Chapter 170 - 148: The Reason for Those Vows

Chapter 170: Chapter 148: The Reason for Those Vows

The curtains were drawn, but there was always a gap between them that couldn’t be completely closed.

A sliver of light slanted across the center of the blanket.

The still blanket stirred slightly, as if a fox’s tail were wagging inside.

Han Wenwen asked in a low voice, "Zhengran? Isn’t it uncomfortable sleeping in your pants?"

Lin Zhengran had closed his eyes the moment the lights went out. "It’s fine."

Han Wenwen retorted, "How can it be fine? It’s so uncomfortable sleeping in pants, right?"

Lin Zhengran didn’t say anything.

Han Wenwen lowered her voice. "Zhengran? Why aren’t you talking?"

Lin Zhengran still didn’t say anything.

"Zhengran~ Say something..."

Speechless, Lin Zhengran opened his eyes and peered at the enthusiastic Han Wenwen in the darkness.

"What are you trying to do? You think I can sleep here without any pants on? It’s a good thing this is reality. If this were one of those novels you’re always reading, the book would get banned if I didn’t wear pants."

Han Wenwen laughed out loud. Then, she suddenly buried her head under the covers and magically pulled out an item of sleepwear—it was just a pair of pajama bottoms.

She handed them to Lin Zhengran. "Here, wear these."

Lin Zhengran reached out, taking the pajama pants from her hand. He was very confused. "When did you put these under the covers?"

"I put them there a while ago! Pants are so uncomfortable, after all. Pajamas are better. They’re thin, loose, and comfortable to wear."

Lin Zhengran was curious. "Only the pants? What about the top?"

Han Wenwen shook her head. "There’s no top. I bought these online, and I only got the pants. I’ve already washed them, so they’re very clean. You can wear them without worry."

Lin Zhengran really had to hand it to this damn fox.

So, after a bit of rustling, he changed out of his pants and into the pajamas.

A smile played on Han Wenwen’s face.

By now, their eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and they could make out their surroundings in the pitch-black bedroom.

Seeing Lin Zhengran close his eyes again, Han Wenwen asked, "Zhengran~ Is this your first time spending the night at a girl’s house?"

Her small hand slowly crept out from under her own blanket, silently exploring its way toward Lin Zhengran’s.

Lin Zhengran answered truthfully, "No."

"No?!" Han Wenwen was shocked. "Then whose house was the first time?"

"It was at your place, too. Have you forgotten? When you had a fever last time, I also stayed here."

"Oh~ right." Her hand had just reached Lin Zhengran’s blanket.

Only to be smacked by Lin Zhengran from under the covers.

The swat made Han Wenwen pull her hand back.

Lin Zhengran said deliberately, "I think I just hit something. There’s something in my blanket."

Han Wenwen replied unhappily, "What something? What could possibly be in the blanket? It could only be the blanket itself."

"Is that so?"

Lin Zhengran stared at the ceiling.

"But it really is quiet here at night. You can barely hear the noise from downstairs."

Han Wenwen hummed in agreement. "It’s so quiet I can even feel my own heartbeat... THUMP THUMP THUMP."

Lin Zhengran shot her an amused glance.

Han Wenwen ran a hand through her hair, spreading the long locks out over the pillow to keep from lying on them.

Her hand once again reached out tentatively.

"Besides, Zhengran was the one who picked this place out especially for me. Of course it’s special."

Lin Zhengran felt her small hand on his arm. He caught it with one of his own and looked at her.

Han Wenwen looked back at Lin Zhengran.

Lin Zhengran asked curiously, "Can’t you just behave?"

Even though her hand had been caught, Han Wenwen stubbornly refused to admit anything. "How am I not behaving? Wenwen hasn’t done anything."

Lin Zhengran knew he wouldn’t be getting much sleep, so he turned over to face Han Wenwen.

Their pillows were right next to each other, and they watched one another in the darkness.

Lin Zhengran held her hand under his blanket and asked with concern, "You said you get scared sleeping here alone sometimes?"

With her hand held, Han Wenwen became a little more settled. She nodded lightly.

"Sometimes... Most of the time I don’t feel anything, but I get scared when my mind occasionally starts to wander or I remember things from the past."

"Things from the past?"

Lin Zhengran reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from the corner of her mouth.

Han Wenwen’s heart fluttered. "Mhm, things with my mom when I was little, and my uncle. Tell me... why couldn’t Wenwen have met Zhengran sooner? Even just one day earlier would have been nice."

"We met early enough. You could even say we’ve known each other since elementary school."

"Still too late. I should have seen you the moment I was born."

Suddenly, they both started laughing.

But then, suddenly, Lin Zhengran felt something.

He asked in surprise, "You didn’t take off your stockings?"

The Little Fox’s mischievous feet had also snuck over, rubbing against Lin Zhengran’s calf.

