WIFTY - 60

She’s sick, yet she likes me.
Then I’ll just assume she isn’t sick.
—Zhang Lurang

Hearing this, Su Zaizai was momentarily stunned.

Her gaze returned to the car window, and she curved her lips slightly but still said earnestly, “Let’s split it half and half then.”

Zhang Lurang didn’t object, his voice carrying a hint of amusement: “Alright.”

The car fell silent again.

A moment later, Su Zaizai caught sight of a school flashing by outside.

The bold, black calligraphy read: B City High School.

Su Zaizai’s attention was drawn to it, and she couldn’t help but turn her head. “Let’s go check out your high school? You’ve been to mine, but I’ve never been to yours.”

Zhang Lurang turned the steering wheel instinctively and said, “It’s so late already. We can’t get in.”

Su Zaizai didn’t mind too much, thought for a moment, and said seriously, “The biggest regret of my life is because of you.”

“…”

“It’s all your fault for going back to B City to study, making us start our long-distance relationship during our honeymoon period.”

Zhang Lurang opened his mouth, somewhat baffled: “But…”

“But you’re good-looking,” Su Zaizai licked her lips, a hint of envy in her voice. “Being good-looking makes all the difference—you won’t be neglected by your partner.”

At the same time, Zhang Lurang happened to park the car in a parking lot near the beach.

Su Zaizai looked around and asked, “Where are we going?”

“We can’t go to the school, so I’ll take you for a walk around here.”

After saying that, Zhang Lurang took Su Zaizai’s hand and led her toward the beach.

The wind was strong, refreshing with a faint smell of the sea.

Su Zaizai glanced to the side; below on the sandy beach, several couples were walking hand in hand.

In the distance, the seawater shimmered under the moonlight, the horizon where it met the sky particularly distinct.

Zhang Lurang was still thinking about what Su Zaizai had said earlier and remained silent.

After walking for a while, they finally spotted an entrance leading down to the beach via some stairs.

Excited, Su Zaizai tugged at Zhang Lurang, changing direction.

Coincidentally, Zhang Lurang spoke up at that moment, seemingly puzzled: “Zaizai.”

“Hmm?” Su Zaizai lowered her eyes, stepping on the sand as she responded.

He averted his gaze, his expression somewhat unnatural: “Why do you like me?”

Upon hearing this, Su Zaizai lifted her head to look at him, answering honestly without much thought.

“You’re good-looking.”

Zhang Lurang pursed his lips, clearly dissatisfied with that answer: “That’s it?”

She thought for a moment and continued, “And because you’re Lurang.”

The rigid lines of Zhang Lurang’s face softened slightly, and he asked stiffly, “Who else do you think is good-looking?”

“How could I think anyone else is good-looking when I’m always looking at your face?” Su Zaizai felt a bit wronged. “I don’t even dare to look in the mirror anymore!”

The sea breeze blew wildly, pushing all her hair back.

Zhang Lurang reached out to smooth her hair, looking pleased.

He lowered his gaze, bent down slightly, and stared at her face for a moment.

Soon, Zhang Lurang concluded: “You’re beautiful.”

Hearing his compliment, Su Zaizai grinned widely, hugging his arm curiously: “Did you think I was pretty the first time you saw me?”

Zhang Lurang recalled for a moment and fell silent.

Su Zaizai immediately understood, and the smile at the corner of her lips faded a little.

Feeling stifled, she asked gloomily, “Then what impression did you have of me?”

Zhang Lurang licked his lips hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to be honest: “I thought you were a bit strange.”

Su Zaizai widened her eyes, feeling a bit wronged: “What’s strange about me?”

This time, Zhang Lurang fell silent, not saying anything more.

Su Zaizai recalled her behavior during her first year of high school…

… It seemed she really was strange.

Deciding not to dwell on the past, she changed the subject: “What about now?”

The person beside her remained silent.

Just as Su Zaizai, growing impatient, was about to throw a tantrum, she heard him speak up.

“I don’t think that anymore.”

________________________________________

After taking a stroll along the beach, the two returned to the parking lot not long after and drove back to the hotel.

Su Zaizai went to the front desk to check in, gave her name, and handed over her ID card.

The staff member looked at them and reminded, “If two people are checking in, both need to provide ID cards.”

Hearing this, Zhang Lurang took out his wallet from his pocket and retrieved his ID card.

Before he could hand it over, he heard Su Zaizai softly say from the side, “No, I’m staying alone.”

Caught off guard, Zhang Lurang abruptly turned his head to look at her.

