Psst! We're moving!
Step by step.
Suddenly, a big leap forward.
So satisfying.
—From the Diary of Fairy Su Zaizai
Zhang Lurang turned his head away, ignoring her.
Su Zaizai shamelessly leaned closer, chatting with him.
“Rang Rang, how much is your weekly allowance?”
Just as Zhang Lurang was about to reply,
The curious-looking Su Zaizai continued: “I want to know what the world of rich people is like.”
“...” He suddenly didn’t feel like talking anymore.
Then, she began counting on her fingers.
“If we don’t count New Year’s money, I currently have two hundred forty-seven yuan and fifty cents.”
Zhang Lurang: “...”
“Usually, I only spend one hundred on food, and the rest...”
Before she could finish, she suddenly noticed Zhang Lurang’s expression.
Su Zaizai frowned and changed her tone: “Rang Rang, you can’t do that.”
Suddenly accused, Zhang Lurang was a bit stunned: “What?”
“It’s the 21st century now. You can’t still have class consciousness and such things.”
“...”
“If you dare to look down on me now...”
Zhang Lurang quietly looked at her, waiting for her next words.
Su Zaizai thought for a moment and decided to threaten him.
“In the future, when I become a big boss, let’s sever ties.”
Zhang Lurang withdrew his gaze and said in a low voice: “Let’s sever ties now.”
Su Zaizai: “...I’m just joking with you.”
After a while.
Su Zaizai changed her wording: “In the future, I’ll earn a lot, a whole lot of money.”
“...”
She grinned and said: “And then use it all to buy jelly for you.”
All of it.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lurang turned his head to look out the window.
The scorching sun blazed overhead, and the streets they passed were crowded with people.
The scenery swiftly moved backward.
Zhang Lurang didn’t know what to say.
His heartbeat skipped a beat, and he couldn’t snap out of it.
He didn’t respond.
Not getting a response from him, Su Zaizai simply changed the topic.
“Have you always lived in Jinghua? I’ve been living here since middle school, but I haven’t seen you.”
Jinghua was the residential complex where both of them lived.
“No.” He snapped out of it and replied indifferently.
Su Zaizai gave an “Oh,” and continued shamelessly.
“Did you move here because I live here?”
Zhang Lurang: “...”
“Then let me tell you, I usually don’t go out on weekends.”
“...”
“If you want to bump into me, you can let me know in advance.”
“...”
Zhang Lurang didn’t want to talk to her.
He took out his phone from his bag, plugged in his earphones, and put them on.
Then he leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes to rest.
Taking this opportunity, Su Zaizai unashamedly stared at him for ten minutes.
Noticing his eyelids twitch slightly, she quickly averted her gaze.
Su Zaizai leaned forward and asked the driver: “Uncle, how much does it cost to get to Z High School?”
The driver thought for a moment and said: “About fifty.”
She suddenly felt a little heartache.
A bus ride costs only three yuan; for two people, it would be six.
Su Zaizai thought for a moment and said: “Then Uncle, when we arrive...”
“Su Zaizai.”
Hearing her name called, Su Zaizai instinctively turned her head.
The earphones on Zhang Lurang’s ears had been removed at some point.
He frowned and scolded softly, “Don’t distract the driver.”
“Oh,” Su Zaizai retracted herself and sat properly.
The car returned to a tranquil silence.
Out of boredom, Su Zaizai took out her phone to play with it.
Zhang Lurang, sitting next to her, didn’t put his earphones back on. He felt a bit restless.
...Had he been too harsh earlier?
He hesitated, pondering how to start speaking.
Before he could say anything,
Su Zaizai suddenly became curious and turned to ask Zhang Lurang.
“Rang Rang, what did you write as my WeChat nickname?”
Zhang Lurang felt relieved.
He clutched his phone, raised his eyes slightly, and answered seriously: “Su Zaizai.”
