Chapter 214: Whispers in the Town Inn

After stepping out of the taxi, Lin Zheng Ran led the three girls to a hotel in the small town, one conveniently close to his home.

He picked a room with a nicer environment.

Since Heqing had lived in the town as a child and often visited during middle and high school, she knew the area well.

So, even though it was her first time staying in a hotel, Little Heqing wasn’t too scared.

They pulled their suitcases into the hotel.

The receptionist glanced at the four of them, curious. “Checking in?”

“Yes, a king-size room for a week. We’ll extend if we stay longer.”

“A week? All of you in one room?”

Little Heqing looked at Lin Zheng Ran, as if asking how to respond.

Lin Zheng Ran answered the clerk, nodding toward Heqing. “Yeah, just her staying here. We’re just dropping her off and leaving soon.”

Little Heqing chimed in, “Right, it’s just me staying.”

The receptionist nodded, registered Heqing’s ID, and handed over the room key. “All set, room 203.”

Lin Zheng Ran thanked her, and the four headed up to the second floor.

On the way, Han Wenwen linked arms with her and asked curiously, “Little Heqing, planning to stay in a hotel the whole trip?”

Little Heqing nodded. “It’s more convenient. I thought about staying at Lin Zheng Ran’s or your place, but I didn’t want to impose.”

Han Wenwen frowned. “Impose? We’ve shared a dorm for years—how could that be imposing?”

Little Heqing shyly glanced at Han Wenwen, her eyes full of unspoken thoughts.

Han Wenwen quickly caught on; Little Heqing wanted alone time with Lin Zheng Ran, so staying with anyone else just wouldn’t work.

They swiped the card and entered the room. With all four there, the hotel room felt more like a dorm than anything romantic.

Lin Zheng Ran smoothly inserted the key card to turn on the lights, while Little Heqing dragged her suitcase in and sank onto the bed, looking tired.

She let out a breath. “After a full day of travel, I’m beat. So, you’ll all stay here with me tonight?”

Of course, the others would.

Lin Zheng Ran slipped off his jacket and set it aside.

“Since you just arrived, I’ll hang out here tonight. Tomorrow, you all rest up, and the day after, we can pack and head out for the trip.”

Everyone agreed.

At that moment, Little Heqing stole a glance at him, wishing Han Wenwen and Lily weren’t around.

Lily stood there thinking how lucky she was that she’d dragged Lin Zheng Ran out earlier to dye her hair—otherwise, Heqing might have gotten closer to him tonight, since he clearly had no plans to go home.

Han Wenwen stayed quiet, just watching Lin Zheng Ran, her mind replaying their alone time that afternoon.

As night fell over the quiet town,

Lin Zheng Ran lay in the middle of the bed, with Heqing in her clothes on his left and Lily on his right.

Han Wenwen was next to Heqing.

The four lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Han Wenwen held the remote. “Should I turn off the lights?”

They all said, “Yeah.”

The lights went out.

Darkness enveloped the room.

In the dark, Lin Zheng Ran asked curiously, “Is it a bit cramped?”

Lily sighed. “With four of us, even on a big double bed, it’s a squeeze.”

Little Heqing whispered, “I didn’t expect we’d all end up sleeping together tonight.”

Lin Zheng Ran thought to himself that if a double bed was this tight, then when he married these girls,

he’d need a much bigger bed in his bedroom—at least one that could handle everyone occasionally sharing it.

Especially since the girls would want to bond.

Lily asked, “Lin Zheng Ran, why’d you go quiet? What are you thinking?”

He answered honestly, “I’m thinking, once we start university, maybe I should buy a house—a big one. Then you wouldn’t have to live on campus; we could all stay together.”

Everyone gasped in surprise.

First, the idea of living together was wild; second, buying a house was even crazier.

Han Wenwen exclaimed, “Lin Zheng Ran wants to buy a house? That’ll cost a fortune!”

Little Heqing thought it was unrealistic. “Renting might work if we pool money, but buying? No way—we’re in a major city, and downtown places go for millions, even for a hundred square meters.”

Lily felt the topic didn’t quite fit, but if Lin Zheng Ran wanted to, it probably wasn’t an issue—he was the general manager of Zheng Shi Company, after all, though she wasn’t sure of his exact earnings.

Either way, he could afford it.

She wondered how Heqing and Han Wenwen didn’t know about his role as general manager.

Lin Zheng Ran closed his eyes and said, “It’s just an idea for now. We’ll talk about it in university. If we go ahead, I’ll take you all to check out houses.”

After a pause, he added, “You know, you all smell amazing—like you bathed before coming out. I don’t remember you smelling this good at school; it’s like lying in a garden.”

In the darkness, everyone’s faces flushed.

They thought, of course they’d freshen up fully before seeing their crush—not a detail missed.

But almost instantly, Little Heqing wondered why Lin Zheng Ran said ‘you all.’

Logically, while Han Wenwen was a close friend, comments about her scent felt too personal—he’d never say that to anyone who wasn’t his girlfriend.

[A few days ago, after you led the army with the Eldest Princess, Fairy He, Miss Jiang, and the Demonic Cult Enchantress to repel enemies outside the city, the Imperial City celebrated with grand banquets for days.]

[During the festivities, when a common girl confessed to you, the Eldest Princess kissed you to deflect it. Though she cited a logical reason and didn’t say she liked you, her icy demeanor had never warmed to any man before—this speaks volumes of your place in her heart.]

[At the end of the celebrations, Fang Meng, the Eldest Princess’s top assassin and the strongest woman in the Imperial City, kissed your cheek in private, showing her growing feelings.]

[A few days later, in the lull after the battle, you were cultivating at home when Miss Jiang called you out to tidy up at the market. She got a new hairstyle and outfit, looking even more stunning, and bought you some fine clothes. You two hit it off and checked into an inn.]

[There, under the moonlight, things heated up, but time was short, so it didn’t go all the way—though you shared some intimacy. Later, the Demonic Cult Enchantress, who was tailing you, swooped in and took advantage.]

[That day, seeing how Miss Jiang had you flushed and distracted, the Demonic Cult Enchantress used her unique technique to ease your tension and claimed your rare spiritual essence in return.]

[From these events, you gained two points in stamina, one in energy, and one in spiritual energy level.]

[Your current attributes are:]

[Spiritual energy level: 67 (Foundation Establishment stage)]

[Spiritual power control: Level 2 (You can manipulate objects with spiritual energy and walk on water)]

[Stamina: 99 (Unlocked: Extended lifespan, enhanced physical strength, doubled cultivation speed)]

[Energy: 99 (Unlocked: Strong offspring, seven times a night capability)]

[All Things Affinity: Level 2 (You have a natural talent for all things; disciples you teach improve, and contracted ones get triple the boost)]

Lin Zheng Ran, who was about to drift off, listened as the system tallied up again. He thought that with stamina and energy so close to max, this mountain trip could bring big breakthroughs.

The next morning, everyone woke up. Han Wenwen felt unusually energized; the fatigue from her lips yesterday was gone, and she was full of ease.

As she headed to the bathroom to wash her face, Little Heqing, rummaging for clothes, asked in surprise, “Hey, Han Wenwen, what did you do last night? Your skin looks amazing!”