Outside the tenth examination room.
Lin Ran and Xie Zhen stood side by side.
Lin Ran wore a dark expression and said nothing.
Xie Zhen, looking utterly hopeless, hung his head and occasionally sneaked a glance at Lin Ran.
Taking advantage of the moment Zhao Shuyue was reading the note, Lin Ran turned his gaze toward the classroom. Sheng Qingxi, who had been focused on her test paper, had just lifted her head and was now looking at the door. Her dark eyes were filled with obvious concern.
Lin Ran met her gaze and silently mouthed two words: “Look down.”
The next second, Sheng Qingxi obediently lowered her head and continued writing her test.
Zhao Shuyue unfolded the note and read each word aloud with a complicated expression, “Brother Ran, what should we eat for lunch?”
Lin Ran twitched at the corner of his mouth, “Sister Zhao, please don’t call me Brother Ran, I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
Zhao Shuyue glared at Lin Ran, exasperated. “Just yesterday, your teacher Qu told me you’ve been making great progress, even turning in your homework on time. And now look at what you’re doing during the exam?”
Lin Ran glanced at Xie Zhen, who looked utterly defeated, and without thinking much, took the blame on himself. “Sister Zhao, it was me who said I was hungry. We weren’t taking the exam seriously.”
Zhao Shuyue rubbed her forehead in frustration and waved them off, “Go, go, get back inside and sit quietly. Don’t move until the bell rings!”
This was too embarrassing for her to even bring up at the school meeting.
After Zhao Shuyue left, Xie Zhen let out a long breath of relief. With a silly grin, he said, “Brother Ran, you’re a real bro! So, what should we eat for lunch? How about spicy hotpot? Let’s bring the little fairy along.”
Lin Ran shot a lazy glance at Xie Zhen.
Xie Zhen gulped instinctively and quickly slinked back to his seat without saying another word.
Lately, Xie Zhen had noticed that every time he or He Mo mentioned Sheng Qingxi, Lin Ran would become uninterested, as if they had any thoughts about the fairy herself.
Does Lin Ran even understand the phrase “men and women are different”?
Thinking about it, Xie Zhen felt something was off but couldn’t quite figure out what it was.
Back in his seat, Lin Ran was mulling over how to explain things to Sheng Qingxi. What if she misunderstood and thought he was cheating?
But the note had already been confiscated by Zhao Shuyue, and Lin Ran felt that explaining things honestly would just make him look like an idiot.
While he was caught up in his thoughts, he suddenly felt a soft, light touch on his back. It was Sheng Qingxi, carefully poking him with her fingertip.
Lin Ran stiffened. That small patch of skin instantly became scalding hot, even more intense than the time she hugged him while they were on the motorcycle.
His eyes darkened, and he turned to look at her.
Sheng Qingxi gently pushed a neatly folded note to the edge of his desk. The pale blue surface of the desk made her fingers look like soft, white clouds in a clear sky, with a soft glow reflecting off her clean nails.
Lin Ran quickly averted his eyes, too flustered to keep looking. He picked up the note and turned back around.
Unfolding the note, he saw delicate, beautiful handwriting—
“Lin Ran, I’ll buy you some candy at lunch.
Strawberry-flavored.”
Lin Ran stared at the words for a long, long time. He had thought she would ask if he had been cheating or if something had happened. But never in his wildest imagination did he expect her to say something like this.
Lin Ran lowered his gaze, staring at the words for a long, long time. He had expected her to ask if he had been cheating or if something was wrong. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to say something like this.
Lin Ran had never realized his heart could grow so soft.
All the sharp, wild thorns around him seemed to retract, just for her.
Carefully folding the note along its original creases, Lin Ran slipped it into his pocket, making sure no third person would ever see it.
This was his, and his alone.
—
During lunch break.
Class One was unusually quiet, and the temperature hinted at the arrival of summer.
The annoying afternoon sunlight was blocked by the curtains, casting Lin Ran in the shadows as he battled with a set of math formulas that looked so complex that even their creator might not recognize them.
He Mo and Xie Zhen were sitting together, playing a game on their phones in duo mode, their occasional whispers breaking the silence.
After a particularly clumsy move by Xie Zhen, He Mo’s phone screen turned gray. He gritted his teeth, about to curse, when he noticed a man standing at the back door of their classroom.
The young man was dressed in a suit, his hair neatly combed.
He Mo recognized him—he was Lin Youcheng’s assistant.
He Mo put down his phone and glanced sideways at Lin Ran, who was still oblivious, immersed in his own work. Lowering his voice, He Mo said, “Brother Ran, someone from your dad’s side is here to see you.”
Lin Ran froze for a moment, then looked toward the back door, locking eyes with the young man.
Five minutes later.
Lin Ran sat in Lin Youcheng’s car.
