Chapter 234 - 134: Pain~

Chapter 234: Chapter 134: Pain~

Su Ran: ???

...

「Two days later.」

Ning University had officially begun its winter break, and all the students had returned to their respective hometowns to wait for the New Year.

Of course, while the university was on break, middle and high schools were not. Ning Wenwen was still stressing out over her final exams.

Su Ran had promised her he would come back to help her with a final push for her exams, so he returned early.

「Anyang, Linxi Village—the small courtyard by the lotus pond.」

He hadn’t been back for a while, and the fish in the lotus pond had grown plump. Su Ran was leisurely fishing. In truth, he could have just used his Finger Technique Fragrance to lure the female fish right over, but there was no fun in that. Life needed a bit of process and enjoyment. So, after fishing for half the day, he finally got a bite. It was a grass carp of about three pounds—and most importantly, a wild fish that hadn’t been raised on commercial feed.

Chuckling happily, he carried the fish back to the courtyard and started to get dinner ready.

Su Ran planned to grill the fish. Conditions in the countryside were rustic, so not having any charcoal briquettes was no issue. He simply took some red-hot fruitwood from the wood-fired stove, placed it under a grill rack, and then cut a few fruit tree leaves to lay over the top to slowly smoke the fish as it cooked.

"Ah Ran, that’s looking quite professional," a passing Aunt Liu called out from outside the fenced yard.

"Hey, come have a taste of my handiwork when it’s done, Aunt Liu," Su Ran said, brushing oil onto the fish.

"No, I’d better not. Grilled food gives me a bad cough."

"If grilled fish makes you cough, then I’ll just go catch another one and make you some pickled vegetable fish."

"No, no, don’t go to all that trouble, you sweet boy." Aunt Liu’s face bloomed into a wide smile; she knew what a good kid Su Ran was. "I still have leftovers from lunch. Don’t you worry about me, you just eat your food."

"Alright then. When is Liu Wei coming back?"

"Not until it’s time for the New Year."

"Got it."

Liu Wei was a childhood friend from the village—the one who’d set off for Guangdong to become a hotshot but ended up getting off the train in Guangxi as a total bum.

Life in the countryside was leisurely. Su Ran sat under the eaves, looking out over the vast fields, a plate of grilled fish before him. The seasoning was authentic Chongqing barbecue spice, which Liu Jinyu had asked her father to mail from Chongqing.

And a cup of wine, personally brewed by Shan Weizi.

It was a taste of heaven on earth.

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

[Bunk Buddies]

Xiao Wanqing: [@Aina, you’re such a bitch! What was that video you sent? My parents were right here, and the second I opened it, all I heard was moaning. I’m socially dead.]

Su Ran: [What video? Send it to me so I can give it a... critique. (Kidding, please don’t kill me.)]

Aina: [I’m not showing you. You’d get all worked up and go mess around outside. What then?]

Liu Jinyu: [Little bro, have you been hitting on any girls lately? Tell your big sisters all about it so we can analyze them for you.]

’Su Ran knew these four women were just beating around the bush, trying to fish for information.’

Su Ran: [Haven’t been.]

Liu Jinyu: [That’s boring. Come on, tell us. I won’t get jealous.]

Su Ran: [Actually, two beauties confessed to me recently. One hinted that her parents weren’t home, and the other said she had no relationship experience but really liked me. She could probably be won over with an LV bag.]

The Three of Them: [...She probably just likes your money.]

Liu Jinyu: [And you didn’t go for it?]

Su Ran: [...Is that even a question? Every single night after 8 PM, the three of you take turns video calling me to chat. Don’t think I don’t know you’re just checking up on me.]

The Three of Them: [Hahaha...]

’He really had to hand it to them.’

Of course, Xie Yiren wasn’t part of this, as she was still somewhere without internet access.

Actually, it wasn’t just those three. Shan Weizi also video chatted with him every night.

’One man, juggling four women... no, wait, five, if you count his tutee, Ning Wenwen.’

’Juggling five women was exhausting enough; where would he even find the time to hit on anyone else?’

The moment the evening news was over, his time was completely managed by them. He couldn’t have gone out to mess around even if he’d wanted to.

The grilled fish was eaten, and the conversation in the group chat died down.

Su Ran put on his backpack and headed out to tutor Ning Wenwen.

...

「Sunshine District.」

When you get to the entrance, buy me a Coke. I’m dying for one, but my mom won’t let me.

