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It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, and I miss him a lot.
But of course, he must miss me too.
Because he likes me.
—From the Diary of Fairy Su Zaizai
Su Zaizai stared at those two sentences for half a day without reacting.
She threw her phone back onto the bed.
Turning around, she picked up her pajamas and headed towards the bathroom.
Soon, Su Zaizai turned back.
Picking up her phone, she stared at those two sentences again.
Feeling completely unprepared for this sudden departure, she was a bit angry but didn’t have the courage to lash out.
Su Zaizai sniffed and slowly typed: Be careful on your way.
Before she could send it,
Another message came from the other end.
It seemed like he had racked his brain for a long time, yet still only knew how to say these few words.
— Don’t be mad...
Su Zaizai paused typing.
She immediately deleted what she had just written and changed it to: I am mad!
Zhang Lurang: “...”
Su Zaizai: Whenever I go to get a drink of water, even if it’s just for a minute, I always tell you.
After sending this message, she didn’t say anything more.
Staring at the screen, waiting for his reply.
At times like this, she should say less so that he can see how angry she is.
But seeing that he didn’t reply for a long time, Su Zaizai couldn’t hold back anymore.
— You’re going back to B City tomorrow, for an entire month! And you’re telling me now! You’re only telling me because I asked you to ride bikes with me tomorrow. What if I hadn’t asked you...
Before she finished venting, her phone beeped.
Su Zaizai glanced at it.
Zhang Lurang: ...I’ll buy you jelly.
Her anger instantly dissipated.
Su Zaizai pursed her lips and shamelessly deleted what she had just written again.
Then she gently tapped on the screen, pushing further: I want it now.
He replied quickly.
— Okay.
— Come down in five minutes to get it.
Su Zaizai was a bit confused and immediately walked over to the full-length mirror to check herself.
Still wearing the blue and white striped school uniform, it looked wrinkled.
Her hair, having been tousled by her hands, looked messy, making her appear somewhat disheveled.
Su Zaizai combed her hair with her hands, went to the bathroom to wash her face, and then ran out.
Su’s mother was watching TV in the living room.
Seeing her walk to the entrance and change into outdoor slippers, she frowned and asked: “Where are you going so late?”
“I’m going to the convenience store to buy something,” she said casually.
Su’s mother didn’t ask further, just reminded her: “Come back soon after you’re done.”
“Okay.”
“It’s cold outside; wear more clothes.”
“Alright.”
Su Zaizai pushed open the door, stepped into the elevator, and went downstairs.
Walking out of the building’s main door, she saw Zhang Lurang waiting under a tree not far away.
It seemed every time, he would be standing there waiting.
Su Zaizai walked over.
One step, two steps.
Something felt different this time.
This feeling was very real.
She heard Jiang Jia’s voice echoing in her ears.
— “Don’t you think Zhang Lurang treats you especially differently? Like giving you the silver medal and helping you move the chair earlier.”
— “Think about it, Zhang Lurang’s former desk mate acted like that, and he showed no reaction at all. My friend told me he was completely unaffected...”
— “Anyway, I think the things Zhang Lurang does for you, he wouldn’t do for any other girl.”
Su Zaizai walked up to him, looking at the brown paper bag in his hand, and didn’t say anything.
Zhang Lurang hesitated, unsure of what to say.
After a while,
Su Zaizai softly asked: “Where did you get so much jelly?”
“I bought a lot before,” he replied.
Su Zaizai looked up at him.
His eyes were like they were filled with stars from the sky, bright and sparkling with anticipation.
“Zhang Lurang, do you like eating jelly?”
He paused, lightly “Mm”-ed,
Then averted his eyes, pretending to be calm as he touched his neck.
Su Zaizai’s heartbeat skipped a beat.
“Did you find the jelly I bought you last time tasty?” she asked.
Zhang Lurang continued touching his neck and nodded.
“Are you finished eating it?”
He finally put his hand down and obediently replied: “Mm.”
Didn’t like eating it, but finished it anyway.
Didn’t like eating it, yet bought lots of jelly and kept it at home.
Su Zaizai lowered her head.
She didn’t know how to describe her feelings right now.
Overjoyed to the point of wanting to cry.
Seeing that she wasn’t speaking, Zhang Lurang slightly bent down to meet her gaze.
He pulled up the corners of his mouth, smiling: “If it’s not enough, I’ll go buy more for you.”
His tone carried a hint of coaxing.
Why is he being so nice to you?
What reason does he have to be so nice to you?
