Chapter 250: Plans Can’t Keep Up with Changes |
When that pair of stockings hit the ground, the little girl still hadn’t noticed.
It was Lin Zhengran who spotted it first. He picked it up and asked, “What’s this?”
Little He Qing turned her head at the sound. When she saw what was in Lin Zhengran’s hand, she froze for a second, then frantically patted her own pocket. Realizing one was missing, she reached out to grab it:
“Ah! My stoc—how did it end up in your hand?!”
But Lin Zhengran didn’t let go. With her tiny bit of strength, there was no way she could get it back.
As she reached out and failed to take it back, she accidentally tugged off the hair tie wrapped around it.
The tights unfurled from Lin Zhengran’s hand.
Little He Qing was so embarrassed her cheeks practically started steaming.
She crouched on the ground with her face buried in her hands, not wanting to face anyone.
She was dying of embarrassment and really wanted to say it wasn’t hers, that someone else had dropped it.
But she couldn’t lie to Lin Zhengran—she’d told him before that no matter what, she’d never lie to him.
So she could only try her best to come up with an explanation: “I-I just bought them for fun. I saw them while online shopping once and figured I’d never worn any before, so I got them to try... but I haven’t had time to wear them.”
Lin Zhengran studied the white stockings in his hand and felt the material.
He’d actually imagined He Qing wearing white stockings before—her sweet and soft vibe seemed like it’d totally suit that look.
“Why haven’t you had time to wear them?”
“Huh?” Little He Qing looked up at him slightly, struggling for a response. “Because... because... that night a week ago, we weren’t alone together, right?”
After saying that, she covered her face again.
Lin Zhengran remembered the night she’d come alone from the South to the small town in Zitong City—four of them had squeezed onto one bed.
They had said they’d spend that night alone together, but, well, plans can’t keep up with changes.
Lin Zhengran crouched down too, still holding the stockings, making He Qing even more flustered.
He asked, “So what you’re saying is, if Lili and Wenwen hadn’t been there that night, you were planning to wear these for me?”
Her face turned tomato-red, and she made a sparrow-like “mm” sound.
She tried to explain: “Don’t laugh at me. I know I might not suit this kind of thing, but... people always say guys like stockings, so I figured maybe you’d like them too. I-I’m not saying you’re pervy or anything! Just... just thought maybe you might like them.”
Lin Zhengran rolled the stockings back up and handed them to her. “Here.”
Little He Qing peeked at him, then quickly took them back and hid them against her chest.
Lin Zhengran sat on the steps by the vending machine. “I actually do like them. If you have time in the next couple of days, let me see you wear them.”
“Huh?” Little He Qing blushed and looked at him blankly, clutching the stockings tightly. She shuffled over in tiny steps to sit beside him, then asked tentatively, “You really like this kind of thing too?”
Lin Zhengran answered naturally, “All guys do.”
He Qing was at a loss for words. “Then I’ll wear them for you another day...”
Lin Zhengran smiled, and she got even more embarrassed.
The two of them sat quietly on the steps below the vending machine, watching the rain through the floor-to-ceiling window.
After a while, the silence settled in.
He Qing quietly said, “My mom said if you ever get the chance to visit the South, you’re welcome to come stay with us.”
Lin Zhengran thought for a moment. “It’s true, I haven’t visited Aunt He in years. Once we’re in college, I’ll find a break and go back with you.”
“Mm, okay.”
They sat silently again, watching the rain.
He Qing started to feel something was off and suddenly asked, “Lin Zhengran, you’re acting kind of weird today.”
“Hmm? Weird how?”
“Just... a little off. Normally, if you caught me hiding stockings, you’d totally tease me about it. Like, if you liked stockings, you’d say...”
She mimicked his usual tone and expression:
“I do like stockings. Since you brought them, why not put them on for me now? It’s not like we’ve got anything else to do…”
She stared at him, puzzled. “But today you just said you’d have me wear them for you later, and that was it? That’s not like you.”
Lin Zhengran thought her imitation was actually pretty good.
And she wasn’t wrong—normally, he would say something like that. But... considering what just happened with Wenwen…
“I’m just worried that if you wear them now, I won’t be able to hold back.”
“Huh?!” Her face turned bright red. “Hold back... hold back from what?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
They stared at each other.
Despite her usual clumsy behavior, He Qing knew Lin Zhengran inside out—every expression, every little move.
This was the boy she’d liked since they were kids. And right now, his gaze... felt a bit more intense than usual.
Or maybe... excited?
Why… could it be because of the stockings?
He Qing didn’t even know what she was thinking anymore. Maybe she just blurted it out. Maybe she really wanted to try. But she did say it.
Her voice soft and sweet: “How about... we get a room?”
There was a moment of silence.
Then Lin Zhengran unexpectedly asked, “You sure?”
He Qing’s lips trembled, and she slowly nodded. “Mm, I’m sure.”
Without another word, he stood up and pulled her along.
Little He Qing was scared out of her mind.
He yanked her up, and she flailed a bit in a panic. “Lin Zhengran!”
They went to the front desk. Little He Qing blushed furiously and clutched that rolled-up pair of stockings tightly in her other hand.
Lin Zhengran: “Do you have any king rooms available right now?”
The receptionist, who had just seen the two of them sitting and chatting on the couch, was a bit surprised. “There just happen to be two that opened up.”
Lin Zhengran: “We’ll take one.”
Receptionist: “Do you have your ID?”
Lin Zhengran pulled his ID from his pocket and handed it over. Both he and the receptionist looked toward He Qing.
She stammered, “I-I didn’t bring it... but I remember my number…”
“That’s fine,” the receptionist said. “Just tell me your ID number and I’ll enter it.”
He Qing glanced at Lin Zhengran and swallowed nervously.
It was sudden, but she had already prepared herself for certain things.
“My ID number is ********.”
The room was booked. Lin Zhengran led her to a king room on the first floor, opened the door, and stepped in.
The curtains were drawn. The sound of the rain outside made the room feel even more silent.
No one turned on the light.
Little He Qing was pulled onto the bed, lying flat.
Lin Zhengran braced his hands on either side of the bed and looked down at her.
He Qing was so scared she closed her eyes, her hands clenched tightly in nervous fists.
Lin Zhengran saw her trembling a little, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
He asked softly, “Scared?”
She slowly opened her eyes and stared carefully at him.
In the dim room, she studied his face, then whispered, “A little…”
Seeing her teary, misty eyes, Lin Zhengran suddenly felt a deep tenderness toward this little girl who’d followed him around since they were kids.
His feelings for her had always been more like doting on a sweet little sister.
It wasn’t even like this with Lili—Lili was more of a true childhood friend.
“Do you still want to keep going? I’ll ask you one mo—”
Before he could finish, Little He Qing suddenly burst into tears and said, “Yes, keep going.”
Lin Zhengran’s gaze quivered slightly.
He slowly leaned in, and He Qing gently lifted her head.
The two of them kissed, softly, in the dark.
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