Lemon Soda Candy - 82

Gao Guohua lived just off campus. After leaving the school gates, the group didn't take a vehicle but continued on foot, stopping along the way to buy a bunch of fruit and drinks.

Since it was winter break and they didn't want to intrude unannounced, they had called Gao Guohua in advance that morning.

Yet, when the door opened and Gao Guohua saw them, his face was still filled with unmistakable delight. But when he noticed the boys at the front, like Zhu Ran, carrying numerous items, he frowned slightly.

"Didn't I tell you just to come yourselves, no gifts allowed? Why did you buy so much stuff again?"

Zhu Ran smiled. "It's just some fruit and drinks, nothing expensive."

"Expensive or not, you shouldn't bring anything. Take it all back later," Gao Guohua said. "You're all still students. Where did you get the money? Don't waste it on things like this."

Chen Luobai laughed from the back. "Who says we don't have money? We have scholarships."

"Exactly," Tang Jianrui chimed in. "Isn't the reason we got into good universities and got scholarships because of you and the other teachers? Isn't it only right we buy you some fruit?"

Gao Guohua was momentarily stunned.

Students he taught had gotten into good universities, and were now visiting him with things bought with their scholarship money.

—For a teacher, there was hardly anything more pride-worthy than this.

But it was only for a moment.

Perhaps afraid he would continue to object, the boys at the front, still like the mischievous monkeys they were in high school, slipped past him one by one, piling all the things they carried in the entryway, clearly adopting a stance of "even if you don't want it, we're forcing it on you today."

Gao Guohua was caught between laughter and tears. But just then, with the front row of boys having scurried inside, the view was unobstructed, and his eyes fell on the remaining girls. One of them was holding hands with Chen Luobai, who was leaning lazily against the doorframe.

All afternoon, due to a certain someone's deliberate arrangements and changes in how he addressed her, Zhou Anran had felt like she had really traveled back to her high school days. Now, under Teacher Gao's sweeping gaze, she felt inexplicably guilty for some reason.

It was like being caught by the homeroom teacher for dating too early.

Zhou Anran quickly tried to pull her hand back.

The next second, the boy pulled it back again.

Chen Luobai was laughing heartily. "Why are you panicking? Teacher Gao has known for ages."

Zhu Ran, who had already put the stuff down and was now leaning against the inside of the doorframe, teased, "And it's not just Teacher Gao who knows. This guy named Chen either doesn't post on his social media, or when he does, he never uses filters. All our class's subject teachers saw that post where he announced he was dating, including our Teacher Gao here. Several of them even liked it."

Zhou Anran: "…?"

Gao Guohua could see she was easily shy. Although he had only taught her for a year, he remembered her as the exceptionally well-behaved, obedient, steadily-improving type of student that teachers worry about the least.

He waved them in. "Don't stand at the door, come on in, all of you."

Gao Guohua had only one daughter, a few years older than them, who had tested into a school in another city, stayed there for work after graduation. Only Gao Guohua and his wife were home.

The teacher's wife, surnamed Hu, smiled as she poured them tea, spilling the beans as she did: "Your Teacher Gao has been checking the clock all afternoon. He started brewing tea for you before 3 p.m. What I'm pouring for you now is already the fourth pot he's made."

Gao Guohua coughed. "Don't talk nonsense."

The group settled onto the sofa or chairs that had been brought over, and the modestly-sized living room instantly became incredibly lively.

Chen Luobai took a cup of tea from the teacher's wife, tested its temperature first, and then handed it to Zhou Anran. "Be careful, it's hot."

Gao Guohua looked surprised. Was this still their top-ranked student from back then, the one who never paid girls any mind, the one teachers never had to worry about regarding early romance?

Having reached the age of accepting one's fate, Gao Guohua couldn't help his curiosity. "How did you two end up together? Did you run into each other again after graduating?"

In his memory, the two of them didn't seem to talk much in high school.

Chen Luobai casually picked up another cup of tea. "No. Didn't you see that social media post? I said I've been thinking about her for a long time."

Gao Guohua also took a cup of tea to drink. "How long is 'a long time'?"

Chen Luobai's tone was casual, as comfortable as if chatting with a friend. "I can't pinpoint the exact moment. Let's just say it was right at the start of our second year."

Gao Guohua, who had just taken a sip of tea, nearly choked. "The start of our second year??"

Chen Luobai nodded calmly. "Yeah. If she hadn't transferred schools, you probably would have had to talk to me about early romance back then."

Gao Guohua: "…?"

"Hey, hey, hey," the boys beside them heckled. "Don't think just because Teacher Gao isn't your homeroom teacher anymore he can't discipline you. That's too much."

Zhou Anran's face was burning red, but seeing Teacher Gao also wearing a rare expression of both surprise and something between amusement and exasperation, she spoke up softly. "Teacher Gao, don't listen to his nonsense."

