The sunlight in winter was faint. Even though the curtains in the room weren’t drawn too tightly, the dim light wasn’t enough to disturb someone’s sleep. Sheng Qingxi woke up to her body’s internal clock.
The moment she woke up, her mind went blank for a second.
Because as soon as she opened her eyes, Sheng Qingxi saw Lin Ran lying next to her.
Her eyes immediately widened.
Lin Ran’s eyes were closed, his long eyelashes resting on his eyelids, and his high nose was just inches away from her. His warm breath faintly brushed against the side of her face. If she moved just a little closer, she could kiss him.
They were lying on the same bed.
On Lin Ran’s bed.
This fact made Sheng Qingxi instinctively ignore that Lin Ran was fully dressed, looking nothing like someone who had slept there all night. Her ears buzzed, like fireworks exploding in her mind.
Sheng Qingxi froze, staring at Lin Ran without moving. It took a while for her to process the fact that they were lying on the same bed.
She stared at Lin Ran for a long time, then impulsively leaned over and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth.
His lips tasted faintly of mint and were a bit cool.
Sheng Qingxi couldn’t help but think, most of the time Lin Ran’s lips were scorching hot, pressing down on her, leaving her nowhere to hide. He really was like his name—full of burning intensity.
Sheng Qingxi, too caught up in her sneaky kiss, didn’t notice Lin Ran’s eyelashes tremble. She quietly pulled back and turned to lift a corner of the blanket. Just as her foot was about to touch the ground, a strong grip suddenly locked around her wrist.
Warm, slender fingers firmly grasped her wrist. With a slight tug, she was pulled back.
…
Sheng Qingxi lay on the soft pillow, her black hair spread out, her bright eyes staring unblinkingly at the person above her. Upon closer look, there was a trace of panic in her gaze. Even her breathing became cautious.
Her delicate wrist was firmly held by Lin Ran, pinned beside the pillow.
The boy, whose frame had gradually broadened, completely enveloped her beneath him. At this moment, the youthful innocence he usually exuded was replaced by a hint of mature masculinity.
This version of Lin Ran was unfamiliar to Sheng Qingxi. She keenly sensed the dangerous darkness in his eyes.
Lin Ran looked down at the person beneath him, his gaze intense and deep.
Her fair face, delicate features, clear eyes, and soft lips.
She lay there before him, offering no resistance, as if surrendering herself completely to his will.
All of this only intensified the turmoil stirring inside Lin Ran. The patch of skin where they touched, her wrist against his hand, felt especially warm, and it sent a restless heat coursing through his entire body.
Lin Ran stared at her for a long while before speaking in a low, hoarse voice, “Sheng Qingxi, haven’t I told you not to tease me in the morning? And yet, you sneak a kiss again. You really aren’t afraid, are you?”
Sheng Qingxi: “…”
Why did he always catch her when she sneaked a kiss?
She wiggled a little and softly apologized, “Lin Ran, I’m sorry.”
Lin Ran gritted his teeth in frustration.
This little girl always ran off after causing trouble, and when she couldn’t escape, she was quicker to apologize than anyone. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything to her.
Lin Ran’s dark eyes swept over her lips, her delicate chin, and her slender neck. His voice low and raspy, he said slowly, “I’ll make sure to get back what I’m owed next time.”
But sooner or later, he’d be waiting.
After saying that, Lin Ran let go of Sheng Qingxi.
He got out of bed, walked a few steps to the wardrobe, grabbed some clothes at random, and headed straight into the bathroom without looking back. Soon, the sound of running water echoed from inside, but the glass door at the entrance remained clear, not fogged up for a long time.
Sheng Qingxi lay on the bed, still a little dazed.
She thought about it and decided—perhaps it was better not to kiss Lin Ran anymore. Every time she kissed him, it seemed to make him upset.
—
They had stayed up late the night before, so by the time Sheng Qingxi went downstairs, it was already nine o’clock.
