Chapter 73: Festive Street Adventures

While Han Wenwen played on her phone, a group of girls in new outfits strolled by on the street, glancing back at Lin Zheng Ran and whispering among themselves after passing.

“This boy is so handsome!”

“Yeah, I hardly ever see a guy this good-looking on the street.”

Han Wenwen glanced back and caught their chatting and sneaky looks; she hadn’t heard a word, but she could guess what they were saying.

A little annoyed, she hooked her arm through Lin Zheng Ran’s and fixed them with her enchanting fox-like eyes, full of fierce intent as if claiming him.

The girls saw Han Wenwen’s irritated expression, gave an awkward smile, and quickly picked up their pace to leave.

Once they were gone, Han Wenwen asked jealously, “Brother Zheng Ran, you’re so popular with girls even outside school. Maybe you should wear a mask next time?”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at Han Wenwen, who was like an overturned jar of vinegar, puffing up and glaring at him.

“What’s with that face? I don’t like wearing masks. Let them say what they want; it’s none of my business. And…” Lin Zheng Ran said bluntly, prying her hand off his arm, “can you let go? You know men and women shouldn’t be so familiar.”

When Han Wenwen saw him pull her hand away, she turned her head with a jealous huff, but then spotted another girl approaching and quickly latched onto his arm again—the move worked.

After staking her claim, the other girls stopped their chatter.

Lin Zheng Ran pried her arm away again, but she’d grab it back whenever she saw a girl coming. The street was packed with people, especially kids, and their back-and-forth antics made some playful children shout.

“Look at that brother and sister showing off their affection on the street—how cheesy!”

Han Wenwen’s cheeks rarely flushed as she smiled and waved at the mischievous kids.

Lin Zheng Ran was truly speechless; the more they went on, the deeper the misunderstanding got, so he just said, “Let’s finish shopping and head back.”

Han Wenwen happily clung to his arm again. Seeing he wasn’t stopping her, she walked on with a grin, her face still a bit red, saying:

“We’ve got a lot to buy today, so we’ll be out for a while.”

They stopped at a stall selling spring couplets, picked through them carefully, and settled on one with zodiac patterns—it wasn’t expensive.

After all, they only bought three.

Once the couplets were packed, before they could stand up, Han Wenwen spotted a stall selling small red lanterns in the distance.

She pointed over there: “Brother Zheng Ran, let’s get a couple of lanterns. Every house in our southern small town hangs them.”

Lin Zheng Ran frowned: “But you live in a rental house. Where would you hang them? On the air conditioner unit?”

Han Wenwen tilted her head with a playful pout: “Come on, we can just play with them. Besides, it won’t cost you a thing, Brother Zheng Ran.”

“You know, you’re right about that, but you’re hanging onto my arm right now. How about I wait here while you go get them? That way, it’s not on me.”

Han Wenwen didn’t want to let go—she knew he’d stop her if she did—so she gazed longingly at the little red lanterns with pitiful eyes.

She snuggled closer to Lin Zheng Ran, her sad look probably picked up from Heqing.

Lin Zheng Ran sighed and headed over; Han Wenwen followed to the lantern stall, where they picked out a handheld one and grabbed some small fireworks too.

Han Wenwen was grateful: “Thanks, Brother Zheng Ran—you’re always so good to me.”

“Enough from you, sly fox.”

On the way back, they grabbed a few snacks, and as expected, they went over budget.

Back at the rental house, Han Wenwen looked at their nearly empty stash without a hint of regret.

Instead, she crouched on the floor, counting the small fireworks and fiddling with the red lantern.

Her invisible fox ears twitched a bit.

Lin Zheng Ran sat on the bed, pouring water into a paper cup: “You’re really not planning to save any money, huh? You’re so stingy with meals but generous with toys?”

Han Wenwen kept gently spinning the lantern with her slender fingers, happily saying:

“It’s just that I’m happy. Money can always be earned back, but if I don’t buy extras, how would I get you to spend so much time with me? Plus, spending it on your time feels like a win to me.”

Lin Zheng Ran saw her beaming face and didn’t know how to respond.

For lunch, they ate in the room. Han Wenwen had a small wok, but her cooking skills were terrible—worlds apart from Heqing’s.

The tomato fried eggs she made were a mess of green and purple splotches—that’s how Lin Zheng Ran described them.

The appearance was so bad it was hard to believe a person made it.

Lin Zheng Ran asked, “You eat this every day?”

“It’s nutritious, right? And it just looks off; it’s actually tasty. Try some, Brother Zheng Ran.”

When he saw her lift a piece of the blackened egg toward him, he stopped her: “No thanks, I’ll order takeout. You enjoy yours.”

So for lunch, Lin Zheng Ran got braised chicken, while Han Wenwen stuck with her plate of tomato fried eggs and half a greasy flatbread.

The two dishes on the table couldn’t have looked more different.

Han Wenwen took a bite of egg and watched Lin Zheng Ran gnaw on a chicken leg: “Is that braised chicken from this place any good?” she asked.

Lin Zheng Ran tasted it: “Not really.”

“What’s it taste like?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied: “How to put it? Just like braised chicken.”

Han Wenwen bit her chopsticks, eyeing the box of chicken: “Oh, can I try a piece then?”

“No, because you could have had some, but you blew the budget on other stuff.”

Han Wenwen took another bite of egg and chewed away.

“Alright…”

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t eat with her staring, so he grabbed her chopsticks, tossed a few pieces of meat into her bowl, and handed them back: “Here, take it. Stop eyeing my lunch and eat properly.”

Though Lin Zheng Ran always acted reluctant, Han Wenwen knew he was warm inside.

He really was like a big brother, making her feel safe.

So she did the same, taking his chopsticks to drop a couple of her eggs into his bowl: “Try mine, Brother Zheng Ran—it’s really good.”

Lin Zheng Ran doubted it but gave it a quick taste.

Han Wenwen asked curiously: “Well? My cooking’s not bad, right?”

Lin Zheng Ran chewed the egg seriously and said with surprise: “You know what? It is something. How can you eat that stuff with a straight face?”

Han Wenwen burst out laughing, then playfully glared at him: “Hey, it’s food I made with my own hands. How can you say that, Brother Zheng Ran? Other people would kill to try it, but you’re just picky.”

After eating, Lin Zheng Ran usually napped to relax, especially with the winter sun warming the room.

He lay on Han Wenwen’s bed—it was hard to believe she could barely afford food but had bought a new pillow recently.

She called it a spare, but it was obvious who it was for.

Han Wenwen lay beside him, turning to watch as he answered a call from Heqing.

Heqing’s voice was soft: “Lin Zheng Ran? Where are you? What are you up to?”

Lin Zheng Ran, eyes closed: “Napping. Why?”

“Napping? Did I wake you?” Heqing whispered. “I don’t have much going on—just wondering what you’re doing for the New Year. Wenwen didn’t come back, so I’m bored at home alone.”

Lin Zheng Ran grunted and glanced at Han Wenwen lying next to him.

To his surprise, she was glaring jealously at him talking to Heqing, muttering, “Such a flirt,” before rolling over, hugging the blanket, and turning her back to him.