WIFTY - 51

Actually, I’m not happy even if she talks to other guys.
But after saying that, she probably won’t think I’m petty, right?
— Zhang Lurang

At the end of February, Su Zaizai welcomed her second semester of freshman year.

The day before school started, Su Zaizai took out clothes from her wardrobe, changed into them, and glanced down at her phone just as she saw Zhang Lurang say on WeChat that he had arrived downstairs.

She hurriedly put on the black scarf he had given her last time and dragged her heavy suitcase out.

The winter in the south was damp and cold; no matter how thick your clothing, the cold air seemed to seep into your pores from any corner, leaving you nowhere to escape.

As soon as she stepped out, a gust of cold wind blew.

Su Zaizai couldn’t help but shrink her neck, half of her face buried in the scarf.

Then, she walked over and held Zhang Lurang’s hand.

Zhang Lurang only carried a backpack with his laptop in it, nothing else.

He reciprocated her grip, instinctively scanning her up and down.

Today, Su Zaizai wore a beige sweater dress, over which she had a brown cashmere coat, paired with a scarf, and black fleece leggings.

Zhang Lurang’s expression immediately turned sour.

Having been scolded by him many times before, Su Zaizai noticed his expression and quickly said: “You’re not allowed to criticize me. I can’t handle criticism.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lurang quietly looked at her.

He had seen this phrase in a meme she sent him.

— I can’t handle criticism. If you criticize me, I’ll swear at you.

He pursed his lips, thinking about addressing both issues once she finished speaking.

Zhang Lurang lowered his eyes, silently pondering his choice of words.

Don’t wear so little during winter; you’ll catch a cold. Moreover, he hadn’t intended to criticize her, it’s just…

Before he could finish pondering.

Suddenly, Su Zaizai tiptoed, leaned close to him, and mischievously said: “If you criticize me—”

Zhang Lurang paused his thoughts, lowered his head, and waited for her to finish.

“—I’ll kiss you.”

Hearing this unexpected answer, Zhang Lurang froze for a moment.

His gaze slowly moved downward, looking at Su Zaizai’s lips.

A thin layer of lip balm made them look pink and moist, shimmering with gloss.

Zhang Lurang’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he fell silent, lost in thought.

After waiting for a while, sure enough, he didn’t hear his usually cold and stern voice.

Satisfied, Su Zaizai pulled him toward the bus station.

Halfway there.

Suddenly, Su Zaizai heard Zhang Lurang speak behind her, his voice somewhat muffled.

It was as if after an internal struggle, he still couldn’t resist the temptation and ended up speaking his mind.

“Su Zaizai, wearing so little in winter is not right.”

Several minutes had passed, and Su Zaizai had already completely forgotten her earlier teasing words to Zhang Lurang.

Hearing this, she didn’t think much and obediently nodded: “I understand.”

Zhang Lurang: “….”

________________________________________

After arriving at school.

Zhang Lurang first helped Su Zaizai carry her suitcase back to the dormitory.

Two people were already back in the dormitory. After greeting them, Su Zaizai pushed her suitcase to her spot, planning to unpack later.

Before leaving the dormitory, Su Zaizai noticed Zhang Lurang’s backpack and couldn’t resist pulling it off him.

Inside was his laptop, which was quite heavy, and carrying it for too long wouldn’t be comfortable.

“Leave it here for now. I’ll come back for it after dinner.”

Zhang Lurang glanced down at the laptop she placed on the chair and didn’t object.

The sky was like spilled ink, pitch black, swallowing the twinkling stars within.

The surrounding leaves rustled in the wind, and the stone paths seemed to emit coldness, making one shiver.

Students gradually returned from home, filling the previously empty and desolate snack street near the school during winter break, adding some liveliness.

Due to the cold weather, Su Zaizai tugged Zhang Lurang into a grilled fish restaurant.

There happened to be one empty table left inside.

The two sat facing each other.

Su Zaizai took out her phone from her pocket and quickly tapped on the screen.

Across from her, Zhang Lurang tore open the plastic wrapping around the utensils and rinsed them with hot water.

After finishing, he silently pushed the utensils to Su Zaizai’s side.

Out of the corner of her eye, Su Zaizai noticed his actions and couldn’t help but raise her head, grinning: “So thoughtful!”

Zhang Lurang said nothing, lowered his eyes, and repeated the same actions, washing his own utensils.

