I haven't even seen you yet—how could I go back today!
Just this one sentence left Lin Zhihua frozen in place.
One moment his heart was in the depths of hell, bitter to the extreme, and the next, this single sentence made it feel as though it had been soaked in honey.
What… did she mean by that?
Before he could figure it out, Xue Jiao sent another message—
[After all, you’ve helped me so much. I have to treat you to a meal before I leave! You pick the place!]
Lin Zhihua: "…"
He had always been mature for his age, but this was the first time he truly understood what it felt like to ride a rollercoaster.
These ups and downs were truly unbearable.
[Lin Zhihua: Oh.] Cold.
Xue Jiao had no idea what the person on the other end of the phone had just gone through in that simple exchange. Seeing his response, she happily closed her phone.
She was in too good a mood today to realize how her words might be misinterpreted by others.
After putting her phone away, Cheng Mingze was still on a call—clearly a video one.
When the other person’s gaze shifted to her, he walked over and waved her closer.
Xue Jiao, puzzled, leaned in.
Cheng Mingze shook his phone slightly. "Dad and Auntie Li want to see you."
Xue Jiao tilted her head a little and stood on her tiptoes. Cheng Mingze lowered the phone so she could meet the eyes of the people on the screen.
She obediently greeted them. "Mom, Uncle Cheng."
The two faces on the screen were beaming, eyes crinkled as they squeezed their heads into the frame—
"Ah! Jiao Jiao is amazing!"
"Mingze is amazing too!"
Xue Jiao smiled sheepishly.
"When are you two coming home today? Let’s all celebrate together!" Cheng Shuo slapped the table excitedly.
"We’re going back tomorrow!" Xue Jiao quickly interjected.
Her words startled them both. Li Sitong asked in surprise, "But today’s the 26th, and tomorrow’s the 27th. Why aren’t you coming back yet?"
Xue Jiao scratched her head, slightly embarrassed. "I have a friend in Beijing. We agreed to have dinner tonight, and I’ll go back first thing tomorrow morning!"
She paused, remembering Cheng Mingze, and added, "Brother can go back first. I’ll return right away tomorrow!"
"What friend? You have a friend in Beijing?" Li Sitong frowned, confused.
Xue Jiao just nodded, not really wanting to explain.
After all, it wasn’t something that could be summed up in a few words.
Cheng Shuo patted Li Sitong’s shoulder. "Alright, give the kids some space."
Then, smiling at the screen, he said, "Jiao Jiao, if you want to stay an extra day, that’s fine. But Mingze has to stay with you—a girl shouldn’t be out alone. It’s not safe."
"There’s no need—"
"Mingze, any objections?"
Cheng Mingze shook his head. "None. I’ll look after Xue Jiao."
He answered without hesitation, genuinely concerned about her being alone outside.
No matter how calm and composed she usually seemed, she was still just a young girl.
He couldn’t rest easy otherwise.
"Then, Jiao Jiao, make sure you come back early tomorrow! New Year’s is almost here, and after that, both you and your brother will be starting school!" Li Sitong rambled on. Though she wasn’t entirely happy about her daughter staying an extra day, she was still worried and couldn’t just leave her there alone.
And so it was settled. Cheng Mingze took Xue Jiao to inform the team leader, then found a nice hotel near the training center where they stayed for the night.Their parents weren't around, so to avoid any impropriety, they stayed in separate rooms.
Around five in the afternoon, Xue Jiao knocked on the door next door.
"What's up?" Cheng Mingze opened the door.
"I'm going out to eat!" She knew better than to leave without telling someone who cared about her.
Cheng Mingze frowned slightly. "Where are you going? With whom? Male or female? When will you be back?"
Xue Jiao: "..."
She swallowed before replying, "Bro, it's just a friend. No danger. I'll be back as soon as possible. Haven't decided on the place yet—I'll let you know once I do."
She knew he was just worried about her, and she wasn’t so ungrateful as to dismiss his concern.
Cheng Mingze’s frown deepened. So… it was a guy.
Seeing Xue Jiao’s firm stance, he fell silent for a moment before finally saying, "Don’t forget what happened to me during the No. 1 High School exam. There are plenty of bad people in this world. So be back by eight, and keep your phone on."
After a pause, still uneasy, he added, "Share your location."
Xue Jiao: "..."
Once Cheng Mingze set his mind on something, he could be stubbornly inflexible. Left with no choice, Xue Jiao agreed to his "location-sharing" demand.