Chen Luobai glanced at her sideways. "How is that nonsense?"

Zhou Anran couldn't help but glare at him.

Chen Luobai: "…"

"Fine. Teacher Gao, I was talking nonsense."

Gao Guohua had indeed been surprised just now, not really because of Chen Luobai's words, after teaching him for three years, he knew what this student was like, but mainly because he couldn't figure out what intersection their paths had had.

As teachers, of course, they weren't eager to play the villain and split up young couples. In fact, as long as the students were sensible and it didn't affect their studies, they were willing to turn a blind eye.

Gao Guohua put his teacup down and smiled, pointing a finger at Chen Luobai. "Back in school, you relied on your good grades to do whatever you wanted. You refused to be any kind of class representative, skipped any activity you didn't like. Now, finally, there's someone who can keep you in line."

This was the first time Zhou Anran had been teased by a teacher, and her ears grew warm again.

The group didn't stay too long at the Gaos' house. After finishing their tea and chatting about how everyone was doing lately, they said their goodbyes.

Gao Guohua and his wife tried to get them to stay for dinner.

The boys, instead turned the tables, trying with a barrage of words to persuade Gao Guohua and his wife to join them for their dinner gathering.

Gao Guohua finally acted as if he couldn't take the noise anymore and started shooing them out, though the smile on his face was unmistakable. "Go on, get out of here! You're all adults in college now, but you're still as rowdy as little kids. Next time you come, no buying things!"

After leaving Teacher Gao's place, the group went to a nearby barbecue restaurant.

It was just past 4:30 p.m.; the restaurant had just opened, and they were the first customers.

Chen Luobai asked the owner for a large private room. Once inside, while ordering, he told the guys not to hold back, so they ended up ordering almost everything on the menu.

The restaurant had just opened, and some things weren't fully prepared yet. The owner gave them a heads-up, so by the time the first round of skewers arrived, it was nearly 5 p.m.

Dong Chen and He Mingyu happened to arrive just then, entering the private room.

He Mingyu walked straight to an empty seat further in.

But Zhou Anran felt, though she wasn't sure if it was her imagination, that Dong Chen seemed to glance in her direction.

Before she could look over curiously, Dong Chen averted his gaze. Probably because Yan Xingxi was sitting right beside her.

Zhou Anran didn't think much of it.

Tang Jianrui, however, was curious as soon as he saw them. "What kept you two? You didn't come this afternoon, only free now?"

He Mingyu sat down beside him. "Nothing much. Just had relatives visiting."

"Both of you had relatives visiting at the same time?" Huang Shujie asked curiously.

Dong Chen: "Yeah."

Apart from the latecomers He Mingyu and Dong Chen, the other guys had all played basketball that afternoon and were already starving.

So, initially, everyone focused on eating seriously.

After half an hour, with stomachs mostly filled, someone started clamoring for toasts. The first to raise his glass was Huang Shujie, sitting across from Chen Luobai.

He poured a full glass of beer. "Luo-ge, I'd like to propose a toast. In these three years of high school, besides getting into a 211 university, the other thing I'm most honored about is being your brother for three years. You have no idea, even now there are tons of female classmates, ones I know and ones I don't, asking me for your info and contact details."

Tang Jianrui nudged him from the side. "If you don't know how to talk, then shut up."

"What's the big deal? It's not like my Luo-ge gave any of them out," Huang Shujie said, then looked at Zhou Anran. "Sis-in-law, I'm telling you the truth. During high school, Luo-ge really didn't pay much attention to other girls. The only girl he ever took the initiative to treat was you."

Shao Zilin, hearing this mentioned, also felt a stir of gossip curiosity. "Back then, Luo-ge lied to us and said it was nothing. He said you'd accidentally overheard him planning to skip class, and he didn't want you telling the teacher, so he bought you a drink. Was that true?"

Zhou Anran: "…?"

When had she ever overheard him planning to skip class?

Zhou Anran turned to look at the boy beside her.

Chen Luobai lounged lazily against the back of his chair, his smile equally casual. "I was just inexperienced back then. I hadn't figured things out yet. Otherwise, why would I need to hide the fact that I liked her from you? It's true she didn't overhear me planning to skip class, though. It was me trying to teach her to skip class. Didn't work."

"Our sis-in-law was such a well-behaved, good student back in the day," Huang Shujie said, unusually disapproving as he looked at him. "And you tried to teach her to skip class?"

Zhou Anran wanted to explain that it wasn't like that.

That day, he had probably seen her crying and didn't know how to comfort her, and later, after she admitted she was crying because of stress, he had just suggested skipping class as a way to relax.

But the boy, holding her hand under the table, suddenly squeezed her fingertips.

Zhou Anran was a beat too slow, so he spoke first.

