Тhе Sаturdаy aftеr midtеrms.
Su Zаi Zаi wаs sleeping sоundlу in bed when shе was suddenlу уаnkеd uр bу Mothеr Su.
She let out a wail, resisting dеsрerаtelу, struggling tо burу hеrself bасk undеr thе сovеrs.
The surroundings fеll silеnt.
But Su Zаi Zai could still сlearlу sense Моthеr Su's рrеsеnсe.
Aftеr hоlding out fоr а mоment,
shе pullеd thе blanket аwаy frоm her facе.
With a facе full оf griеvanсe, she said, "I hаvе tо get uр аt siх еvеrу daу аt schоol, сan't yоu let mе slееp а littlе lоngеr?"
Mother Su sаt by her bed, speаking with righteous cоnfidencе, "Hоw hаven't I lеt you sleep longer? It's seven now."
Su Zai Zai: "..."
"Hurry up and get out of bed. Mom wants to eat Xu Ji's boat congee today. Go buy it for me."
Su Zai Zai was filled with morning grumpiness but didn't want to lash out at Mother Su.
Because she had just woken up, her mind was still foggy.
After a while, she finally reacted, mumbling in a muffled voice, "Go buy it yourself, or have Dad buy it for you. I don't feel like moving."
"Your dad doesn't feel like moving, and I don't feel like moving either."
"..." She had just said she didn't feel like moving too...
"Two bowls of boat congee. Remember to come back quickly. Your dad and I have to go to work at nine."
...Such dear parents.
But Su Zai Zai also really wanted to eat Xu Ji's fresh shrimp rice rolls.
She wrestled with herself in bed for a while before finally getting up and obediently going to wash up.
After changing clothes, she walked out of her room.
Father Su was sitting on the living room sofa reading the newspaper.
Su Zai Zai walked over.
Picked up a cup from the coffee table, filled it with some water, and took a sip.
Then, pretending to be casual, she muttered, "Don't know how to be a dad, ordering your own dear daughter to buy breakfast first thing in the morning."
"..."
"Other people's precious daughters are pampered and held in the palm of their hands."
"Our family is a bit special." Father Su turned a page of the newspaper and spoke up.
"Huh?"
"In our family, we're trampled underfoot."
Su Zai Zai: "..."
She angrily grabbed her bike keys and left the house.
The morning air was exceptionally fresh.
A moist breeze brushed against her face, carrying the scent of green grass.
Golden sunlight sprinkled down, yet it wasn't blinding.
Su Zai Zai pushed her bike out from the bicycle shed.
Once she got on, she headed toward the entrance of the residential complex.
Probably because it wasn't yet time for work, there were very few pedestrians along the way.
When she reached an intersection within the complex,
Su Zai Zai suddenly noticed a boy standing on a patch of grass to one side.
He was wearing a black T-shirt and dark knee-length jeans.
His black hair was fluffy and a bit messy.
He was also holding a black leash in his hand.
Su Zai Zai stared, captivated.
She didn't notice a white shadow darting past nearby.
By the time she snapped out of it, she realized a large white dog had run over.
It almost crashed into her.
Su Zai Zai quickly swerved.
Unable to control it properly for a moment, the bike tipped over, and she fell to the ground.
Thud—
A loud noise.
Hearing the commotion, the boy looked over.
His eyes tightened, as if he couldn't quite believe the current situation.
He quickly reacted and ran over.
Su Zai Zai's tears instantly gushed out uncontrollably.
Wearing short sleeves and shorts in summer, large patches of exposed skin were scraped and bleeding from the cement ground.
Su Zai Zai had thought she was just buying breakfast, so she had slipped on a pair of sandals before leaving.
And now she regretted it.Because she saw the nail of her right big toe slightly lifted.
Accompanying it was red blood slowly welling up from beneath.
Su Zai Zai was so stimulated by this scene that she burst into loud sobs.
Although Su Zai Zai was afraid of many things, what she feared most was pain.
As Jiang Jia put it:
Pluck a single hair from her head, and she can cry for an hour.
Zhang Lu Rang quickly ran to her side.
Seeing her like this, he felt somewhat at a loss.
He reached out, wanting to help her up.
Su Zai Zai, her temper flaring from the pain, choked out between sobs, "Don't touch me! Wuwu... even if you hate me, your dog hates me too... it just met me for the first time and already wants to harm me."
The Samoyed wagged its tail beside them, tilting its head and sticking out its tongue.
Zhang Lu Rang crouched down, his expression not looking good. "Go to the hospital."
Su Zai Zai suddenly remembered what Jiang Jia had said.
That girl cried all afternoon in the classroom, and Zhang Lu Rang didn't show the slightest reaction.
Su Zai Zai could almost imagine the scene that would follow.
Zhang Lu Rang throwing a large sum of money at her, telling her to hobble away.
The pain all over her body left her with no rationality to consider what to do.
Like a clingy child.
She reached out and grabbed the hem of Zhang Lu Rang's clothes, delivering a fierce threat.
But her voice was soft and tender, completely lacking in intimidation.
Between hiccups and sobs.
"Zhang Lu Rang, if you dare abandon me, I'll take your life."
Chapter 18
A Day Unforgettable for a Lifetime.
I don't know if he'll remember it.
But anyway, I'll never forget.
