Chapter 31: Crossroads

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Crossroads

Han Wenwen lay on her bed, covered only by a single blanket. She curled her legs up, stretching one long, snow-white leg out as she tried to touch the wooden slats of the upper bunk.

But even with her tender pink toes fully pointed, she couldn’t reach it.

"Even thinking about it now, it feels unbelievable," she murmured to herself. "To think that the boyfriend the heavens bestowed upon me turned out to be Qingqing’s childhood friend, the one she pines for day and night. Honestly, I was completely stunned when I saw his photo."

Her expression was blank, almost dazed. "Good thing Qingqing didn’t notice anything that day, or it would have been really troublesome."

Han Wenwen held up a small notebook, flipping through it casually. Looking closely at the details, she could indeed feel that many of Lin Zhengran’s habits matched her own, and they complemented each other in numerous ways.

"Looking at it this way, we’re actually quite a good match. The Heart Connection Festival really is magical," she whispered. "But... for someone like me, it doesn’t matter whether I have a boyfriend or not."

Rolling over onto her stomach, she grabbed her phone and dialed her best friend’s number. BEEP BEEP. The call connected.

Han Wenwen smiled and asked, "What is Qingqing up to? Did your enrollment procedures go smoothly?"

Her lower legs swung up and down in a rhythmic pattern as she chatted. "Oh? You’re coming over next week? Great! I’ll pick you up at the station then. By the way, I’ve already taken care of what I promised you. Your dear Ranran is quite exceptional, you know. And very handsome, too."

A week later, Xiao Heqing arrived safely at the middle school in town. Han Wenwen had made a special trip to the station to pick her and Mrs. He up.

The moment the two best friends saw each other, they squealed with excitement, clasping hands and pulling each other into a tight hug as they excitedly called out each other’s names.

Mrs. He gave Xiao Heqing some pocket money and a few final reminders. Initially, she had been a bit worried about leaving her daughter here. However, knowing that Han Wenwen would be attending the same school put her mind completely at ease.

While making the bed in the dorm room, Mrs. He looked at her overjoyed daughter and instructed, "Qingqing, you’re a big girl now. Even though you and your Ranran are very close, you can’t just drop by his house to play as casually as you did when you were little. If you do go, you must buy some gifts for Mrs. Lin. You need to show proper manners."

Xiao Heqing obediently helped her mother make the bed, while Han Wenwen pitched in from the side.

Xiao Heqing nodded. "I know. The next time I go to see him, I’ll buy something for Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin."

Once everything was unpacked, Mrs. He stood up. "Well, that settles everything here. I’ll take the bus back this afternoon. You and Wenwen just stay in the dorms over the weekends. You can call Mom anytime if you need anything, and when the holidays come around, you can come home together."

She then turned to Han Wenwen. "Wenwen, I’ll leave Qingqing in your care. Make sure to look out for each other while you’re here."

Han Wenwen tilted her head with a bright smile. "You’re too polite, Mrs. He. Don’t worry, Qingqing and I will take good care of each other."

He Qing also put on a serious face, determined to prove to her mother that she had grown up. "Rest assured, Mom."

Without further ado, Mrs. He bid the two girls goodbye at the school gates and left the town.

After waving goodbye, Xiao Heqing and Han Wenwen exchanged a look. The two girls suddenly broke into simultaneous smiles.

GIGGLE. They playfully teased each other.

Han Wenwen leaned in and whispered something into Xiao Heqing’s ear. Flushed with embarrassment, Xiao Heqing shot her a mock-angry glare. "Wenwen! What on earth are you saying?"

"I’m just saying you have great taste in childhood sweethearts! Come on, I left my little notebook in the dorm. I wrote down everything in great detail. I guarantee it has everything you want to know."

Intensely curious, Xiao Heqing held hands with Han Wenwen as they hurried back to the dorm to examine the notebook.

On the way, Han Wenwen asked, "By the way, are you going to wait at the school gates tomorrow afternoon to welcome your dear Ranran?"

Xiao Heqing’s face reddened. "Of course I am. Otherwise, how will he know I’m here? Besides, didn’t you say that I need to take the initiative if I want a chance?"

While the two girls had a joyous weekend, Jiang Xueli was stuck at home, sneezing continuously—exactly like Xiao Heqing had a few years ago.

"What’s going on? Surely I haven’t caught a cold in this sweltering heat?" she wondered in confusion.

