Gu An’an gripped the other end of the fabric, and the relief was visible to the naked eye. Her rigid spine slowly relaxed against the seatback.
Qian Hao’s heart twisted with sour envy, laced with something deeper she couldn’t quite name.
She hadn’t expected Chu Ran to be so attuned, so thoughtful—noticing even a tiny detail like that and finding her own way to comfort Gu An’an.
Chu Ran spoke up again. “Are your legs uncomfortable?”
Gu An’an shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Don’t worry. Qian Hao’s car is really comfortable.”
Qian Hao pursed her lips. This was her personal ride—a Rolls-Royce Phantom, worth millions. Of course it was comfortable.
But she was the Eldest Miss, after all, and she carried herself with poise. After a moment’s thought, she turned to Gu An’an. “Sister An’an, next time you have to go to the hospital, just let me know. I’ll drive over and pick you up myself—no need to hassle with rideshares.”
She had no interest in addressing Chu Ran right now.
Gu An’an beamed with gratitude. “Thank you so much, Qian Hao. After this checkup, I probably won’t need the hospital for ages. But if I do, I’ll definitely call on you.”
Chu Ran stayed silent.
Gu An’an, now fully relaxed, began chatting idly with Qian Hao.
A short while later, they pulled up to Huimin Neighborhood. Chu Ran tugged on the other end of the shirt. “Don’t move yet, Sister An’an. I’ll handle it.”
She waved off the driver’s offer to help, fetched the wheelchair herself, adjusted it just so, then opened the car door. Crouching low, she lifted Gu An’an carefully from the seat and settled her into the chair.
Qian Hao watched the entire process.
When Chu Ran spread her arms, Gu An’an looped hers around Chu Ran’s neck like it was second nature. With one smooth exertion, Chu Ran cradled her close, as delicate as a little bird nestling into a welcoming branch.
The sight stung Qian Hao’s eyes.
She turned her face away.
Chu Ran straightened up and approached the car door. “Thank you, Qian Hao.”
Qian Hao finally turned back. Chu Ran stood backlit, her eyes gleaming brightly despite the shadows. The look she gave Qian Hao was inscrutable—for a split second, it felt like seeing her for the first time; the next, it was utterly unfamiliar.
“No problem,” Qian Hao said, forcing a smile.
Chu Ran nodded and started to walk away.
“Chu Ran?” Qian Hao called out suddenly.
“Yes?”
“I’m heading to the capital in a week. If you want, you can come with me.”
“You’ve been so busy treating Sister An’an, you might not have heard. Tsinghua University announced a new policy. They’re selecting a batch of experimental students from our freshman class in our major for a financial project. It’s a top-tier international collaboration—prime opportunity, but spots are limited. You can’t miss this.”
She paused, fixing Chu Ran with a steady gaze.
“I actually came looking for you today to tell you in person, but you weren’t home…”
Chu Ran got it at once. Qian Hao had trekked out to Huimin Neighborhood first thing that morning, only to find her gone.
She patted her pocket instinctively, then remembered the missed call from earlier—she’d been too preoccupied to answer.
An inexplicable pressure settled over her again. Without pausing to dwell, she replied, “I’ll get in touch later.”
“Okay.” Qian Hao let out a quiet breath of relief. She’d truly feared a refusal.
The two parted ways. Chu Ran pushed Gu An’an deeper into the neighborhood.
Gu An’an had overheard the exchange. Now she asked worriedly, “Little Ran, is this thing Qian Hao mentioned really that important?”
“It’s pretty big, yeah.”
“Then don’t spend all your time cooped up here with me. I’m okay. Go hang out with Qian Hao and the other students more. Keep up with school news—don’t miss out because of me.”
She fretted that Chu Ran would sacrifice her future for her sake. She already felt useless enough; dragging down her studies would leave her too ashamed to go on.
Chu Ran glanced at her, her words pointed. “Qian Hao said she’s leaving for the capital in a week.”
“Then go with her,” Gu An’an suggested.
“Her dad’s going with her.”
Gu An’an frowned. “She didn’t mention that.”
“She did. Her dad’s accompanying her to the capital for school. Another guy’s parents are doing the same for him. And Wang Li—his dad’s straight-up relocating the family business to the capital just to be there while he studies.”
Gu An’an caught the subtext at last and fell silent.
Chu Ran eyed her drooping head—like a wilted eggplant after the first frost—and stifled a laugh. She pressed on. “Poor me, no mom, no dad, just one sister. We had a deal she’d come with me to university, but now she’s flaked. Nobody wants me~~~”
Gu An’an hunched her shoulders, wishing she could shrink right into the wheelchair. “Little Ran… please, stop…”
Chu Ran scooped her up and carried her upstairs, crooning a line with every step.
“Little cabbage, gone all yellow in the field. Lost my parents at ten years old. Wanted to tag along with Sister An’an… but scared she won’t have me~”
Gu An’an huddled in her arms, face buried in Chu Ran’s chest.
