Pei · SuSu's Fury Turned to Shame

Chapter 175

The living room was terrifyingly quiet, with only the faint hum of the air conditioner's vent and the heavy, overlapping heartbeats of the two people sounding like thunder.

Gu Ran had originally half-stood up, ready to lend a hand to his disappointing best friend.

Seeing this scene, his movements braked abruptly in mid-air.

He raised an eyebrow, a meaningful curve forming at the corner of his mouth, and slowly sat back down on the carpet.

Along the way, he grabbed Ye Zhenzhen, who was just about to exclaim and rush forward to save the day, pulling her back.

Shh—

Gu Ran raised his index finger to his lips. With his other hand, he naturally wrapped his arm around the girl's shoulders, pulling her into his embrace and resting his chin gently on the top of her head.

Don't move, just immerse yourself in the show, he whispered against Ye Zhenzhen's ear, his voice deep and teasing.

Ye Zhenzhen didn't even bother to resist. She blinked, looking at the scene frozen like a still from an idol drama. Her small mouth parted slightly, and soon a blush of excitement appeared on her face as she enjoyed the spectacle.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Gu Ran was the first to break the silence, letting out a series of exclamations. His voice wasn't loud, but it was highly piercing in the quiet living room, sounding much like a narrator from an animal documentary.

Brilliant, truly brilliant.

He commented with mock seriousness, his fingers gently twirling a strand of Ye Zhenzhen's hair:

Lao Ye's maneuver here looks panicked and messy on the surface, but there's order in the chaos. First, he used pure blushing to lower the opponent's guard, then he used his loss of balance to break through their defenses, and finally, he used momentum to complete a close-range suppression. How is this a fall? This is clearly the long-lost combo of Savage Charge into Embracing the Girl in Arms. I'd call this a stratosphere-level gamble.

Ye Zhenzhen couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into laughter, trembling with mirth in Gu Ran's arms.

Mimicking Gu Ran, she tilted her head and added salt to the wound: Susu, your reaction is off. Last time the sports committee rep tried to brush against you while playing basketball, you almost dislocated his arm. Why the double standard today? Is this the legendary hard crowd control?

The two chimed in together, doubling their destructive power, practically stamping the words terrible friends on their foreheads.

Pei Susu finally snapped out of her daze.

Feeling the burning breath washing over her face, her normally thick-skinned cheeks turned as red as a boiled crab, the heat spreading all the way down to her collarbones.

She could even feel Ye Jinliang's arms, which were propped on the sofa, trembling violently.

Fatty! How long are you going to press down on me? Are you practicing planks?!

She let out a sharp shout, her voice trembling with embarrassment and anger. It completely lacked her usual bossiness, instead carrying the shy demeanor of a little girl.

Pei Susu forcefully pushed the still-dazed Ye Jinliang.

Ah? Oh! Sorry, sorry! My legs fell asleep! They really did!

Ye Jinliang woke up as if from a dream, scrambling frantically to get up. But the more he rushed, the clumsier he got. His left foot tripped over his right, and he almost performed a second bow to Pei Susu.

When he finally managed to stand steady, he stood to the side like a child who had done something wrong, his neck shrunk back and his hands with nowhere to go, eventually gripping the hem of his shirt tightly.

He stared down at his toes, both of his ears so red they were almost transparent.

It's over, I really offended Susu this time. Will she be angry? Will she ignore me from now on?

The little man in Ye Jinliang's heart was frantically banging his head against a wall.

Pei Susu abruptly stood up, tugging at her somewhat messy clothes in an attempt to regain her composure.

Accident! That was a pure accident!

She shouted loudly, her voice a few pitches higher than usual. However, her eyes darted around erratically, not daring to look at Ye Jinliang at all, let alone the pair of siblings smiling wickedly across from them.

Um... the game isn't over yet! Let's continue! That last round doesn't count!

This kind of false bravado was thinner than paper in the eyes of the others, who could easily see right through to the panic and budding romance underneath.

Continue what?

Gu Ran patted the wrinkles on his pants and stood up leisurely. I am the God of this round, and I say it's over.