Stepping out of the hotel, Xue Jiao exhaled in relief.
She took out her phone and dialed the number. It was answered almost instantly.
"Hello, Lin Zhihua, where are you?"
The voice on the other end was deep and pleasant. "Are you at the hotel entrance now?"
Xue Jiao hummed in confirmation, and the call went silent.
"Hello?" Xue Jiao wondered.
Just then, a black car pulled up in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.
Xue Jiao’s eyes brightened slightly. "Lin Zhihua!"
A hint of amusement flickered in Lin Zhihua’s eyes, his expression softening. But his presence was so commanding that it still made people hesitant to meet his gaze directly.
Xue Jiao knew that behind this face was a kindness completely at odds with his imposing demeanor!
So she wasn’t afraid at all, smiling cheerfully. "What are you doing here?"
"The place I’m working at isn’t far. You mentioned you were staying here, so I came over after getting off work." Lin Zhihua explained calmly.
The driver in front subtly flinched, stealing a glance at Lin Zhihua through the rearview mirror.
Good grief—this was no coincidence! He’d been parked nearby ever since receiving a message in the afternoon, waiting!
That’s what he thought, but he didn’t dare say a word.
"Get in. Let’s go eat." Lin Zhihua opened the door and stepped out, holding it for Xue Jiao. Once she climbed in, he closed it and entered from the other side.
They sat in the back, with the driver in front.
"To Wuliu Alley."
After giving the instruction, Lin Zhihua turned to Xue Jiao. "There’s a great restaurant in Wuliu Alley. Is that alright?"
"Whatever you think is good!" Xue Jiao quickly replied. "Besides, I’m the one treating you today!"
Lin Zhihua nodded, his voice gentle as he replied with a soft "Okay."
For a moment, the car fell quiet.
Lin Zhihua’s fingers brushed against the wristwatch hidden beneath his shirt cuff—the matching pair to the one someone else wore.
"When’s the finals?"
"End of March."
Lin Zhihua nodded, and silence settled again.
The atmosphere in the car grew awkward once more…
This time, it was Xue Jiao who scrambled for conversation. She patted her chest. "I’m actually pretty nervous. I’ve never participated in a national competition before."
In both lifetimes, this was a first.Lin Zhihua found it somewhat amusing. The girl seemed determined and full of vigor, yet inside she was this nervous.
He shook his head and said, "There's nothing to be afraid of. Unless you're dead set on securing the guaranteed admission spot from this competition, just focus on answering the questions happily when the time comes."
Xue Jiao puffed her cheeks slightly, thinking to herself how easily this person made it sound...
Lin Zhihua had been watching her out of the corner of his eye the whole time. Seeing her expression, he couldn’t help but feel both amused and an itch in his fingers.
He clenched his hand into a fist, coughed lightly against his lips, and said, "However, there might be some changes in the final round. Right now, there’s no information about what the written test after the New Year will look like."
Xue Jiao’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. "It won’t be competition-style questions anymore?"
"The winter camp already tested competition-style questions. It wouldn’t be unusual if they tested something else this time," Lin Zhihua replied, then began explaining the formats of past assessments he knew of, including how his own batch was tested, along with his impressions and methods.
Xue Jiao listened intently, wishing she could pull out a notebook to jot down every word.
As the two chatted, the car twisted and turned into a narrow alley.
"Boss, we’re here," the driver softly interrupted them.
Lin Zhihua nodded, then turned to Xue Jiao. "Let’s get out. We’re here to eat."
With that, he opened the car door, and Xue Jiao quickly followed suit.
It was a rather understated-looking shop tucked into a corner of the alley. The car had to drop them off at the entrance before turning right to leave—after all, there was no parking space outside the shop.
The restaurant’s name was a bit peculiar. Xue Jiao looked up at the four characters: "Xiaoyao Renjia" (Carefree Home).
On either side of the signboard hung two white-glazed lanterns. Xue Jiao didn’t recognize such things, but they looked undeniably "expensive."
It wasn’t until she followed Lin Zhihua inside that Xue Jiao was truly astonished.
The exterior door, though not ordinary, wasn’t beyond imagination. But the inside was another story!
Beyond such a small door, in such a narrow alley, opening it felt like stepping into a Suzhou garden—rockeries, crystal-clear water, schools of fish swimming about.
And over there… were those cranes?
Lin Zhihua led her along the stone path, passing through a covered walkway before finally spotting people.
