“Yes, Ranran told me about applying for off-campus housing, and his dad and I discussed it. We agreed. We’ve already signed the form.”

Jiang Jingshi sat in the office with a smile on her face. “Great. I’ve confirmed that you both approve, so I’ll go ahead and finish the processing for Lin Zhengran.”

“No problem, teacher. Thank you for your hard work.”

Jiang Jingshi glanced at a colleague working nearby, then covered her mouth and lowered her voice. “Auntie, this kind of thing isn’t hard at all. I’ll hang up now. Bye-bye.”

“Hmm?”

The phone call ended in Lin Xiaoli’s confused daze. It wasn’t until long after the call that she finally processed what had happened.

That voice… that tone at the end…

That mature and pleasant voice—wasn’t it… Xiao Jingshi?

So that meant… Ranran’s counselor was Jiang Jingshi!

Later that morning, Lin Zhengran got a call from his mom.

She sounded completely shocked—shocked enough to last a whole year.

“Ranran? What is going on? How is Xiao Jingshi your counselor?! Are you seriously dating your counselor? Is that what young people are into these days—so spicy?!”

Lin Zhengran, helpless, gave her a simple explanation. “Mom, Jingshi is just a counselor. Universities don’t have homeroom teachers.”

“Oh, that’s how it is.” Lin Xiaoli paused, then pushed back, “And what’s the difference?! It’s still a teacher-student relationship!”

“There’s a big difference. Jingshi’s not a homeroom teacher, she’s a counselor.” He teased her on purpose.

“You already said that once! And there’s no difference!”

In any case, despite a few bumps, the Four Little Ones all managed to complete their off-campus applications successfully.

Jiang Jingshi also ended her rental lease.

By Wednesday, everyone packed their things and moved into their new home.

Except for one particular Fox.

A couple of days earlier, in the dorm, Han Wenwen had said, “Uh, Xiao Qingqing, Lili, since we spent last week shopping with Auntie, I didn’t go back to my place in the small town to pack. So tomorrow I have to go get my stuff. I’ll let Sister Jiang know too.”

Little He Qing asked, “You’re going back alone? We can all go help—many hands make light work.”

Jiang Xueli suggested, “If there’s a lot of stuff, you should just hire movers.”

Han Wenwen grinned, clearly with something else in mind, and waved her hand.

“No need for movers, and no need for everyone to go. I don’t have much at my place—a big duffle bag can hold everything. Tomorrow, Brother Zhengran and I will take care of it. You guys don’t need to worry.”

Little He Qing pressed again, “Are you sure? We’re not busy these next few days.”

“Really, really!” Little Fox nodded.

As Jiang Xueli packed, she suddenly paused, turning suspicious eyes on Han Wenwen.

“Wait a second—did I hear something off? What do you mean you and Brother Zhengran will pack together? He’s going with you?”

Han Wenwen kept her tone casual. “Yep. It’d take a while if it was just me, but with Brother Zhengran helping, it’ll be more than enough.”

Jiang Xueli rolled her eyes. “You sneaky Fox! Do you even hear what you’re saying? First you said you didn’t need help, then you said it’d only work with Zhengran! You just want a reason to spend a day alone with him, don’t you?”

Caught red-handed, Han Wenwen blinked her sparkly fox eyes. “No way! That’s not what I meant!”

Jiang Xueli blushed and shouted, “Liar! That look on your face totally gave you away! You think just ‘cause your eyes are all sparkly I’ll fall for it?”

“Wenwen~” Little He Qing also started pouting with jealousy.

Seeing Xiao Qingqing’s expression, Han Wenwen quickly hugged her. “Ah! Okay, okay, let me explain! Actually, there’s a private matter tomorrow, and Brother Zhengran has to be there.”

Little He Qing asked curiously, “What kind of private matter?”

Jiang Xueli rolled up a book and pressed it to Han Wenwen’s neck. “Spill it. Word for word!”

Han Wenwen chuckled. “It’s about my off-campus application. Sister Jiang called my relatives at home. My uncle and aunt asked me about it, and I told them I’d be moving in with my boyfriend. So they said they wanted to come meet him.”

Jiang Xueli lowered the book. “Your uncle... he’s your guardian, right? I don’t think I’ve ever met him.”

Han Wenwen wrapped her arm around Little He Qing and smiled.

“Ever since middle school, I’ve been independent. They’re always busy too. They invited me back for New Year a couple of times, but I didn’t really want to go. So we don’t see each other much, but we still talk sometimes.”

Jiang Xueli knew Han Wenwen’s family situation was a bit special, so she got more serious. “In that case, it really is a special situation.”

Han Wenwen raised a finger and squinted playfully. “Of course. Though, I do kinda want to spend a day alone with Brother Zhengran, so I won’t deny it completely.”

Jiang Xueli clicked her tongue. “You sneaky little Fox.”

At that moment, Little He Qing watched Han Wenwen’s face and sensed something wasn’t right.

She couldn’t explain why, but something in Wenwen’s expression didn’t seem as cheerful as usual.

Jiang Xueli crossed her arms. “Well, if that’s the case, I suppose we can let you two go alone for a day. But you have to come back by nightfall. No staying out overnight.”

“Got it. It’s just moving house—we’ll be back in a day. If Xiao Qingqing and Lili are okay with it, I’ll go tell Brother Zhengran.”

Little He Qing asked quietly, “Wenwen, there’s really nothing else going on?”

Han Wenwen blinked. “Something else? No, that’s all.”

“Mm. Okay.”

Han Wenwen beamed. “Then I’m gonna make the call!”

With that, she happily walked out of the dorm with her phone to call Lin Zhengran.

Jiang Xueli frowned. “Why’d she have to leave to make a phone call?”

Little He Qing just stared meaningfully at Han Wenwen’s retreating figure.

Once she was out of the dorm, the smile on Han Wenwen’s face faded. She looked down at the photo her uncle had sent her.

In the photo, a thin-faced woman lay weakly in a hospital bed. Once beautiful, her face was now twisted by illness.

She was completely alone.

Han Wenwen bit her lip, her eyes full of anger and pity.

Attached to the photo was a message from her uncle:

“Wenwen, we found your mom. The hospital called recently about her. She’s in really bad shape. The doctors say she doesn’t have much time left. When I visited, your aunt said she wants to see you one last time.”

And underneath was Han Wenwen’s cold reply:

“I’m not seeing her. Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me.”

—

Wednesday, outside the gate of Qingbei University.

Lin Zhengran left the dorm and arrived at the school gate—only to find Han Wenwen already there, crouched by the bushes and staring blankly into space.

It was rare for her to be early. Even on the rare occasions she was early, she’d always hide and jump out to surprise him.