[Although He Fairy is about to leave the sect again to venture out with you, she missed you so much that she secretly snuck out early to meet you, sharing the meticulously crafted Black Blood Coagulation Ointment with you.]
[You consumed the exquisite Black Blood Coagulation Ointment. Strength +3, Charm +2, Physical Strength +4, Level +2.]
[Your current Spiritual Qi level is 36.]
Early the next morning, bright sunlight streamed through the glass and shone on He Qing's face. She groggily opened her eyes. Looking at the unfamiliar environment, she paused for a moment before realizing where she was.
Turning her head to look at the still-sleeping Lin Zhengran, she held her breath. Under the interplay of light and shadow, Lin Zhengran's facial features were sharply defined, making him look even more handsome than when viewed straight on.
Seeing that a corner of the blanket covering him had slipped down, the shy Xiao Heqing reached out to cover him up. Unexpectedly, as she lifted her hand, she bumped into a hard object in Lin Zhengran's pants pocket. She wondered if it was a card.
Curious, she looked down to check. Since a corner of the object was already exposed, it was easy to pull it out. Xiao Heqing unfolded it and found that it wasn't a card, but a folded small poster.
"Child Star Music Studio? What's this?" As she flipped the poster over, her fingers suddenly brushed against something smeared on it. It was a colorless substance. Xiao Heqing brought it to her nose and sniffed. The scent was fragrant and somewhat familiar, but she couldn't immediately recall what it was.
Xiao Heqing's movements woke Lin Zhengran, and out of reflex, she hurriedly stuffed the poster back into his pocket.
Lin Zhengran asked curiously, "You're awake?"
Xiao Heqing sat up. "I'm awake." She smoothed down the loose strands of hair on her face, afraid of leaving a bad impression. "Did you sleep well last night? I slept pretty well next to you."
Lin Zhengran yawned and checked the time. "Not bad," he replied, sighing inwardly that it was great to be young; one could sleep soundly even in this kind of environment. "It's seven o'clock. I'll take you to get some breakfast, and then you can take the train back."
"Okay." She nodded eagerly like a chick pecking at grain, reaching over to smooth down Lin Zhengran's messy bedhead.
The two of them left the courtyard and had a casual breakfast. Lin Zhengran helped He Qing buy her ticket. Throughout the process, the little girl remained very happy, though she was still pondering what that scent could be, right up until they waved goodbye.
As they boarded trains heading in opposite directions, Xiao Heqing's eyes suddenly widened on her train. She finally realized what it was.
"Hand cream... A girl's hand cream!"
Evening arrived.
The city had gained another heartbroken soul. In Han Wenwen's bedroom, the fox-like girl hugged a throw pillow, looking in confusion at He Qing, who had returned safely.
"What's... wrong with you?"
"Nothing's wrong," Xiao Heqing sniffled and shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Did you not have fun hanging out with your dear Zhengran yesterday?"
Xiao Heqing wiped her tears, but her words poured out in a steady stream. "I was happy! We had noodles and the chocolates I made. He even praised how delicious they were. We talked for a long time last night. I was really happy yesterday." Her tone was a mix of joy and grievance.
"Then did he bully you? Did he do something to you against your will?" Han Wenwen was thoroughly bewildered.
"No, he treats me very well. He would absolutely never force me to do anything I didn't want to." She sounded even more aggrieved.
Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes in incomprehension and tilted her head. "Then why are you crying your eyes out? Don't tell me you're shedding tears of joy."
He Qing choked on her sobs. "It's all my fault. It's my fault for not staying by his side all these years... He..." She burst into a loud WAAAH. "He seems to have another girl around him, and that girl must be very pretty! What should I do, Wenwen?"
In truth, Xiao Heqing had long anticipated how popular Lin Zhengran would be, as he was already like that before she moved away. Coupled with the fact that during their phone calls over the past four years, she noticed girls seemingly popping up around him from time to time, she had mentally prepared herself well in advance to join the battlefield.
However, when she personally... or rather, with her own nose, smelled the scent of an item handled by another girl on him, her emotions completely broke down.
But the current Xiao Heqing was no longer the Xiao Heqing of the past. Crying didn't mean admitting defeat. Until Lin Zhengran made his stance clear, she would absolutely never give up!
A few days later.
Accompanied by the lingering heat of late summer, Xin Cheng First High School officially started its semester. Lin Zhengran went to the school with Jiang Xueli to register.
"Big dummy, do you even know where the registration is?"
"Just follow me."
Jiang Xueli trailed slightly behind him with her hands behind her back, her mind filled with fantasies, though her mouth refused to admit it. "Do you think we'll end up in the same class? Although I don't want to see you every day, maybe life is just that disappointing?"
A short while later, the two arrived at the registration site. Lin Zhengran pointed at the class assignment roster. "Look, your wish came true. We're not in the same class. Are you happy now?"
Furious, Jiang Xueli clenched her little fists, closed her eyes, and retorted, "Happy your head! You're so annoying!"
Women were truly strange creatures. Her wish was clearly granted, but she still wasn't happy.
However, after carefully examining the class roster, Lin Zhengran suddenly froze. He realized this roster... was a bit cursed.
Junior High Class One had Lin Zhengran... and Han Wenwen.
Junior High Class Three had Jiang Xueli... and He Qing.
Sweat had already formed on Lin Zhengran's forehead. Although nothing had happened yet, he had a vague premonition that his middle school life was going to be extremely unusual.
He parted ways with the still-fuming Jiang Xueli and headed to his respective classroom. Class One's classroom was bustling and noisy. Even though they were completely new faces, Lin Zhengran couldn't help but feel that everyone seemed to know each other very well. Various little cliques were already taking shape.
Han Wenwen arrived a bit late; the classroom was already packed with students. But the moment she walked into the classroom, Lin Zhengran realized that this fox-like girl's arrival would captivate the gazes of every boy in their age group. Her figure, appearance, eyes, and demeanor—while every individual detail wasn't flawless on its own, they combined to achieve a near-perfect balance.
He estimated that for the next decade or more, a substantial number of these boys would still remember the unattainable Han Wenwen from middle school, constantly longing for her, frequently dreaming of her, and remaining thoroughly infatuated. Then they would mutter to themselves, "If only I had been a bit more persistent back then..." But the truth was, they still wouldn't have been able to win her over.
On the first day of enrollment, every new student had to give a self-introduction at the podium. Han Wenwen stood at the front, her eyes curving into smiling crescents. "Hello everyone, I'm Han Wenwen. I hope that in the coming year, I can become the best of friends with all of you."
Sitting below, Lin Zhengran helplessly observed the blushing faces of the boys around him. He thought to himself that this girl was truly terrifying, but at least it had nothing to do with him.
That was until the homeroom teacher up front announced, "Alright, then Han Wenwen, please take the seat next to Lin Zhengran. The two of you will be deskmates from now on."
Not to mention Lin Zhengran's utter stupefaction, even Han Wenwen looked at him with some surprise.
Their eyes met from across the room. Han Wenwen walked over to him slowly with elegant grace. Smiling, she repeated the exact same words she had said half a year ago. "If it's meant to be, we will meet again." Her expression carried a hint of charming allure. "I didn't expect those words to come true, Lin Zhengran."
Lin Zhengran was speechless.
[You have indeed encountered the Demon Sect Witch once again. The moment she appeared, she charmed countless fellow Daoists. You notice that, for some unknown reason, she seems quite interested in you. You muse that this world is truly fraught with danger and that you must be extremely careful. Of course, perhaps this is also some kind of fortuitous encounter.]