A young-looking man, wearing an apron, greeted them with a smile. "Welcome. Our restaurant doesn’t accept walk-ins. Do you have a reservation?"
"Xiao Wang, he doesn’t need a reservation!" A gentle-faced woman stepped out.
Xue Jiao’s eyes brightened.
This woman looked like a water-town beauty who had grown up in the gardens, her smiling eyes rippling like waves.
"Zhihua, Xiao Wang is new here. Aunt Kui hasn’t been feeling well, so we hired another helper," the woman said.
"How is Aunt Kui doing?" Lin Zhihua asked, slightly surprised.
"Just her old ailment. She’ll be fine. Please, take a seat. What would you like to eat?" Her gaze shifted behind Lin Zhihua, landing on Xue Jiao. She seemed momentarily startled, then, noting her youthful appearance...
"Is this your niece?"
Lin Zhihua: "..."
"You still have a way with words that’s utterly unlikable."
The woman merely smiled, her face breathtakingly beautiful.
"Bring us the classic signature dishes. We’ll go inside and sit first."
Lin Zhihua finished speaking and turned to Xue Jiao, his expression noticeably softer. "Come on, let’s go in."He seemed very familiar with the place, leading Xue Jiao straight through to a small round door at the very back, above which was written—VIP.
Beyond the small door lay a garden. After crossing the garden, they reached a classical-style door. Only after pushing this door open did they finally see the dining table.
Xue Jiao took her seat, with Lin Zhihua sitting directly across from her.
The table didn’t appear very large, so the distance between them wasn’t far.
The room was adorned with numerous calligraphy and paintings. Though Xue Jiao couldn’t discern their authenticity, she was still somewhat astonished.
"All the calligraphy and paintings here are genuine," he said, pointing upward. "Only that one is from the Qing Dynasty. The rest are by contemporary painters and calligraphers—not too expensive."
Xue Jiao’s jaw nearly dropped. Subconsciously, she touched her backpack.
Th-th-th-this… would the money she brought be enough for a meal here?
"What are you thinking about?" Lin Zhihua asked her.
Feeling slightly awkward, Xue Jiao answered truthfully, "I was wondering… in a place like Beijing where land is worth its weight in gold, having such a large garden with so few rooms—can the prices here really be affordable?"
"Pfft—" Lin Zhihua laughed, a rare, clearly amused expression on his face.
He lightly pressed his fingers to his forehead. "Why are you so blunt, you silly girl?"
"Just telling the truth," Xue Jiao raised her hand.
Lin Zhihua then explained, "I once did the owner here a favor. When I eat here, they only charge me the cost price."
Xue Jiao’s gaze drifted out the open window, where she could see the small garden bursting with flowers.
Clearly, in this season, it was all wintersweet blossoms, of various kinds.
"What a bargain…" Xue Jiao continued her honest musings.
This place probably spent most of its expenses on the ambiance. Charging only the cost price meant coming here to eat was practically a steal!
Lin Zhihua laughed again. At that moment, the woman who had stopped them earlier entered, pouring water for each of them and bringing out the tableware.
Even the bowls and chopsticks were exquisitely small and delicate.
"Please wait a moment, guests. The owner said they’ll prepare your dishes first—it won’t take long."
With that, she left without any further disturbance.
Though she said it wouldn’t take long, they still had to wait a while before the dishes arrived one after another.
"So much!" There were already five dishes in front of them, and with just the two of them, Xue Jiao was worried they wouldn’t finish it all and it would go to waste.
"Not much," came the reply—not from Lin Zhihua, but from the woman with the southern charm. She walked in smiling, carrying another dish.
"The last one—Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Originally made for Aunt Kui, but we’ll borrow flowers to offer to Buddha—a welcome for our new friend." As she spoke, she winked at Xue Jiao.
Xue Jiao felt a little embarrassed. "You really didn’t have to…"
"It’s no trouble. There are still other guests’ dishes to prepare, so I’ll take my leave now." Her gaze shifted to Lin Zhihua. "Zhihua, take good care of your little friend, alright?"
With that, she swayed out of the room.
Little friend…
Xue Jiao was on the verge of a breakdown.
Lin Zhihua said nothing, simply reaching over to take her bowl and serve her some soup.
"Don’t mind her. Eat something first. Though her temper is odd, her cooking skills are passed down from imperial chefs."
Xue Jiao’s eyes widened, and she quickly took a sip of the soup.
Incredibly delicious!!
In both her lifetimes, she had never tasted soup this good!
