Chapter 21: He Bullied Me, I Am Going to Demand an Explanation

"Ran, could you please sit down? You’re making me dizzy with all that pacing."

Zhou Yan was at his limit, rubbing his throbbing temples. He already had a headache from staring at the computer screen, and Chi Ran’s constant pacing—radiating waves of icy displeasure—made it impossible to ignore him. Zhou Yan sighed, shedding a metaphorical tear for his own plight; it was tough, truly, impossibly tough.

Seeing that Chi Ran remained unmoved, Zhou Yan got up and walked over. "I’m calling you 'Ran,' so can you show a little mercy? It’s hard enough doing your work, but now I have to handle your crush’s affairs too. Give me a break."

Chi Ran didn’t speak, merely fixing him with a cold stare. When his face was set like that, his features carried a sharp, ruthless edge that would intimidate anyone unfamiliar with him. But Zhou Yan was different; having grown up with Chi Ran, he had long since become immune to this world-weary, miserable expression.

"Ran, can we just sit and rest for a bit? If she won't answer your calls, there’s nothing you can do. That’s what you get for playing the secret admirer—you’ve stayed a total stranger in her eyes."

The remark hit Chi Ran like a dagger to the heart, its lethality far from ordinary. A dark, sullen mood gathered in Chi Ran’s eyes, and his expression grew increasingly stormy. Sensing that he had overstepped and that a tempest was brewing, Zhou Yan prepared to offer an excuse to smooth things over, only for Chi Ran’s phone to ring.

Chi Ran was even more on edge than him. He hoped against hope that it was Yu Ling calling, but his lips tightened when he saw the unfamiliar number on the screen. It wasn't her. He knew Yu Ling’s number by heart, and this wasn't it. Very few people had this particular number—he used a different one for work—and only those closest to him ever called it. He couldn't immediately identify who was calling, but he was in a foul mood and had no desire to answer.

Just as he moved to lock the screen, Zhou Yan snatched the phone away. Chi Ran felt his temple pulse with irritation, his temper flaring. He reached out, "Give it here."

"Just answer it first! What if your crush changed her number? If you hang up and it’s her, you’ll be crying in secret out of regret later." With that, Zhou Yan swiped the answer icon.

.

The line rang and rang. Those few minutes of silence felt agonizingly long, each second stretching out like a minute. Outside, the sun was brilliant and warm, casting rays through the glass to illuminate every corner of the bedroom. Yu Ling sat on the edge of the bed, the sunlight bathing her, but her heart felt cold and her throat parched, like a traveler lost in a desert for ages, desperate for a single drop of water, a patch of oasis.

Just as Yu Ling felt she was about to evaporate from the suspense, the call connected.

"Hello, who is this?"

The voice on the other end carried a slight nasal tone and sounded bright and cheerful. It wasn't Chi Ran. Yu Ling bit her lip, clutching the hem of her shirt nervously. Had she dialed the wrong number? She held the phone away, pulling out the slip of paper where she’d written the number to compare them, digit by digit. It was correct. Had the comments she’d seen been wrong?

Yu Ling didn't know what to do. Should she reveal her identity? If the person on the other end wasn't actually Chi Ran, would her own number be leaked? It wasn't unreasonable for her to worry; her name was trending high right now, and if her private information leaked, it would be another huge mess.

During that minute of hesitation, the person on the other end asked again, twice. "Hello? Who is this? If you don't say anything, I'm hanging up."

Upon hearing this, a sudden, inexplicable courage rose in Yu Ling. What if... what if Chi Ran was just busy, perhaps in the restroom or otherwise occupied, and had left his phone with someone he trusted? If she didn't speak now, they might not answer if she called back later.

With that thought, Yu Ling hurriedly said, "This is Yu Ling."

She held her breath, waiting. There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, but the line remained open.

"Hello, this is Chi Ran."

The clear, cool male voice drifted into her ear unexpectedly. Yu Ling recognized it instantly. It sounded like crystal glass beads dropping onto a jade tray, crisp and melodious. It fell right into her heart, tapping gently against it. He had spoken six words, and Yu Ling replied in kind, "Hello, this is Yu Ling."

The person on the other end didn't seem to question how she had his contact information, simply asking, "Is there something you need?"

The excuses she had rehearsed and the words she had prepared suddenly failed her. Yu Ling opened her mouth, nearly biting her tongue. She stumbled, "I... I do."

After saying it, a sense of shame suddenly washed over her. She didn't even know why.

"What is it?"

The three simple words sounded very cold. Yu Ling began to retreat; would it be inappropriate to trouble him like this? Subconsciously, she looked at the scrolling comments:

[Chi Ran, you stubborn guy, stop acting so aloof. Yu Ling is calling you, and you won't even be warm? What's the point of hiding your feelings? Show it with words and actions! If you weren't so difficult, Mu Chenbei wouldn't stand a chance.]

[A man who cares too much about his pride and plays hard to get will never get a wife.]

Yu Ling was pierced by the word 'wife.' She quickly looked away, not daring to read any more. What nonsense were these comments spouting?

"What is it?"

The person on the other end, as if tired of waiting, asked again. Yu Ling was snapped back to reality. She said hurriedly, "I... I have something I need to talk to Gu Tingchuan about, but I can't reach him, so..."

"So you want me to help you?"

He interrupted her, his tone laced with heavy impatience. Yu Ling blinked, confused. She could hear the shift in his mood, but she didn't know how she had offended him. She hesitated, "Yes, I need your help."

Her voice grew quiet, thin as a mosquito’s hum. She knew her request was unreasonable. Unsure of Chi Ran's attitude, she turned to the comments for help.

[Ahhh, Chi Ran is jealous! This is the first time Yu Ling has called him, and it's to ask about another man. He's dying of jealousy.]

[Honey, don't be so direct, I hate how you're phrasing this...]

Yu Ling was bewildered. Just as she was about to explain, he spoke again:

"Why do you need to see him?"

Yu Ling blinked and said softly, "He bullied me, and I want to demand an explanation."