Su Zaizai paused for a moment, then said: “What if you change it to ‘Fairy Zaizai’?”
Zhang Lurang: “...”
“What about the note I gave you, ‘Big Beauty’?”
“...”
Su Zaizai earnestly stated: “Good relationships need affectionate nicknames...”
Zhang Lurang couldn’t bear it any longer: “Su Zaizai.”
Su Zaizai quickly leaned over and responded: “Fairy Zaizai!”
“...” Let her have her way.
Zhang Lurang fell silent, and Su Zaizai didn’t speak anymore either.
He turned his head and saw her looking down, fiddling with her phone.
The renewed silence made Zhang Lurang feel somewhat oppressed.
He sighed.
Then he handed her his phone and softly said: “Change it yourself if you want.”
Su Zaizai didn’t take it; instead, she smiled and said: “I won’t change it.”
Afterward, she held up her phone to show him.
It was his profile card.
The note clearly displayed—
Zhang Rang Rang.
Zhang Lurang: “...”
Zhang Rang Rang.
Su Zaizai.
Her private thoughts.
Even if he didn’t understand, she wanted him to see it.
________________________________________
The car arrived at the school gate.
After Zhang Lurang paid, the two got out one after another.
Su Zaizai stood beside him and suddenly said: “Rang Rang, lend me your phone.”
The two walked side by side.
Hearing this, Zhang Lurang glanced at her.
He took the phone out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Su Zaizai picked up her own phone and transferred five hundred yuan to his WeChat.
Then she lit up his phone.
No password.
Su Zaizai directly opened WeChat.
There were only a few people in the chat history.
Su Zaizai, Uncle, Dad, A Li...
Su Zaizai didn’t look further.
She tapped into their chat window and clicked “Confirm receipt.”
After finishing, she breathed a sigh of relief and handed the phone back to him.
Zhang Lurang took the phone back and instinctively looked down.
Noticing the transfer amount, he furrowed his brows.
He turned to look at her.
Su Zaizai grinned, unashamed: “Well? Do you feel my affection now?”
Zhang Lurang pursed his lips, not saying anything.
“In advance, let you experience the treatment you’ll get when I become a big boss.”
Zhang Lurang: “...”
After saying that, Su Zaizai reminded him again.
“So don’t break up with me, it will be a loss for you.”
He stood beside her, suddenly feeling somewhat tired.
“Su Zaizai.”
“Huh?”
“Be normal.”
“...Okay.”
Zhang Lurang lowered his head and fiddled with his phone.
He opened Alipay and clicked on transfer.
Recalling her phone number, he entered it.
Noticing the real name behind it was “Zaizai,” he directly transferred the money back.
Her phone beeped, and Su Zaizai glanced down.
Then she turned her head, staring blankly at him.
Zhang Lurang also looked over.
Suddenly afraid she would be upset,
Zhang Lurang spoke.
“Su Zaizai.”
“Huh?”
Zhang Lurang’s lips curved slightly, half-jokingly.
“Your friend is very rich.”
Su Zaizai was even more confused.
Her reaction made Zhang Lurang’s expression somewhat unnatural.
Half a minute later, Su Zaizai finally softly said “Oh.”
...He joked with her.
And for the first time, he admitted being her friend.
Even though it was one word less than the answer she wanted...
Su Zaizai suddenly lowered her head, her heart pounding fiercely.
________________________________________
The two walked into the teaching building.
Zhang Lurang half-supported Su Zaizai and went up to the fifth floor.
Upon reaching the door, he turned around and started walking back.
The person behind suddenly called out to him: “Rang Rang.”
His steps halted, hesitating for a moment, but he still turned his head.
Then, hearing her say: “My leg is inconvenient right now, so I can’t go to the third floor to find you.”
Zhang Lurang nodded faintly.
Just as he was about to turn and continue walking,
The shameless Su Zaizai behind added: “Then come to the fifth floor to find me.”