The car was parked not far from the Minxue building. Lin Youcheng hadn’t wanted to disturb Lin Ran during lunch break, but he was worried that this matter would affect Lin Ran’s focus on his studies.
After getting into the car, Lin Ran kept his distance from Lin Youcheng, his expression cold, clearly not in the mood to talk.
Lin Youcheng pulled out the documents related to his sponsorship of a female university student, from the beginning of the year until now, and placed them on the seat. In a low voice, he said, “Xiao Ran, I’ve terminated the sponsorship plan. From now on… this won’t happen again.”
The car was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, calming the atmosphere.
Lin Ran hadn’t intended to speak, but after hearing what Lin Youcheng said, he suddenly let out a soft laugh. “If you came to see me, it means everything’s already been handled. That female student must know about this by now.”
Then Lin Ran shifted his tone and asked a question that puzzled Lin Youcheng, “Does that girl have classes today?”
Lin Youcheng was taken aback. He had indeed instructed his assistant to handle the matter outside of her class hours, but he couldn’t understand why Lin Ran would ask such a question.
Lin Ran’s gaze fell on Lin Youcheng’s refined and handsome face, his lips curling in mockery. “For someone as busy as you, it’s surprising you can still pay attention to such small details.”
With that, Lin Ran opened the door and got out of the car.
Lin Youcheng frowned, not fully understanding what Lin Ran had meant.
The assistant, who had been waiting outside, got back into the car after Lin Ran left. He turned toward Lin Youcheng, a trace of guilt in his eyes, and said in a low voice, “Sir, today is No.1 High School’s first monthly exam.”
He hadn’t known about this in advance.
Lin Youcheng froze, suddenly realizing what Lin Ran had been thinking.
He had been careful to ensure that the girl’s class schedule was taken into account, but he hadn’t even known that his own son was taking an important exam today.
The expensive car slowly drove away from No. 1 High School, and in the back seat, Lin Youcheng lowered his gaze, sighing deeply. Ever since two years ago, the distance between him and Lin Ran had only grown wider.
—
That afternoon, when Lin Ran was preparing for his math exam, it was obvious that he was in a foul mood.
He Mo and Xie Zhen could guess he had clashed with Lin Youcheng again. Ever since Lin Ran moved out of his home, the father and son had barely had any peace.
During the New Year, Lin Youcheng had even gone to the car dealership looking for Lin Ran, but Lin Ran refused to meet him.
The heavy atmosphere lingered in the exam room until Sheng Qingxi walked in, holding a pink candy box, and stopped by Lin Ran’s desk.
Lin Ran lifted his eyelids and stared at her soft, pale face for a while, the hostility in his eyes gradually fading. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “You actually went and bought candy. Do you really think I’m a little kid?”
Like last time, Sheng Qingxi opened the box, unwrapped a piece of candy, and brought it to his lips.
She blinked and said softly, “Eat the candy.”
Lin Ran chuckled and accepted the candy from her hand, rolling it into his mouth.
This little girl wasn’t just smart—she also knew exactly how to cheer him up.
The bell rang, and the invigilator began handing out the test papers.
After Sheng Qingxi received her test paper, which had been passed down by Lin Ran, she glanced over it briefly. After scanning it, she grew a little worried. The math exam for this monthly test was difficult, and Lin Ran would probably only be able to answer two of the big questions correctly.
He was still far from passing.
Lin Ran himself felt the weight of the test. For the eighth time, he resisted the urge to tear the paper in half. He was certain this exam had been set by Old Qu.
From the beginning to the end of the exam, Lin Ran never put his pen down.
When the exam ended, it was the responsibility of the last student to collect the papers.
As soon as the bell rang, Sheng Qingxi stood up to collect the papers. Lin Ran, still frowning, stared at his own test. She leaned in and said softly, “Lin Ran, time’s up. It’s okay, don’t worry.”
Lin Ran looked up, meeting Sheng Qingxi’s comforting gaze.
He finally put down his pen.
As Sheng Qingxi collected the papers, she was reminded of Song Shiman. During the mock exams, Song Shiman had been just as anxious and uneasy. In a way, she and Lin Ran were very similar.
They both knew how hard Sheng Qingxi worked, and they didn’t want to let her down.
In Sheng Qingxi’s eyes, they were both good people.
That evening, Lin Ran didn’t stay in the classroom to review. He went to the boxing gym instead.
By the time Sheng Qingxi came looking for him, he had already left. He Mo, who had sharp eyes, saw Sheng Qingxi about to leave and quickly called out, “Fairy—uh, Sheng Qingxi! Brother Ran went to the boxing gym. He said he’d come back to pick you up tonight.”
Boxing gym?
Sheng Qingxi paused, surprised. She knew Lin Ran practiced boxing, but she had never seen him in action.
After thanking He Mo, Sheng Qingxi asked Jiang Mingyuan for permission to be excused for the night. She planned to go to the boxing gym to find Lin Ran—he hadn’t seemed in a good mood that afternoon.
