Chapter 5: Unexpected Encounter (2)

Neither too distant nor overly intimate, I think I will just call you "Jiang Zi". Ye Ran mistakenly typed "Jiang Zi" as "Jiang Zi", and seeing that Jiang Hao did not respond for a long time, she added, "Do you prefer to be called 'Hao Zi'?" Of course, the pinyin input directly produced "Hao Zi" as "Hao Zi".

Jiang Hao sent a fainting emoji and innocently said: "You, Mr. White Character."

After some thought, my mother found it reasonable and kindly advised, "Make sure to perform well later and seize the opportunity"

There is none

"What do you mean by my aunt? She is your great-aunt!" Mother corrected Ye Ran's address with annoyance

"What are you yelling about?" The roar of my mother was clearly louder than the national anthem by several degrees.

Jiang Hao raised an eyebrow and said casually, "I thought you enjoyed riding in my car for a drive. Otherwise, why didn't you say anything when I took the wrong turn at the first intersection?"

Ye Ran raised his hand to push the phone slightly away, to avoid being startled by his mother and experiencing tinnitus.

Auntie warmly assisted Ye Ran as they walked towards the private room inside, smiling as she said, "Don't be nervous in a little while; the young man is quite nice!"

Initially, Chen Mingxuan intended to use the Dominant Frog, but later Ye Ran found it too disgusting and changed it to a regular frog. Chen Mingxuan has not thought about him for a long time. I wonder how he is doing now

Hehe. No way? Jiang Hao distractedly glanced at Ye Ran

Ye Ran logged out of QQ, turned off the computer, returned a call to Mina, received a scolding, then turned off the phone, took a bath, and went to bed early

"Is there any need for me to say this?" Ye Ran furrowed her brows and let out a sigh

Both are used; QQ is used in daily life, while MSN is used at work

"Hmm, it's my great-aunt!" Ye Ran replied, but inwardly she couldn't help but murmur: What great-aunt? She's a relative I can't even connect with, I don't understand why she's thinking of introducing a boyfriend to me.

"A woman's heart is as hard to find as a needle in the ocean," Jiang Hao said with a smile, his hand resting on the steering wheel

After getting off the taxi, I turned around and made several turns, and after making several phone calls to inquire, I finally found this relatively famous Lao San Teahouse at my great-aunt's house, which made me feel a bit emotional. Indeed, it is a well-known place, just like people, so low-key that it is hard to find

Ye Ran did not know what to say, so he could only foolishly smile. Fortunately, after walking a few steps, they arrived in front of a private room. The young lady turned her face and said to Ye Ran: "We have arrived"

Although I know you are handsome and charming, dashing and elegant, like a jade tree in the wind, young and wealthy, valiant and powerful, unmatched in the world, and a solitary master, like a pear blossom overshadowing a begonia. " Ye Ran's fingers paused here, estimating that Jiang Hao would secretly delight in this, so she continued to copy the following passage in the chat record, " But ... ... "

What do you want to be called?" Jiang Hao sent a question mark.

"Do you prefer using QQ or MSN?" Ye Ran was taken aback for a moment and did not respond directly. Jiang Hao then asked, "Do you not use either of them?"

Shall I take you home now

Night, guess who I am

I see that Nano has gone on a business trip, and you are bored at home, so you want to drag me to keep you company, right

"You actually dared to hang up on me, feeling all powerful now, are you?" The irate voice of my mother came through clearly into Ye Ran's ears, word for word.

Yet, before Ye Ran could send the word "but," Jiang Hao had already sent a message ahead, stating, "Ye Ran, I have finally discovered a serious flaw in you."

"You, have you forgotten?" Mom's tone instantly rose, asking angrily

Ye Ran looked at the page, her eyes gradually starting to feel sore. She really could not understand why Jiang Hao and Chen Mingxuan, who were clearly very handsome, would choose to use a frog as their online name. Could it be that all men wish to be frog princes?

In less than three seconds, the phone rang again, persistently. Ye Ran, with her eyes closed, reached out and groped around the bedside. Fortunately, it was not thrown far; she grabbed it in her hand, pressed the button to hang up once more, and then turned it off before tossing it aside. She then turned over and continued to sleep, clutching the blanket.

As Ye Ran just entered the house and changed her shoes, her phone rang. She thought to herself, wouldn't it be Mina calling her right on time to scold her? She rummaged through her bag and saw it was an unfamiliar number, but she still answered, "Hello, good day."

Ye Ran hung up the phone, let out a long sigh of frustration, and then reluctantly got up, grabbing her clothes.

