Sheng Qingxi widened her eyes, staring at Lin Ran who was just inches away from her.
His warm breath brushed against her face, causing her to quickly clamp her mouth shut and hurriedly step back.
She felt her brain fill with blood, and the temperature of her entire face rapidly rose.
But behind her was the bookshelf—there was no more room to retreat.
Lin Ran only hesitated for a moment before pulling Sheng Qingxi back. His expression remained calm as he said, “What if you knock something over? Tell me what you need, and I’ll get it for you.”
At that moment, Sheng Qingxi’s mind was still in a fog. Her first thought was that Lin Ran’s chin was a bit prickly, and she could faintly smell the scent of tobacco.
Regaining her senses, Sheng Qingxi looked up at him and softly asked, “Lin Ran, did you just smoke?”
Lin Ran, without a change in expression, lied, “No.”
Sheng Qingxi couldn’t see her own face, but Lin Ran could clearly see the blush spreading across her cheeks. It was like spring blossoms, a delicate pink—very pretty.
A smile unconsciously tugged at the corner of his lips.
Since he denied it, Sheng Qingxi didn’t press the question. Instead, she answered his earlier one, “Just a few thick books will do.”
This time, Sheng Qingxi was smarter. She ducked down and quickly slipped out from the space Lin Ran had surrounded her in.
She secretly let out a breath of relief, but before she could fully exhale, Song Shiman suspiciously asked, “Xiao Xi, why is your face so red?”
Sheng Qingxi pressed the back of her hand against her cheek, feeling the heat that made her a bit flustered. She shook her head and mumbled, “It’s nothing, I just feel a little hot.”
Hearing this, Song Shiman opened the window halfway, and the cool night breeze that flowed in made Sheng Qingxi feel much better.
At that moment, Lin Ran also came over, holding several thick books. After placing them on the table, he moved around to sit across from Sheng Qingxi, next to Song Shiman.
For some reason, Song Shiman suddenly found Lin Ran beside her to be somewhat of an eyesore.
Gu Mingji and Lin Ran.
Why are they both coming over here to compete for Sheng Qingxi? Sheng Qingxi had only applied for a study room to tutor her, and these two just inexplicably showed up.
Sheng Qingxi used the thick books to press down Lin Ran’s homework, knowing that after about half an hour, they would become flatter.
Once she finished, she sat down, ready to eat the cake. Glancing at the cakes on the table, she took the one with strawberries and pushed it in front of Lin Ran, then pulled out the chocolate cake that Song Shiman liked.
After doing this, she turned her head and asked Gu Mingji, “Class rep, would you like some cake?”
Gu Mingji: “…”
Out of the four of them, at least he ranked third. That was enough for him.
Lin Ran lowered his gaze, looking at the strawberry cake in front of him. It was his favorite flavor.
She seemed to know him well.
Of course, it could also be because that night, little Lin Yanyan had chattered away. After all, the little girl even mentioned how he never passed his exams, completely unaware of leaving her brother any face in front of girls.
When the class bell rang, Sheng Qingxi put down her fork and set the cake aside.
Lin Ran glanced around. She was the only one who foolishly followed the rules of the study room. The others were doing whatever they wanted. She and he were completely different people.
She was the kind of good student all the teachers liked—smart, quiet, and beautiful.
Why would someone like Sheng Qingxi fall for someone like him? Especially after witnessing him fight, Lin Ran doubted if she was being honest with herself or if she had momentarily lost her mind.
Sheng Qingxi picked up the slip of paper Lin Ran had left on the table and glanced at the homework assignments.
She casually pulled out one of his exercise books from the pile and flipped it open. It was completely blank—not even a name written on it.
She exchanged a look with the defiant boy sitting across from her, hesitating before softly asking, “Lin Ran, do you want to do your homework?”
Did Lin Ran want to do homework? Of course not.
But in front of Sheng Qingxi, he couldn’t bring himself to say that. She was so gentle, smoothing out the books he normally wouldn’t even glance at.
After a long pause, he forced out a few words: “I do, I really want to.”
As soon as he said this, Gu Mingji and Song Shiman both shot him a shocked look. Sheng Qingxi, having just transferred, didn’t know Lin Ran’s usual behavior, but they knew all too well.