On Sunday evening, the middle school students trickled back to campus to face another brand new week of confinement.

Ever since he started middle school, Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli rarely dropped Lin Zhengran off at school anymore. They simply gave him cash to catch a cab or take the bus himself.

Naturally, this was Lin Zhengran’s own idea. He didn’t consider himself a little kid anymore, so being chauffeured back and forth every day felt completely unnecessary.

On his way to school, Lin Zhengran took a rare moment to check his system interface.

[Your Spiritual Qi is currently at Level 36. Having stepped out of the Newbie Village, you are making your first foray into the vast Jianghu. Though you have yet to make a name for yourself in this Jianghu, with your current strength, it is surely only a matter of time.]

[Strength: 27] [Reach 50 to unlock the special ability: Maintain muscles without exercising.]

[Energy: 23] [Reach 60 to unlock the special ability: Seven times a night without fatigue.]

[Physical Strength: 30] [Reach 70 to unlock the special ability: Double Physical Strength, triple endurance in tasks.]

[Charm: 33] [Reach 40 to unlock the special ability: Gain double affection from others through words and actions.]

Every time Lin Zhengran read the breakthrough rewards at the end of the prompts, he struggled to keep a straight face.

Not a single one was a decent, respectable ability. Yet, he couldn’t deny that they were all undeniably useful...

DING DONG. As the bus pulled into the stop, a pleasant female voice chimed over the speakers.

"We have arrived at Xin Cheng First High School. Passengers for Xin Cheng First High School, please alight from the rear doors. Repeating: We have arrived at Xin Cheng First High School..."

Lin Zhengran lined up with a crowd of students to disembark. The bus stop was only two intersections away from the school, which was fairly close.

Just then, his phone rang. It was Jiang Xueli.

The moment he answered, her grumbling voice immediately came through. "You big idiot, are you at school yet? Since I wasn’t there to take the bus with you today, you didn’t get lost, did you?"

Accustomed to her antics, Lin Zhengran shot back, "You’ve got some nerve saying that. Who was it that couldn’t even find the registration spot on the very first day of school?"

Jiang Xueli scoffed. From her voice alone, he could perfectly picture her haughty, tsundere expression.

"I was... I was just testing you! How could I possibly not know where it was? Anyway, enough about that! I’m waiting for you at the school gates. Mom came by here to go shopping this morning, so she dropped me off on the way. Otherwise, I totally would have taken the bus with you."

"So why are you waiting for me at the gates?"

"Just in case you got lost, duh! Otherwise, did you think I actually wanted to wait for you?" Jiang Xueli lied through her teeth. Then, she caught sight of an approaching figure. "Oh, I see you now! Hanging up!"

Standing near the gates in her school uniform, her hair tied in twin tails, Jiang Xueli gazed eagerly at the approaching silhouette.

A bright smile revealing her little canine teeth lit up her face as she waved enthusiastically. "Big idiot! I’m over here!" She immediately broke into a run toward him.

"Lin Zhengran, you’re here?"

The very moment Jiang Xueli called out, a pure and innocent-looking girl with a ponytail—who had been waiting patiently nearby—also spotted Lin Zhengran and rushed toward him.

The two girls spoke almost in unison, their footsteps falling at the exact same time.

They glanced at each other. Both of their eyes widened simultaneously, and as if by unspoken agreement, they froze in their tracks.

In truth, this was the first formal meeting between Xiao Heqing and Jiang Xueli. They might have crossed paths before, but any memory of each other’s faces had long since faded.

Yet, in that very instant, as their eyes locked, a profound realization washed over them both. They instantly recognized that the girl standing before them... was the very same girl who had spent the past few years right by Lin Zhengran’s side.

From a distance, Lin Zhengran naturally saw both Xiao Heqing and Jiang Xueli, and even... Han Wenwen, who was just strolling back belatedly with drinks in hand.

"Qingqing, is Lin Zhengran here yet?" Han Wenwen asked as she approached, only to abruptly halt at the sight of the unfolding scene.

The four of them stood motionless at the four corners of the crossroad, completely stunned.

Around them, vehicles and pedestrians continued to weave back and forth across the busy intersection.

Inside the security booth, the elderly guard sat back, admiring the calligraphy prints in his newspaper. He sighed in appreciation. "Such picturesque beauty. Now this... this is true art."