Chapter 77: Fireworks and Whispers

Colorful fireworks still lit up the sky with pops and crackles.

Before the New Year’s celebration ended and while Lin Zheng Ran wasn’t angry yet, Han Wenwen waved goodbye quickly, smiling as she said, “Brother Zheng Ran, don’t forget to come to the rental house after the New Year to teach me how to play games and make money. I’ll be waiting at home!”

Lin Zheng Ran watched Han Wenwen dash away, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

After a few steps, she turned back, her face flushed, and added, “Oh, and remember to wipe off the lipstick on your forehead, or your uncle and aunt will notice.”

Lin Zheng Ran touched his forehead and found a faint red mark.

He wiped it away, muttering, “That sneaky little fox.”

Once her figure vanished, Lin Zheng Ran turned to leave, glancing at the small pink fox doll in his hand.

He wondered where she had picked up this thing—it looked just like Han Wenwen.

He squeezed it, feeling its soft, fuzzy texture.

Hmm?

Lin Zheng Ran squeezed again and noticed something like a note tucked inside the fox’s back.

He flipped the doll over, unzipped the back, and pulled out a piece of paper.

As he read the note, his eyes darkened with an unreadable expression.

The note read:

[Brother Zheng Ran, did you know? In the small town where I was born, there’s a festival called the Heart-Linking Festival. At its center stands an ancient tree where you can seek your destined match. I’ve visited twice, and both times it showed your surname.

I never thought I’d be interested in any boy because so many chase after me. But ever since I met you, Brother Zheng Ran, I realized I overestimated myself. Around you, my heart races and flutters like a startled deer.

I once considered letting you be with Xiao Qingqing, but after that fever episode, I couldn’t do it. I’m selfish, I know.

So I swear, everything about you, all your firsts, I want them for myself. Though I have a feeling you’ll become incredibly powerful someday, maybe even end up with me and Xiao Qingqing as your supporters?]

[PS: There’s more on the back.]

Lin Zheng Ran flipped the note over.

[I’ve imagined that scenario, and with my personality, I’d probably just go along with it. After all, I always listen to you, Brother Zheng Ran—I wouldn’t dare argue. Besides, Xiao Qingqing is great too. But even if you want more than one, I have to be the favorite. That’s all I think about.]

[PPS: Being honest with you would just get me rejected, but what I did today—you won’t say no to that, right? I never planned to be your girlfriend anyway. I just want everything about you.]

[PPPS: Remember to tear up this note and throw it away. Finally—thanks for spending this New Year with me. I’ve never been this happy or excited for the future.]

Suddenly, a text message popped up on his phone.

It was from Han Wenwen: “Don’t forget to shred that note and toss it. And on this joyful day, don’t call me names. I’m home now, Brother Zheng Ran. Good night!”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed, put away his phone, tore the note to pieces, and dropped it in the trash.

He tucked the fox doll into his pocket and headed toward home.

[During your recent wanderings with the Demonic Cult Enchantress, you encountered a massive, ferocious Year Beast. This ancient divine creature is rootless, formless, immortal, and nearly impossible to defeat. So, you two found an ancient secret method and rallied the people to lure it to an open area, trapping it with the array it fears most—the Rainbow Fireworks Formation—until it dissolved into nothing.]

[After this life-and-death battle, the Demonic Cult Enchantress saw your strength and confessed her desire for you. Who knows if this is fate or a curse.]

[By defeating the Year Beast, you gained its soul power, boosting your spiritual cultivation by one, strength by four, energy by one, and stamina by one.]

[You received the Transformative Little Fox from the Demonic Cult Enchantress. With this, you gain one point in strength, one in energy, five in stamina, and ten in charm, plus a huge experience boost. You’re just one step from breaking through level fifty.]

As he walked away, Lin Zheng Ran felt the surge in his attributes and thought level fifty was within reach next year.

