Marriage at Thirty - Chapter 29

When Lin Ran walked into the cafeteria on Monday noon, she was, predictably, met with cheers.

“Lin Ran, when did you do your hair?”

“Lin Ran, you are so trendy!”

“That color looks great on you!”

Lin Ran responded to every question, chatting enthusiastically with everyone.

Fu Linling sat down with her meal tray. Qin Shanshan from the adjacent table nudged Fu Linling’s back: “Dr. Fu, what do you think of your wife’s new hairstyle?”

Fu Linling glanced at Lin Ran: “Beautiful. Love it.”

Qin Shanshan laughed, then turned to the others and said: “Dr. Fu’s mouth is truly getting something! You couldn’t even pry it open with a pair of surgical forceps before, and now it’s like it’s dipped in honey.”

“Is that so?” Lin Ran looked at Fu Linling with a smile. “Couldn’t be pried open with forceps before?”

“That’s because they didn’t use the right tool,” Fu Linling said lightly, already immune to the gossip and teasing.

“Then what does it take to pry your mouth open?” Lin Ran asked casually.

Fu Linling’s gaze quickly flickered to Lin Ran’s lips.

“Hello, can I sit here?” Wang Ke asked, walking up to their table after getting her food.

“Of course,” Lin Ran said.

Fu Linling also said: “It feels like it’s been a while since we ate together.”

“You two are newlyweds. I didn’t want to bother you before,” Wang Ke said, sitting down. She had a bag slung over her shoulder. She pulled out a bag of fruit, pushed it toward Lin Ran, and said: “Here’s some fruit… Do you want it?”

Lin Ran looked at her, sensed the friendly signal she was sending, and smiled: “I do! How much can I take?”

“Take it all.” Wang Ke smiled in relief, then looked at Lin Ran’s hair: “Your hair really is beautiful.”

“Thanks. I was just accompanying my mom to the salon. I got bored sitting there, so I decided to get mine done too. My mom almost swatted me out the door when I walked out,” Lin Ran said.

Fu Linling and Wang Ke both laughed.

“I want to dye mine too, but we can’t with our profession,” Wang Ke sighed.

“You can buy a wig to play around with,” Lin Ran suggested.

Qin Shanshan from the next table joined them with her tray: “I’ve never bought one. Do you have any recommendations?”

“I’ve bought from a few places. One shop has a great effect—natural and realistic. Do you want the link?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” The two said in unison.

Once they started on the topic of beauty and hair, they had endless things to talk about. The cafeteria was nearly empty before they reluctantly prepared to leave.

Qin Shanshan even created a small group chat, wanting to invite her to go shopping on the weekend: “Lin Ran, you clearly have great taste. Please help us pick things out! I’m going crazy over my lack of fashion sense!”

Wang Ke nodded in agreement.

Lin Ran: “Totally OK.”

After they all separated, Lin Ran turned to the silent Fu Linling and asked: “Why didn’t you say anything just now?”

“I couldn’t get a word in,” Fu Linling said.

“Sorry, I ignored you for a bit.”

“It’s fine. You’ve always been this popular.” Fu Linling said with a hint of pride: “What did I tell you? You just have a way of making everyone like you.”

As they walked toward the parking lot, they ran into Feng Ming. Lin Ran noticed her first and waved: “Feng Ming!”

Feng Ming had just gotten out of her car. Seeing them, she walked over, slightly shocked by Lin Ran’s hair: “Your hair… is very fashionable.”

Lin Ran smiled: “That’s why I love talking to cultured people like you. Even if you don’t like it, you still give a compliment.”

Feng Ming smiled: “I don’t dislike it. I’ve just never dyed mine, so it took me a second to process. But the color does suit you very well.”

“Actually, green suits me better,” Lin Ran said.

Feng Ming and Fu Linling were both taken aback.

Fu Linling looked at her casually. Lin Ran only then realized the ambiguity and laughed: “I meant ash-linen green. I dyed it that color before. It turned heads like crazy.”

Fu Linling: “Mhm… Why can’t that count as a kind of green?”

Lin Ran blinked, then burst out laughing. After a good moment, she asked about business: “Why are you only just arriving? The cafeteria is closed.”

“I’m here to submit some paperwork. My official start date is tomorrow,” Feng Ming said.

The hospital onboarding process was quite involved, and this was a mass recruitment, so the hospital needed to do some preparatory work.

“Alright, I won’t interrupt your business. We’re heading back now.”

“Mhm, see you soon. Senior Sister, see you next week.”

“Mhm, go on and get busy.” Fu Linling nodded.

“Wait.” Lin Ran pulled a large, red apple from the bag of fruit and put it in Feng Ming’s hand. “Bye now.”

“Mhm.” Feng Ming held the apple and watched them get into the car. She looked down at the apple before turning to leave.

