The next second, Lin Jinran was embraced by the man. His sharp jawline rested on the top of her head. The cold fragrance of cedar from his body wafted into her nostrils, no longer the familiar and pleasant scent of body wash from the past.
Su Qinian lowered his eyes, which were filled with a rare tenderness. One hand naturally wrapped around Lin Jinran's waist, while the other gently patted her back as he coaxed her softly.
"Okay, okay. It's all right. It's just a horror movie. Don't be scared, Ranran."
The other two people in the room, who were also frightened out of their wits, stared with wide eyes. For a moment, they didn't know if they were scared by the horror movie or choked by the display of affection.
"Damn, this is a late - night treat. Su Qinian is so doting. Quick, tell me if I heard wrong. Did Su Qinian call Lin Jinran 'Ranran'?"
"You didn't hear wrong, bro. I was just scared out of my wits by the horror movie He Jiao picked, and the next second, I was stuffed with dog food."
"Lin Jinran must have done it on purpose. Su Qinian was just standing at the door, and she rushed right up to get attention. How shameless, trying to get close to my idol."
"He Jiao, I have to call you the god who wields Cupid's arrow. You've successfully played matchmaker again."
The man's deep and sexy voice rang right next to her ear. The word "Ranran" was spoken with such lingering tenderness. It had been many years since she last heard this endearing name just for her.
Lin Jinran felt as if a feather had gently brushed against her chest. A tingling sensation immediately spread throughout her body. At the same time, there was a faint pain.
Gradually realizing who was holding her, she jumped away quickly like a startled rabbit. A blush crept onto Lin Jinran's cheeks. She tilted her head up, and her misty glass - like eyes were as charming as rippling water.
"You, you, why are you here?" After a long pause, Lin Jinran finally blurted out this rather silly question.
Su Qinian looked at the startled little rabbit, who still vaguely resembled the girl from the past. Then he relaxed his eyebrows and a faint smile bloomed on his lips. "You guys were making so much noise in the room. It was hard not to hear it even in the living room."
"Was it really that loud?" Lin Jinran was skeptical. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and stared at him accusingly. "You even hugged me!"
Su Qinian spread his hands and blinked innocently. "Hug you? I was just worried that something might happen to you guys, so I came to check. I didn't expect that as soon as I opened the door, someone rushed at me enthusiastically. Seeing how scared she was, I just reluctantly comforted her."
It did seem to be the case.
Lin Jinran had nothing to say. Frustrated, she turned to look at the two people behind her.
He Jiao was calmly munching on sunflower seeds. She looked up and waved her hand. "I'm busy munching on seeds. Don't look at me."
Then Lin Jinran turned to look at Jiang Yaoguang.
Jiang Yaoguang awkwardly smiled. "Well... I'm just an outsider, so I'd better not say anything. You guys carry on."
"Ranran... You hugged me and don't want to take responsibility?" He spoke slowly and clearly, but there was a hint of inaudible grievance in his voice, as if he was accusing her of being heartless.
Take responsibility? What responsibility? It was just an accidental hug.
After not seeing each other for a few years, Su Qinian had become so prudish.
Lin Jinran turned back again. Enduring the dense pain in her chest like the bites of ants, she looked directly into Su Qinian's eyes. "Su Qinian, please call me Lin Jinran. The name 'Ranran'... is ultimately not quite appropriate."
His long eyelashes drooped, covering the extinguished starlight in his eyes. Su Qinian nodded with a smile. "Yes, it's really not appropriate."
He Jiao suddenly stopped munching on the sunflower seeds. She squinted her eyes and scanned the two people standing at the door back and forth. Then she looked at the time and shouted, "Aren't we going to the rooftop garden soon? It's almost time to receive the crush messages."
They had already composed and sent the crush messages before coming to watch the movie.
He Jiao's words timely saved the two silent people. Lin Jinran pushed the hair behind her ear, smiled slightly, and regained her composure. "Su Qinian, it's time for us to go."
Su Qinian stepped aside and made a gesture of invitation. "Ladies first."
Lin Jinran paused for a moment and walked forward as if no one else was around. Su Qinian closely followed behind her.
The two forgotten people: "..."
The other two male guests had arrived at the designated location in advance. There was a long bench and six stools. Lin Jinran greeted Xie Yun and Gu Huai and sat directly across from them. Su Qinian sat next to her.
Jiang Yaoguang got there one step faster than He Jiao and sat next to Su Qinian. He Jiao had no choice but to sit next to Gu Huai.
"Great, the most anticipated part is here. Let me guess. Su Qinian must have sent his crush message to Lin Jinran. Xie Yun seems to have a crush on Lin Jinran, so he might send one to her too."
"I love this part. Receiving crush messages in front of everyone is so exciting and fun."
"It would be even more exciting if the voice messages could be played out loud."
The director re - stated the rules. "Each person will go forward one by one to the crush message receiving station. Take the tablet, put on the earphones, and you can listen to the voice messages sent by others. Now, please welcome the first person to go forward."
"Who wants to go first?" He Jiao looked around and asked. Since no one volunteered, she went down as the first person.
Lin Jinran curiously watched He Jiao walk to the station, open the tablet, and put on the earphones. Then... less than a minute later, she took off the earphones and came back.
"Why so fast?" Jiang Yaoguang directly asked.
He Jiao helplessly waved her hand. "I didn't receive a single message."
None of the three boys had sent her a message.
Gu Huai was the second one to volunteer. He glanced at He Jiao. "No one likes you, that's all."
Since it was a live - broadcast, He Jiao endured her anger and returned to her seat.
Soon, Gu Huai also came back dejectedly, having received no crush messages either.
"Back so soon. You're so charming, aren't you?" He Jiao said sarcastically. She didn't want to take the insult lying down.
Gu Huai was furious.
Xie Yun was the third one to go up. As soon as he put on the earphones, he heard, "Thank you for the tissue on the crush bus today."
It was He Jiao. Xie Yun was slightly stunned and subconsciously looked up to find her. He Jiao smiled at him and nodded.
Then there was nothing else. Xie Yun disappointedly took off the earphones and came back.
Seeing that most people had gone, Su Qinian chose to be the fourth one. Before leaving, he deliberately looked at Lin Jinran, but Lin Jinran awkwardly turned her head away and refused to look at him.
Su Qinian wasn't discouraged. The curve of his smiling lips was just right. He strode forward with his long legs, stopped, opened the tablet, and put on the earphones. With a hiss, the voice on the other end of the earphone came through.
"Teacher Su, I was really happy to meet you for the first time today. You used to be my idol. I never dared to dream that I could participate in the same variety show as you. Today, 'Crazy Crush' made my dream come true. The only regret is that I couldn't keep you during the first date this afternoon."