Chapter 55

I need to let her know.

How much I look forward to our future.

—Zhang Lurang

Early the next morning.

Because of his biological clock, Zhang Lurang woke up early.

Su Zai Zai’s department had planned to go to a well-known local teahouse for morning tea. Since it wasn’t too early, she hadn’t set an alarm.

Zhang Lurang lay in bed with her for a while, but in the end, he couldn’t resist getting up. He sat up, tucked the blanket around her, and quietly went to the bathroom to take a shower.

By the time he came out, Su Zai Zai was just waking up.

Wrapped in a pure white blanket, her chestnut-brown hair was scattered behind her, looking soft and fluffy.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and mumbled groggily, “Lurang, what time is it?”

Zhang Lurang averted his gaze, drying his hair with a towel as he replied softly, “I didn’t check.”

Then he walked over to the desk, his back facing her.

Su Zai Zai rolled over in bed, her voice soft and lazy.

“Did you see my phone? I need to check what the department group chat says.”

Zhang Lurang reached for his backpack’s zipper, pretending to rummage for something casually.

“Haven’t seen it.”

Hearing that, Su Zai Zai was momentarily dazed, then happened to spot Zhang Lurang’s phone on the nightstand.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “Then I’ll use your phone to call mine.”

Zhang Lurang instinctively responded with an “Mm.”

The next second, as if realizing something, he suddenly turned around.

Just in time to see Su Zai Zai leaning over to grab his phone, her bare skin exposed in large patches, dazzlingly white.

Zhang Lurang’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He took a step back, bumping into the desk with a slight noise.

Su Zai Zai didn’t notice his reaction. She yawned, picked up his phone, and skillfully unlocked it with his fingerprint. Just as she was about to return to the home screen, something on the screen caught her eye.

—《XX Sexuality Report》

Su Zai Zai froze for a moment, then looked up at Zhang Lurang.

His ears were burning, and he avoided her gaze.

After a long silence, Su Zai Zai finally reacted and excitedly said, “Lurang, you studied a textbook for me? But why are you reading a text version? You could’ve asked me! I have tons of videos!”

Zhang Lurang: “…”

“How about we skip morning tea today? Let’s practice more—you need to apply what you learn!”

Whatever little embarrassment Zhang Lurang had felt instantly evaporated.

He walked over, pulled a fresh set of clothes from her bag, placed them in front of her, and said coldly, “Check-out is at noon. Hurry up and shower.”

Su Zai Zai glanced at the time and innocently pointed out, “It’s only nine. We have enough time for… ten rounds.”

Hearing this, Zhang Lurang paused, lowering his gaze to her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Sensing something was off, Su Zai Zai quickly corrected herself.

“O-One! I misspoke…”

Zhang Lurang ignored her, lying down on the other bed and closing his eyes as if resting.

After a while, he didn’t hear any movement.

His brows twitched, and he was about to check on her when he heard Su Zai Zai’s cautious yet hopeful voice.

“…Half a round?”

Zhang Lurang: “…”

Halfway through morning tea, Su Zai Zai went to the restroom with a female colleague.

On the way, the colleague, looking curious and gossipy, couldn’t help but ask, “Zai Zai, did your period come yesterday?”

Su Zai Zai was puzzled. “No?”

“Then why does your boyfriend look like that?”

Su Zai Zai instantly understood what she meant and fell silent for a moment.

She then thought of Zhang Lurang’s poker face, which had been cold all morning, and the gloomy aura still surrounding him.

After some thought, she couldn’t remember exactly what she had said in the morning, but she did remember feeling resentful about being rejected.

“Just think about it in reverse.”

“Huh?”

They had just returned to the table, so Su Zai Zai didn’t continue the conversation and took her seat.

Zhang Lurang glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and reached out to place a shrimp dumpling in her bowl.

Su Zai Zai lowered her eyes, picked up her chopsticks, and slowly nibbled on it.

…Probably because she hadn’t gotten her period.

And now, Zhang Lurang was likely experiencing the agony of “losing his purity.”

Thinking of this, Su Zai Zai turned to him and patted his hand.

With a solemn expression, she said, “I’ll take responsibility for you.”

Zhang Lurang: “…”

On the way back.

Maybe because she hadn’t woken up too early, Su Zai Zai wasn’t the least bit sleepy in the car.

She absentmindedly watched some videos for a while before starting to feel a little carsick.

She put her phone down and turned to stare at Zhang Lurang.

He was wearing a light blue mask, with his tall nose bridge half-exposed.

A few fine strands of hair fell over his forehead, and his curled lashes glowed faintly under the light. His sharp side profile was particularly striking.

Su Zai Zai leaned in and looked at his phone screen.

Zhang Lurang didn’t shy away, his slender fingers continuing to tap on the screen.

His expression was serious, as if he were handling something important.

The screen was filled with densely packed photos of Su Zai Zai.

Each one was carefully labeled with the date and location.

From her sophomore year in high school until now—three years—he had always done this.

Resting her chin on her palm, Su Zai Zai curiously asked, “How many photos?”

“Three hundred and twelve,” he replied lightly.

Seeing one of the pictures, Su Zai Zai pouted.

“This one’s ugly. Why did you take it like that?”

Zhang Lurang hesitated for a moment, staring at the photo.

A few seconds later, he swiped to another image.

“This one looks good.”

Su Zai Zai glanced at it.

In the photo, she was looking down, biting a pen cap, her brows furrowed in frustration.

The warm yellow light made her skin look even fairer and smoother. A few strands of hair fell beside her cheeks, adding a touch of girlish charm.

Su Zai Zai’s eyes curved up at the corners, clearly pleased with his compliment.

Then, she pulled up a selfie from her phone and showed it to him. “That photo of me is pretty too, but it doesn’t fully capture my beauty.”

“…”

“Look at this one—it probably showcases about one-tenth of my beauty,” she shamelessly declared.

This selfie was one of the few she was completely satisfied with.

Hearing her words, Zhang Lurang turned to look at her phone screen.

He stared at the person in the picture for a moment, narrowed his eyes slightly, and examined it carefully.

Then, he calmly concluded, “This isn’t you.”

Su Zai Zai: “…”

Seeing her expression, Zhang Lurang’s lips curved into a slight smile.

He lowered his gaze, reached out to ruffle her hair, and said seriously, “You look good in all of them.”

After a while, Su Zai Zai leaned against Zhang Lurang’s arm, resting with her eyes closed.

Beside her, Zhang Lurang put down his phone and asked softly, “Where do you want to live in the future?”

“Hm?” Su Zai Zai didn’t catch it and barely stirred.

Zhang Lurang turned to look at her fluttering lashes, his voice full of coaxing warmth. “If you don’t want to be too far from your parents, we can live in Jinghua in the future. How about that?”

Hearing this, Su Zai Zai slowly lifted her head and looked at him.

She didn’t understand why he was suddenly saying this. Dazed, she asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Our future.”

He was talking about their future.

Through the layers of their masks, Zhang Lurang gently rubbed his nose against her cheek.

His eyes were soft, dark and clear like a glass marble.

“I’ll listen to you in everything.”