Chapter 10 Brother Ting An, I Don’t Ask for a Name

Zhao Xinran left school early in the afternoon and went to buy some vegetables.

Unexpectedly, Su Li was not at home, so I could only sit in the corridor and wait.

It was rare for Shao Ting'an to come home early today. Usually, Su Li would have to wait for a long time for him to come back after cooking, but today he got home just after six o'clock.

Seeing Zhao Xinran sitting at the door, he took two steps at a time and asked, "Why are you sitting at the door?"

Normally, Su Li should be back by now, as she never stays too late at her parents' home.

"Brother Ting'an, no one's home. Teacher Su isn't home."

Zhao Xinran stood up feeling aggrieved, but her legs went limp and she fell directly into Shao Tingan's arms.

"You...you, Teacher Su, didn't you know you were coming today?"

The moment Zhao Xinran leaned in Shao Tingan's arms, his Adam's apple rolled, and the arm around her waist couldn't help but tighten and stiffen.

"Thank you, Brother Ting'an! Teacher Su knows about this. I come here every week. She must have been delayed by something."

Zhao Xinran looked up at Shao Ting'an, her large, wet eyes making him irritable. Her high chest rose and fell, and Shao Ting'an's throat tightened instantly.

Shao Ting'an licked his lips lightly, slowly letting go, his soft voice carrying a hint of hoarseness, "Are your legs numb?"

Zhao Xinran blinked, a blush on her cheeks, "Yeah!"

She looked so soft and delicate that Shao Tingan's Adam's apple rolled again.

He took the things from Zhao Xinran's hand, then went to take out the key, "Go home."

He looked calm on the surface, but his trembling hands couldn't insert the key into the keyhole.

"Brother Ting'an, let me do it."

Zhao Xinran bit her lip and moved closer to him. She put her slender white hand on Shao Tingan's big hand, gently grasped his hand, and steadily inserted the key into the keyhole.

Then he gently applied force and turned Shao Ting'an's hand. With a "click", the lock was opened.

The girl's body fragrance lingered at Shao Tingan's nose, and his chest was beating wildly.

Aunt Liu upstairs came back from buying groceries and was surprised to see the two people standing almost close to each other at the door. She knew the woman, who was Teacher Su's student. She often came to her house with Teacher Su and even lived here for more than a month during last winter vacation.

But she didn't see Shao Ting'an and Zhao Xinran holding hands, nor did she see the unconcealable emotions in their eyes.

"Xiao Shao, don't you have your keys?"

When Shao Ting'an heard someone calling him, he swallowed hard and pulled his hand out of Zhao Xinran's.

Turning around, I saw Aunt Liu smiling with a curved lip. "I brought it, but the lock is a little rusty and hard to open. It took some effort to get it open."

"My lock had the same problem the day before yesterday. My son soaked it in motor oil and it works fine now. You can try putting a few drops in there too."

"Okay, I'll try it later."

While Shao Ting'an was talking to Mrs. Zhang, Zhao Xinran had already opened the door and walked in.

"Aunt Liu, see you later."

Shao Ting'an turned around and walked in, saying goodbye to Aunt Liu with a frank smile.

After entering the house, Zhao Xinran went straight into the kitchen and put the dishes in his hand on the stove.

My face felt hot, and my heart was beating like a deer.

To be exact, from the moment she leaned on Shao Ting'an, her heart began to beat wildly.

She stood in front of the stove, lowered her eyes, took several deep breaths, and tried to calm herself down.

"Let me help you make some food."

Just when she was about to calm down, the voice that had been haunting her made her confused again.

As Shao Ting'an approached, Zhao Xinran's previous efforts were in vain.

She mustered up her courage, walked over to Shao Ting'an, lowered her head, and nervously twisted the corners of her clothes with her fingers.

"Brother Tin An..."

Shao Ting'an looked at her with a glint in his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

His trembling voice was a little tense, which sounded like silent encouragement to Zhao Xinran.

She could feel that her brother Tin An was suppressing his emotions. He was so kind to her. His hands and his embrace were so warm.

Zhao Xinran took a deep breath, mustered up the courage to raise her head, "Brother Ting'an, I like you. You know that, right? I've never hidden my feelings from you."

Her eyes were slightly red and tears were welling up in them.

"I've liked you since the first time I saw you."

Zhao Xinran was no longer as nervous as before, and she spoke without any hesitation.

"Xinran..."

Shao Ting'an's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

Zhao Xinran's tearful eyes sparkled with joy, and her pursed lips and faint smile made Shao Tingan's heart beat faster.

His eyes were deep and hot, as if to melt her.

"Brother Ting'an..." Zhao Xinran's voice was as thin as a mosquito, and her cheeks were flushed.

Shao Ting'an looked at her, not sure how to respond to this girl. "Xinran, I..."

Zhao Xinran's tears fell as she smiled and said, "I know I shouldn't say such things, but I... I really can't control my emotions."

"You know what? The reason I studied so hard to come to Pingjiang was just to be closer to you. Even if I can only see you from afar, I will be satisfied."

She took a step forward, threw herself into Shao Tingan's arms, and hugged him tightly.

"Brother Ting'an, I don't ask for status. I just want to see you every day. That's enough."

Shao Ting'an's body stiffened. He felt Zhao Xinran trembling in his arms and heard her suppressed crying.

His heart was in turmoil.

He thought of Su Li and the sweetness and love they once had.

However, at this moment, Zhao Xinran's tenderness and affection made him unable to refuse.

He slowly raised his hand, placed it on Zhao Xinran's back, and patted it gently.

Zhao Xinran raised her head, looked at him with tearful eyes, stood on tiptoe, and kissed Shao Tingan on the lips.

Shao Ting'an was stunned for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes. The girl's innocent kiss made him completely forget that he had a wife.

Outside the window, the setting sun dyed the sky a fiery red.

Inside the house, an ambiguous atmosphere was spreading.

Mrs. Zhang remembered Su Li's instructions, so she had dinner early and left a bowl of vegetables and two white steamed buns for Shao Ting'an.

Seeing Shao Tingan going upstairs, he deliberately went up a few minutes later, wanting to give Shao Tingan a break.

Mrs. Zhang stood at the door with a tray in her hand and knocked, "Chief Shao, I'm Mrs. Zhang downstairs."

She held the food and waited for Shao Tingan to open the door, but heard no response.

"Section Chief Shao?"

Mrs. Zhang's voice was so loud that Aunt Liu upstairs could hear it. She came out and said with a smile, "Xiao Shao is home, there's no need to shout so loudly."

"I know he is here. When Teacher Su left home this morning, she asked me to bring dinner to Section Chief Shao. She was afraid that she would come back too late and make him hungry." Mrs. Zhang said with a cheerful smile.

"Teacher Su's female student is here, and she brought some food. She must be able to cook." Aunt Liu said with a smile, "But Teacher Su is so considerate."

Mrs. Zhang doesn't like Zhao Xinran. She never speaks when she meets people and always looks down on them, which is annoying.

Thinking of Zhao Xinran's coquettish look, Mrs. Zhang suddenly knocked on the door again. What does it mean for a single man and a single woman to stay in the room without opening the door?