My Straight Childhood Friend Successfully Pursued Me After The Breakup - Chapter 39.1

The nurse on duty at the nursing station was transcribing something. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the frail-looking girl emerging from the stairwell. She glanced at her, confirmed she had returned to her room, and then lowered her head to busy herself with her own work.

The door of the ward closed softly. Tao Ran walked to Zuo Xian’s bed and crouched down. By the moonlight, her gaze traced over Zuo Xian’s face, inch by inch.

She was sleeping soundly, perhaps having a wonderful dream, her brows relaxed, and her skin appeared especially clear and pale white in the bright moonlight.

Tao Ran curled her fingers and lightly brushed Zuo Xian’s cheek with the back of her hand, her eyes full of tenderness.

Perhaps it triggered a slight tickle, the sleeping Zuo Xian gave a soft whimper, raised her hand to scratch her face, and happened to grasp Tao Ran’s hand, holding it unconsciously, and tucking it into her embrace.

“Good night.” A shimmering light flashed in Tao Ran’s eyes. She leaned close to the sleeping girl, placed a kiss on her forehead, and then gently withdrew her hand and left.

Thanks to Zuo Xian’s meticulous care, Tao Ran recovered quickly and was discharged in just three or four days.

However, the stitches hadn’t been removed yet, and she would have to return to the hospital for that in a few days.

Although she was discharged, Tao Ran did not immediately return to school, but went home to recuperate.

Unlike her, Zuo Xian had resumed the student life of leaving early and returning late, a two-point-one-line routine.

For the first few days, she would go to Tao Ran’s house immediately after school to see her.

Although Tao Ran was resting at home, she didn’t have much free time, always busy in the study dealing with things Zuo Xian couldn’t understand.

Zuo Xian didn’t want to disturb her, but still wanted to keep her company, so she simply brought her homework to Tao Ran’s house.

The moon rose above the treetops, and the lights in the study were bright and warm. Inside the room, there was only the sound of a pen tip rubbing against paper, and the clicking of a mouse.

After finishing one test paper, Zuo Xian propped the end of her pen against her philtrum, pouted, and admired the completed paper, then her gaze suddenly shifted to Tao Ran.

Like Aunt Jiang, Tao Ran had slight myopia, but she usually didn’t wear glasses, only putting them on when working or studying for long periods.

Silver-rimmed, frameless glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. The computer’s fluorescent light reflected a cold, inorganic glare on the lenses. Tao Ran’s expression was somewhat serious.

They say a woman is most attractive when she’s working seriously, and that saying is certainly true.

Zuo Xian felt she had done enough homework and it was time for a little subtle flirtation with Tao Ran, as a small break between studies.

This was a good combination of work and rest.

Thinking this, Zuo Xian stood up and walked over to Tao Ran.

Hearing the movement, Tao Ran lifted her eyes from the computer to look at Zuo Xian, smiling instinctively. The indifference that had created a sense of cool sexiness on her face was instantly replaced by tenderness.

“What’s wrong?”

Zuo Xian looked at her and said seriously, “Don’t smile.”

“Huh?”

“You looked especially good when you weren’t smiling just now.”

“…” The genuine smile on Tao Ran’s face disappeared. “Do I not look good when I smile?”

“You look good when you smile too, but…” Zuo Xian pondered her choice of words.

When Tao Ran didn’t smile, she had a unique ‘flavor.’

But the word ‘flavor’ seemed a bit strange, making it sound like she was a cannibal and wanted to eat her.

Before she could settle on a word, Tao Ran said, “Are you tired of seeing it?”

“No, no.” Zuo Xian quickly waved her hands. “You look especially beautiful when you smile, I could look at it for a lifetime and never get tired.”

Tao Ran wanted to laugh, but held it back, giving a cold “Hmm.”

That’s it, this is the ‘flavor.’

Zuo Xian’s heart bloomed with joy and thumped wildly. She leaned down and kissed Tao Ran on the cheek.

As the kiss landed, Tao Ran’s cold expression finally broke, and a smile overflowed from the corners of her eyes and brows, like the first melted snow water on a spring mountain.

Zuo Xian was satisfied and turned back to her homework.

After writing for a while, Zuo Xian couldn’t resist looking at Tao Ran again.

“Ranran, when are you planning to go back to school?”

“Maybe not so soon.” Tao Ran thought for a moment. “I’ll be busy with other things during this time.”

Recently, Tao Yizhang has been pressuring her, and she couldn’t afford to sit back and wait. She needed to seize the initiative to feel secure.

“Busy with what?”

Tao Ran glanced at her and smiled, “A secret.”

“So mysterious.” Zuo Xian shook her head, didn’t ask further, and lowered her head to focus on her homework.

Just as Tao Ran expected, Tao Wenbin was an idiot. She had only revealed a small, insignificant weakness of her own, and this elder brother was already chasing ghosts all over the city.

Song Zhu hadn’t conveyed any more information, and Tao Ningxue also said she would be returning to Country D in a few days.

Perhaps Tao Yizhang’s reach was ultimately limited, and this incident seemed to have passed quietly, much more smoothly than Tao Ran had anticipated.

However, such smoothness inevitably made her feel uneasy, forcing her to be even more vigilant at all times.

The heavy rain that Lu City had been holding back for many days seemed ready to pour down today. Layer upon layer of black clouds had been stacking up in the sky since morning.

