Evolutionary Superstar

Lin Haoren felt embarrassed after listening to Su Xiaoran’s reply.

Indeed, even someone six years his junior recognized the importance of health and was far more diligent in this regard than he was.

He, on the other hand, sacrificed health for work. This was clearly putting the cart before the horse.

"Ahem!" Lin Haoren coughed with embarrassment. Then, scratched his cheek, replying, "This is indeed my first time out for a morning run."

"Pfft!"

Su Xiaoran couldn’t help but laugh again, scanning him with a gaze that expressed, ’I could totally see that!’

"You should get up quickly, Brother Lin. The ground is very cold in the morning. It won’t be good if you catch a cold," Su Xiaoran said with concern.

"I also want to get up, but I’ve just realized my body has become like jelly and won’t respond to me at all." Lin Haoran smiled wryly with self-reproach.

Su Xiaoran laughed again. Then, she willingly bent over to help him up with her limited strength, seemingly not minding the physical contact.

In truth, she was quite relieved in heart. Her neighbor was much more approachable than she had imagined.

Lin Haoren had always given others a gloomy, dark, and unapproachable vibe. The kind that told others that he didn’t have time or energy to spend on anyone else.

Today’s Lin Haoran seemed completely different.

It wasn’t a physical change, but a spiritual kind. Invisible to the eye, but warm and uplifting to be around. It was the difference between draining one’s energy to interact and charging one’s energy instead

The change was too huge.

Such a tremendous change in energy levels naturally attracted her curiosity.

"Are you done with your run, Brother Lin?" Su Xiaoran asked.

"I am." Lin Haoren nodded and said, "If you haven’t finished yours, you should go ahead. No need to delay your business for me, Ran Ran."

After speaking, Lin Haoren felt a little strange in his heart.

Strictly speaking, they were still strangers, despite living next door to each other for six months. Their relationship wasn’t at the level where he could use an endearing nickname like Ran Ran.

However, that was how Su Xiaoran had introduced herself when she first moved in next door. Thus, he could only continue to call her so.

Changing her term of address now would only make things awkward.

"It’s alright." Su Xiaoran flashed a bright smile and said proudly, "I happened to finish my morning run as well. Shall we head home to wash up, then meet up later for breakfast, Brother Lin?"

"Ah? Oh, oh sure." Lin Haoren was briefly surprised before agreeing. "Speaking of which, it seems we haven’t exchanged contacts yet."

"Oh, right!"

Su Xiaoran immediately pulled out her phone and saved his number on HappyChat.

On the way home, Su Xiaoran subconsciously grinned happily.

"What’s making you so happy, Ran Ran?"

"You, of course, Brother Lin." Su Xiaoran answered cheekily, then added, more seriously, "It’s the first time we’ve talked so much, despite being neighbors for so long."

"You don’t know this, but you’ve always carried a gloomy, dark aura around you, making you very unapproachable to others. Everyone suspected you had a questionable character."

"I’ve heard so many bad rumors that I’ve even become afraid of you. You don’t know how much I worry every time I have to pass your door when I leave and return home, Brother Lin."

"It’s great that you’re not actually a bad person. I feel so much relief!" Su Xiaoran said honestly.

’Struggling poor people are automatically regarded as people of questionable character? Where’s the justice in this?’ Lin Haoren wryly wondered.

Suddenly, his lips curved into a mischievous smile.

"Just based on this short exchange, you already concluded that I am not a bad person? How do you know that I am not secretly plotting to lure a great beauty like you into my home to do bad things?"

Su Xiaoran instantly froze when she heard this. She turned her head mechanically and glanced at him with growing fear.

"That’s not true... right?" Su Xiaoran asked unconfidently, feeling genuinely afraid.

Lin Haoren immediately felt guilty and decided not to tease her further.

"Of course not." Lin Haoren smiled ruefully and said, "I’m still relying on you to get me home. What can I possibly do to you with my body in this state? Am I not at your mercy right now? If anything, I should be the one worried whether you will do bad things to me once we get home."

Su Xiaoran stared at him blankly for a moment before breaking into laughter.

"You’re so shameless, Brother Lin! Who would want to do bad things to you?!" She couldn’t help but give his shoulder a playful smack as she laughed hard with teary eyes.

The imagery was too strong and funny.

She heard of ugly ducklings that wanted to do bad things to the flowers, but not the other way around. Of course, she didn’t say this out loud.

Meanwhile, Lin Haoren glanced back at Su Xiaoran and shook his head with a soft chuckle, thinking her standard for humor was quite low.

After they arrived in front of Building 3, Room 701 of Hongxing Apartment, Lin Haoren spoke up, "You can leave me here. I’ll be fine on my own. You go ahead and head home to wash up."

"Are you sure, Brother Lin?" Su Xiaoran glanced over.

Her apartment was right next door, Room 702.

"Otherwise?" Lin Haoren gave a teasing smile and asked, "Do you really want to escort me all the way inside the wolf’s den?"

Su Xiaoran’s neck shrank along with her courage.

"Bleh! Not interested!" She stuck out her tongue before running off to her apartment next door. Then, she briefly glanced back. "Hmph, see you later for breakfast, Brother Lin."

"Alright, alright. Let’s meet downstairs in 30 minutes," Lin Haoren suggested, thinking it was ample time. He himself only needed 5-10 minutes.

Su Xiaoran paused for a moment, then gave the ’ok’ sign. Moments later, she rushed inside her apartment, seemingly racing against time.

"Is 30 minutes not enough time?" Lin Haoren wondered, thinking to himself.

Should he just go ahead and buy breakfast for the two of them?

Lin Haoren scratched his head for a moment before deciding to send a message to Su Xiaoran for her opinion.