I Found My Future Wife Next Door - Chapter 8

The next day, Lu Zhishen arrived as promised, though he only stayed for a little while in the morning before heading back, because he had classes!

Yu Qianran could sense Lu Zhishen’s pain and reluctance, all of which Lu Zhishen expressed openly and dramatically.

For example, before leaving, he clung to Yu Qianran, whining pitifully about how much he didn’t want to go. Even as he was being dragged away, he didn’t forget to turn back and say he’d come again that night.

However, there was good news: Lu Zhishen would be staying here for the entire summer vacation. He wouldn’t have to take long car rides to come over and play, and Yu Qianran could also visit him.

“Ranran, still watching? Come in quickly for breakfast,” Gu Kexin said, amused by the two children’s antics.

Ranran obediently returned, his short legs carrying him slowly to the dining room, where he climbed onto a chair and sat down.

Ranran asked curiously, “Mom, why does Shenshen have to go to class?”

Wasn’t it summer vacation? He didn’t have to go to class or do homework.

Gu Kexin gently patted Yu Qianran’s head and explained slowly, “Because these are classes that kindergarten doesn’t teach. If Ranran has anything he likes and wants to learn, Mom can also hire a teacher for him.”

“Ah, ” Yu Qianran widened his eyes. “Shenshen likes so many things.” He actually had to take so many classes, how fickle! He definitely wouldn’t be like Shenshen; liking just one thing was enough for him.

Gu Kexin smiled faintly without saying anything.

She and Ji Nuan had two different approaches to parenting. Rather than raising an outstanding heir, she hoped her child would live a healthy and carefree life. Even if he wasn’t exceptional, she had already paved the way for his future.

The wealth she left for Ranran would be enough for him to spend his entire life without ever running out. To secure his future, she had already set up a trust fund, which Ranran could start receiving annually once he safely reached adulthood.

But whenever she thought of Ranran’s illness, she felt she had failed him, unable to give him a healthy body.

“Mom?” Ranran softly interrupted Gu Kexin’s thoughts.

Gu Kexin lowered her head and said gently, “Let’s eat. Later, Mom will take you out to look around. If there’s anything you like, just tell Mom, and I’ll find a teacher to teach you. Don’t worry about not being able to learn it.”

Yu Qianran, preoccupied with thoughts of playing with Lu Zhishen, seemed particularly restless while out shopping. He randomly pointed to painting.

Then, he eagerly bought a small cake, planning to share it with Lu Zhishen when he came over.

Gu Kexin: “…”

…

After seven in the evening, Lu Zhishen rang the doorbell right on time.

“Ranran, I’m here,” Lu Zhishen exclaimed happily, hugging Yu Qianran tightly. “I missed you so much.”

Yu Qianran reached out and patted Lu Zhishen, feeling delighted that he had arrived on time.

“We just saw each other this morning,” he said.

Lu Zhishen eagerly used a phrase he had just learned: “We haven’t seen each other all day. A day apart feels like three autumns.”

Yu Qianran: ?

He didn’t understand. Whatever, it wasn’t important.

For the next half month, Lu Zhishen came twice a day, morning and evening, more punctual than a clocking-in office worker.

Lu Zhishen had been performing well recently and, to his surprise, was granted half a day off. When he heard the happy news last night, he wished he could teleport to Yu Qianran to share it.

But it was too dark, so he had to wait until this morning. As soon as he woke up, he hurriedly washed up, changed his clothes, and rushed over. “Ranran, I only have half a day of classes today. I can come play with you in the afternoon.”

Ranran’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed Lu Zhishen’s hand excitedly. “That’s great! Let’s do a puzzle together. Dad gave me a new puzzle.”

Lu Zhishen asked curiously, “What’s the picture?”

Although playing puzzles with Ranran every day was boring, as long as he could play with Ranran, he was happy.

Yu Qianran covered his mouth with both hands, “Keep it a secret.”

Lu Zhishen said, “I’ll come at noon, you must wait for me.”

Before Yu Qianran could wait for Lu Zhishen, he first encountered his annoying little cousin.

He sat obediently beside his mother, quietly watching Tom and Jerry on the TV. The annoying little cousin kept blocking the screen, making it impossible for him to see.

Gu Yu smiled and said, “Kexin, it’s been half a year since we last met, right? The last time was during the New Year at the old house.”

“Is there something you need?” Gu Kexin didn’t remember this relative, whom she only saw once a year, suddenly visiting without a reason.

“It’s nothing major,” Gu Yu waved her hand. “Ranran has grown quite a bit, about the same age as my child. It would be lively if they could play together often in the future.”

Gu Kexin replied with an “Oh.”

Since the other party wasn’t saying anything, why should she rush to ask?

Gu Yu wasn’t in a hurry. Instead, she beckoned to Yu Qianran and asked with a smile, “Ranran, can you play with your little cousin?”

Yu Qianran glanced at his little cousin and, remembering he was a guest, reluctantly agreed, “Mm.”

After thinking for a moment, he led his little cousin to the playroom, where all the toys were bought in sets.

Even if there were some he didn’t like, it didn’t stop them from being there.

And now, he planned to take out the toys he didn’t like for his little cousin to play with. The toys he liked were only for him and Shenshen.

Yu Qianran slowly wandered around the room, picking out the toys he didn’t like and handing them to his little cousin. “You can play with these.”

The little cousin’s eyes lit up like a mouse entering a rice barn. He slapped the toys out of Yu Qianran’s hands. “You have so many toys here, I want to play with all of them.”

Yu Qianran pulled his hand back in pain, looking firmly at the other, his voice soft and childish, “No, I didn’t agree.”

