It was just a love letter; I'm really no great writer!

Di Qingling wore a black suit, made of luxurious fabric and with exquisite tailoring.

The straight trouser legs fell to the instep, and the bright stiletto heels had a sharp, sleek look.

She wore a white shirt under her suit jacket, which outlined a soft curve at her chest, adding to her pure, mountain-like aura.

Lu Ran held her like that, inhaling the familiar, delicate fragrance of her hair.

After a long pause, they parted with smiles: "Recharging complete."

Just one hug made all the hardships of the past few days seem insignificant.

"Am I your power bank?"

Di Qingling glanced at the tidy living room and gave a soft "hmm," saying, "There must be a virtuous lady taking care of this place every day."

"Can't it just be that I'm diligent?" Lu Ran said.

Di Qingling smiled without saying a word, her bright eyes seeming to say, "I know you too well."

Lu Ran placed the cake on the dining table. "Hmm... this is the first time I've received a birthday cake. My mom always tries to save time by using longevity noodles instead."

He gazed at Di Qingling's face, feeling joy and peace in his heart.

Two people with no blood relation can have such a close heart; that is love.

"Let's invite your roommates to cut the cake together," Di Qingling said, looking around. "I didn't know how many people would be there, so I bought a big one."

"Okay, I'll call them." Lu Ran got up and went to knock on the door next door, then sent a message to Tian Luojiao.

A moment later, three girls came over from across the street. They had all taken a shower and were wearing pajamas with their hair down.

Lu Ran thought to himself, if they all turn their backs, I probably won't be able to tell them apart...

"Lu Ran, it's your birthday! Why didn't you say so sooner? Our literature club will treat you to a meal tomorrow."

Xia Liang acted like a boss, gesturing wildly.

"—!"

Her voice stopped abruptly, and the beautiful woman sitting next to the cake turned around to look at her.

Xia Liang and Li Xingping exchanged a glance, unable to hide the amazement in their eyes.

Li Xingping couldn't help but compare the woman in front of him with Zhao Yishuang. Between a beauty and a beauty in the making, the former ultimately won.

Di Qingling greeted them warmly, saying, "I'm Xiao Di's older sister, Di Qingling. You're both members of the literary society, right? I've been following the magazine, it's really impressive."

"Hello, Sister Di~" The three girls introduced themselves one by one and quickly became acquainted.

"Xiao Di's older sister is so beautiful!" Xia Liang exclaimed.

"It's so beautiful," Li Xingping flattered enthusiastically.

"Hmm." Even Zuo Hanzhi stared at her intently.

Lu Ran wanted to say, "This is my girlfriend," but Sister Di stopped him with a look: "Ahem, are you only focusing on appearances? She's a very famous director; the 'Parasite' tour was her doing."

"Wow~" "Wow~" "Wow~"

Sister Di instantly gained three little fangirls.

Xia Liang and Li Xingping kept pestering her with questions.

Di Qingling rolled her eyes at Lu Ran and patiently answered his questions.

She possesses a decisive and confident aura that is particularly attractive to young girls.

A short while later, Tian Luojiao returned.

Ms. Oda's baby face is so deceptive; Di Qingling thought she was some middle school student. Well, thankfully Lu Ran isn't a lolicon...

Lu Ran turned off the lights and lit seventeen candles. The flames flickered, illuminating the boy's handsome features.

Close your eyes and make a wish as their somewhat uneven singing voices fill the air.

Let's wish for our family and friends to be healthy and safe.

As for reaching the pinnacle of the literary world, that requires perseverance.

"Whoosh~" The candles were blown out amidst cheers.

Believe in your wishes, and they will come true.

After the lights were turned back on, they were all worried about gaining weight and said they would only eat a tiny bit.

Although Lu Ran cut the cake into small pieces, it was clear that they couldn't finish it all, so they had to put it in the refrigerator first.

Once midnight passed, the girls were all sleepy. They said goodnight to each other and went back to their rooms to sleep. Lu Ran naturally let Di Qingling go to his room to rest.

In the quiet living room, he sat up from the sofa and slowly made his way to the bedroom door.

Not going public with a relationship always feels a bit restrictive...

