Chapter 120
It was a torturous ride, and he didn't even know how he managed to get off the bus.
Ye Zhenzhen turned her head in confusion. Seeing the young man standing frozen in place, slightly hunched over, she looked puzzled.
"What are you doing?"
"I... no, it's nothing..."
Gu Ran was just about to straighten up to reply, but his uncontrollable lower half almost stood at full attention. Terrified, he quickly hunched back down.
After all, he had already experienced enough social deaths; he couldn't afford another one...
He wasn't an actual pervert!
"My... my stomach suddenly hurts a bit. Give me a moment, just give me a moment and I'll be fine."
He smiled awkwardly while mentally cursing his useless body.
Eighteen years old, and already this restless?!
He just didn't understand it...
"Your stomach hurts?"
Hearing this, the girl's delicate, pretty face filled with suspicion.
How come it didn't hurt on the bus, but started hurting the moment he got off?
Something fishy was going on...
With her small hands behind her back, she strolled over and circled the anxious boy a few times, occasionally leaning in for a closer look.
Made even more nervous by her detective-like demeanor, Gu Ran's expression gradually became unnatural.
Just as he was about to say something, the girl's face suddenly thrust right in front of him the next second.
Staring at that flawless face so close to his own, he nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva and started to stutter uncontrollably.
"Why... why are you so close to me?"
As he spoke, his eyes darted elsewhere. Looking as guilty as a thief, he might as well have had the words "I'm hiding something" carved into his face.
"Hmph~"
After staring at him for a long time, the girl's eyes inadvertently drifted down to his waist and abdomen. Soon after, a blush gradually gathered on her pretty face.
You... you dog!
With an excellent life mentor like Pei Susu around, it would be hard for her not to understand certain biological facts.
Realizing Gu Ran's restlessness, the girl blushed furiously and quickly turned her back, no longer looking at him.
"You, you just stand there for a bit. Your stomach won't hurt after a while..."
The gentle breeze blowing against her didn't disperse the heat on the girl's face; instead, it grew even more intense.
Since she had her back to Gu Ran, the latter naturally couldn't see her expression and only felt that she was acting very coldly.
So... love really does fade eventually, huh?
A stomachache will get better just by standing in place for a while?
Fine, fine. Next time this girl gets her period, he would definitely comfort her with the utmost sincerity.
It's fine, just drink more hot water and you'll be better!
The two of them stood there in the wind for quite a while before Gu Ran finally managed to suppress his restless urges.
Stepping forward, he patted the girl who was standing there like she was being punished. Rolling his eyes, he said, "Let's go, my stomach doesn't hurt anymore."
"Ah, oh, okay..."
Ye Zhenzhen snapped back to reality and nodded blankly.
Her gaze involuntarily slid down, landing on his midsection again.
Gu Ran: "???"
Where was she looking?!
Did this girl figure something out?
His face also took on a suspicious look. Seeing this, the girl's cheeks flared a bright crimson once more.
"Don't, don't just stand there like an idiot. Be careful or your stomach might start hurting again later. Let's go."
Gu Ran: "..."
Now, not only did he suspect that this girl knew what was going on, but he also strongly suspected that she was mocking him!
He stared at the retreating girl for a moment.
Her skirt fluttered in the wind, revealing snow-white, delicate calves, pink ankles, and faint blue veins.
An absolute masterpiece of the gods!
Feeling the urge to stand at attention once again, he quickly cleared his mind.
Forcing himself to look away, he hurried to catch up with her.
...
As soon as they entered the house, they heard a phone ringing in the living room.
Gu Ran looked up at the girl who had entered first. "Ye Zhenzhen, answer the phone."
Calling the dazed girl back to her senses, she absentmindedly walked over to pick up the receiver.
Looking at her flushed pink cheeks, Gu Ran furrowed his brows slightly.
This girl...
Why did he feel like she wasn't thinking about anything innocent?
There was definitely something wrong!
The next second, a gasp interrupted his train of thought.
"Mom?! Okay, okay, we'll check our scores right now."
Ye Zhenzhen hung up the phone perfunctorily, an unnatural flush still lingering on her small face.
Her chest heaving, she took a few deep breaths and looked at Gu Ran.
"Hurry, let's check our scores. My mom and Uncle Gu are getting anxious waiting."
After being out having fun all day, she had even entertained inappropriate thoughts.
Right now, the girl's heart was filled with guilt and unease.
The impulsive, headstrong feeling from earlier in the day had vanished. Now, she hardly dared to look the younger boy straight in the eye.
She was the older sister!
How could she have such thoughts...
It just so happened that Gu Ran was also very curious about his own score. Even without her saying so, it was time to check.
At this time, the mainstream way to check exam scores was still by phone, but online checking was already on the rise.
Subconsciously grabbing her soft hands, he pulled the blushing, feverish girl into his room.
He turned on the computer and logged in to check the scores.
Because they had missed the peak traffic period, the website loaded very quickly.
He entered Ye Zhenzhen's information first, and the page quickly refreshed.
Total score: 704. Provincial ranking: 55.
A very high score, but for a top-student girl like her, it was just average, perhaps even a bit on the low side.
Seeing this score, Ye Zhenzhen didn't show much reaction, but Gu Ran frowned deeply.
Not to mention the fact that he had explicitly and implicitly revealed many of the exam questions to her beforehand, just based on this girl's normal level of performance, she should have scored over 720.
How come the questions were easier this year, but her score wasn't higher?
"Did you mess up the exam?"
Looking at the score, Ye Zhenzhen pursed her lips, a little unhappy.