Song Shiman thought that the chances of Lin Ran doing his homework were slimmer than her chances of getting into college.
Two things she thought were impossible both happened after Sheng Qingxi showed up.
Sheng Qingxi’s next question was even more cautious, as if she were being mindful of his teenage pride. In a soft voice, she asked, “Is it that you don’t know how to do it?”
Lin Ran: “…”
He hadn’t even opened his books.
This is where we have to talk about Lin Ran’s uniqueness. He had never liked studying since he was young. During class, while other kids listened, he played with limited-edition toys. Because of the Lin family’s influence, the teachers didn’t bother him much. As long as he didn’t do anything too outrageous, they turned a blind eye.
All the teachers who had taught Lin Ran thought he wouldn’t even make it to a regular high school. But just before starting his third year of middle school, he and Lin Yanyan moved out of the Lin family home. If Lin Ran didn’t get into No. 1, Lin Yanyan would have to go to school there alone.
And Lin Ran had promised that he would take care of his sister.
So, during that year, it was as if Lin Ran had become possessed. He ignored everything else except studying and taking care of Lin Yanyan. By the time the high school entrance exams came, he barely scraped by and got into No. 1.
Lin Youcheng had been prepared to donate a building to No. 1 if Lin Ran couldn’t get in.
Unexpectedly, Lin Ran made it on his own. Just when everyone thought he would turn over a new leaf, he went back to his old, carefree ways.
After all, his goal had already been achieved.
Lin Ran glanced at the homework book in Sheng Qingxi’s hand, completely nonchalant. He said quietly, “I’ve never paid attention in class.”
Song Shiman couldn’t help but mentally roll her eyes. He actually looked proud of himself with that attitude.
Sheng Qingxi’s expression didn’t change much upon hearing this. She nodded and said, “Shiman is about to start learning the second year’s first semester material. You’re in second year too, so you can both listen in together.”
Song Shiman immediately scrunched up her face in protest. She did not want to attend class with Lin Ran!
Romance without a little distance is too easy to ruin!
Lin Ran: “…?”
Did Sheng Qingxi not realize that she and Song Shiman were rivals in love? And now she was giving them opportunities to bond?
Gu Mingji also looked perplexed. The dynamics between these three felt a bit messy. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what was wrong, but something definitely seemed off.
Song Shiman and Lin Ran exchanged a glance, both seeing the reluctance in each other’s eyes.
At that moment, Lin Ran deeply regretted his decision. He regretted it so much.
Why did he say he really wanted to do homework? He didn’t want to do it at all. If Sheng Qingxi weren’t here, he wouldn’t even want to stay in this place a second longer.
A room full of bookworms—how boring.
Lin Ran had absolutely no desire to take classes with Song Shiman. What was the point of two clueless people struggling together?
He frowned, his lips pressed into a thin line, as he impatiently glanced up.
For two seconds, his eyes met with Sheng Qingxi’s clear, innocent gaze.
Lin Ran surrendered.
Fine, he’d attend the class. It’s not like he wasn’t sitting through them every day already.
Sheng Qingxi didn’t know Lin Ran’s academic standing, so she left the task of grading Song Shiman’s papers to Gu Mingji. She waved at Lin Ran, signaling for him to come sit beside her.
Lin Ran’s body stiffened. Was he someone who came at her beck and call?
Yes, yes, he was.
He took long strides toward Sheng Qingxi, not only sitting next to her but also bossily commanding the person on her other side, “Hey, move to the opposite side.”
Gu Mingji: “…”
What could he do about it?
Across from them, Song Shiman was about to explode with anger. She decided that starting today, she would hate Lin Ran! She must have been blind before—this guy was a total jerk!
Sheng Qingxi pulled out some test papers she had prepared for Song Shiman a few weeks ago. She also had blank tests for math and the sciences, which were basic assessment papers.
She handed the papers and a pen to Lin Ran, adding, “Lin Ran, write down what you know. Leave the rest blank.”
Upon hearing this, Song Shiman couldn’t help but interject, raising her chin proudly and smugly, “I was only a few points away from passing math.”
Lin Ran’s mouth twitched. Was that something to be proud of?
Half an hour later.
