3 a.m.
Sheng Qingxi slowly opened her eyes. A soft, warm light blurred her vision. Only a small bedside lamp was lit, casting a bright glow over this corner of the room.
It took her a while, but she finally realized where she was—this was Lin Ran’s room. She had seen the layout countless times on blueprints—not just his room, but the entire villa.
During those ten years, she had memorized every corner of this villa. She could find her way through it with her eyes closed.
The room was quiet. If she listened closely, she could hear the rustling of the wind outside, mingling with the soft whisper of leaves.
Sheng Qingxi shifted her body and sat up, her eyes sweeping across Lin Ran’s room.
Compared to the cold, lifeless blueprints and data, this room was vibrant and alive, filled with the traces of Lin Ran’s life.
There was the warm glow of the bedside lamp, the cool-toned wallpaper, and a delicate, expensive glass display case. Inside the case were Lin Ran’s treasured medals, various pairs of boxing gloves, and photos of him with Lin Yanyan and his mother.
In her previous life, Lin Yanyan had told her that Lin Ran had had a chance to escape.
But after carrying Lin Yanyan to the door, he had struggled back to the second floor to retrieve this very photo. That’s why he didn’t make it out. He was trapped in that fire.
When Sheng Qingxi’s gaze landed on the corner of the room, she paused. Lin Ran was lying on the sofa.
He seemed to be asleep.
Sheng Qingxi silently watched Lin Ran on the sofa. He was nearly 1.85 meters tall, and he looked a bit cramped lying on the small sofa. Half of his face, softened by the warm light, appeared gentler than usual.
The curve of his profile gave him an unexpectedly tender look, with his fine black hair catching the light.
Sheng Qingxi quietly lifted the blanket and climbed out of bed, careful not to disturb Lin Ran. She didn’t wear shoes to avoid making noise.
Tiptoeing over to the sofa, she crouched down, her bright black eyes quietly observing Lin Ran’s sleeping face.
He looked so well-behaved in his sleep—clean and beautiful.
But Sheng Qingxi was still weak. After squatting for a while, she grew tired.
She edged closer to the sofa, but not too close, only leaning against a small patch of fabric just below Lin Ran’s right shoulder. She could hear his even breathing, just above her head.
He was so close, within arm’s reach.
Lost in her thoughts as she rested against the sofa, Sheng Qingxi didn’t notice that the person above her had already opened his eyes.
Lin Ran had never fallen asleep. How could he sleep when she wasn’t awake yet? So, when Sheng Qingxi lifted the blanket, he knew she had woken up, but he stayed silent, curious to see what she would do.
He lowered his gaze, looking down at Sheng Qingxi. She had her head tilted as she leaned against the edge of the sofa, hugging her knees. Her slender ankles were hidden under the wide cuffs of her pants, and she was barefoot.
A small, quiet figure—he wasn’t sure what she was daydreaming about.
Without a word, Lin Ran got up, and before Sheng Qingxi could react, he wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her into his arms. He looked down at the dazed girl. “Sheng Qingxi, do you know you have a fever?”
“Who taught you to walk around without shoes?”
As her body was suddenly lifted into the air, Sheng Qingxi blinked in confusion, finally noticing that Lin Ran’s eyes showed no sign of sleep.
He had been awake the whole time.
Her toes curled instinctively at his words, and she mumbled softly, “I don’t feel uncomfortable anymore.”
Lin Ran bent down and placed her back in bed, tucking the blanket around her tightly. Only after he’d covered her securely did he reach out to check her forehead for her temperature.
When Lin Ran’s palm pressed against her forehead, Sheng Qingxi instinctively closed her eyes. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly from nervousness, like a startled butterfly.
Lin Ran, with a hint of mischief, kept his hand there for a moment longer.
Sheng Qingxi bit her lip uneasily and cautiously opened her eyes to take a quick peek.
The moment she did, she met Lin Ran’s deep, dark gaze. His eyes were shadowed and unreadable as he stared at her. They remained locked in this silent exchange for a long time.
Her fever had subsided.