Cheng Shuo treated them all quite well, occasionally taking them to high-end restaurants, but Xue Jiao had never eaten anything this exquisite!
"She’s so young, yet her skills are already this amazing!!!" Xue Jiao exclaimed in awe.
Lin Zhihua was still serving her food. At her words, he raised an eyebrow. "Young?"
"Um… she’s not?" Xue Jiao was taken aback.Lin Zhihua smiled slightly. "She's already in her forties and has been a chef for nearly forty years."
Xue Jiao: "..." !!!
Xue Jiao was stunned. Mistaking someone in their thirties for being in their twenties was one thing, but someone in their forties looking like they were in their twenties?!
No way!
"Eat up." Noticing her confusion, Lin Zhihua explained, "Her age is real. She just has a good mindset and takes care of her skin, so she looks younger."
Xue Jiao still looked shocked, but as the food reached her mouth, she stopped thinking about it.
So delicious!
How could it be this delicious?!
She didn't know how the fish was prepared, but it melted in her mouth, leaving behind an incredible freshness that made her reluctant to open her mouth again.
Every other dish was equally exquisite, with delicate plating and presentation, served on exquisite blue-and-white porcelain from the imperial kiln—absolutely beautiful.
Xue Jiao buried herself in eating.
Lin Zhihua smiled as he picked up food for her, saying, "Eat more. You're too thin."
Xue Jiao nodded with her head down. The moment her bowl emptied, Lin Zhihua would refill it, occasionally serving her a small bowl of soup before continuing to add more dishes.
She barely lifted a finger the entire meal, while Lin Zhihua, smiling, kept serving her one dish after another.
By the end of the meal, Xue Jiao was questioning her life choices.
Mostly because she was stuffed.
She slumped back ungracefully, looking utterly satisfied.
Lin Zhihua found it amusing. "Was it good?"
Xue Jiao nodded vigorously. "Incredibly good!!"
Lin Zhihua said casually, "If you win the award this time, you could get direct admission. Whether through that or the college entrance exam, you could choose a university in Beijing. Then you’d have more chances to come eat here."
Xue Jiao's eyes lit up, mumbling, "It was always going to be Beijing anyway..."
Lin Zhihua's smile deepened.
"So good! But I'm so full." She glanced at her phone. "It's almost time."
"Are you heading back?"
"Yeah, my brother set a curfew for me."
Brother... stepbrother.
Lin Zhihua knew exactly what she meant but didn’t comment, changing the subject instead. "Let’s take a walk to digest, then I’ll drive you back."
Xue Jiao felt a little embarrassed. "I said I was treating you, but now I’m wasting even more of your time!"
Lin Zhihua shook his head, thinking, This isn’t a waste—it’s what I’ve been hoping for.
"Let’s go for that walk."
Xue Jiao stood up, taking another sip of tea before asking, "What kind of tea is this? It’s amazing!"
"Pre-Qingming Longjing."
Xue Jiao: "..."
She glanced at the unassuming teapot sitting casually nearby, poured herself another cup, and downed it in one gulp.
The cost of this meal... she probably couldn’t even afford it...
Lin Zhihua’s smile never faded as he asked lightly, "Do you like it? I can give you a box."
Xue Jiao waved both hands frantically, looking unwilling.
Then she choked out, "Like a cow chewing on peonies."
Lin Zhihua’s smile widened, his eyes crinkling slightly.
The entire time he spent with her, his smile never left his face.
After walking for a while, they headed out. The restaurant owner seemed to know they were done, waiting for them in the hallway.
"Miss, the bill, please. Thank you." Xue Jiao felt a little awkward but insisted on paying since she had promised to treat Lin Zhihua. Besides, she had eaten most of the food—she definitely had to pay."Such a sweet little mouth," the woman said, clearly delighted. And why wouldn't she be? In her forties and being called "sister" by a teenager—of course she'd be thrilled!
Xue Jiao blushed slightly, stealing glances at the woman's face from the corner of her eye.
Lin Zhihua noticed her gaze and coughed disapprovingly.
The proprietress pouted but continued smiling at Xue Jiao. "That'll be 888 in total."
"So little?!" Xue Jiao exclaimed in shock. "That wouldn't even cover the tea, would it?"
The woman laughed. "You're quite the funny girl. Didn't Zhihua tell you the tea was his personal stash here?"
Xue Jiao was even more surprised now, thinking to herself—no wonder Lin Zhihua had told her to take a box home.