Han Wenwen said shyly, "Of course not. I’m still wearing my sweater. I haven’t changed at all."

Lin Zhengran had forgotten about that. "I really didn’t see you change. So why didn’t you change into pajamas?"

"I was shy~ With Zhengran here, how could I change? My pajamas are really loose..." ’Especially without a bra...’

Lin Zhengran didn’t get it. This really didn’t sound like something Han Wenwen would say.

"You, shy? If you were shy, would you be sticking your hands and feet into my blanket right now? If you were shy, would you wear so little when you’re with me usually? You even wore stockings today!"

With every sentence he spoke, Han Wenwen lowered her head a little more in embarrassment, her eyes seeming to reproach Lin Zhengran.

"Zhengran, don’t say any more~ That’s... That’s because Wenwen wants Zhengran to see her pretty side. But a normal day is a normal day, and today is today.

Zhengran is spending the night here tonight... No matter how Wenwen usually acts, I’m still a girl, after all. I can be shy too."

Han Wenwen blinked her foxy eyes, her long eyelashes making this fox look exceptionally alluring.

Han Wenwen said in a small voice:

"Actually... there isn’t much difference between one girl and another, especially in front of the person they like. Wenwen is the same. I get shy, I get scared, and I want to kiss and hug the Zhengran I like. I want you to comfort me more and be on my side more. Even though Wenwen might seem a bit shameless on a normal day..."

At this, she laughed at herself and added, "I’m talking about being reserved. I mean that Wenwen isn’t that reserved in front of Zhengran. Not in other ways."

Lin Zhengran smiled and nodded. "I know. Actually, I think Wenwen comes off as a bit cold and aloof usually. When I’m not around, you don’t seem to pay attention to anyone else."

Han Wenwen scoffed, looking very pleased with herself.

"Of course! Ever since I started liking Zhengran, I haven’t wanted to talk to any other boys. I don’t even want to acknowledge them, because Wenwen belongs to Zhengran alone! But..."

She whispered, "Even though I think about how to seduce Zhengran every day, it’s not like I can do those things whenever I want. I have to work up the courage each time."

Han Wenwen’s voice suddenly grew softer. In this atmosphere, she seemed more sincere than usual.

Her expression was even a little pitiful.

"Because even though I know Zhengran wouldn’t lie—that when you say you won’t abandon someone, you mean it—Wenwen is still afraid that if I’m not the one who takes the initiative, Zhengran won’t want me anymore... that it wouldn’t matter to you whether I was there or not."

"What are you talking about?"

She pressed her lips together.

"It’s true. Wenwen knows, actually. Even though I don’t want to admit it, with my personality, a woman like me is only fit to be a lover—someone to be thrown away after you’ve had your fun. I can never be like Qingqing or Lili, who are so capable in so many ways.

I’ve tried to learn how to cook and do housework, but I mess up constantly. I can’t even stand to look at the things I’ve done. So aside from clinging to Zhengran and waiting on him every day, I’m almost useless."

Lin Zhengran looked at Han Wenwen’s smiling face. There was a hint of helplessness in her smile.

He asked, "So that’s why you insisted on brushing my teeth and washing my feet today, not letting me do anything myself?"

Han Wenwen nodded.

"Mhm. I just want to be useful to Zhengran, to occupy a small place in his heart. That’s why I wanted to do these things before anyone else dared to act spoiled with Zhengran.

I’m afraid that someday in the future, Zhengran will slowly stop doting on me, that you’ll realize anyone can act cute. Otherwise, why do I always ask you to promise to dote on me the most?

I’m simply terrified of the future, so I try to find a sense of security in meaningless things like promises."

Lin Zhengran reached out and caressed Han Wenwen’s cheek. Like a Little Fox, Han Wenwen nuzzled the palm of his hand.

He explained, "That’s just what you think of yourself. Haven’t you realized that your strength is being able to clearly observe what other people are thinking?

Like with the things we talked about this afternoon, you can figure out other people’s strengths, weaknesses, and even their thoughts. That’s a very important talent, one that others don’t have.

Otherwise, why would I want to make you my secretary? Is it just because you’re especially good-looking, the best-looking of all?"

His words made Han Wenwen laugh, though she replied with a wronged tone, "I don’t think that. Wenwen knows I’m not the best-looking. At most, you could say I have a unique look..."

Lin Zhengran chuckled. "Too modest. But what I’m saying is true. There are some things only Wenwen can do, some ways only Wenwen can help me. No one else can. To me, Wenwen is... one of a kind. You can’t be replaced by anyone else. Never."

Han Wenwen stared into Lin Zhengran’s gentle eyes, biting her lip as a full smile broke out. "Really?"

"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"

Tears welled in her eyes as she leaned toward Lin Zhengran.

"I want a hug~ I want Zhengran to hold me~"