A week later, Lin Ran drove to pick up Sheng Qingxi.
When he said four o’clock, he meant it. As soon as he arrived at the entrance, he called Sheng Qingxi.
It wasn’t long after she answered that she came out, carrying a bulging bag. She carefully walked toward the edge of the steps; the bag looked bigger than her, and Lin Ran could barely see her face.
Lin Ran got out of the car and strode toward her, grabbing the bag from her arms. “Are you tutoring or moving house?”
Sheng Qingxi seemed to be in a good mood, and her eyes sparkled with joy as she looked at him. “Lin Ran, I bought some canned food and toys for 2018. Has it been behaving these past few days?”
Lin Ran held the bag in one hand and took her by the other, leading her out. “It’s been going wild with that little girl Lin Yanyan. Didn’t sleep until after midnight last night. These past two days, the little thing has gained some weight, so it doesn’t look as ugly anymore.”
Sheng Qingxi shook his hand gently, her voice soft. “Not ugly.”
Lin Ran curled his lips into a smile.
He helped Sheng Qingxi into the car and, after putting on her helmet, knocked on her head lightly through the helmet. “Hold on tight in a bit. I’m in a hurry to get back and cook, so I’ll be driving faster than usual.”
Sheng Qingxi nodded to show she understood.
The two, engrossed in their conversation, didn’t notice the person standing across the street.
Cheng Jiayue bit her lip as she watched Lin Ran and Sheng Qingxi at the entrance of the Shengkai Orphanage.
Sheng Qingxi had clearly told her before that her relationship with Lin Ran wasn’t what she imagined. Then what was this scene in front of her?
Their actions toward each other were intimate and natural, and the cold, indifferent boy’s expression was filled with tenderness and a smile.
Did this look like they had nothing to do with each other?
Cheng Jiayue wasn’t foolish.
She had only recently found Sheng Qingxi’s address. This street wasn’t small, but it wasn’t large either. She casually asked around and quickly learned about Sheng Qingxi’s background.
Cheng Jiayue had thought that someone like Sheng Qingxi would understand her struggles the most.
But she wasn’t even willing to help with such a small favor.
Cheng Jiayue stood on the street for a long time, watching that flashy motorcycle disappear around the corner.
A moment later, Cheng Jiayue crossed the street and walked straight into the Shengkai Orphanage.
—
Nancheng Gardens.
After Lin Ran returned home, he headed straight into the kitchen, leaving the two girls to play in the living room.
Rather than playing, they were squatting.
Sheng Qingxi and Lin Yanyan were squatting side by side, while 2018 hugged a toy ball, rolling around on the carpet. Its soft belly could be faintly seen under its black fur.
Lin Yanyan whispered, “Sister, it’s so well-behaved.”
Sheng Qingxi blinked her eyes.
That day, while she was waiting for Lin Ran in the grand lobby, she unintentionally glanced at the floor-to-ceiling window and locked eyes with this little black cat. In those wet, gleaming pupils, there was a bright sparkle.
It was looking at her.
With just one glance, Sheng Qingxi’s heart softened.
In their previous life, the police station kept quite a few cats, all of them chubby and looking quite dignified. The officers even assigned numbers to these fat little cats, saying they were part of the station.
Among them was a little black cat, much like this one, except they were of different genders.
Sheng Qingxi and Lin Yanyan watched the cat for a while before Sheng Qingxi pulled out the scheduled holiday study plan for Lin Yanyan to review. Their tutoring sessions were only set to last for a month, as Sheng Qingxi would be attending a summer camp hosted by No. 1 High School next month.
Although it was called a summer camp, it was really just an early start to classes for the soon-to-be seniors, but in a different location and under a nicer name.
Sheng Qingxi handed the schedule to Lin Yanyan. “Tonight, we’ll start with a few placement tests. Based on your results, we’ll adjust the plan and schedule. The sessions will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m., with a half-hour break in between.”
Lin Yanyan nodded eagerly. “Sister, whatever you say goes.”
After speaking, Lin Yanyan glanced toward the kitchen and whispered, “Sister, my brother rarely cooks. Usually, Aunt Chen comes over on weekends to cook for us.”
