Chapter 49

Let Time Move a Little Faster.

So She Can Grow Up.

—Zhang Lurang

—

By the time Su Zai Zai got home, it was already close to ten at night.

As soon as Mother Su entered the house, she grabbed a change of clothes and went straight to the bathroom to shower, while Father Su sat on the couch, turning on the TV to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

The living room was soon filled with the sound of laughter from the program.

Su Zai Zai sat directly on a small stool beside the coffee table, messaging Zhang Lurang.

—I’m home!

—Rang Rang~

—Wanna meet up on New Year’s Eve?

—Are you asleep?

Every now and then, when the TV got a bit too loud, she would instinctively glance up.

But her attention was clearly not on the show at all.

Soon, Father Su noticed her expression and casually asked,

“Are you heading out later?”

Su Zai Zai stared at her phone screen. Since Zhang Lurang hadn’t replied yet, she wasn’t sure herself.

After thinking for a moment, she vaguely replied, “Not sure yet.”

“Starting today, our house has a curfew. If you’re not back by ten, don’t bother coming back at all.”

Su Zai Zai’s eyes widened, finally shifting her gaze from her phone. “Did Mom agree to that?”

The TV was a little loud, so Father Su picked up the remote and turned it down a notch.

“Tell you what, give me half of your New Year’s money, and I’ll lift the curfew.”

Su Zai Zai looked at him in disbelief.

Father Su acted as if he didn’t notice her gaze, completely avoiding her eyes.

“Be nice to your dad, will you? He hasn’t received New Year’s money in over twenty years.”

At that moment, Mother Su happened to walk out of the bathroom.

Su Zai Zai immediately wailed and called out, “Mom! Dad’s trying to rob me of my New Year’s money!”

Mother Su, who was just about to head back to her room, stopped in her tracks. Instead of walking away, she turned toward the living room and sat down next to Father Su, giving him a quick glance.

She soon looked away and turned to Su Zai Zai.

“So, how much did you get today?”

Su Zai Zai: “…”

Just as Father Su got up to take his turn in the shower, Su Zai Zai finally received Zhang Lurang’s reply.

—Not yet.

—Was just taking a shower.

Seeing this, Su Zai Zai immediately stood up, grinning as she announced, “I’m heading out!”

As if they had already anticipated it, Father and Mother Su didn’t say anything.

“Mom, Dad, you guys should sleep early!” Su Zai Zai added shamelessly, “Your daughter is working so hard to get you the perfect son-in-law without you lifting a finger.”

“…”

Father Su silently walked into the bathroom.

Mother Su cracked open some melon seeds, completely ignoring her.

Not getting a response, Su Zai Zai felt a little wronged. As she put on her coat, she muttered, “Mom, why aren’t you saying anything? You just said you’d be very satisfied with him!”

After a long pause, Mother Su finally replied in a calm voice,

“I’m just not satisfied with you right now.”

Su Zai Zai: “…”

—

It was only when Su Zai Zai reached Zhang Lurang’s doorstep that she finally texted him back.

Sniffling from the cold, she shivered slightly.

For every few words she typed, she would bounce on her feet to keep warm.

Su Zai Zai: Where are you now?

Zhang Lurang: At home.

Su Zai Zai: Where in the house?

Zhang Lurang: …

Zhang Lurang: My room.

Seeing those two words, Su Zai Zai lifted her head to look at the house in front of her.

A duplex.

She was about to ask whether his room was on the first or second floor.

But before she could type, the door suddenly swung open.

With a click, a tall figure appeared.

Zhang Lurang had just finished showering, his hair still damp. The phone in his hand was lit up, and if one looked closely, they’d see their chat window still open on the screen.

He was wearing a dark blue lightweight sweater and a pair of slim-fit gray pants—definitely an indoor outfit.

Completely unsuitable for the chilly 7–8°C temperature outside.

Su Zai Zai frowned immediately, her face full of disapproval.

“Go dry your hair and put on a jacket before you come out.”

The motion-activated light at the entrance flickered on again at the sound of her voice.

The warm yellow glow softened the sharp angles of his face.

His gentle and cool demeanor blended together in that moment.

Zhang Lurang stared at Su Zai Zai, noticing her shivering from the cold. He was silent for a moment.

Then, he reached for her hands, rubbing them lightly to warm them up.

After that, he finally relented for the first time. “Do you want to come inside for a bit?”

His tone was soft, as if he would send her straight home if she hesitated even a little.

Thinking back to how he used to be dead set against letting her in, Su Zai Zai felt a bit flattered…

She was about to agree immediately, but then she suddenly remembered—it was late. Zhang Lurang’s uncle was definitely home.

With that thought, she hesitated and admitted honestly, “Your uncle is there. I don’t dare go in…”

“He’s not,” Zhang Lurang said in a low voice. “He just went out.”

Hearing that, Su Zai Zai let out a sigh of relief.

