Her heartbeat accelerated until, at one point, her body tensed rigid. Every breath and throb stood out starkly, a mix of ethereal bliss and exquisite torment, second by second.
It took a long while for her taut body to finally relax back against the mattress.
“When will Sister An’an realize how I feel?”
The next morning, Gu An’an woke to find herself fully nestled in Chu Ran’s arms—head pillowed in the crook of her elbow, upper body draped across her chest, legs dutifully staying in place.
An inexplicable shyness washed over her.
She wanted to shift away, but Chu Ran’s sleeping form held her captive.
Chu Ran was still asleep, and in slumber, she looked different from her usual calm demeanor—more like the innocent girl she was. Her long lashes were thick and even, her thin lips slightly pursed, her nose bridge high and straight. She had a youthful innocence laced with an elegant, bookish poise. In a few years, she’d surely bloom into an otherworldly beauty.
Their long hair tangled together in a beautifully chaotic knot.
Gu An’an couldn’t resist reaching out, her fingertip lightly tracing Chu Ran’s brows. They were exquisitely shaped—clear-boned and refined, perfectly balanced, like strokes from a master’s brush, coolly elegant and handsome.
A faint tingle pricked at Gu An’an’s heart, swelling with proud satisfaction mingled with an unspoken, secret affection.
This outstanding girl was one she’d raised, now lying obediently beside her, treating her so well.
She felt utterly content, yet a quiet sorrow tugged at her.
In that rise and fall of emotions, she couldn’t quite pin down her own feelings.
She just hoped Chu Ran would be even better—better still.
Just then, Chu Ran stirred awake, sleepy-eyed and lazily arching her body.
Gu An’an, cradled in her arms, immediately felt the intimate press of their bodies—full and firm, taut and defined. Blushes bloomed on her cheeks as she rolled away.
Chu Ran grabbed her in one swift motion.
“Sister An’an~~”
Like a big lazy cat, she burrowed into Gu An’an’s embrace.
She nuzzled against her.
“Sister An’an~ What do you want for breakfast?”
Fully awake now, her big eyes sparkled as they gazed at her.
In those bright depths, Gu An’an’s reflection shone clear.
The sight warmed Gu An’an through. In a soft voice, she said, “I’ll make it for you. The kitchen counters aren’t high; I can reach everything. I’ll do egg pancakes for you—the kind with both sides golden brown. Your favorite.”
“No way.” Chu Ran arched a brow and shifted slightly before sitting up with a roll.
“I’ll do it.”
Barefoot, she hopped off the bed and came around to Gu An’an’s side.
“First, let’s hit the bathroom. Heh heh.”
Grinning, she scooped Gu An’an into her arms with gentle care.
Her steps light and bouncy, she carried her into the bathroom. Only then did Gu An’an notice how spotless it was.
“Little Ran, did you get up early this morning?”
Chu Ran gave her a meaningful look. “I got up in the night and cleaned while I was at it.”
Last night, holding her, she’d been unable to sleep for ages—in fact, more and more restless—so she’d gotten up to scrub the bathroom.
Naturally, she couldn’t let Gu An’an know that.
She added, “I cleaned the toilet several times too. It’s spotless. You first, Sister An’an.”
Gu An’an watched as Chu Ran flicked up the toilet lid with her toe—graceful and practiced—and couldn’t help laughing.
“Little Ran, when did you master this skill?”
Chu Ran preened with a smug brow lift. “Practice makes perfect.”
She bent down and slowly released her onto the seat. Along the way, she’d hiked up Gu An’an’s skirt, but with her underwear still on, she’d have to shift her hips herself to pull them down.
Chu Ran desperately wanted to help; she was willing to do anything for her.
But Gu An’an clearly disliked that, urging her on. “Little Ran, go on out. I can do it myself.”
Reluctantly, Chu Ran gave up and fetched a small stool, setting out some tissues.
She stepped out of the bathroom, leaving the door cracked. “Sister An’an, call me if you need anything.”
Gu An’an agreed, and only once she heard her leave did she relax.
Chu Ran headed to the kitchen to freshen up.
She pondered how to modify the bathroom for Gu An’an’s ease.
