Chapter 69-Part 2

Shen Zhi looked at her, watching her wide eyes fixed earnestly on him, waiting for his answer.

He restrained the smile on his lips and replied seriously, “All the money I earn will be yours.”

Ji Ran wasn’t truly fixated on money.

It was just that, growing up, her understanding of relationships came from observing her parents.

Pei Yuan and Ji Qingli were like a contractual couple—what Ji Qingli earned belonged to him, and what Pei Yuan earned belonged to her.

They weren’t like most ordinary couples, where the husband handed over all his earnings to his wife, who then managed and budgeted every penny carefully.

To Ji Ran, that arrangement felt more like a home.

Her parents, even when they divorced, did so cleanly.

Since they owned few shared assets, their financial split was straightforward.

It often felt like she was the only entity between them that couldn’t be neatly divided.

That feeling—Ji Ran truly disliked it.

She sniffled slightly.

Even though it was far too early for them to be talking about such things, Ji Ran believed that Shen Zhi would undoubtedly follow through.

He would willingly give her everything he had.

The girl’s emotions surged, her eyes welling up slightly.

She lowered her head, staring at the table in front of her, and murmured softly, “Shen Zhi, I wouldn’t squander your money. I’d manage it well.”

Shen Zhi: “…”

This girl was quite a character.

After finishing their meal, it was just past seven.

Ji Ran held his hand and strolled along the street.

There were plenty of food stalls on both sides, and the line in front of a takoyaki stand was the longest.

Ji Ran gazed longingly at the takoyaki.

Shen Zhi squinted slightly and reached for his wallet.

“Want some?”

But before he could take it out, Ji Ran pressed his hand back, her other hand lightly patting her stomach as she sighed, “But I’m too full.”

She had already polished off all the dishes Shen Zhi ordered earlier to save face.

So now, she could only look longingly, unable to eat another bite.

They continued walking until they moved from the bustling street to a quieter area.

Ji Ran glanced around and was about to ask Shen Zhi how he knew of such good places to eat when her eyes caught sight of a building in the distance.

A vague sense of familiarity burst forth explosively within her.

Pointing to a building across the street, she said, “Shen Zhi, look, that’s the youth center I used to go to when I was little!”

Across the street stood a tall building, its silhouette faintly visible in the dark.

Lining the road was a row of large trees, now bare of leaves in the winter.

In summer, their leafy crowns would spread wide, forming natural green umbrellas.

As the green pedestrian light turned on, Ji Ran pulled Shen Zhi across the crosswalk.

Standing at the familiar iron gates, she was certain—this was the youth center where she had once learned Sudoku.

Ji Ran never expected that after all these years, the youth center hadn’t been demolished.

In her previous life, she had never returned here after leaving. Coming back would always dredge up memories of the past—memories of sitting under that big tree, sharing a popsicle with a cool little boy.

After all these years, how was Xiao Jing doing?

For the first time, she allowed herself to think openly of Yuan Jing. Over the years, she had always avoided mentioning his name.

Ji Ran clung to the iron gate, her eyes unblinking as she looked into the youth center.

Though the night was dark, she could barely make out the windows of each floor.

She counted carefully, pointing to the fourth window from the left on the second floor.

“See that? The fourth window on the left is the classroom where I learned Sudoku.”

Shen Zhi, standing beside her, chuckled softly at her excitement.

He knew.

He was the one who had told her about it.

Back then, little Ji Ran had a princess-like temper.

One time, she had a spat with Yuan Jing over some trivial matter and complained indignantly, “You’re not nice to me at all. You don’t even care.”

“Who says I don’t care?”

Yuan Jing rarely spoke, but when faced with such a serious accusation, he didn’t hesitate.

Pouting, the little girl asked, “Then do you know which classroom I’m in?”

She had never told Yuan Jing—this was a deliberate challenge.

But Yuan Jing confidently replied, “The fourth window on the second floor from the left.”

Ji Ran was stunned, her face flushing as she smiled sheepishly and muttered, “Alright, you’re a good friend.”

Now, staring at the familiar scene, Ji Ran thought of her old friend, who was now long gone.

Turning to Shen Zhi, she said softly, “It feels so nostalgic, coming back here.”

Shen Zhi felt the same way.

He had known the restaurant was near the youth center, but he had wanted to bring her back here on purpose.

Ji Ran suddenly pointed at a distant tree, her voice tinged with remembrance.

“Look, that big tree over there—I used to sit under it with my best friend.”

“He was a little boy, and he was very handsome.”

Ji Ran tilted her head slightly, glancing at Shen Zhi, teasing him.

To her surprise, the usually jealous boy seemed unbothered, leaving Ji Ran gaping in astonishment.

Was he not being himself today?

So, she pressed on.

“Although he wasn’t my classmate, he was my favorite.”

“Do you know why?” Ji Ran asked softly.

Shen Zhi responded, “Why?”

Looking at the tree, Ji Ran recalled how she had stood up for Yuan Jing when he and his grandmother were bullied under its shade.

“Because he was the kindest child I’d ever met.”

He had cared deeply for his grandmother, bearing her burdens on his small shoulders.

Perhaps, as a child, she didn’t fully understand why she was so fond of Yuan Jing.

But as she grew up, she realized it was his kindness that had touched her.

“But later, he left. I never saw him again.”

Ji Ran’s voice carried a trace of melancholy.

In that moment, Shen Zhi felt something deep within him break free, struggling to emerge.

Looking at the girl before him, he suddenly wanted to tell her his secret.

The moment he returned to Jiangdu, the instant she rushed toward him, he had wanted to reveal the truth.

The secret between Ji Ran and Yuan Jing.

He had been by her side all along.

But Ji Ran’s voice broke through his thoughts, laced with sadness this time.

“Then Mom told me, real friends, no matter how far they go, would tell me. Those who leave without a word never truly cared about me.”

So, maybe Yuan Jing didn’t care about her as much as she thought.

Pei Yuan’s words had left young Ji Ran heartbroken, unable to argue back.

Since then, she hadn’t had a true friend—not even someone she could call in the middle of the night to vent to.

Finally, the boy beside her straightened his back, breaking the silence. Softly, he said, “Ran Ran, I have a secret.”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, a loud noise shattered the quiet street.

Bang!

Ji Ran froze as Shen Zhi lunged toward her, pulling her into his arms.

“What were you going to tell me?”

That question lingered on her lips, left unspoken.