Right after Lin Zheng Ran left, a Maserati that didn’t fit the small town’s vibe pulled up by the roadside where fireworks lit the sky.

The passengers were just passing through.

The rear window rolled down, revealing a slender figure—a elegant and stunning young woman gazing at the brilliant fireworks.

Her fair, beautiful face showed little emotion in those icy eyes as she watched for a moment.

No real waves of feeling crossed her features.

“Keep driving.”

The driver nodded, and the car moved on.

After New Year, everything sped up. Once the New Year visits ended, the winter break had only a few days left.

A few days later, Lily returned to the small town. She used to call Lin Zheng Ran only for emergencies.

But in this short break, she’d called twice already, and neither time was urgent.

And nothing much came of it.

“Hey, big dummy? I’m back. What are you up to?”

Lin Zheng Ran lay at home reading a book: “Reading.”

Lily: “Oh.”

A minute of silence passed.

Lin Zheng Ran: “Nothing else? I’m hanging up.”

“Wait! When are you going to practice singing with me?”

Lin Zheng Ran thought for a moment: “After school starts. I’ve got other stuff these next few days.”

Lily said, “Oh, what stuff? You’re so busy. Just don’t forget once school’s back.”

Lin Zheng Ran replied: “Got it.”

The call ended, and in her bedroom, Lily shook her little fists in frustration: “Twenty days without seeing me, and he doesn’t even miss me! I hate him!”

Heqing naturally called Lin Zheng Ran too, but unlike Lily, her chats were chattier even if pointless.

So each time, she dragged the conversation on for a while.

With the winter break winding down, in the rental house, the little fox was recording a video while playing games.

A knock at the door made her freeze.

Because this was the first time Lin Zheng Ran had come looking for her since New Year.

It threw off her game controls.

“Brother Zheng Ran?”

Lin Zheng Ran used his key to open the door and saw Han Wenwen smiling at him, sweat on her forehead: “This is our first meeting this year, Brother Zheng Ran.”

Even as sly as the little fox was, she couldn’t hide that she was still a girl at heart.

After sending that letter, she hadn’t slept all night on New Year’s Eve, hiding under the covers in embarrassment the whole time.

Now, as Lin Zheng Ran looked at her, Han Wenwen squinted and smiled back.

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her screen: “Why stare at me? Keep playing your game. Aren’t you recording?”

Han Wenwen said, “Oh,” and quickly bought gear and waited to respawn on the darkened screen.

As he passed by, Lin Zheng Ran gave her a light knock on the head without a word.

Han Wenwen yelped: “Hitting me out of nowhere—you don’t care about me at all!”

Lin Zheng Ran grabbed a stool and sat beside her.

“Han Wenwen.”

Han Wenwen bit her lip and shyly said: “Brother Zheng Ran, can’t you be nicer? Whatever you want to say, wait till I’m done with the game?”

“Sure.”

She struggled through the game, and as soon as the defeat screen appeared, Han Wenwen covered her ears with both hands.

Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she looked at him: “Okay, Brother Zheng Ran, what did you want to say?”

Lin Zheng Ran: “.”

He started to speak.

But Han Wenwen cut in softly: “I’m starving. How about we eat first? I’ll make tomato and egg stir-fry for you.”

Suddenly, Lin Zheng Ran’s phone rang—it was a stranger, a girl.

This time, Han Wenwen covered the ear he was using to answer.

Jealous and annoyed, she said: “I’ve wanted to say this for a while—when you’re with me, no chatting with other girls unless it’s important. Not even Xiao Qingqing.”

Lin Zheng Ran: “Is that your business?”

Han Wenwen snatched his phone, hugged it close, and peered over the desk with fox-like eyes: “Yes, it is. I’m not letting you talk to other girls.”

The new semester began, ended, began again, and ended once more.

Junior high was about to graduate.

At the graduation ceremony, Xiao Heqing blinked at the banner and sighed: “Junior high flew by so fast.”