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

Lu Ran first configured the graphics card, keyboard, and secondary monitor, giving his old friend a complete upgrade.

He brought this computer from his home.

The excuse was that it was for studying.

Many knowledge points that you didn't understand in class can be filled in by watching videos.

Then comes the new phone.

Apple's market value doubled in three years, and it remains a top-tier technology company.

Although schools are cracking down harder on cell phone bans than on early romantic relationships, the number of people bringing cell phones far exceeds the number of people dating, showing that everyone prefers playing on their phones.

Then came ten expensive, brand-new pairs of underwear, each with a unique feel and exceptional elasticity.

Finally, it came into a wooden box, which we opened.

Inside lies a G-key eight-hole xiao (vertical bamboo flute), its body lustrous and inlaid with ebony. Holding it in your hand and gently turning it, you feel an indescribable sense of elegance and comfort.

Lu Ran was so fond of it that he played with it for a while.

Sitting in front of the computer, I opened the instructional video to practice, and played a warm and clear flute, with a melodious and ancient charm.

—What a beautiful sound.

"Knock knock".

After knocking on the door, Tian Luojiao leaned against the doorway and said, "Lu Ran, come out for a moment."

"Here it comes, here it comes."

Lu Ran carefully put away the new flute and followed Tian Luojiao to the living room.

Teacher Tian showed him the chat history.

"Things are a bit complicated."

"How complicated is it? I'll handle it."

Lu Ran was at his most arrogant at this moment, with money in his pocket and no worries in his heart.

Tian Luojiao rolled her eyes at him; this kid was getting too cocky.

But then again, being arrogant and unrestrained is a privilege that the world bestows upon geniuses.

"Zuo Hanzhi's father died early, and she did not want to live with her mother, so she stayed at her aunt's house," Tian Luojiao said.

"Then what happened with running away from home?" Lu Ran asked.

"Her mother saw your love letter online and was very angry, so she forcibly brought Zuo Hanzhi home. As a result, Zuo Hanzhi secretly slipped out of the house, and then... she met you."

"Wait, why are you angry because you saw my love letter?"

"Zuo Hanzhi's mother thinks that you are trying to lure an innocent girl with sweet words, hmm..." Tian Luojiao said meaningfully.

Lu Ran felt ashamed; so love letters were the root of all evil.

"My love letters weren't that bad, were they..."

It was also selected as a world poetry anthology.

"You wrote very well."

A sound came from the direction of the bathroom—

Lu Ran and Tian Luojiao looked over at the same time.

After taking a bath, the girl changed into Teacher Tian's clothes.

A white printed T-shirt and a knee-length blue pleated skirt fit her surprisingly well.

Her long, glossy black hair cascaded down, making her face appear even whiter and more delicate.

A slender neck, delicate collarbones, and long, shapely legs pressed tightly together beneath a skirt that flows like a lotus leaf—the curves are breathtaking.

Tian Luojiao was amazed; she was truly youthful and charming.

"What...what did you just say?" Lu Ran asked blankly.

"Your poetry is very good." Zuo Hanzhi gazed at him, "but I won't lose to you."

Lu Ran: ?

"I participated in the three-line love letter competition and made it to the final round. Let's see who wins," said Zuo Hanzhi.

Who wants to fight you to the death...?

Lu Ran was a little confused; what was this girl's thought process?

I participated in the three-line love letter competition partly because I was inspired by Zhou Jiahao, and partly for the first prize. Why are you joining in?

"...No, so what if I beat you?" Lu Ran asked.

A blush rose to Zuo Hanzhi's face as she spoke with difficulty, "Then I admit that you... you're better at writing poetry than me..."

"Then I admit defeat. My poetry is not as good as yours," Lu Ran said sincerely.

"Stop humiliating me!"

Zuo Hanzhi clenched her fists, tears welling up in her reddened eyes.

This was the first time Lu Ran had ever seen her emotions fluctuate so drastically.

