Chapter 10
“I was feeling sad, but when Brother Ran said that, I burst out laughing again. [cry-laughing.jpg]”
“Our Little Yellow Chick Princess really knows how to grab the key point, hahaha.”
“Got the screenshot, got the screenshot.”
“[Ji Ran · I have to hold back my tears.jpg] [Ji Ran · Kinda can’t hold it back anymore.jpg] [Ji Ran · Forget it, I’m not holding it back.jpg] [Ji Ran · Men, cry if you want, it’s not a sin.gif]”
Lin Zhiqiao’s whole body stiffened when Ji Ran hugged him.
[Th-that scared me!]
Ji Ran was still crying his heart out, but he did not forget to salvage a bit of dignity for himself. “I-I-I’m not crying over that scumbag. I’m just, just feeling bad for myself, sob sob sob!”
“Okay, okay, feeling bad for yourself, I know, I know.” Lin Zhiqiao was not very good at comforting people. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. The fans are all watching. Hurry and hold it back!”
That line seemed to have an electric effect.
The crying stopped instantly. Ji Ran pressed his lips together tightly, and his long phoenix eyes were so restrained they looked like poached eggs.
Lin Zhiqiao: “…”
Lin Zhiqiao: “You should keep crying. You look better when you cry.”
Ji Ran: “Waaahhh!”
Under Ji Ran’s mighty iron-clamp arms, Lin Zhiqiao struggled to twist half his body around. “You can lean on my shoulder if you want.”
Ji Ran did not move. After thinking for a moment, Lin Zhiqiao added, “I’m gay too, and this isn’t a new shirt, so you don’t need to worry.”
The moment those words came out, the crying got a whole level louder.
[Why is he crying even harder? Someone save me, save me!]
“Is this seriously how you comfort someone? Hahaha.”
“This is just directly stabbing the knife right into the heart, okay? [laughing to pieces.jpg]”
888 reported: [Ji Ran favorability +50.]
Lin Zhiqiao blinked, then patted Ji Ran on the back. “Cry, cry. Be good. It’s okay.”
suddenly full of loving mom energy.jpg
“Is no one really shipping this?”
“Can’t ship it. Xiao Qiao and Baby Ran obviously have the same positioning, how are we supposed to ship that? [dog-head.jpg]”
“Friendship is shippable too! From mutually disliking each other to becoming close friends who can talk about anything—ship it for me!”
“Lin Zhiqiao doesn’t seem… as bad as the rumors said.”
*
In the end, Ji Ran still calmed down.
At noon, the livestream paused during lunch break. Jiang Qianqian said, “I heard Yuan Yu has connections, so everyone should be extra careful lately. Someone as petty as him will definitely think of a way to retaliate.”
“Connections? Him?” Ji Ran’s voice still sounded a little nasal. “Who’s scared of that? Isn’t he just some distant branch of the Yuan family? I’m actually—”
His voice stopped abruptly, and an unnatural look flashed quickly across his face.
Lin Zhiqiao: [You’re actually what? Don’t you know that stopping halfway through a sentence is like mixing arsenic into someone’s rice!]
Lin Zhiqiao’s gaze landed on the gossip blind box, and he looked eager to try again.
But just then, a ringtone suddenly rang out in the dorm room.
Ji Ran stared at the caller ID on the screen for a long while before finally summoning the courage to answer. “Hello, Mom?”
“Oh, so you still know I’m your mother, huh!” The person on the other end gave a light snort. “Hurry downstairs. Mom brought you some things—come get them.”
Mama Ji added, “Remember to bring someone with you. There’s a bit too much stuff, you won’t be able to carry it alone.”
After the call ended, Ji Ran stared at his phone blankly for a while. Then he looked up, his eyes locking onto Lin Zhiqiao.
“Xiao Qiao,” he said. “Are you free?”
“I’m free.” Lin Zhiqiao answered instinctively, “But don’t call me Xiao Qiao!”
Ji Ran: “Okay, Xiao Qiao.”
Lin Zhiqiao: “…”
888: [Ji Ran favorability +5.]
For the sake of the favorability points.
Lin Zhiqiao muttered quietly, “Forget it. Do whatever you want.”
Ji Ran smiled, looking rather pleased with himself.
The two quickly made their way to the base entrance.
Mingguang Base was a closed training base. Apart from one day off every Sunday, trainees were not allowed to leave the base freely during the rest of the week.
Ji Ran explained the situation to the security guard and pointed to the car parked outside the entrance. Only then did the guard let them through.
A well-dressed middle-aged woman was taking things out of the trunk. Shopping bags had already been piled all over the ground behind the car.
Ji Ran hurried forward to help carry them. “Mom, why did you suddenly come without telling me first?”
“And you still dare ask! If I told you in advance, you’d definitely come up with some excuse again—something like you’re not here, you’re busy, let’s talk next time—” Mama Ji flicked him on the forehead. “When I tell you to come home, you don’t come. Count it yourself—how long has it been since you last came home? A whole month!”
