Chapter 17: Lin Ran~ I’ve finished washing~

At the entrance of the residential complex, there was a fruit shop.

“Lin Ran, what kind of fruit do your parents like?”

“They’re not home tonight. It’s just me.”

“Not home? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“They’re not home, so I dared to bring you back.”

“……”

Originally, the plan was to buy some fruit and visit Lin Ran’s home, explain to his parents why Bai Bai had come to see Erha, so there wouldn’t be any misunderstanding. But with his parents gone tonight, a lone girl visiting a bachelor’s home—what was that supposed to look like?

“If you think coming to my place isn’t appropriate, we can just rent a room. The cheapest one is fine. What do you think?”

A man passing by overheard and shot them a contemptuous look. “Tsk! Shameless. Want to spend the least money for the prettiest girl.”

Lin Ran felt utterly wronged.

The room was for the dog, not them. Why go to the cheapest one otherwise—a five-star hotel?

Vivian saw the misunderstanding in the eyes of those around them and gave up the hotel idea. If she really went, no one would believe it was for the dog.

“Let’s go to your place. It’ll only be for a little while. Once Bai Bai has eaten, I’ll take her home.”

Vivian hugged Bai Bai and walked toward the complex.

Lin Ran followed.

“Luckily it’s raining today and there aren’t any aunties around. Otherwise, if I brought a girl home, the whole neighborhood would be talking about it tomorrow.”

“Which building is yours?”

“Building 1.”

Vivian had heard Lin Ran mention neighborhood gossip and felt a little scared, so she quickened her pace toward Building 1.

Proper women always care about their reputation.

The more she cared, the more Lin Ran liked her. A good family is a good thing indeed.

They took the elevator up to the thirteenth floor. Lin Ran took out his key and opened apartment 1302.

“Please, come in.”

“Mm.”

Vivian hugged Bai Bai tightly, nervous as she stepped inside, looking around. It was a three-bedroom apartment, with decor from ten years ago—somewhat outdated.

Not all wealthy people live in villas. Many keep a low profile; some are worth millions or more and are frugal, living ordinary lives. It’s not unheard of.

Lin Ran sent a voice message to the Western restaurant on WeChat: [Tonight’s reservation is cancelled. We’ll dine at home.]

He grinned crookedly. Tonight was set!

With a loud bang, the door closed. In the living room, Erha turned its head, its gaze clear and foolish.

Bai Bai wriggled free from Vivian’s arms, jumped down, and walked toward Wang Cai.

Vivian took off Lin Ran’s jacket. “Hey, Wang Cai, our Bai Bai is here to play with you.”

This was Bai Bai’s dream dog.

Erha turned around and coldly crawled into its doghouse.

Vivian was at a loss. “Lin Ran, why isn’t he paying attention to Bai Bai?”

“Don’t worry, let me handle it.”

Lin Ran walked to the doghouse and nudged it twice with his foot. “Wang Cai, come out. Your girlfriend is visiting.”

Erha wouldn’t come out, acting very much the irresponsible playboy dog.

That wouldn’t do. If Erha and Bai Bai didn’t work out, neither would Lin Ran and Vivian.

“Wang Cai, you’d better get out here and take responsibility, or tomorrow I’ll make you a stray.”

Under Lin Ran’s threat, Erha crawled out.

Bai Bai weakly walked up to Erha, the two dogs sniffing each other.

Lin Ran poured out some dog food and called, “Come on, time to eat.”

Woof woof~

The two dogs barked and ran over together, starting to eat.

“Phew~~” Vivian let out a long sigh of relief. “Finally eating. I never thought Bai Bai would be lovesick.”

Lin Ran said, “Dogs are like their owners. The owner’s personality is reflected in the dog. That means you’re a devoted woman.”

“Oh?” Vivian was suspicious. “Wang Cai is so wild and irresponsible—like his owner?”

“No, no, this silly dog was a stray. He’s like his previous owner.”

Lin Ran hurriedly defended himself.

Hehehe~

Vivian covered her mouth, laughing. “I’m teasing you. I believe you’re a good man.”

After all, Vivian had chosen him as her future boyfriend. Denying Lin Ran would be denying her own taste.

As she laughed, Vivian stopped abruptly. She saw Lin Ran’s gaze fixed on her, burning with masculine heat.

She’d been so focused on Bai Bai that she’d forgotten she’d been caught in the rain. Her white dress was soaked and transparent, clinging tightly to her graceful figure, the purple lace bra underneath faintly visible.

Such a seductive body—Vivian herself found it too hot, let alone a young man full of vigor.

Vivian’s cheeks flushed, and she crossed her arms over her chest. It helped cover her embarrassment, but her arms pressed together, deepening the cleavage where the dress was transparent.

She quickly turned her back, not letting Lin Ran look at her.

Water dripped from her dress onto the floor.

The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.

Lin Ran thought for a moment. “Let Bai Bai play a little longer. You’re soaked—it’s easy to catch a cold. Go take a shower; the washing machine has a drying function. Summer clothes dry quickly. Wash up, dry your clothes, and then you can take Bai Bai home.”

Vivian turned and stared into Lin Ran’s eyes.

Was he up to something, or genuinely concerned?

His gaze was clear—he was thinking of her.

Vivian relaxed.

“Achoo~” Vivian sneezed.