Sheng Qingxi lowered her gaze, organizing the materials while casually asking, “Has Aunt Chen been coming often lately?”
Lin Yanyan thought for a moment before replying, “When we lived at the garage, Aunt Chen only came once a week to clean. Now that we’re back home for the summer, she comes twice a week, usually bringing groceries and fruits, and she also cleans on the weekends.”
Sheng Qingxi didn’t ask further, instead turning the conversation back to the tutoring schedule. “Yanyan, is it okay to set the tutoring on odd-numbered days of the week? If something comes up, just let me know and we can reschedule.”
Lin Yanyan obediently agreed, “That works.”
—
5:30 p.m.
Lin Ran came out with the prepared dishes and glanced at the two girls sitting on the carpet, still watching the cat. They were huddled together, whispering about who knows what. After setting the table, he called the two girls to eat.
As soon as Sheng Qingxi sat down, she froze. There were three bowls on the table, and hers was the largest. The amount of rice in her bowl seemed to be more than what Lin Ran and Lin Yanyan had combined.
Lin Yanyan stifled a giggle, afraid Lin Ran would notice, and quickly buried her head in her food.
Sheng Qingxi wasn’t sure if Lin Ran had made a mistake or if he expected her to eat all that rice. Hesitating with her chopsticks, she asked, “Lin Ran, isn’t this a bit too much rice?”
Lin Ran cooperatively glanced at her bowl and then calmly replied, “No, it’s not.”
Sheng Qingxi: “…”
After his response, Lin Ran seemed to shift his gaze away, but in truth, he was still watching her from the corner of his eye. It was rare for her to look this way, with her face slightly puffed in embarrassment, brows gently furrowed, and lips pressed together. She finally looked like a young girl in moments like this.
Amused, Lin Ran decided not to make things difficult for her. He handed over his bowl. “Whatever you can’t finish, give it to me.”
Hearing this, Sheng Qingxi immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly transferred most of her rice into Lin Ran’s bowl, leaving herself with just a small portion, which looked quite pitiful in her large bowl.
Lin Ran frowned, his voice slightly deep. “Even 2018 eats more than you.”
Sheng Qingxi, clutching her bowl, discreetly scooted to the side, afraid that Lin Ran might give her more rice.
Once seated, Sheng Qingxi noticed the dishes on the table. Aside from a small amount of seafood and meat, there was an abundance of vegetables. The soup in the center was a simple vegetable broth with no meat at all.
This was Lin Ran accommodating her preferences.
Sheng Qingxi herself didn’t know how to cook. Back when she was at Shengkai, Sheng Lan had always been reluctant to let her enter the kitchen. After she started working, she became too busy, usually eating at work or ordering takeout.
The food Lin Ran made tasted great.
Even though Lin Ran had a bad temper and difficult personality, he was always patient with Lin Yanyan. The familial affection she lacked at home, Lin Ran tried his best to make up for. To Lin Yanyan, Lin Ran was a good brother.
But the part that Lin Ran was missing, no one could fill.
Sheng Qingxi did her best to finish all the food in her bowl.
Lin Ran glanced at her stomach. She looked like she was struggling, eating with such effort, yet she had barely eaten a third of what he did.
Like Lin Yanyan, she was hard to take care of.
When Sheng Qingxi tried to follow him into the kitchen to wash dishes, Lin Ran quickly shooed her out. He gave her a sideways glance and said lightly, “Sheng Qingxi, didn’t your mom ever teach you not to casually enter someone else’s kitchen?”
Sheng Qingxi, ever honest, shook her head. She didn’t understand the logic behind his words.
Lin Ran chuckled softly, reaching out to pinch her cheek. “Go play, silly girl.”
The sound of running water filled the kitchen as Lin Ran stood with his back to her, washing dishes.
Sheng Qingxi, a bit slow to react, reached up to touch the spot on her face that Lin Ran had pinched. That small patch of skin was faintly warm, and it felt like the gentle pressure of his fingertips still lingered there.