The second-floor living room was still as messy as it had been last night, with a quiet yet lively feel. Apart from her and Lin Ran, no one else from the garage had woken up. She obediently sat down on the sofa, waiting for Lin Ran to come downstairs.
Last night, she had fallen asleep leaning against Lin Ran, and now, opening her phone, she saw messages from Song Shiman.
[Shiman is always unhappy: Xiaoxi! Happy New Year!]
[Shiman is always unhappy: My dad dragged me back to our hometown for the New Year. I’ll come back in a couple of days with gifts for you and the kids. Check out Dudu, this little guy has gotten a lot chubbier recently.]
[Shiman is always unhappy: [Image] [Image] [Image]]
Sheng Qingxi clicked on the pictures.
In the photos, Dudu was wearing a fluffy bunny coat and was being held by Song Shiman’s mother. Both of them were smiling broadly, their eyes nearly disappearing in their grins. Dudu’s chubby cheeks looked even rounder—she had definitely gained some weight.
Dudu seemed to be living well and was quite happy.
Lowering her gaze, Sheng Qingxi carefully typed a reply.
[Sheng Qingxi: Happy New Year, Shiman.]
Even though many things were different from her previous life, the general trajectory of events hadn’t shifted significantly. This thought gave Sheng Qingxi a sense of relief; this was how things were supposed to be.
She smiled softly.
The new year would only get better and better.
When Lin Ran came downstairs, he immediately noticed Sheng Qingxi smiling, the soft curve of her lips lifting her serene and beautiful side profile. Just that one glance sent his heart racing, erasing all rationality.
He muttered a low curse.
Why did he even bother showering? It was a waste.
Suppressing the fire rising inside him, Lin Ran walked over to Sheng Qingxi and knocked gently on her head. “Stop smiling so early in the morning. Sit still and don’t wander around, I’m heading to the kitchen.”
Sheng Qingxi blinked and stared at Lin Ran’s stern expression, confused.
Lin Ran’s face was dark, his gaze fierce, but she was sitting here, behaving well, doing absolutely nothing.
Touching her head, Sheng Qingxi looked innocent.
Why wasn’t she allowed to smile?
After breakfast, Lin Ran drove Sheng Qingxi back to her home at Shengkai. He had wanted to stay with her longer, so after paying his respects to Sheng Lan for the New Year, he stuck around for lunch before preparing to leave. Just as he was about to go, Sheng Lan shoved a red envelope into his hand and then promptly pushed him out the door.
Lin Ran: “…”
Was it really necessary to be so wary of him? He hadn’t even done anything!
Sheng Qingxi hid behind Sheng Lan, pressing her lips together to stifle a smile as she waved at Lin Ran, signaling for him to stay safe on the road.
After Lin Ran left, Sheng Qingxi tugged on Sheng Lan’s sleeve and softly said, “Mom, it’s Lin Ran’s birthday tomorrow. I won’t be coming back if it gets too late, so don’t worry.”
Sheng Lan’s steps faltered, and a trace of barely noticeable concern flashed in her eyes. She took Sheng Qingxi back to her room, and after closing the door, she gently asked, “Yuan Yuan, do you remember the things I taught you about biology?”
Sheng Qingxi was stunned.
She hadn’t expected Sheng Lan to ask her this.
Suddenly, she understood what Lin Ran’s words from earlier that morning had meant.
With her face flushed, Sheng Qingxi shook her head. “Mom, Lin Ran and I haven’t done anything.”
Sheng Lan knew that Lin Ran wouldn’t do anything inappropriate at this point. Over the past six months, she had come to understand that Lin Ran was a responsible and good boy. But soon, these two kids would grow up, and there were some things she had to make clear to Sheng Qingxi.
Sheng Qingxi, on the other hand, felt embarrassed. She already understood these things. After all, she wasn’t a seventeen-year-old girl anymore; she was well aware of basic biology.
