Chapter 40

I don’t want to be anything less than perfect in front of her.

—Zhang Lu Rang

—

Zhang Lu Rang’s holiday started at the same time as Su Zai Zai’s.

The next afternoon, he returned to Z City.

As soon as he stepped into his house, he set his backpack aside and sat down on the step in the entryway.

Hearing the commotion, Su Su came running down from upstairs, excitedly burrowing into his arms.

His gaze softened as he rubbed its head.

With his other hand, he pulled out his phone from his pocket.

After letting Su Zai Zai know he had arrived in Z City, Zhang Lu Rang took out a set of practice exams from his bag—

A 2015 I Province Liberal Arts Mathematics Mock Exam he had just bought from a bookstore near Jinghua.

Lowering his gaze, he flipped to the first page and scanned a few questions.

Not long after, Su Zai Zai replied.

—I’m awake!

—Where are you? I’ll come find you.

Zhang Lu Rang pried Su Su off him, stuffed the exam papers back into his bag, and headed out.

As he walked toward her apartment, he typed—

—Downstairs at your place.

Before he even got there, he spotted Su Zai Zai stepping out of the building from a distance.

Seeing her, he squinted slightly, almost in disbelief.

Was he seeing things?

She was wearing a dark purple pullover hoodie, just long enough to cover her hips.

Paired with what seemed like leggings underneath—bare legs exposed to the cold.

She looked nothing like someone living in winter.

Zhang Lu Rang halted in his steps and sent her a voice message.

—”Go back inside and put on some pants.”

Su Zai Zai hadn’t checked her phone. When she saw him, she ran straight over.

Grinning, she threw herself into his arms and hugged his waist.

Frowning, Zhang Lu Rang pulled her hands off him and said coldly, “It’s thirteen degrees today.”

“Is it?” Su Zai Zai blinked innocently. “The moment I saw you, my heart started burning. I don’t feel cold at all.”

Unmoved, he ordered, “Go back and put on something warmer.”

“No way!” Su Zai Zai refused immediately. “I’m wearing thermal underwear and a wool sweater inside! I don’t feel cold at all. Listen, if your upper body is warm, your lower body won’t feel cold either.”

Zhang Lu Rang stared at her for a few seconds.

Then, he gave in. “Alright. Then let’s go home separately.”

“…I’ll go change now.”

—

Ten minutes later, Su Zai Zai came back down.

She had reluctantly changed into a pair of black skinny jeans.

Without a word, she stood beside him.

Zhang Lu Rang took her hand on his own and coaxed, “I’ll buy you cake.”

Su Zai Zai tightened her grip on his hand, her sulking mood vanishing instantly.

Excitedly, she said, “Rang Rang, you’re acting like a domineering CEO right now.”

“…”

She deliberately lowered her voice and mimicked dramatically, “Woman, you are not allowed to wear clothes I don’t approve of!”

Zhang Lu Rang stayed silent, holding her hand as he led her toward the dessert shop.

When he didn’t respond, Su Zai Zai looked at him curiously.

“Why aren’t you telling me to act normal?”

Zhang Lu Rang hesitated but didn’t answer.

“You’re acting all cold now,” she accused.

“…”

“What, being a CEO makes you think you’re all that?”

Zhang Lu Rang finally snapped. “No. Just talk properly.”

Su Zai Zai paused, then stared at him in shock. “You really became a CEO behind my back?”

He was momentarily speechless.

But for some reason, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

“Idiot.”

—

The two of them entered their usual dessert shop.

Zhang Lu Rang sat across from her, pulling out the mock exam from his bag. He handed her a set.

“Do this one. Two and a half hours.”

Su Zai Zai blinked in confusion.

…She thought they were here for a date.

Still, she nodded, took the pen he handed her, and started reading the questions.

A few seconds later, she asked, “What about you?”

Setting a timer on his phone, Zhang Lu Rang replied, “I’m doing one too.”

Su Zai Zai didn’t say anything else and focused on her work.

She didn’t notice the occasional glances Zhang Lu Rang sent her way.

—

Two and a half hours later, his phone vibrated on the table.

Su Zai Zai obediently put down her pen and handed over the completed test.

Zhang Lu Rang compared her answers with the key, marking the incorrect ones.

After roughly estimating her score, he slowly spoke.

“About 110.”

Su Zai Zai blinked, surprised. “That high?”

Zhang Lu Rang sighed. “Come sit over here.”

Su Zai Zai got up and moved to his side.

Once she was seated, he placed the test in front of her.

His voice was low and clear.

“You got all the multiple-choice questions right, missed one fill-in-the-blank, and answered the first three big problems correctly.”

“…”

“This set is considered difficult.”

“Is it…”

Zhang Lu Rang turned to look at her. “Have you done this test before?”

“No.”

Silence.

Su Zai Zai stared at the exam paper and murmured, “Our teacher said the Z City First Mock Exam is really important. She said it basically determines our final college entrance exam scores.”