After receiving the room key, Su Zaizai pulled Zhang Lurang aside to talk.

“Lurang, think about it—you haven’t been home for such a long time, and now you’re staying at a hotel with me. Plus, we’re not married yet. What will your parents think of me?”

Zhang Lurang looked at her and said in a low voice, “Then I’ll go back.”

“Mm, don’t be stubborn this time.”

“…”

“Next time, I’ll offer myself again.” Su Zaizai shamelessly added.

Zhang Lurang understood her concerns and didn’t say anything further.

He escorted her to her room and reluctantly gave her a few reminders.

Seeing Zhang Lurang leave, Su Zaizai suddenly called out, “If you’re unhappy, you can come over anytime.”

Zhang Lurang gave a soft “Mm,” waiting until she locked the door before leaving the hotel.

When he returned home, Mr. and Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Luli were still in the living room, chatting intermittently.

Zhang Lurang hadn’t been back for a long time, so he felt somewhat out of place.

He stood at the entrance for a moment, intending to greet them and retreat to his room when Zhang Luli, sitting on the sofa, noticed him and called out, “Brother!”

Finally, Zhang Lurang moved, walking over.

“Arang, will you stay here during the winter break?” Zhang’s mother suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Zhang Lurang turned his gaze toward her and honestly replied, “I’ll go back in a couple of days and come over with Uncle on New Year’s Eve.”

Zhang’s mother seemed somewhat dissatisfied, wanting to say more, but thinking about the empty house from the past two years, she quickly backed down.

Beside her, Zhang’s father flipped through the newspaper in his hand, also remaining silent.

Zhang Lurang greeted them briefly before retreating to his room.

Not long after, without knocking, Zhang Luli entered his room.

Zhang Lurang was sitting on the bed. When he saw him enter, he merely glanced up and quickly averted his gaze.

Zhang Luli hopped onto his bed and sat cross-legged. “Brother, I plan to work there for a few years after graduation before coming back.”

“Mm.”

“I’ve already told Mom and Dad, but they don’t agree.”

At this, Zhang Lurang finally reacted, frowning. “You…”

Before he could finish, Zhang Luli continued, “I won’t listen to them. I just want to stay there. I’ve already made up my mind.”

Zhang Lurang nodded, looking at his phone without saying anything.

Zhang Luli didn’t mind his coldness and kept chattering, “Brother, has Mom and Dad’s attitude changed? I didn’t come home last year because of this.”

Zhang Lurang glanced at him, feeling somewhat baffled.

“Before, when I was around, they always thought it was your problem because they found you rebellious and disobedient.” Zhang Luli analyzed confidently, “But Brother, you managed not to come home for three years—so heartless.”

Zhang Lurang ignored him.

“Are you really going to work in Z City after graduation?”

Annoyed by his persistence, Zhang Lurang kicked him. “Go back to your room.”

“So are you working in Z City?” Zhang Luli continued asking.

“Mm,” he finally responded, adding, “That’s where I’ll be.”

________________________________________

Six months later, both started preparing for their senior year internships.

Su Zaizai and Zhang Lurang’s companies were quite far apart, roughly an hour and a half drive.

Their professions inherently involved frequent late nights and overtime, so they saw each other much less than before.

Su Zaizai worked at an advertising company near Z University.

To her surprise, she discovered that Xie Linan also worked at the same company, coincidentally in the same department.

However, since sophomore year, Su Zaizai hadn’t spoken much to him. When she saw him, she only gave a slightly awkward greeting.

Afterward, she forgot all about it.

Zhang Lurang interned at a large software company near Jinghua. When he wasn’t working overtime, he would drive Lin Mao’s car to Z University to have dinner with Su Zaizai or bring her food.

If they squeezed in time, they could meet about four times a week, including weekends.

Two weeks into the internship, one day—

Su Zaizai came out of the company and waited outside for a while before getting into Zhang Lurang’s car.

Zhang Lurang wore a shirt and suit pants, with his tie neatly fastened. His lips were straight, curving slightly upward when he saw her. “What do you feel like eating?”

As he spoke, he instinctively leaned over to help her fasten her seatbelt.

Su Zaizai obediently sat still, thinking carefully. “Let’s eat barbecue.”

Zhang Lurang hummed in acknowledgment, pondering the location of the restaurant before starting the car.

Bored, Su Zaizai exhaled on the car window and slowly wrote the character “Rang” stroke by stroke.

After a while, she suddenly turned her head and sighed.

“Rang Rang, we’ve been staying up late so often recently. Should we see who goes bald first?”

Just then, the traffic light turned red, and Zhang Lurang stopped the car.