After half an hour of listening to Sheng Lan’s concerned advice, Sheng Qingxi, her face as red as a tomato, was finally let off the hook. Sheng Lan tapped her distracted daughter on the forehead and sighed helplessly, “Did you remember everything I just told you?”
Sheng Qingxi quickly nodded, “I remembered.”
As Sheng Lan left the room, she couldn’t help but sigh.
She had raised this child for so many years, and now she had to let go. She couldn’t stay by Sheng Qingxi’s side forever.
She only hoped that Lin Ran and Sheng Qingxi would grow up safely and happily.
—
The second day of the new year.
Lin Ran was still asleep. Earlier that morning, He Mo and Xie Zhen insisted on giving him some kind of birthday surprise, which ended with them smearing cake all over his face. They didn’t stop messing around until 3 a.m.
Annoyed by his phone’s constant buzzing, Lin Ran had tossed it aside before falling asleep.
It had finally gone silent by the time he drifted off.
At 9:30, the phone rang again.
Frowning, Lin Ran squinted and reached for his phone. The name on the screen flashed in big letters: Lin Youcheng.
His first instinct was to silence it, but then Sheng Qingxi’s words came to mind—she had said she would go back with him today. Today was important to her.
Suppressing his irritation, Lin Ran answered the call, his tone cold, “What do you want?”
On the other end, Lin Youcheng’s voice carried a hint of caution and hesitation. “Xiao Huo, a few days ago, Yanyan mentioned you’d be coming home for your birthday. When are you coming? I’ve prepared a birthday gift for you.”
Holding back his temper, Lin Ran replied, “I’ll be there for dinner tonight.”
Lin Youcheng let out a small laugh. “Alright, your dad will be waiting for you and Yanyan to come home.”
After hanging up the phone, Lin Ran was no longer sleepy.
He stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind a complete blank.
Sheng Qingxi had once told him that after his birthday, she would tell him everything. He had thought she meant to tell him about her ten lost years, but a few days ago, he realized that what she intended to reveal was the truth about the fire.
From the moment she appeared in his life, to when she softly whispered to him not to be afraid.
And the long ten years that followed.
Her protection spanned across her previous life and this one.
The pounding of his heart was incessant. Lin Ran took a deep breath and abruptly got out of bed. All he wanted right now was to see Sheng Qingxi. He threw off the covers and, within ten minutes, was washed, dressed, and ready to head downstairs.
But when he opened the door, he froze.
The voice coming from the second-floor living room was all too familiar, but he wasn’t dreaming this time.
Why was Sheng Qingxi here?
In the living room on the second floor, Lin Yanyan, bundled up like a little bear, was chattering in Sheng Qingxi’s ear: “Sister Sheng, my brother played until the early hours of the morning. I saw a lot of people texting him, and some even came to the garage to give him gifts. I saw several girls!”
Just as Lin Ran reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard his sister’s rapid-fire tattling.
A vein twitched on his forehead as he glared at the little girl happily ratting him out. Curious about what else she might say, he quietly stepped back a few paces, hiding himself in the stairwell.
Lin Yanyan continued her chatter: “Sister Sheng, one of the girls confessed to my brother yesterday! Right in front of the garage, she shouted his name really loudly and said she’d wait for him to break up with you, that she wouldn’t give up!”
“I wanted to secretly record it for you, but my brother snatched my phone away.”
Sheng Qingxi hesitated, then replied, “But I’m not with Lin Ran.”
Lin Yanyan: “…”
Huh? Is that really the key point? Sister Sheng doesn’t seem angry at all?
Lin Ran: ?
This little girl who was always hugging and kissing him, now she wants to pretend nothing happened?
Lin Yanyan had a disappointed look on her face. “That’s not the point, Sister Sheng. The point is, you have a lot of rivals in love! What if my brother slacks off and doesn’t get into the same university as you? There’ll definitely be tons of girls chasing him!”