The final winter break of their senior year was fast approaching, which also meant they were entering the graduation season.
Recently, Lin Ran had been in a bad mood because that little girl, Lin Yanyan, had just graduated from high school and even got into Ningcheng. Since the start of this semester, he had barely seen his Xiao Xi.
But he couldn’t always tag along when the girls went out to have fun, otherwise, it would seem like he didn’t trust Sheng Qingxi enough.
Was it possible that Lin Ran didn’t trust her?
Of course, he didn’t trust anyone! He wished he could keep Sheng Qingxi by his side every day, watching over her.
It was another day after class.
Lin Ran timed it perfectly to go pick up Sheng Qingxi. The streets were crowded, and after several years, the students at their school were used to seeing Lin Ran with his aloof, don’t-bother-me attitude. The only time he seemed like a human being was when he saw their Senior Sheng.
As he walked, Lin Ran passed by several familiar faces, and greetings rang out one after another—
“Senior.”
“Hello, Senior!”
“Senior is off to pick up Senior Sheng again?”
Lin Ran only gave a cold nod at the first few greetings, but when someone mentioned Sheng Qingxi, his expression noticeably softened, and he even nodded again, “Mm.”
Several of the junior girls nearby stifled their laughter.
It wasn’t that they were teasing, but Senior Lin was just too reserved.
In the winter, the trees lining the streets had long lost the lush appearance they had in spring and summer. The cold wind blew, making the branches tremble like an elderly person in their seventies, and the stubborn, dried leaves were mercilessly blown away, swirling into the wind.
Lin Ran wore a black trench coat, making his features appear even sharper and colder. His thin lips pressed into a firm line, giving him an unapproachable air. Yet, with his handsome face and tall, lean figure, he remained the center of attention wherever he went.
Over the years, the sharp edges and rebellious nature of his youth had faded somewhat.
Although Lin Ran’s temper was still bad, he had learned to keep it in check now.
Many people found it hard to imagine what Lin Ran had been like in the past. One year, someone dug up old posts from their high school forum, detailing his fights, skipping classes, and other misdeeds. They couldn’t believe that someone like him had made it into Ningcheng University.
Some even went as far as to bring it up in front of Sheng Qingxi.
Normally, Lin Ran wouldn’t care about such rumors—he wasn’t bothered in the least. But when people brought up those things to disturb the person he cared most about, he lost his temper in a big way. In the end, Sheng Qingxi had to come and calm him down.
It wasn’t just the people around him; even Lin Yanyan, who hadn’t seen him for a long time, thought Lin Ran had changed a lot. Only Sheng Qingxi believed that Lin Ran had never changed at all.
Lin Ran’s long legs swiftly carried him through the crowd, and before long, he arrived at the classroom door.
It was the end of class, and he waited for the crowd to thin out before glancing inside, but Sheng Qingxi was nowhere to be found. He furrowed his brows just as someone called out to him—
“Hey, Little Lin is here to pick up Little Sheng again?”
Professor Zhao glanced at Lin Ran, chuckling.
Lin Ran politely nodded, “Professor.”
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, “When did you finish your class?”
Professor Zhao chuckled again. He knew Lin Ran’s real question was about where Sheng Qingxi had gone. Glancing at his watch, he said, “I ended class ten minutes early today. Little Sheng left as soon as class was over.”
After Professor Zhao finished speaking, he saw Lin Ran furrow his brows. With a chuckle, the professor added, “She left with a young girl. I heard that’s your sister?”
Lin Ran paused for a moment, thanked him, and immediately went off to find her.
In front of Professor Zhao, Lin Ran managed to keep a calm facade, but as soon as he turned around, he was fuming. That mischievous little girl had once again tricked his wife into leaving with her. Yes, Lin Ran had already secretly started referring to Sheng Qingxi as his wife in his mind.
After all, once this year was over, he would be twenty-two years old.
Lin Ran’s birthday was later in the year, and once it passed, he would reach the legal age for marriage. He had been thinking about this for years, ever since he graduated high school. He had thought about it all this time, and he had endured all this time.
