Haven't seen him for a long time, I really miss him.
But of course, he must miss me too.
Because he likes me.
-From *Su Zai Zai, the Little Fairy's Diary*
Su Zai Zai stared at those two sentences for a long time, not fully comprehending them.
She threw her phone back onto the bed.
Then, she grabbed her pajamas and headed towards the bathroom.
But soon, Su Zai Zai came back.
She picked up her phone and stared at those two sentences again.
Unable to accept this sudden parting, she felt a bit angry, but didn't have the courage to express it.
Su Zai Zai sniffled and slowly typed: Be careful on your way.
Before she could send it, another message came through.
It seemed like he had thought long and hard, yet still only knew how to say these few words.
-Don't be mad...
Su Zai Zai's fingers paused.
She immediately deleted her previous message and changed it to: I *am* mad!
Zhang Lu Rang: "..."
Su Zai Zai: Whenever I go to get a drink, it only takes a minute, and I always tell you.
After sending that message, she didn't say anything else.
She just stared at the screen, waiting for his reply.
At times like this, she knew she needed to say less, otherwise, he wouldn't understand just how angry she was.
But when he didn't reply for a long time, Su Zai Zai couldn't help herself.
-You're going back to City B tomorrow, for a whole month! And you're only telling me now! And only because I asked you to go cycling tomorrow! What if I hadn't asked you...
Before she could finish venting, her phone chimed.
Su Zai Zai glanced at it.
Zhang Lu Rang: ...I'll buy you jelly.
Her anger dissipated in an instant.
Su Zai Zai bit her lip and, going back on her previous stance, quickly deleted what she was about to send.
Then she lightly tapped on the screen, pushing her luck: I want it now.
He replied quickly.
-Okay.
-Come down and get it in five minutes.
Su Zai Zai was a bit stunned, and immediately walked over to the full-length mirror to check herself.
She was still wearing her blue and white striped school uniform, which looked wrinkled.
Her hair was a bit messy from where she had run her fingers through it, and overall, she looked a bit disheveled.
Su Zai Zai smoothed her hair with her hands, washed her face in the bathroom, and then ran out.
Her mother was watching TV in the living room.
Seeing her at the entrance changing into outdoor slippers, her mother frowned and asked, "Where are you going this late?"
"I'm just going to the convenience store to buy something," she replied casually.
Her mother didn't ask further, just reminded her, "Come back quickly after you're done."
"I know."
"It's cold outside, wear something warmer."
"Okay."
Su Zai Zai pushed open the door, got into the elevator, and went downstairs.
She walked out of the building's entrance and saw Zhang Lu Rang standing under a tree not far away, waiting for her.
It seemed like every time, he would wait for her there.
Su Zai Zai walked over.
One step, two steps.
Something felt different.
This time, the feeling was very real.
She heard Jiang Jia's voice echoing in her ears.
-"Don't you think Zhang Lu Rang treats you differently? Like giving you his silver medal, or helping you move your chair earlier."
-"Think about it, even though that guy in front of Zhang Lu Rang was behaving like that, he didn't react at all. My friend told me he wasn't affected at all..."
-"Anyway, I think the things Zhang Lu Rang does for you, he wouldn't do for any other girl."
Su Zai Zai reached him, looked at the kraft paper bag in his hand, and said nothing.
Zhang Lu Rang hesitated, not knowing what to say.
After a while.
Su Zai Zai softly said, "Where did you get so much jelly?"
"I bought a lot before," he replied.
Su Zai Zai looked up at him.
Her eyes seemed to be filled with stars, bright and twinkling with anticipation.
"Zhang Lu Rang, do you like eating jelly?"
He paused, and lightly murmured, "Mm."
Then he turned away, pretending to be calm as he touched his neck.
Su Zai Zai's heart skipped a beat.
"Did you think the jelly I bought for you last time was tasty?" she asked.
Zhang Lu Rang kept touching his neck and nodded.
"Did you finish it?"
He finally put down his hand and obediently answered, "Mm."
He didn't like it, but he finished it.
He didn't like it, yet he bought a lot of jelly to keep at home.
Su Zai Zai lowered her head.
She didn't know how to describe how she felt at that moment.
Ecstatic, to the point of wanting to cry.
Seeing her fall silent, Zhang Lu Rang bent down slightly, making eye contact with her.
He forced a smile and said, "If it's not enough, I'll buy you more."
His tone was a bit pleading.
Why is he being so nice to you?
What reason does he have to be so nice to you?
