Gu Huaiyuan issued the ultimatum, telling her not to dawdle, and sent a car early in the morning. The driver was almost there.
Lin Xu had no mental preparation whatsoever and nearly burst into tears until the dial tone sounded from the receiver.
It was a perfect day for going out—warm sun, gentle breeze, fine weather, suitable for all things.
Shu Rong grinned cheerfully, even rubbing her fluffy hair against her to show her childish anticipation.
“I…”
Lin Xu choked up a little and swallowed the rest of her words. She walked inside with heavy steps.
She guiltily set Shu Rong down and gestured for her to find Mommy. Shu Qingyou emerged from the room, backlit.
Her hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders, with fresh makeup and a touch of pale lip gloss. Her fair skin needed no extra embellishment.
It was the first time Lin Xu saw her in a simple patterned cream hoodie, exposing a neck as smooth as mutton-fat jade, paired with lightweight casual pants that draped elegantly.
The black-and-white ensemble had layers without being flashy, exuding a strong vibe of lazy youthfulness.
Lin Xu’s eyes lit up, as if struck by an arrow. Her chest tightened, filled with clouds. She didn’t hold back her praise: “You look like you’re 18.”
Shu Rong immediately pounced on her mommy’s thigh.
Going to the amusement park meant letting loose and having fun; prim attire wasn’t suitable for wandering all day.
Shu Qingyou had a fair sense of her own looks. Back in school, her reserved personality led outsiders to mistake her for the mature type.
She wasn’t good at initiating chit-chat or debating right and wrong, so over time, people around her described her as steady and reliable.
Out of politeness—and in a decent mood—Shu Qingyou thanked her, then grabbed the keys: “I forgot to tell you to wait in the car first.”
Lin Xu helped carry the bag, which was packed with wet wipes, emergency biscuits, a thermos, band-aids, a spare scarf, and some small items in ziplock bags.
She wouldn’t have thought of any of that. Even if it wasn’t prepared for her, she was touched. Actually, the whole bag still carried Shu Qingyou’s scent.
Anything Shu Qingyou had used carried her fragrance. If possible, Lin Xu wanted to steal all of Shu Qingyou’s things.
“I’m not cold.”
Shu Qingyou bent down to tie her shoelaces: “You’re responsible if Shu Rong catches a cold.”
Lin Xu pondered how to explain to Shu Qingyou. Recalling that phone call, she fell into confusion and casually replied: “Of course. She’s like half my daughter; taking care of her is only natural.”
“Good.”
Lin Xu didn’t notice the perfunctory reply. She leaned against the entryway wall with arms crossed, brows furrowed. If she didn’t come clean soon, it’d be too late. Heart guilty, she asked: “Do we have to go to the amusement park today?”
Shu Qingyou thought for a moment: “Nothing else pressing, so today works.”
“Oh…” Lin Xu scratched her head and told the truth: “Gu Huaiyuan wants me to go back home.”
Fiancée—Shu Qingyou had looked it up online. For their kind of family alliance, the engagement could be low-key, but marriage meant a grand union announced to the world.
So for now, it was just fiancée status. Shu Qingyou worried she’d face retaliation upon returning: “Is your home safe?”
Lin Xu wasn’t sure herself and grumbled inwardly, but to avoid worrying her: “Should be. Old Lady Lin wants to see me; nothing’ll happen. I won’t die anyway.”
Shu Qingyou’s brows furrowed. She hated hearing Lin Xu say that word—a disregard for life, irresponsible to those who cared about her.
Precisely because she’d said similar things before, she couldn’t stand hearing it from Lin Xu.
“Fine, none of my business. I won’t ask again.”
With things like this, Lin Xu showed some tact. She’d joked about it to her face before. Lin Xu grinned sheepishly: “No, ask away. I like you asking—even if you nag me to death.”
Shu Qingyou ignored her flowery words, picked up Shu Rong: “You wait here for your fiancée to pick you up?”
Lin Xu’s heart skipped a beat. They’d kissed for so long last night, and now “fiancée” felt ironic, as if Shu Qingyou was okay being the other woman.
