I touched his hand.

A little cold, but somehow warm.

In short… it felt amazing.

—— Su Zai Zai Fairy’s Diary

Friday Night

After taking a shower, Su Zai Zai lay sprawled on her bed.

She held her phone in her hand, her feet swinging back and forth.

Seeing “Zhang Rang Rang” on the screen, she couldn’t help but roll over, hugging her phone and grinning like an idiot.

After a while, she happily typed: “Rang Rang.”

Su Zai Zai: “My foot is all healed~”

Zhang Lurang: “Mm.”

Su Zai Zai: “So, let’s go cycling.”

He didn’t reply immediately.

Su Zai Zai kept staring at the screen, watching the “The other party is typing…” indicator.

Half a minute later, she started to lose patience.

Biting her lip, she asked, unhappy: “You’re not backing out, are you?”

Su Zai Zai: “Then you owe me the number of jellies equal to six rows plus one more row, minus one.”

Su Zai Zai: “Wait, no. With inflation, you need to compensate me a hundred times over.”

Su Zai Zai: “Being stood up has caused me deep emotional trauma.”

Su Zai Zai: “In total, you probably owe me around a hundred million.”

Zhang Lurang: “……”

He slowly deleted the message he had been typing and replied: “What time?”

—

The Next Afternoon

Su Zai Zai walked out the door carrying a bag, holding a cycling helmet in her arms.

Standing downstairs, Zhang Lurang saw what she was holding and was speechless: “……”

Su Zai Zai ran over happily and showed him.

“I bought it last week!” she said proudly.

“……”

She handed him the bag and reminded him, “Put this on first—knee pads and elbow pads. You can’t afford to get hurt.”

Zhang Lurang pursed his lips but took it anyway.

“We can put on the helmets over there,” she muttered.

Zhang Lurang didn’t say anything, but his resistance to the helmet was obvious.

Noticing his expression, Su Zai Zai suddenly realized something.

“You think this helmet is ugly?”

“…Mm.”

Su Zai Zai was a little disappointed. “Really? I was afraid you’d think a patterned one was too much, so I picked a plain black one.”

Seeing that he had no reaction, she didn’t insist.

“Well, I guess it’s not the best-looking… Okay, forget the helmet. Just wear the knee and elbow pads.”

Zhang Lurang nodded.

Su Zai Zai walked to the bike shed and pushed her bicycle out.

The two of them walked side by side toward an open space in the neighborhood.

Suddenly, Su Zai Zai spoke up: “Rang Rang.”

“Mm.”

“Did the teacher call your parents?”

Zhang Lurang hesitated before saying, “Not sure.”

Su Zai Zai just responded with an “Oh” and changed the subject.

“Do you know how long it takes an average person to learn to ride a bike?”

Zhang Lurang thought about it seriously and was about to answer when—

Su Zai Zai shamelessly blurted out nonsense: “People with talent need at least six months. Someone as average as you? At least a year.”

Zhang Lurang: “……”

Noticing his look, Su Zai Zai blinked innocently. “You don’t believe me?”

“……”

“Why would I lie to you?”

He looked away and said in a low voice, “I don’t know.”

“How can you not believe me?”

“……”

“Rang Rang, you can’t always be on guard against me.”

“……”

“I’m so good to you. How could I possibly lie to you?”

“……” He really didn’t understand how learning to ride a bike could take an entire year.

When they reached the open space, Zhang Lurang was just about to grab the handlebars when Su Zai Zai stopped him.

“No! You can’t start practicing right away!”

“……”

“We need to cover theory first!”

“……”

“I need to explain it to you.” Su Zai Zai pointed at the bicycle. “This is called a bicycle. You can also call it a pedal bike or just a bike…”

Zhang Lurang had completely lost interest in talking to her.

“Its English name is bicycle.”

“…Mm.”

Seeing his half-hearted response, Su Zai Zai frowned and decided to stir up some trouble.

“Why don’t you spell bicycle for me?”

“……”

“Can’t do it? I’ll teach you.”

“……Ride the bike.”

“We are learning to ride a bike.”

“……”

After explaining the word, Su Zai Zai continued seriously, “Now, let’s learn about the bike’s structure.”

Zhang Lurang finally lost his patience. “Su Zai Zai.”

“Ah?”

“Are you trying to stop me from learning?”

“I’m not!” She looked completely innocent.

Zhang Lurang lowered his head and stared at her expressionlessly.

Su Zai Zai couldn’t stand being looked at like that.

She immediately shifted her gaze and adjusted the height of the bike seat.

Then she looked at him and compromised, “Try it and see if the height works.”

Zhang Lurang placed one foot on the ground, swung his long leg over, and stepped onto the pedal.

Su Zai Zai hesitated before asking, “Lurang, are you really not going to wear a helmet?”

“Mm.”

“I’ll hold on to you. I won’t let you fall. Don’t be scared.”

“Okay.” A trace of amusement flashed in his eyes.

Since Su Zai Zai’s bicycle didn’t have a back seat, she could only hold onto the support rod beneath the saddle.

Zhang Lurang pushed down with his right foot on the pedal.

Then he placed his left foot up as well.

Su Zai Zai held onto the back and softly reminded, “I’m holding on. Try to find your balance.”

Zhang Lurang gave a low “Mm.”

“Step firmly. I won’t let you fall,” she assured him seriously.

Considering that Su Zai Zai was holding on from behind, Zhang Lurang rode very slowly.

Seeing that he was pedaling steadily, Su Zai Zai carefully let go.

But she still kept her hands hovering around the support rod, afraid to move too far away.

Her mind suddenly drifted.

Today, Zhang Lurang was wearing a black-and-white striped pullover hoodie, casual and well-fitted.

