Chapter 64: Spoiled by a Woman Beyond Imagination

She wouldn’t let go. Well… alright, Lin Ran resigned himself to her back.

Under the night sky, by the lakeside, along the grassy path, passing couples looked on in surprise at this ‘couple’ ahead—a woman carrying her injured boyfriend on her back, utterly unbothered by the curious gazes and whispers around them, walking right past everyone.

The ‘shy, bashful boy’ Lin Ran was so embarrassed that he tightened his arms around Ye Fanzhi’s neck, burying his head against the curve of her neck and shoulder. His eyes, blocked by her messy hair, couldn’t see her profile, so he reached out and gently swept the loose strands from her left shoulder to her right, so he could take in her delicate features up close without any obstruction.

For a moment, Lin Ran felt an unprecedented stir in his heart. As a grown man, being carried without a care for the world’s opinion, with a bold, protective “I won’t let go”—it felt like being thoroughly cherished.

My goal is to make Ye Fanzhi fall in love with me for the sake of the mission—am I the one falling first?

Ye Fanzhi exhaled heavily. Lin Ran reached out to wipe the sweat from her brow. “Why don’t you put me down? I can limp my way over.”

“We’re almost there.”

Ye Fanzhi shrugged and continued on. The lamplight stretched their shadows long across the ground, and all the boys watching wore looks of envy.

If you asked who was the happiest girl in the wetland park tonight, it was surely the girl whose birthday was celebrated with a drone show—Ye Fanzhi.

And if you asked who was the happiest boy, it had to be the one with an injured foot, carried out by a girl—Lin Ran.

Back at the camp.

Lou Shishi was still excitedly recounting the unforgettable birthday wishes Lin Ran had just delivered.

Except for Chen Bo, everyone—including Ye Fanzhi’s parents and the other classmates—thought this birthday party was nothing short of spectacular.

Upon learning that Lin Ran was actually Ji Bochang, the famous internet celebrity and wealthy heir, everyone felt that spending a million on a friend’s birthday might be extravagant, but at least it made sense.

Chen Bo fell silent. He was rich, but compared to Ji Bochang’s carefree spending, he didn’t stand a chance. Was his money blown in by the wind?

Still, Chen Bo knew that Lin Ran hadn’t confessed to Ye Fanzhi tonight. He’d simply spent a million to throw a birthday for his good friend, Ye Fanzhi.

But this was hardly fair play—making such a grand gesture for a female friend, creating an unforgettable memory, and when Ye Fanzhi pushed through the crowd to run toward him, that seed of love had undoubtedly sprouted.

Slap!

Chen Bo smacked himself. In the end, all this careful pining led to nothing.

Was it because he’d been too cautious, too afraid of Ye Fanzhi discovering his feelings?

Suddenly, Chen Bo understood: when you like a girl, you have to be brave and confess. Never just harbor a secret crush. Say it, or you’ll end up with nothing but regret.

Lou Shishi’s voice cut in, “Look, Fanzhi’s back! Huh? She’s carrying Lin Ran—hahaha!”

Everyone turned and stared in surprise. Sure enough, Ye Fanzhi came back, out of breath, with Lin Ran on her back.

Ye’s father and mother rushed over. “Fanzhi, what happened?”

Ye Fanzhi replied, “Xiao Lin injured his foot.”

Lin Ran, still holding onto her neck, said, “You can put me down now.”

Chen Bo ground his teeth. That guy actually let Ye Fanzhi carry him all the way back—where was his pride?

Ye Fanzhi set Lin Ran down on a chair, then collapsed to the ground herself, wiping her damp bangs and gasping for breath. She pushed herself up again. “Xiao Lin’s foot was badly cut. I’ll go get a car to take him to the hospital.”

Without waiting for a reply, she hurried off toward the park entrance. Lin Ran called after her, “It’s not necessary. I can just walk slowly and call a ride…”

Before he finished, Ye Fanzhi turned back with an expression that brooked no argument, and Lin Ran immediately changed his tune, “Alright, whatever you say.”

Under the streetlights, Ye Fanzhi ran toward the park’s exit to hail a car. Since cars weren’t allowed into the wetland park unless there was an emergency, she had to explain the situation at the gate for them to let a car in to pick up Lin Ran, rather than make the injured Lin Ran walk all the way out.

Ye’s parents and everyone else stared in amazement at Ye Fanzhi’s retreating figure, then turned to look at Lin Ran. Even he scratched his head in embarrassment—tonight, it seemed he was being hopelessly spoiled by Ye Fanzhi.

He thought, Damn, so this is what it feels like to be doted on, even unreasonably, by a girl.

Thud!

Lou Shishi hopped in front of Lin Ran, squatting down with her hands under her chin, gazing up at him with sparkling eyes and a mischievous smile.

Lin Ran cleared his throat. “What are you looking at?”

“I’ve never seen Fanzhi act like this toward any boy before.”

“That’s just because I hurt my foot.”

“So you’re Ji Bochang.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“No. You… look alright.”

“Thanks for the compliment, Shishi. You’re very pretty too.”

Just then, a car pulled up at the edge of the grass. Ye Fanzhi got out, and Shishi instinctively helped her get Lin Ran into the car.

“Dad, Mom, everyone, Lin Ran’s hurt. I’ll take him to get his wound dressed. Shishi, take my parents home. And everyone, please text me when you get home so I know you’re safe. We’ll gather again next time. Bye!”

Ye Fanzhi tossed the Cayenne keys to Lou Shishi, got in the car, and closed the door.

Lin Ran said, “Honestly, there’s no need to go to a hospital. It’s just a cut. We can get some medicine and bandage it at any pharmacy.”

Ye Fanzhi said to the driver, “How much longer to the hospital?”

Lin Ran couldn’t help but laugh behind his hand.

This woman was too much—too doting.

Alright, alright, I’ll let you spoil me tonight.

……

At the hospital.

While the doctor was dressing Lin Ran’s wound, Ye Fanzhi noticed he was bare-chested. She stepped out and returned with a T-shirt and a pair of slippers.

Once his wound was bandaged, Ye Fanzhi handed him the T-shirt and set the slippers by his feet.

Lin Ran slipped on the T-shirt and, as his foot brushed the wound while putting on the slippers, he winced at the pain.

“Do you need my help?”

“No, it’s fine.”

With the slippers on, Ye Fanzhi helped him up, and Lin Ran hopped on one foot toward the hospital exit.

“If you hadn’t jumped in to get my phone, you wouldn’t have been hurt.”

“If I hadn’t jumped in to get your phone, who else would have done it?”

At that, Ye Fanzhi stopped and turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air was awkward. Ye Fanzhi hurriedly said, “I… I could have switched on flight mode and made the phone fly out by itself.”

Lin Ran chuckled, “Is that what a top MIT student would do?”

“Come on, I’ll get you back to the hotel.”

She supported him into another taxi. “Driver, to J Hotel, please.”

The taxi pulled away.

In the back seat, Ye Fanzhi slumped, finally able to rest. Her bangs were damp and stuck to her forehead.

“Xiao Lin, be careful not to bump your foot,” she reminded him, then, exhausted, leaned against the window and quickly fell asleep.

A crack in the window let the night breeze in, stirring her dark hair as she quietly curled up by the door.

At an intersection, the taxi turned, and Ye Fanzhi, asleep against the window, tumbled over onto Lin Ran’s shoulder from inertia.

Lin Ran reached out and gently wrapped his right arm around her shoulders.

“Driver, please drive steadily!”