She’s Crazy C45

Chapter 45

“The Future”

So she had thought about it too.

—Zhang Lurang

—

The night was thick as ink, with countless stars dotting the sky.

Inside the room, the hum of the air conditioner was unusually loud in the quiet.

Beside the bed, the clock’s second hand ticked, making a soft, rhythmic sound.

A nightmare had him trapped, and no matter how he struggled, he couldn’t break free.

The words spoken in the dream were like poisoned needles, stabbing into his heart one by one.

The poison seeped inch by inch, sinking deep into his bones, the pain so intense it left him breathless.

—“If I had known Ah Li was coming, I wouldn’t have given birth to you.”

In that instant, the pain reached an unbearable peak.

Zhang Lurang jolted awake, his back drenched in cold sweat.

He sat up in bed, trying to calm his racing heart and steady his chaotic breathing.

Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair, got up, and headed downstairs to get a glass of water.

The movement woke Su Su, who had been sleeping by his bedside. The little dog got up and followed him.

As he passed by Lin Mao’s room, he noticed the lights were still on.

Zhang Lurang hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door.

Soon, Lin Mao’s slightly hoarse voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

Zhang Lurang pushed the door open and walked in.

He sat on a chair in front of Lin Mao, thinking about how to start.

The next second, Lin Mao closed the folder in front of him and said lightly, “Your mom called me.”

Zhang Lurang’s expression remained emotionless, his gaze lowered.

His back was straight and stiff, showing his stubbornness.

His lips were pressed into a tight, bloodless line.

Lin Mao sighed. “It’s fine as long as you change your college preference back.”

“Uncle.” Zhang Lurang felt suffocated, as if something was stuck in his chest. “I don’t want to go back to B City anymore. Even during holidays, I don’t want to go back.”

Hearing this, Lin Mao’s hand, which was holding his cup, paused.

He turned his head and looked at Zhang Lurang quietly.

Noticing Zhang Lurang’s expression, Lin Mao finally softened.

“If you don’t want to go back, then don’t. I’ll handle the paperwork you need for university.” Lin Mao took a slow sip of water. “Just like how you finished high school here.”

Zhang Lurang fell silent for a moment before stating firmly, “After I graduate, I’ll earn money and pay you back.”

Lin Mao had been about to refuse, but when he saw the look in Zhang Lurang’s eyes, he changed his words at the last second.

“Ah, I’m counting on that money for my retirement. Don’t forget to pay me back.”

Zhang Lurang nodded, stood up, and said, “I’m going back to sleep.”

Just as he opened the door and was about to step out, Lin Mao’s voice came from behind.

His tone was casual, warm, and calm.

“Not everyone is born knowing how to be a parent.”

Zhang Lurang’s steps faltered, his grip on the doorknob tightening.

Lin Mao tapped his fingers against the rim of his cup, thinking for a moment before adding—

“When you and Ah Li were little, your parents weren’t like this.”

He let out a sigh, his voice carrying the weight of experience.

“Vanity… what a terrifying thing.”

—

Su Zai Zai pestered him for a long time before Zhang Lurang finally agreed to let her accompany him for driving practice.

Before leaving, she rummaged through the table, stuffed a bottle of sunscreen into her backpack, and hung a mini fan from her neck.

She walked to the mirror, tied her hair up, put on long pants and a sun-protective jacket.

Then, she grabbed the panda-striped baseball cap on the table and held another one in her hand.

Since it was a weekday, the house was empty except for her.

Su Zai Zai stepped into the kitchen and took two bottles of water from the fridge.

A few minutes later, she returned to put one bottle back.

After grabbing an umbrella from the shoe cabinet, she finally headed out.

The height of summer made the air outside feel scorching, as if it were on fire.

Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled, uneven shadows on the ground.

The concrete pavement seemed to radiate heat, waves of it rising in the air.

Su Zai Zai looked up and saw Zhang Lurang standing under the shade of a tree.

His cheeks were flushed red from the heat, the tips of his hair damp with sweat.

He looked like he had been waiting for a while, but there was no impatience on his face.

She hurried over and placed the hat in her hand onto his head.

Zhang Lurang instinctively took it off to look at it, immediately frowning as he said coldly, “I’m not wearing this.”

Su Zai Zai turned on the fan and held it up to his face.

Seeing his reluctance, she coaxed him gently, “Be good, wear it. Otherwise, you’ll be roasted under this sun.”

“……”

Zhang Lurang was about to refuse again when he suddenly noticed that she was wearing the exact same hat.

He hesitated for a second before silently putting it back on.

