During this period of time, although Huang Tielan had been taking care of Sun Lan, her health was much poorer than before due to her worrying about her son whose status was unknown, in addition to her illness.
Her mental health especially was poor. The pain and pressure she was under were extremely heavy.
Now that she had seen Zhang Che return safely, and was instantly cured of her illness by the Unicorn, her mind and body relaxed at the same time and she immediately fell into a deep sleep.
“Ah, auntie fell asleep. I’ll go bring her blanket and cover her,” Huang Tielan gasped softly and was ready to run into the house.
“Wait, let me carry her in. It’s not good to sleep on a chair,” Zhang Che hurriedly stopped Huang Tielan. Afterwards, he picked up his mother carefully and signalled for Huang Tielan to lead the way.
The two crept their way to the bedroom upstairs and put Sun Lan down, covering her with a blanket. Afterwards, the two walked out of the room with light steps and closed the door.
Suddenly, Huang Tielan called out softly, “Zhang Xiaoche.”
“Hmm?” Zhang Che turned around, facing that unfamiliar, yet familiar girl, who was now as beautiful as a flower.
She was looking intently into Zhang Che’s eyes, her autumn water-like pupils emitting her intense feelings, nearly melting Zhang Che.
( Box novel.c om ) “You seem to have grown a little taller again,” Miss Tienan suddenly raised an arm to her forehead, comparing her height with Zhang Che’s. “But, you’re still not taller than me.”
Zhang Che: …
This was simply intolerable!
As such, Zhang Che suddenly stepped forward and pulled Huang Tielan into his embrace, hugging her tightly.
“Thank you, Tielan.”
“Aren’t these what I’m supposed to do?” Huang Tielan said with a light smile, her gaze matched with Zhang Che, her face flushed with hints of red.
The two’s breathing gradually hastened. Zhang Che felt his heart pumping hardly, and he stealthily tipped his toes-
-Bloody hell, why am I the one who has to tiptoe!?-
Zhang Che immediately felt the atmosphere dampening. He swore to himself that from today on, he had to start growing like crazy, at least a millimeter a day!
As he was getting frustrated at himself, Huang Tielan could no longer hold herself back and directly lowered her head slightly and brought it closer.
In the instant their lips met, Zhang Che was still thinking that luckily they were only standing in the hallway without his back against the wall. Otherwise, wouldn’t he be on the receiving end of a kabedon now?¹
However, very soon he was no longer in the mood to think about any of this…
“Ah!” Zhang Che suddenly let out a low grunt while he was drunk in the feeling of being connected with the other. He hurriedly separated himself from Miss Tienan.
“Why did you bite my tongue for?”
Huang Tielan’s face flushed bright red. She glared at him coyly, humphing, “Who told you to touch around.”
-I can’t even caress a little?-
Zhang Che wept, “I can’t help it. You don’t have to show such a big reaction.”
“It’s not allowed even if you can’t help yourself!” Huang Tielan raised her chin, “Let me tell you, Zhang Xiaoche, at the most we can only kiss before we get married. Don’t even think about anything else, humph!”
What else could Zhang Che say? He could only pull Miss Tienan back into his embrace and feel the pressure on his chest, asking, “Hugging is fine, right?”
“Hugging is okay, but where are your hands touching?”
“My hands are just placed there. I’m not moving them.”
“… alright. You have a point.”
“…”
“Zhang Xiaoche, I passed my test to enroll into Bei Du University’s beast card cultivation major,” Huang Tielan suddenly whispered into Zhang Che’s ear.
Zhang Che nodded, “Mmm, you’ve worked hard!”
“But, I don’t feel like attending school all of a sudden, now that auntie’s illness is cured.”
Zhang Che was slightly taken aback. “What does that matter? I think you still have to attend school. You’ll definitely become a top beast card cultivator in the future.”
He thought of his ability to visualize the data on exotic beasts. He didn’t have the talent to become a beast card cultivator anyway, perhaps he could help Miss Tienan in the future?
Moreover, although some of his beast cards had pretty good potential, the rainbow crystal could only raise their quality. If he couldn’t level them up, it would be hard to get their combat strength up to ideal.
If he could find the relevant ingredient and spiritual herbs, Miss Tienan could totally concoct the required cultivation fluid for him and easily raise the levels of his beasts.
Huang Tielan suddenly shifted her head away from Zhang Che’s shoulder, showing a pitiful look as she said, “But you can’t go to school now. If I go, I can’t be with you often.”
Zhang Che smiled slightly. He raised his hand and rubbed on her cheek, “Silly girl. It’s not like you’re in school all the time. Why can’t you be with me often? Be good; my Miss Tienan is someone who will become the best beast card cultivator!”
( Box novel.c om ) Huang Tielan nodded and replied with some regret, “Alright then. You have to spend more time with me now. Freshmen for my major have to go register ourselves at the end of the month, and then go through a whole month of training before the school term officially starts.”
“Mmm, I won’t go anywhere for the next half a month. I’ll keep you company every day,” Zhang Che nodded. Suddenly, he asked softly, “Then, you see, as my reward for being with you every day, I think just kissing is a little not enough. Shouldn’t-”
“You wish!” Huang Tielan directly sent a glare at him, interrupting Zhang Che’s fantasy.
Zhang Che was anxious now. How could he endure this?
“Heh heh, then I’ll go to your house tonight and ask for your hand in marriage!”
Just as he said that, Huang Tielan suddenly raised her hand and looked at it, then smiled at Zhang Che, teasing, “My dad’s calling. Why don’t you speak to him directly?”
Zhang Che: … -Can you two not have such great chemistry!?-
Meanwhile, Miss Tienan had accepted Huang Juyun’s call.
“Hello? Dad, you’re missing me just after a few days… ah? Zhang Che? He’s here. We’re at our villa in Bei Du right now… eh? How did you know he returned?
“Oh, oh, oh, I got it. Tonight, right? Okay, I’ll definitely bring him there. Don’t worry! I know, I know, I guarantee I’ll accomplish my mission!”
After the call ended, Huang Tielan looked at Zhang Che with a “I’ll see what you’ll do now” look. “You heard it, right? My dad asked me to bring you home tonight. Didn’t you say you wanted to ask for my hand in marriage? The opportunity came right away!”
Zhang Che’s face creased up immediately.
He knew that the relevant department had found the news of his return. They probably had taken his and Huang Juyun’s relationship into consideration and didn’t come look for him directly, and notified Huang Juyun indirectly instead.
Actually, Zhang Che was aware that once he returned, he wouldn’t be able to avoid this.
What happened to him was truly too bizarre. It was impossible for the relevant departments to not investigate this matter thoroughly.
What would come, would come. He’d face it calmly.
Zhang Che had decided to just tell them everything at that time, except for the important parts regarding the demonic flower and the rainbow crystal.
He wasn’t afraid that they would suspect him and use methods like hypnotization on him.
First, with the Huang family around, it was unlikely for them to use such methods.
Second, Zhang Che wasn’t afraid even if they did. With the rainbow crystal in his possession, perhaps he could even go along with their method and let them know the “real” truth, and they wouldn’t come bother him any more in the future.
“Come on, then. When I’m done with this, I can finally rest assured.”
++++++++++++++++++++++
Translator’s Note
1: Kabedon is a Japanese term. Kabe means wall, and don is a sound effect. In this case, it refers to the popularized use in shōjo manga or anime when a man forces a woman against the wall with one hand or leans against the wall and makes the sound of “don”, and this has become popular as a “clever move of confession”.