"But... even so, the other costs wouldn't be covered..."
Xue Jiao was being honest. She genuinely thought the amount was too low. Though she hadn't seen much in her past life, she wasn't stupid.
"The soup is complimentary. Everything else is homegrown or raised ourselves. The price is fair. Why are you overthinking it, kid? Do I look like someone who'd run my business at a loss?" The woman arched an eyebrow.
Her sudden assertiveness made Xue Jiao flustered, and she hurriedly took out her wallet.
"Goodness, such an old-fashioned young girl! Why not pay by phone? Here, add me on WeChat." She pulled out her phone, and Xue Jiao quickly did the same, transferring the money after adding her as a friend.
After the payment, Lin Zhihua led Xue Jiao away.
Xiao Wang approached, looking troubled. "Boss... this is such a loss. Those were all signature dishes—888 wouldn't even get you through the door..." And as for material costs—while they were indeed homegrown and raised, they were all flown in daily by private jet!!!
The boss shot her a glance. "Xiao Wang, don't question how I run things."
She might be taking a loss here, but Lin Zhihua would make it up to her elsewhere.
With that thought, she sashayed into the first room.
"Kui Ma, did you see? Are you reassured about Zhihua now?"
An elderly woman sat by the window—the same window that had been closed beside where they'd been talking earlier, unnoticed by them.
The old woman nodded eagerly. "Is she really Zhihua's sweetheart?"
The proprietress laughed. "If she isn't, you can kick my head like a ball! From the moment they walked in, he couldn't stop smiling. He even signaled me to charge just a token amount. When I asked if she was his niece, his face turned black as coal! How could she not be his sweetheart? She's just so young!"
Hearing this confirmation, the old woman's eyes crinkled into happy slits.
"She's a good girl! A good girl indeed!"
"Oh? You can tell that just by looking?"
The old woman sighed. "Zhihua has finally found some sweetness after all his bitterness!"
At this, the proprietress nodded in agreement.
At least now he knew happiness. Before, he'd been like a human machine.
What's the point of living if you never experience joy?
—
Unaware of the conversation behind them, Xue Jiao was in exceptionally high spirits throughout the ride. It was understandable—having enjoyed a delicious meal while paying a reasonable price was pure bliss.
Lin Zhihua didn't share her excitement, but seeing Xue Jiao's smiling eyes made him smile too—though his smile was so faint one might miss it if not looking carefully.
Xue Jiao had an 8 PM curfew. No matter how reluctant he was, the car pulled up at the hotel entrance right at eight.Then Lin Zhihua's mood became somewhat low, his previously soaring heart returning to its former lifelessness, tinged with reluctance.
"I'll be going now!" Xue Jiao turned her head and said with a smile.
"Mm," Lin Zhihua nodded.
Just as Xue Jiao opened the car door to get out, Lin Zhihua called out—
"Hey—"
She turned back and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Lin Zhihua shook his head, forcing a smile. "Goodbye, take care, and hopefully we'll meet again soon."
"Okay! Let's meet again next time!" Xue Jiao smiled, her eyes sparkling. She had only complimented the female boss's beautiful eyes, unaware that her own eyes shone just as brilliantly—radiant with youthful energy, fervent and blazing.
They burned with boundless expectations, dreams, and aspirations for the future.
Lin Zhihua nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on her retreating figure.
Still too young, wasn't she? Her heart was filled only with dreams of the future, leaving no room for anything else.
All he could do was wait patiently—wait for her to bloom.
——
Xue Jiao returned on time, so Cheng Mingze said nothing, watching her enter her room before retreating to his own.
They had set out on the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month and arrived home by noon the same day.
Li Sitong took the siblings shopping for New Year's goods. Cheng Shuo had a company gala that evening, and his official holiday would begin the next day.
Auntie had already bought most of the New Year supplies. Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong had given her an early leave to return home for the holidays, and in gratitude, she had taken care of the household's festive preparations.
Anything else they needed would have to be purchased separately.
"Mingze, Jiao Jiao, there's a business gala on the 29th. Your father said you’re both coming with us this year," Li Sitong suddenly announced as they shopped.
In truth, this gala was an annual event, attended by all the prominent figures in W City, who often brought their children along.
In the past, Li Sitong had refused to bring Xue Jiao, fearing embarrassment.
And since Gu Xue Jiao wasn’t invited, Cheng Shuo wouldn’t take Cheng Mingze either—he refused to leave Xue Jiao alone at home while they attended the event.