“Who needs your agreement?” The little cousin glanced disdainfully at Yu Qianran, pointing at the toys in front of him. “I’ll play with whatever I want, and if I don’t want to, I’ll throw it on the floor. These are all mine now.”

Yu Qianran was stunned.

He shook his head vigorously in denial, “No, these are Ranran’s toys. You can’t just take them.”

“Move, don’t block me.” The little cousin frowned unhappily and pushed Yu Qianran.

Caught off guard, Yu Qianran fell to the ground. A sharp, needle-like pain spread through him, and his beautiful eyes grew moist, tears hanging on the edge of his eyelids, threatening to fall.

“You’re bad, I hate you!” Yu Qianran climbed to his feet, feeling wronged. He grabbed his little cousin, who was trying to take his toys, with both hands. “Don’t touch my toys. Get out, get out now…”

“You’re so annoying.” The little cousin snorted coldly, pulling his hand back and shoving Yu Qianran to the ground again.

Yu Qianran tilted his head back, trying hard not to let his tears fall, stubbornly meeting his little cousin’s eyes. The little cousin looked down at him angrily and said, “Yu Qianran, you’re so weak. You’re such a sickly kid, can you even play with all these toys? Why not just give them all to me?”

Yu Qianran felt both wronged and angry, his voice trembling slightly, “I’m not sickly, and I won’t give them to you.”

The little cousin tilted his head, speaking maliciously, “You are sickly, a burden. My mom even told me to stay away from you, or I might catch your sickness and have bad luck.”

“Not true at all!” Yu Qianran could no longer hold back the tears in his eyes, which fell to the ground with soft plip-plop sounds.

“See, see, you’re crying,” the little cousin giggled incessantly. “Ranran is such a crybaby. I was just teasing you, and you got so scared. Nyeh-nyeh-nyeh!” He stuck out his tongue and made a mean face.

Ranran was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud sobs. “Wahhh…”

When they had met before at their grandparents’ house, even though they didn’t play together, the cousin had never snatched his toys like today, pushed him down, or laughed at him.

At first, the little cousin found it amusing, but after a while, he grew annoyed. Glancing toward the door, he walked over to Yu Qianran, who was still sitting on the floor, and covered his mouth with his hand. “You’re so noisy. Don’t let the adults hear you.”

“Mmph…”

The sudden covering of his mouth made Yu Qianran inexplicably panicked. His heart beat faster than ever, and a chilling fear spread through his entire body.

Someone, please save Ranran.

Mom, Dad, Ranran is scared…

Yu Qianran’s face turned deathly pale, his breathing grew slightly rapid, and his chest heaved violently, like a withering night-blooming cereus on the verge of fading.

“Ranran, I’m here…” The door opened, and Lu Zhishen’s cheerful words abruptly stopped. He immediately noticed Yu Qianran’s unusual expression and behavior. “Let go of Ranran!”

Lu Zhishen rushed forward and pushed the little cousin away while he was still stunned. He then held Ranran in his arms, gently patting his back to comfort him. “Ranran, don’t be afraid. Shenshen will protect you.”

Lu Zhishen raised his eyes and glared fiercely at the unfamiliar little boy he had pushed to the ground. It was this jerk who had bullied his Ranran, and anger boiled inside him.

The little cousin scrambled up from the floor, glaring fiercely at Lu Zhishen and demanding angrily, “Who are you? Why did you push me?”

“I’m Lu Zhishen, and you were the one bullying Ranran first,” Lu Zhishen said firmly.

At that moment, he was Yu Qianran’s knight, and a knight should protect his prince.

As soon as Lu Zhishen finished speaking, all his attention was drawn to the person in his arms. His young voice was filled with concern. “How are you feeling now, Ranran? Do you need to see a doctor?”

He knew how awful it felt to be sick. He only knew how to bring warm water when his parents were ill. But when it came to Ranran, he felt that warm water wouldn’t help. Yet he didn’t know how to treat an illness and could only worry helplessly.

Yu Qianran whimpered out a single word, “It hurts.”

It wasn’t just his bottom that hurt; his heart ached as if being slowly pulled apart, throbbing with pain.

Lu Zhishen loosened his tight embrace and looked down, carefully examining Yu Qianran for any unnoticed injuries. “It looks serious. I’ll take you to see a doctor.”

“I don’t…”

Before Yu Qianran could finish his sentence, Lu Zhishen picked him up and began moving slowly.

Yu Qianran looked down in surprise. Lu Zhishen’s face was scrunched up with effort as he used all his strength to carry him, even though Yu Qianran was only slightly smaller.

Lu Zhishen said word by word, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

Yu Qianran wanted to get down and walk on his own to ease Lu Zhishen’s burden, but the sharp, needle-like pain spreading through his body left him powerless. Tears shimmered in his beautiful eyes as he buried his head in Lu Zhishen’s shoulder, sobbing softly. “Shenshen, I feel so awful.”

Lu Zhishen comforted him, “It won’t hurt, it won’t hurt. Just hold on a little longer.”

The only solution he could think of was to take Yu Qianran to see a doctor.

The little cousin blocked Lu Zhishen’s path. “You’re not allowed to leave!”

Lu Zhishen glared at him. “Move aside. I’ll deal with you later.”

“No way. If you go out now, you’re definitely going to tattle.” Little Cousin raised his arms like a barricade, desperately blocking the doorway. “No one’s allowed to leave unless you promise not to tell on me.”

“You!” Lu Zhishen was furious. He had never seen someone so shameless.

Lu Zhishen threatened, “If you don’t move aside right now, I’m going to hit you.”