Young Brave Hearts – CH 075

Chapter 75

No one knew how long Lu Rangchen had waited for that one night, for Zhu Yunque to say, “Let’s make up.”

Perhaps it began after their reunion.

Or perhaps it began eight years ago, when she said goodbye, and he had already been waiting.

Lu Rangchen had never felt time stretch so long.

Every minute, every second seemed unbearably long because of her, but in this moment, seeing her before him, he suddenly felt that all that long time had been worthwhile.

He and she truly still had a future.

The atmosphere flowed with an ambiguous and tender warmth.

A thick emotion welled up in Lu Rangchen’s eyes. His voice was low and husky as he asked, “Are you sure? Have you thought it through?”

His gaze and tone both betrayed a hint of trepidation, yet also a blatant anticipation.

Zhu Yunque had never seen him like this before, and her heart was deeply moved.

The feeling of owing him so much easily filled her chest.

She sniffed softly and said, “I’ve thought it through. I thought it through the moment I saw you.”

In that instant, all the emotions that had been pent up burst forth.

Suddenly, she didn’t want to endure it anymore, nor did she want to hesitate or waver. She just wanted to be with him wholeheartedly.

As for the future, she didn’t want to think about it.

She wasn’t afraid anymore.

Life was so short; she just wanted to be with him.

Thinking this to herself, her grip on his shirt tightened even more. Lu Rangchen took her hand, weaving his fingers between hers.

The moment Zhu Yunque looked up at Lu Rangchen, the kiss landed again.

It was different from the passionate kiss at the alley entrance.

This time, Lu Rangchen was soft and lingering. His tongue entwined with hers, a tingling, numbing sensation, like a gentle electric current, coursing through her body.

It was like savoring candy she hadn’t tasted in a long time.

Addiction was at play.

Zhu Yunque’s lips parted repeatedly, only to be captured again. Her breathing became erratic with the intensity of Lu Rangchen’s kisses.

Suddenly, her nose was filled with his scent, a real and stirring feeling in her heart.

Even his shirt was marked with passionate creases from her caresses.

The kiss didn’t last long before the phone on the center console rang.

It was the phone’s default ringtone, usually harmless, but now it felt rather annoying.

Zhu Yunque pushed Lu Rangchen away, grabbed his collar, and whispered breathlessly, “The phone, answer it first.”

But Lu Rangchen was inherently rebellious.

Hearing her say that, he instead smiled wickedly, pinching the back of her head and kissing her again as if punishing her.

With an attitude of utter disregard.

From her lips to the tip of her nose to her eyelashes, his kisses varied in intensity until he was satisfied before casually picking up the phone from the center console.

The moment the call connected, an unfamiliar female voice came from the other end.

They were talking about miscellaneous matters at the club. If it weren’t urgent, it wouldn’t be a problem; if it were, Lu Rangchen would have to go back personally to resolve it.

They were close enough that they could hear everything they said.

She glanced at him upon hearing this.

She found Lu Rangchen looking down at her.

His expression was indulgent yet amused, brimming with a roguish charm. He was completely different from his previous serious demeanor, a stark contrast.

He noticed that he had almost wiped away the little lipstick she had left on her lips. Ignoring what the woman on the other end of the phone was saying, he reached out and wiped the water droplets from Zhu Yunque’s lips, raising an eyebrow and saying, “Creamy lipstick, huh? I quite like it.”

“…”

Zhu Yunque blushed at his teasing tone.

The next second, the woman’s voice on the other end of the phone fell silent, seemingly terrified. She stammered, “No, boss, you, you…you are talking to me? I didn’t put on lipstick!”

Lu Rangchen was speechless. He chuckled and said, “Who’s talking to you?”

Lu Rangchen glanced at Zhu Yunque, his expression serious. “I said that to my girlfriend.”

The word “girlfriend” was like a thunderbolt, instantly stunning the woman on the other end. She immediately exclaimed, “Holy crap!”

Her outburst intensified Zhu Yunque’s embarrassment.

Yet, at the same time, a subtle flutter of excitement stirred within her.

It was as if she had been waiting for Lu Rangchen to call her that for a long time.

By the time she came to her senses, the girl’s shocked voice was already echoing in the car.

She exclaimed, “Oh, boss, you actually have a girlfriend! Really? When did this happen? Is it Jiang Keyuan???”

The name Jiang Keyuan was completely unfamiliar.

Zhu Yunque’s brow twitched, and she instinctively glanced at Lu Rangchen.

Lu Rangchen, however, remained calm and composed.

As if anticipating her reaction, he lifted his eyelids and looked at Zhu Yunque as well.

“…”

Zhu Yunque stared intently at him.

Her gaze, though seemingly calm, betrayed a hint of scrutiny and jealousy.

But Lu Rangchen was incredibly mischievous; he let out a muffled laugh, suddenly finding it quite satisfying.

He chuckled, glancing sideways at Zhu Yunque but deliberately offering no explanation. He said to the girl on the phone, “Alright, stop gossiping; let’s get down to business. Calm them down first; I’ll be back to handle it in a bit.”

The girl replied, “What time is ‘in a bit’? Those clients are making a huge scene.”

Lu Rangchen glanced at his watch and said, “Take my girlfriend home first.”

With that, he hung up the phone decisively.

It had to be said.

Zhu Yunque was really easy to coax.

As soon as Lu Rangchen said “girlfriend,” she pursed her lips and slightly looked away.

But her stubbornness remained.

It was as if she would rather die than ask who “Jiang Keyuan” was.

Lu Rangchen knew her like all too well; if she didn’t ask, he wouldn’t tell.

She was good at stringing him along, wasn’t she?

Now he would too.