Compared to Zhao Yishuang's occasional pride hidden beneath her cold exterior, Zuo Hanzhi is closer to ice at zero degrees Celsius, silent and taciturn, like a dry, deep well.

"..."

Lu Ran looked to Teacher Tian for help.

Tian Luojiao knew she couldn't watch this drama unfold any longer, so she clasped her hands together and said, "Hmm~ You guys keep chatting, I'm going back to my room to rest."

The girl covered her face and slowly squatted down.

In the living room.

So quiet you could hear the sound of teardrops shattering.

Lu Ran squatted down in front of the girl, looking troubled. "Zuo Hanzhi, where did I humiliate you?"

"Your love letter..." Zuo Hanzhi said haltingly, "...had my name on it..."

Lu Ran was dumbfounded.

She realized that the love letter was a challenge to her.

She wrote so many poems, yet she became famous because of other people's poems...

It's like when a director's movies all flop, but a cameo appearance in another movie becomes his masterpiece.

For a poet, there is no greater humiliation than this.

"Is it possible that I simply like you, and that I'm not writing poetry?" Lu Ran asked boldly. He looked at the girl with tears streaming down her face so close to him, and his heart couldn't help but race.

"impossible!"

Zuo Hanzhi said firmly, "Your love letters are full of artistic value, without a trace of emotion. Don't doubt my judgment!"

Everyone thought it was a love letter.

Because of the extremely high artistic value contained in the verses, it caused a sensation in the poetry world and gained worldwide renown, touching readers all over the world—

Only Zuo Hanzhi keenly realized that it was not a love letter.

Just as Lu Ran said at the beginning, it was not a love letter.

Only you understand me.

At that moment, Lu Ran suddenly understood what it meant to be overwhelmed with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, a feeling of utter naivety. (Note 2)

……

"Alright, let's settle this in the final of the three-line love letter contest!" Lu Ran smiled.

Zuo Hanzhi released her fingers from her face, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of fear and hope.

Lu Ran has written "When You Are Old" and "Slowly in the Past"... His fame is no less than that of the top poets in China.

You can't win by just writing poetry.

But the restricted format of three-line love letters gave Zuo Hanzhi a glimmer of hope.

Compared to poetry, three-line love letters place more emphasis on the "skill" of carefully choosing words and phrases.

Lu Ran said with a grin, "If you win, I'll admit that my poetry is not as good as yours, but what if you lose?"

Zuo Hanzhi clearly hadn't considered this issue.

She clenched her fingers and said weakly, "Can you please let me go?"

"No way, you're giving up before the competition even starts?" Lu Ran said sternly. "How about this: whoever loses grants the other one a request. It's fair!"

Zuo Hanzhi thought about it carefully. The three-line love letter competition was based on the popularity ranking of netizens' votes. The public's eyes are discerning, and she might not necessarily lose to him.

"Mmm." She nodded slightly.

"Pinky promise, no backing out." Lu Ran extended his little finger and pressed his thumb firmly against it.

He patted his knees and stood up: "There's a guest room available, you can use it for now."

"Thank you... thank you." Zuo Hanzhi lowered her head.

"Everyone encounters difficulties at times. Have a good talk with your family."

After Zuo Hanzhi returned to her room.

The microphone that Lu Ran ordered arrived, so I delivered it to her.

Next-day delivery, 30-minute takeout, 1,000 yuan rent, nine years of compulsory education, and readily available internet resources like air, sunshine, and water—the conveniences of modern life are on full display.

……

I took a shower and turned off the living room lights.

Lu Ran returned to his small room and opened the official website of the Three-Line Love Letter Competition.

There were thousands of entries that made it to the finals from the elimination rounds.

Furthermore, since they all used online names as their signatures, he didn't know which love letter Zuo Hanzhi wrote to get into the finals.

He glanced at his three works, all of which were currently ranked highly.

First, fourth, and ninth.

Lu Ran's lips curved into a smile... The voting channel has just opened, so we can't start popping the champagne yet.

"We'll see in three days."

-

Note 2: From Fujimoto Tsuki's "Listen to What You Want".