She had intentionally controlled her score, planning to just miss the cutoff for Tsinghua and Peking University, while ensuring her score was still high enough to choose the ace major at Qinglin University.
But it was still this high...
It was truly frustrating.
"No, I didn't."
Hearing Gu Ran's words, she quickly shook her head, her watery eyes filled with earnestness.
But Gu Ran still felt something wasn't right. He wanted to say more, but the girl urged him to continue checking the scores.
Whatever, over 700 was enough anyway.
He helplessly closed the page, entered his own information, and started the query.
As the page refreshed, he stared at the screen somewhat absentmindedly, but someone else was clearly much more nervous than him.
The girl beside him stared intently at the screen without blinking, terrified of missing any important information.
Total score: 697. Below were the scores for each subject, and at the very bottom was his overall provincial ranking: 104.
Seeing this score, Gu Ran raised his eyebrows, quite satisfied with the result.
But he never expected someone else to be even more satisfied than he, the person actually taking the test, was.
"Ah!!!"
A soprano scream rang out beside him. He flinched violently, and before he could even react, he was engulfed in a hug by Ye Zhenzhen.
"Ahhh! Gu Ran, you got a 697!!!"
"I didn't read it wrong, it's really 697!!!"
Thrilled, Ye Zhenzhen then turned back around and stared at the screen to carefully confirm it.
After confirming there was no mistake, she excitedly ran to the living room to make phone calls and share the good news.
Watching the girl run off like the wind, the corners of Gu Ran's mouth curled up into a gentle smile.
This silly girl...
How could she be happier than if she had gotten a high score herself?
Still smelling the lingering scent of osmanthus from her hug, he backhandedly took a screenshot and sent it to Ye Jinliang via QQ.
If you strike it rich but don't return home to show off, then what is the difference between that and walking in fine clothes at night?!
...
...
The evening wind was still warm.
Blowing against the face, it made one feel a wave of stifling heat.
Ye Zhenzhen wore a thin piece of clothing, her skin appearing fair and coolly serene under the moonlight.
Sitting alone on the balcony with her arms wrapped around her shoulders, she gazed into the distance with a hazy look in her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
After an unknown amount of time, the faint sound of footsteps came from behind, and a figure appeared at the balcony door.
Gu Ran walked over carrying a pack of beer. Without a word, he quietly sat down beside her.
A heavy silence hung in the air; neither of them spoke.
Gu Ran took the lead, grabbing a bottle of beer, popping off the cap, and holding it out to the young woman.
Ye Zhenzhen: ???
What was he doing?
Trying to get his older sister drunk?!
His wicked intentions were finally showing, weren't they!!!
"Here."
Gu Ran raised an eyebrow and offered the bottle again.
The beer bottle before her was like a devil, endlessly tempting the usually well-behaved girl.
Drinking... was bad. It would affect her studies...
But she had already finished her exams. Maybe... just a little?
As if possessed, she reached out and slowly took it.
Glancing up at Gu Ran's smiling face, she turned her head, tilted it back, and took a large gulp.
A chill slid down her throat and into her stomach, while a bitter, astringent taste flooded her lips.
However, she forced herself to endure the bitterness and swallowed it down.
After coughing lightly a couple of times, she took another gulp, repeating the motion.
Soon, the bottle was empty. A bright flush spread across her face, glowing beautifully under the cold moonlight.
"Are you... troubled by something?"
The way she drank made Gu Ran's eyelids twitch, prompting him to ask tentatively.
The girl didn't answer. She just quietly tilted her head up to look at the sky, her mood gradually calming down.
Turning to look at Gu Ran, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.
The meaning was clear: I've finished mine, are you just going to watch?
Seeing this, Gu Ran gave a stiff smile, helplessly raised his own bottle, and downed it in one go.
With one bottle down, his face also flushed. This young body wasn't like his previous life's, which had been ravaged by alcohol.
Night gradually fell, and scattered stars twinkled with a faint light in the sky.
The evening breeze finally carried a hint of chill. Blowing across their faces, it brought a refreshing coolness.
The two sat there quietly, taking in the peace and beauty of the night.
After an unknown amount of time, the girl finally broke the silence.
She spoke softly, asking with a touch of melancholy.
"Which university do you want to go to?"
Her voice was gentle and quiet, like a faint breeze in the night.
She used to always think about getting into a university in the same city as this guy, but now that his scores were so high...
Would he still be willing to be tied down by a burden of an older sister like her?
It was more likely that he would spread his wings and fly high, free to go wherever he pleased.
Hearing this, Gu Ran smiled slightly, a gentle light flickering in his eyes.
"Naturally, I'll go wherever you go."
Those words brushed across the girl's heartstrings like a spring breeze, making her heart tremble.
Ye Zhenzhen couldn't help but turn her head, her eyes filled with pleasant surprise.
Her moist eyes were like a pool of clear spring water, crystal clear and captivating.
His deep eyes were like the night sky, pitch-black and bright.
Their gazes met, seemingly overflowing with tender affection.
Seeing the mist gradually gathering in the girl's eyes, Gu Ran, even if he lacked firsthand experience in romance, knew exactly what to do next.
He slowly leaned forward, seemingly wanting to get closer to her.
Closer...
And closer...
Ring, ring, ring~
A piercing sound instantly shattered the perfect atmosphere.
The romantic haze that had filled the girl's moist eyes vanished without a trace.
She suddenly snapped back to reality, her face flushing slightly as she hurriedly leaned back to put some distance between them.
Gu Ran, on the other hand, ground his teeth in frustration, wishing he could crawl through the phone line and beat the living daylights out of whoever had interrupted at such a crucial moment...
...
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
