Chapter 26: A Distant Promise

【Today, you had a brief encounter with the demonic cult’s enchantress. She mentioned you might meet again, which could be a fateful opportunity for you.】

The demonic cult enchantress really matched her aura.

Later, the kitten’s owner rushed frantically to the bus stop, and Lin Zheng Ran along with Han Wenwen handed the kitten over to him.

The owner was extremely grateful, and the two parted ways.

After winter, spring arrived once more.

This was the last semester of elementary school. After the New Year, Heqing asked her mom, “Mom, when can I go to middle school with Lin Zheng Ran?”

Aunt He replied, “Probably in September. Middle school starts in September, and you’ll see him then. I’ll sign you up in August when summer break starts.”

“What day in September?”

“I’m not sure exactly. It’s usually early in the month, but it varies each year.”

Heqing smiled and ran to her bedroom, opening her new notebook to count the days until September 1st.

She crossed off a day each time one passed, bringing her closer to seeing Lin Zheng Ran.

Aunt He stood in the bedroom doorway, watching her daughter sprawled on the bed. With one hand propping up her little face, she kicked her legs happily while counting the days.

Four years had gone by, and Aunt He never expected her daughter still wanted to return to that northern small town.

She thought the farewell would end the bond between the two kids, but it had only grown stronger.

Having gone through a failed marriage, Aunt He advised her daughter, “Qingqing, when you meet Zheng Ran again, keep an eye on him. Don’t let him slip away this time.”

Heqing’s face turned bright red at those words, and she stammered, “Mom… what are you talking about?”

From the heart, Aunt He urged, “Just what I said. I truly hope my Qingqing can be with the one she likes forever.” With that, she headed to the kitchen to cook, ignoring Heqing’s flushed face.

The last six months passed as Heqing crossed off days in her notebook and counted on her fingers.

Heqing watched the days in her notebook drop from over a hundred to fifty, then from fifty to just ten.

School started, midterms came, finals approached, end-of-term exams, and summer break.

A smile spread across Heqing’s face.

“Just ten days left… only ten more days until I see him!”

Two days later, Lin Zheng Ran was at home watching TV with his parents, the three of them lounging on the sofa.

Lin Ying Jun held his wife Lin Xiao Li, who leaned against her husband’s chest and patted their son’s leg.

She asked Lin Zheng Ran, “In five days, you’ll register for middle school. Are you nervous? Once you’re there, you won’t come home every day—it’ll be boarding school.”

Lin Zheng Ran chuckled and said it was no big deal to start middle school.

It’s just giving you two more space—saves me from being in the way while you two cuddle.

The phone rang, and Lin Xiao Li checked the number. She sat up excitedly and handed it to her son, “It’s Qingqing calling! Quick, answer and ask if she’s coming back.”

Lin Zheng Ran picked up, but before he could speak, he heard her crying on the other end.

“Lin Zheng Ran… are you listening? I have bad news to tell you,” she said, her voice choked and nose sniffling. “I might not make it for the start of school to see you.”

Lin Zheng Ran was startled because he knew how long she’d been waiting for this. She mentioned the days left every time they talked, so he went to his room and asked what happened. Only then did Heqing explain.

“Mom said there’s a problem with my enrollment paperwork. It might be delayed a month, so we won’t meet when school starts.”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed in relief. “You scared me. I thought you weren’t coming at all.”

On the other end, Heqing sat on her bed, huddled up with her knees to her chest, wiping tears. “How could I not come? I’d crawl if I had to, just to go to school with you. We promised, and neither of us can back out.”

Lin Zheng Ran laughed. After years apart, even she could crack jokes now.

Heqing said through her tears, “I already counted the dates and asked Mom when I could meet you in the small town, but this surprise delay means another month…”

“So what if it’s a month? We’ve waited years—what’s one more?”

“It matters,” Heqing buried her face in her knees. “A month is forever, and I even made you a gift. It took me days to learn and make—a chocolate-flavored treat.” As she spoke, she grew upset again:

“By then, it’ll probably go bad. If I remake it, it won’t be as good as this one. This is the best I made out of several tries.”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded. “Got it. So after all that, you’re just upset about your chocolate?”

Heqing burst into laughter through her tears. “No, that’s not it. Don’t tease me.” She traced Lin Zheng Ran’s name on the bedsheet, her face red.

Word by word, she told him, “I just miss you, Lin Zheng Ran. I want to see you.” She paused. “So I talked it over with Wenwen and came up with a plan. Will you agree?”

Lin Zheng Ran asked curiously, “What plan?”

Heqing shyly shared her idea with Lin Zheng Ran, and he was shocked.

He wondered if this was still the timid Heqing he knew.

She actually wanted them to take trains at the same time and meet halfway between north and south.

He widened his eyes and frowned. “Are you crazy? Do you know how far apart we are? Even on a high-speed train, it’s a full day one way, let alone other options. And where would we stay? That’s too risky—I’m not agreeing.”

Heqing’s voice carried a mix of hurt and determination. “I’m not scared… it’s just halfway. There has to be somewhere to stay.” She tried to convince him. “Please, just say yes. I’m begging you.”

She held back her tears and pleaded with Lin Zheng Ran for ages, being persistent and sweet, insisting she was grown up now—at thirteen with an ID—and it would be fine.

She even fibbed to him, “I’ve already left on the train.”

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t believe how bold girls were these days, acting without thinking.

He hung up and told his mom he was going to find Heqing.

Lin Ying Jun and Lin Xiao Li, sitting on the sofa watching TV, were stunned.

They sat there with their mouths open, speechless.

Lin Zheng Ran gave them a half-true version of the story, and the couple exchanged looks, amazed at how different kids were nowadays.

Lin Ying Jun handed his son the spare phone. “Take this and keep us updated on the road.”

“Thanks, Dad. I’m heading out.”

So Lin Zheng Ran boarded a train heading south.

Once he bought his ticket and sat down, staring out the window, he looked exhausted and muttered to himself, “What am I even doing? I could be home sleeping in for a couple more days, but here I am wasting time on this nonsense. That silly girl—I’ll give her an earful when I see her, or I won’t be a Lin anymore.”

Meanwhile, with Lin Zheng Ran’s okay, Heqing was over the moon. She packed lightly, carefully placed the treat in her backpack, and told her mom sneakily, “Mom, I’m going to play at Wenwen’s and stay over tonight.”

Aunt He was on the sofa tending to Grandma and asked curiously, “Huh? You’re not coming home tonight?”

Heqing glanced guiltily at the door. “Yeah, I’ll sleep at Wenwen’s. I’m off now.”

“Slow down, why the rush?”

She bought her ticket, borrowed Han Wenwen’s phone, and boarded a train north, eagerly awaiting her meeting with Lin Zheng Ran in a few hours.

Of course, since Heqing had never traveled far alone, she stayed on the phone with Lin Zheng Ran the whole time, following his directions.