First off, there was a step between the bathroom floor and the living room; the wheelchair would jolt crossing it. They’d need a ramp there. And on either side of the toilet, install grab bars so Gu An’an could support herself and stand with some effort.
Her legs were too weak to walk normally or even support her own weight, but if she had something to hold onto on both sides, she could barely manage to stand. That way, she could use the handrails to shuffle over to her wheelchair.
This solved her most embarrassing problem—using the toilet.
In truth, Chu Ran desperately wanted to help her with it.
Being able to do anything for Gu An’an eased the suppressed emotions weighing on her heart, even if just a little.
But she also knew that going to the bathroom was far too private!
Especially for a girl as particular about her appearance and as sensitive as Gu An’an. If she couldn’t even handle her own bodily functions, she might truly break down.
Chu Ran quickly finished washing up and entered the bathroom to help Gu An’an do the same. She eagerly squeezed toothpaste for her and drew warm water for her to wash her face, positioning a stool right in front of her.
The sink was too high for Gu An’an, who was seated in her wheelchair.
It looked like she’d need to modify the sink—or add a lower one—to make it easier for Sister An’an to wash up.
Chu Ran made a mental note of the plan.
Gu An’an murmured softly, “Little Ran, I can squeeze my own toothpaste. You mustn’t do it for me from now on.”
Chu Ran hummed in agreement, but in her heart, she resolved to squeeze it for her next time too. From here on out, she’d handle all of Gu An’an’s toothpaste.
It actually left her a bit troubled.
Gu An’an’s demands on her were always so minimal. She never wanted to trouble her or add to her burdens. But she had no idea how much Chu Ran yearned to do things for her—anything at all, even the most trivial, mundane tasks. Only by doing so could Chu Ran slightly alleviate the desires building up inside her, on the verge of shattering her completely!
With these faint worries in her heart, Chu Ran prepared breakfast.
While they ate, she ordered tile adhesive, grout sealant, non-slip waterproof stickers, a plastic stool, and a whole array of other items on her phone. She also contacted a handyman for an on-site installation.
She was determined to remodel the bathroom in the shortest time possible!
The Capital City was incredibly convenient—everything could be delivered same-day. The items arrived within an hour, and the handyman showed up right on time. After explaining her needs to him, Chu Ran took Gu An’an to tidy up the second bedroom.
They’d brought so much luggage that sorting it all would take ages, but Gu An’an clearly enjoyed these little household chores and threw herself into them with delight. Chu Ran was thrilled to see it and stayed by her side, lending a hand. The two of them worked together in perfect harmony, brimming with the joy of starting a new life!
Just then, Qian Hao called.
Her voice carried a hint of excitement, her mood plainly upbeat.
“Chu Ran, there’s a networking party today. All the attendees are the pre-selected candidates for that financial project. I’ll come pick you up in a bit.”
“When does the networking party start?”
“It’s set for noon at twelve. We’ll all have lunch together to get to know each other better. Don’t ask too many questions now—we’ll talk when we meet.”
Chu Ran frowned instinctively. “I have something going on today. I’m afraid I can’t make it…”
“Do you have any idea how important this networking party is?” Qian Hao cut her off sharply.
“Everyone coming is from the great clans of the Capital City. We’re just provincials tagging along at best. I went to great lengths to get you in—how can you miss it?”
“Qian Hao, I really do have something. You go ahead and take notes on the important stuff…”
“Chu Ran!” Qian Hao interrupted her again!
Her voice was unmistakably angry, but good breeding forced her to rein it in. She tried her best to sound calm. “This is a networking party put on by the bigwigs of the financial world to promote up-and-comers. Heirs from the Capital City’s Four Great Families, the Hedong Four Great Families, and the tycoons of the Jiangzhe Region will all be there. It’s a high-level event with top-tier opportunities and connections—the best in the country. I really hope you’ll come.”
Chu Ran’s expression grew serious. Qian Hao rarely spoke with such gravity.
More crucially, she had made a promise to Qian Zai’an: over these four years of university, she would be Qian Hao’s right-hand woman. Skipping the first gathering in their circle here in the Capital City would be hard to justify to him.
And for her own sake, she needed an opportunity like this.
But leaving Gu An’an alone at home? Absolutely not.
Chu Ran pondered her options.
