The boy standing beside Lin Youcheng seemed to glance in her direction, but it was as if he wasn’t really looking at her—his eyes seemed to be fixed on the ruined villa behind her. Xu Yirong swallowed hard, unable to suppress her anxiety.
Suddenly, Lin Ran smiled, though the coldness in his eyes didn’t fade at all.
In a lazy tone, he called out, “Auntie——”
The tall, slender boy, with a faint smile, stared at her.
Xu Yirong’s body swayed slightly, barely able to keep herself standing. Assistant Song, noticing her unsteady state, quickly supported her. “Madam, why do you look so pale?”
Xu Yirong forced a smile. “It’s nothing, I’ve just been feeling unwell lately.”
“Unwell? Where do you feel uncomfortable?” Lin Youcheng frowned upon hearing this. “After Xiao Huo finishes his college entrance exams, I’ll take you to the hospital for a checkup.”
The feeling of nearly losing his children made Lin Youcheng suddenly appreciate the people around him even more. He couldn’t wait to have both of his children by his side, safe and sound.
Xu Yirong brushed her hair back, trying her best to appear natural. “Xiao Huo, what’s the matter?”
Lin Ran slowly retracted his gaze and handed the document he had been holding to Lin Youcheng. “Dad, I’m returning this to you untouched. I might sign it, but I’m not sure I’ll live to enjoy it.”
Xu Yirong’s face instantly turned pale, all the color draining from her cheeks.
Lin Youcheng, however, didn’t grasp the full meaning of Lin Ran’s words. Holding the document, he anxiously said, “Xiao Huo, these are your things. This isn’t about me trying to make up for past mistakes. This has nothing to do with what your grandfather or your mother left you. I’m not doing this because of guilt—I’ve always cared about you. No matter what, you’ll always be my son.”
Lin Ran lowered his gaze, his voice quiet. “Dad, this time it was arson. I don’t know what else will come for me and Yanyan. Dad, I want to live.”
The words *“I want to live”* pierced Lin Youcheng’s heart like a sharp blade. His proud, resilient son had never shown such vulnerability since He Wanqiu’s death. Seeing this fragile and sorrowful expression on Lin Ran’s face shook him to the core.
This was no accident—someone had deliberately set the fire, intending to kill his children!
Staring in stunned silence as Lin Ran’s figure walked away, Lin Youcheng was overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.
“Xiao Song!” Lin Youcheng called out in a stern voice.
Xu Yirong hadn’t heard much of what Lin Ran and Lin Youcheng had discussed, but she could tell from Lin Youcheng’s tone that he was in a state of fury.
Instinctively, she placed a hand on her lower abdomen, trying to comfort herself.
She still had a child. Yes, she still had a child, and this child was also Lin Youcheng’s.
Assistant Song hurried over to Lin Youcheng’s side. “Sir!”
Lin Youcheng leaned in and whispered something to him in a low voice, deliberately lowering his tone.
Xu Yirong discreetly moved a few steps closer, trying to overhear their conversation. But Lin Youcheng’s voice was too quiet, and she only caught a few fragmented words. None of the broken phrases seemed to concern her.
Biting her lip, Xu Yirong’s mind spun in turmoil.
She couldn’t figure out where things had gone wrong. Fortunately, Lin Youcheng didn’t know about her pregnancy yet. If… if things really turned against her, she still had this bargaining chip.
…
As soon as Lin Ran stepped outside the neighborhood gate, he spotted Sheng Qingxi. She had gotten out of the car at some point and was now squatting at the entrance, small and pitiful, like an abandoned kitten.
Lin Ran paused, watching her for a few seconds, before walking over to “pick up the kitten.”
Sheng Qingxi had her arms around her knees, lost in thought as she squatted by the gate. After Lin Ran got out of the car, she had felt restless, unable to sit still. After saying a quick word to Lin Huang, she had run over to the entrance.
Though it was already June, midsummer, Sheng Qingxi felt inexplicably cold. After waiting for a while, she simply squatted down.
By the edge of the pond, the green grass bent slightly. A beetle emerged from the soil, quickly climbing up a blade of grass. After surveying its surroundings for a moment from the top of the leaf, it turned and burrowed back into the ground.
Sheng Qingxi stared at the beetle, her mind wandering aimlessly.
While she was lost in thought, she suddenly felt a gentle pressure on her head, the warmth in the touch all too familiar. Instinctively, she tilted her head up.
Lin Ran stood beside her, his dark eyes focused on her.
When she looked up at him, Lin Ran didn’t pull her up or ask why she was squatting there. Instead, he crouched down beside her and followed her gaze. The beetle reemerged from the soil, but this time, it didn’t climb the leaf. Instead, it made its way to a blossoming flower.
Lin Ran turned his head slightly and called her name in a low voice, “Sheng Qingxi.”
Sheng Qingxi stared blankly into Lin Ran’s eyes. His gaze was bright and, as he looked at her, carried warmth. After a while, she finally spoke, her voice soft and delicate. “Lin Ran, this day is over.”
Lin Ran’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his voice a little hoarse. “Yes, it’s over.”
The two of them squatted there in silence, facing each other.
After a moment, Sheng Qingxi smiled. “Lin Ran, let’s take the college entrance exam together.”
Lin Ran smiled back. “Alright.”
Inside the gates of Chengnan Garden, Lin Youcheng stood quietly, watching Lin Ran and the girl. The child, who always had a cold expression when facing him, was now smiling with genuine happiness, his eyes full of hope and anticipation.
But this very same child had just told him, ‘I want to live.’