For the hundred and first time, Lin Ran wanted to toss the pen aside and tear up the test papers before walking out.
But each time, he held back, for Sheng Qingxi’s sake. He barely managed to fight through the chaotic mess of math formulas. By the end of the test, he felt like he’d lost a few strands of hair.
At 9:50, the dismissal bell rang.
Lin Ran threw down the pen and arrogantly slapped the test papers in front of Sheng Qingxi. “Finished.”
Song Shiman immediately jumped up, exclaiming, “Xiao Xi, check how many points Lin Ran got. There’s no way I did worse than him—if I did, I’d lock myself away.”
Lin Ran: “?”
Sheng Qingxi pressed her lips together and replied, “I’ll check later. For now, pack up your things; it’s time to go home.”
Song Shiman reluctantly withdrew her gaze. As she packed up her bag, she shot a glare at the innocent Gu Mingji. “What are you looking at? Never seen No. 1’s school beauty in person?”
Gu Mingji: “…Sorry.”
God knows he had just glanced at her politely when handing back her graded assignments.
Sheng Qingxi’s helmet was still in the classroom, and just as Lin Ran was about to head back to Class One to retrieve it, he heard Sheng Qingxi call out to him, “Lin Ran, your exercise books.”
Lin Ran turned slightly, reaching out to take the exercise books from her.
The previously blank covers now had his name written on them, in a beautiful yet sharp handwriting—quite different from her appearance.
Holding the exercise books, Lin Ran returned to Class One. Before he even entered the door, he saw He Mo and Xie Zhen peeking around, curiosity written all over their faces. He Mo raised his voice, “Brother Ran, did you really do homework?”
Lin Ran: “Like hell I did.”
Hearing this, He Mo and Xie Zhen both breathed a sigh of relief. Their Brother Ran was still the same!
—
Sheng Qingxi had been ordered by Lin Ran to wait by the door of the study room and not wander around. After sending Song Shiman off, she obediently leaned against the railing with her backpack, waiting for Lin Ran to come pick her up.
Tonight, there weren’t many stars in the sky. The entire night was shrouded in heavy clouds.
At this time of year, the cold Siberian winds were battling the warm breezes from the Pacific, as the city neared the Qingming Festival, soon to enter a period of continuous, dreary rain.
When Lin Ran arrived with the helmet in hand, what he saw was Sheng Qingxi resting her chin on her hand, gazing blankly at the sky.
He glanced up at the sky, which was pitch black except for the clouds.
Patiently, he called out, “Sheng Qingxi, let’s go home.”
Upon hearing this, Sheng Qingxi immediately walked towards him, and the two began descending the stairs, one in front of the other. The lighting in the stairwell was dim, and Lin Ran, speaking as he would to Lin Yanyan, said, “Sheng Qingxi, hold onto my clothes while we walk.”
The girl behind him replied softly, “I can see just fine.”
Lin Ran was silent for a moment, thinking he’d brought this on himself.
He knew she liked taking that dark, quiet path, so after they reached the bottom of the stairs, he headed straight in that direction. He could hear the light footsteps behind him, and he could tell—she was happy.
Lin Ran smiled silently.
What a fool.
As they reached the bike shed, Sheng Qingxi brought up the weather, “Lin Ran, it’s going to rain for the next couple of days. You don’t have to pick me up. It’s not safe or convenient in the rain.”
Lin Ran didn’t respond immediately, only lowered his head to help her put on the helmet. After fastening it, he finally spoke, “If it rains, I’ll just take the bus and still take you to school. It’s not safe for you to be alone.”
Sheng Qingxi knew what Lin Ran was concerned about. Those people from that day had seen her face.
After a moment of hesitation, she didn’t argue further.
Sheng Qingxi’s right hand had mostly healed, with the swelling gone, though it was still bruised. Once Lin Ran got on the bike, she wrapped both arms around his waist.
Lin Ran’s back was broad and muscular.
Sheng Qingxi, through her helmet, nuzzled against his shirt.
Lin Ran stiffened at the sensation of her helmet against his back. This little thing always had a habit of nuzzling him no matter when or where. Luckily, she had her helmet on this time, or he wasn’t sure if they’d even make it out on the road tonight.