The address of the boxing gym was given to her by He Mo, who, sneakily, hadn’t told Lin Ran about it.
Sheng Qingxi arrived at the boxing gym at eight in the evening, just as it was at its busiest.
A delicate, pretty girl suddenly walked into a boxing gym filled with an overwhelming amount of testosterone, instantly drawing the attention of every man present. However, the moment their eyes landed on the school uniform she was wearing, they respectfully averted their gaze.
The young lady at the front desk softened her voice upon seeing Sheng Qingxi. “Little sister, is there something I can help you with?”
Sheng Qingxi looked around. The gym was bustling with people, but Lin Ran was nowhere to be seen.
Without her phone, Sheng Qingxi could only say, “I’m here to find someone. Umm… A boy around my age, about 185 cm tall, and really handsome.”
The front desk lady immediately knew who Sheng Qingxi was looking for—Lin Ran, the “big boss” on the third floor. She hesitantly asked, “Are you looking for Lin Ran?”
Sheng Qingxi nodded.
Hearing this, the front desk lady felt a little conflicted. If Sheng Qingxi were looking for anyone else, she would have had someone escort her upstairs immediately. But since it was Lin Ran she was looking for, and considering that the difficult Miss Tang was also here tonight, it complicated things.
After a moment of indecision, the front desk lady decided to have someone escort Sheng Qingxi upstairs to check.
She smiled at Sheng Qingxi. “Please wait a moment, I’ll make a call to the third floor.”
—
On the third floor, in a private area.
“Lin Ran, hit him! Get him!”
A girl’s spoiled voice rang out by the side of the boxing ring.
Lin Ran finished the round without expression. While Tang Ketian’s voice hadn’t affected him, his opponent had been thrown off, performing at barely half his usual level.
The man fighting Lin Ran felt bitter. Why did his boss’s sister have to show up again?
If Lin Ran had known Tang Ketian would be here tonight, he would’ve stayed in the classroom and studied formulas instead. The fight hadn’t given him the satisfaction he wanted, leaving him even more irritated. He withdrew from the ring, face cold, and started heading toward the edge of the platform.
Seeing that Lin Ran had no intention of continuing the match, the man breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t stay here any longer and quickly made his escape.
There were two boxing rings in Private Room No. 1 on the third floor. The ring next to Lin Ran’s was empty tonight. So, after the man left, the only people left in the space were Lin Ran and Tang Ketian.
Tang Ketian hadn’t seen Lin Ran in a while. She had been kept at home by her mother to study recently, and tonight, she had sneaked out while her mom attended a party. Although she hadn’t had time to see Lin Ran, that didn’t stop her from hearing some rumors.
Tang Ketian approached Lin Ran, tugging on his boxing gloves in a pouty way. She said with a hint of grievance, “Lin Ran, I’ve been here all night, and you haven’t said a single word to me. And what’s going on with you lately?”
A few years ago, Tang Ketian’s cousin had helped Lin Ran out once, and out of respect for him, Lin Ran had been polite to her.
But tonight, his mood was terrible, and Tang Ketian had picked the wrong time to approach him.
Completely oblivious to Lin Ran’s growing impatience, Tang Ketian pouted and continued, “Lin Ran, I heard you’ve been getting close to some girl at your school recently. What’s your relationship with her?”
Lin Ran’s steps paused. He finally decided to let his gaze fall on Tang Ketian’s face.
Seeing this, Tang Ketian’s heart fluttered with excitement. She was just about to say something when Lin Ran’s cold voice cut through the air, “Whoever I get close to is none of your business. Don’t let me see you around her.”
Tang Ketian stared at him in disbelief. Lin Ran had always been indifferent toward her, but he had never spoken to her like this before.
What did he mean by that? It sounded as though he thought she might hurt someone. How could he think that about her?
Tang Ketian had been spoiled by her parents and brothers growing up, and Lin Ran was the only obstacle she had encountered in her otherwise smooth life.
She had fallen for Lin Ran the first time she saw him in the boxing ring—his handsome face and sharp, fierce fighting style had captivated her instantly. And then there was the wild streak he had when riding his motorcycle—how could she not be drawn to him?
Tang Ketian had seen boys who could box and ride motorcycles before, but a guy as handsome as Lin Ran—this was her first time.
Ever since then, she had been chasing after Lin Ran.
Now, hearing what Lin Ran had said, Tang Ketian was practically fuming with anger. She grabbed onto his arm, refusing to let him walk away, shouting, “You can’t leave! Explain yourself!”
Lin Ran was strong. If he forcefully pushed her away, she’d probably fall to the ground.
He frowned. “Let go, you—”
But the second half of his sentence got stuck in his throat as he caught sight of Sheng Qingxi through the glass door.
She was standing there, quietly watching them, her eyes as clear and pure as always.