The hesitation from moments ago vanished instantly.

“Then let’s not waste time, hurry up and go inside!”

“…”

“Rang Rang, the night is short! Do I need to remind you?!”

Zhang Lurang remained silent, took out a pair of brand-new indoor slippers from the shoe cabinet, and crouched down to place them in front of her.

Su Su, their dog, excitedly circled around them.

Su Zai Zai grinned and bent down to pet its head.

Before long, Zhang Lurang held her hand and led her into the house.

They headed toward the bright and spacious living room, but Su Zai Zai suddenly stopped and tugged at his hand.

He instinctively turned back.

“You’re making me stay in the living room?”

“…Yeah.”

“Aren’t you afraid your uncle might come home suddenly?”

Zhang Lurang looked a little confused. “Why would I be?”

He still had another sentence in his mouth, “Besides, he won’t be back that early,” but he hadn’t said it yet.

Before he could say anything, Zhang Lurang heard Su Zai Zai cautiously say, “J-just me coming to your house and being alone with you…”

Hearing that, his expression became a little unnatural.

Zhang Lurang subconsciously clenched his free hand and opened his mouth.

“Then…” I’ll take you home.

The next second—

“What if your uncle misunderstands and thinks I’m going to do something to you…”

Zhang Lurang: “…”

He lowered his eyes to look at her, staring at her expression.

…She looked serious.

She really didn’t seem to be joking at all.

Zhang Lurang paused for a moment. Soon, he quietly and resignedly held her hand and led her upstairs.

Su Zai Zai finally relaxed.

She looked up at Zhang Lurang’s back, inexplicably feeling a sense of solemnity.

She suddenly felt like he was leading her to his room with the air of a martyr heading to his fate.

Licking her lips, she couldn’t help but reassure him, “You don’t have to be so scared… I’ll restrain myself.”

“…”

Upstairs, Zhang Lurang led her into the second room on the right.

The room was spacious, with a predominantly cool-toned color scheme.

On the desk, a computer and desk lamp were on, with a few open books beside them.

Su Zai Zai instinctively glanced at them and asked, “Were you reading just now?”

Zhang Lurang responded softly, walked to the desk, picked up a bag, and handed it to her.

He looked down at her, his eyes bright and vivid. “Happy New Year.”

Su Zai Zai took it and opened it for a look.

It was a dress—the exact style she loved.

She was momentarily stunned and asked softly, “Did you buy this yourself?”

Zhang Lurang licked the corner of his lips, his expression like a child proudly presenting a treasure.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it! It’s amazing!”

Zhang Lurang couldn’t help but curve his lips, all his gloominess swept away by her reaction.

Soon, Su Zai Zai let go of the dress.

Since she hadn’t showered yet, she sat directly on the carpet by the bed.

Zhang Lurang instinctively sat beside her.

With the door closed, their dog, Susu, scratched at it outside, whining.

Su Zai Zai watched for a while. Seeing that Zhang Lurang didn’t move, she said nothing either.

After a long silence, she spoke softly, “I didn’t get you a New Year’s gift.”

Zhang Lurang didn’t mind and nodded. “Mm.”

The next second, Su Zai Zai pulled out the red envelopes she had received that day from her small bag.

A dozen bright red envelopes suddenly tumbled in front of Zhang Lurang.

Proudly, she said, “Before I left, my parents wanted me to split my New Year’s money with them, but I firmly refused.”

Zhang Lurang looked at her childish expression and suddenly found it amusing.

“I’ve been receiving New Year’s money for eighteen years now,” Su Zai Zai counted on her fingers, seriously saying, “though it’s all in my bank card.”

Leaning against the bed frame, Zhang Lurang quietly listened to what she would say next.

Su Zai Zai wasn’t sure how much she had and hesitated, “I think the amount shouldn’t be small…”

He thought her next words would be: “Why don’t you help me calculate it!”

After a while, Zhang Lurang finally heard her speak.

“I haven’t spent a single cent of it. After I graduate from university, I’ll use it to buy rings.”

Hearing that, Zhang Lurang turned to her in shock.

“That way, you can think of it as…” Su Zai Zai suddenly felt shy, lowering her gaze. “Since I was a kid, I’ve been saving money just so I could marry you.”

Outside the door, Susu had given up scratching, occasionally making little whimpering sounds.

The room was so quiet that even the sound of air moving seemed audible.

Inside, in the very place where Zhang Lurang had once been hesitant to even let Su Zai Zai step into his home—

The man who had always refused her entry suddenly leaned forward.

One hand pressed against the floor as he turned his head, looking up at her from below—

And, unable to hold back, kissed her lips.

Su Zai Zai instinctively leaned back, only to be steadied by his firm hand pressing against her back.

His broad palm slowly moved up, cradling the back of her head.

His lips and tongue deepened the kiss, invading her completely.

For the first time, his kiss carried desire.

An overwhelming, possessive desire.