Chapter 300: Unexpected Homecoming

That evening, Lin Zheng Ran was dropped off at the residential area by the driver, just as his dad and mom pulled up in their car.

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at the familiar, slightly worn-out car and called out, “Dad? Mom?”

The car stopped, and Lin Ying Jun rolled down the window. “Zheng Ran? Where have you been off to? Hop in, we’re heading home.”

Lin Zheng Ran agreed and got into the car.

“I was just hanging out at a friend’s place.”

Mom, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and asked, “A friend? Which girl’s house?”

“Yeah, it’s Jiang Jingshi—the one who visited us last time.”

Dad blinked in surprise, and Mom stared in disbelief. “The one from that wealthy family with such great style? The one who brought us all those gifts? We haven’t even touched them yet!”

“That’s her. I told you, go ahead and use those gifts. They’re not going to get reclaimed, and letting them sit around is a waste.”

“They’re just so valuable. But wasting them by letting them mold over is silly—we could use them for gifts during holidays or special occasions.”

Lin Ying Jun chimed in, “Definitely for gifting. That could save us a ton of money.”

Lin Zheng Ran chuckled. “Anyway, why are you two getting back so late? Did you go shopping? I figured you’d have eaten dinner by now.”

He noticed the takeout food and random items in the car, clear signs they weren’t planning to cook at home tonight.

Dad replied, “It’s not that late. We haven’t even had dinner yet. Your mom has an interview at Zheng Shi Music tomorrow, so I took her shopping for some nice clothes to wear.”

“Oh, I see.”

Lin Xiao Li blinked with her innocent, wide-eyed look, sometimes reminding him of Heqing’s gaze:

“Zheng Ran? Mom’s asking about your trip. Weren’t you just back from vacation with Xiao Qingqing, Wen Wen, and Lily? Now you’re off to another girl’s place?”

“Huh? Is it wrong to visit other girls?”

Mom pursed her lips and said seriously, pointing a finger, “Zheng Ran! Being too flirtatious isn’t good. Don’t turn into a playboy!”

“No way. I’m all about pure love. I don’t do that switch-it-up stuff.”

At least, that’s what Lin Zheng Ran believed. Sure, the numbers were adding up, but his heart stayed true.

Lin Xiao Li sighed. “I can’t argue with you.” She straightened up and added, “Once Mom’s interview is over, let’s hold a family meeting. We need to talk about something serious.”

Lin Ying Jun nodded.

Lin Xiao Li glanced at her son. “Do you have any idea what the meeting’s about?”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled and looked out the window. He had a pretty good guess—it was about Heqing, Wen Wen, Lily, Jiang Jingshi, and the rest. But he wasn’t worried.

“No clue.”

Lin Xiao Li gave him a knowing eye roll, because she knew her smart son had figured it out.

Even as his mom, she couldn’t tell from his everyday actions which girl he liked more. He treated them all so evenly. The real answer would have to wait for that family meeting.

Back home, the family sat down for dinner.

Lin Zheng Ran set his phone on the table. These days, he kept it on silent or vibrate.

Messages poured in every morning and evening from so many people—if he left the sound on, it would ding nonstop.

After dinner, Lin Zheng Ran headed to his bedroom to reply to the three girls’ messages one by one.

Jiang Jingshi had sent a few too.

“Zheng Zheng, the driver said you got home safe. Sorry if dinner wasn’t up to par tonight. And about what happened, I never saw it coming.”

Lin Zheng Ran sent Jiang Jingshi a quick response.

Jiang Qian’s surprise move was totally unexpected, and her so-called confession felt more like her sharing her thoughts out loud.

It was a declaration that didn’t need his approval—one that couldn’t fail once said.

That was what frustrated Jiang Jingshi the most. Her sister’s confidence was impossible to ignore, especially with four years of university ahead.

While Lin Zheng Ran was messaging Jiang Jingshi,

Jiang Qian sent him a message out of the blue.

“Lin Zheng Ran, I’m sorry for kissing you tonight without asking. I know I should explain face-to-face, and I realize you probably have a lot to say. I’ll come see you soon to talk it out. I’ll listen to every word—Jiang Qian.”

Jiang Qian’s message was formal, like a letter. Lin Zheng Ran thought about replying.

Then she sent another one right away.

“Sorry, Lin Zheng Ran, I’m too nervous. I might not check WeChat, and I can’t block you, so I’m tossing my phone. If you message me, I won’t see it. Apologies again.”

Lin Zheng Ran sent back a “?”

No response came.

Lying in bed, staring at the quiet screen with a bead of sweat on his forehead, he muttered, “Is she just hitting and running?”

He put the phone down. “Come to think of it, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng were aiming for Stanford University, right? They should be heading abroad soon, but tonight Jiang Qian mentioned four years of university. Did they change their plans?”

Meanwhile, at the Jiang Family villa where the sisters lived.

Sister Jiang Jingshi, in her pink pajamas, lay in bed. Chatting with Lin Zheng Ran had lifted her spirits a bit.

But it also made her worry more about whether Jiang Qian could actually win him over in the next four years.

“I need to keep a closer eye on Qian Qian.”

As for Jiang Qian, just like in the message she’d sent,

After agonizing over it half the night, she turned off her phone and threw it in the trash.

She even poured water in after it, making sure it was completely dead before she relaxed a little.

Though that relief didn’t last—her nerves were still on edge.

In her gray-black pajamas, sitting on the bed’s edge, moonlight spilling through the window onto Jiang Qian’s face and her pale legs in slippers.

This cool Second Miss gently touched her red lips.

Even though dinner with Lin Zheng Ran was just a quick lip brush, the fleeting sensation lingered, making her heart race.

The blush on her face wouldn’t fade.

“My first kiss is gone…”

Jiang Qian’s cool eyes stared at the floor, lost in thought.

Tonight, both sisters would have trouble sleeping, and so would Fang Meng in her room at the villa.

Everything that happened today was so sudden, and as an assistant, she knew she couldn’t jump in.

If she wanted Lin Zheng Ran, Fang Meng realized she’d have to change something about herself.

She walked to the trash can in her room and pulled out that white strand of hair she’d thrown away earlier, staring at it.

“Lin Zheng Ran sure is popular.”