He stayed silent for a while, his mind racing over the implications of Sheng Qingxi’s words. Did she even understand the concept of boundaries between men and women? They hadn’t known each other for long, and now she was inviting him into her home. What about the future?
Lin Ran startled himself with that thought. What future?
After a long moment, Lin Ran decided he was probably overthinking it. After all, nothing about Sheng Qingxi fit into conventional logic, especially considering she could get along so well with someone like Song Shiman.
So, he raised his chin slightly, pretending to be nonchalant, and casually replied, “Alright, let’s go have breakfast.”
It was just breakfast, after all.
Sheng Qingxi led Lin Ran into Shengkai Orphanage.
This was the first time Lin Ran had ever visited an orphanage. He took a quick look around at the layout. Although the residential area in the west of the city was old, the place seemed spacious, with a garden and a play area outside. The few buildings inside appeared to have been renovated in recent years, looking neither completely new nor entirely old.
Noticing Lin Ran’s gaze, Sheng Qingxi explained, “That red building is the classroom area. The slightly taller one beside it is the dormitory. Behind that are the offices and facilities.”
Shengkai Orphanage wasn’t very large. Located in a remote area, it didn’t receive the best support, even within Chucheng. Normally, Sheng Lan and a handful of staff took care of about twenty children.
During holidays, they had a bit of relief when volunteers came to help.
This was the place where Sheng Qingxi had grown up.
Lin Ran felt a tightness in his chest, an inexplicable emotion spreading from his heart, similar to the feeling of fire burning deep inside him.
Sheng Qingxi led Lin Ran straight to the dormitory building.
It was still early, and the children hadn’t woken up yet.
Sheng Lan, busy in the kitchen, heard movement outside and assumed Sheng Qingxi had gotten up. Wiping her hands, she walked out, saying, “Yuan Yuan, today’s breakfast is egg-filled pan–”
Her words stopped abruptly.
She stared in surprise at Sheng Qingxi and the tall boy standing behind her. How had Sheng Qingxi gone outside and brought back a boy so quickly?
Sheng Qingxi blinked at Sheng Lan and introduced, “Mom Sheng, this is my classmate from No. 1 High School.”
Sheng Lan didn’t expect that after transferring to No. 1 High, Sheng Qingxi would bring home two classmates in such a short time. She was both surprised and happy, momentarily forgetting that it was only 5:30 in the morning.
Lin Ran cleared his throat and greeted her, “Hello, Auntie.”
Sheng Lan quickly replied, “Hello, breakfast will be ready soon. You two can wait in the dining hall, and I’ll bring it over in a bit. You’ll have time to eat before school.”
With that, Sheng Lan hurried back to the kitchen.
Sheng Qingxi and Lin Ran could hear Sheng Lan’s joyful conversation with the other staff in the kitchen. “Auntie Li, it’s only been two weeks, and our Yuan Yuan has already brought home another classmate. I was worried she wouldn’t adjust to No. 1 High.”
Hearing this, Lin Ran raised an eyebrow.
Another?
As he watched Sheng Qingxi walk ahead, he couldn’t help but ask, “Sheng Qingxi, who else have you brought here? Are they from No. 1 High, too?”
Sheng Qingxi didn’t seem to think anything was odd about the question. She answered plainly, “I brought Shiman here before. Every Saturday night and Sunday, she comes to my house for tutoring.”
Lin Ran: “?”
Why is Song Shiman everywhere?
After leading Lin Ran to the dining hall, Sheng Qingxi was ready to go shower. She pointed to the small tables and chairs in the children’s dining area and said, “Lin Ran, play here for a bit. I’ll be back after I shower.”
Lin Ran silently observed the children’s dining area, noticing that the tables barely came up to his knees. Fortunately, there was a normal-sized table on one side.
He gave a brief nod and found a chair to sit on.
…
By the time Sheng Qingxi finished her shower and changed into her school uniform, Sheng Lan had just finished setting down breakfast and was about to leave. She didn’t want to linger and make things awkward for the two of them.
Lin Ran politely thanked her.
Sheng Qingxi was able to use her chopsticks more easily than the day before, and in a couple more days, the swelling would likely subside.
In the small dining hall, it was just Lin Ran and Sheng Qingxi.
The table was filled with a variety of food. Since there was an extra person, Sheng Lan had also made some steamed buns and shumai. There were bottles of milk, soy milk, and juice on the side for them to choose from.
Sheng Qingxi nibbled on her egg-stuffed pancake, sneaking a glance at Lin Ran across from her. He was quietly eating, his movements steady and unhurried.
The atmosphere was calm.
Just when Sheng Qingxi thought they would get through breakfast peacefully, Lin Ran suddenly asked, “Sheng Qingxi, where did you first see me?”