Su Zai Zai handed him the umbrella and couldn’t help but complain, “It’s really too hot. Maybe I should just wait until winter to learn how to drive.”

Hearing that, Zhang Lurang’s face darkened. “That’s why I told you not to come.”

“But me learning isn’t the same as you learning,” Su Zai Zai said innocently.

“How is it different?”

Su Zai Zai didn’t answer.

She watched as the wind from the fan blew against his face and then shamelessly declared—

“I’m accompanying you now. If you don’t accompany me when it’s my turn, that means you have no conscience.”

“……”

“The heartless kind of no conscience.”

Zhang Lurang didn’t want to talk anymore. He simply walked beside her in silence.

A few minutes later, Su Zai Zai suddenly looked a little upset.

“Why didn’t you tell me that fairies don’t need a conscience?”

Zhang Lurang: “……”

—

When they arrived, Zhang Lurang found the car his instructor had assigned him.

The two of them walked over side by side.

Su Zai Zai was about to get into the front passenger seat when Zhang Lurang stopped her and sent her to the back instead.

“It’s too sunny up front. Sit in the back.”

She didn’t argue much, just hesitated and asked, “Lurang, you’re driving by yourself? Isn’t the instructor supposed to sit with you? Won’t that be dangerous…”

Zhang Lurang tapped his index finger on the steering wheel and said honestly, “I was driving on my own from the first day.”

Hearing this, Su Zai Zai’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That coach is too much!”

Her expression was so indignant, it seemed like she was about to storm off and confront the coach.

Zhang Lurang opened his mouth, just about to stop her, when he heard her fuming, “No way! I’m definitely not learning to drive at this place!”

“…”

He silently closed his mouth, fastened his seatbelt, stepped on the clutch, shifted gears, and moved into first gear.

Zhang Lurang practiced diligently for quite a while.

Half an hour later, he stopped the car and glanced back.

Su Zai Zai sat in the back, bored, playing on her phone. Occasionally, she glanced outside at the scenery, her usually talkative mouth tightly shut, not making a sound to disturb him.

Zhang Lurang retracted his gaze and restarted the car.

When he reached a turn, he suddenly said, “Help me check if the right wheel is over the line.”

Hearing this, Su Zai Zai’s eyes curved happily. She immediately scooted over to the right window and stuck her head out for a look.

“It’s over.”

Zhang Lurang immediately stopped the car and turned to look at her.

Seemingly dissatisfied with her response, he said in a low voice, “Be serious, don’t talk nonsense.”

Su Zai Zai looked completely baffled. “It really is over the line…”

Zhang Lurang unfastened his seatbelt, braced one hand on the passenger seat, and leaned over to check for himself.

Seeing that the rear wheel had indeed crossed the line, he froze for a moment before slowly sitting back down.

After a long pause, Zhang Lurang continued his practice silently, without a word.

This time, it was Su Zai Zai who couldn’t hold back. “Lurang, is this really what you’ve achieved after a whole week of practice?”

He pretended not to hear her.

“How about this,” Su Zai Zai suggested cautiously, “we just hire a driver in the future?”

Zhang Lurang turned the steering wheel, pretending to be unbothered.

“…Stop talking.”

Su Zai Zai ignored him and sighed. “This reminds me of when I taught you how to ride a bike.”

“…”

“Back then, I said I didn’t want to touch your waist, right?”

“…”

“How could I not want to? I could barely resist.” Su Zai Zai mimicked her past thoughts, “Wow! Look at that slim waist!”

Zhang Lurang really didn’t want to hear any more of this.

He was about to say something to change the subject.

Su Zai Zai, her head resting against the seat, grinned and added,

“At that moment, I thought—if I don’t take the chance to touch it, I’d be letting down your beauty.”

“…”

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Zhang Lurang felt his face heat up. He couldn’t help but glance back and scold in a low voice, “Su Zai Zai!”

Su Zai Zai, shameless as ever, remained fearless.

“Your wife is in your car! Drive properly!”

Zhang Lurang’s temple twitched. He chose to remain silent.

After a while, his phone, which was placed on the passenger seat, rang.

Su Zai Zai reminded him, “Lurang, your phone is ringing.”

Zhang Lurang stopped the car, picked up the phone, and glanced at the screen.

It was his mother.

Suddenly, he recalled what Lin Mao had said a few days ago.

Zhang Lurang pressed his lips together and, without hesitation, declined the call.

Moments later, he turned to look at Su Zai Zai.

The sunlight scattered gently over him, casting a soft glow around his figure.

Su Zai Zai yawned, her eyes misty, looking drowsy and relaxed.

Zhang Lurang couldn’t help but curve his lips into a small smile.

“Let’s head back.”