Chapter 256: Whispers of Jealousy

The air hung heavy with awkwardness and a baffling unease.

Lily’s jealousy, Heqing’s confusion, Han Wenwen’s panic—all tangled together.

These emotions wove into a knot, making time drag on endlessly.

“Little Little Qingqing, I was heading to the restroom and thought I’d swing by to see if Lin Zheng Ran was asleep,” Little Fox said with a light chuckle.

Heqing turned her gaze back to Han Wenwen, but said nothing.

Instead, her almond eyes blinked twice.

Han Wenwen kept up her smiling facade, but cold sweat beaded on her forehead—she knew her excuse didn’t hold water.

After all, Little Qingqing and Lily were Lin Zheng Ran’s official girlfriends, so her sneaking into his room late at night was hard to justify.

No excuse could fix it.

“Heqing, why did you head straight for Zheng Ran’s room after the restroom?” Lily asked.

Her words stirred up more chaos; Heqing glanced at Lily and noticed the thick jealousy etched on her face, deeper than usual.

On the bed, Lin Zheng Ran let out a long breath, piecing together the situation from their quick exchanges of glances.

Tonight wouldn’t end simply.

But these were his girls, and as the one in charge, Lin Zheng Ran had to sort this out.

A few minutes later, Lily, Heqing, and Han Wenwen sat on their own beds.

Lin Zheng Ran slipped on his jacket, knowing sleep was off the table tonight.

He first looked at the jealous Lily; he’d noticed something off about her when they bought noodles earlier—she’d called out but said nothing, and now he understood what was on her mind.

Lily caught Lin Zheng Ran watching her, her eyes full of jealousy as she looked away in silence.

Then Lin Zheng Ran turned to Heqing in the middle bed; she felt his gaze, remembering their intimate moments from the afternoon.

A blush spread across Heqing’s face as she flashed him a sweet, obedient smile.

But her eyes drifted toward Little Fox by the bed.

Finally, Lin Zheng Ran looked at Little Fox; Han Wenwen bit her lower lip, staring at the ground.

Lin Zheng Ran spoke up: “Let me explain.”

“Actually, I’ll talk to Heqing,” Han Wenwen said. With things out in the open, she knew she couldn’t hide it anymore—though Heqing hadn’t seen anything clear, her look earlier showed she already suspected.

Heqing’s eyes on her made that obvious.

No point hiding now, so it was better for Han Wenwen to speak up; letting Zheng Ran do it might seem like dodging responsibility.

Besides, keeping it secret from everyone was her idea in the first place.

Lin Zheng Ran saw Han Wenwen look up at him and asked softly, “Are you sure you don’t want me to handle it? It might be tough for you to explain?”

“A bit, but I’d rather chat with Heqing alone. Zheng Ran, you go comfort Lily,” Han Wenwen smiled.

The clever Han Wenwen had figured out Lily’s jealousy stemmed from Heqing, though she wasn’t clear on the details since she’d been asleep at the time.

But the moment “Zheng Ran” slipped from Han Wenwen’s lips,

Heqing and Lily both froze.

They’d never heard her call him that; in their memory, it was always “Lin Zheng Ran.”

That hadn’t changed for years.

Lin Zheng Ran turned to Heqing again: “Heqing.”

Heqing snapped back and responded, her eyes fixed on him. Even if she wasn’t the sharpest, she sensed from his expression

that Lin Zheng Ran might like Han Wenwen too.

A hint of jealousy crossed her face, but she nodded, meaning, Don’t worry, I’ll talk it out with Han Wenwen.

No fights.

Lin Zheng Ran smiled and gently stroked Heqing’s head; Lily saw this and felt even more jealous, her small hands clutching the blanket as her heart skipped a beat.

Then Lin Zheng Ran went to Lily and said, “Put on your jacket; let’s take a walk.”

Lily asked, puzzled, “Where to?”

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t elaborate, so Lily grabbed her jacket from the bed, glanced back at Heqing, and followed him out of the room.

The door clicked shut softly.

