Chapter 337: Whispers in the Morning Light

Han Wenwen, like a fox spirit reborn, simply sat there gazing at the grass in the flower bed and the insects crawling slowly on the leaves.

But today, her nine invisible tails swayed a bit slower than usual.

Lin Zheng Ran watched the fox spirit for a moment before slowly approaching. “Wen Wen?”

The little fox heard his voice, turned, and bounced up excitedly. “Brother Zheng Ran, you’re here?!”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled. “Yeah, I’m here to go back to the small town with you to pack up your rental house. But you got here early.”

“I came early to wait for you, Brother Zheng Ran!” Han Wenwen stepped close, linked her arm with his. “You’re as handsome as ever today. Let’s grab a cab and head back.”

“No rush. Let’s grab breakfast first. What do you feel like this morning?”

“We have to eat breakfast? Let me think… How about fried chicken?”

“Fried chicken first thing in the morning?”

Han Wenwen leaned on Lin Zheng Ran’s shoulder, acting playful. “Why not? I just want it. Come on, let’s go.”

They reached a nearby breakfast spot, where Lin Zheng Ran ordered for both of them.

He got a bowl of millet porridge with two big steamed buns.

Han Wenwen chose fried chicken legs and some porridge.

Her portion looked a bit larger than his, about the same as Heqing’s appetite.

Her best friend and she were both foodies—that’s why one ended up curvy and the other just as much.

In some areas, the food supply was plentiful.

Han Wenwen sat beside Lin Zheng Ran, munching on a fried chicken leg.

Her expression was full of joy.

As Lin Zheng Ran sipped his soup, he glanced at the little fox.

Han Wenwen noticed his gaze and teased, “What is it, Brother Zheng Ran? Sneaking peeks at me?”

“You’re right next to me, so it’s not sneaking. At most, it’s just openly looking.”

Han Wenwen leaned against his shoulder again, arm linked with his, filling the air with a faint fragrance.

She set down the chicken leg, which tasted a bit bland now, and took a big sip of porridge, chewing thoughtfully.

She seemed no different from usual, but Lin Zheng Ran knew this fox all too well—she’d shown him everything about herself.

Alone together like this, when had Han Wenwen ever eaten so quietly before?

“Something wrong?” Lin Zheng Ran asked.

Han Wenwen’s beautiful fox-like eyes glanced at him flirtatiously as she swallowed her porridge. “Wrong? Nothing’s wrong. Nothing happened at all.”

After speaking, Han Wenwen handed him the half bowl of porridge left, with a meaningful look. “I can’t finish it. You drink the rest, Brother Zheng Ran.”

Lin Zheng Ran took the bowl, noticing her lipstick mark on the rim. Clearly, this fox had put it on on purpose before leaving the dormitory.

Playing along, he pushed his own bowl of porridge toward her. “I don’t usually see you eat so little. You take mine, and I’ll finish yours.”

Han Wenwen looked at the small bowl and laughed genuinely. “Drinking what you’ve left? Well, that gives me a bit more appetite.”

It was like sharing a toast; they swapped and sipped from each other’s porridge.

Lin Zheng Ran deliberately didn’t avoid the spot with her lipstick and drank the rest from there.

The porridge, mixed with that unexplained sweetness from the lipstick, created a uniquely special flavor.

After finishing, Lin Zheng Ran said, “We’re alone together today, so what’s there you can’t tell me? Keeping secrets from me?”

Han Wenwen stared at Lin Zheng Ran’s bowl of porridge, her long lashes flickering as she gripped his arm a little tighter.

Slowly, she drank it all down, then leaned against him, looking tired.

Chewing her porridge and gazing into the distance, she forced a smile. “I have no secrets from you, Brother Zheng Ran—just playing a little mystery. I was going to wait until we got back to the small town to say it, thinking maybe”

a quick kiss with you would make me forget all about it.

But that’s not happening now.

She changed her tone. “I just don’t get it—why do some people hesitate and annoy everyone? If you’ve done it, don’t regret it. Just cut ties and go your separate ways. Live happily ever after without interfering. Why come back now? All it does is upset me—what’s the point?”

Lin Zheng Ran pieced it together from her words.

There was only one person who could stir up such emotions in Han Wenwen.

Just one.

“Is it about your mom?”

Han Wenwen nodded against his shoulder.

“That woman seems to have some terminal illness—I didn’t bother asking. Looks like she’s on her last legs. After vanishing for years, she suddenly tracks down my uncle and wants to see me. I have no idea what’s in her head. She’s just crazy.”

She pulled out her phone and handed it to Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran entered his birthday to unlock the screen.

Opening WeChat, he saw the pictures and chat history from her uncle.

He understood the whole story now.

From the messages, Lin Zheng Ran felt Han Wenwen’s deep, suppressed anger toward her birth mother.

“So, your answer is no, you won’t see her.”

“Yeah.” Han Wenwen looked at him puzzled. “Do you think I should, Brother Zheng Ran? See that heartless woman?”

Lin Zheng Ran met her eyes, handed back the phone, and stroked her head with a smile.

“I won’t interfere with your choice. If you don’t want to see her, we won’t. Just pretend it never happened and carry on as usual. Ignore her.”

Han Wenwen smiled along.

“Exactly! Why should I see her just because she wants to? She abandoned me, so why not? Am I that spineless? I’m not a toy! I have feelings too!!”

Realizing she was getting worked up and drawing looks, Han Wenwen calmed herself in front of Lin Zheng Ran.

She picked up the remaining chicken leg and took a bite.

But the fried chicken that usually tasted amazing now seemed a little bland.

After eating most of it, she couldn’t finish.

She turned to Lin Zheng Ran with a grin. “Brother Zheng Ran, are you full? If not, there’s still a third of this chicken leg for you.”

After breakfast, Lin Zheng Ran and Han Wenwen hopped into a cab back to the small town.

In the car, the little fox leaned on his shoulder, silently watching the scenery outside.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “This morning when I left, Heqing called me. She said you seemed down yesterday and asked if something was up. She’s worried about you. I told her you’re fine after we ate.”

Han Wenwen chuckled in surprise. “Heqing noticed? I thought I hid my emotions well. I don’t like letting anyone know about this stuff except you, Brother Zheng Ran.”

Lin Zheng Ran kept stroking her long hair.

She held his arm with one hand and laced her fingers with his in the other, staring blankly out the window.

“Brother Zheng Ran…”

“Hmm?”

“Why does the world have things that just annoy you?”

“Because everyone’s annoyances are different, and they tangle together to create that mess. So, the way to stay happy is to stop fixating on what bothers you and focus more on what you like. Makes sense, right?”

Han Wenwen looked up at him, startled, then burst into a giggle, covering her mouth. “You always know how to clear up my confusion, Brother Zheng Ran.” She planted a quick kiss on his cheek, blushing. “I like you~”