Chapter 266: Whispers Among Friends

After cuddling and enjoying the scenery for three hours.

Lily and Lin Zheng Ran came back down from the mountain.

Heqing and Han Wenwen, the best friends sitting on the blanket, snacked on treats as they saw the two descending.

They quickly called out a greeting.

Heqing said, “Lin Zheng Ran, Lily, you’re back?”

Han Wenwen smiled and waved.

Lily stood with her hands behind her back, head down, face flushed with embarrassment. She felt she had betrayed the group and her friends’ trust, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “We’re back. Have you two set up the tent yet?”

Han Wenwen hesitated, glanced back at the mess of frames on the ground, and covered her face cutely with one hand. “We’ve done a bit. Xiao Qingqing and I followed the instructions and put together the frames and such, but the rest…”

Heqing continued, “The rest is tricky. The tent just won’t stay put; even with the frames, it won’t stand up.”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed, “Let me take a look.”

He went over to tinker with the half-assembled tent.

Lily wanted to follow Lin Zheng Ran to help with the tent, but Han Wenwen grabbed her arm with a forced smile. “Lily? Where are you off to? You must be tired from wandering around. Come sit down and have some water to rest.”

Lily gave an awkward laugh. “I’m not tired. I should go help Zheng Ran with the tent.”

Heqing looked puzzled and whispered, “What are you saying, Lily? Sit down.”

Lily failed to escape and reluctantly agreed, “Alright…”

The three girls sat together chattering away, while Lin Zheng Ran glanced at them but ignored the little trio.

At that moment, Lily sat quietly, all her earlier excitement from lunch gone.

Heqing and Han Wenwen saw her meek demeanor and seemed to guess the outcome.

Heqing sneaked a peek at Lin Zheng Ran to make sure he wasn’t looking, then asked, “How did it go, Lily? Did you talk to Lin Zheng Ran? Did it work?”

Lily grimaced, remembering when she said on the cliff that seven could become six, and Zheng Ran mentioned he might consider it.

That ‘might consider it’ felt more like a failure to her.

Still, she couldn’t deny that when Zheng Ran said it, she didn’t dare press further, no matter how bold she felt.

Zheng Ran was just too intimidating.

“It failed, I guess, hehe.”

Heqing disappointed, “Ah? It failed?”

Lily hummed and corrected,

“But it’s not like we got nothing! Zheng Ran said at most seven, and that’s just the upper limit. It could be six, five, or even just us three—it’s possible! So I think it’s…”

She whispered, “…not too bad, right? Not a lot.”

Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes. “Isn’t that what I said at lunch? Have you switched sides, Lily? You’re totally different from before.”

“I haven’t switched sides!” Lily pursed her lips. “I just… oh!”

She hugged her head and closed her eyes:

“This mission is way too hard! How could I change Zheng Ran’s mind? You all think too highly of me! If you asked me to destroy the world, I might pull it off, but changing Zheng Ran’s stubborn ways? Impossible!”

Han Wenwen and Heqing sighed.

Seeing her friends accept reality, Lily quietly hugged her knees and murmured shyly, “Oh, and when we get back to the hotel, I’ll take the ice bucket punishment. I did more than hugging with Zheng Ran. Sorry.”

“What?!” Heqing exclaimed, a bit jealous. “We agreed no intimate stuff!”

Han Wenwen had suspected it already; she noticed Lily’s odd expression earlier.

Now jealous herself, she added, “Lily should self-punish three times!”

Lily hung her head without arguing. “I let the group down. I’ll self-punish three times.”

Soon, the three little ones rallied. Han Wenwen and Heqing played rock-paper-scissors.

This time, Heqing won.

Some things you only understand once you’re in it—winning brought Heqing a huge wave of pressure.

Han Wenwen said firmly, “Go for it, Xiao Qingqing! It’s all on you!”

Even though she lost, Lily said resolutely, “You got this, Heqing. If you win, we’ll treat you to a big meal, and I’ll throw in an extra dessert!”