Now, only Han Wenwen and Heqing remained in the room.

These close friends, who usually shared everything, sat in silence for the first time.

Han Wenwen parted her lips to speak, but Heqing slid out of bed in her slippers and headed to the restroom to flush the toilet.

With all that had happened, she hadn’t gotten around to it earlier.

The flush of the toilet echoed loudly in the moment; Heqing stood in the restroom doorway, looking at Han Wenwen.

Han Wenwen looked back at Heqing.

They stared at each other for a while.

Then both smiled; Heqing said softly, “I brought playing cards. Want to play, Wenwen? Loser has to share a truth—no lies.”

Han Wenwen got Heqing’s intention and nodded slowly. “Sure.”

On the street, it was just past nine, so it wasn’t deserted.

In fact, it bustled with couples chatting and laughing, along with tourists on the snack street.

The mountains after the rain carried a fresh, crisp scent.

Lin Zheng Ran led Lily through the snack street.

He asked if she was hungry.

Lily shook her head. “I ate dinner, and you know I don’t eat as much as Heqing and Han Wenwen—I don’t crave snacks much.”

Lin Zheng Ran eyed the naturally tsundere Lily. “Jealous?”

Lily hadn’t expected him to be so direct and stammered, “W-well, I could try to deny it, but who would believe me?”

Lin Zheng Ran spotted a small lookout platform in the distance.

It was late, and the view below was pitch black, so hardly anyone was there.

“Let’s go there.”

Lin Zheng Ran and Lily walked over at a steady pace.

Tonight, the platform was empty, without a single light.

They stood at the railing, gazing down the mountain.

Lily gripped the rail and said, “It’s so dark down there—can’t see a thing, feels eerie.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled. “Scared?”

Lily huffed, “Not at all. I’m not that timid, especially with you here. The only thing that really scares me is…” She paused, then whispered, “…if you suddenly stopped liking me.”

“That won’t happen. Once I like someone, it’s for good. I think I’m pretty pure-hearted about it.”

Lily pursed her lips, her eyes shifting.

“I believe the first part, but that last bit? You’re kidding me. I’ve known you forever, you idiot.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled.

“The way you looked at Heqing back in the room, full of jealousy—you want to know what happened between us this afternoon, right? With her, I…”

Lily’s lips trembled; from his tone, she already guessed, and cut in quickly, “Zheng Ran, don’t say it! I’ll cry.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at her.

Lily’s voice turned hoarse as she said slowly,

“I only realized today how selfish I am deep down—I don’t want you with anyone else.”

She sounded hurt: “We’re all in this together, but I can lose at anything except you. I thought I’d accepted you being close to Heqing,

but today, just imagining you two… doing that made me so jealous, my heart ached. Even the music contest I’ve been obsessed with feels pointless now.”

She stared arrogantly at the darkness below, sniffing back tears as she wiped her eyes.

“You know, I’ve always liked you most since I was little. Nothing matters more than you…” Her emotions broke, tears welling up: “You didn’t really do it with Heqing, did you? Waaah! Why not me? I had everything ready for this trip, and I still ended up losing!”

She burst into sobs, looking at Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran wrapped his arms around her.

Lily cried harder in his embrace, heart-wrenching sobs.

Lin Zheng Ran stroked her head to soothe her: “What do you mean ‘losing’? We’re not breaking up.”

“Waaah! Zheng Ran, I feel so selfish. I know you’re with Heqing too, and I agreed, but I still get jealous, especially about your first time.”

“That’s not selfish—it’s human. I like you all, so I want you all.”

“Waaah, you flirt!”

“There, let it out—it’ll help. But tell me straight: do you dislike Heqing?”

“No, I don’t. We’re pretty good friends, like sisters, but… that’s your first time! Comfort me, Zheng Ran, I’m heartbroken! You know I’m usually tough, but I can’t hold back the tears—waaah!”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at a storage shed near the platform; it was locked, but that wouldn’t stop him.

“Let’s find a quiet spot to talk this out properly.”

He decided to comfort her there.