After the dishes were served.

Su Zaizai put her phone back in her pocket and focused on eating.

Having once gotten a fish bone stuck in her throat, Su Zaizai was very careful when eating fish.

All her attention was on picking out the bones, leaving no desire to speak.

After a while, she suddenly asked: “Rang Rang, do you want me to pick out the fish bones for you?”

Zhang Lurang raised his eyes and shook his head: “No need.”

“But there are so many bones…”

Silence for a moment.

Zhang Lurang hesitated, then guessed: “Do you want me to help you pick them out?”

Upon hearing this, Su Zaizai widened her eyes pitifully: “How could you think that way of me.”

“...”

“Is it because I made you carry the suitcase upstairs today?”

“… Not really.”

Su Zaizai stared at his face earnestly: “Next time, don’t force yourself to carry it. I could lift a barrel of water since elementary school; carrying a suitcase is a piece of cake.”

Zhang Lurang didn’t respond, continuing to eat expressionlessly.

Su Zaizai felt a bit depressed and softly asked: “Why aren’t you talking?”

“Eat,” he said.

“Oh.” Su Zaizai continued picking out the fish bones, muttering as she did: “I might go to Most Time later. Yesterday was the minister’s birthday, and they said they’d celebrate it today.”

Zhang Lurang paused his movements, lifted his head again, and silently looked at her.

Su Zaizai didn’t notice and, after thinking for a moment, continued: “I’ll accompany you back to the dormitory first, and along the way bring you the computer.”

Because the grilled fish was a bit spicy, Zhang Lurang’s voice was hoarse.

He licked his red lips, feeling a burning sensation with a hint of pain.

“Is the minister Xie Linnan?”

Su Zaizai nodded and placed the deboned fish meat from her bowl in front of him.

Zhang Lurang looked at the ceramic bowl, still holding her fair hands against the bowl’s edge, not letting go immediately.

Her skin was smooth and white, straight and slender, and even the curve of her fingers was particularly beautiful.

It made one want to reach out and hold them.

His eyes drooped, his thick lashes hiding his emotions.

Zhang Lurang didn’t know what to say.

He pushed the bowl back, seriously saying: “Take the computer tomorrow. Later, I’ll take you there. Don’t walk alone at night; I’m not reassured.”

Su Zaizai blinked, pointed at the bowl, and asked: “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“You eat.” After saying this, Zhang Lurang paused and added: “I’ll pick the bones for you.”

________________________________________

Zhang Lurang dropped Su Zaizai off at the entrance of Most Time KTV.

After giving her a few instructions, Zhang Lurang turned and started walking back toward the school.

Su Zaizai stood there for a moment, watching his retreating figure.

Suddenly realizing something, she called out to Zhang Lurang and jogged over to tug at the hem of his hoodie.

Zhang Lurang turned his head; his dark eyes were unreadable.

“If you don’t like it, I won’t go, okay?” she said.

Hearing this, Zhang Lurang’s feigned indifference instantly crumbled.

Su Zaizai looked uneasy, tightening her grip on his clothes.

“Don’t be upset...”

Just as Zhang Lurang was about to say something, a female voice suddenly came from nearby: “Hey! Zaizai! Why didn’t you come in when you arrived!”

Instinctively, Su Zaizai turned toward the source of the voice—it was the vice-minister.

Seeing Zhang Lurang beside Su Zaizai, the vice-minister immediately understood and smiled: “Is that your boyfriend? Why don’t you both join us? More people mean more fun.”

Upon hearing this, Su Zaizai hesitated.

Zhang Lurang didn’t really like such noisy environments...

She glanced at him and softly asked: “Do you want to go? If not, we can go back.”

Zhang Lurang tugged at the corner of his lips, pulled her hand off his clothes, and held it.

Then he took a step forward, his long legs striding toward Most Time, casually saying:

“I want to.”

________________________________________

The vice minister walked ahead and pushed open the KTV door.

Xie Linnan happened to be standing by the entrance pouring drinks.

Noticing the door opening from the corner of his eye, he instinctively raised his gaze.

Seeing who it was, the smile on his lips froze momentarily before he quickly averted his eyes.

A few members of the department teased for a bit, then went back to their own activities.

There were twelve members in the new media department, including the minister, so they booked a large private room.

Inside the private room, there were two long tables placed in the middle of the sofas.