Heqing sneaked a look at Lin Zheng Ran packing the tent, closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and said softly, “Okay, I’m going in!”

She slowly stood from the blanket, put on her shoes, and walked toward Lin Zheng Ran.

In that instant, Han Wenwen and Lily widened their eyes.

For some reason, they saw her like a female general facing an unbeatable enemy, marching alone to the battlefield for a heroic end.

Lily marveled, “What a strong presence.”

They watched as Heqing held an imaginary long spear, her eyes full of determination, stepping up to the enemy.

Sweetly, she said, “Lin Zheng Ran, let me help with the tent.”

Han Wenwen and Lily’s illusions shattered.

Han Wenwen tilted her head like a fox and wondered, “Can Xiao Qingqing really pull this off?”

Lily analyzed seriously, “Heqing is usually pretty obedient around Zheng Ran, but maybe a miracle will happen. In tough spots, the one who seems weakest often holds the key to victory.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at Heqing beside him and thought, just as Lily said, these three little girls were taking turns to approach him.

After responding to Heqing, Lin Zheng Ran turned back to Han Wenwen and Lily. “Wenwen, Lily, come over here.”

The two got up and walked over.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “I’ll teach you three how to set up the tent. Pay attention.”

The three nodded seriously.

After a short lesson, they picked it up quickly—after all, their learning ability had tripled since signing the contract.

With her friends’ help, Heqing soon got a chance to be alone with Lin Zheng Ran.

It was Han Wenwen who, while working on the tent, spoke up. “Zheng Ran, you’ve been busy all day. Take a break. Lily and I have got this down. Xiao Qingqing, go get Zheng Ran some water.”

Heqing saw the encouraging looks from Han Wenwen and Lily and nodded. “Okay.”

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t refuse and went with Heqing to the blanket for some water.

Then, somehow, Heqing found an excuse, and they headed up the mountain together.

Han Wenwen gave them a meaningful look and kept working on the tent with Lily.

It was the same familiar stream, the same familiar cliff.

Heqing was perfectly well-behaved, her little hands fidgeting nervously in front of her.

She didn’t speak or move.

Wherever Lin Zheng Ran walked, she followed; wherever he stopped, she stopped.

At the cliff, gazing at the distant view, Lin Zheng Ran suddenly said, “Repeat after me: you’re a pig.”

Heqing blinked and, without thinking, replied, “You’re a pig.”

Lin Zheng Ran met her eyes, and it took Heqing a moment to realize what happened. She waved her hands in panic, blushing. “Sorry! I didn’t mean it! I’m the pig, I’m the pig!”

Lin Zheng Ran thought to himself that Heqing was different from Lily.

He patted her head. “Why apologize? I told you to say it.”

Heqing’s face turned red.

He leaned against a tree and asked curiously,

“What did you want to tell me?”

Heqing stood in front of him, face flushed. “I… I wanted to say…”

The words wouldn’t come out—it was so hard!

Lin Zheng Ran patted the spot in front of him, and Heqing quietly asked, “Can I sit in your lap?”

“Just lean against me and sit.”

Once he approved, she nestled obediently in his lap.

With her legs bent.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “Go ahead.”

Heqing’s hands fidgeted on her legs, fingers twiddling; she felt so comfortable in his arms.

Finally, remembering Wenwen and Lily’s trust,

She couldn’t let them down!

Gathering immense courage, she turned halfway with a determined look and said to Lin Zheng Ran, “I wanted to say!”

But looking into his eyes, her resolve faded in seconds. “I wanted to say you can do whatever you want. I’m easygoing; whatever you say goes.”

Lin Zheng Ran stroked her head, fighting a smile. “Want a kiss?”

Heqing hesitated, her group spirit resisting for just a second inside. “Yes.”

Their lips met slowly.

She half-turned, one hand holding Lin Zheng Ran’s head.

They savored the moment, hearts racing.

They lingered for another three hours, plans forgotten.

Her only thought was, “Lin Zheng Ran, tonight I’ll come to your tent. I can’t sleep alone in mine.”