Chapter 233 - 134: It Hurts... (2)

Chapter 233: Chapter 134: It Hurts... (2)

"You went back to your hometown? Did something happen?"

"N-nothing. Thanks for your concern, Class Monitor. I... I’m fine. Bye."

She hung up.

Su Ran was quite worried, but since she wasn’t willing to talk, he didn’t see the need to press the matter and risk annoying her.

So he sent a text: [If you run into trouble, come to me. I’ll take care of it.]

...

Before heading back to Chuyuan, Su Ran remembered that Xiao Wanqing loved sweet-skin duck, so he had the taxi driver make a special detour to Zhou Ji’s Sweet-Skin Duck to buy one.

During his semester in Jiangning, Su Ran had eaten his way through practically every nook and cranny of the city, so he naturally had his own mental ’foodie leaderboard’.

He got out of the taxi at the entrance to Shanglin Fu and ran into Qi Shan and his Maybach. They exchanged a few words. Qi Shan mentioned he had just been to Chuyuan but hadn’t seen Su Ran. Instead, he saw a "little lady" cooking and waiting for "Young Master Su," his tone dripping with envy and flattery.

They also chatted for a bit about the land surveying and mapping project back in Xie Yiren’s hometown. It wasn’t something that could be done overnight; it would take some time to produce the blueprints. Qi Shan said his piece.

"...Right, you handle it. Just speed things up."

’Every day this was delayed, Xie Yiren was still stuck with that Saintess title, and things had to stay platonic.’

"Got it. You should get back. Miss Xiao is waiting for you, you know."

"Oh, right. I’m off then."

Su Ran smiled happily and gave a wave. Carrying the sweet-skin duck, he crossed the central courtyard and the stone bridge to Chuyuan. He pushed open the gate and spotted a crumpled ball of paper in the yard’s trash can. Su Ran set down the duck, walked over, picked up the paper, and unfolded it.

"Xiao Wanqing, what is the meaning of this?!"

"Huh?"

Hearing Su Ran’s "scolding" tone, Xiao Wanqing came running out of the house. When she saw him holding the Beauty Painting, she lunged for it.

"Give that to me."

"Stop it. I’m asking you why you threw this away."

"You’re a pervert."

"How am I being a pervert?"

"You..." Xiao Wanqing’s face flushed red.

Su Ran laughed, covering his face. "What’s the big deal? I think it’s quite creative."

"Oh my god..." Xiao Wanqing bit her lip, utterly mortified. ’Using my... ahem... as cinnabar pigment for a painting...’ The mere sight of it made her cringe. She couldn’t fathom Su Ran’s mind. She forcefully snatched the painting, tore it to shreds, and then dragged Su Ran to his private collection room, pointing at Liu Jinyu’s Beauty Painting.

"Tell me, the lipstick in Jinyu’s painting... was it also painted with... that?"

"No, hers is actual cinnabar."

"Hers is cinnabar, so why did you have to use my blood for mine? And in the future, when you paint for Aina and Xie Yiren, those two little bitches, are you going to do the same thing?"

"Hmm?"

"What the—am I just giving you ideas now? You pervert! Are you planning on painting all of us like this, hanging us up in your private collection room, then brewing a cup of tea to admire your handiwork all alone, feeling super proud of yourself? Is that it?"

Last night, Xiao Wanqing had just been shy. Now, with a clear head, she was completely denying everything.

"Am I really that much of a pervert in your eyes?"

"Just... paint it again later."

"Fair enough. Come on, let’s see what delicious food you’ve made."

Su Ran pulled Xiao Wanqing into the dining room. She had stir-fried a few home-style dishes, which, along with Su Ran’s sweet-skin duck, made for a bountiful lunch.

During the meal, Xiao Wanqing kept putting food on Su Ran’s plate and asking him if it was good.

Su Ran kept saying everything tasted sweet, which made Xiao Wanqing grin from ear to ear.

"Su Ran, I’ve noticed you’re getting better and better at sweet-talking girls lately. You never used to be like this."

"Well, what do you expect after being tormented by the four of you? I had to learn, didn’t I?"

"That’s true, hehe..."

Xiao Wanqing smiled. When Su Ran was with the four of them, one would ask if she was fat, another would ask if her legs were long, and the others would ask all sorts of similar questions. Over time, Su Ran had learned the sweet nothings needed to keep them happy, and now it was second nature to him.

「After the meal.」

Xiao Wanqing finished the dishes and returned to the living room. Su Ran got up from the sofa and stretched. "I’m a little sleepy. I’m going to take a nap, then head back to my hometown." He walked a few steps, then stopped and turned back. "Aren’t you sleepy?"

"I’m not sl—" Xiao Wanqing’s headshake turned into a nod. She faked a yawn. "Yeah, I am a little sleepy."

"Then let’s go together."

"Okay... Su Ran, can we just sleep? Nothing else, okay?"

"Of course."

Reassured, Xiao Wanqing untied her apron and followed Su Ran into the bedroom. A moment later, her voice drifted out: "You liar! Su Ran, I hate you... Mmm... so... full..."

They didn’t go anywhere for the entire afternoon, staying in... interesting places like the bedroom, the kitchen, against the glass wall, in the courtyard, and so on.

Ah, the boundless energy of youth.

...

「At the airport.」

They embraced.

Xiao Wanqing leaned in and whispered in his ear, "It hurts a little."

Su Ran: "I’ll be gentler next time."

Xiao Wanqing: "Su Ran... with what you did... what if I get pregnant?"

Su Ran: "Then we’ll have it."

"..." Xiao Wanqing was speechless. ’Spoken like a true rich man. It has nothing to do with age, just ’have the baby if it happens.’ So impressive.’ "It probably won’t happen... Anyway, you can’t do that next time. You have to pull out."

"I don’t mind either way. Hiss—"

Xiao Wanqing pinched him. "Of course *you* don’t mind, I’m the one who has to suffer, right? Mwah! Okay, I’m heading back to Shanghai. You’d better come visit soon, you hear?"

"Okay."

Su Ran patted her butt and watched as she walked toward the security gate, her slender hips and narrow waist swaying.

The farewell was quick and clean. There was no lingering sadness; after all, it was only a two-hour flight. Su Ran could go to Shanghai whenever he wanted.

「In the Aston Martin.」

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

Su Ran received one last message from Xiao Wanqing: [Su Ran, I’ll always be your woman. Even in death.]