At that moment, Sheng Qingxi couldn’t help but recall the morning when Lin Ran had kissed her lips. She had woken up early that day and quietly watched him lean against the bed for a long time.
The feeling from that day was completely different from now.
Back then, Lin Ran had seemed cold, repressed, and controlled.
Now, he was more like his name—warm.
—
At 8 p.m., Lin Ran placed a warm glass of milk on the coffee table and then went back to the kitchen to cut up a plate of fruit. He hadn’t done much all night except cater to these two little “masters.”
While Lin Yanyan was working on her test papers, Sheng Qingxi wasn’t idle either. She was drafting a new study plan.
Not just for Lin Yanyan, but for Lin Ran as well. Of course, Lin Ran had no idea about this plan yet.
Coincidentally, today was the day No. 1 High released their final exam results. Sheng Qingxi had already found out her own score that morning, and she had also inquired about Lin Ran’s. This time, Lin Ran ranked 117th in the grade.
As they both focused on their writing, Lin Ran was lounging on the sofa playing on his phone. But it wasn’t long before Sheng Qingxi called out to him.
“Lin Ran.”
The girl sitting on the carpet waved at him.
Lin Ran lazily responded, put down his phone, and turned to look at her, his eyes filled with amusement. “What are your orders, officer?”
Sheng Qingxi blinked, “Lin Ran, come here. This is your class schedule.”
Lin Ran: “?”
What now?
Frowning, Lin Ran walked over to her.
Both girls were sitting obediently, wearing socks, while Lin Ran casually sat down with bare feet, his ankles exposed. The smooth lines of his muscles and tendons were clearly defined, extending into his lean, strong calves.
Compared to others, Lin Ran was rather pale.
Even in summer, he only seemed slightly darker than usual.
Lin Ran lowered his gaze and carefully scanned the study plan in front of him. It looked even more detailed than the one for Lin Yanyan. Sheng Qingxi had been working on it for quite some time earlier, and this was the result.
After finishing, Lin Ran turned to look at her. “You’re tutoring me too?”
Sheng Qingxi nodded. “If you want. While Yanyan is doing her homework, I can give you lessons. But it’s okay if you don’t want to. This schedule can still be used when school starts.”
Lin Ran raised his hand and knocked lightly on her head. “Of course I’ll attend.”
Hearing his response, Sheng Qingxi smiled, then immediately asked, “Lin Ran, where’s your summer homework?”
Lin Ran: “…”
His summer homework?
Where was his damn summer homework?
Lin Ran and Sheng Qingxi stared at each other in silence, creating a tense atmosphere.
In the end, Lin Ran managed to bluff his way out, saying his summer homework was left at the garage.
By 9:30, Lin Ran was ready to take Sheng Qingxi home. Just like last time, Lin Yanyan ran over with a box of strawberry candies for Sheng Qingxi.
After saying goodnight to Lin Yanyan, Sheng Qingxi was pulled onto the motorcycle by Lin Ran.
He didn’t leave until he saw her enter the dormitory building. Last time, he had someone replace the window in Sheng Qingxi’s room, so now neither he nor anyone else could sneak in.
Once inside, Sheng Qingxi habitually went to look for Sheng Lan.
Sheng Lan hadn’t gone to bed yet and was quietly chatting with a few of the other women. When she saw Sheng Qingxi return, she waved her over. “Xiao Xi, the summer volunteers are coming tomorrow. You don’t have to stay and help anymore. You should go out with your classmates during the break.”
“Today, a young girl came and wanted to volunteer. She has quite a pitiful background, so I made an exception and agreed. By the way, Xiao Xi, make sure you’re careful when you come home at night. Have Xiao Ran escort you to the door.”
Sheng Qingxi pressed her lips together and asked, “Did something happen nearby?”
There wasn’t much that escaped the neighborhood ladies. Upon hearing her question, they immediately started chatting noisily.
“Just a few blocks away, three guys were beaten up by a bunch of high school students.”
“There were motorcycles parked everywhere that day. Later, when the three guys went to report it, the police found out they had criminal records, and now they’re locked up.”
“I heard they bullied a lot of girls. Xiao Xi, you must be careful, okay?”