—From "Su Zai Zai the Little Fairy's Diary"
Zhang Lu Rang's lips were pressed into a stiff, straight line.
His gaze swept over her wounds, carefully and thoroughly.
Yet it was just a sweep, not daring to look again.
A flicker in his eyes, some emotion surging within.
Hearing Su Zai Zai's crying, Zhang Lu Rang felt somewhat agitated and confused.
As if something was stuffed in his chest.
Stuffy and uncomfortable.
Zhang Lu Rang gently touched her arm, a hint of caution in his eyes.
"Can you stand up?"
Su Zai Zai immediately shook her head, like a rattle-drum.
She rambled, "If I stand up, will the nail go 'plop' and just fall right off?"
Imagining that scene, Su Zai Zai's crying intensified.
As if wanting to attract the attention of the entire neighborhood.
Hearing this, Zhang Lu Rang's expression grew even more serious.
But he didn't know what to do either.
A few seconds later.
"Are your parents home?" he asked.
Su Zai Zai was about to nod.
But suddenly, a force drove her to shake her head.
She hesitated for a moment, then followed that force, her eyes red as she lied, "No."
Zhang Lu Rang thought about calling his uncle, but instantly remembered his uncle was on a business trip.
"I'll park your bike, then take you to the hospital," Zhang Lu Rang made a decision.
Su Zai Zai's hand gripping his clothes didn't loosen in the slightest, her eyes red and filled with wariness.
"You're going to steal my bike."
Zhang Lu Rang: "...Stop being ridiculous."
Su Zai Zai pointed at the Samoyed beside them, sobbing, "Your dog is in my hands."
The implication being:
If you dare steal my bike, I'll take your dog.
He ignored her words, his voice carrying a hint of reassurance. "I'll be right back."
"No!" Su Zai Zai shouted stubbornly.
He lowered his eyes, staring at her. "Then you don't want your bike anymore?"Su Zai Zai’s tears pattered down as she said, “You really wanted to steal my bike.”
Zhang Lu Rang: “…”
Half a minute later.
“Let go,” Zhang Lu Rang said coldly.
Su Zai Zai felt utterly insecure and gripped even tighter.
Zhang Lu Rang’s indifferent expression began to crumble.
He sighed, took his phone from his pocket, and placed it in her hand.
“I’ll leave it with you as collateral,” he said, his tone carrying a hint of coaxing.
Su Zai Zai hesitantly loosened her grip.
Zhang Lu Rang breathed a sigh of relief, parked the bike in a nearby shed, and jogged back.
He bent down and asked softly, “Can you not stand up?”
Su Zai Zai didn’t dare move at all and immediately nodded.
Hearing this, he turned his back to her and crouched down, his low voice coming from ahead.
“I’ll carry you on my back.”
Su Zai Zai’s crying stopped, and she sniffled.
She changed her mind: “Never mind, I think I should be able to stand up.”
Zhang Lu Rang turned his head, frowning as he looked at her. “Hurry up.”
She hesitated greatly. “I might be a little heavy.”
“Mm,” he responded dismissively.
Su Zai Zai didn’t hesitate for too long either, cautiously leaning closer.
She stood up slightly and hooked her arms around his neck.
Zhang Lu Rang supported her thighs and, with a bit of effort, stood up.
This was the most intimate they had ever been.
Su Zai Zai remembered the time she saw him on the sports field.
Back then, he still disliked her touch so much.
And now, he was willingly carrying her on his back.
Su Zai Zai suddenly felt a sense of accomplishment.
He walked steadily forward.
Su Zai Zai thought for a moment and explained in a very small voice.
“I’m not heavy because I’m fat; it’s because I’m tall. My body proportions are really good.”
“Mm.”
Hearing his acknowledgment, Su Zai Zai felt a bit displeased again.
“Where am I heavy? I’m just a little under a hundred.”
“Mm.”
“What do you mean ‘mm’?”
A minute later.
“Not heavy,” he said softly.
Su Zai Zai didn’t hear clearly and asked curiously, “What did you just say?”
Zhang Lu Rang fell silent.
Su Zai Zai didn’t dwell on it either.
Staring at the phone in her hand, she suddenly asked, “Lùràng, can I play with your phone?”
“…” His lips moved slightly, but he still didn’t answer.
The arm hooked around his neck lifted, waving the phone in front of him.
Su Zai Zai changed her address. “Zhang Lu Rang, can I play with your phone?”
This time, he answered quickly.
“Mm.”
The reply caught Su Zai Zai off guard.
She licked her lips and whispered, “I was just joking…”
Zhang Lu Rang was silent for a moment, then said, “Go ahead.”
But Su Zai Zai still didn’t touch his phone, just held it tightly.
Her palm felt a bit scorching, sweating slightly.
She lowered her head and suddenly noticed the dog obediently following beside them.
Her interest piqued.
Su Zai Zai asked, “What’s your dog’s name?”
He answered instinctively, “Su Su.”
Su Su.
Su Su barked once.
Su Zai Zai suddenly laughed and shamelessly responded, “I’m here.”
Zhang Lu Rang: “…”
She added without shame, “My nickname is Su Su.”
Her playful, smiling expression seemed as if she had no worries and no pain.
Zhang Lu Rang glanced at her sideways and asked softly, “Doesn’t it hurt anymore?”
“It does,” she answered honestly.
But with you here, that pain feels insignificant.—-
OpenNovel