That morning, Lin Ran got up early as usual, planning to go for a run. Su Shijie was still sprawled across most of Lin Ran’s bed, butt in the air and fast asleep. After changing, Lin Ran walked out of the bedroom and noticed that Lin Ruixue’s door was ajar. There was also some noise coming from the kitchen.
Lin Ran walked to the kitchen doorway and peeked inside. So Lin Ruixue was making breakfast. From her clumsy movements, it was obvious she had no idea how to cook. She’d even managed to make a mess of porridge. Tch.
Today, Lin Ruixue was wearing a white dress. For some reason, she seemed to love white dresses—and she liked pairing them with a pair of white sneakers even more. There was no denying it: Lin Ruixue looked beautiful and adorable like this.
Lin Ruixue hadn’t noticed Lin Ran standing in the doorway at first, but those four little cats gave Lin Ran away.
Lin Ruixue was clearly startled when she saw Lin Ran. She lowered her head in a fluster, then called out timidly, “Brother Ran...”
Lin Ran said nothing. Lin Ruixue kept fidgeting with her fingers.
“You know how to cook?” Lin Ran asked coldly.
“N-not really, but I wanted to... help you...” Lin Ruixue shook her head and answered softly. She’d gotten up early that morning, thinking about how her mother had told her to get along with Lin Ran. She also needed to overcome her fear, so she’d wanted to help make breakfast. But it seemed she’d only managed to upset him.
“Get out.” Lin Ran spoke coldly as he walked into the kitchen.
Lin Ruixue flinched, stepped back, then hurried out of the kitchen and hid in her room.
After tidying up the kitchen, Lin Ran went out for his morning run.
When Lin Ran returned from his run, he saw Lin Ruixue waiting at the dining table. The porridge had already been served. Lin Ran said nothing. He changed, took a shower, then came out to eat.
Neither of them spoke during breakfast. Lin Ran was used to not talking while he ate, while Lin Ruixue didn’t dare say a word.
After breakfast, Lin Ran cleared the dishes. Lin Ruixue stood at the kitchen entrance, hesitating several times as if she wanted to say something, but never quite managing it. Lin Ran glanced at her twice and frowned. “If you have something to say, just say it. I don’t like beating around the bush. If you’re unhappy with me or don’t like me, you can tell your mom or my dad. Either one is fine.”
“That’s not it. I... Brother Ran, I’m going out to hang out with Si Qing later.” Lin Ruixue shook her head as she spoke.
“Do whatever you want. It’s your business. You don’t need to report it to me.” Lin Ran shook his head, finding the whole thing a little pointless.
“Brother Ran, is there anything you need me to buy? I can pick it up on my way back,” Lin Ruixue said quietly.
“Not at the moment.” Lin Ran remained calm. Even if he did need something, he wouldn’t ask Lin Ruixue to buy it.
Lin Ruixue didn’t say anything, but she didn’t leave either. Lin Ran was puzzled. Did he have to say a couple more things?
For a moment, Lin Ran thought girls really were such a hassle.
“If you’re going out with friends, you don’t need to report it to me. That’s your private business. Just remember to come back on time,” Lin Ran said flatly.
“Mm!” Lin Ruixue nodded, then finally turned and left.
Not long after Lin Ruixue left, Lin Ran hesitated, then went after her anyway, even though he really didn’t want to.
Seeing Lin Ran come after her, Lin Ruixue wondered if she’d done something wrong again. She lowered her head in fear.
“I’ll take a little of your time and buy you a phone. That way, if anything happens while you’re out, you can contact me. It’ll save me from hearing the old man say every day that I’m bullying you and not looking after you.” Lin Ran spoke coolly.
The old man had even sent him another two thousand yuan a couple of days ago specifically to buy Lin Ruixue a phone. Lin Ran really wanted to complain about how rich the old man was. He’d just casually sent two thousand for a phone—what generosity.
Lin Ran didn’t put much thought into buying Lin Ruixue a phone. He just looked around the phone shop nearby and picked out a decent one. He also got a SIM card, signed up for a plan, and paid the bill. In the end, he spent all two thousand yuan and another hundred on top of that, but he didn’t care.
Lin Ran handed the phone to Lin Ruixue, then showed her how to use it right there in the shop. He also helped her register a WeChat account. After they added each other as friends, he transferred five hundred yuan to her. Since Lin Ruixue didn’t have a bank card, his own card was temporarily linked to the account.
But Lin Ran didn’t notice that after they left the shop and went their separate ways, the rear window of a white Maserati Quattroporte across the road rolled down. Ye Qingqian held up her phone and secretly snapped a few photos, then smiled strangely.
“Uncle Song, just drop me off here. You can head back first,” Ye Qingqian said with a smile. Then she opened the door and got out.
“Miss, you can’t just go wandering off! If something happens, I won’t be able to take responsibility!” Uncle Song hurried out of the car to stop Ye Qingqian.
Ye Qingqian turned around with a beaming smile. “Uncle Song, do you still think I’m a little kid?”
“That’s not what I meant!” Uncle Song explained.
“Don’t worry. No one would dare blame you if anything happened. Go back, Uncle Song. You know me—there are some things I don’t like saying twice.” Ye Qingqian was still smiling.
Uncle Song wanted to cry. This was a blatant threat! But what could he do? This young lady was the old master’s darling. Out of everyone in the Ye Family, the old master doted on her the most. If the old master found out he’d let her wander around alone, he’d be lucky to escape with only a layer of skin missing.
And so, Ye Qingqian quietly followed Lin Ruixue, while Uncle Song quietly followed Ye Qingqian.
“Little Lin Ran actually tried to pull a secret operation on me. I almost thought you really hated girls. Guess you were just pretending,” Ye Qingqian muttered to herself.