Zhang Lu Rang didn’t interrupt, just quietly listening.

“I want to do well…”

“But when I get anxious, my answers come out wrong.”

“When I practice alone, there’s no pressure, so my accuracy is higher.”

“If this happens during the actual exam…”

“I’m afraid it’ll mess up my English and social studies too.”

Noticing his silence, Su Zai Zai quickly backtracked.

“But I’m much better now. It’s just math—I’m not scared.”

Zhang Lu Rang lowered his head, looking at her hands tangled together on her lap.

He couldn’t help but reach out and hold them.

He couldn’t help but reach out and hold her hand.

“Su Zai Zai, I’m coming back on the 15th.” Zhang Lurang said seriously. “Before that, you’ll do one practice test a day, and I’ll explain all the problem-solving methods to you.”

Su Zai Zai stared at him blankly.

“The things you don’t understand, I do. I’ll teach you.”

“So, don’t be afraid.”

Her eyes suddenly felt a little sore.

Zhang Lurang’s expression became slightly unnatural.

But he still forced himself to continue, “Didn’t you say you like me?”

Su Zai Zai nodded rapidly, her eyes red, like a little chick pecking at rice.

“Then listen to me,” he said.

— “Don’t be afraid.”

—

The Spring Festival of 2015 arrived particularly late.

By the time the second semester of senior year started, it was already nearing March.

There were only three months left until the college entrance exam.

One Saturday afternoon in late March—

The school organized a medical examination for senior students at the city hospital. Once completed, students could head home on their own.

Since Z High had a considerable number of students, the education bureau scheduled only two schools for check-ups that day.

Su Zai Zai deliberately chose a shorter queue and finished all her check-ups in about an hour and a half.

She had arranged to meet Jiang Jia at the hospital entrance so they could take the bus home together.

The two of them boarded the No. 71 bus and found empty seats at the back.

The bus moved forward, and the scenery outside flashed by.

Su Zai Zai placed her hand near the small gap in the window, feeling the cold air from outside.

The bus announcement played in her ears.

“Dear passengers, we have arrived at City Plaza. Please exit in an orderly manner from the rear door. Passengers boarding, please move further inside and do not stand by the doors.”

Su Zai Zai instinctively turned her head to remind Jiang Jia.

“Your stop is next.”

Jiang Jia seemed a little dazed and murmured, “Guan Han and I broke up.”

“…Huh?”

“Sigh, relationships are such a hassle.”

Su Zai Zai looked at her with concern. “Are you okay…?”

“I’m fine. I just suddenly realized—”

“The person chasing you may not necessarily treat you better than the one you’re chasing.”

“Honestly, I was against you pursuing Zhang Lurang at first.”

“I was afraid that by doing so, he would look down on you.”

Su Zai Zai licked her lips and carefully said, “You’ll meet someone better.”

Jiang Jia chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “Of course.”

The bus announcement played again.

Jiang Jia stood up and said seriously—

“Zai Zai, you and Zhang Lurang better stay together.”

“If you two break up, then I’ll truly stop believing in love.”

—

After returning home—

Su Zai Zai checked the time. It was past six.

Zhang Lurang should be out of class by now.

Remembering Jiang Jia’s words, Su Zai Zai hesitated but ultimately couldn’t resist the urge to call him.

The phone rang only once before he picked up.

“Rang Rang, are you out of class?”

“Yeah.”

“I finished my medical exam today! They even drew blood. It hurt a little.”

Zhang Lurang chuckled. “Did you cry?”

“Nope! What’s the point of crying when you’re not here?” Su Zai Zai declared confidently.

He didn’t respond—

But Su Zai Zai could hear the sound of his quiet laughter in his breathing.

Suddenly, she found herself smiling too.

Then she started sharing the things she saw today.

“Guess what? I saw your old deskmate from first year today!”

“…?”

“He was getting a check-up at the surgery department with a girl. I was in line behind them and overheard him saying he weighed 65 kilos, but when he stepped on the scale, it showed 70! Hahaha…”

“…Zhou Xuyin?”

“Yeah!”

Speaking of this, Su Zai Zai couldn’t help but praise him.

“You’re still the best—you look good, you have great grades, and you keep your figure in check.”

Zhang Lurang’s lips curved slightly.

Su Zai Zai sat on her bed, hugging one knee with one arm.

“I’m kinda curious… What would you look like if you gained weight?”

There was a brief silence.

Zhang Lurang suddenly changed the subject, his tone serious—

“Su Zai Zai, study.”

Half an hour later, Zhang Lurang arrived home.

As he went upstairs and passed by Zhang Luli’s room, he suddenly paused.

He stepped inside and looked at the weighing scale near the door.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally stepped on it.

Seeing the number on the display, Zhang Lurang let out a quiet sigh of relief.

…Still the same weight.