It didn’t reveal much of his muscle definition.

But because the seat and handlebars were about the same height—

When Zhang Lurang rode, his body leaned slightly forward.

If he wasn’t careful, a little bit of skin would peek out…

Su Zai Zai swallowed.

One of her hands couldn’t help but reach out and touch.

Zhang Lurang’s body instantly stiffened, his balance vanishing in a second.

He quickly planted one foot on the ground.

His reflexes were fast—he didn’t fall.

Su Zai Zai was startled.

Seeing that he hadn’t fallen, she let out a breath of relief.

Then she quickly reacted and blurted, “I didn’t touch you!”

Zhang Lurang: “…”

“I absolutely didn’t! Absolutely didn’t touch you!”

“…”

Su Zai Zai immediately shifted the blame: “You were the one who twisted your waist toward me! I swear!”

“…”

“My hand was just sitting there properly…”

Zhang Lurang stayed silent and turned to look at her.

Su Zai Zai instantly shut her mouth.

After a moment, she weakly admitted, “Okay, it was me.”

Then, with a straight face, she lied, “There was a bug just now. I helped you swat it away.”

Zhang Lurang didn’t say anything.

But Su Zai Zai felt oddly wronged: “So what if I touched you?”

“…”

“It’s not like I had any improper thoughts.”

“Mm.” He responded quickly.

“Then why do you always look like you’re guarding your life?”

“…I’m not.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Su Zai Zai lowered her head, feeling frustrated. “It’s not like I don’t shower. What are you so disgusted by? I—I showered for nothing!”

Zhang Lurang’s cheeks burned, a little embarrassed. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“So you’re not disgusted by me?”

“Mm.”

Su Zai Zai pushed further: “Then prove it.”

“…How?”

She stretched out her palm with a playful grin.

“Touch my hand. Prove you’re not disgusted by me.”

He immediately turned his face away, looking uneasy. “Don’t mess around.”

Su Zai Zai widened her eyes. “It’s just a handshake. What’s the big deal?”

“…”

She thought for a moment and decided to lower his psychological barrier.

“Haven’t you ever high-fived a girl before?”

Zhang Lurang nodded.

Su Zai Zai chuckled meaningfully. “Then your first time is mine now.”

“…”

“First time high-fiving a girl,” she clarified.

Su Zai Zai held up her hand. “Come on.”

Zhang Lurang had one foot on the ground, the other on the pedal.

His hands rested on the handlebars, eyes lowered.

After a while, he raised his left hand.

His cheeks were a little warm as he quickly tapped her palm.

Then he pulled away immediately.

Su Zai Zai was so excited she wanted to jump up and lick her own palm.

She forced herself to hold back and pretended to be indifferent.

“Let’s continue practicing,” she said.

Zhang Lurang kept his head down and didn’t respond.

Su Zai Zai thought for a moment and said, “Lurang, you should really wear the helmet. You almost fell just now.”

“No.” He refused outright.

She frowned. “But I might not be able to hold onto you every time.”

“…”

“Wear it. It’s safer.” Su Zai Zai kept persuading.

“…”

She moved closer to him. “Will you wear it?”

Her eyes seemed to shine, clear and bright.

When she smiled, her peach-blossom eyes curved like crescent moons, and a faint dimple appeared at the corner of her lips.

She looked both adorable and confident.

Zhang Lurang turned his gaze away. “…Mm.”

Su Zai Zai quickly grabbed the helmet nearby and handed it to him.

He took it and put it on.

Su Zai Zai watched him adjust the strap.

After half a minute, she suddenly called out, “Lurang.”

Zhang Lurang absentmindedly responded, “Mm?”

Su Zai Zai praised, “You just improved the looks of this helmet.”

“…”

“Lurang, you’re really amazing.”

Zhang Lurang had a feeling she was about to say something ridiculous, but after hesitating, he still asked, “What?”

“I was originally going to say this helmet is ugly, but after you put it on—”

“…”

“I just want to say, this is a beautiful helmet now.”

“…Be normal.”

Once he had the helmet on, Zhang Lurang started riding again.

This time, Su Zai Zai held on tightly from behind, not daring to let go.

Ten minutes later.

Zhang Lurang, who had long since found his balance, finally said, “Su Zai Zai, you can let go now.”

“No way.” Su Zai Zai objected immediately. “What if you fall?”

“…”

Fifteen minutes later.

“Su Zai Zai, let go.”

“I don’t dare… I really don’t dare.” She looked distressed.

“…”

Twenty minutes later.

Zhang Lurang squeezed the brake and said softly, “It’s late. Let’s continue another day.”

“Is it really that hard?” Su Zai Zai finally let go, looking like she had been through it all.

After a moment of silence, he answered, “…Mm.”

—

One week before final exams.

The homeroom teacher handed out the subject selection forms for the arts and science tracks.

As soon as she got it, Su Zai Zai immediately checked “Arts.”

Jiang Jia, sitting next to her, was curious. “Huh? Didn’t you say Zhang Lurang was picking Science? Aren’t you going to follow him?”

“Jia Jia.” Su Zai Zai spoke earnestly, educating her. “Chasing a guy requires rationality.”

“…”

“If I pick Arts, I can be a top student.”

“…”

“Right now, I’m flawless, perfect beyond measure.”

“…Shut up.”

—

After the end-of-term ceremony.

Su Zai Zai sent Zhang Lurang a WeChat message.

Su Zai Zai: Lurang, let’s go biking tomorrow!

This time, his reply was much slower than usual.

Su Zai Zai waited for a long time. Just as she was about to go shower—

Her phone lit up with two new messages.

She tapped the screen.

Zhang Lurang: I’m going back to B City tomorrow.

Zhang Lurang: My family is there. I’ll be back when school starts.