Upon hearing this, the corner of his temple twitched as he said, “No competition.”

Su Zaizai didn’t say anything else, her mood seemingly a bit low.

The barbecue restaurant wasn’t far from Su Zaizai’s company—it took about five minutes by car.

Zhang Lurang found a parking spot and, after parking, didn’t rush to get out of the car.

Su Zaizai lowered her head to unfasten her seatbelt.

Just as she was about to get out, Zhang Lurang grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer and softly asking, “What’s wrong?”

Su Zaizai looked at him, trying to hold back but ultimately couldn’t. “I got scolded by the director again just now.”

Zhang Lurang paused, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “How did he scold you?”

“He said the copy I wrote was terrible, repeatedly criticizing the things I revised…” Perhaps because Zhang Lurang was beside her, Su Zaizai’s emotions completely erupted. “I also want to be like you, excelling in everything…”

She felt as though she had returned to the days of the college entrance exam.

Every step was painstakingly grueling, filled with countless bitter struggles and breakdowns—all part of the cost of growing up.

But fortunately, Zhang Lurang had always been by her side.

Zhang Lurang’s eyes darkened, his throat bobbing as if suppressing something.

Soon, he pulled her close, lifting her entirely onto his lap, lowering his gaze to look at her, his voice adopting a soothing tone.

“What exactly did he criticize about your copy?”

Su Zaizai sniffled, wiping her tears on his shirt.

“He said my writing was too rigid, too formal.”

Zhang Lurang nuzzled her forehead with his nose, half-jokingly.

“How could you possibly write something rigid?”

Hearing this, Su Zaizai looked at him with reddened eyes, saying nothing.

“Don’t take others’ words to heart.” After some thought, he added, “I also get criticized frequently for various reasons. I don’t excel at everything.”

Su Zaizai earnestly refuted him, her voice muffled.

“You’re excellent at everything. The people criticizing you are just jealous.”

Zhang Lurang’s initially heavy-hearted mood instantly lifted, amused by her response, chuckling softly.

He leaned down to kiss her eyes, his lips curving.

“If someone criticizes you in the future, I’ll give you a gift, okay?”

Su Zaizai’s mood had already improved significantly. Playing along, she teased, “Who needs gifts? Just kiss me whenever I get scolded—a really rough kiss.”

“No.” Zhang Lurang firmly refused.

Su Zaizai was momentarily stunned.

Before she could continue speaking, Zhang Lurang’s lips moved downward, pressing against hers.

He nibbled her full lips, as if taking her earlier words to heart, applying slightly more force.

Su Zaizai heard him murmur indistinctly, “What if no one scolds you anymore?”

Her eyes widened slightly as she heard him add,

“I think you’re great at everything too.”

________________________________________

After some time cuddling in the car, the two finally entered the barbecue restaurant.

Zhang Lurang picked up a pair of tongs and carefully laid a few pieces of meat on the grill, turning them over meticulously.

Su Zaizai bit into a piece of meat he had grilled and suddenly remembered something.

“Rang Rang, we’ll graduate in less than a year!”

Zhang Lurang set aside the tongs, prepared a dipping sauce for her, and placed it in front of her.

Hearing Su Zaizai’s words, his brows shifted slightly, and his voice deepened. “Su Zaizai, stop trying to take everything from me.”

Su Zaizai blinked innocently. “I’m not taking anything.”

Zhang Lurang glanced at her but didn’t say anything.

Su Zaizai stared at him for a moment, feeling puzzled. “Why do I get the feeling you’re always mad at me?”

He sighed and asked earnestly, “Don’t you want me to treat you better?”

“Huh?” Su Zaizai thought carefully. “You… already treat me really well…”

Before she could finish, Zhang Lurang continued, “You need to give me a chance too.”

His voice carried a hint of frustration.

Su Zaizai blankly responded with an “Oh,” then lowered her head to continue chewing on the meat.

After a while, she finally realized what he meant.

“I won’t propose to you, then. But I’ve thought of so many ways to do it!” Mentioning this, Su Zaizai suddenly felt a bit reluctant. “No way, I want to use one of my ideas. How about we each propose once?”

Zhang Lurang added a few more pieces of meat to her bowl and said indifferently, “When will you ever act normal?”

Su Zaizai grinned mischievously, shamelessly asking, “Don’t you like it?”

Zhang Lurang raised his brows slightly and glanced at her.

There was no significant change in his expression—his face remained as stoic as ever.

His voice was smooth and warm, like gentle raindrops falling outside the window.

“I like it.”