In the afternoon, Zhang Wu called Lin Ran and asked her to take her little cousin out.

The little cousin was her uncle’s youngest daughter, Zhang Lehuan. Her uncle’s family ran a small business out of town and couldn’t get away, so they sent Zhang Lehuan to attend the wedding and take a trip here.

She had been staying at the old family apartment for the past few days. Since Zhang Wu had to work today, she handed the girl over to Lin Ran.

Lin Ran drove to her former apartment, called her little cousin, and soon a small girl in overalls and a cartoon bag ran over. She called out “Cousin,” and then got into the car.

Zhang Lehuan was petite, a cute and sweet girl. The two only saw each other during holidays, but they had a good relationship.

“Where do you want to go? Did you research anything?” Lin Ran asked.

“I saw this really big, famous bookstore online. I want to go see it,” Zhang Lehuan said, opening her phone and showing Lin Ran the picture.

Lin Ran checked the address and started the car: “Perfect. I haven’t been there either.”

“You’re a local. You don’t like visiting local attractions,” Zhang Lehuan laughed.

The bookstore was large and stylishly decorated. The atmosphere was excellent and quiet. People sat on the aisles and steps, reading.

Zhang Lehuan wandered among the various shelves.

Lin Ran wasn’t very interested in the books. She ordered two drinks, secured a spot, and started drawing there.

A little while later, Zhang Lehuan sat down beside her, quietly reading a book she had picked up.

“Cousin, the guy diagonally across from us is staring at you,” Zhang Lehuan quietly whispered into Lin Ran’s ear after a short time.

Lin Ran glanced over. Her eyes met the boy’s. He quickly averted his gaze, raised his book to slowly cover his face, and blushed crimson.

Zhang Lehuan covered her mouth to giggle, making the boy’s face get even redder.

Lin Ran’s gaze, however, landed on his book, which was a medical text.

“Hello, are you a doctor?” Lin Ran asked quietly.

The boy looked at her, flattered: “No, I’m only a medical student.”

“Is that book yours, or did you get it from the store?”

“From the store.”

“Where is it?”

The boy pointed her to the location on the bookshelf: “That whole section is professional medical books.”

“Great, thank you.” Lin Ran got up to look for the book, running her fingers along the spines, searching one by one.

“What book are you looking for?” The boy also followed and stood beside her to ask.

Lin Ran recited a title.

The boy helped her search and asked with a hint of expectation: “Are you a medical student too?”

“I’m not. My wife is a doctor,” Lin Ran said.

The boy paused: “Your wife?”

“Yes.” Lin Ran raised her hand, showing the ring on her finger, and smiled: “I’m married.”

“Ah…” The boy smiled gently. “I should have guessed. Someone as beautiful as you couldn’t possibly be single.”

“Not necessarily. I was single just over a month ago,” Lin Ran laughed.

The boy looked at her in surprise, and after a moment, said: “Then your wife must be very accomplished.”

“She is.” Lin Ran’s eyes lit up as she found the book she wanted. “She’s extremely accomplished.”

When she returned to their spot, the boy no longer dared to stare at her.

It was getting dark. Zhang Lehuan only had a little bit left to finish her book. She was reluctant to put it down. The books here were all full price. She had hoped to finish it today and save some pocket money.

Lin Ran was about to check out. Seeing the conflicted look on her face, she said: “Go pick out a few books you like. My treat.”

Zhang Lehuan looked at her in surprise: “Really?”

“Of course, it’s true. How much do a few books cost? It’s rare for someone in our family to actually like reading. Go on.”

“Thank you, Cousin! I love you!”

Zhang Lehuan held a stack of books and happily followed her out the door.

Checking the time, Lin Ran called Fu Linling: “Let’s not cook tonight. Let’s eat out. My cousin and I are out now.”

“Okay. I’m almost off work.”

After her shift, Fu Linling took a taxi and found them at a hot pot restaurant.

Fu Linling had seen Zhang Lehuan briefly at the wedding banquet a few days ago, but it was just a quick greeting with too many people around.

Talking to her tonight, she found her to be a quick-witted and lively young girl, full of youthful energy. Fu Linling suspected this entire family had that gene.

“Sister-in-law, a college guy was staring at my cousin at the bookstore earlier.”

Since hearing Liu Cen call her that at the wedding, the younger relatives had all started using the same title.

Fu Linling smiled lightly: “That doesn’t surprise me at all.”

“Aren’t you jealous?” Zhang Lehuan had hoped to see her get jealous but was disappointed.

“I’m used to it.” Fu Linling smiled as she looked at Lin Ran.

Lin Ran picked up a meatball, let it cool, and said: “I told you, Dr. Fu is not a petty person. So many people stare at me. If she had to get jealous every time, she’d be a vinegar vat by now.”