Lin Xu helped put the bag in the back seat, elbow on the car door: “Why aren’t you mad? You’re too understanding.”
“Mad?” Shu Qingyou thought making a fuss over something so minor was childish. “I know what’s important.”
Compared to Shu Qingyou’s calm, Lin Xu said sourly: “So what is important to you?”
Shu Qingyou tapped the steering wheel with her index finger, implying something: “Oh… someone’s unhappy.”
She dangled the bait, waiting for Lin Xu to bite. Sure enough, the fish swam right into it: “Not taking me to play—you’re mean.”
“Hm? I’m speaking for Rongrong.”
Shu Rong stared longingly at Lin Xu from the back seat.
Lin Xu felt even guiltier. The kid was waiting for a hug, and with Shu Qingyou taking Shu Rong, they’d probably just ride a carousel—a wasted trip.
“How about… we skip the amusement park for now?”
Shu Qingyou disagreed: “We promised Rongrong; we can’t go back on it.”
Lin Xu got stubborn, neck drooping as she leaned her head into the driver’s seat, pouting: “I was the one who said I’d take her.”
Too close. Shu Qingyou poked her forehead to prevent her from turning into taffy. “If you never come back, Rongrong will never get to go.”
“That’d still be me breaking my word.” Lin Xu twisted her position, half her body squeezing onto the seat and shoving Shu Qingyou aside.
Her leg brushed Shu Qingyou’s thigh. She realized the other woman had thin skin—her ears turned red so easily. Wasn’t that tempting crime?
Lin Xu nearly lost herself and reached for her little earlobe.
It even smelled sweet. Lin Xu licked her lips: “I’ll tell you this: I’ll definitely come back.”
With Lin Xu there, Shu Qingyou couldn’t grip the wheel. Her right arm was forced against the backrest, the narrow single seat bearing undue weight.
Shu Qingyou chuckled lightly: “You don’t have to come back.”
Lin Xu paled in shock: “No no no—we’ve kissed. That’s something.”
Shu Qingyou glanced at her daughter, who seemed half-understanding. Kissing was just friendly to her.
Not sad at all, a bit self-deceptive. Shu Qingyou asked: “Back for dinner tonight?”
Lin Xu patted her chest: “You got it.”
“Then, I’ll believe you this once.”
She didn’t forget to apologize to Shu Rong. Lin Xu gave Shu Qingyou room in the driver’s seat and instead gave Shu Rong a big bear hug.
Shu Rong’s little head was pressed tightly into the chest of Lin Xu’s high-neck loose sweater, as Lin Xu poured out her “big sister is sorry” feelings.
When they parted, Shu Rong dazedly returned to her baby seat, eyes rubbed red, corners of her mouth stuck with a few apricot-colored wool threads.
She looked like a lost little milk cat.
With Lin Xu’s act done, Shu Qingyou closed the car door with a smile: “Goodbye.”
“Wait.” Ignoring the pain, Lin Xu jammed her hand into the closing door gap. Gravity pinched her flesh; she grimaced and hissed.
Shu Qingyou thought she deserved it for being so reckless, but her gaze checked Lin Xu’s arm involuntarily—skin marked with red streaks.
“Spit it out.”
Her concern was obvious. Lin Xu’s heart sweetened like candy: “Don’t mind Gu Huaiyuan. There’s a saying: ‘The one not loved is the third wheel.'”
Her worldview was a bit off, but it fit perfectly between Lin Xu and Shu Qingyou—whether fiancée or that “ex-wife.”
Shu Qingyou’s expression grew complex, lips parting. Should she thank Lin Xu for her favor or console their illicit affair?
She wanted to say something but found it hard. Finally: “Good. I feel loved.”
“Video call when you arrive.” In case she was at the mansion then, Lin Xu quickly corrected: “No—text me on WeChat when you get there.”
“Good.”
“And miss me.”
Shu Qingyou opened the navigation map and nodded.
With words down to this, Lin Xu went for broke: “Finally, I want a goodbye kiss.”
