Chapter 86: Schoolyard Crushes

Lily’s appearance once again caught the attention of the boys in Class One.

She spotted Lin Zheng Ran in the crowd and shyly hid the lemon water behind her back.

Though Lily wasn’t tall and had no standout features, her petite, lively, and playful face had plenty of appeal to many boys.

After all, who wouldn’t want a cheerful, pretty girlfriend?

Lily looked elsewhere as she slowly entered Class One.

This time, everyone in Class One didn’t think of Lin Zheng Ran at first—after all, Heqing had just delivered water, so they figured Lily was dropping something off for someone else.

The boy with the surname Pan, who had asked about Lily earlier, straightened up when he saw her approach. “Lily? Why’s she coming to our class? She can’t really have a boyfriend, can she?”

To everyone’s surprise, Lily walked straight up to Lin Zheng Ran, stopped, and stared at him defiantly in the heavy silence that followed for half a minute.

The boys in the class widened their eyes, mouths agape, voicing their inner doubts.

“No way.”

Even with the evidence right there, they couldn’t quite believe it until Lily spoke up: “Big—” She blushed furiously in front of everyone and corrected herself: “Lin Zheng Ran, come out for a second. I need to talk to you.”

With that, she headed off to a spot hidden with the drinks and waited.

The boy with the surname Pan’s crush shattered, and he echoed the other boys: “Damn, that’s impressive.”

Lin Zheng Ran let out a breath and slowly got up to join Lily. Seeing her shy demeanor, he asked, “Bringing water?”

Lily blinked in surprise: “How did you know? No, who said I was here to deliver water!”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her hand hidden behind her back and asked helplessly, “If not for water, then what are you here for?”

“I—” Lily glanced back at the many eyes fixed on them from Class One. Though she wasn’t afraid of attention when singing, this was different.

She turned to Lin Zheng Ran with a fierce look: “I’m just here to deliver water, so what about it!”

She thrust out the cup of lemon water with a tough front, tilting her head shyly and huffing:

“It’s so hot out—I just bought this to keep you from getting thirsty. Whether you drink it or not is up to you; I’ve done my part.”

Lin Zheng Ran took the cup and asked the same question: “Did you drink any yourself?”

“I did,” she mumbled, pouting. “You think I waited in line that long just for you?” Then, suddenly clenching her fist in frustration, she closed her eyes and said,

“Fine, I didn’t drink any. I was in such a rush to get this to you that I skipped it! And then Heqing beat me to it!”

She spilled it all out: “Heqing’s one thing, but why do you have to be so popular? All these girls talking to you lately—it’s got me so jealous. It’s infuriating!”

Lily finished, her face burning red, then stepped back and sat on the curb, hugging her knees with a proud air as she said:

“Don’t ask why I’m jealous—I won’t tell you. But since high school started, everyone’s so out of control. Girls even come chat with me, saying I’m cute and all. It’s ridiculous. If I’m really cute, how come I never hear it from you? What do their opinions matter?”

Lin Zheng Ran sat beside her: “Seems like you’ve had a lot happen these past few days. I thought you hadn’t changed much from middle school, but now I see you have—”

Lily hugged her knees and avoided his gaze.

Until he added: “You’re even cuter than in middle school.”

Lily’s face turned crimson, her mind buzzing as she whipped her head toward him: “Wh-what are you saying? Cute? Have you lost your mind? Say that again if you dare!”

“You’re way cuter now than before. Still a bit tsundere, but it’s an improvement.”

Lily’s lips parted slightly, her eyes sparkling, surrounded by a haze of colorful bubbles.

Too shy to look at him, she huddled up, eyes fixed on her knees: “You’re crazy, saying stuff like that. Is the iron tree blooming?”

She heard the sound of him inserting a straw and quickly turned to glance at him.

Lin Zheng Ran eyed her shy expression with curiosity.

Lily shot him a disdainful look: “Though you’re still a big dummy, you’ve gotten smarter since high school started. Your words are sweeter now.” She suddenly smiled: “How about I call you little dummy from now on?”

Lin Zheng Ran’s skin prickled at her laugh.

“What’s with that face?!” Lily argued. “Don’t you think it’s a sweet nickname? ‘Dummy’ is what close friends call each other!”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed and sipped his drink: “Is that how you see it? No wonder you’re so stuck on it.”

“Well, then? You don’t like it?”

Seeing him nod, she thought for a moment: “Okay, how about this—I call you—” She bit her lip and softly said, “Zheng Ran?”

The words made her own skin crawl.

Lin Zheng Ran winced: “Can’t you just use my full name?”

Lily pouted and hugged her knees again: “No way! Heqing already calls you that. If I do everything like her, I’d be losing out. I’ll just call you Zheng Ran—it sounds fine.”

Lin Zheng Ran handed the drink back: “I’m done with it.”

Lily took it and looked at him after taking a sip: “Just one sip? I waited in line forever for this.”

“I already had some earlier, and you haven’t had any. You can finish the rest.”

Lin Zheng Ran stood up: “If that’s all, I’ll head back?”

Suddenly, Lily grabbed his arm: “Zheng Ran, I want to ask you something… Do you really think I don’t need to lose weight?”

Thinking it was something serious, Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her figure and said honestly: “You really don’t. It’s not much different from before, but I like you just as you are—small and cute.”

After he left, Lily paused, then realized: “Like? Did he say he likes me?”

Her mind short-circuited as she stammered: “L-likes me? He said he likes me!”

Lily jumped up, eyes closed, and blurted: “I do!”

Then, embarrassed, she covered her face and dashed away.

Once in high school, I can’t handle this guy—he confesses out of nowhere. How can I say no?

Lin Zheng Ran glanced back at her words and shook his head: “That silly girl is at it again.”

He turned around and suddenly saw the boy with the surname Pan tearfully running off, while at his original spot,

Han Wenwen was crouched there, holding a drink and watching him.

The rest of the class stared in shock, eyes fixed on Han Wenwen and then Lin Zheng Ran.

Han Wenwen smiled jealously: “Lin Zheng Ran, are you still thirsty?”

Lin Zheng Ran: “.”

On the other side of the class, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng, just back from the restroom, saw everyone staring at Lin Zheng Ran.

Fang Meng said: “This guy is seriously popular. I don’t know how many girls from other classes have come looking for him lately.”

Jiang Qian fixed her cold gaze on Lin Zheng Ran talking with Han Wenwen, lost in thought.

A few days later, as military training wrapped up, the freshman party was set for the final day.

As freshman representatives, Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Qian were naturally called to the teacher’s office together.