One table was already surrounded by people playing dice.

Su Zaizai pulled Zhang Lurang toward the other table.

Several girls were also sitting at this table, singing into microphones.

The sound inside the private room was deafening. Xie Linnan didn’t say anything, just pushed two cups of cola over.

Su Zaizai mouthed a “thank you.”

Then she picked up an empty cup from the table, rinsed it with water, poured a glass of water, and placed it in front of Zhang Lurang.

Today, Zhang Lurang was particularly strange.

He lowered his eyes, watching Su Zaizai’s movements, then turned to look at Xie Linnan’s expression.

Suddenly, he curved his lips slightly, extended his long arm, hooked Su Zaizai’s neck, and pulled her into his embrace.

In an instant, Su Zaizai’s entire body fell into his arms.

Her nose nearly bumped into his chest, and a wave of cool breath hit her face.

Rarely seeing such affectionate behavior from Zhang Lurang, she was stunned for a moment and turned her head to look at him.

“What’s wrong?”

She thought Zhang Lurang would say something like “I accidentally bumped into you” or “There’s a bug over there.”

To her surprise, Zhang Lurang stared into her eyes and lied with a straight face for the first time.

“Didn’t you just throw yourself at me?”

The music in the room had just reached the instrumental part, so it was slightly quieter than before.

Zhang Lurang’s voice wasn’t too loud or too soft; his deep voice carried clearly enough for everyone at the table to hear.

Hearing this response, Su Zaizai widened her eyes.

She shifted her gaze and noticed that his hand showed no sign of letting go.

After a while, Su Zaizai began to doubt herself.

...Had she really thrown herself at him earlier?

After finishing pouring the drinks, Xie Linnan glanced around the room. There was only one empty seat left next to Zhang Lurang. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to sit down.

Zhang Lurang glanced at him and became even bolder.

His eyebrows arched slightly, and he calmly said: “Isn’t this what you like?”

“What?” Su Zaizai was confused.

Zhang Lurang’s gaze softened as he stared into her eyes, his tone carrying a hint of coaxing.

“Don’t you love having me all to yourself?”

Su Zaizai completely ignored his strange behavior and was mesmerized by his gaze.

She nodded enthusiastically, spitting out three words with great support.

“I love it, super love it, love it to death.”

Zhang Lurang could clearly feel the person next to him stiffen.

Having achieved his goal, he let out a satisfied sigh.

The next moment, Zhang Lurang lowered his head, his lips brushing against Su Zaizai’s ear.

“Let’s go back.”

________________________________________

On the way back, the two remained silent.

As they approached the girls’ dormitory building, Su Zaizai suddenly spoke.

Her voice was faint, as if she couldn’t believe it: “Rang Rang, just now...”

Once the rush passed, Zhang Lurang’s expression became somewhat unnatural.

But he didn’t regret it at all.

Su Zaizai suddenly jumped up and hugged his neck tightly.

“Wow! Were you jealous? Were you just marking your territory!”

Zhang Lurang let her hold him, one hand supporting her back, without denying it.

After calming down, Su Zaizai composed herself, her expression turning serious.

“You don’t have to be upset. Everyone in our department knows I have a very handsome boyfriend!”

She thought this would comfort him.

But after a brief silence, Zhang Lurang quickly said: “That’s exactly why I’m upset.”

Su Zaizai was stunned.

“I don’t like others liking you.”

“Su Zaizai, I never chat with other girls.”

“I can tolerate you talking to other guys without getting angry.”

He bent down slightly, his bright black eyes level with hers.

The beast within him broke free from its shackles instantly.

“You can’t play with them.”

Su Zaizai still looked a bit dazed.

The Zhang Lurang in front of her seemed to overlap with the him from the second semester of high school.

His once youthful face had matured quite a bit, and his once high-pitched teenage voice had deepened.

—”Don’t play with other guys.”

Su Zaizai obediently nodded, her heart instantly feeling like it was soaked in honey.

The sweet feeling made her dizzy and unable to think clearly.

After receiving her response, Zhang Lurang lowered his head and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

He opened his mouth, biting the soft flesh on her neck and licking it.

Zhang Lurang’s voice was low and hoarse, accompanied by irregular breathing.

His hand on Su Zaizai’s back tightened its grip.

Then, without hesitation or reservation, he laid bare his entire heart for her to see.

“Otherwise, it hurts.”