Lin Ran said, “Take a hot shower. If you catch a cold, and the studio calls tomorrow to say you passed the interview, being sick would affect your internship.”

Vivian hesitated. She’d finally found a job; if she caught a cold, it really would affect her internship. Besides, his washing machine had a dryer. Better to wash up and dry her clothes than wait around in wet clothes for Bai Bai.

“Alright.”

Vivian nodded shyly.

“Go ahead.”

Lin Ran found a new towel and handed it to her.

“Lin Ran, you’re a good person.”

Once you get the “good guy card,” you’re stuck on the threshold of conscience.

[Vivian’s affection: 57]

Lin Ran’s warm, caring gesture.

Vivian went to the bathroom and locked the door, but found the lock was broken.

“Lin Ran, the bathroom door won’t lock. I’ve tried several times.”

“It’s broken.”

“How am I supposed to shower?”

The question was innocuous, but Lin Ran found it awkward.

“Just shower as you normally would. What, do you think I’ll barge in to watch you? Don’t you trust your future boyfriend at all?”

Trust was important.

With that, Vivian had nothing more to say.

“Alright.”

She closed the door and, pausing, wrapped her underwear several times around the lock, gave it a shake—it probably wouldn’t open easily.

Self-deception, really.

She slipped off her wet dress and underwear, put them in the washing machine, and skipped washing to save time, opting for a fifteen-minute quick dry.

She turned on the shower; warm water cascaded down, bringing comfort.

She squeezed shower gel, lathered her body, cleansing every inch of skin.

Hmm?

Vivian paused. She was in a young man’s house—why wash so thoroughly? It wasn’t as if she was being served up.

Though she showered, her alertness remained. From the sounds outside, she could hear Lin Ran playing with the dogs.

He was very reassuring.

[Vivian’s affection: 61]

A quick shower, the fastest Vivian had ever taken.

She gently removed her underwear from the door, dried it with a hair dryer.

It was just a piece of fabric and dried quickly.

She put it back on.

Now all she had to do was wait for her clothes to dry.

After a while, the washing machine finished.

Vivian opened it; her clothes were still damp.

“Lin Ran, why didn’t the dryer work?”

“No way.”

“It really didn’t.”

“Oh—sorry, sorry, I forgot. The dryer’s broken.”

“I’ve just washed up, and now you tell me the dryer’s broken? Are you kidding?”

“No, it’s not intentional—I wasn’t thinking.”

Forget it; things were as they were. Vivian had to find another way.

“Lend me something to wear.”

“Wait a moment.”

Soon, Lin Ran brought clothes. “I’ll hang them on the door handle for you.”

“Mm.”

Vivian hid behind the door, opened it just a crack, reached out, grabbed the clothes, and quickly pulled them inside, closing the door.

She looked at them. “Your white shirt?”

“Is that not okay?”

“Didn’t you buy a bunch of T-shirts yesterday?”

“The first thing you do with new clothes is wash them. I was busy with our date today, and the dryer’s broken, so I haven’t dried them yet.”

Vivian laughed in exasperation.

This guy—really something!

“Could you find one of your mom’s clothes for me?”

“Why can’t you wear my white shirt?”

“It’s not that I can’t—it’s just… sigh…”

A girl wearing a guy’s T-shirt and a guy’s shirt are two very different things.

T-shirts are cute and lively.

A white shirt—just imagine, a fair-skinned, beautiful, long-legged girl, wearing a man’s oversized white shirt, sometimes covering, sometimes revealing—

In such a situation, a white shirt’s effect between a lone man and woman is akin to lingerie.

“I checked—my mom’s room is locked. I’ll go buy you something.”

“It’s pouring out, and the women’s shops are closed. Forget it, I’ll make do. Get me a jacket, and I’ll take Bai Bai home.”

“Okay.”

Vivian put on the white shirt, which just covered the tops of her thighs, exposing her long, pale legs. The shirt still carried Lin Ran’s masculine scent.

As for underwear, she wrung out the water from the padding, dried it with a hair dryer. It would never really dry, but at least it was wearable, if damp—better than nothing.

Dressed, Vivian checked herself in the mirror. It was decent enough, as long as she didn’t bend over.

“Phew~”

Vivian took a deep breath, calming herself.

She gently opened the bathroom door, stepped out onto the mat, her delicate feet tapping anxiously as if she’d leave marks all over the three-bedroom apartment.

Lin Ran looked over, eyes shining. He hadn’t expected Vivian to look so good in his white shirt.

He wanted to take a picture to use as wallpaper.

“The jacket?”

Vivian lowered her head shyly, her long hair tied in a bundle, resting over her left chest.

“Ahem…” Lin Ran coughed to hide his embarrassment and stepped forward. “Here, jacket.”

“Th—”

Vivian was about to thank him.

But suddenly, Lin Ran’s father called from outside. “Lin Ran, open the door, open up!”

“!!!”

Vivian’s legs went weak with fright.

“You said your parents weren’t coming back!”

Lin Ran panicked too. “I don’t know why they’re back now!”

“What do I do? I’ve just showered, I’m wearing your clothes, and your parents are here? If they see this, I’ll never clear my name!”

“Go hide in my room, that one over there.”

Vivian dashed into Lin Ran’s room and slammed the door shut.

Ah!!!

Vivian was frantic inside.

“Lin Ran is so unreliable!”

[Affection: 54]

It dropped!