Chapter 89: Will Zhengran Fall for Me?

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Will Zhengran Fall for Me?

Han Wenwen swallowed the bite of chicken cutlet in her mouth and held the skewer back up. "My stomach was hurting originally, but you’re keeping me company on a solo shopping trip, Zhengran. If I don’t cheer up now, wouldn’t that be totally disrespectful to you?"

She deliberately leaned her face closer to Lin Zhengran, staring at him from mere inches away. "Aren’t I so easy to coax? So, from now on, if you ever see me angry, Zhengran, just coax me a little and I’ll be super happy. It just depends on whether you’re willing to spare a tiny bit of time to care about me."

The corners of Lin Zhengran’s lips twitched in a forced smile as he continued leading Han Wenwen through the snack street.

In the end, they didn’t miss a single thing Han Wenwen wanted to eat. After all, Lin Zhengran wasn’t a picky eater, and he genuinely enjoyed all the snacks she suggested.

However, such gluttony inevitably led to overbuying. After their sweep, carrying two large bags stuffed with street food, Lin Zhengran pointed to the plaza steps in the distance. Many couples were sitting on the steps by the roadside, eating.

The two of them walked over and found a spot on the edge to sit down. Han Wenwen took out the chicken cutlet she had only taken one bite of and chewed with relish. She watched the children chasing each other around the plaza and the crowds coming and going. Yet, her hand still clung stubbornly to Lin Zhengran’s arm.

Lin Zhengran also picked up a chicken leg and started gnawing on it, reminding her, "Let go of my arm while we’re eating. Isn’t it awkward eating like that? Plus, it’s easy to get grease on our clothes."

Han Wenwen kept chewing her chicken cutlet, pulling out the drink she had brought from the afternoon and poking a straw into it. "No, I want to hold it. Do you want a drink, Zhengran?"

Lin Zhengran reached out to take it, but Han Wenwen brought the cup directly to his lips. "I’ll hold it for you."

After he took a sip, she pulled it back, wrapping her red lips around the very same straw he had just used to take a sip herself.

Lin Zhengran cast a curious glance at her. Han Wenwen, well aware of what she was doing, blushed shyly. "What is it? There’s only one drink here, can’t we share it? It’s not like I mind sharing with you, Zhengran."

Lin Zhengran, eating his chicken leg, didn’t dwell on the intimate detail and asked helplessly, "Does your stomach still hurt?"

Han Wenwen slowly shook her head. "Not anymore." She took another sip of her drink, biting her lower lip as she asked softly, "So you really do care about me, Zhengran?"

Lin Zhengran continued eating his chicken leg, looking off into the distance. "Why else would I bring you out? I just wanted to change up your appetite. Though to be fair, I’ve had enough of the school cafeteria myself. God knows what they’re cooking in there—even I can’t stomach it."

Han Wenwen stared at him blankly. Suddenly, a child playing tag ran over without looking and nearly bumped into her. Instinctively, Lin Zhengran used his free hand to shield her.

Only after the child bumped into Lin Zhengran’s arm did Han Wenwen realize she was now leaning against his embrace, looking up at him.

Realizing they had crashed into someone, the playing children hurriedly apologized, "Sorry mister, sorry miss! We’re sorry!"

Lin Zhengran didn’t mind and simply told them to go play somewhere else. But Han Wenwen, having seen his subconscious urge to protect her, felt her cheeks flush. The things that made her heart flutter the most were often the small details others overlooked.

Lin Zhengran tried to sit back up properly, but the little fox didn’t straighten her posture. Instead, she tugged at his arm and slowly rested her head against his shoulder.

The unique fragrance wafting from the little fox made Lin Zhengran pause.

Before he could speak, Han Wenwen said shyly, "That scared me just now. I’ll feel better if I lean like this for a bit, so don’t push me away."

Lin Zhengran knew perfectly well she was faking it, but seeing that the little fox’s expression genuinely seemed a bit different, he didn’t call her out on it.

"Then you at least have to let me sit properly, right?"