As Lin Ran walked out of the academic building, he glanced at the time. It wasn’t just the end of class; it was also dinner time.
Even when Sheng Qingxi got dragged off by Lin Yanyan, she would usually remember to text him. Today, since she had a full day of classes, her phone was likely dead. That troublesome little sister didn’t even think to tell her big brother.
Lin Ran thought for a moment, then suddenly turned and headed toward the basketball courts.
He had seen Lin Yanyan run to the basketball courts more than once. It was strange—Lin Yanyan always ran there, but only to take photos to post on her social media, not for everyone to see, just for their circle.
Lin Ran had been puzzled for a long time, trying to figure out what his little sister was thinking. When he asked Sheng Qingxi about it, she just smiled and said, “It’s a girl’s secret, don’t ask too much.”
There were many basketball courts in Ningcheng, both indoor and outdoor.
Considering the temperature today, Lin Ran didn’t hesitate and headed straight for their school’s gym. Their school’s gym was always lively in the evenings and on weekends, with many students from other schools coming over to play.
Inside the gym.
Sheng Qingxi, bundled up in a fluffy coat, sat in the bleachers with Lin Yanyan. She looked helplessly at Lin Yanyan, who was pouting beside her, and asked, “Yanyan, did you have another argument with him today?”
Lin Yanyan puffed her cheeks in frustration and muttered, “No matter how many posts I make about other boys, he doesn’t get jealous at all. I’m starting to doubt if he even likes me.”
Sheng Qingxi had no idea how Lin Yanyan and Song Xingyu ended up together in this lifetime.
Last summer, Lin Yanyan had secretly told her that she and Song Xingyu were dating. She hadn’t shared any details, and honestly, in their past life, Sheng Qingxi didn’t know much about how the two of them interacted.
Hearing Lin Yanyan’s complaint now, Sheng Qingxi couldn’t come up with an immediate answer.
She thought for a moment and then, based on common sense, replied, “He’s a bit older than you, so maybe… it’s similar to how things were between Lin Ran and me. Lin Ran used to get upset over stuff like this too.”
Lin Yanyan was taken aback, immediately turning to Sheng Qingxi, eyes wide with curiosity. “What? Tell me more!”
As the two girls got into the conversation, they didn’t notice that a man had quietly taken a seat behind them. Clearly, Lin Ran had heard what Sheng Qingxi said, and he even raised an eyebrow, curious to see what she would say next.
Sheng Qingxi recalled the incident at the boxing gym and told Lin Yanyan about it. Lin Yanyan, who had never known about this, listened in shock. “Sister Sheng, you’re really something.”
Just hearing the phrases “shirtless” and “arms touching” were enough to make Lin Yanyan explode.
If she were Sheng Qingxi, she would’ve dumped Lin Ran seven or eight times by now.
Lin Ran snorted inwardly. Of course, this little one has a heart bigger than anyone’s.
Lin Yanyan shook Sheng Qingxi’s arm, urging her excitedly, “Then what? Did my brother get mad?”
Did Lin Ran get mad? Sheng Qingxi thought he probably wasn’t happy.
But at that time, he hadn’t said anything, probably because their relationship back then wasn’t like it was now. So Sheng Qingxi nodded, “He was upset for quite a while but didn’t say anything.”
Lin Yanyan made a face and whispered, “Sister Sheng, I’ve never seen my brother act like that. He’s got a terrible temper and is always losing it.”
Sheng Qingxi smiled softly. “He doesn’t have a bad temper. He’s very gentle.”
Lin Yanyan: “…….”
People in love really are blind.
Behind them, Lin Ran smiled, his lips curling slightly.
Sheng Qingxi continued, “Then there was that night on the island. He told me by the shore that he would never like anyone else, and he would never be with anyone else.”
She still vividly remembered the starlight in Lin Ran’s eyes that night.
At that time, her boy shone brighter than the stars.
Lin Yanyan could hardly… hardly believe those words could come out of her brother’s mouth.
She muttered, “I don’t want to be the first to give in.”