For the first time, Su Zai Zai allowed herself to entertain that thought.
Boldly, without hesitation, she thought of that reason.
Su Zai Zai looked at him and said, "It's not enough."
Seeing Zhang Lu Rang nod, Su Zai Zai quickly grabbed his sleeve.
"Buy me more when you come back."
Su Zai Zai carried the bag of jelly back home.
She placed the bag on her desk and sat down on the carpet by her bed.
Su Zai Zai lit up her phone and opened the chat with Jiang Jia.
Her fingertips trembled slightly as she slowly typed.
-Jia Jia.
-I think Zhang Lu Rang might like me a little.
The next afternoon, after waking up from a nap.
Su Zai Zai grabbed her phone from beside her pillow and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
There was only one message from Zhang Rang Rang in WeChat.
-Arrived.
Su Zai Zai blinked a few times, then immediately sat up.
She thought for a moment, and shamelessly typed a message.
-It's the first day without Rang Rang, and I miss him.
Zhang Lu Rang: ...
Su Zai Zai: Sigh, don't you miss me?
Su Zai Zai stared at the "The other party is typing" indicator.
After a while, no reply came.
Su Zai Zai: You know what?
Su Zai Zai: When you're typing, it shows on my end that "The other party is typing."
Zhang Lu Rang:
Zhang Lu Rang: I'm going to sleep.
Su Zai Zai: Rang Rang.
Su Zai Zai: I want to travel.
Zhang Lu Rang: By yourself?
Su Zai Zai: Yep.
Zhang Lu Rang: Don't wander around.
Su Zai Zai: I want to go to City B.
Zhang Lu Rang:
He stopped replying again.
But the chat box clearly showed that he was typing.
Su Zai Zai smiled and waited patiently.
After a while, she finally received his reply.
-Stop messing around.
-It's not safe to travel alone.
Su Zai Zai tossed her phone aside and sighed.
Let's see how long she could hold out.
If she couldn't take it anymore, she would definitely go to City B.
Su Zai Zai didn't believe that if she just went ahead without asking, he wouldn't come out to see her.
As she was thinking, she heard her parents coming home.
Su Zai Zai got up, opened the door, and walked out.
She still had to talk to the two elders about this first...
As soon as Su Zai Zai entered the living room, she saw a small cage placed beside the coffee table.
Inside was a tiny, two-colored corgi, lying down and looking around.
Su Zai Zai's eyes widened as she knelt beside the cage, curiously observing it.
Her mother came over and smiled, "Isn't it cute?"
Su Zai Zai nodded, looking at the little thing, her heart melting.
She couldn't resist opening the cage and reaching in to pet it.
She completely forgot about talking to her parents about traveling to City B.
"Your dad and I both have to work, so you'll have to take good care of it," her mother said.
Su Zai Zai nodded immediately, almost getting goosebumps from how adorable the little corgi was.
"What are you going to name it?"
Su Zai Zai stared at the corgi for a while before saying, "ShortLegs."
Her mother: "..."
With the sudden addition of a little life in the house, Su Zai Zai's plans to visit Zhang Lu Rang in City B were dashed.
Su Zai Zai poured some milk-flavored puppy food and goat milk powder into the dog bowl, then added warm water to soften it.
She placed it in front of Short Legs and said softly, "Go ahead, eat."
The puppy sniffed it and then slowly began to lick.
Su Zai Zai sat in front of it, talking to it: "From now on, your name is Short Legs, okay?"
"That's your nickname."
"Your real name is Zhang Xiao Rang, but only we know that."
"You're still young, so I won't teach you yet."
"But in the future, when I call you Zhang Xiao Rang, you have to respond to me."
"Just give me a 'woof.'"
"Got it? 'Woof."
Short Legs: "..."
After eating, the puppy slowly crawled onto the cushion and went to sleep.
Su Zai Zai watched it for a while.
She wanted to wake it up and make it play with her, but she couldn't bear to.
She lay back on her bed and started chatting with Zhang Lu Rang.
Su Zai Zai: Rang Rang.
Su Zai Zai: Let's play a game of idioms.
Zhang Lu Rang replied quickly: Sure.
Su Zai Zai: I'll start: "Hunqianmengying* (Haunted by dreams).
Zhang Lu Rang: *Yingchangreduc* (Lingering thoughts and feelings).
Su Zai Zai: I knew you were thinking of me too.
Zhang Lu Rang: ...