She went still as a frightened quail.
By the time they reached the third floor, Chu Ran recoiled as if burned, wrenching Gu An’an’s face away.
Gu An’an’s eyes were squeezed shut, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Chu Ran gazed at her. “Sister An’an, we promised we’d be together forever.”
Gu An’an kept her eyes closed, tears flowing freely, but she only shook her head.
Chu Ran carried her inside, gently wiped away the tears, then dropped the subject. She cooked dinner, ate with Gu An’an, and cracked jokes to make her smile.
Gu An’an thought she’d let it go. After the meal, she crafted a cute bunny-shaped fruit platter to cheer her up.
She’d always been clever with her hands. Back when Chu Ran was little and upset, she’d fashion adorable dolls from old clothes or bake pastries into animal shapes—just to coax a smile.
Chu Ran didn’t push further, but her resolve only hardened.
That afternoon, she went out to meet Qian Hao.
After explaining the financial project, Qian Hao added, “I heard about it through my dad’s personal connections. Premium gigs like this usually stay in-house—they never go public, let alone offer spots to freshmen. We totally lucked into this one! Dad said I could pick a partner, and you were my first pick.”
“Chu Ran, this project’s a game-changer for your future. You have to team up with me on it.”
Qian Hao’s tone was deadly serious. She even reached across the table to tug at Chu Ran’s sleeve.
She dreaded a careless turndown.
Chu Ran picked up on it immediately—this was Qian Zai’an’s signal, nudging her to make good on her promise.
The project itself might even be his doing, paving the way for Qian Hao.
She answered readily. “Sure. I’ll make it happen.”
“Not ‘make it happen’—you will do it. Just say yes, and I’ll pull strings to get you in.”
Qian Hao was adamant.
She’d been kept in the dark by her father, but her intentions toward Chu Ran were nothing but genuine goodwill.
Chu Ran sighed softly and confirmed it. “If I said I’d do it, I will.”
Qian Hao exhaled in relief.
The two lingered at the bar counter, sipping cold drinks in the serene afternoon hush of the café.
Qian Hao stirred her coffee idly, her alluring eyes flicking toward Chu Ran now and then.
Feigning nonchalance, she asked, “That day, when you said you’d go to the capital with me… you were just tricking me to stick around for your sister, right?”
Chu Ran didn’t dodge. She nodded. “Yeah, I tricked you. But it wasn’t on purpose—just a desperate impulse.”
Qian Hao let out a soft hum, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her explanation.
Chu Ran continued, “I plan to go to the Capital City with Sister An’an, but she hasn’t agreed yet, so I haven’t been able to finalize my travel plans.”
“Isn’t it just that I haven’t given you a deliberate non-answer.”
Only then did Qian Hao understand the reason.
But this explanation didn’t make her feel any better. On the contrary, it only fueled her jealousy even more.
“You’re taking your sister with you to school?”
“Yes.”
Qian Hao wasn’t surprised. If Chu Ran didn’t bring Gu An’an to the Capital City, that would have shocked her.
But she immediately cut straight to the point. “Tsinghua University isn’t like an ordinary school. The academic pressure there is immense. You won’t have the energy to take care of her. In the end, you’ll just wear yourself out and accomplish nothing.”
Chu Ran’s tone was resolute. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Qian Hao could tell she was displeased and immediately dropped the persuasion. She wouldn’t deny her selfish motives, but she firmly believed she was doing this mostly for Chu Ran’s own good.
Since Chu Ran wouldn’t listen, she decided to find another way to help her.
She changed tack. “In that case, wait for me, and we’ll go together. We’ll drive. Sister An’an’s legs aren’t convenient for her, so whether it’s flying or taking the high-speed rail, it’ll be very uncomfortable for her.”
Chu Ran hesitated, but Qian Hao spoke unhurriedly. “Think about it. How would she use the bathroom on the high-speed rail or a plane? But if we drive, we can stop at a hotel for her to rest. It doesn’t matter if we arrive a little late.”
“Besides, you two are girls traveling with luggage. How can you manage without a familiar person nearby? What if something unexpected happens?”
Qian Hao’s suggestion was undeniably tempting to Chu Ran.
Her life experience was growing bit by bit. Even though she had thought it through many times, she had overlooked the issue of Gu An’an using the bathroom. Was she supposed to make Sister An’an avoid drinking or eating and just hold it in?
That was absolutely out of the question!
Chu Ran wasn’t one to waver indefinitely. She made up her mind on the spot. “Alright.”
Qian Hao’s beautiful eyes flickered, and the corners of her lips curved slightly. She had known Chu Ran wouldn’t be able to refuse this proposal.
She felt both elated and pained.
The elation came from sensing she had grasped Chu Ran’s weakness. The pain came from realizing that weakness was the person she liked: Gu An’an.