Chen Luobai still lounged lazily, seeming to smile as he glanced at her. "So, yeah, since it didn't work, I had to bribe her to keep her from telling the teacher."

Huang Shujie accidentally bumped his glass, spilling beer on his hand, and only then realized the topic had veered way off track. "Anyway, Luo-ge, I toast you."

With that, he downed his glass in one go.

Chen Luobai straightened up, poured his own glass full of beer, raised it toward Huang Shujie in a gesture, and then also threw his head back and drained it.

Tang Jianrui followed suit. "Then Luo-ge, I have to toast you too. You finished Old Huang's glass, so you have to finish mine too, right?"

Chen Luobai laughed. "Enough already."

Tang Jianrui: "Luo-ge, you're playing favorites."

Chen Luobai gestured with his chin toward the table full of empty skewers. "If I get drunk, who's going to pay the bill?"

Tang Jianrui: "…"

Tang Jianrui immediately changed his tune. "Then I'll finish mine. Luo-ge, you just sip yours."

While Tang Jianrui was settled, Yan Xingxi poured herself a full glass of beer, stood up, and half-turned. "Chen Luobai, you might get away with not drinking theirs, but you have to finish this one from me. Ranran is my best friend since we were little. You have to treat her well. If you dare treat her badly, I don't care how impressive you are, I'll make you answer for it."

Zhang Shuxian: "I feel the same."

Sheng Xiaowen conveniently poured a glass too. "I'll join. I know you probably still have things to say to Ranran tonight. The three of us are toasting you; you just need to drink one glass."

"Deal." Chen Luobai poured a glass of beer and clinked glasses with each of them. "Don't worry."

Zhou Anran's nose felt inexplicably sore again.

Then, for some reason, He Mingyu came over from the opposite side. His gaze, filtered through his glasses, landed on her face, seeming somewhat complex, though a closer look revealed nothing specific.

"Zhou Anran, can you drink a little?"

Chen Luobai also asked her quietly, "Can you drink?"

Zhou Anran nodded. "I can handle a little."

He Mingyu: "Then I'd like to toast the two of you."

Chen Luobai poured her a third of a glass and filled his own.

He Mingyu clinked glasses with them. "I wish you happiness."

He didn't look at Zhou Anran, only glanced at Chen Luobai.

Chen Luobai gave him a slight nod.

Dong Chen had only found out today that He Mingyu had had a crush on Zhou Anran for several years. That afternoon, when Chen Luobai was going to deliver the love letter to Zhou Anran, he had stayed back with He Mingyu.

Watching the scene before him, he could easily imagine He Mingyu wasn't feeling great.

He didn't feel great either and didn't know how to comfort him, so he just gave He Mingyu a light pat on the back.

After He Mingyu returned to his seat, Dong Chen turned to look at Yan Xingxi. "Yan Xingxi, shall the two of us have a drink?"

Yan Xingxi shot him a glance. "Who wants to drink with you?"

Dong Chen: "You remember you lost that bet with me and still owe me one thing, right?"

Yan Xingxi looked at him warily. "What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing much." Dong Chen poured her a small half-glass. "Just have a drink with me, and wish me luck becoming a pilot soon."

Yan Xingxi looked at him suspiciously. "That's it? That simple?"

Dong Chen: "That's it."

"I don't believe you." Yan Xingxi remained doubtful. "You'd let me off that easily?"

Dong Chen laughed, though it was hard to tell if it was from amusement or annoyance. "You have two seconds. If you don't believe me, I'll really change my mind."

Yan Xingxi hurriedly clinked her glass with his. "I wish you success soon, best if you become a pilot tomorrow."

Dong Chen: "…"

After finishing her drink with him, perhaps getting into the spirit, Yan Xingxi went to toast Zhou Anran and the others. "I wish our Ranran baby becomes a scientist soon, Shuxian becomes a life-saving doctor soon, Xiaowen successfully tests into the foreign ministry, and me, I get to see my idol in concert again soon."

After that round, Huang Shujie started riling everyone up too.

"Let's all have one together."

This time, no one refused. The whole group stood up.

Zhu Ran looked at Chen Luobai. "You're treating tonight, you say what we're toasting to."

Chen Luobai, as usual, first poured a small half-glass for the girl beside him, then filled his own.

The boy lifted his chin slightly, still dazzling and brimming with youthful spirit. "Then let's wish us all a future as bright as brocade."

"Sure."

"To bright futures for all."

The barbecue meal, which started at 4:30 p.m., finally ended close to 9 p.m.

Tang Jianrui and Huang Shujie were both drunk, swaying and leaning on each other, taking turns singing lines from "The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style."

Chen Luobai had his arm resting on the back of Zhou Anran's chair, loosely holding her. "Are you all heading back tonight, or should I book a few rooms at a nearby hotel for you?"