As a result, this would be Xue Jiao’s first time attending.
The two frowned almost simultaneously and spoke in unison—
"I’d rather not go!"
Li Sitong’s brow instantly furrowed in confusion. "It’s not like you have anything else to do. You’re both coming."
Cheng Mingze said, "The college entrance exams are coming up. I could study at home."
Xue Jiao added, "I still have competition preparations!"
Li Sitong glared. "One night won’t make a difference. Your father and I have already decided. Come on, let’s go pick out your formalwear."
Cheng Mingze: "..."
Xue Jiao: "..."
High-quality formalwear usually required advance orders, often taking ten days to half a month. Li Sitong’s dress had been prepared ahead of time, but the two of them hadn’t gotten theirs yet.
Fortunately, as young attendees, they could settle for ready-made options without much fuss.
W City had a well-known high-end boutique carrying several designer labels, favored by the city’s elite women. Familiar with the place, Li Sitong took Cheng Mingze and Xue Jiao straight inside.
In the past, home appointments were possible, but with the holiday rush, the boutique had stopped offering that service, leaving in-store visits as the only option.
"Mrs. Li, welcome!" A beaming woman—an assistant, according to her name tag—greeted them the moment they entered. Two younger assistants followed, smiling politely.
Noticing the young man and woman behind her, the assistant asked, "And these two?"
"My son and daughter."
"Oh my!" The assistant feigned surprise. "You’ve raised them so well! Such a handsome son and such a beautiful daughter—what a blessing!"
Her exaggerated admiration was clearly rehearsed; she was well aware Li Sitong was only Cheng Mingze’s stepmother.Otherwise, they might say "too good at giving birth," which would definitely upset Li Sitong.
But with this remark, Li Sitong was immediately pleased and couldn't help but boast: "You flatter me too much! They’re just somewhat sensible!"
Cheng Mingze and Xue Jiao exchanged a glance, both choosing to stay quiet and obediently follow along.
They watched as one praised and the other listened, chatting for quite a while before finally getting to the main topic.
"Is Lisa here?"
The assistant approached and said, "The Yi couple is here, picking up clothes for Madam Yi."
Li Sitong paused, then asked, "What about Vivian?"
The assistant looked apologetic. "Vivian stepped out..."
"What bad timing..."
"If you're not in a hurry, please have a seat. Madam Yi is just here to pick up her clothes—she’ll try them on and leave shortly." As she spoke, she ushered the three of them toward the sofa, while a few other assistants quickly brought water and snacks.
Li Sitong wasn’t in a rush, so she chatted with Cheng Mingze and Xue Jiao.
"Lisa has a great eye for clothes. Later, let her pick some for you two. My son and daughter are so good-looking—they deserve to be dressed well!"
Cheng Mingze: "..."
Xue Jiao: "..."
"Oh, Jiao Jiao, do you want to change your hairstyle? Some bangs would definitely suit you!" Li Sitong said with a smile.
Xue Jiao couldn’t quite handle her enthusiasm and shook her head vigorously.
The assistant who had been keeping them company chimed in, "Your daughter takes after you. In all my time here, I’ve never seen such a beautiful girl!"
Li Sitong, who had never had the chance to show off her daughter before, was practically floating with pride. Covering her mouth, she laughed. "Jiao Jiao is just passably good-looking."
"You’re far too modest!"
Li Sitong smiled and pressed on, "Bangs would definitely look good on you. Get a new hairstyle—you’d be even prettier!"
"She still has to focus on her studies. Academics come first," Cheng Mingze suddenly interjected.
Men accompanying women on shopping trips were usually silent, conserving all their energy to suppress their inner frustration.
His sudden remark startled Li Sitong.
Xue Jiao also nodded. "Yes, studies!"
Having bangs in high school would just be a hassle. It was better to keep things neat and simple—less distraction, less trouble.
Seeing her stance, Li Sitong couldn’t argue further and only sighed, "You! All you care about is studying!"
Xue Jiao stayed silent.
Cheng Mingze glanced at her and added, "Studying is good."
"Alright, alright! You two are already ganging up on me! I can’t win against you!" Li Sitong grumbled, though her face was still smiling. Her stepson and daughter got along as if they were siblings by blood—this only proved her success as a mother!
Just then, a voice came from outside—
"Lisa! Where are you? My daughter’s dress is ruined—pick another one for her!"
A familiar voice.
Other assistants hurried over, and only then did Xue Jiao and the others notice it was Wu Wanjun, Gu Jingxu, and Gu Shiyun.