Fu Linling nodded in agreement.

“Okay.” Zhang Lehuan sighed with emotion: “This is what adult relationships are like, so clear-headed. I like it.”

Fu Linling smiled: “Where did you two go today?”

“The bookstore,” Zhang Lehuan said.

“Oh, right. I saw this book, so I bought it for you,” Lin Ran pulled out a thick volume from her bag—an overseas research paper.

Feng Ming had recommended a few books to Fu Linling last time. Fu Linling had bought all but this one and had planned to borrow it from Feng Ming after finishing the books she currently had.

Fu Linling took it, affectionately touching the brand-new cover: “Thank you…”

“You’re welcome.” Lin Ran smiled proudly, then turned to ask Zhang Lehuan how many days she planned to stay, as she had other plans afterward.

“What plans?” Zhang Lehuan asked.

“Early next month, I’m going skiing in New Zealand,” Lin Ran said.

“Oh my gosh, Cousin, your life is too luxurious.”

“Luxurious, my butt. I’m busy until midnight every day just so I can have fun when I go out,” Lin Ran said.

Fu Linling turned to ask: “Are you going alone? Is that safe?”

“No, I’m going with my best friend. We’ve been three or four times already. No problem at all, don’t worry.” Lin Ran said.

“Best friend? Why haven’t I heard you mention her?” So far, Fu Linling had only met one of her friends, Lian Fang.

“Because she quit her job six months ago and has been traveling abroad, so we haven’t had a chance to meet. We were classmates in middle and high school. We were inseparable back then. She even came to Yubei to find me. You probably haven’t met her,” Lin Ran said.

Fu Linling had a vague recollection. It was during the break for the morning exercises, she thought.

As soon as class was dismissed, someone was shouting at the top of her lungs below the teaching building: “Lin Ran! Lin Ran!!!”

Lin Ran ran to the hallway, looked down, shrieked, and ran downstairs in a flash.

Fu Linling walked out of the classroom and saw Lin Ran rushing toward a strange girl. The two hugged, shouted, and then excitedly went toward the dormitories.

When someone asked Lin Ran who the girl was at lunchtime, she said it was her best friend from her previous school.

So, this time, she was going on a trip with that girl?

“How long will you be gone?” Zhang Lehuan asked.

“A week at the least, maybe half a month at most,” Lin Ran said.

“I’m so envious of you two,” Zhang Lehuan said with longing eyes.

“I’ll take you skiing in Xinjiang this winter.”

“Really?!”

Zhang Lehuan pressed her about the Xinjiang skiing trip. Lin Ran chatted with her for a while, then realized Fu Linling had gone quiet. She turned and saw Fu Linling had put a meatball into her teacup.

Lin Ran: “?”

She pressed down on Fu Linling’s hand: “Why are you so distracted?”

The warmth on her wrist brought Fu Linling back to reality. She couldn’t help but ask: “Does your friend… like women?”

There weren’t many lesbians around them, and Fu Linling’s intuition told her this friend was probably straight.

“She does! In fact, she’s the one who helped me realize I like women,” Lin Ran recalled. There was another thing she couldn’t say in front of a minor: that friend was also the one who shared all those good movies with her.

Fu Linling put another meatball into her teacup.

Zhang Lehuan watched them, blinked, and suddenly understood: “Sister-in-law, you’re jealous! Aren’t you? Aren’t you?”

Lin Ran was stunned. She turned her head, staring at Fu Linling with curiosity.

Fu Linling straightened her expression: “That’s not true. I’m not a petty person, really.”

Zhang Lehuan covered her mouth, giggling, then remembered something else: “I’ll be staying at your place for the next few days. I’m afraid I’ll be troubling you two.”

Lin Ran was puzzled: “Why are you staying at our place? My mom’s old apartment is fine. You’re alone there. Isn’t it more comfortable?”

“Auntie said she needs to tidy up the old apartment and told me to stay at your place,” Zhang Lehuan asked. “Didn’t she tell you? Is it inconvenient? Should I just stay at a hotel instead?”

Lin Ran: “…”

What needed tidying up at the old apartment? Zhang Wu had already cleaned it after she moved out.

She knew exactly what Zhang Wu’s sneaky plan was.

There were only two bedrooms in their apartment. A guest would naturally occupy one of them, meaning she and Fu Linling…

Crucially, this had not been communicated to them beforehand. Her mother was banking on the fact that Lin Ran wouldn’t kick her cousin out.

But Fu Linling was a very tidy person. Every time a guest left, she would clean the house thoroughly for a long time. Having one more person would surely cause her a lot of trouble.

She was about to call Zhang Wu when she heard Fu Linling say: “It’s fine. Stay. You can stay as long as you like.”