For the first time, Su Zaizai ventured to guess that thought.
With confidence and without retreating, she thought of that reason.
Su Zaizai looked at him and said: “It’s not enough.”
Seeing Zhang Lurang nod, Su Zaizai quickly tugged at his sleeve.
“Wait until you come back to buy more for me.”
________________________________________
Su Zaizai took the bag of jelly back home.
She placed the bag on the desk and sat down on the carpet beside her bed.
Su Zaizai lit up her phone and opened the chat window with Jiang Jia.
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she slowly typed.
— Jia Jia.
— I think Zhang Lurang might like me a little.
________________________________________
The next afternoon, after Su Zaizai woke up from her nap.
She grabbed the phone next to her pillow and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
There was only one message from Zhang Rang Rang on WeChat.
— I’ve arrived.
Su Zaizai blinked and immediately sat up.
She thought for a moment, then shamelessly typed a sentence.
— The first day after Rang Rang left, I miss him.
Zhang Lurang: ...
Su Zaizai: Sigh, don’t you miss me?
Su Zaizai stared at the “The other party is typing...” above the chat box.
After waiting for a while, she didn’t receive a reply.
Su Zaizai: Do you know?
Su Zaizai: When you’re typing, it shows “[The other party is typing...]” on my side.
Zhang Lurang: ...
Zhang Lurang: I’m going to sleep.
Su Zaizai: Rang Rang.
Su Zaizai: I want to travel.
Zhang Lurang: Alone?
Su Zaizai: Yes.
Zhang Lurang: Don’t wander around.
Su Zaizai immediately said: I want to go to B City.
Zhang Lurang: ...
He didn’t reply again.
But the chat box clearly showed that he was typing.
Su Zaizai smiled, patiently waiting.
After a long while, Su Zaizai finally received his reply.
— Don’t be silly.
— It’s not safe to travel alone.
Su Zaizai threw her phone aside and sighed.
Let’s see how long she could hold out.
If she couldn’t bear it anymore, she would definitely go to B City.
Su Zaizai didn’t believe that if she acted first without permission, the beautiful boy wouldn’t come out.
As she thought about it, she heard her parents entering the house.
Su Zaizai got up, opened the door, and walked out.
She still had to communicate with them first...
As soon as Su Zaizai entered the living room, she saw a small cage next to the coffee table.
Inside was a tiny two-tone Corgi puppy, currently lying down and looking around.
Su Zaizai widened her eyes, walked over, and knelt beside the cage, curiously observing.
Su’s mother also came over and smiled: “Isn’t it cute?”
Su Zaizai nodded, feeling her heart melt at the sight of the tiny thing.
She couldn’t help but open the cage and reach in to pet it.
She completely forgot about telling her parents about traveling to B City.
“My father and I both have to work, so you need to take good care of it,” Su’s mother said.
Su Zaizai immediately nodded, getting goosebumps from how cute the little Corgi was.
“What do you want to name it?”
Su Zaizai stared at the little Corgi for a long time before saying: “Short Legs.”
Su’s mother: “….”
________________________________________
With a new little life suddenly added to the household, Su Zaizai’s plan to go to B City to find Zhang Lurang fell through.
Su Zaizai poured some puppy gruel and goat milk powder into the dog bowl, then added warm water to mix it.
Then she placed it in front of Short Legs and softly said: “Eat quickly.”
It went over, sniffed, and slowly licked.
Su Zaizai sat in front of it and talked to it: “Do you know that your name is Short Legs?”
“This is your nickname.”
“Your full name is Zhang Xiaorang. Only we two know this.”
“You’re still young now, so I won’t teach you.”
“In the future, when I call you Zhang Xiaorang, you must respond to me.”
“That means you should ‘woof’ at me.”
“Do you understand? ‘Woof’ once.”
Short Legs: “….”
After finishing eating, it slowly crawled onto the cushion to sleep.
Su Zaizai watched it for a while.
She wanted to wake it up to play with her but couldn’t bear to.
She lay back on the bed and started chatting with Zhang Lurang.
Su Zaizai: Rang Rang.
Su Zaizai: Let’s play a game of idiom relay.
Zhang Lurang replied quickly: Mm.
Su Zaizai: Then I’ll start, 魂牵梦萦 (haunted by dreams).
Zhang Lurang: 萦肠惹肚 (worrying deeply).
Su Zaizai: I knew you were thinking of me too.
Zhang Lurang: ...
Su Zaizai: If you think of me, you should say so; otherwise, Boss Su can’t notice through the screen.