Li Sitong’s face darkened instantly.
What rotten luck!
Of all places to run into them!
The trio’s gaze shifted over, spotting the three of them as well. Both sides inwardly cursed.
Gu Jingxu, at least, remained composed. Though he frowned at the sight of Li Sitong, Gu Xue Jiao was still his daughter, so he greeted her—
"Jiao Jiao, you’re here too?"
Xue Jiao looked at him but didn’t respond.
With so many people around, Gu Jingxu’s face stiffened slightly.
Suppressing his emotions, he spoke patiently to Xue Jiao, "Jiao Jiao, what’s wrong? You haven’t visited me in so long. Are you still angry with me?"
"My father is Cheng Shuo."As soon as the words were spoken, both Li Sitong and Cheng Mingze looked at her in shock, as if they had heard something unbelievable.
Gu Jingxu glared angrily again, "What about me?"
"Don't know you."
Gu Jingxu had shown no kindness to Xue Jiao, nor had he done anything for the original Gu Xue Jiao. These three words were spoken without the slightest guilt.
"What's wrong with you? Where are your manners? Is this how your mother taught you?!" Gu Jingxu was fuming.
Li Sitong exploded.
"Gu Jingxu! What do you mean by that?!"
Gu Jingxu widened his eyes, "I didn't mean anything! Look at what you've been teaching your daughter all day!"
The assistants were extremely embarrassed. Although the affairs of these two families were well-known, such a public scene left them at a loss!
The assistant who had initially received Li Sitong and the others braced herself and said, "Ms. Li, Mr. Gu, please stop arguing!"
Immediately, both sides fell silent.
After all, there were outsiders present. Even though Gu Jingxu, Li Sitong, and Wu Wanjun were practically enemies, they tried to restrain themselves.
"The new clothes designed by our team suit the children's styles quite well. Shall I bring them out for you to see first? You can take another look when Lisa comes out later?" the assistant tentatively suggested.
No one responded, the tension still thick in the air.
"Bring them out," Cheng Mingze said.
The assistants sighed in relief and hurried inside to fetch the clothes.
Gu Shiyun's eyes lit up as she looked at Cheng Mingze, pretending not to notice the awkward atmosphere. She smiled and asked, "Brother Mingze, are you here to see the clothes too?"
Cheng Mingze nodded. Gu Jingxu, displeased to see his daughter talking to someone with the surname Cheng, snapped, "Shiyun!"
Gu Shiyun immediately stopped speaking to Cheng Mingze and turned to Gu Xue Jiao instead, feigning surprise. "Sister, are you going to the banquet this year too? I’ve never seen you attend before. We can dance together this time!"
She spoke cheerfully, smiling at Xue Jiao.
Xue Jiao, however, sneered. "Gu Shiyun, I think you don’t understand human language. I’ve told you many times not to call me 'sister.' My mother never gave birth to you."
"Gu Xue Jiao!!!" Gu Jingxu roared again.
It wasn’t that he loved losing his temper, but Gu Xue Jiao was truly infuriating! Shiyun had extended a sincere olive branch and invitation, yet she responded with such sarcasm!
"Stop yelling at her!" Li Sitong shot back, refusing to back down.
Xue Jiao was absolutely right. That "sister" from Gu Shiyun grated on her ears. In the past, when Gu Xue Jiao had been immature, she often spent time with that mother-daughter pair. Now that she had grown wiser and knew to avoid them, Li Sitong couldn’t be happier!
"Jingxu, don’t be angry..." Wu Wanjun clung to Gu Jingxu’s arm, gently soothing him with a tender expression.
But her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She wasn’t afraid of Gu Jingxu and Li Sitong making a scene in public. After all, everyone in their circle knew she was the mistress who had climbed her way up—she had long since lost any face to save!
The worse the relationship between Gu Jingxu and Li Sitong’s daughter became, the less Gu Xue Jiao would inherit from Gu Jingxu in the future!
Everything would belong to Shiyun!
Hearing her words, Gu Jingxu remembered the audience and forced himself to calm down. Wu Wanjun tightened her grip on his arm.
Though she smiled gently, her posture unabashedly flaunted the happiness of having her man accompany her shopping.
Li Sitong’s husband wasn’t here with her!
The assistant, fearing further conflict, quietly slipped inside to fetch Lisa.