You are too honest, always speaking the truth. You have pointed out all my shortcomings, which makes me feel quite embarrassed

Meiyang understood intuitively, "Oh, then where are you?"

Miss Ye Ran, I am twenty-five years old and work at the Municipal Cultural Bureau! Zhu Wen blushed and took a long time to utter this sentence, then looked at Ye Ran uncertainly and asked, "You seem to be twenty-eight, right?"

"Please give me your QQ number, and I will add you later," Jiang Hao said, but then felt it was inappropriate and quickly added, "Why don't you just send me a message on my phone? I'm afraid I won't remember it."

"Then you can call separately, either Jiang or Hao is fine." Jiang Hao obediently responded

"Ah? After all this time, you haven't taken me home?" Ye Ran looked at Jiang Hao in surprise

I have a name and a surname, just call me Jiang Hao

Turn on the computer, brush teeth, wash face, log into QQ, Jiang Hao has already passed the verification, QQ is also online, and sent a smiley face, "Have you eaten?"

Ye Ran wanted to say that it seemed like she had forgotten, but was startled by her mother's shout, wondering if it was about a blind date

That honest person speaks the truth, is it really that there is something to attend to at home, or is it intentional to avoid going to karaoke?

Seeing you all alone at home this weekend, lonely and forlorn, I thought I would show some kindness and keep you company, Mina said grandly

It wasn't long before they arrived at Ye Ran's home. Ye Ran got out of the car and waved to Jiang Hao, who had rolled down the window, saying, "Thank you for driving me home"

I see you are quite pleased with yourself, like this, you little rascal

"No way, you recognized me without even guessing?" Jiang Hao's voice carried a hint of frustration, "You went inside, didn't you?"

Ye Ran rubbed his eyes and typed on the computer with one hand: "Yes, I just got up."

Ye Ran was momentarily taken aback before regaining her composure, realizing that she had been played by Jiang Hao. She quickly added, "I have also noticed a very serious flaw in you."

Ye Ran busily flattered, saying: "Mom, it's not true, my phone just ran out of battery and disconnected automatically... Am I not answering your call now?"

Zhu Wen, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratched his head, gave Ye Ran a smile, stood up, and extended his hand towards her, saying, "Good day, Miss Ye Ran, my name is Zhu Wen"

Upon hearing this, Ye Ran smiled and then waved his hand at Jiang Hao, saying, "Then see you again, take care."

"Yaran, you haven't forgotten about the plans we made for today, have you?" My mother asked suspiciously, her tone shifting.

This number is unfamiliar, yet the voice is not. Ye Ran could not help but feel curious, "Jiang Hao, when did you save my phone number?"

Alright, call me when you get home. Mei Yang confirmed Ye Ran's location and then hung up the phone

"Then go ahead and report it, I will add you now." Ye Ran opened his laptop and added the QQ number that Jiang Hao had provided. The username that popped up was 'Frog of the Nile'. Upon checking his profile, it showed a high level, but apart from the gender being male, there was nothing else written. The avatar was still the default frog.

Calling by both first and last name feels so unfamiliar

"If you say you love me, then come with me... bravely hold my hand..." The moment the phone rang, Ye Ran unhesitatingly reached under the pillow for her phone, hung up without even looking, and tossed it casually towards the edge of the bed, continuing with the little dream she had just begun.

The great-aunt's age seems somewhat mismatched with that of the plump lady. Ye Ran hesitated, but still mustered the courage to say, "Hello, great-aunt."

Arranged dating again, here we go... Mom, for the past twenty-five years, at school, there were strict rules against dating. If early romance was discovered, there would be no mercy. Now, after turning twenty-five, you are urging me every day to find a boyfriend. In ancient times, even courtesans had to be skilled before they could show their cards. How can you expect me to have figured it all out in just three years when you didn't even let me start for the first twenty-five? Clearly, the foundation was never laid properly.

A middle-aged woman around fifty years old, upon seeing Ye Ran, immediately had a flash of brilliance in her small, narrow eyes. She eagerly grasped Ye Ran's hand and smiled, her face filled with wrinkles, saying, "You are Ye Ran, right? I am your great-aunt."

While browsing the internet, Ye Ran and Jiang Hao exchanged playful banter online before logging off to sleep

Zhu Wen, this is my great-niece Ye Ran. Ye Ran, this is Zhu Wen. After the introduction by my aunt, she automatically excused herself, saying, I will go get you some food.

