Chapter 16: Echoes of Everyday Wonders

After experiencing Han Wenwen’s life, Heqing truly realized that the gap between people is even greater than between people and dogs.

It might look like they’re both just going to and from school, but it’s actually completely different experiences.

“By the way, when we were talking about if anyone has confessed to you, why did you suddenly freeze up? Did you think of someone? Do you have a boy you like?” Han Wenwen asked out of the blue.

Heqing’s face turned red; she couldn’t answer, stammering and flustered.

Han Wenwen smiled with understanding, “Okay, forget I asked. Let’s eat.” She had clearly figured it out.

That evening, Heqing got home and told Lin Zheng Ran about the unusual events of the day.

She secretly hoped for strange things to happen every day so she could call Lin Zheng Ran. Otherwise, she couldn’t find a reason, though the real one was that she missed him…

That night, Heqing sat against her bedhead in the bedroom, lamp glowing, wearing a white nightdress, chatting on her mom’s phone with someone.

“Lin Zheng Ran, let me tell you, I helped a female classmate today. She’s really pretty and has a bunch of boys chasing her. Then… we ended up eating together.”

Heqing wanted to share every detail but felt it was wrong to gossip about classmates, so she picked and chose what to say.

Lin Zheng Ran was left confused: “Go on.”

Heqing twirled her ponytail around her finger: “That’s it, nothing more.”

Lin Zheng Ran: “.”

Heqing: “.”

“What have you been up to lately? Still going to and from school alone?”

He replied, “Pretty much, but sometimes others are around.”

“Ah?” She asked, puzzled. “Girls?”

“Yeah, females.”

Heqing’s expression soured instantly; her eyes welled up, ready to cry. She pictured this mysterious girl eating with him, walking home, practicing Taekwondo together, even napping in his arms.

But then Lin Zheng Ran added, “The neighbors went away and left their little female dog with us. It follows me home sometimes.”

Heqing jumped, hand over her heart, laughing through tears: “Oh, it’s just a puppy! What about besides that?”

“Nothing else, wait, actually there is.”

“Who?!”

“My parents.”

Heqing sighed in relief; every chat with Lin Zheng Ran felt like swinging between heaven and hell. She whispered, “When I get back, I’ll go to school with you. Oh, right, Lin Zheng Ran, I have a question for you.”

She remembered what Han Wenwen had asked her earlier, and she’d wanted to ask Lin Zheng Ran too.

Before fourth grade, kids didn’t really grasp the idea of liking someone, but after that, the word popped up more often.

“Lin Zheng Ran, I’m curious—over the past couple of years, has any girl confessed to you?”

“Your curiosities are getting weirder,” he said bluntly. “Yes.”

Heqing knew it: “So, lots of girls have confessed to you?”

“Not many. You know I don’t like chatting with little girls; it’s annoying, so I’m not interested in them at all.”

Heqing thought to herself, I’m a little girl too—does he find talking to me annoying? Well, if he does, so be it.

Annoying or not, that’s just how it is.

Of course, she wouldn’t dare say that out loud, or she’d get scolded.

Heqing kept twirling her hair, checking the ends, as the conversation paused.

Lin Zheng Ran asked, “Talked enough for today? Anything else? I need to hang up.”

“Wait! Don’t hang up yet!” Heqing scrambled for more topics. “Let’s chat a bit longer. Oh, the chicken cutlet rice at the restaurant today was really good…”

“Was it? Bring me some if you get the chance.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, sure. But didn’t you say your restaurant changes the menu daily? Who knows if it’ll have it again? Besides, who hasn’t had chicken cutlet rice before?”

Heqing stuck out her tongue secretly, wearing a happy grin despite the scolding.

That night, Lin Zheng Ran mentioned some of his daily life to Heqing, but he left out one thing.

After all, the person involved was someone Heqing didn’t know, and he still hadn’t figured out the full story.

The next morning, Lin Zheng Ran packed his backpack.

He casually checked his panel.

Two years on, Lin Zheng Ran was nearing a breakthrough to level thirty, though leveling up got slower the higher you went.

[Today’s weather is partly cloudy, maybe rain; you’re in your daily cultivation.]

[Your current spiritual energy level is twenty-eight.]

[Your total attributes are]

[Strength: Eight]

[Energy: Nine]

[Stamina: Thirteen]

[Charm: Eleven]

[Strength evaluation: Unrivaled in the beginner village.]

“Ran Ran, time for school. The weather’s bad today—do you need an umbrella?” Lin Ying Jun asked, slipping on his shoes.

Lin Zheng Ran headed to the door: “I have one at school; no need.”

His dad drove him to elementary school.

In the classroom, Lin Zheng Ran glanced at the empty seat near the door.

That was Lily’s desk; they were still in the same class.

She hadn’t arrived yet.

The classroom was always buzzing in the morning until Lily walked in with her double ponytails.

Some people suddenly went quiet watching her.

The once fierce Lily now looked like she’d lost half her spirit, facing the class’s disdainful stares.

She sat at her spot.

She was no longer the discipline committee member, having been removed just two days ago for a strange incident in the class.

The usually honest class monitor had snuck in a phone, and it went missing on the first day.

The next day, for a small class fundraiser, the deputy monitor collected the money, only to find half of it gone.

The teacher was furious and demanded the thief return it. Lily led the search, checking everyone’s bags.

But in the end, they found the money in her bag.

Not just the money—the phone was hidden deep in her desk cubby.

Lily panicked, facing the shocked looks. “It wasn’t me! As the discipline committee member, how could I steal? And that phone isn’t mine!”

The class was skeptical until her deskmate, Jiang Xiao, stood up. “Lily took the money—I saw her when I came back at noon.”

Lily stared at her deskmate in disbelief, her eyes trembling.

The class erupted in chatter; everyone’s gaze turned hostile. The teacher stripped Lily of her position and notified her parents.

[Miss Jiang has been confirmed to have stolen silver and a treasured sword. You’ve had some dealings with her and noticed something off, but this is tricky. Helping or not leads to different opportunities.]