Zhang Lurang: It’s your turn.
Su Zaizai pouted and continued: 度日如年 (days feel like years).
Zhang Lurang: 年少无知 (young and ignorant).
Su Zaizai: Are you scolding me?
Zhang Lurang: ... Do you still want to play?
Su Zaizai: Yes.
Su Zaizai: But how can you use such underhanded methods to scold me.
Su Zaizai: I’ll forgive you this time, but you need to change the word.
Su Zaizai: 熟能生巧 (practice makes perfect).
Zhang Lurang was silent for a moment before replying: 巧夺天工 (exquisite craftsmanship).
Su Zaizai: 功夫熊猫 (Kung Fu Panda).
Zhang Lurang: “...”
He pursed his lips and decided to mess around as well: 猫鼠同眠 (cat and mouse).
Su Zaizai: That’s not an idiom, don’t make stuff up!
Zhang Lurang: ...
Zhang Lurang: I’m not playing anymore.
Su Zaizai: Sigh, Rang Rang, your temper is really bad.
Zhang Lurang: ...
Su Zaizai: Only I would indulge you like this.
Zhang Lurang really didn’t want to deal with her anymore.
He turned off his phone and did some homework.
In the end, still feeling restless, he reopened his phone and typed: I’m going to do homework.
________________________________________
On New Year’s Eve.
Su Zaizai followed her parents to her grandparents’ house for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
After dinner, several elders sat on the sofa chatting.
Her younger cousins went straight to their rooms to play on the computer.
The older ones found a spot to sit and play on their phones.
Su Zaizai strolled around the yard.
The cold wind made her instinctively pull her neck in.
She sat down by the swing chair, bending her legs and swaying gently.
She took out her phone from her coat pocket; her fingers were a bit stiff from the cold.
Her typing speed was slower than usual.
She exhaled some warm breath onto her hands.
Slowly, she typed: Rang Rang.
Su Zaizai: It’s New Year’s Eve. Aren’t you going to send me a red envelope?
She originally thought he’d be busy having his New Year’s Eve dinner and wouldn’t reply for a long time.
Su Zaizai closed the chat window and was about to find Jiang Jia to chat when
Her phone vibrated twice.
Su Zaizai saw a red circle with the number “1” appear next to Zhang Lurang’s avatar.
— [WeChat Red Envelope] Go buy jelly.
Su Zaizai blinked, tapped into it, and opened it.
The big “200.00” caught her eye.
Her fingertips paused, and she said helplessly: I was just joking with you.
Su Zaizai decided to speak via voice message: “Rang Rang, this 200 yuan counts as me borrowing it from you.”
“If school starts on February 18th, for every day you come back early, I’ll add 10 yuan. If you come back two days early, I’ll add 20 yuan, and so on.”
After a while,
He sent a voice message.
His voice carried a hint of amusement as he said: “No need, keep it for yourself.”
“Do you think it’s too little?” she said gloomily.
Before he could reply, Su Zaizai continued: “Then I’ll change it to 100.”
Su Zaizai kept talking, and he kept listening on the other end.
There wasn’t even time to reply to her.
“I’m telling you, one of Short Legs’ ears finally stood up. One ear is drooping while the other is standing, looking so silly.”
“It always poops everywhere at any time. Sigh, I’m so tired.”
“There are so many physics test papers, I don’t want to do them.”
“Have you finished your English homework? Do you want me to teach you?”
Voice messages kept sending over.
Zhang Lurang wore his headphones, listening to one message after another automatically playing.
He listened attentively, wondering why she had so much to say.
Finally, the last sentence played.
“Rang Rang, if you’re still going back to B City, how about I apply to B University?”
He was just about to reply when
Three knocks sounded on the door.
A boy about his age turned the doorknob and poked his head in.
He looked at Zhang Lurang and softly said: “Brother, Dad wants you to go out.”
Zhang Lurang lowered his head and pressed the power button.
That series of voice messages instantly disappeared from sight.
Plunged into darkness.
Soon, he raised his head and said to the boy: “Mm, I’ll be out soon.”
The boy nodded, backed out of the room, and closed the door.
Zhang Lurang lit up the screen again and quickly typed a message.
— Don’t apply to B University, apply to Z University.
Su Zaizai sent another voice message.
It was very short, only a second long.
Zhang Lurang didn’t listen to it.
He pressed his tongue against his cheek.
Carefully but full of anticipation, he sent a voice message.
“Together, let’s apply to Z University.”
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