Chapter 263: Bonds and Barbecue Secrets

Lin Zheng Ran turned to fiddle with the barbecue skewers, pulling out all the ingredients, and explained, “How did I bully you? Last night you were sleeping so soundly, I couldn’t bring myself to wake you. Otherwise, I would have held you while we slept. Do you think I didn’t want to hug you?”

Lily was lost for words, unsure how to respond.

She turned away with a soft huff.

“What are you even saying?”

As Lin Zheng Ran grabbed the marinade, he quickly reached out to pat her head. “Alright, alright. If you’re not busy, grab a couple of water bottles for me.”

Then he pulled his hand back and went on preparing lunch.

Lily’s face flushed but the color faded fast. She grumbled unhappily, “Just patting my head like that—you’re treating me like a kid.” Still, she obediently went and fetched two water bottles for Lin Zheng Ran.

“Here you go.”

She looked back at Han Wenwen, who was smiling slyly and waving her hands.

The three little ones settled back into their circle.

Han Wenwen kept it short and straightforward. “The reason I was in bed last night is because I like Brother Zheng Ran.”

Without a pause, Lily pointed at Han Wenwen in her typical tsundere style, as if she’d expected it. “Ha! I knew it—you sly fox, you like Zheng Ran! I told you I wouldn’t be wrong!”

Heqing was surprised, and Han Wenwen was even more so. She blinked, her face turning red with confusion. “You knew?”

Heqing whispered, “Lily, when did you figure that out?”

“Last night! Didn’t Han Wenwen call Zheng Ran ‘Brother Zheng Ran’? That’s such an intimate way to address him!”

Heqing and Han Wenwen: “…”

Lily quickly added in a tangle of words:

“Of course, I’d suspected it before! Heqing, remember when I mentioned to you that Han Wenwen might like Lin Zheng Ran? I’ve never changed my mind—I always felt this fox definitely has a thing for him.”

Heqing was puzzled. “You brought it up a while back, but you only said you suspected it, and we never talked about it again. I thought you’d forgotten.”

Lily sighed, staying quiet for a moment:

“Heqing, you’re a girl too. Do you really think someone would easily forget if they suspected another person likes their boyfriend? I just didn’t bring it up.

Especially with all the recent chaos, I haven’t had time to dig deeper. In my heart, I just assumed Han Wenwen likes Zheng Ran.”

After all, lately the big question has been who will take Zheng Ran’s first time—that’s way more important than who likes him.

There are plenty of people who like Zheng Ran—from childhood on, there must be a thousand if not more—but his first time? That’s rare.

Heqing didn’t deny Lily’s point. “True, no one would forget something like that.”

Han Wenwen laughed helplessly, tilting her head. “I can’t believe Lily figured it out so early.”

Lily crossed her arms, her sharp mind finally coming into play, even if a bit late, as she eyed Han Wenwen:

“Because you always get jealous over Zheng Ran, right? We’ve all been hanging out together, and it’s happened more than once, even if you always have an excuse.

But over time, it slips out. And I remember clearly, that one time when I was alone with Zheng Ran, he absentmindedly called you ‘Wenwen’—that’s when I started paying attention to you.”

Heqing said, “So that’s how it is. You knew because of Han Wenwen’s jealousy and Zheng Ran mixing up names?”

Lily shook her head. “Not just that. Those are small signs. The real key is…” She shot a jealous glance at Lin Zheng Ran grilling nearby:

“Zheng Ran treats Han Wenwen way better than anyone else—like she’s his girlfriend. That’s the most suspicious part.”

Heqing was clueless. “Does he?”

Lily looked at Heqing in surprise. “Of course! Haven’t you noticed how fair Zheng Ran is with us three? Sharing food, going out, tutoring—everything’s split equally! Even this trip, he brought Han Wenwen along!”

Little Heqing blinked in her innocent way, her voice growing softer because her doubts were totally different from Lily’s. She scratched her head:

“Isn’t fairness normal? And bringing Wenwen along doesn’t seem like a big deal.”

Lily stared, speechless. “Heqing, you’re way too trusting…”

“I’m not… I’m always watching Lin Zheng Ran closely.”

“Then how can you say fairness is normal? Zheng Ran treats us well because we’re his girlfriends! Han Wenwen is just your close friend, so things shouldn’t be split three ways!

I have lots of friends Zheng Ran has met, and you have other female friends too. Why doesn’t he treat them the same? He only goes out of his way for Han Wenwen!”

Little Heqing finally got it, her body stiffening. “Oh, yeah! When you put it that way, it’s not normal!”

Han Wenwen just smiled without speaking, thinking to herself that Brother Zheng Ran always makes things equal to avoid jealousy.

Lily closed her eyes like a detective summing up:

“So, putting it all together, I get this weird feeling that we’re all Zheng Ran’s girlfriends. I think you haven’t noticed Wenwen likes him, Heqing, because you’ve already accepted her as part of the family. Otherwise, tell me…”

She asked Heqing seriously:

“Have you ever really thought about graduating, marrying Zheng Ran, and then Han Wenwen not living with us? Have you imagined cutting her out?”

Heqing covered her mouth, eyes wide, admitting she’d never considered that:

“I guess not—in my mind, every future I picture, we’re all together like now, with Wenwen in it.”

Lily didn’t want to admit it but sighed. “I’ve realized the same thing. When I imagine the future, I just assume this fox is part of the family. We’ve known each other for so long.”

Han Wenwen pressed her hands together in front, smiling. “Thanks for including me, Xiao Qingqing and Lily!”

“So, does that mean Han Wenwen is Zheng Ran’s girlfriend now? Otherwise, why would you all sleep holding each other last night?”

Han Wenwen nodded. “Yep.”

Lily’s jealous eyes narrowed suddenly—another one added…

She eyed Han Wenwen like a hawk spotting prey. “Han Wenwen, have you snuck in a few times yourself?”

Han Wenwen smiled awkwardly, waving it off. “Not really. We’re all in the same boat here.”

The three fell silent for a moment.

Little Heqing blushed thinking of yesterday afternoon’s intimacy, Lily felt shy recalling last night’s closeness, and Han Wenwen remembered that time she stole a moment.

They were all even in their secrets.

So, they dropped the topic.

Little Heqing held up a finger. “Right, let’s talk about something important. Wenwen told me last night, and we planned to discuss it with you today! It’s really crucial!”

“What important thing?” Lily asked, confused.

Heqing glanced at Lin Zheng Ran nearby and whispered, “Let’s go somewhere else to talk. We can’t let him hear.”

“Something he can’t know?” Lily was even more puzzled.

“Not exactly—you’ll understand soon.”

The three little ones chattered away.

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at them from the side, wondering what they were plotting.

He wasn’t deaf, after all.

They say three women make a drama, and it’s true.

These past few days out here, they’ve spent more time on girl talk than actually playing.

Soon, the three little ones turned to look at Lin Zheng Ran.

Han Wenwen smiled and said, “Brother Zheng Ran, Xiao Qingqing, Lily, and I will grab some more food from the car. This might not be enough.”

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t stop their little scheme.

“Go ahead.”

Heqing added, “We’ll be back quick.”

Lily said, “Just two minutes.”

The three exchanged glances and dashed off toward the parking area.