Lin Ran slowly removed his hand, though his gaze lingered on her face.
After a pause, his voice rough, he said, “Sheng Qingxi, I’m alive.”
Sheng Qingxi froze, lowering her eyes to avoid his gaze.
Lin Ran should have asked why she had posed that question, but he couldn’t bring himself to. She looked too sad, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
He couldn’t quite grasp the reason behind her question. Was it because of that day at Guangnian when his reckless driving had scared her? Or was there something else…
Something deeper.
He sighed, his thumb gently brushing the corner of her eye, and whispered, “How did I never realize before that you cry so easily?”
The girl, obediently leaning against the pillow, didn’t respond. She just stared at him with wide eyes.
Lin Ran held her gaze for a moment, his throat dry. “Sheng Qingxi, about what I said last time, I’ve changed my mind. From now on, I’ll still come to pick you up from school and take you home.”
Awkwardly, he asked, “And… could you keep helping me with my homework?”
Sheng Qingxi blinked at him and then extended her index finger toward him.
Lin Ran stared at her pale, slender finger for a moment before looking back at her, his voice low. “What are you doing?”
Sheng Qingxi whispered, “Come a little closer.”
Lin Ran’s body tensed at her words.
What now? If she did anything like that again, he really wouldn’t be able to handle it.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Ran leaned closer to Sheng Qingxi. Within seconds, her cool fingertip touched the center of his forehead.
Her soft fingertip brushed over his brow like a feather. She gently tapped it and whispered, “Lin Ran, promise me something.”
Lin Ran’s voice was already hoarse, “What is it?”
Sheng Qingxi’s lips curled slightly, her tone soft and slow. “Lin Ran, for the next year, will you stay by my side?”
Lin Ran’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently. He squeezed his eyes shut, no longer daring to look at her.
He heard himself rasp out a response, “Alright.”
—
In the morning, the sunlight outside was warm and gentle.
“Lin Ran, these pants are too long.”
A soft, sweet voice drifted from his room. The way she elongated his name made it sound like she was playfully whining, like a cat rubbing affectionately against him.
Lin Ran’s lips tightened. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door and asking, “Can I come in?”
After Sheng Qingxi gave her reply, Lin Ran pushed open the door and stepped into the room. The moment he crossed the threshold, his steps faltered. The room was still filled with the lingering steam from the bathroom, and amidst it was the familiar scent of his body wash.
Yet, Lin Ran could sense something different, a sweetness in the air, more intoxicating than any strawberry candy he had ever tasted.
As if enchanted by this faint sweetness, his gaze uncontrollably drifted toward Sheng Qingxi, who sat by the bed.
She had just finished her shower, her black hair hanging softly over her shoulders, with the ends still slightly damp. Droplets of water clung to her fair face, which was tinged with a faint blush. Her bright, dark eyes were fixed on him.
Her light pink lips were gently pressed together.
A few strands of wet hair stuck to the side of her delicate neck, and the oversized T-shirt she wore, one of his, hung loosely on her small frame, exposing her delicate collarbones. Her petite body seemed to be completely swallowed up by his clothes.
Lin Ran found himself frozen in place, unable to move, simply staring at Sheng Qingxi.
It wasn’t until the girl called his name again, “Lin Ran,” that he snapped out of it.
She tilted her head slightly, meeting his gaze, seemingly curious about what had captivated him.
Lin Ran cleared his throat, quickly averting his gaze, and awkwardly stammered, “The… pants… where are they too long?”
Sheng Qingxi tugged at the black pants, which were nearly falling off her hips, with a good portion dragging on the floor. She pursed her lips and said, “They’re really long, can’t you tell?”
It took Lin Ran a moment to gather his thoughts before he dared to look at her again.
His T-shirt on her looked like a little dress, and the pants… well, it was as if she was drowning in them. His mind started wandering again.
His. His. His.
The clothes were his, and he wanted the person inside them to be his, too.
Lin Ran let out a heavy breath, trying to rein in his wildly running thoughts. In a low voice, he said, “Sit down.”