Lin Yanyan thought for a moment, still sulking, before asking Sheng Qingxi again, “Sister Sheng, what were you thinking at that moment? Any normal person would feel something when they saw that kind of scene, right? Didn’t you feel anything at all?”
Sheng Qingxi was startled for a moment.
She had never hidden the truth from Lin Yanyan, and now, honestly replied, “At that time, I didn’t think I’d ever be with Lin Ran. It didn’t matter to me who he ended up with. I just… I just wanted him to be a little happier.”
If Lin Ran had really ended up with someone else back then, Sheng Qingxi would have quietly stepped back to her original place, just like in her previous life—watching him from afar would’ve been enough.
Lin Yanyan seemed lost in thought.
Was Song Xingyu thinking the same way? Did he feel their age difference was too much, or that her feelings were just a passing whim?
The more Lin Yanyan thought about it, the more upset she got. “I don’t want to deal with him anymore.”
Lin Ran, overhearing all this, could no longer hold back. This little sister of his had not only secretly started dating someone behind his back but had even hidden it from him. If he hadn’t coincidentally overheard today, who knew how long Sheng Qingxi and Lin Yanyan would have kept this from him.
He clicked his tongue and lazily reached out both hands, smacking each of them on the head. “Lin Yanyan, not only did you steal my girlfriend, but now you’ve started dating behind my back too?”
Lin Yanyan and Sheng Qingxi exchanged glances, both freezing at the same time.
Lin Yanyan: Sister Sheng, when did my brother get here?
Sheng Qingxi: I have no idea.
Lin Yanyan: What do we do?
Sheng Qingxi: ……
The two of them sat there, wide-eyed, neither daring to turn around to face Lin Ran. If there had been a beach in front of them, both would’ve already buried their heads in the sand to hide.
Sheng Qingxi was the first to turn around, and the moment she did, Lin Ran’s dark gaze locked onto her.
She blinked, then very decisively admitted her mistake, “Lin Ran, my phone ran out of battery.”
Lin Ran shot her a glance but didn’t respond. He turned his attention to Lin Yanyan. “Lin Yanyan, where is he? Go get him. How long were you planning to hide this from me? Are you more worried that I’ll hit you or hit him?”
“Just how much older is ‘a little older’? Sheng Qingxi, have you met him already?”
Sheng Qingxi pressed her lips together, saying nothing.
Lin Yanyan gave Lin Ran a weak look.
But in her heart, she thought, Who knows who would be the one doing the hitting?
Of course, Lin Yanyan wouldn’t dare be so bold in front of Lin Ran. She swallowed nervously and stammered, “Brother… no, we’re not together yet. I was just testing him out. He’s not from our school.”
Lin Yanyan had always been obedient, so it was rare for her to lie to Lin Ran like this. No sooner had she finished speaking than her ears turned red.
Lin Ran didn’t press further, knowing that his little sister was easily embarrassed.
Anything he wanted to know, he could always find out from other sources.
Standing up, Lin Ran cast her a nonchalant glance and asked, “Going to eat?”
There was no way Lin Yanyan dared eat with Lin Ran now—she was scared to death. She quickly shook her head like a rattle drum and said, “I’m heading back to the dorm. You and Sister Sheng go ahead.”
Without another word, Lin Yanyan hurried off, leaving Sheng Qingxi behind.
Sheng Qingxi blinked and reached out her hand toward Lin Ran. “Lin Ran.”
Lin Ran stared at her for a moment before raising his hand to grab hers, pulling her along as they walked down the aisle. Once they were clear of the rows of seats, he pinched her cheek with mock fierceness. “Running around again, huh? Your phone ran out of battery, and you didn’t think to ask Yanyan for hers?”
Sheng Qingxi pressed her lips together and murmured, “I did. Yanyan said you’d come find me.”
Lin Ran: “…”
His sister was definitely his sister.
Pulling her into his arms, Lin Ran took the scarf she was holding in her other hand and wrapped it snugly around her. Once she was bundled up, he wrapped his arm around her and started walking toward the exit. “Let’s go home. I’ll make you something to eat. What do you want?”