Chapter 58: Deceiving Her

Back home, Chu Ran coaxed Gu An’an into taking a nap.

She then hurried to the balcony and called Wang Li.

“You… you’re selling the house?!!”

Wang Li’s voice rose in disbelief on the other end of the line.

Chu Ran pressed down on the screen and glanced at the tightly shut bedroom door. Once she confirmed the phone’s volume wouldn’t carry into the room, she whispered, “Yes. Handle this quietly. Don’t come find me— we’ll communicate by phone if needed.”

“But buyers want to see the place in person, right?”

“I’ll prepare photos and videos for you.”

“But that’s the only house your parents left you. Are you really selling it?”

“…I get it. Is it because Sister An’an needs money for treatment? I’ll give it to you. My parents have plenty—I can take as much as you need. I’ll transfer it this afternoon, okay?”

Chu Ran fell silent. Sometimes, silence spoke louder than words.

“Chu Ran, I might not know much, but I really don’t recommend selling the house. Where will you and your sister live after that? This is what your parents…”

“Shut up.” Chu Ran’s soft rebuke cut him off.

Wang Li immediately fell silent, listening obediently as she gave her instructions.

After a long pause, he ventured, “Are you really selling?”

Chu Ran replied simply, “Sell it as quickly as possible.”

Wang Li realized then that she was dead set on this. He had no choice but to say, “Your house won’t have any trouble finding buyers. Great location, good floor, nice layout, and it’s in the school district for No.1 Middle School and No.1 High School. The moment it’s listed, people will be fighting to buy it.”

“Then pick ones who can pay in cash,” Chu Ran said.

Wang Li caught the implication at once—she must be desperately short on cash, or she wouldn’t go this far.

His heart ached for her. He wanted to help, but Chu Ran wouldn’t sell her house over tens of thousands. This had to be a much larger sum, more than he could ask his parents for outright. The least he could do was help her get top dollar.

Hearing Wang Li agree so readily, Chu Ran let out a quiet sigh of relief.

She really did need to sell the house!

And it was something she’d planned long ago.

Even without Gu An’an’s illness, she intended to take her to Capital City to live.

The Old House was the only memento from her parents, but the memories it held were far from pleasant. That nightmare from that night wouldn’t fade just because Liu Li and Huang Shicai were locked up pending trial—and it would still be some time before their formal sentencing.

Even if those two scum were fully brought to justice, the humiliations and hardships she and Gu An’an had endured in Cloud City were all too real, etched into their bodies.

The neighbors here, the relatives here, the way officials protected their own here—it all made her sick to her core.

Unless something unforeseen came up, she had no intention of ever returning to Cloud City.

Some hometowns were destined to be left behind, and places you couldn’t return to didn’t deserve the name.

She walked to the bedroom door, cracked it open, and peeked inside. Gu An’an was still sleeping soundly.

Relieved, Chu Ran returned to the living room and began tidying up. Many small items still needed organizing. She’d take fresh photos and videos afterward and send them to Wang Li.

She could have just gone through a real estate agency, but to avoid alarming Gu An’an, she’d let Wang Li handle it instead.

The next day, Chu Ran visited her alma mater.

When she got back, she told Gu An’an, “The teachers said I need to report to Tsinghua University early. They’re holding an entrance exam before classes start—it determines class assignments.”

Gu An’an tensed up immediately. “How long? When do we leave?”

Seeing how Gu An’an didn’t doubt her for a second—and was genuinely concerned—Chu Ran decided to go all in and pushed the timeline even earlier.

“At least a month ahead. Several of my classmates are heading to Capital City this week to get settled in.”

Gu An’an grew even more urgent. “Then we need to pack your luggage right away. Little Ran, take me to buy a couple of suitcases this afternoon. I’ll start packing tonight.”

She finished speaking, then looked at Chu Ran cautiously.

Chu Ran’s classmates heading to Capital City early must have their parents with them, showing them around and sightseeing. She’d seen tons of it on social media—parents posting photos and videos of trips with their kids after the Gaokao, flooding her feed!

Chu Ran’s classmates were probably spending their summer that way too, right?

But Chu Ran… she’d spent hers accompanying Gu An’an through treatment, cooped up in the hospital amid the stench of medicine.

And now, she couldn’t even go with her to Capital City!

Gu An’an’s nose stung, tears nearly spilling over. She felt so guilty for holding Chu Ran back. Treading carefully, she said, “Little Ran, don’t worry. I’ll pack your luggage nice and neat…”

As the words left her mouth, she suddenly felt utterly useless. What could she do besides pack bags?

No matter how perfectly she packed, could it compare to parents taking their kids traveling?

She fell silent, slowly bowing her head.

Chu Ran smiled and said, “Great. I love the luggage you pack, Sister An’an. I can always find whatever I need right away—it’s more reliable than shopping at the supermarket!”

Gu An’an managed a weak smile.

Chu Ran’s words comforted her greatly.

Her Little Ran always noticed her strengths, even though she was so ordinary, unable to do anything for her.

At the luggage store, after Gu An’an picked out two suitcases, Chu Ran took down the shopkeeper’s number and asked him to deliver them.

Soon, the shopkeeper arrived with the two suitcases—plus five sturdy woven bags.