It felt like a heavy weight pressing down on people’s heads, so suffocating that even the windpipe felt blocked, making it difficult to breathe in the oppressive air.

The damp air clung to the skin, feeling greasy and making people feel anxious.

Tao Ningxue was leaving tomorrow and had arranged to meet Tao Ran before she left, choosing a newly discovered teahouse.

Separated by a door, all the uncomfortable weather factors were blocked out. The air inside the teahouse was filled with a faint, refined tea aroma.

The air conditioning was set quite low, and the retro decor surprisingly matched Tao Ningxue’s outfit for the day.

Tao Ningxue was wearing a Hanfu traditional Han clothing. She took a sip of tea, and her long hair, dyed a cool brown, only slightly showed a misty brown color under the light.

“You’re an ethnic Chinese who grew up in Country D, why the sudden love for Hanfu?” Tao Ran’s mouth twitched.

“Doesn’t it look good?” Tao Ningxue flapped her wide sleeves. “I specially changed into this.”

Tao Ran showed no mercy and curved her lips, “Have you seen the 86 version of Journey to the West? Like the scene where Sun Wukong, just out of Flower and Fruit Mountain, eats noodles in the human world.”

“No, I haven’t. But Journey to the West is a classic, and Sun Wukong is the protagonist.” Tao Ningxue smiled carelessly, revealing her stark white teeth. “I’ll take that as a compliment that I have the ability to cause havoc in the Heavenly Palace.”

Tao Ran smiled but didn’t respond.

“Sigh, I really feel a bit reluctant to leave.” Tao Ningxue sighed. “Why don’t you talk to Tao Yizhang and let me stay here too.”

Tao Ran: “…”

“Although Tao Yizhang has let your little girlfriend off for now, who knows when he’ll suddenly get a whim. If you let me stay, I can cover for you. Right?”

“No need for your trouble,” Tao Ran took a sip of tea and said flatly.

Tao Ningxue was already used to Tao Ran’s indifference. After all, they weren’t friends or sisters, at most, they were partners who could appreciate each other.

She hadn’t asked Tao Ran to the teahouse to bond with her, but simply to find a convenient place to discuss their future plans.

When they talked about serious matters, both became very focused. There were too many things to consider. They could only prepare two or three steps ahead at most; for the rest, they had to take it one step at a time.

Seeing that the time was about right, Tao Ningxue stood up. “Let’s go, take me to the airport.”

Tao Ran also smoothed her clothes and glanced at her. “I’ll have the driver take you.”

“Tsk, what a cold sister.”

As the two walked to the main entrance of the teahouse, a deep, deafening thunder suddenly sounded in the sky, a rumbling sound, as if an awl was trying to bore a hole in the heavens.

Tao Ningxue narrowed her eyes. “Probably a flight delay. Annoying.”

Tao Ran, however, froze, her expression not looking good.

That bolt of thunder seemed to strike Tao Ran’s heart, inexplicably making her uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

She had never particularly believed in intuition, but this time, without the slightest hesitation, she called Zuo Xian.

The phone connected quickly, and Zuo Xian’s bright voice sounded in her ear.

” Ranran, why the sudden call?”

Hearing Zuo Xian’s voice, Tao Ran felt a slight sense of calm, laughing at herself for overthinking.

She asked, “A Xian, where are you now?”

“My aunt took time off to bring Liu Xinyu to Lu City to play. I just got out of school and am planning to go to the North City Airport with my mother to pick them up.”

Tao Ningxue, who suddenly saw Tao Ran make a call, looked teasing and mouthed: Little girlfriend?

Tao Ran found her annoying and turned her back.

“It’s Liu Xinyu’s birthday in a few days, and my mom said she’s treating everyone to a meal. She’ll invite you and Aunt Jiang too,” Zuo Xian knew Tao Ran was busy recently, so she added, “If you’re really busy, just let me know, you don’t have to come.”

Tao Ran’s eyes softened. “It’s fine, I’m not busy anymore.”

“That’s great! I think I see my mom. Ranran, I’m gonna hang up now, talk later.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Tao Ran turned back around. Tao Ningxue pinched her nose and said with a strange tone, “Mmm, the stench of love.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Get in the car, I’ll take you to the airport.”

Tao Ningxue: “Didn’t you just refuse to take me?”

“Are you going or not?”

“Going, definitely going.” Tao Ningxue got into the back seat and looked at Tao Ran, who immediately followed her into the car, a thoughtful expression flashing in her eyes.

The car drove towards North City Airport, Tao Ran closed her eyes to rest, and Tao Ningxue propped her chin on her hand, looking out the car window.

About twenty minutes later, they were stuck in traffic on the highway.

The wind howled loudly, and the sound of its whistling could be heard even inside the car. Tao Ningxue checked the time.

“Why the traffic jam? Does God not want me to go back to Country D?”

The phone vibrated twice: a yellow rainstorm warning text message from the city, and a flight delay text message from the airline.

Tao Ningxue: “…”

“It seems even God is helping you return to Country D,” Tao Ran chuckled lightly.

They hadn’t exchanged many words when Tao Ran’s phone rang. She initially thought it was Zuo Xian, but her face grew solemn the instant she saw the caller ID.

Seeing her expression, Tao Ningxue pretty much guessed who was calling her.

“Hello.”