Lin Ran accompanied Xu Zhi through the pre-op procedures. The surgery was set for 8 PM.

At noon, Xu Zhi’s mother woke up. Lin Ran chatted with her for a long time, finally easing her worries. He explained the money came from a house demolition payout—essentially an early betrothal gift for Xu Zhi. Then he smoothly switched to calling her "Mom," which delighted her.

Xu Zhi’s mother was gentle by nature.

As Lin Ran peeled an orange for her, their conversation lifted her spirits.

Xu Zhi had gone to the cafeteria for meals. Lin Ran glanced at Xu Mo solving problems by the window and fell silent.

Xu Mo’s white T-shirt showed clear signs of countless washes. Through the thin fabric, he could see the delicate straps and outline of her bra. Her jeans were faded, her ankle socks spotless, and her canvas shoes the cheap kind sold for twenty or thirty yuan at street stalls.

Yet her demeanor remained soft and quiet. She focused on her problems, only her brows slightly furrowed in quiet frustration.

Lin Ran hinted at the solution. Xu Mo paused, then solved it using his approach.

She removed her black-rimmed glasses. Her cute face studied Lin Ran carefully—the earlier hostility had vanished.

After all, he’d covered the hefty medical bills her sisters could never afford. Gratitude was only natural.

“How long have you known my sister?”

“About half a year.”

“Thank you.” Xu Mo peeled an orange and handed it to him.

“No problem.” Lin Ran shook his head. He took half the orange, leaving the other half in her hand. Then he pulled out a bank card and gently offered it.

Xu Mo looked at him, puzzled.

After a long silence, she wrote on a blank sheet of paper and showed it to him:

“Are you trying to keep me too?”

Lin Ran went numb.

………………………………

Outside the ward corridor, Lin Ran and Xu Mo stood facing each other. He watched her disdainful gaze with utter helplessness. “Why would you think that?”

“Are you really my sister’s boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t believe you.” Xu Mo sniffed lightly.

“What strange thoughts fill a young girl’s head all day?” Lin Ran almost reached to pat her head, then pulled back—it felt inappropriate. “I just think girls your age should treat themselves well. There’s five thousand yuan on this card. Take it. Don’t tell your sister.”

“I won’t.” Xu Mo shook her head.

Lin Ran didn’t push further.

“Your sister is pure. Not what you imagine…”

“I’m not imagining things.” Xu Mo shook her head again.

“I heard you two aren’t close.”

“I… once secretly visited where my sister worked. I know she was just part of the ambiance crew. I know she juggled daytime part-time jobs and nighttime hospital shifts. I know she swallowed insults as a mobile game companion, holding back tears. I know all this—but she never told me. She carries it alone. If I told her I knew, she’d only worry about my stress. So I pretend not to know. It eases her mind.”

“Because I can’t do anything.” Xu Mo’s eyelashes lowered slowly.

“Now the pressure’s gone. You should clear things up with her.” Lin Ran smiled softly.

“Mm.”

“But… you’re not my sister’s boyfriend. Who are you really?”

“Why do you think I’m not?”

“Your eyes.”

“My eyes?”

“The way you look at her—it’s not right.” Xu Mo sounded certain. Lin Ran scratched his head helplessly. “Think what you want, then.”

His gaze shifted back to Xu Mo. After a few seconds, his expression changed slightly.

“What happened to your shoulder?”

Xu Mo instinctively covered her shoulder. But how could he see the bruise through her T-shirt?

“The shirt’s thin. I saw it.”

“I bumped into something.” Xu Mo answered quietly.

“Really?”

“Really. Why lie to you?”

“You’re lying?”

“Why would you think I’d lie?”

“Your eyes.” Lin Ran stared straight into hers. Xu Mo bit her lip and stepped back. “Boring.”

“Are you being bullied at school?” Lin Ran asked gently.

He caught her eyes flicker away for a split second before she shook her head. “No.”

“You won’t tell your sister to avoid trouble. Did you tell a teacher?” Lin Ran pressed on, ignoring her denial.

Xu Mo bit her lip silently.

“Tell me… I’ll handle it quietly. Your sister and mom won’t know.” His voice was persuasive. Xu Mo hesitated, then turned and walked straight into the ward, leaving only three words:

“I’m fine.”

………………………………

Lin Ran hesitated but didn’t tell Xu Zhi.

Telling her would only add pressure—she wouldn’t know how to help anyway. Her mother’s surgery hadn’t even started. It’d take seven or eight hours. Lin Ran thought for a moment, then said to Xu Mo, “Why not head back to school? I’ll walk you.”