Han Wenwen stared at him. "Just sit then, Zhengran. It doesn’t stop me from leaning on your shoulder."

Lin Zhengran adjusted his posture and finished the rest of his chicken leg. Han Wenwen also took small bites of her chicken cutlet, though her appetite had been overshadowed by something else.

"Have you ever had a girl lean on your shoulder before, Zhengran?" she asked, deeply curious.

Lin Zhengran answered truthfully, "Yes."

Han Wenwen suddenly felt a spike of jealousy. "Who?"

"He Qing. Back during the summer before middle school, when I met up with her at the station, didn’t we spend a night outside? At the time, she thought I was asleep and leaned on my shoulder. But considering the environment and knowing she was scared in the dark, I just let her be."

Lin Zhengran noted her jealous expression. "Didn’t you already know about this?"

Han Wenwen recalled their elementary school days. She had indeed heard Qingqing mention the incident back then, but at the time, she felt absolutely nothing about it—she had even shipped the two of them.

Now, however, faced with the very same scenario, her feelings were entirely different. She only felt a pang of jealousy and discomfort, unwilling to hear another word about it.

"I remember now... So did Qingqing wrap her arms around you and lean on your shoulder like this too?"

"Not quite. She isn’t as bold as you."

Han Wenwen felt a bit happier at that. "Did she lean on this shoulder?"

"Why are you so obsessed with these details?"

"It’s very important to me! Hurry up and tell me, Zhengran!"

Lin Zhengran tossed the bare chicken bone into the trash bag and took out a serving of chicken cutlet. "No, she leaned on my left side back then. Different from you."

Han Wenwen beamed. "Really? That’s good, then. At least I’m the only one who’s leaned on this side."

The sunset on the horizon burned an ever-deepening red, while the snack street grew increasingly bustling. Lin Zhengran’s shoulder was much broader and sturdier than it looked, making it incredibly comfortable to rest against. It was so comfortable that the little fox angled her pressed-together legs toward him, eventually resting them against his leg as well.

But as she bit into the chicken cutlet in her hand, she inexplicably lost her appetite again. "The week after next, you’ll be accompanying Xiao Heqing back to her town for the competition, right?"

"Yeah. She’s been preparing for a year, so I definitely have to go with her. I promised."

Han Wenwen continued, "And then the week after that, you’re going with Lili for her competition? That’s another week."

"Yeah, she’s also been preparing for a year. I have to be there for her too."

Han Wenwen shifted her head slightly, as if looking up. Strands of her smooth, long hair brushed against Lin Zhengran’s face, while others draped across his back from the angle of her lean.

"Doesn’t that mean you won’t be able to spend time with me until next month? I’ve pretty much earned enough for my tuition this year anyway. Next time you hang out with me, Zhengran, I don’t want to just play games anymore. I want you to walk around the city with me, and then..."

Her fox-like eyes locked onto his. "Stay at my place that night instead of going back. Could you keep me company in my rented apartment? Just simply keeping me company is enough."

Gazing up at the dusky sky, Han Wenwen thought back to her past and murmured, "I’m actually quite timid at night. Sometimes I wake up, and when I see the room completely pitch black all by myself, I just can’t fall back asleep. When I was little, I used to think of my mom to get through the night. Now... I always think of you, Zhengran."

Lin Zhengran turned his head to look at her.

"Is that why you occasionally message me late at night? And randomly call to annoy me?"

Han Wenwen grinned brightly. Remembering how she had done exactly that from time to time over their three years in middle school, she felt a twinge of embarrassment.

"I missed you! What else was I supposed to do? I never knew I’d act like this once I fell for someone—so incredibly clingy.

"I used to imagine how I’d react if I liked someone when reading novels or watching TV dramas, but... reality turned out way more unexpected than I ever thought. Like right now..."

She poked the back of his hand with her free hand. "Just leaning on your shoulder makes me so indescribably happy. My heart just goes THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. What about you, Zhengran? Does your heart flutter because I’m leaning on you? Do you feel shy at all..."