Su Zai Zai: If you miss me, you should say so. Otherwise, I won't know just by looking at the screen.
Zhang Lu Rang: Your turn.
Su Zai Zai pouted and continued: *Duriruyan* (Days pass like years).
Zhang Lu Rang: "Nianshaowuzhi* (Young and ignorant).
Su Zai Zai: Are you calling me stupid?
Zhang Lu Rang: ... Are we still playing?
Su Zai Zai: Yes.
Su Zai Zai: But how can you insult me with such underhanded tricks?
Su Zai Zai: I'll forgive you this time, but you have to pick a new word.
Su Zai Zai: *Shunengshaoqiao* (Practice makes perfect).
Zhang Lu Rang was silent for a moment before replying: *Qiaoduotianong* (Ingenious craftsmanship).
Su Zai Zai: *Kung Fu Panda.*
Zhang Lu Rang: "..."
He pursed his lips and decided to be nonsensical too: *Tom and Jerry.*
Su Zai Zai: That's not an idiom, stop making stuff up!
Zhang Lu Rang:
Zhang Lu Rang: I'm done playing.
Su Zai Zai: Sigh, Rang Rang, your temper is really bad.
Zhang Lu Rang: ...
Su Zai Zai: Only I would put up with you like this.
Zhang Lu Rang really didn't want to deal with her anymore.
He turned off his phone and worked on his homework for a while.
But eventually, feeling restless, he turned his phone back on and typed: I'm going to do my homework.
On New Year's Eve.
Su Zai Zai went with her parents to her grandparents' house for the New Year's Eve dinner.
After the meal, the elders sat on the sofa chatting.
Her younger cousins went straight to the room to play on the computer.
The older ones found a quiet spot to play on their phones.
Su Zai Zai wandered around the courtyard.
The cold wind made her shrink her neck.
She sat down on the swing chair, curled up her legs, and swung gently.
She took out her phone from her coat pocket, her hands a bit stifffrom the cold.
Her typing was slower than usual.
She breathed warm air onto her hands.
Slowly, she typed: Rang Rang.
Su Zai Zai: Today is New Year's Eve, aren't you going to send me a red envelope?
She thought he was having dinner and wouldn't reply for a long time. Su Zai Zai exited the chat window and was about to chat with Jiang Jia. Her phone buzzed twice.
Su Zai Zai saw a small red circle with a "1" appear next to Zhang Lu Rang's profile picture.
-[WeChat Red Packet] Go buy some jelly.
Su Zai Zai blinked and clicked it open.
A big "200.00" appeared on the screen.
Her fingers paused, and she stammered: I was just joking.
Su Zai Zai decided to send a voice message: "Rang Rang, let's just say I borrowed this two hundred yuan from you."
"School starts on February 18th. If you come back a day early, I'll give you an extra ten yuan. If you come back two days early, I'll add twenty yuan, and so on."
After a while, he sent a voice message back.
His voice carried a hint of laughter as he said, "No need, keep it for yourself."
"Do you think it's not enough?" she asked, sounding frustrated.
Before he could reply, Su Zai Zai continued, "Then I'll change it to one hundred."
Su Zai Zai kept talking, and on the other end, he kept listening.
He didn't have time to reply to her.
"I'm telling you, one of Short Legs' ears finally stood up. One's up and one's down-it looks so silly."
"He keeps pooping everywhere, sigh, I'm so exhausted."
"There are so many physics worksheets, I don't want to do them."
"Have you finished your English homework? Do you need me to teach you?"
The voice messages kept coming.
Zhang Lu Rang, with his earphones in, listened carefully, wondering how she could have so much to say.
Finally, the last message played.
"Rang Rang, if you keep going back to City B, how about I apply to B University?"
Just as he was about to reply.
There were three knocks on his door.
A boy about his age opened the door and poked his head in.
He looked at Zhang Lu Rang and softly said, "Brother, Dad wants you to come out."
Zhang Lu Rang lowered his head and pressed the power button.
That string of voice messages immediately disappeared from view. He was plunged into darkness.
Soon, he looked up and said to the boy, "Okay, I'll be out in a minute."
The boy nodded, then stepped back and closed the door.
Zhang Lu Rang turned the screen back on and quickly typed a message.
-Don't apply to B University, apply to Z University.
Su Zai Zai sent another voice message.
It was very short, just one second. Zhang Lu Rang didn't listen to it.
He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek.
Carefully, yet full of anticipation, he sent a voice message back.
"Let's apply to Z University together."