His calm gaze rested on her face.
Sheng Qingxi froze, then lowered her eyes and softly replied, “In an alley.”
Hearing this, Lin Ran frowned. Earlier, he had casually asked Sheng Lan when Sheng Qingxi had decided to transfer schools, and she told him it was early this year when she suddenly requested the transfer.
An alley?
Lin Ran had been to countless alleys, most of them while fighting.
He followed up, “What was I doing?”
Sheng Qingxi hesitated before answering uncertainly, “…fighting?”
Lin Ran: “…”
Of course, he was fighting.
Lin Ran’s expression darkened, and when he spoke again, his tone was less pleasant. “What were you doing in an alley? Why does a girl like you keep wandering into alleys? Are you stupid?”
Sheng Qingxi’s voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, “You were fighting to save me.”
Lin Ran didn’t catch what she said, and before he could ask again, she shook her head slightly and added, “It was just an accident.”
For the rest of breakfast, Lin Ran’s mind was preoccupied with thinking about all the fights he’d been in since the start of the year. He tried to recall any alley where he might have met Sheng Qingxi, but nothing came to mind.
Could Sheng Qingxi have started liking him because he was good at fighting?
Lin Ran: “…”
He felt like something was wrong with him.
…
By the time Sheng Qingxi and Lin Ran left the house, it was already 6:10.
Before lifting Sheng Qingxi onto the motorcycle, Lin Ran looked at the girl who barely reached his chest and asked, “What time do you usually get to school? I’ll time it so I can come by. For the next few days, you better get enough sleep.”
Without thinking, Sheng Qingxi replied, “7:30.”
Lin Ran clicked his tongue and knocked her lightly on the head. “What did you say at the bus stop last time? You said you don’t lie, but now you’re just making things up.”
Instinctively rubbing the spot where he had knocked her, Sheng Qingxi weakly defended herself, “I’m not lying. I’ve been arriving at 7:30 these days, so it’s 7:30.”
Lin Ran: “… From now on, I’ll come at 6:30, and we’ll be at school by 7:10. After breakfast, wait for me outside. I’ll always be early, never late, so make sure you’re ready on time.”
Unable to argue with Lin Ran, Sheng Qingxi could only agree.
By now, Sheng Qingxi was already used to being lifted on and off the bike by Lin Ran. Once he was seated, she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him. Having woken up early that morning, she yawned inside her helmet.
A slight fog formed on the visor of the helmet.
This was Sheng Qingxi’s first time seeing Chucheng in the early morning from this angle, and it felt very different from riding the bus. The streets were filled with the smell of life, with people hurrying by in all directions.
Some people even curiously glanced their way.
After watching for a while, Sheng Qingxi closed her eyes, not opening them again until Lin Ran brought the bike to a stop.
She obediently stayed seated, waiting for Lin Ran to help her down. But just as Lin Ran got off the bike, she heard a panicked voice coming from behind—
“Xiao Xi!”
Both Lin Ran and Sheng Qingxi turned to look.
They saw Song Shiman, her eyes brimming with tears, rushing over as if to hug Sheng Qingxi, crying out, “Xiao Xi, wuwuwu, I won’t like Lin Ran anymore! I really didn’t expect him to be such a scumbag, dragging you into an alley to beat you up!”
Sheng Qingxi blinked in confusion, “Huh?”
Lin Ran: “…”
Song Shiman had grown taller over the past two years, but her brain…?
Huh?
…
At the school gate.
The passing students all seemed to slow their pace in perfect synchronization. If it weren’t for time still moving normally, someone watching might think the scene was playing in slow motion.
They were all curious about the trio standing at the gate.
Lin Ran, Sheng Qingxi, and Song Shiman.
The three of them were actually standing together, and surprisingly, Sheng Qingxi and Song Shiman weren’t fighting. Song Shiman was tightly hugging Sheng Qingxi, speaking animatedly to Lin Ran. From her intense expression, anyone watching might have thought Lin Ran had stolen her girlfriend.
Hmm? Something about that didn’t seem right.
Meanwhile…
Sheng Qingxi spent quite some time explaining things to Song Shiman, finally convincing her that Lin Ran hadn’t beaten her. With patience, she said, “Shiman, there should be a school announcement about what happened yesterday.”
Song Shiman glanced awkwardly at Lin Ran, who was watching her with an irritated expression.
Suddenly, Song Shiman huffed, taking Sheng Qingxi’s hand and whispering, “Xiao Xi, from now on, if you see Lin Ran fighting, just don’t bother with him. He loves fighting more than anything; you don’t need to worry about him.”
Lin Ran: “…?”
