Lin Ran understood—this “sneaking” she was talking about now was different from what she had mentioned before.
Her mood visibly dropped.
In the darkness, Lin Ran let out a low, raspy laugh, “Why did you have to sneak around?”
Sheng Qingxi stared blankly at the wall in front of her and answered in a small voice, “I don’t know. For a long time, I was very afraid. I didn’t dare come to see you. It wasn’t until just before school started, when I was about to leave Chucheng, that I finally worked up the courage to see you.”
“That day, I ran into He Mo and Xie Zhen. They were sitting on the ground, staring at the sky, talking to you. After that, every year on your birthday, I’d see them there.”
Like her, He Mo and Xie Zhen didn’t visit Lin Ran on Qingming but only on his birthday.
As if Lin Ran were still alive.
Sheng Qingxi briefly skimmed over her university years, mentioning only that her roommates and classmates were kind, all of them pursuing their dreams with passion.
In a low voice, she continued talking about what came after, “After graduation, I joined the police force. It was my mentor who brought me in. Lin Ran, work was tough. A lot of what I had to deal with, I never encountered in school. For a while, the sight of meat made me physically nauseous. That’s when I developed the habit of not eating meat, and eventually, I just got used to it.”
“During that time, I didn’t sleep well either, but staying in Chucheng gave me more opportunities to visit you. Sometimes, when I couldn’t sleep, I’d go to see you, talk to you for a while, and then I’d feel sleepy. Lin Ran, those years were hard on me, but thinking of you always gave me the strength to keep going.”
At this point, Lin Ran drew a deep breath, as though trying to suppress some emotion.
After a long pause, he asked in a low voice, “Going to find me late at night… were you scared?”
Talking about this seemed to brighten Sheng Qingxi’s mood a little. She turned around, her small arms naturally wrapping around Lin Ran’s waist. She buried her head in the crook of his neck, snuggling in closer.
Lin Ran adjusted their position to accommodate her, and as soon as they were comfortable, Sheng Qingxi whispered as if sharing a secret, “Lin Ran, one time, I snuck in early in the morning and ran into the old gatekeeper.”
Lin Ran: “…”
The poor old man must have been terrified.
Sheng Qingxi stifled a laugh. “He was a funny man. He even asked me which plot I lived in and whether I had no visitors during the holidays, so I had to come up there for some fun.”
Lin Ran: ?
Sheng Qingxi closed her eyes, as though starting to feel sleepy. “For those ten years, the old gatekeeper was always there. He Mo, Xie Zhen, and I often went to visit him. Lin Ran, we all missed you so much.”
“You are loved.”
“By all of us.”
Lin Ran bent down to kiss the top of her head, his voice husky, “I know.”
She softly called his name, “Lin Ran.”
Lin Ran responded, “I’m here.”
The person in his arms gradually quieted down, her breathing becoming steady.
She peacefully fell asleep in his embrace.
Once she was deep asleep, Lin Ran got up and closed the window. He didn’t turn on the lights as he navigated in the dark to the bathroom, where he took a shower. There was still a faint scent of alcohol on him, and he didn’t want to sleep next to Sheng Qingxi like that.
After washing up, Lin Ran carefully undressed Sheng Qingxi in the dark. She remained still, completely trusting him, which only happened when they were alone together—no longer on guard, no longer alert.
Lin Ran didn’t dare look at her, even though the lights were off. He kept his eyes closed while dressing her in one of his t-shirts, moving carefully in the dark.
Once everything was done, he let out a breath of relief and climbed back into bed, pulling her back into his arms.
Satisfied, Lin Ran closed his eyes.
…
At 10 p.m., Lin Yanyan returned to her room, staring at the empty bed for a moment, lost in thought.
If her brother had planned this all along, why did he go through the trouble of pretending to pair her up with Sister Sheng? The more she thought about it, the less sense it made. Giving up, Lin Yanyan stopped thinking about it altogether.
It wasn’t like she could control what Lin Ran did anyway!
Still, thinking about Sheng Qingxi gave her the unsettling feeling that a precious cabbage had been snatched by a pig.
Shaking off the thought, Lin Yanyan grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom.
At that moment, most of the train’s carriages were still lit, and the light, accompanied by the soft whistle of the train, gradually disappeared into the vast night.
—
5 a.m.
The first light of dawn crept through the small window in the bedroom, casting a faint glow inside.
Sheng Qingxi woke up because she felt too warm.
The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was Lin Ran’s prominent Adam’s apple. Even in the dim light, she could make out his sharp features.
She tilted her head slightly to get a better look, but the movement caused her cheek to brush against his firm jawline. His newly grown stubble scratched her face, making it sting slightly.
Lin Ran still seemed to be asleep, holding her tightly in his arms.
Despite her small movements, they were enough to wake him.
Without opening his eyes, he reached up to pat her head, his voice still rough from sleep. “Awake? Are you hungry?”
Sheng Qingxi tugged at the oversized t-shirt she was wearing, feeling a little embarrassed to ask how she had fallen asleep last night. Instead, she whispered, “Lin Ran, I want to shower… and go for a run.”
