her swallow. “But things are different now. I’m your girlfriend, right? So, you can have it all. If I want to buy something later, just give me some pocket money.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at Heqing, helpless. “So, this makes it my money? I don’t want it. You keep it and spend it yourself—it’s what you earned from two hard days of competition.”

Heqing didn’t get it, her eyes clear: “What’s mine or yours? Aren’t I yours too? So, my money is your money.” She leaned closer to Lin Zheng Ran and held out the money again.

“Just take it. Girls give money to their boyfriends. I can’t hold onto it—if I do, I’ll spend it all on snacks. Take it quick.”

She poked the money at Lin Zheng Ran’s hand, trying to shove it into his palm, looking up at him with a wronged expression. “If you don’t take it, I won’t sleep well tonight. I really can’t resist spending it.”

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t help but laugh at her silly act.

So, he took the money. “Alright, I’ll hold onto this for you. If you need it later, just ask, and I’ll give it back.”

Heqing beamed once he took it. “Okay, you’re in charge at home anyway, so it’s all up to you.”

Innocent Heqing never thought about breaking up; from last night when she leaned on his shoulder, or even earlier, she’d dreamed of a future married life with him.

She glanced at Lin Zheng Ran a bit shyly as he put the money away. “Hey, Lin Zheng Ran, could you give me a hundred yuan? I want to buy some snacks when we get back to school and celebrate with Wen Wen.”

Lin Zheng Ran pulled out two hundred and handed it to her. “Why not just give you three thousand nine hundred earlier? And a hundred won’t buy much—here’s two hundred.”

Heqing stuck to her own logic:

“That’s not the same! If I just took it, it’d be like stealing from home. But if you give it to me, it’s from my boyfriend—that’s different.” She eyed the hundred in his hand and took one bill:

“I won’t need that much. A hundred is enough—put the rest away for yourself.”

She grinned. “As long as it’s not for other girls, you can spend it on whatever. Guys should treat themselves now and then.”

The taxi arrived, and Heqing happily tucked the hundred into her pocket, already imagining what snacks to buy tonight— a hundred could get a lot.

Lin Zheng Ran and Heqing got into the taxi.

In the taxi, she called her mom and told her about winning the competition and taking the championship.

Aunt He asked about her daughter on the phone and sighed, “You really won? And got the championship?”

Heqing smiled shyly. “Yeah, for real, and we got prize money too.”

“Prize money? How much?”

Heqing lowered her voice, glanced at Lin Zheng Ran beside her, and said:

“Six thousand yuan! But since I won’t go back to the Dojo in town, I used two thousand to treat everyone there to a meal. The remaining four thousand, I’ll bring home for the holidays to give to Mom.”

Aunt He was thrilled. “Treating them is fine, but such a big prize for a championship? You don’t have to give it to me—it’s from your hard work, so keep it for yourself.”

Heqing’s face flushed. “It wasn’t that much at first, but it went up later. Anyway, I don’t want to spend it on myself—I’ll give it to Mom so you and Grandma can buy things.”

Aunt He knew her daughter’s nature and felt proud of how she’d grown.

Still, she refused. “How about this, Qing Qing—keep the money for yourself, but next time you visit, buy something for Grandma and say it’s from your championship winnings. She’d love that.”

Heqing murmured, “You really don’t want it? Okay, then I’ll use it to buy things for Mom and Grandma.”

The mother and daughter chatted a bit more before Heqing hung up happily.

She turned to Lin Zheng Ran and repeated, “Mom said just to buy her something.”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded.

Heqing watched the scenery outside and realized it would take a while to reach school, so she scooted closer to Lin Zheng Ran.

She rested her head on his shoulder for the rest of the ride.

Half an hour later, the driver stopped at the school gate.

Lin Zheng Ran and Heqing got out and headed toward the teaching building.

Since they arrived early, there was time before class, so they strolled side by side through the school, with Heqing chatting about the competition.

At first, she was casual, but then her soft hand accidentally brushed against Lin Zheng Ran’s.

She trembled, her face turning red as she looked at him.

The conversation stopped abruptly.

Lin Zheng Ran kept looking ahead, while Heqing shyly bowed her head, realizing what was happening.

The evening sun cast a warm glow, making her blush even more vivid. Remembering her wish, she said, “Lin Zheng Ran, about what I said yesterday…”

Suddenly, she felt her hand being held, and her eyes widened.

She stared at their linked hands.

“Does this count as fulfilling your wish?” Lin Zheng Ran asked.

Heqing’s face flushed like a ripe fruit, so hot she felt steam rising from her head.

Her small, soft hand responded, intertwining with his as they walked through the campus. “Yeah, it does.”

His hand was so big… so warm… holding hands felt this nice.

“Later, do you want to hit the supermarket first or find Wen Wen?”

Heqing jumped a little, her hand tightening, and quickly answered, “Let’s find Wen Wen first… I want to go shopping with her.”

“Okay.”

They reached the area near the girls’ dormitory.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “I’ll drop you off here. Head on up.”

Heqing turned to gaze at his profile, reluctant to leave.

Then, an idea struck her.

She stepped in front of Lin Zheng Ran, mustered her courage, took his hand, tiptoed, grabbed his shoulder with the other, and planted a light kiss on his neck.

Her voice sweet and timid: “I like you.”

She dashed away, red-faced, waving from a distance: “I’m heading to the dorm! Bye!”

Too embarrassed to say another word or look back.