Ye Ran was just about to politely extend his hand for a handshake when Zhu Wen finished speaking and immediately performed a standard salute. Ye Ran's hand remained awkwardly outstretched, and in the end, he returned a military salute, awkwardly introducing himself: "Hello, Mr. Zhu Wen, my name is Ye Ran"

Ye Ran discovered that the relationships between people are indeed quite strange. From the initial awkwardness with Jiang Hao to their current casual chatting on QQ, it has only been a few days, yet it feels very familiar, as if they have known each other for a long time.

Alright, I will hang up now. I look forward to hearing your good news tonight. Make sure to dress up nicely today! Before hanging up, Mom still remembered to nag a bit more.

"Ranran, why did you turn off?" Meiyang asked immediately.

You would have to pay me to sell it to you

Yeran's lips twitched slightly as she resolutely refused, saying: "Mom, let me meet him first and then we'll talk. Why do you have to follow? Isn't that putting pressure on the young man?"

Why not go?

"I have prepared you mentally; it won't achieve the effect I desire," Jiang Hao said with a smirk. "Also, don't call me 'handsome'; it makes me feel quite embarrassed."

Halfway through washing, the phone rang loudly. Ye Ran chose to ignore it. After a short while, someone began to pound on the door incessantly. Upon hearing the forceful knocking, Ye Ran hurriedly grabbed a nightgown, gathered her damp hair, and rushed to the door in her slippers, saying, "I say, sister, is the doorbell just for show? All you do is kick the door. You’re not here to cause a scene."

Ye Ran quietly gestured to compare the heights of two individuals. She stands at a height of 165 centimeters, and with these 8-centimeter high heels, her height is approximately 173 centimeters. Mr. Zhu Wen, it is evident, is at eye level with her

Ye Ran silently gazed at the ceiling, took a deep breath, and recalled that she had been dragged by Mina to go shopping yesterday. By the time she returned home, it was already past twelve o'clock at night. After chatting with Jiang Hao until late, she probably fell asleep around two o'clock. Now it is only eight thirty... How many hours has she actually slept?

The man, caught off guard, quickly retracted his leg, awkwardly grinning as he offered two smiles to Yaran and his aunt.

The next day, Ye Ran slept until the sun was high in the sky, and only then did he lazily get up. Barefoot, he stepped on the floor and walked to the window, pulling aside the heavy curtains. The warm and gentle sunlight immediately flooded in, and Ye Ran hurriedly raised his hand to shield himself from the dazzling brightness. It was truly a beautiful sunny day

Ah? Is it really that impressive? I am impressed by you. City Y and City S are approximately two hundred kilometers apart, which takes about one hour and forty-five minutes by car. The round trip would take nearly four hours.

Jiang Hao sent another expression of fainting, saying, "Finally, it has some flavor."

However, every time she thinks of him, Ye Ran's heart becomes heavy, filled with depression, sadness, and sorrow... It can be described as a mix of emotions. In the end, Ye Ran bit her lip, took a deep breath, and closed the page. She no longer remembered the password and no longer needed to access the campus network.

Ye Ran reached out to grab the loudly ringing phone, squinting as he looked at the flashing words "Mom" on the screen, feeling like crying without tears, and weakly answered, "Hello..."

Jiang Hao glanced at Zhao Yiran, turned his face, and then focused on driving again

"However, a woman should not be too clever, as it puts pressure on men!" Mina lightly shook her index finger, speaking in a casual tone, and finally expressed her relief by saying, "Fortunately, I am not a man."

So you trust me, and you are not afraid that I might sell you out

In front of the mirror, looking left and right, the smoky makeup in brown and gray did not quite match the flowing white chiffon dress she was wearing. Ye hesitated for a moment, considering wiping off the smoky makeup on her face, but upon recalling the dark circles under her eyes from last night's severe lack of sleep, she abandoned that idea. Instead, she quickly grabbed a fitted white shirt and black casual pants from the wardrobe and changed her outfit efficiently. Just then, her phone rang on time.

"I weigh sixty-five kilograms, are you sure you can handle it?" Jiang Hao suddenly made a cold joke.

I am on the way and will be home soon

Yes, I am twenty-eight years old

If you say you love me, then walk with me, through wind and rain, to the ends of the earth...

Ah? What was decided for today? Ye Ran felt a bit confused, What was decided for today? It's a rare weekend, so naturally, I plan to stay at home and sleep soundly.

Jiang Hao smiled gently and waved his hand, "Are you going to be polite with me again, the beauty who makes cars burst their tires?"

Once is a lesson, twice is familiarity. Those who know Ye Ran are aware that by the third encounter, Ye Ran will no longer exhibit any ladylike behavior

Narcissism, also known as shamelessness. Ye Ran set her QQ status to "away" and prepared to take a shower before going out to find something to eat

Upon hearing Jiang Hao's serious words, Ye Ran hurriedly asked, "What shortcomings?"