So, just as he started the engine, Lu Rangchen shamelessly reached out his right hand, placed it on her shapely leg, and beckoned to her.

“…”

Catching a glimpse out of the corner of her eye, Zhu Yunque couldn’t help but turn back to look at him, her handsome face stern as she said, “What?”

Lu Rangchen casually curled his lip and said, “I’ve already taken my girlfriend home; aren’t you going to give me some payment for the ride?”

What kind of payment did he want for the ride?

Zhu Yunque naturally knew.

But she wouldn’t have it.

Thinking for a moment, she took a one-yuan coin from her bag and placed it in Lu Rangchen’s palm.

It was a classic case of one thing subduing another.

Lu Rangchen was stunned for a moment, then laughed in exasperation.

Just as he was about to say something, someone suddenly knocked on the car window.

It was a man who came over and asked Lu Rangchen, “Handsome, are you leaving? If you are, can you hurry up? I’ve seen you two lingering in the car for ages—”

He was about to say something more.

Meeting Lu Rangchen’s sharp and intimidating gaze, he immediately swallowed his words.

Lu Rangchen was always arrogant and unruly, completely unconcerned about what others thought of him, but he cared about Zhu Yunque.

He knew that if the man continued, it would only result in crude jokes and embarrassing remarks, serving no purpose other than making Zhu Yunque feel awkward.

So he simply cut him off, forcing a smile, and said, “Sorry, I’ve been holding the parking space for too long. I’ll leave now.”

He then rolled up the window, nearly knocking the man’s teeth out.

Seeing the man’s disheveled appearance, Zhu Yunque couldn’t help but chuckle.

Lu Rangchen, driving with one hand, turned his head at the sound, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow, deliberately teasing her, “What, so happy to have a boyfriend?”

His tone was nonchalant, utterly mischievous.

If it were before, Zhu Yunque would have rolled her eyes at him and ignored him the rest of the way; Lu Rangchen was even prepared to make her “angry.”

But to his surprise, Zhu Yunque’s gaze only flickered awkwardly for a moment upon hearing his words.

A short while later, as the car started moving again, Lu Rangchen suddenly heard her honestly say, “Yeah, I’m quite happy.”

Her voice was soft, with a hint of embarrassment, yet it was captivating.

After speaking, she lowered her eyes, softening her expression. When she looked up again, her gaze was somewhat shy, like her younger self.

Looking at her, Lu Rangchen smiled and took her hand. Zhu Yunque no longer held back, obediently opening her fingers to intertwine with his.

The car moved slowly through the night.

Lu Rangchen’s voice was deep and gentle, his tone tinged with laughter as he said, “Yes, I’m especially happy too.”

Traffic in Nancheng was always congested.

Especially that summer night, with a gentle breeze, Lu Rangchen drove slowly, so it was almost nine o’clock before he dropped Zhu Yunque off at home.

The club was urging him to come back.

Lu Rangchen didn’t say much to her before heading back. Before leaving, he made sure to check the doors and windows for Zhu Yunque.

When it was time to part, Zhu Yunque finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She grabbed his sleeve and asked him at the door, “Aren’t you going to explain anything to me?”

This immediately made Lu Rangchen laugh. He said, “Explain? What do I have to explain?”

His tone was both innocent and infuriating.

Zhu Yunque was speechless for two seconds, immediately realizing he was doing it on purpose.

Not wanting to tolerate him, she pursed her lips, closed the door, and said goodbye expressionlessly.

A rather childish move, the door slammed shut.

Lu Rangchen, however, seemed to have expected this. He stood at the door, hands in his pockets, and let out a muffled, roguish laugh.

He wasn’t surprised at all.

But he didn’t know that Zhu Yunque had actually been watching Lu Rangchen’s car the whole time.

Her apartment had a view outside, and she used to check every morning and evening to see if she could see Lu Rangchen’s car.

However, back then, every wait was filled with complex emotions. She tried to avoid it, she tried to restrain herself, but ultimately, she couldn’t resist missing him.

The feeling of uncertainty and insecurity she felt then was still vivid in Zhu Yunque’s memory, and she never wanted to experience it again.

Fortunately, now she no longer had to sneak around; she could look at him openly.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yunque’s lips curved into a smile, her heart feeling lighter than she had in all these years.

Just then, Lu Rangchen’s car drove out of the residential area. His car, like him, exuded an untamed arrogance even from its silhouette.

Only after the car disappeared from sight did Zhu Yunque reluctantly turn her gaze away, intending to text Xu Linda to tell her that she and Lu Rangchen had reconciled.

Unexpectedly, Lu Rangchen’s message popped up first.

Her phone pinged.

Lu Rangchen: 【Jiang Keyuan is Jiang Sui’s older sister, and she pursued me for a while.】

Upon seeing this message, Zhu Yunque’s heart skipped a beat.

Her hand moved faster than her mind, and she immediately replied: 【…and then?】

Lu Rangchen: 【Then, I waited until my ex-girlfriend changed her mind.】

Lu Rangchen: 【Now I need to go back and give out red envelopes to the people at the club.】

Two messages appeared instantly, like two pieces of candy suddenly shoved into her mouth.

Zhu Yunque was momentarily stunned, then her heart began to race.

She stared blankly at her phone screen, unsure what to reply for several seconds, even wondering for a second if it was all a hallucination.

Just then, Lu Rangchen suddenly called.

The club was pressing him urgently, and there were things he couldn’t say in time, so he could only call her while driving.

He was always straightforward, and his words were direct and to the point.

Just as Zhu Yunque pressed the answer button, a man’s magnetic voice gently approached her ear, his tone laced with a hint of amusement, both sexy and charming, “Excuse me, Teacher Zhu.”

“…”

“Do you have time to arrange a meeting with the students’ parents tomorrow?”