Lin Youcheng’s teeth clenched slightly. He would never let anyone harm his children.
…
The news of the fire at Lin Ran’s villa spread quickly throughout the school. Old Qu called in a panic late at night to check on things and only calmed down once he was assured everyone was safe. He even posted in the group chat to inform everyone.
The incident scared Xie Zhen and his family half to death.
He Mo and Xie Zhen nearly clung to Lin Ran’s leg in tears.
Lin Ran, expressionless, sat on the couch, while the once empty living room was now filled with people. His grandfather’s people and his friends had all rushed over, making the house livelier than it had been even during the New Year.
Everyone talked at once, their chatter giving Lin Ran a headache.
But he had no choice but to endure it. At least Sheng Qingxi had been sent home safely beforehand.
The day after the incident, the police came to ask about what had happened. Lin Ran had already instructed Lin Yanyan on what to say, and the little girl handled it without fear, obediently repeating what Lin Ran had told her to the officers.
A lawyer arranged by Lin Youcheng was present the entire time.
Since Lin Yanyan was still a minor and Lin Ran had the upcoming college entrance exams, Lin Youcheng did his best to shield them from too much involvement.
The police, understanding their situation, made sure to ask all their questions in one go before leaving.
Over the next two days, Lin Ran barely had time to rest. He visited his grandfather’s house, where a group of elderly uncles, aunts, and grandparents surrounded him, calling him their precious darling. Despite being so grown up, he could hardly escape their affection. Meanwhile, his siblings stood on the sidelines, laughing at his expense, and he barely resisted the urge to flee.
Lin Yanyan, on the other hand, was well-behaved, letting the elders hug her and pat her head without complaint.
By the fourth day, just when Lin Ran thought things might finally calm down, his grandparents, who had been traveling the world, returned. Despite their age, they were just as spry as ever, moving around with surprising energy.
When Lin Ran saw his grandparents, it wasn’t as overly affectionate as it had been with his grandfather’s side of the family. His grandmother just gave him a quick once-over and said, “You’ve gotten taller and stronger.”
And that was it. She didn’t bother with any further pleasantries.
Compared to Lin Yanyan, who was sweet and obedient, Lin Ran was like a solid, unyielding stone.
The two elderly people didn’t mention the fire at all. After having a meal with Lin Ran, they were picked up by He Yiling. It seemed they were planning to confront Lin Youcheng about the fire—rumors had already reached their ears that something suspicious was afoot.
After that day, Lin Ran didn’t get the chance to see Sheng Qingxi again before the college entrance exams.
—
June 7th arrived.
Sheng Lan personally drove Sheng Qingxi to No. 1 High School, where Lin Ran was already waiting for them at the gate.
When Lin Ran saw Sheng Lan, he greeted her warmly, “Aunt Sheng.”
No one could pinpoint exactly when it had started, but Lin Ran had begun calling her “Aunt Sheng” instead of something more formal. He did it so naturally that neither Sheng Qingxi nor Sheng Lan noticed at first, and by the time they did, they had already grown used to it.
Sheng Lan pulled a pre-prepared goose egg out of her bag and stuffed it into Lin Ran’s hands. “Do well on the exam, and come to the house afterward. I’ll make a nice meal for you all. Tell Ah Zhen and the others to join as well.”
Without waiting for a response from the two of them, she briskly walked away, only turning back to wave. “Go on in.”
Lin Ran and Sheng Qingxi weren’t in the same exam room. After escorting her to the entrance, Lin Ran scanned the list of examinees and frowned when he saw Gu Mingji’s name.
With a low grunt, he muttered, “That guy is everywhere.”
Sheng Qingxi didn’t want to get into it with him at this moment.
In a soft voice, she reminded him, “Lin Ran, try to remember as many answers as you can during the exam. If you can’t recall everything, it’s okay. I’ll remember the test papers, and once all the exams are over, you can write down your answers for me.”
Lin Ran blinked in surprise.
He had to admit, this silly girl would go to any lengths to make sure they got into the same university.
With a sigh, Lin Ran reluctantly agreed, “Got it. Just focus on doing well. Don’t worry about me. Even if we don’t get into the same university, I’ll find a place nearby and come visit you every week.”
Although he said that, Lin Ran was inwardly stewing.
The thought of not going to the same university as his Xiao Xi made him so frustrated that he’d rather retake the exams. The mere idea of her being surrounded by potential suitors in college was enough to drive him mad.
Sheng Qingxi’s bright eyes stared at Lin Ran for a moment before she suddenly reached out her hand. In her pale palm lay a strawberry-flavored soft candy, wrapped in red.
“Lin Ran, let’s go to university together.” She paused, then added, “The same university.”
Lin Ran glanced down at the candy in her palm, his slender fingers twitching as he took it. At the same time, he gently clasped her hand and quickly bent down, pressing a swift kiss into her palm.
Without lingering, he turned and walked away, lazily waving behind him. “Got it.”
Sheng Qingxi watched him leave.
The boy was wearing a blue and white short-sleeved shirt with black pants, his favorite sneakers on his feet. His short black hair swayed slightly with each step, and beneath his tousled hair, his slender neck led to a lean but strong body.
She pressed her lips together and smiled softly.
—
Two days later, the 2020 college entrance exams for Chucheng’s students came to an end.
That evening, as per tradition, fireworks lit up the sky over Chucheng’s No. 1 Middle School. Xie Zhen and the others stood on the balcony of the auto shop’s rooftop, holding beer bottles and smiling as they watched the grand display unfold against the night sky.