Gu An’an, ever perceptive, immediately sensed the dilemma in Chu Ran’s call.
“Little Ran, is that Qian Hao on the phone?”
Qian Hao had overheard her voice and politely greeted her first. Then she said, “Sister An’an, my classmate and I have a networking party at noon today. It’s extremely important—all the participants are the nation’s top young talents in terms of status and education. They could shape the future of entire industries. Please convince Chu Ran to come. She can’t miss this chance!”
Chu Ran’s face changed slightly. “Qian Hao, this is my business. Don’t drag Sister An’an into it.”
Qian Hao fell silent but didn’t hang up.
From Qian Hao’s words, Gu An’an grasped the gravity of the situation. She turned to Chu Ran at once. “Little Ran, this sounds crucial. Hurry and go! What are you doing sticking around the house? Don’t worry about me—I can take care of myself. I can cook, and I can use the toilet. You don’t need to fret at all.”
“Go on. Qian Hao’s doing this for your own good. I can tell.”
She gave Chu Ran a little push.
Chu Ran’s mind raced at full speed. She made a snap decision. “Qian Hao, hold on. I’ll call Wang Li to come help.”
Qian Hao sounded anxious. “Wang Li and the others are in Chaoyang District. It’ll take them at least an hour to get here—that’s too much delay. How about this: if you’re worried about Sister An’an, I’ll bring a nanny when I pick you up. She can look after her for the day. Sound good?”
Seeing how much they were fretting over her, Gu An’an felt both guilty and uneasy. She chimed in right away. “Yes, Little Ran. Your studies come first. I really can manage on my own. And with Qian Hao’s nanny helping out, you can relax completely, right?”
Gu An’an hated troubling others most of all. Without a second thought, she agreed to Qian Hao’s suggestion, putting Chu Ran’s needs above her own.
Chu Ran suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure she couldn’t resist!
The pride and self-respect of youth paled before it. But what pained her more was a vague sense that the gears of fate were turning, pulling her toward a path she didn’t want.
Asking Wang Li for help would let her rest easy, but relying on Qian Hao? She always felt like she owed her something. Why was that?
She had no time to figure it out. Forcing herself to stay calm, she weighed it for a few minutes before agreeing to Qian Hao’s plan. Gu An’an couldn’t be left alone, Wang Li would take too long to arrive, and as a guy, he wouldn’t be ideal for looking after her anyway. If forced to choose, Qian Hao’s nanny was the way to go.
Before heading out, she sent the bathroom remodeler away and rescheduled.
She didn’t feel right leaving Gu An’an home alone with a stranger around. Once Qian Hao arrived with the nanny, Chu Ran gave the woman a thousand instructions and warnings. Only under Gu An’an’s urging did she finally leave, reluctant to the last.
In the elevator, she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Qian Hao, the silence stretching between them.
After a moment, Qian Hao spoke. “Today’s networking party is really important.”
Chu Ran understood instantly. Qian Hao was letting her know she wasn’t exaggerating or deceiving her—that she truly believed it was vital for her future and had gone all out to make sure she could attend.
Chu Ran nodded lightly. Of course she didn’t blame Qian Hao.
She knew full well what mattered most, what was right or wrong.
She just felt the full force of that pressure once more.
Qian Hao continued, “The big shots decided it on a whim, so I didn’t have time to tell you ahead.”
Chu Ran glanced at her. Even without the explanation, she got it—the financial world changed in an instant; nothing could be planned for perfectly.
“It’s fine,” she said to Qian Hao. “I understand.”
Her mindset shifted in an instant. She and Gu An’an had endured so much hardship along the way; she was no longer like her peers.
She had chosen this path herself. Since she had, she would walk it without fear.
And with Gu An’an by her side, she feared nothing at all!
Her reply was brief, but it put Qian Hao’s mind greatly at ease. Chu Ran understood her perfectly every time. She could feel a rapport between them that no one else shared—a perfect match in talent and wits. It filled her with joy. Amid her fluttering thoughts, a subtle affection stirred. Her lovely, limpid eyes quietly turned toward Chu Ran.
“Did you sleep well last night?” she asked casually.
Making small talk was something she’d always disdained.
But now she realized it was only because she hadn’t met the right person yet. With the right one, even idle chatter felt sweet as honey.