“I don’t—” Xu Mo’s refusal died as Lin Ran glanced at Xu Zhi, lost in thought. His meaning was clear: refuse, and he’d tell Xu Zhi everything.

Xu Mo’s expression wavered for several seconds. Finally, she nodded, snatching her backpack in a huff. Lin Ran took it and slung it over his shoulder. Her school was nearby—a plain public institution.

At the school gate, Lin Ran paused in surprise.

“You study here?”

Xu Mo bit her lip and nodded.

“What a coincidence. I went to high school here too.” Lin Ran remembered well. He and Su Nisheng had both attended. Back then, Su Nisheng had to hide her identity, so fate brought them together. Otherwise, she’d have been in some elite academy.

“You…”

“This school makes things easy. Wait here—I’ll make a few calls.”

They hadn’t reached the gate yet. Under the streetlamp’s glow—dusk settling—Lin Ran was escorting her to evening study hall.

He scrolled through his contacts and called the person he’d planned to reach anyway.

Su Nisheng.

Her family had power, influence, and obscene wealth. She was the ultimate helper. Lin Ran couldn’t think of anyone else… This was his intended solution.

He couldn’t just storm in and beat up Xu Mo’s bullies—that wasn’t realistic or reasonable. Approaching the school himself would only get the runaround, achieving little while risking Xu Mo’s isolation.

“Hey, Nisheng. Small favor?”

“Why are you so annoying?”

“Well, you’re my only friend. Hey, do you still know people at our old alma mater?”

“What for?”

“My friend’s sister’s being bullied. I wanted you to pressure the school into strict punishment. Turns out it’s our alma mater. One word from you, Sister, and it’s done. Help me out?”

“The law of equivalent exchange in alchemy,” Su Nisheng said coolly.

“I’ll treat you to dinner sometime.”

“Your ‘sometime’ is never.”

“Next Saturday. Okay?”

“Barely acceptable.”

“Two dinners. Two, okay?”

“Fine. Your friend’s sister’s name—Xu Mo?”

“Su-san, you’re truly a mastermind!”

“Weiyu studies there. I’ll have her handle it. Where are you now?”

“Outside the school with her.”

“Wait. I’ll send Xu Weiyu out. She should be on campus today.”

“Who’s Xu Weiyu?”

“The busty one you met yesterday.”

“Oh! Okay. I’ll wait.”

Lin Ran hung up the moment Su Nisheng agreed—no goodbye.

Su Nisheng glared at the dial tone, itching to rush over and punch Lin Ran. Was she just a tool? Used and discarded!

Xu Mo sat on the roadside, knees hugged, a hint of daze in her eyes. She hadn’t understood Lin Ran’s call, but his confident expression oddly calmed her.

Lin Ran pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Xu Mo waved away the smoke drifting toward her. Her gaze softened slightly. “Can you not smoke?”

Lin Ran froze, then stubbed it out. “Sorry.”

Xu Mo coughed twice, relief washing over her. Lin Ran asked casually, “Do you know Xu Weiyu?”

Xu Mo blinked. “Yeah. Same grade. Rich girl from the next class…”

“If she steps in, can she fix this? If not, I’ll find another way.”

“Yeah,” Xu Mo murmured.

“Good.”

“You… how do you know her?”

“Thanks to my ex-girlfriend.”

“Who was your ex?”

“Su Nisheng.”

Xu Mo’s lips parted. Blurry memories snapped into focus. She turned to Lin Ran, eyes wide. “You’re Lin Ran?!”

“Yeah. That’s my name.”

“The top student four years ago—the genius who got dumped by Su Nisheng right before college entrance exams, then bombed them completely!”

Lin Ran rubbed his nose awkwardly. “Yeah. That unlucky guy was me.”

“But she dumped you back then?”

“It’s complicated. Don’t worry about it.” Lin Ran shrugged helplessly. They waited a while. Xu Weiyu bounced out of the school gate.

Today she wore a gothic Lolita dress, black lace-trimmed stockings on pale legs, and little leather shoes. She looked youthful—but not Lolita-cute.

Lolita fashion didn’t come with such a big bust, okay!

Xu Weiyu approached Lin Ran, clear eyes curious. “Lin Ran?”

“Yes.”

“Su Nisheng owes me a favor now. I’m curious—what’s your real relationship? Why’s she so nice to you? I heard she dumped you.”

“Less gossip.” Lin Ran gave her a helpless look.

“Fine, fine. So this is Xu Mo?”

“You look younger than her.” Lin Ran spread his hands.

“No way. I’m actually very grown-up.” Xu Weiyu puffed out her chest slightly.

“Okay. Definitely grown-up.” Lin Ran’s lips twitched.