Obediently, Sheng Qingxi sat on the edge of the bed. The bed was high, so her feet dangled in the air. The oversized pant legs swung back and forth with her movements.
Lin Ran crouched down in front of her, his slender fingers hesitating as they reached for the pants.
These were pants from when he was fifteen. He had searched for a long time to find something small enough, considering he’d only moved here two years ago. Even so, they were far too big on her.
Carefully, he began rolling up the pant legs, and as he did, her small, pale feet came into view. Her slender, fragile ankles could easily fit within the grasp of one of his hands, and her smooth, white calves were delicate and flawless.
Damn it.
Lin Ran cursed under his breath. What kind of situation was this?
He hurriedly stood up and rummaged through the drawers for clips, the more flustered he got, the messier his search became. It took him going through three drawers before he finally found what he was looking for in the first one.
Seeing how anxious he was, Sheng Qingxi thought he was in a rush to leave. “Lin Ran, do you have to go somewhere? I can take the car home later if you need to go.”
Lin Ran shut the drawer and stood there in silence for a moment before saying, “I’m not going anywhere.”
After that, he stopped letting his mind wander and quickly clipped the pants securely just below her knees. Then he stood beside her and tied a knot in the oversized shirt, completing the task smoothly and efficiently.
Over the past two years, he had learned a lot of practical skills, including housework and even the fashion preferences of young girls, all because of taking care of Lin Yanyan.
Once he finished, Lin Ran immediately put some distance between himself and Sheng Qingxi. He stood up and headed toward the door. “Once you’re ready, come downstairs for breakfast. And don’t forget to wear shoes.”
After Lin Ran left, Sheng Qingxi neatly folded the blanket before slowly making her way downstairs.
As she quietly gazed around at the still-intact villa, her heart gradually began to relax.
The dining table was already set with steaming hot breakfast, and the aroma gradually spread throughout the room.
When Lin Ran saw Sheng Qingxi coming downstairs, he placed the bowl and chopsticks in front of her and nodded toward her. “Sheng Qingxi, come over and eat. Aunt Chen just made breakfast.”
Sheng Qingxi paused in her steps, repeating, “Aunt Chen?”
Lin Ran casually explained, “Aunt Chen is the lady who usually cooks and cleans. She’s been here since Yanyan and I moved in. Her cooking is pretty good.”
Sheng Qingxi pulled out the chair and sat down. With her head slightly lowered, she asked, “Lin Ran, where did you find this Aunt?”
Lin Ran furrowed his brow, thinking for a while before answering, “I think my dad found her. Back when Yanyan and I first moved out, he was worried about us. He even assigned us a driver and bodyguards.”
He placed the warmed milk next to Sheng Qingxi’s hand. “Later, when I got into cars in high school, I had the bodyguards and driver dismissed. Yanyan likes Aunt Chen, so she’s stayed with us ever since.”
Sheng Qingxi nodded, not asking anything further.
Not long after they finished breakfast, Xie Zhen and He Mo arrived.
Without checking to see if there were others in the living room, Xie Zhen burst in, shouting, “Brother Ran, Brother Ran! Song Xingyu and the others are coming to Guangnian tonight. Are you going? How’s everything going with your talks?”
Hearing the name Song Xingyu, Sheng Qingxi raised her head to look at Xie Zhen.
Song Xingyu, in her previous life, had been Lin Yanyan’s husband.
Xie Zhen, loud as ever, turned around and met Sheng Qingxi’s gaze. He froze, dumbfounded.
What is going on?
Why was this fairy-like girl in Brother Ran’s house? And what was she wearing?
He Mo, who had been walking behind him, suddenly found himself blocked by the mountain-like Xie Zhen. Annoyed, he gave Xie Zhen a push. “Zhen, what are you doing? You’re blocking the way; no one can move past you.”
As he spoke, he craned his neck to follow Xie Zhen’s gaze.
Sitting on the sofa was the fresh-faced fairy, looking back at them with her clear, beautiful eyes, untouched by the world.
He Mo: “…?”
Was their Brother Ran about to be sent to prison?