As the curtain was pulled back, the night was suddenly met with the sight of a man sitting cross-legged in front of the tea table, causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead. ... The spots on that man's face were so striking ...! ... They could rival a sesame-filled pancake!

Ye Ran glanced out the car window and realized they had indeed passed an intersection. She pouted and said, "Didn’t you say you remembered? How could you make a mistake? I trusted you completely and didn’t even look at the road."

"Then should I accompany you later?" Mother was so pleased by Ye Ran's obedience that her mood visibly softened.

Just as Ye Ran took a sip of water from the teacup, he choked. "Handsome, could you give me a little psychological preparation before telling a cold joke?"

How dare you treat my words as if they were just the wind passing by? You deserve a slap! Mother couldn't wait for Yiran's response and immediately drew a conclusion; truly, no one knows a daughter better than her mother

Aren't you just getting up now?" Jiang Hao sent a puzzled question mark

"Addressing each other by first names seems too intimate; we are not that familiar with each other."

What made you think to come here to see me

Thus, Ye Ran accompanied Mina to shop, dine, watch movies, and have late-night snacks, and they did not return home until after midnight.

Ye Ran whispered, "Auntie, I am coming over now, please tell me the address."

No, I haven't forgotten!" Ye Ran replied nervously, smiling ingratiatingly at her mother, "I know, that son of your aunt's family has a friend who wants to meet me, right!

Ye Ran rushed out and picked up the phone to see it was a call from that aunt. He couldn't help but answer politely, "Ye Ran, when are you coming?" The aunt asked in Mandarin, which was somewhat unrefined and mixed with dialect.

Mina carried a bag of items, standing by the door with a cheerful smile. Without the slightest hesitation, she pushed Nightran aside and strode directly into the room, saying, "I think kicking the door is more distinctive"

If you can't guess, then so be it

Look, I can no longer pretend to be a lady; my true nature has been revealed

"You noticed all this, and I feel a bit embarrassed about it," Ye Ran smiled at the computer screen. "Actually, it's fine to call me something like this, but if I were to call you Xiao Jiangzi or Xiao Haizi, people would easily think of the officials in the ancient royal palace."

In fact, I do not wish to be misunderstood either; it is all due to the phonetic system that has caused this. Ye Ran innocently cries out in protest.

According to Ye Ran's height standard for her boyfriend, it is 180 centimeters. Clearly, apart from his unappealing face, Mr. Zhu Wen still does not meet the standard! (Why is there this standard? Because it was mentioned in some magazine that a height difference of 15 to 20 centimeters makes kissing the most beautiful.)

Alright, I will add you when I get home. I am currently driving, so I will hang up now, goodbye

"Then I can sleep!" Jiang Hao sent a terrified expression, "I went to City Y this morning and have already returned."

Oh, I understand, I will get up right away! Ye Ran cleverly pretended to be obedient in front of her mother

"Hmm, hmm, I will definitely perform well!" Ye Ran replied insincerely.

Speak up

Oh, I didn't go singing just now because I was afraid of being scolded by Mina, so I just turned off my phone

"You know what's good for you! It's already 8:30, why aren't you up yet?" Mom's tone softened a little.

Well, I have arrived home

However, his world is so vast, and it is just as splendid without Ye Ran. Perhaps he has already settled down and started a family, or perhaps he has long had a gentle and considerate girlfriend by his side. Or perhaps... Ye Ran cannot imagine, because she has not seen him for a long time—one year, two years, three years, four years... Such a long time, even longer than the time they spent together back then.

Yeran sent a question mark

What else can you call a handsome guy?" Facing the computer screen, Ye Ran was not as reserved as when looking at Jiang Hao, speaking somewhat casually and without restraint.

Arise, you who refuse to be slaves... The bound family telephone rang with the inspiring national anthem

"Goodbye." After Ye Ran hung up the phone, she stared blankly at Jiang Hao's profile picture for a while, then her fingers involuntarily typed the address of the campus network on the keyboard. The page popped up, Username: Dominant Frog, Password ... ...

"Why aren't you getting up yet?" My mother's voice carried a tone of disappointment, "That young man is a civil servant, with a bright future ahead!"

"It's hard to say." Ye Ran pulled out her phone from her bag, and as soon as it powered on, a series of new text messages instantly appeared, including those from Mina and Mei Yang. Weighing her options, Ye Ran ultimately decided to return Mei Yang's call.

Ye Ran smiled and shrugged, "This? You guess, Luo."