It was a WeChat message from Ning Wenwen.

Ning Wenwen, have I been spoiling you lately?

Su Ran typed back an imperious reply.

Pleeeease (puppy eyes emoji). You’ve never given in to me, not even once. You have to do it for me this time.

Cold or room temp?

Cold is fine now.

Okay.

Su Ran was left speechless by the girl. He bought a bottle of Coke at the entrance to the residential complex, hid it in his backpack, and walked inside.

...

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...

The moment Wenwen heard the knock, she dashed out of her room. "I’ll get it!" she yelled, beating Mrs. Ning to the door. She swung it open and said with a beaming smile, "Su Ran, you’re finally here!"

"Where are your manners?" Mrs. Ning chided her.

"It’s okay, I don’t mind what she calls me."

Su Ran smiled at Wenwen’s mother.

Ning Wenwen stuck her tongue out at her mother.

"Do that again and I’ll snip it off!"

Mrs. Ning rebuked her again before inviting Su Ran inside and heading to the kitchen to cut up some fruit.

"Come on, there are a few problems I don’t understand."

Su Ran had barely finished changing into his slippers when Ning Wenwen was already pulling him into her small bedroom.

In truth, Su Ran had been tutoring Ning Wenwen online all along, something her parents were fully aware of. They also knew their daughter was very attached to him, but they had the utmost trust in Su Ran’s character.

’There was no way he was a predator.’

’He just thought of her as a little sister, that’s all.’

Still, Su Ran had been tutoring Ning Wenwen in person for the past two days since he’d been back, and her parents insisted on paying him. From their perspective, it was only right; they couldn’t let him waste his valuable time tutoring their daughter for free. After refusing several times, Su Ran had no choice but to accept. They settled on a rate of 50 yuan an hour. The money wasn’t what mattered most—the important thing was that Wenwen did well on her final exams. Su Ran planned to save up all the small payments and give her a large red envelope for the New Year.

Su Ran genuinely cared about helping Ning Wenwen, and she, in turn, was very motivated, not wanting to let him down.

She might not always listen to her parents, but if Su Ran told her not to do something, she would remember it and obey.

At her desk, Su Ran began. "Your exams are in two days, so starting today, just ask about any problems you have. Don’t be shy, I’ll answer everything. There’s no time limit tonight. We can work for as long as you want."

"Great! Let’s work for a long time then."

"Alright."

"Let’s start."

"Okay... First, this math problem..."

"Let me see."

Su Ran began scribbling on a piece of scratch paper, explaining as he went.

For a sixteen-year-old girl in the prime of her youth, just beginning to experience the stirrings of first love, having a handsome, doting "Brother Su Ran" spending time with her both online and in person... this was the moment Ning Wenwen looked forward to most each day. She would always find herself staring, completely smitten, as Su Ran patiently explained the problems to her.

"Ow... you hit my head."

"Pay attention to the problem."

"Mhm."

It always took a light tap on the head with his pen to snap her out of her daze and bring her focus back to the paper.

’Wenwen felt that her youth had become something truly wonderful, all starting from the moment she met Su Ran.’

Of course, this was all thanks to her own efforts early on; she had waited for Su Ran at the school gates every single day, which had earned her the kindness he showed her now.

Partway through, Mrs. Ning brought in a plate of fruit, set it on the desk without daring to disturb them, and quietly left.

Two and a half hours later, Su Ran started packing his bag. "If I explain too much more, you won’t be able to digest it all. Let’s stop here for today. Review this carefully, and if there’s anything else you don’t understand, just ask me on WeChat, okay?"

"Mhm, I will."

Ning Wenwen blinked her eyes with a charm unique to a girl of fifteen or sixteen who was just starting to blossom.

Su Ran patted her head. "Bye."

"I’ll walk you out."

Wenwen got up to walk Su Ran out of the room. Su Ran saw that Mr. Ning was back as well and greeted him.

Mr. Ning stubbed out his cigarette on the balcony and walked over. "Thanks for all your hard work, Su Ran."

"It’s no trouble. She’s easy to teach, not that dumb."

"Haha..."

"I’m not dumb," Ning Wenwen said, dissatisfied.

"It’s getting late, so I’ll head back now. Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Ning," Su Ran said, taking his leave. Ning Wenwen saw him to the door and watched until he was inside the elevator before she closed it and skipped happily back to her bedroom.