"My, what brings all our esteemed guests here together today!" A stylish, short-haired woman strode in on high heels, her confident and charming smile lighting up the room.Wu Wanjun spoke before Li Sitong could: "Here's the thing. Shiyun's previous gift got damaged, so we had to rush here to buy a replacement. Could you help pick something out? Any recommendations?"
If it had been anyone else, she might have let it go. But it was Wu Wanjun!
Li Sitong absolutely wouldn't back down!
"Lisa, we were here first, right? First come, first served—isn't that the rule?" Li Sitong said with a forced smile, eyeing the other party.
Lisa hesitated for a moment before smiling. "That's correct."
She thought it over and didn’t want to offend Gu Jingxu’s group either, so she added cheerfully, "These dresses are all newly designed. Why don’t you all take a look and see if any styles catch your eye? I can analyze them for everyone together!"
Lisa beamed, trying not to alienate anyone.
"Lisa, are we just ignoring the rule of first come, first served now?" Li Sitong said coolly.
"This—" Lisa glanced at Gu Jingxu and the others, hesitating.
"It's fine, Mom. We did arrive later, so let them go first. I’m in no rush," Gu Shiyun said gently, her serene smile making her seem all the more pitiable.
Li Sitong was furious!
They were clearly the ones who came first, so why did it suddenly sound like they were in the wrong?
That Gu Shiyun! What a piece of work!
Li Sitong almost stormed off, but leaving in front of so many people would make her look like she was fleeing in defeat. She refused to appear so pathetic!
"Lisa, we’ll be leaving first," said a man and woman emerging from inside. Gu Jingxu’s eyes lit up.
Yi Dafa!
"Boss Yi!" He stepped forward with a smile, extending his hand.
Yi Dafa shook it politely. "Hello, hello."
As soon as they let go, Yi Dafa’s gaze drifted to the side, where Li Sitong’s group stood. His eyes brightened.
"Gu Xue Jiao!!!"
Xue Jiao was startled but quickly returned the smile. "Uncle Yi!"
"Ah—"
Yi’s Mother froze for a second before suddenly beaming. "Oh! So you’re my son Yi Tianyu’s deskmate! My, my, what a lovely girl!"
She turned to Li Sitong. "You must be Xue Jiao’s mother? And this is Xue Jiao’s brother?"
"That’s right," they replied, shaking hands warmly.
Li Sitong took in the sour expressions on Gu Jingxu and Wu Wanjun’s faces and nearly laughed out loud.
Look at the people you’re trying to cozy up to—they’re the ones greeting Xue Jiao first!
Li Sitong grinned triumphantly.
Yi’s Mother paid no mind to the others, simply pulling Xue Jiao close. "Oh, what a sweetheart! I just want to take you home with me! Here to pick out a dress, aren’t you?"
"Yes, Auntie Yi."
Yi’s Mother smiled even wider. "Come, come, let Auntie Yi help you choose! Ah, this girl—how can anyone not adore her?"
Her enthusiasm made Xue Jiao’s eye twitch slightly, but she managed an awkward smile.
Lisa naturally rushed to attend to them, leaving Wu Wanjun’s group with only an assistant’s half-hearted attention. Humiliated, they left in a huff.
Li Sitong couldn’t have been more delighted!
—
Yi’s Mother really did help pick out a dress. Combining her input with Li Sitong’s and Lisa’s suggestions, they settled on a vibrant red gown adorned with feathers. It wasn’t the most eye-catching design at first glance, but when Xue Jiao put it on, she shone brilliantly.
Li Sitong thanked Yi’s Mother profusely before leaving with Xue Jiao, the dress in hand, both of them in high spirits.
"I truly adore that girl!" Yi’s Mother kept saying in the car.
Yi Dafa nodded. "I know, I know. You’ve been saying it the whole way back.""What's the matter? Can't I speak my mind?!"
Yi Dafa backed down: "No, no, no, say whatever you want."
That evening, Yi Tianyu came home carrying a basketball.
Yi's Mother, munching on an apple, said, "Son, come with us to the annual dinner on the 29th."
"I already said I'm not going," Yi Tianyu refused bluntly. He hated those kinds of events and would rather stay home playing video games alone.
Yi's Mother took another bite of her apple and said meaningfully, "Your deskmate, Gu Xue Jiao, will be there too."
Author's Note:
Lin Zhihua: I had a meal with Xue Jiao!
Cheng Mingze: ...I eat with her every day.
Yi Tianyu: ...We’ve eaten together in the cafeteria.
Lin Zhihua: ………………………………
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