Chapter 41

She Took the Initiative.

—Zhang Lurang

A week before the college entrance exam.

Senior students could choose to stay at school or go home to review; the school no longer required them to stay on campus.

Since the exam halls would be set up in a few days, Su Zai Zai decided to take most of her books home.

She called Father Su to pick her up.

She piled up some old test papers and practice books she no longer needed, planning to throw them away.

While sorting through her notebooks, she suddenly found a plain white draft book.

Her fingertips paused, and she flipped it open.

On one of the pages, she saw that familiar handwriting—clear, sharp, and particularly pleasing to the eye.

She curved her lips into a smile, tore out that page, and tucked it into her current review materials.

…

“Then explain this question to me.”

“I don’t know how.”

…

“Everything you don’t know, I do. I’ll teach you.”

…

Su Zai Zai chuckled.

She couldn’t help but send him a message.

——Lurang.

——What did you feel when I first came to your class to explain a problem to you?

She glanced at the time, not expecting an immediate reply.

Tucking her phone into her backpack, she continued packing.

After throwing away the unwanted books, she called Father Su for help moving the rest downstairs.

Half an hour later, Su Zai Zai finally got into the car.

Leaning her head against the window, she watched the scenery flash by.

The bumpy ride made her a little dizzy.

She suddenly remembered the message she had sent to Zhang Lurang.

Curious, she turned her head, rummaged through her backpack for her phone, and checked.

Zhang Lurang had already replied.

On the screen was a completely unexpected response:

——The classroom didn’t have the air conditioning on.

Huh?

Su Zai Zai blinked, scratched her head, and tried to recall the moment.

What did she say back then?

It seemed like…

——”Ugh, it’s so hot. Let me in to cool down.”

Su Zai Zai: “…”

—

After the Chinese exam.

Su Zai Zai went to the designated spot the homeroom teacher had mentioned earlier.

To prevent students from losing their admission tickets, their teacher had required them to hand them over after each exam and retrieve them before the next.

She handed in her ticket and then went to the cafeteria with another girl from her class.

After lunch, she returned to the dormitory.

Leaning against the bunk bed ladder, she grabbed her phone and stood there to digest her food.

The dorm was far from quiet. A few girls were chatting, all about random topics.

No one mentioned whether the exam was hard, nor did anyone talk about how they had performed.

Listening to their conversation, Su Zai Zai opened WeChat and searched for Zhang Lurang.

Su Zai Zai: Sigh, Lurang.

Zhang Lurang: What’s wrong?

Su Zai Zai: Before entering the exam hall, we had to take off our shoes for scanning. I wore the wrong socks. So embarrassing.

Su Zai Zai: Did you guys have to take off your shoes too?

Zhang Lurang: No.

Su Zai Zai: Thank goodness you didn’t.

Su Zai Zai: I can’t stand the thought of others seeing your feet.

Su Zai Zai: Only I can look!

Zhang Lurang: “…”

After her nonsense, Su Zai Zai was about to take a nap to recharge.

But then, she suddenly remembered something.

Su Zai Zai: Oh right, there was a guy in our exam hall…

Su Zai Zai: While drinking water, he put his bottle on the desk but didn’t close it properly.

Su Zai Zai: Right before submitting his paper, the water spilled all over, soaking his test sheet.

Su Zai Zai: You should be careful too. After drinking water, put your bottle on the floor.

Zhang Lurang: Got it.

—

After the math exam, back in the dormitory.

Su Zai Zai had just sat down on her bed for a few seconds before immediately getting up.

She walked over to her locker and took out her phone.

The first thing she typed was: Sigh.

This time, Zhang Lurang got a little nervous.

Did she do badly in math…?

Su Zai Zai: Lurang, a guy from my class lost his ID card in the afternoon.

Su Zai Zai: Our homeroom teacher was so anxious she almost cried.

Su Zai Zai: But later, the invigilator found it in his exam hall.

Zhang Lurang was momentarily speechless.

Su Zai Zai: Lurang, be careful too.

Su Zai Zai: Make sure to keep your ID and admission ticket safe.

She always rambled on about the most random things, making Zhang Lurang feel a little uneasy.

After hesitating for a moment, he still decided to call her.

Su Zai Zai answered cheerfully, “Lurang.”

Zhang Lurang scratched his head and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“…”

Su Zai Zai walked outside the dormitory, found a spot to squat, and chatted with him.

She sneakily scanned her surroundings, then lowered her voice.

“I think I did super well in math.”

Zhang Lurang let out a breath of relief.

Su Zai Zai had no idea why he had called.

After hesitating for a moment, she tried to reassure him.

“It’s okay. If you don’t do well, I’ll take care of you.”

“…No need.”

“Then why did you call me?”

“Nothing.”

He was just worried that she was hiding her emotions again.

If he hadn’t noticed in time, how miserable would she have been later on?

—

The day after the college entrance exam ended.

Zhang Lurang had booked his flight long in advance, flying from B City back to Z City.