Song Shiman held Sheng Qingxi’s hand, dragging her toward the school gate, leaving Lin Ran behind.
As they walked away, Song Shiman kept muttering, “Are you stupid? You ran in to block the hit for Lin Ran. He would’ve been fine! That guy can take a beating—he once took down ten guys from No. 6 High all by himself.”
Sheng Qingxi reassured her, “It’s just a minor injury. I’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Song Shiman continued grumbling, “I was scared to death when I heard the rumors from people at the school gate yesterday. And you don’t even carry your phone! Yesterday, He Mo came looking for me, saying you weren’t coming.”
Her voice grew sad as she added, “I thought Lin Ran had beaten you so badly you ended up in the hospital.”
Sheng Qingxi replied, “…No, I’m fine.”
Song Shiman’s doubts lingered until the school addressed the situation during the morning assembly. Since the incident had taken place so close to the school and involved students getting injured, the usual morning exercises were canceled, and the entire school gathered for an assembly on the field.
All three grades—eighteen classes in total—packed the space in front of the Minxue Building. Sheng Qingxi stood next to Chen Yi.
Lin Ran, being tall, stood in the back row of Class 1 as usual. Next to him, He Mo and Xie Zhen were probing him about what happened at the school gate yesterday.
Xie Zhen, always quick to exaggerate, started off by boasting about Lin Ran’s prowess. “Brother Ran, you’re getting more impressive by the day. I heard two ambulances showed up at the school gate yesterday?”
Lin Ran glanced at him indifferently and didn’t respond.
He Mo followed up, “Brother Ran, what’s the deal with the ‘fairy’? People are saying you carried her out of the alley yesterday.”
This time, Lin Ran didn’t even bother looking at He Mo, standing as still as a mountain at the back of the group.
They didn’t have to wait long before the discipline director, Zhao Shuyue, took the microphone and began addressing the incident. “Yesterday, after school, a group of troublemakers gathered at the school gate to cause trouble. Due to personal grievances, some of our students were harmed. The school takes full responsibility for this incident and will be enhancing security around the campus. As for the rumors about bullying at our school, let me clarify that they are false. Please don’t believe or spread such rumors.”
Song Shiman finally breathed a sigh of relief when she heard this, but then immediately recalled her bold declaration that morning about not liking Lin Ran anymore. If she took her words back now, it would be too embarrassing.
When the phrase “troublemakers” came up, Xie Zhen suddenly let out a strange noise, causing people around them to glance his way.
Xie Zhen quickly covered his mouth, remembering the message he’d received in their group chat last night. Someone had mentioned that a few members of the “Poison” gang had been arrested, though no one knew the exact reason.
Last night, Lin Ran had been responding to messages, but then suddenly went quiet.
Lowering his voice, Xie Zhen asked Lin Ran, “Brother Ran, was it the guys from ‘Poison’?”
Lin Ran gave a curt nod.
Xie Zhen, recalling the rumors surrounding the “Poison” gang and Lin Ran’s recent strange behavior, turned to look at Lin Yanyan protectively, his face growing dark. “Brother Ran, were they targeting Yanyan?”
He Mo looked over, surprised.
Lin Ran’s expression wasn’t great either. “Sort of. Tiger Fang and Song Xingyu have been going crazy fighting over funding. Tiger Fang sent people to test me, trying to use Yanyan to force me to join their racing team.”
Xie Zhen cursed angrily, “Those bastards!”
He Mo tried to console him, “Brother Ran, Uncle Lin came by yesterday and said he’d handle things. They probably won’t come after you or Yanyan again, but… what about the fairy?”
Lin Ran had deep connections, so the people from Tiger Fang wouldn’t dare touch him.
But Sheng Qingxi was a different story.
It was precisely because Lin Ran was worried about this that he decided to start picking Sheng Qingxi up and dropping her off. Her situation wasn’t much better than Lin Yanyan’s, and he didn’t want her to suffer because of him.
Moreover, Lin Yanyan had both Lin Ran and Lin Youcheng protecting her.
But Sheng Qingxi… she had no one. She only had herself.
—
Sheng Qingxi’s injury wasn’t widely known. Most people only knew that Lin Ran had carried a girl out of the alley yesterday, but her face had been obscured, leaving her identity a mystery.
Someone had taken a secret photo and shared it in a group chat, which led to the rumors spreading.
Song Shiman, being familiar with Sheng Qingxi, had recognized her at a glance.
Thus, Sheng Qingxi’s day passed relatively peacefully, with only Chen Yi noticing her slightly awkward posture and asking about it. Sheng Qingxi casually explained that she had bumped into something, and Chen Yi didn’t suspect anything further.