Ji Ran pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Mama Ji sighed, and her tone softened. “Sweetheart, tell Mom the truth. You still haven’t gotten over that hurdle in your heart, have you?”
Ji Ran stubbornly replied, “…No, I haven’t.”
“I knew it.” Mama Ji rubbed his head. “Didn’t Mom already tell you? Even if you’re not related to Dad and Mom by blood, you’re still the precious child Dad and Mom raised for nearly twenty years. If we don’t love you, who else would we love?”
Ji Ran turned his head away, not wanting Mama Ji to see the redness at the tip of his nose.
Only after a while did he mutter awkwardly, “How many times have I said it already? I’m almost twenty. Don’t call me sweetheart anymore.”
Mama Ji thoroughly ruffled his hairstyle. “If not sweetheart, then what? Little sweetie? Little baby? Darling? Baby? Mommy’s precious little darling?”
The mother and son were chatting, so Lin Zhiqiao did not follow them right away, which meant he did not hear their conversation.
He glanced at the car Mama Ji had driven over. [Holy crap? Am I seeing wrong? An RS limited-edition supercar? This thing costs… how much again?]
888 replied in a tiny voice: [More than ten times the total amount currently in the host’s little treasury.]
Lin Zhiqiao: […Good grief. Ji Ran is actually a real rich young master! Why haven’t I heard about this before?]
Lin Zhiqiao was still immersed in shock when Mama Ji suddenly called out to him, “You must be Lin Zhiqiao, right?”
Lin Zhiqiao snapped back to himself, looking a little shy. “Yes, hello, Auntie.”
“Our Xiao Ran has really troubled you.” Mama Ji enthusiastically stepped forward and tightly held both of Lin Zhiqiao’s hands. “His temper is quick, and sometimes he speaks without thinking, but his nature isn’t bad. Please bear with him a little in daily life…”
Ji Ran: “Mom! What are you saying!”
“I’m speaking the truth.” Mama Ji glanced at him meaningfully. “If it weren’t for Xiao Qiao, you’d probably get sold off into some mountain cave and still be helping the other person count the money!”
Ji Ran choked and said awkwardly, “Y-you already know?”
Mama Ji gave a light snort and kept pulling Lin Zhiqiao along in friendly small talk.
“Auntie knows your training is hard, so I brought you some supplements, and some food, drinks, and daily supplies… If it’s not enough, just tell Auntie, and I’ll bring more next time!”
Lin Zhiqiao was a little flustered. “O-okay, Auntie—n-no need, this is too much, I—”
“My mom gave it to you, so just take it,” Ji Ran said. “You can’t out-stubborn her.”
Lin Zhiqiao pressed his lips together and could only say, “Then thank you, Auntie.”
“What a good child.” Mama Ji’s eyes curved into a smile, and she gave Lin Zhiqiao a light hug. “Come visit our home when you have time!”
Lin Zhiqiao froze.
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you spacing out?” Ji Ran nudged him. “Did she scare you? My mom is just like that, warm to everyone. Is it maybe a little too—”
“No, it’s nice.” Lin Zhiqiao snapped back to reality and realized Mama Ji had already driven away. “It’s nice like this,” he repeated.
Ji Ran gave him a strange look. “Let’s go. Hurry back. Afternoon training is about to start.”
888 whispered: [Host, Zhang Meijuan favorability +70.]
Lin Zhiqiao: [Ji Ran’s mother? Why does that name sound a little familiar…?]
But he had no time to think deeply about that question.
The two of them had just entered the base carrying all the bags when they heard the security guard behind them scolding someone.
“You again! Tell me, how many times this month has this been already, sneaking out in secret? Every time you come back covered in injuries, like you’re afraid others won’t know you went out to fight! If you do this again next time, I’m not opening the gate for you!”
Lin Zhiqiao turned back curiously.
The one being scolded by the guard was a young boy in an ordinary loose hoodie and slightly faded jeans. His bangs were so long they nearly covered his eyes. There were bruises on his face, and a large purple-blue mark at the corner of his mouth.
But even so, his striking looks could not be hidden.
With just one glance, anyone would think that this kind of boy was suited to being an idol or celebrity.
Ji Ran also looked over. “It’s him?”
Lin Zhiqiao asked curiously, “You know him?”
“Of course I know him. Cheng Xia, a celebrity at our base.” Ji Ran said, “He’s that Cheng Xia from two years ago—the one who got exposed for cursing out the uncle and aunt who adopted him, and during school was the delinquent leader who always bullied his cousin and classmates!”
As soon as Ji Ran said that, Lin Zhiqiao immediately remembered.
888 suddenly spoke up: [Host, this Cheng Xia gives me a strange feeling.]
Lin Zhiqiao asked: [What kind of strange?]
[He has the scent of another system on him.] 888 said. [It’s very faint, so it probably isn’t his own system. But someone around him definitely has one!]
Lin Zhiqiao’s gossip radar instantly went ding!
There was gossip!
There was definitely gossip!
And it might even be another huge one worth hundreds of thousands!!!
