TMLSG -Chapter 84 Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Here

The matter of studying abroad wasn’t something that had just happened in the past few days.

It was just that Tang Zhen had been so clingy to Ren Yanjing recently—they were practically inseparable every day—and no one had ever mentioned this topic in front of her.

If the female lead hadn’t come to find her, Tang Zhen probably wouldn’t have known about it for quite a long time.

Sitting on the playground, Tang Zhen asked, “Santiao, the female lead said that the male lead refused to study abroad because of me.”

She wouldn’t take the female lead’s words completely at face value, but she couldn’t dismiss them entirely either.

111: 【Probably, Zhen. But the male lead is an adult—he has the right to make his own decisions.】

【Whether it’s because of you or not, Zhen, this is the most suitable decision he can make under the circumstances. All the stuff the female lead said about not holding him back… just ignore it.】

Tang Zhen laughed at 111’s last remark.

When Ren Yanjing arrived, he saw her smiling so warmly, her eyes curved with joy.

The sunset cast a warm orange glow over her, painting her in soft light.

The scene looked like a perfect painting.

He smiled slightly and took a few steps up the stairs to stand in front of her. “What are you smiling at, baby?”

Tang Zhen blinked in surprise. “How did you know I was here?”

“Asked a few people on the way.”

As a star student in the media arts department, almost everyone recognized Tang Zhen. With such a pretty face, it was impossible for anyone not to notice her.

Her position at school was hardly a secret.

Ren Yanjing held out his hand. “Baby, let’s go home.”

Tang Zhen instinctively used his hand for support to stand, but barely a moment later, Ren Yanjing scooped her up into his arms.

It was a solid, firm embrace.

Tang Zhen was slightly taken aback. “Is something wrong?”

Ren Yanjing brushed his chin against her hair. “I missed you.”

“But…” they had only been apart for a few hours, hadn’t they?

Then Ren Yanjing suddenly asked, “When will clingy Zhenzhen come back?”

Ever since Ren Yan’en in the group chat had called Tang Zhen “clingy Zhen,” everyone else had followed suit.

It had started because Tang Zhen had been extremely clingy to him those days. He happened to be playing with Ren Yanfeng and Ren Yanli, and the two had seen it. By the end, the entire family knew that she clung to him.

He went to wash his hands—she followed.

He went to pour water—she followed.

He washed fruit in the kitchen—she still followed.

Wherever he went, she went, watching him intently with those bright, clear eyes.

Who could resist that?

Only these past two days, she hadn’t been as clingy because of exams.

Tang Zhen thought that clingy Zhen might never return—but since they were breaking up tomorrow, there was no reason to cause unhappiness now.

So she thought for a moment and softly answered, “Now?”

Then she held Ren Yanjing’s hand and gave him a sweet smile. “Ren Yanjing, let’s go home.”

Tonight was no different from usual.

The only difference was that Tang Zhen started thinking about what she needed to take with her.

After the breakup, she would definitely move out.

She might even change her identity.

The two apples Ren Yanjing had won for her on Christmas Eve? She had to take them.

The sketchbooks she used for her comics? She would take those too.

As for the other things…

The gifts he had given her, she planned to keep.

However, Tang Zhen didn’t dare start packing her luggage in a big way; at most, she just made plans in her mind.

Also, time was limited, so she only managed to draw a simplified ten-year calendar for Ren Yanjing.

The previous calendar had 365 pages—one for each day.

This time, she only drew twelve pages for a year—one page per month.

Just like the last calendar, each page contained blessings and praise for Ren Yanjing.

She planned to hide these ten calendars; if Ren Yanjing ever found them, it would be a little surprise for him.

If he didn’t find them… well, it didn’t really matter.

She took the two Christmas apples from the cabinet and placed them on her desk. Just then, she suddenly heard cheers and screams outside from people in the neighborhood.

She was about to ask what was happening when 111 excitedly said in her mind, 【Zhen, it’s snowing!】

Snowing?

This must be the first snowfall in J City this year.

Before she could react, the door had already been knocked three times. She said, “Come in,” and Ren Yanjing opened the door and walked in. “Baby, do you want to go downstairs and see the snow?”

See the snow?

“Sure.”

Downstairs, the two of them shared an umbrella while enjoying the snowfall. Meanwhile, Li Ran and Lu Yu were sitting at a nearby bubble tea shop in their neighborhood.

Lu Yu asked, “Tang Zhen is so selfish. Will she break up?”

Li Ran lowered her head and sipped her bubble tea, her face slightly tilted down so it was hard to read her expression. “I don’t know.”

Lu Yu crossed her legs and stared toward Ren Yanjing’s neighborhood. “What if she doesn’t break up?”

Li Ran replied, “It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t. As long as she lets Ren Yanjing go abroad, that’s enough.”

Distance and time zones would naturally become obstacles between them.

In long-distance relationships, breakups are common.

Whether Tang Zhen breaks up or not, her goal was always the same: waiting for Ren Yanjing to study abroad.

Once he chooses the exchange program, a breakup between him and Tang Zhen would only be a matter of time.

Lu Yu teased, “A-Ran, you also have an exchange opportunity at your school. If you’re in a foreign country, you’ll both be alumni and from the same hometown, right?” She chuckled.

Li Ran wanted to smile but restrained herself. Holding her bubble tea, she said, “It’s not certain whether he’ll go yet.”

Lu Yu lazily said, “You’ve already privately approached Tang Zhen. She might cause a huge fight with Ren Yanjing over this. If so, it’ll be hard for them not to break up, right?”

Tonight, the first snow was falling heavily. Snowflakes landed on the leaves and soon formed a thin layer.

While Tang Zhen was observing carefully, a stray cat suddenly ran out of the grass, darting past her, giving her a fright.

Ren Yanjing immediately held her.

When someone is fully immersed in something, it’s easy to get startled.

Tang Zhen had been watching so carefully that her face was still slightly pale from the scare.

Ren Yanjing gently stroked her face and comforted her: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Then, like a gentle spring rain, he kissed her face, nose, and forehead, each kiss carrying a deep sense of reassurance.

Afterwards, he rubbed the top of her head and asked, “Baby, are you still scared?”

Tang Zhen looked up at him with those beautiful eyes. “I’m not scared anymore.”

Right now, she could only remember the warmth of his lips, which melted the snow that had just landed on her cheeks.

Hot.

Fiery.

111: 【Ahhh! The male lead really knows how to make someone feel safe!】

After gushing over them, 111 quickly shifted tone and added, 【But, Zhen, tomorrow you’re going to dump the male lead! Yay!】