The first time I ever wanted him to get lost.

But I didn’t have the guts, so I held it in.

Held it in until I couldn’t anymore—then I cried.

— Su Zai Zai Fairy’s Diary

---

Zhang Lurang’s gaze dropped, noticing how tightly she was clenching her hands.

The pressure was intense, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Zhang Lurang thought, If I deny it…

Would she feel awkward? Or sad?

Or would she just laugh it off?

He lifted his eyes again, only to meet her unwavering gaze.

Su Zai Zai pressed her lips together, stubborn and determined, waiting for his answer.

Like a child who couldn’t get the candy they wanted.

Zhang Lurang didn’t understand why she was asking this.

Had he been too obvious? Was he making her uncomfortable?

…Suddenly, Zhang Lurang felt a little suffocated.

He was silent for a moment before responding in a low voice.

“Mm.”

Feelings like this couldn’t be hidden.

If he hid them and she believed the lie, then what?

It would just make things complicated later.

Besides, he wasn’t good at hiding it anyway.

Zhang Lurang withdrew his gaze, his expression unreadable.

He had no idea how Su Zai Zai would react.

The world seemed to freeze for a second.

Then, the next moment—

Su Zai Zai grabbed his hand, barely holding back a scream.

“Lurang! You really like me? You like me? You like me?!”

Zhang Lurang: “…”

Tears welled up in her eyes from excitement, shimmering like waves under the light.

Even after receiving his confirmation, there was still a hint of cautiousness in her gaze.

Zhang Lurang sighed and said, “Yeah, but I won’t affect your—”

Before he could finish, Su Zai Zai cut him off.

“What do you mean you won’t affect me?! Of course you have to affect me! If you don’t, you’re not a man!”

“…”

She was so worked up that her voice cracked.

After taking a moment to calm down, Su Zai Zai put on a composed act.

“Lurang, I’ve been chasing you for half a year! You have to give me an official title now, right?”

Hearing this, Zhang Lurang sharply turned his head to look at her.

His face was full of disbelief, taking a long time to process.

Su Zai Zai, a little embarrassed under his stare, mumbled, “W-what are you looking at?”

His expression darkened, and after a long pause, he said, “You told me no.”

Zhang Lurang’s words made Su Zai Zai recall her past response—

“You like me?”

“I’ve never thought about it, really, not even once…”

Su Zai Zai broke into a cold sweat but kept a straight face. “I never said that.”

“You did.” Zhang Lurang was unusually persistent this time.

“I really didn’t.”

“…”

Su Zai Zai surrendered. “Fine, I said it.”

Zhang Lurang’s expression still wasn’t great, but a faint blush gradually appeared on his face.

This wasn’t how he imagined it would go.

Being deceived… actually felt kind of nice.

“T-then, I… I feel embarrassed now,” Su Zai Zai muttered, lowering her head.

“…” He couldn’t see where she was embarrassed at all.

Thinking back to that moment, Su Zai Zai still felt proud of her quick thinking.

“If I admitted it back then, you’d have definitely rejected me. No way was I giving you that chance.”

“…”

“And if you had rejected me, you’d probably end up single for life. So really, I saved you.”

Zhang Lurang’s temple twitched. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense. You’re obviously head over heels for me.”

Zhang Lurang’s face instantly burned red. “Su Zai Zai!”

“Alright, just tell me—are we getting together today or tomorrow?”

“…” He fell silent, not answering.

Su Zai Zai patiently waited.

A fish in a barrel—he had nowhere to escape.

She wasn’t in a hurry.

After a long time, Zhang Lurang hesitated and said, “You’re still in high school.”

Su Zai Zai blinked, looking displeased. “So are you. We’re the same age. Don’t talk to me like you’re from an older generation.”

He ignored her and continued, “Do your parents have strict rules?”

To ease his worries, Su Zai Zai started spewing nonsense.

“Of course not! They encouraged me to date when I was in elementary school.”

Zhang Lurang: “…”

Su Zai Zai was about to say more when Zhang Lurang spoke again.

“It’s still too early.”

Fine, Su Zai Zai didn’t want to affect his studies anyway.

Worst case scenario, they could get together after the college entrance exams. She could wait.

After all, their feelings were out in the open now. The only thing left was making it official.

Even without a label, she could probably start getting handsy with him.

Suddenly, Su Zai Zai felt really happy.

But… two years still felt so long.

She pushed further. “Then when?”

Zhang Lurang thought for a moment before saying slowly, “After you graduate from university.”

Su Zai Zai: “…”

She turned her head to look at him, thinking she misheard. “What did you say?”

“…”

“You definitely said an extra ‘university’ in there, right?”

“…No.”

After realizing what he meant, Su Zai Zai’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Zhang Lurang! Have you lost your mind?!”

Zhang Lurang was taken aback by her reaction. “What?”

Su Zai Zai demanded an explanation. “Why do we have to wait until after university?”

“You’re still young,” he said seriously.

“…”

For the first time, Su Zai Zai was left speechless.

Her sanity began to crack as she angrily analyzed, “Lurang, are you a reincarnated old man? Were you an actual grandpa in your past life?”

“…”

“Or did you time-travel from ancient China?”

Zhang Lurang frowned. “Stop talking nonsense.”

Su Zai Zai instantly exploded.

“Zhang Lurang! You’re too selfish!”

“…”

“You’ve already taken away my right to date early! And now you want me to wait until I’m almost thirty to have my first relationship? Dream on! You’re way too selfish!”

“I…”

“I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Don’t talk to me.”

Su Zai Zai turned her head away, stood up, and walked toward Little Short Legs.

She crouched down and tied the leash on the dog.

Zhang Lu Rang followed behind her, looking a little lost.

He hesitated for a moment before softening his voice, “Su Zai Zai, early dating isn’t good.”

Su Zai Zai squatted there for a long time. Even after tying the leash, she still didn’t get up.

Zhang Lu Rang hesitated, then stepped forward, squatted down in front of her, and looked at her closely.

It was only then that he realized her eyes were red, tears streaming down her face.

Zhang Lu Rang froze, suddenly flustered. “Why are you crying?”

“Wu wu wu… It’s too scary…” Su Zai Zai sobbed. “I actually have to be single for six more years… I can’t even imagine it… Don’t talk to me…”

He couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation.

“How about after the college entrance exams?” Zhang Lu Rang compromised, coaxing her in a soft voice.

Su Zai Zai instantly stopped crying.

The way he put it scared her for a second, but now she suddenly felt that being able to be together right after the exams was an absolute blessing.

Two years?

It would pass in the blink of an eye.

She sniffled and solemnly said, “Then it’s settled—June 8, 2015, at 5 PM.”

Zhang Lu Rang obediently nodded, not daring to say anything else. He only added, “Don’t cry anymore.”

---

Su Zai Zai went home.

She lay on her bed, exhausted, for a while before picking up her phone to text Jiang Jia.

Su Zai Zai: I…

Su Zai Zai: Sigh.

Jiang Jia: What?

Su Zai Zai: Did you know? Zhang Lu Rang is even more conservative than my dad.

Jiang Jia: ……

Su Zai Zai: Normally, guys with a face like his would be flirting as much as possible while they’re still young, right?

Jiang Jia: What happened?

Thinking about Zhang Lu Rang today, Su Zai Zai’s eyes turned red again.

In a breakdown, she typed out a message and sent it.

——I hope you live to see me marry Zhang Lu Rang before you’re forty.