Over the next few days, while Gu An’an packed for her in the small room, Chu Ran hid in the large room, secretly packing other things.

But no matter how discreet she was, items around the house started disappearing bit by bit. Gu An’an noticed. Wheeling around, she inspected everywhere and finally spotted the bulging woven bags in the large room, along with clothes scattered on the bed that hadn’t been packed yet.

She understood everything in an instant!

Chu Ran was packing up the entire house to move to Capital City with her!

No! Absolutely not!

Panic surged through her heart—she felt outright terrified at the thought.

“Little Ran, no, it won’t work. You go to school by yourself. I can’t go. I really can’t.”

Her words tumbled out in a frantic jumble as she gazed anxiously at Chu Ran, rejecting her over and over.

Chu Ran slowly crouched down beside her wheelchair, looking at her with utmost seriousness.

“Sister An’an, we’ve grown up together since we were kids. I can’t get by without you. Are you really okay with me going to such a faraway place alone?”

Her large, bright eyes held a deep, sincere gaze, like pools of soft water swirling at the bottom, melting the heart of anyone who looked into them.

Gu An’an’s heart clenched. She nearly wavered, but the image of herself in a wheelchair in front of Chu Ran’s university classmates flashed in her mind. Her paralyzed legs felt like ugly, heavy scars weighing her down, impossible to shake off.

No, absolutely not. She shook her head fiercely.

If she could help it, she’d rather suffer more herself than let Chu Ran be looked down on, pointed at, or mocked behind her back for having a crippled sister!

That was the last thing she wanted to see!

It would hurt her even more than if they mocked her directly!

She turned her face away, steeling herself. “You’re grown up now. You can handle things on your own. Plenty of kids go off to university by themselves.”

Chu Ran stared at her pale profile, clearly seeing the red rims of her eyes.

No one knew better than Chu Ran how softhearted Gu An’an was. She softened her tone even more. “If I’m not home, you’ll be alone. It won’t even be easy for you to go out. How will you manage? How will you get to hospital checkups?”

Gu An’an kept her face turned away.

“Go to university properly. I’ll have neighbors to help me here in Huimin Neighborhood. I’ll be fine. I’ll remember to go for regular checkups too.”

“Besides, with how advanced things are now, there are delivery services and ride-hailing. I can even call a car to take me to the hospital.”

“But how will you get downstairs?”

Gu An’an quickly wiped her eye corner and turned back with a forced smile, pretending nothing was wrong.

“I’ll ask a neighbor for help. Li Qiang from the gate—Brother Li Qiang—he’s a decent guy. Don’t worry about me.”

Li Qiang? That security guard who grinned ear-to-ear whenever he saw Gu An’an, his eyes practically glued to her?

A sour feeling twisted in Chu Ran’s chest.

Gu An’an was kind to everyone, extending innate goodwill to all.

Her heart was the softest imaginable.

But others… they were different.

Huimin Neighborhood had a prime location, but truthfully, the residents’ quality left much to be desired—especially the pack of gossipy aunties led by Zhao Haixia. Venomous tongues, constant stirring of trouble, raining on their parade. She and Gu An’an had put up with plenty.

Before, she had forced herself to hold out here while pretending to be a ghost. But now, if Gu An’an were to live here alone—especially in her current state, unable to use her legs properly—she would be like meat on the chopping block, completely at the mercy of those meddlesome aunties.

Those crude words, those rumors spread by word of mouth—they would take wing like flies, buzzing endlessly. Who knew what vicious distortions they might twist into, words too filthy to hear?

Chu Ran’s heart churned with turmoil.

Gu An’an might not take herself seriously, but Chu Ran did!

The person she cherished more than anything wouldn’t treat herself like a treasure? Fine, then Chu Ran would!

She absolutely could not let her stay in this rundown neighborhood!

Gu An’an was still speaking to her in that gentle, coaxing tone.

“Little Ran, you have to be good and listen to me.”

“You promised me, remember? You’ll always do as I say. Little Ran is the best girl, right?”

“Going to university is such a happy thing. You should go off excited about it. Leave the house to me—I’ll take good care of everything for you, okay?”

Chu Ran sighed inwardly. Sister An’an still treated her like she was a little kid.

But what she didn’t know was that Chu Ran no longer wanted to listen to her. Well… not certain words, anyway.

Never mind.

The preparations weren’t ready yet. No need to rush.

She knew just how soft-hearted her Sister An’an was.

She would find a way to take her to the Capital City together.

Chu Ran straightened up and scooped her into her arms.

Gu An’an instinctively wrapped her arms around Chu Ran’s neck.

“Little Ran, you still haven’t promised me yet?”

Sigh.

Looking into those pleading eyes, Chu Ran couldn’t help softening and murmured her agreement.

“Okay, I promise. I’ll listen to you.”

“How about I give you a massage now?”

“Mm-hmm!” Gu An’an’s tears turned to smiles in an instant. She nodded eagerly, like a little chick pecking at rice.

Once Chu Ran had carefully settled her onto the physiotherapy bed, Gu An’an lay there like the perfect little baby, even straightening her arms neatly at her sides.

Chu Ran couldn’t help blinking in surprise.

Sister An’an was so easy to fool—how could she ever feel safe leaving her with anyone else?

Of course, the only place she belonged was right in Chu Ran’s hands!