Lin Ran chuckled, her words waking him fully. His voice still raspy, he laughed, “A shower, sure. Running? No. You planning on jumping off the train and racing it?”
Sheng Qingxi’s face flushed as she muttered, “I was just thinking out loud.”
Lin Ran bent down and kissed her forehead, his voice soft, “How are you this cute?”
Sheng Qingxi pushed him away. “I’m going to take a shower.”
But the mention of a shower brought up a problem: Sheng Qingxi’s change of clothes were all in her room, and at this early hour, Lin Yanyan was definitely still asleep. Without a key, she couldn’t get in.
Lin Ran had obviously thought of this as well.
He figured they could wait until Lin Yanyan woke up and then send Sheng Qingxi back to shower, but the stubborn girl in his arms wasn’t having it. “I want to shower now. I’ll go back for my clothes after Yanyan wakes up.”
Lin Ran: ?
Are you trying to drive me crazy?
After a moment of silent resistance, Lin Ran eventually gave in, unwilling to make her unhappy. A shower, fine.
He rubbed his temples, his voice raspy, “I’ll get you a clean t-shirt that I haven’t worn. I’ll wash the clothes you change out of.”
Sheng Qingxi: “…”
That wasn’t necessary.
With a slightly embarrassed frown, she muttered, “I’ll wash them myself.”
Lin Ran didn’t argue. There’d be plenty of time to sort out these things once they lived together. He got up, retrieved a white t-shirt from his suitcase, and handed it to her.
Without even bothering to put on shoes, Sheng Qingxi took the shirt and dashed into the bathroom like a gust of wind.
Lin Ran didn’t just sit around waiting. As he thought about it more, he realized this situation wasn’t going to work. The idea of her coming out without anything underneath was enough to make him lose it. Waking Lin Yanyan up suddenly didn’t seem so bad after all.
With that thought, Lin Ran went straight to knock on Lin Yanyan’s door.
After all the years he’d spent looking out for his little sister, it was only fair she helped him out in a critical moment.
When a groggy Lin Yanyan finally opened the door, Lin Ran didn’t feel even the slightest bit of guilt. Acting like the master of the house, he tilted his chin up slightly. “Just grabbing some things.”
Lin Yanyan gave him a look, stepping aside to let him in.
As Lin Ran rummaged through Sheng Qingxi’s suitcase, he casually asked, “Yanyan, do you get scared sleeping alone at night?”
Lin Yanyan: “…”
Did he wake her up just to show off?
With a long sigh, Lin Yanyan replied, “Brother, do you at least feel a little guilty about all this?”
Lin Ran: ?
What was wrong with this kid?
Just as she finished speaking, Lin Ran happened to find the small bag containing Sheng Qingxi’s undergarments. Holding the tiny bag in his hand, for a brief moment, he actually did feel a pang of guilt.
Flipping through the contents, he skipped over her camisoles and skirts, opting for the simplest thing he could find—a pair of black jeans.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Lin Yanyan watched the scene unfold and was utterly speechless. She thought her brother was the most petty person in the world. It was summer, and he was making Sheng Qingxi wear long pants?
Lin Ran stared at Sheng Qingxi’s suitcase for a while before deciding not to grab a top. He figured she could just keep wearing his shirt.
Better that than having people staring at her.
After grabbing what he needed, Lin Ran closed the suitcase and put it back in place. He glanced down at Lin Yanyan, his tone light and dismissive, “I’m leaving. Entertain yourself.”
Lin Yanyan didn’t respond.
She finally understood why so many people from other schools found her brother so annoying. He could be absolutely infuriating sometimes.
On his way back to the room, Lin Ran felt a bit nervous.
A flood of potential scenarios rushed through his mind—what if Sheng Qingxi had already finished showering by the time he returned? What if she started walking around in front of him with nothing underneath? Could he still call himself a decent person in that situation?
But those thoughts evaporated the moment he walked into the room and realized Sheng Qingxi wasn’t out yet.
He walked to the bathroom door and knocked lightly. “Sheng Qingxi, the clothes are outside.”
The sound of running water paused briefly, and then her cheerful voice rang out, “The door’s not locked! Bring them in!”
Lin Ran: ?
What’s wrong with this girl?
Lin Yanyan had warned him not to do anything sinful, yet Sheng Qingxi was practically chasing him, daring him to misbehave. She’d done it yesterday afternoon, and now she was doing it again this morning.
Lin Ran clenched his teeth, thinking he’d just drop off the clothes and get out.
The moment he opened the door, he closed his eyes tightly, already familiar with the layout of the bathroom. As the door opened, the scent of the body wash mixed with Sheng Qingxi’s sweet fragrance flooded out like a wave.
Lin Ran: “…”
He was doomed.
“I’m done showering!” Sheng Qingxi said, glancing at him with amusement. She was rinsing his t-shirt, her wet hair draped over her shoulders, still damp.
Only after hearing her words did Lin Ran dare to open his eyes and look at her.
She looked like a freshly picked peach, with her fair skin and rosy cheeks, radiating purity. His t-shirt barely reached her knees, and water droplets trickled down her legs, gliding along her slender calves before pooling on the floor.
Lin Ran’s pupils dilated slightly.
The scene hit him like a sledgehammer.