Chapter 41: Whispers of the Heart

Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes as if it were obvious: “I found it in a novel. Why are you freaking out so much? There’s nothing inappropriate for kids in it.”

Heqing let out a soft “Ah,” completely baffled: “This isn’t inappropriate?”

“Let me check.” Han Wenwen took the book back and glanced at it: “See? It’s all good because it’s all written by me. The whole thing boils down to four words in my eyes: pure and innocent.”

Heqing couldn’t agree, clutching her pillow tightly as she sneaked another peek at the book’s content, only to feel more embarrassed with every line.

Han Wenwen set the potato chips aside, licked the crumbs off her fingers, then pulled out a wet wipe to clean them properly:

“From what I see, the reason things aren’t moving forward between you and Lin Zheng Ran is that you’re childhood friends who’ve gotten too comfortable. Have you ever read that line online? The more familiar people are, the harder it is to make a move.”

“But Lily has known Lin Zheng Ran for years too, just like I have.”

Han Wenwen leaned against the wall, her imaginary fox ears twitching as she schemed for her best friend:

“I don’t know exactly what’s happened between Lily and Lin Zheng Ran lately, but I can guess she’s done something she never would have before. It’s shaken things up, made him see her in a new light.”

Heqing blinked her eyes blankly.

She didn’t get it.

Han Wenwen looked at her: “Otherwise, how would a tsundere like her get the upper hand? I underestimated Lily a bit. She’s as devoted to Lin Zheng Ran as you are—like it’s him or no one.”

Heqing kept blinking blankly, realizing the words about Lily applied to her too, her cheeks flushing pink.

Han Wenwen went on: “So, to make progress, you need to change things up. That’s why I made this secret guide for you. Let me read you a few lines…”

She flipped to a random page: “For example, next time you’re at his place, don’t just stand or sit there like a statue. Once you’re seated, do something to show yourself off—nothing too fancy, like tucking a strand of hair behind your ear and stealing a glance at him.”

After saying that, she demonstrated, brushing a loose strand from her ear and giving Heqing a flirtatious fox-eyed look, saying softly: “Like this—isn’t it full of charm?”

Heqing thought Han Wenwen pulled it off well enough, but imagining herself doing it in front of him made her want to hide in a sewer from embarrassment.

Han Wenwen added: “Or, when you’re eating, if you don’t mind sharing his food, take a little bite of what he’s had. That kind of intimate move can really draw a guy in—it’s reusable too.”

Heqing buried her head in the pillow, her mind already overheating with shame.

It was like a boiler exploding.

This… this was basically indirect kissing.

“And another one—if you’re set on him, even shy moves can work. Like, if the mood’s right, pretend to accidentally sit on his lap and give his ear a light, secret nibble?”

Heqing couldn’t take it anymore and flopped onto the bed, pulling the covers over herself:

“Wen Wen, stop! Stop! This stuff isn’t for people our age—it’s way too embarrassing!”

“What about blowing in his ear then?”

Her voice muffled under the blanket: “It’s all the same! I could never do that! Even if I tried, he’d get mad for sure! He’s super strict and would just knock me on the head!”

Han Wenwen watched Heqing hide in the covers like a giant cocoon and pictured the behaviors she’d just described.

“Really? These aren’t even full-on hugs or kisses. I only wrote them because they’re tame. If I had a guy I liked, I’d think it’s totally normal—I’d want to flirt with him eight hundred times a day.”

Heqing peeked her head out, her pure eyes wide with disbelief: “Wen Wen, you’ve been corrupted by novels. You’re not innocent anymore.”

Han Wenwen burst out laughing and patted Heqing’s head: “Qingqing, you’re adorable. I don’t know how Lin Zheng Ran holds back. But if you don’t make any changes, you’ll lose out. What’s wrong with a little closeness with the guy you like?”

Seeing Heqing hesitate, she asked in a tempting, mesmerizing tone: “Want to give it a try? It might just spark things up.”

Heqing bit her lip, thinking it over before burying her face in the bed again, then suddenly remembering something: “Wait, Wen Wen, let’s put that aside. I have something else to discuss.”

“Just spit it out—we’re best friends, no need to be formal.”

The giant cocoon sat up and unfurled, and Han Wenwen got the hint, wrapping themselves both in the blanket with their heads poking out cutely:

“I might not be in Lin Zheng Ran’s class, but I know besides Lily, there are other girls who like him. He’s handsome, smart, and great at everything—he’s been popular since elementary school.”

Han Wenwen nodded: “Yeah, I’ve noticed lots of girls in our class secretly like him, and even some from other classes chat him up.”

“Could you keep an eye on him for me? You know what I mean, right?”

Han Wenwen thought it over: “So, you want me to make sure he talks to other girls less? Easy enough, but as his desk mate, if I watch him more, there might be rumors about us. You won’t get mad, right?”

Heqing smiled and agreed: “Of course not—it’s all on my say-so. As thanks, I’ll treat you to dinner tonight.”

“Deal!”

The two best friends hooked pinky fingers.

Han Wenwen teased with a mischievous grin: “So, what about what I said earlier?”

Heqing was too embarrassed to look up: “Let me think about it! Just give me time!”

In the end, Heqing gave in, but things didn’t go as Han Wenwen planned. Some moves worked for her, but for Heqing, they were just futile efforts.

So, after that day, in the last two weeks before winter break, only Lin Zheng Ran suffered from their schemes.

For instance, a few days later, Lin Zheng Ran noticed Heqing, usually so well-behaved, suddenly acting weird around him for no reason.

Like, she’d just sit beside him and keep fiddling with her hair over and over.

Lin Zheng Ran asked: “Is your head itchy? When’s the last time you washed it?”

Heqing stammered awkwardly, “Ah, no, it’s not itchy… I just… umm.”

Fail. She crossed that one off in her little notebook.

Then, another time on the weekend when Heqing visited his place, Lin Zheng Ran opened a box of cookies.

He took a bite, and Heqing snatched it, holding it with a conflicted look.

She knew this counted as indirect kissing and was too shy to go through with it.

Lin Zheng Ran had no idea what this silly girl was up to, so he grabbed another and took a bite; she took that one too after he’d eaten it.

After a few rounds.

Lin Zheng Ran was beyond words seeing her hoard half-eaten cookies: “Are you hoarding like a hamster? There are plenty in the box—why keep stealing mine? Give them back!”

He flicked her on the forehead.

Heqing winced, rubbing her head with teary eyes as she handed the cookies back.

“Sorry.”

Fail. She crossed that one off too.

As for blowing in his ear, Heqing didn’t have the nerve, so she settled for blowing his hair.

One day, Lin Zheng Ran was sitting on the school steps lost in thought when Heqing stood behind him and suddenly blew, messing up his hair.

He fixed it, and she blew it again; he fixed it, and she blew it once more.

Lin Zheng Ran’s forehead veins bulged.

His fist clenched tight!

“Heqing! Are you out of your mind?! Stand in front of me and take your punishment!” She jumped but obediently stepped forward, and he snapped her on the forehead again.

Heqing crouched down, holding her head in grievance, thinking none of it worked at all.

Instead, she just kept annoying him every day.

And lately, it wasn’t just Heqing acting up—Han Wenwen the fox was in on it too. Neither of these girlfriends was easy to handle.