But doing it secretly also has its own unique thrills.

As he turned the door open, he was almost stunned by the inviolable beauty.

Di Qingling took off her high heels, sat cross-legged on the chair, and turned on the record player to listen to music.

She closed her eyes, the light falling on her long eyelashes, exuding an ethereal aura from within.

The nearly four million sound system is truly a pinnacle of human technology. Beautiful songs filled the room, and even with all five senses shut down, the soul-stirring sensation was long-lasting and intense.

Lu Ran closed the door and quietly watched the scene unfold.

The music ended.

Di Qingling opened her misty eyes in a daze.

"My God, it feels like floating in outer space... The vibrant starry sky, the flow of time and space, the grandeur of history, all condensed into a single point in my mind... It's truly, truly breathtaking!"

She pondered this for a moment, "How did you come up with that idea? Installing so many speakers in such a small bedroom? How much did that cost?"

Lu Ran laughed heartily and said smugly, "A few million is just so-so, but for someone like me who's into voices, it's totally worth it."

Inspiration, you know.

The source of this is Brother Ding, who is obsessed with classical music in "The Distant Savior".

Lu Ran wasn't that particular; he listened to Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart, and also liked pop music.

Highbrow art, appreciated by all.

Di Qingling sighed, "In a space like this, listening to a song makes all my worries disappear."

"As soon as I see my sister, all my worries disappear." Lu Ran sat on the chair with a grin, letting Di Qingling sit sideways on his lap, looking incredibly satisfied.

"I heard from your uncle that you're in trouble." Di Qingling sat up straight and held his head in her arms.

"A minor problem."

Lu Ran briefly recounted how he went to Zhao Yishuang's house for tutoring and was caught red-handed by Zhao Zheng.

If it weren't for his leg injury, he could have easily hidden under a closet or bed.

However, it was unexpected that Zhao Zheng would be so strict about his daughter's feelings, not even allowing her to be a regular friend.

Di Qingling, being so perceptive, understood immediately and was both amused and exasperated.

"You know, it's not that Zhao Zheng is too ruthless. Why would he be so wary of you if you were just an ordinary friend..."

"You went to someone's house, stole their precious daughter, and gave him a thorough dressing down. No wonder Prime Minister Zhao didn't hold back."

"Huh?" Lu Ran looked completely innocent. "What did I steal?"

"You've stolen someone's precious daughter's heart," Di Qingling said softly, drawing circles on his chest with her slender finger.

"But..." Lu Ran was taken aback.

He asked Zhao Yishuang if she liked him, but she didn't answer. Doesn't a lack of affirmation mean rejection?

"Don't doubt your charm. Do you know why all the girls around you are so beautiful?"

From the moment Di Qingling first saw Lu Ran, she knew he was the kind of guy girls liked, yet he was also incredibly oblivious to it all.

He is like a piece of uncut jade.

The talent revealed by accidentally wiping a little bit of the stone skin is as dazzling as the sun and moon.

"Huh? I don't know..." This was the first time Lu Ran had realized this problem.

"It's a magnetic field, just like how a star attracts planets to revolve around it." Di Qingling gently drew circles with her fingertips, the jade bracelet on her wrist sliding down her snow-white forearm.

Suddenly her face flushed red. "Can't hold it in anymore?"

"Sir, this is hard to hold." Lu Ran felt as if he was holding a work of art carved from white jade, yet it was also like water, melting into his bones inch by inch.

Her soft whispers in my ear, each sound dripping into my heart.

"You can't do that yet...but..."

Di Qingling leaned down affectionately and, as if untying the ribbon of the gift, gently peeled open the suit jacket.

"but?"

"Did you like the birthday present your sister gave you?"

Red beak.

Like a beating heart.

……

...

She seemed a little drunk, her cheeks flushed with a tipsy blush. She said childishly, "I want you to recite a poem for me. If I'm not satisfied, I won't let you come out."

You've kissed me like spring kisses a cherry tree...

Lu Ran took a deep breath:

"A woman's body, white hills, white thighs."

"You are like a world, submissive and prostrate."

"...

"I am as lonely as a tunnel, and the birds have all left me..." (Note 26)

-

Note 26: From Neruda's "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair".