She pouted, her face a mask of displeasure. "I was only saying that because I was worried you’d fall. Why did you hit me~"
She must have felt wronged, because she drew out the last syllable in a whiny, coquettish tone. Her voice was incredibly pleasant to listen to.
Xiao Ran: "..."
’I hit her helmet, didn’t I? If it had been her head, I really wouldn’t have had the heart to hit her like that.’
The huffy girl grabbed the throttle and gave it a hard twist.
’So mean!’
’I’m not going to be nice to him anymore!’
’Hmph!’
As the engine revved, the scooter shot forward with a WHOOSH.
Xiao Ran was thrown forward uncontrollably.
He instinctively threw his arms around the girl’s slender waist. It was completely free of fat, yet incredibly soft.
The force of his lunge was so strong that the ninety-nine-pound girl was jolted forward, nearly getting thrown off the scooter.
She quickly wriggled back into her seat.
’Oh my god, what just happened?’
’He’s so strong!’
’Wait...’
’Who was it that told me not to hold on to him?’
She huffed. "Don’t press against me!"
Her words made Xiao Ran’s temples throb. ’Who’s pressing against her? Where does she even learn this stuff?!’
’And to use it so impeccably, too. How infuriating.’
His hands practically recoiled. Forcing down his embarrassment, he said, "Slow down, slow down! Not so fast!"
He couldn’t help but sigh to himself. ’Teaching a girl to ride a scooter really is a risky business. This is a job for Yan Li!’
Yan Xici weighed just ninety-nine pounds. Her frame was slender, supple, and soft.
He was genuinely afraid he might knock her right off the scooter!
"Oh, okay."
Still reeling from the shock, the girl was now exceptionally obedient. She steadied her nerves and began to ride in earnest.
Fortunately, the breakfast stall wasn’t far from Xiao Ran’s place at all—less than a block away.
Just two minutes later, the black electric scooter pulled up in front of the breakfast stall.
The girl squeezed the brakes, and the scooter gradually slowed. When she felt the speed was low enough, she prepared to jump off and use her legs to steady it.
The scooter came to an abrupt halt.
It was Xiao Ran. He had stuck out one of his own legs to steady the scooter, holding it perfectly still.
Riding an electric scooter for the first time, the girl turned her head to look back at him in amazement. ’You can do that?’
’That’s amazing!’
’So cool.’
’If it were me, I’d have to jump off to feel safe.’
"Get off," Xiao Ran said curtly.
"Okay." The girl nodded and hopped nimbly off the scooter.
Xiao Ran then turned the key to switch off the scooter, kicked down the kickstand, and walked toward the breakfast stall.
The owner of the breakfast stall was a middle-aged woman in a red short-sleeved shirt. She had a very kind face.
She greeted Xiao Ran warmly when she saw him.
"Well now, brought your wife along today? She’s a real beauty! This is the first time I’ve seen her."
She had been selling breakfast here for many years and knew Xiao Ran fairly well. She knew he was married but had never actually seen his wife.
Seeing her today, the owner couldn’t help but think to herself, ’This kid has great taste. With a wife this radiant, no wonder he’s been hiding her away.’
Hearing this, the girl’s chest tightened and a faint blush crept onto her pretty face. She quickly waved her hands and explained in a fluster, "Um, he’s my brother."
’I am *not* his wife!’
’Being called that is so embarrassing!’
Xiao Ran, wanting to avoid a misunderstanding even more than she did, quickly smiled. "This is my younger sister. She’s still young."
Hearing this, the owner gave a knowing chuckle. "Oh, your sister, you say. My mistake."
’Although that’s what she said out loud, the owner didn’t think for a second she’d been wrong.’
’They’re already so close—she’s riding his scooter with him on the back. If she’s not his wife, she will be soon!’
The owner finished and looked at Yan Xici with a broad smile. "So, little sister, what would you like to eat today?"
"What do you have?"
Just then, Xiao Ran suddenly remembered the girl talking in her sleep that morning. It was something about crabs.
’She probably wants to eat crab. They don’t have whole crabs, but they do have crab roe buns.’
He smiled at the owner. "We’ll have two of the large crab roe buns, two vegetable buns, and two cups of millet porridge."
After ordering, he shot Yan Xici a meaningful glance.
The look seemed to say, ’See, little rascal? I know exactly what you’re craving!’
Sure enough, at the mention of crab roe buns, the girl subconsciously gulped.
’I just dreamed I was eating crab roe buns. They tasted so, so good. Brother Xiao Ran really gets me!’
’I’m so happy!!!’
The owner lifted the lid off a steaming basket, packed the buns into a clear plastic bag, and handed them over with two cups of millet porridge. "They’re fresh out of the steamer, so they’re a little hot. Let them cool down before you eat."
Xiao Ran took the bag. He could feel the heat radiating from it before his hand even touched it.
He said his thanks, quickly scanned the QR code to pay, and walked back to his little scooter.
He sat down in the front seat. "Hop on. I’ll drive this time."
He then hung the bags of buns and porridge on the handlebars to let the wind cool them down faster.
The girl, however, didn’t get on right away. Instead, she took off her helmet and looked at Xiao Ran with a grin.
"Since you’re driving, you should wear it~"
’It’s important to wear a helmet on a scooter!’
With that, she raised her slender arms, lifting the helmet with both hands to put it on Xiao Ran’s head.
Xiao Ran subconsciously ducked his head a little. As the girl’s arms went up, the hem of her shirt rode up as well, revealing a sliver of firm, fair, smooth skin at her waist.
It was right in his line of sight.
’Seriously, doesn’t she pay any attention to how she presents herself?’
Once the helmet was securely on, the girl lowered her arms.
She flashed a sweet, radiant smile. "We can go now!"
With that, she swung a long leg over, wrapped her arms familiarly around Xiao Ran’s waist, and settled onto the seat behind him, straddling it.
Sitting astride the seat was a very secure way to ride; this way, even if she shifted around, she wouldn’t have to worry about falling off.
Once he felt the girl was settled, Xiao Ran twisted the throttle and headed toward the new apartment.
The new apartment wasn’t too far away; it was just three blocks and two traffic lights from their current location.
It was in a new residential complex that looked pretty decent.
When they reached the gate of the complex, Xiao Ran took out his phone and dialed the number he had from yesterday.
"Hello, sir."
"Hello, I’ve arrived. Is it a good time to see the apartment?"
"Of course. I’m waiting for you at the building entrance. You can come right in."
Xiao Ran glanced at his watch. It was 8:30.
Xiao Ran rode the scooter straight into the complex, weaving through the grounds for a moment before finally stopping in front of Building 8.
The whole way there, the girl on the back had been looking around in fascination, like a total curiosity cat.