It was only four in the afternoon, and Lin Mao hadn’t come home yet.

Zhang Lurang glanced at Susu.

Frowning, he half-carried and half-dragged the dog to the bathroom to give it a bath.

After drying Susu’s fur with a hairdryer, he went back to his room, changed clothes, and sat on the edge of his bed.

Reaching for his phone on the nightstand, he happened to see a WeChat message from his mother.

——You ran off to your uncle’s place again?

Zhang Lurang hesitated for a moment before replying:

I’ll come back when it’s time to fill out my college applications.

Not long after, his mother called him directly.

The phone buzzed and trembled in Zhang Lurang’s hand.

His expression showed some resistance, but he still answered.

“Did you check your gaokao answers?”

“…”

“A-Rang, tell Mom.”

“…”

“Why do you keep running off to your uncle’s place? Are you in a relationship?”

Zhang Lurang didn’t answer and simply said, “I’m applying to Z University.”

His mother was silent for a moment before her voice softened.

“Why apply so far away? Wouldn’t it be better to go to B University with A-Li?”

“…”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Zhang Lurang curled his lips slightly and said softly, “It wouldn’t be.”

Then, he hung up.

The room returned to silence.

Irritated, Zhang Lurang ran his hand through his hair.

As if sensing his mood, Su Su came over and rested its head against his leg, rubbing against him.

Zhang Lurang forced a small smile and reached out to stroke its fur.

—

A few minutes later, Zhang Lurang went downstairs.

Just in time to see Lin Mao returning from outside.

Seeing him, Lin Mao raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Think you can be the top scorer?”

“I can’t.” Zhang Lurang knew himself well.

Lin Mao walked over to the sofa and sat down, casually pouring himself a glass of water.

Seeing that Lin Mao didn’t say anything else, Zhang Lurang didn’t initiate conversation either.

He went to the fridge, took out an apple, and started eating.

Sitting beside Lin Mao, he silently made plans—

Finish the apple, then go find Su Zai Zai.

Just as he tossed the apple core into the trash can in front of him,

Lin Mao suddenly spoke in a quiet voice.

“Even my nephew has a girlfriend, and yet I’ve been single for thirty-three years.”

Zhang Lurang: “…”

Lin Mao downed his water and turned his head.

He didn’t take his own words too seriously and simply reminded him, “Apply to whatever school you want, don’t listen to your parents.”

“Mm.”

After a moment,

Lin Mao thought for a bit and added, “Before finalizing your choice, go check again at the school’s academic office.”

“…”

“My sister is a terrifying person.”

“…”

Lin Mao patted his shoulder heavily.

“Be careful in everything.”

—

Lin Mao’s words made Zhang Lurang more cautious, worried that any action might hurt his uncle’s feelings.

Because of this, he changed his original plan of heading out right after finishing his apple.

Instead, he waited until after dinner. When Lin Mao went back to his room, he quietly slipped out.

They arranged to meet at a gazebo in the neighborhood.

Su Zai Zai sat beside him, grinning as she scooted closer.

“The moon is dark, the wind is high, and it’s just the two of us here in silence. Do you want to do something to me?”

Zhang Lurang frowned and pushed her away slightly. “No.”

Su Zai Zai immediately lost interest, pouting. “I thought you’d be wilder after the gaokao, but I guess I was wrong.”

Zhang Lurang didn’t respond, just looked at her quietly.

Seeing this, Su Zai Zai refused to give up. “Lurang, want to try a French kiss?”

“Not happening.” Zhang Lurang rejected her instantly.

Su Zai Zai sighed dramatically and said nothing more.

Awkward silence.

Zhang Lurang spoke first, helplessly. “Talk about something else.”

Su Zai Zai propped her chin up and seriously said, “I have nothing to say.”

The summer night remained hot and stifling.

The chirping of crickets around them kept the silence from feeling too cold and empty.

Occasionally, headlights from passing cars lit up the nearby road, somewhat glaring.

Zhang Lurang suddenly felt restless and stifled.

Like the heat was getting to him—or maybe it was something else.

He subconsciously licked his lips, turned his head slightly, and was just about to pull her closer when—

Su Zai Zai suddenly turned her face towards him, catching him off guard.

One hand pressed against the back of his head, pushing down.

Su Zai Zai kissed him firmly, biting his lower lip as if unsatisfied.

She soon let go, slipping her tongue past his lips briefly before retreating.

At the same time, she lowered her hand.

Noticing Zhang Lurang’s dark, unreadable eyes, she showed no fear.

Instead, she curved her eyes in a proud smile, her gaze shining brightly.

It was filled with the smugness and mischief of someone who had just stolen something sweet.

“I just wanted to kiss you,” she said.

—

—Gaokao (高考) is China’s National College Entrance Examination, a highly competitive and rigorous test determining university admissions. Held annually in June, it covers subjects like Chinese, math, and a foreign language. It is considered one of the world’s toughest exams due to its high stakes and intense pressure.