He glanced down at his watch, then looked at the thick darkness outside the window. A wicked smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and his gaze shifted ambiguously between Ye Jinliang and Pei Susu.

Besides, my sister and I had a very filling dinner, and we really can't stuff down this sudden dog food. Plus...

Gu Ran paused, leaning close to Ye Zhenzhen's ear. In a husky, magnetic voice that only the two of them could hear, he said, I also want to go back and play some games alone with you. The kind... that doesn't involve dares.

The girl's face instantly turned bright red. She rolled her eyes at him first, then pinched the soft flesh at his waist hard, but she didn't argue, instead leaning into him naturally.

Alright, it's getting late, we should head out and leave some private space for certain people to digest that accident just now.

After saying that, he didn't give Pei Susu a chance to fight back. He reached out and pulled up Ye Zhenzhen, who was still relishing the drama and looking back with every step, then turned to look at Ye Jinliang, who was pretending to be a quail.

Lao Ye, what are you still standing there for? Waiting to stay the night? Although I don't mind, I think Pei Susu might not be ready to enshrine a giant Buddha like you yet.

Screw you, Gu Ran! Shut your mouth! Pei Susu grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa and threw it at him fiercely.

Ye Jinliang shuddered all over and awkwardly shuffled toward the door. Leaving... I'm leaving right now. Um, Sister Susu, rest early, drink more hot water... no, drink more cold water to cool down...

Get out, get out, get out! All of you, get out! Pei Susu roared with a red face, but there was no real anger in her tone, rather a trace of imperceptible sweetness.

At the door, as Gu Ran changed his shoes, he turned back and raised an eyebrow at Pei Susu, who still hadn't fully recovered.

No need to thank me, Teacher Pei.

Bang!

The door closed, shutting all the embarrassment and ambiguity behind it.

In the hallway, the motion-sensor lights flicked on.

Ye Jinliang still looked like he had lost his soul, his steps floating as if treading on cotton, his whole being in an out-of-body state.

Lao Ye, come back to earth, Gu Ran patted his shoulder.

Brother Ran... Ye Jinliang touched his burning cheeks, his eyes hazy, but with a silly smile. Just now... did I mess it up? But why do I feel like... she wasn't really mad?

Mess it up? Gu Ran chuckled lightly, looking back at the closed door. Quite the opposite. Your move just now could be considered god-tier. Fools have fools' luck. Some window paper can only be pierced by your kind of accident.

...

After sending off Ye Jinliang, only Gu Ran and Ye Zhenzhen were left in the residential complex.

The night was gentle, and the streetlights stretched their shadows long, overlapping and inseparable.

Gu Ran slowed his pace and turned to look at Ye Zhenzhen beside him.

The girl was looking down, seemingly still savoring the scene from earlier. A faint smile hung on her lips, and the halo of the streetlight cast a soft, velvety glow on her face.

"What are you thinking about?" Gu Ran reached out, the pad of his finger gently stroking her soft cheek.

Ye Zhenzhen looked up, her gaze darting away slightly. "N-nothing."

"If it's nothing, what exactly is it?" Gu Ran took her hand and intertwined their fingers, the warmth of his palm seeping through her skin.

"I j-just... just thought the way Susu and the others were acting earlier was... really nice," Ye Zhenzhen said in a tiny voice.

Hearing this, Gu Ran suddenly stopped walking.

He turned around, using the shadow cast by the streetlight to completely envelop the girl in his presence.

"Now that we're done enjoying other people's drama, shouldn't we focus a little on ourselves?"

Gu Ran lowered his head slightly, his nose gently brushing against hers.

Ye Zhenzhen's eyelashes fluttered. Looking at the handsome face so close to her own, her breathing lost its rhythm. "W-what about us?"

Gu Ran gave a low chuckle, his warm breath dusting her lips like a silent invitation.

"How about we... play a game too?"

"W-what game?"

"I want to taste..."

Gu Ran's voice was so low it was barely audible, yet every single word struck clearly against the girl's heart. "...if the ice cream you had tonight really is as sweet as you claimed."

As soon as the words left his mouth, without giving her any chance to react, he leaned down and captured her soft lips.

Under the streetlight, their shadows embraced tightly, as if melting into one.