Shu Qingyou lifted her thin eyelids, about to lecture her with Shu Rong in the back.
Suddenly, a dry, warm kiss landed softly on Shu Qingyou’s forehead, a few strands of hair brushing Lin Xu’s lips.
Shu Qingyou froze, heart trembling.
Time paused for a second.
They parted. Lin Xu pressed her thumb on the kissed spot, childishly: “Stamped. Mine.”
Shu Qingyou couldn’t look at her, slammed the door shut decisively, and drove off.
Lin Xu felt great, watching the car tail vanish from sight.
Her heart felt empty for a few minutes, but reality didn’t indulge her melancholy. By the time she’d scrolled to her twentieth funny abstract video…
A black BMW she didn’t fancy pulled up smoothly. The door opened, and Gu Huaiyuan tilted her chin at her.
“Long time no see,” Lin Xu nimbly climbed in and buckled up, glancing around: “Your car’s pretty abstract.”
Gu Huaiyuan itched to punch her: “You said to keep it low-key.”
Gu Huaiyuan was dressed conservatively today: apricot-pink double-breasted coat with gold trim, a pleated skirt below the knees, tassel pearl earrings.
Indeed low-key—no sky-high heels.
Lin Xu cheekily pointed out: “Look at the front—like two butt cheeks split open. Abstract, right?”
It clearly hit a nerve. Gu Huaiyuan rolled her eyes: “You’re pretty abstract for thinking that.”
With that, Gu Huaiyuan pulled a folder from her bag and tossed it to Lin Xu.
Lin Xu weighed the dozens of neatly bound A4 sheets and asked innocently: “What’s this?”
Now came Gu Huaiyuan’s gleeful turn. She patted the bag: “Your personal profile. Study it—better memorize it. There’ll be a test.”
Lin Xu’s pupils shrank slightly. She opened the package. The thick stack formed a rectangular block. She flipped from the first page.
Age 24, photo, personal history, personality.
Not quite an orphan but close—both moms gone. Her handwriting, copies of certificates, asset proofs, etc.
Lin Xu pointed at the file, questioning: “This—me? Memorize?”
“Yep. Or don’t—your call. Just don’t slip up. Everyone except Old Lady thinks you’re fine.”
Gu Huaiyuan smiled without mirth: “Compared to a broken brain, missing a hand or foot could sell the ‘disabled but determined’ persona.”
So ruthless!
Lin Xu memorized the whole way. Midway, she got Shu Qingyou’s message about arriving at the park, soothing her wounded little heart briefly.
The file spread on Lin Xu’s lap: [Qingyou, look—these are my life achievements. Published papers in Nature, and this page on the right, tons of AI patents. I did some solid work in autonomous driving.]
Shu Qingyou: [Mm. Do you remember any?]
Lin Xu: [Nope. I’m a total useless salted fish now, only good looks left. Lie-flat.jpg.]
Shu Qingyou: [Not a salted fish. You’ve helped me a lot.]
Lin Xu’s nose soured with emotion. Compared to Gu Huaiyuan beside her, who only squeezed her with cold memorization…
Only Shu Qingyou truly cared from the heart. What an ultimate girlfriend, a living warm pack.
[I miss you. Big-cry.gif]
Receiving Lin Xu’s sad message, Shu Qingyou quickly typed several lines.
The sunlight was bright, music filled the air, tourists’ laughter everywhere.
Shu Rong tugged her hand.
Shu Qingyou followed her daughter’s gaze to a blue-and-white cotton candy cart, samples of various colors piled high—fluffy and tempting.
“Good girl. Mommy will buy you some later.”
Meanwhile, Lin Xu was nearly at her destination. No text from Shu Qingyou yet—she figured the mother-daughter pair had started playing, while she faced fire and water.
Heart clogged.
Lin Xu eyed the luxury mall, doubting life: “Old Gu, my home’s inside the mall? So trendy?”
Old Gu—what kind of nickname was that?
Gu Huaiyuan twirled a loose thread from her sweater, disdain obvious: “Style yourself first.”