Zhu Ran looked headache-ridden at the two drunks beside him. "Book a hotel. I'm afraid these two will throw up in the taxi on the way home."

Chen Luobai nodded. "Alright."

The night was deep.

The winter night wind in Nancheng had a biting chill.

After stepping outside, Chen Luobai pulled the girl beside him closer into his embrace.

Dong Chen stood at the entrance. The wind hit him, and whether it was the slight buzz from the alcohol or He Mingyu's words from the afternoon—"Confess sooner rather than later. Don't wait until it's too late and regret it"—he suddenly called out to the person hopping around next to Sheng Xiaowen.

"Yan Xingxi, I need to talk to you."

"What could you possibly have to say to me?" Yan Xingxi looked at him warily again. "Don't tell me you've changed your mind. A real man doesn't do that; it's embarrassing."

Dong Chen: "…"

"I haven't changed my mind. Are you scared to come?"

The challenge as expected still worked best on her.

"Why would I be scared?" Yan Xingxi followed him off to the side.

Apart from the two drunks, everyone else tacitly stayed put, waiting for them to finish their conversation and return.

Chen Luobai hugged Zhou Anran closer, his fingers brushing through her wind-tousled hair. "Cold?" he asked softly.

Zhou Anran shook her head, helping him zip up his jacket. "Not cold."

"Head not dizzy?" Chen Luobai asked again.

Zhou Anran reached up to hug him back. "Not dizzy either."

The two of them chatted quietly for a while, holding each other, until Yan Xingxi, who had finished her conversation, walked over and poked Zhou Anran's back.

Zhou Anran turned to look at her. "Finished talking?"

Yan Xingxi made an affirmative sound. "Chen Luobai, I need your girlfriend back for a moment."

Chen Luobai was slightly annoyed by her use of "back," but he let go.

Yan Xingxi pulled Zhou Anran aside and waved over Sheng Xiaowen and Zhang Shuxian.

The four girls huddled together again.

Yan Xingxi looked back at Dong Chen, who was still standing where they left him, her face a mix of disbelief and bewilderment. "I'm telling you guys, Dong Chen just told me he's liked me since our first year of high school. Do you think he's drunk or crazy?"

Zhou Anran smiled. "He's neither drunk nor crazy. He's probably really liked you since our first year."

Yan Xingxi was stunned. "How do you know?"

"It was obvious, Xixi," Zhou Anran said, fastening the open button on Yan Xingxi's jacket for her. "You were just the only one who didn't notice."

Yan Xingxi: "?!"

She looked at Zhou Anran, then at her other two friends, who showed no surprise at all.

"So you all noticed? Why didn't any of you tell me?"

"I couldn't be a hundred percent sure before," Zhou Anran said with a smile. "Anyway, you hadn't noticed yet, so I didn't tell you."

Sheng Xiaowen: "He didn't even dare confess to you. Why would we help him?"

"Exactly," Zhang Shuxian nodded.

Yan Xingxi felt overwhelmed.

"Ahhh, let's not talk about this anymore. I'll think about it tomorrow. Maybe he really was drinking and will apologize to me when he sobers up."

Zhou Anran smiled. Since they were all on Yan Xingxi's side, naturally no one would pressure her. She just asked softly, "Are you guys going back tonight or staying at the hotel?"

"Let's just stay at the hotel," Sheng Xiaowen said. "It's been a while since we've had a good chat, and we can cover for you too."

"Exactly," Zhang Shuxian said, glancing back. "Chen Luobai put a lot of effort into today. We won't fight him for you tonight."

Zhou Anran's ears grew warm again, but the corners of her lips also curved up bit by bit.

The group moved on to the hotel.

Chen Luobai booked rooms for them, told Zhu Ran to keep an eye on the two drunks, and didn't escort them upstairs.

In the hotel lobby, aside from the staff and passing strangers, soon only the two of them remained.

"Aren't we staying here?" Zhou Anran had wanted to ask him earlier but had been too embarrassed.

Chen Luobai pinched her reddened earlobe. "I was afraid you'd be uncomfortable staying in a hotel. Why don't you come home with me?"

Zhou Anran: "?!"

H-home?

Chen Luobai, seeing her eyes go wide, immediately guessed what she was thinking and laughed heartily. "Not my parents' place. I have an apartment near the school."

Zhou Anran: "…"

She breathed a sigh of relief, then couldn't help but glare at him.

He hadn't made it clear himself, and now he had the nerve to laugh at her.

With her innocent looks, her glare held no intimidation and instead seemed like acting cute.

Chen Luobai's Adam's apple bobbed. He stopped laughing. "Ranran."

Zhou Anran blinked.

The boy reached his hand out to her. The way he looked at her seemed to carry familiar sparks again, his dark eyes seeming to hold some kind of hook.

It made her blush and her heart race.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Will you come with me this time, too?"

---

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