“Thirsty.”
One word was all it took—no need for extra explanation. Lin Xu very skillfully pulled out the thermos she had prepared early from her backpack, unscrewed it, and handed it over. “Hard work, Teacher Shu.”
Shu Qingyou pinched her cheek and said solemnly, “The way you are right now is really so…”
“Thoughtful?” Lin Xu’s eyebrows shot up in delight.
“Like a lapdog.”
“Too accurate! As expected of you!” Lin Xu showed no shame whatsoever. She flattered her with a smile and continued to be her little tail.
The exhibition hall was packed with people—art critics, collectors, media reporters, and art enthusiasts shuttling back and forth.
Ever since Shu Qingyou began her studies, a series of works titled Trace Light had burst onto the scene. They had caused a huge stir at the International Emerging Ceramic Artists Invitation Exhibition.
Lin Xu scurried around serving her. Shu Qingyou wore a simple linen long skirt, her temperament cool yet gentle. As the center of attention, she handled it with ease, calmly responding to the praise for her works and the questions.
Shu Qingyou glanced at her watch and crooked a finger. Amid the noisy exhibition hall, Lin Xu immediately leaned in close to her ear. “What is it?”
“Rongrong.”
Lin Xu’s face fell at once. “There’s a driver and a nanny—why do I have to go pick her up?”
It had only been with great difficulty that Shu Qingyou had explained the one-Omega-one-Alpha rule to her the year before, revealing that it had all been Lin Xu’s one-sided wishful thinking. But it had still terrified Lin Xu for a whole year.
That year, every time Shu Qingyou went on a date with an Omega, Lin Xu had swallowed her bitterness, picking her up and waiting without daring to complain even a little.
Only later did she discover that Shu Qingyou had just been scaring her. Even so, Lin Xu never dared to act out again.
She was afraid that if she wasn’t careful, Shu Qingyou might really run off with some other woman.
“Oh.” Shu Qingyou said no more.
Over these two years, Shu Qingyou’s attitude toward her had been extremely cold and distant. No matter how much Lin Xu hung around her all day, trying all sorts of ways to make her presence felt.
Shu Qingyou didn’t take her seriously at all, treating her like an accessory.
The familiar taste, the familiar formula. Lin Xu immediately slid to her knees. “No, no, no—I’ll go, I’ll go, alright?”
Seeing Shu Qingyou nod, Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief. She put on a mask—no one would recognize her.
Before leaving, using the crowd as an excuse, Lin Xu leaned in close and asked, “Does picking up Rongrong this time earn me points?”
Things were different now. Shu Qingyou no longer needed her to do anything for her. Lin Xu’s current role was to handle all of Shu Qingyou’s food, clothing, housing, and transport.
In Shu Qingyou’s scoring system, household chores didn’t count as bonus points. Lin Xu was a mother who didn’t even reach the passing line.
Shu Qingyou had discussed it with her before—only if she reached a passing score would she consider being together with her.
Shu Qingyou maintained her usual polite smile toward outsiders. “Of course it does.”
Lin Xu lowered her voice, unable to hide her excitement. “How many points?”
“0.1.”
Lin Xu: “……”
Her expression crumpled. Shu Qingyou shot her a dissatisfied glance, and she quickly plastered on another smile. “Better than nothing—mosquito legs are still meat.”
Inwardly, though, Lin Xu was cursing up a storm. She spun her keychain around her finger—she was now the full Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
She arrived right on time at the kindergarten to pick up her daughter. Shu Rong could run and jump much better than before. Naturally, she was thrilled that Mommy had come to pick her up.
Shu Rong sat obediently in the car, rummaging in her backpack with her little head. She grabbed a small snack with her little hand and stretched out her arm.
A small candy lay in Shu Rong’s palm. Lin Xu unceremoniously took it, tore open the wrapper, popped it in her mouth, and mumbled indistinctly, “Rongrong is so thoughtful. Another day of borrowing flowers to offer Buddha.”
Though Shu Rong wasn’t tall, it didn’t hinder her cute and pretty looks. Lots of little friends confessed to her every day—she never lacked people feeding her.
She didn’t like talking, and repeatedly shaking her head to refuse gifts was too tiring, so she simply accepted them all.
Lin Xu taught her that this was her charmer constitution—being popular was a good thing.
Shu Rong understood this as praise. From then on, she brought good snacks home for Mommy to eat.
Lin Xu accepted them with peace of mind. Shu Qingyou couldn’t stand watching; she was speechless at this mother-daughter duo—one dared to accept gifts without fear of owing favors, the other shamelessly ate a little kid’s snacks.
Ever since Shu Rong got close to Lin Xu, they often went on trips together—but only if Shu Qingyou was there. Otherwise, Lin Xu was just talking big to Shu Rong.
Lin Xu: “Want to go to the amusement park?”
Shu Rong chewed on a little cookie, staring straight at Mommy. How many times had she said “amusement park”?
Feeling the disbelieving gaze, Lin Xu was helpless too—something always came up right before they left.
Several times, it had been Shu Qingyou who took Shu Rong to play.
The novelty of the first time had long worn off. The carousel was now routine.
“Okay.”
Lin Xu: “So reluctant. Have you gotten tired of the carousel?”
At that, Shu Rong nodded frantically.
Lin Xu steered toward the exhibition hall to pick up Shu Qingyou, a smug smile on her lips. “I knew it.”
She turned her head and met Shu Rong’s gaze full of suspicion. She guiltily touched her nose.
Lin Xu swore repeatedly, “This time, I absolutely won’t break my promise. Trust me!”
About an hour later, Shu Qingyou said goodbye to the others and left first. From afar, she saw her little lackey by the car, waving at her.
Lin Xu had dyed her hair a blue even bluer than the sky, saying it was more artistic.
Fortunately, her face could pull it off. After two years of testing, Lin Xu had become much more patient and steady. She understood that all Lin Xu’s actions were still just surface-level.
Shu Qingyou didn’t expect this two-faced woman to change completely. Lin Xu had already done the best she could.
People couldn’t be too greedy.
Compromise wasn’t one-sided. Shu Qingyou was compromising with herself—life still had to go on.
She couldn’t stop Lin Xu from finding her, and refusing was pointless. Better to let it happen naturally. She dangled an unattainable carrot in front of Lin Xu.
Lin Xu felt life had hope, and her attitude toward Shu Qingyou grew ever more humble. Music to her ears.
Shu Qingyou sat down and first asked about her daughter’s school life, playing a question-and-answer game. Shu Qingyou asked one thing, Shu Rong gave a simple answer.
“Rongrong, you’re so biased. Why don’t you say more to me?”
Shu Rong burrowed into Mommy’s arms, her childish voice milky. “No.”
Shu Qingyou grew alert. “Lin Xu, did you bully your daughter again?”
It wasn’t baseless. When Lin Xu was home, she’d sometimes get a sudden idea and jump out from a corner to scare Shu Rong as she passed.
At first, Shu Rong would cry from the fright. Gradually, she learned to do the same, suddenly popping out from some corner.
Lin Xu, who served as both nanny and driver for the mother-daughter pair, shot them a aggrieved glance. “Wronged! I didn’t bully her today.”
Shu Qingyou: “She dislikes you.”
“Really?” Lin Xu switched on the car’s autopilot, turned around, and threatened her. “Rongrong, if you dislike me, our deal’s off.”
It concerned whether they could play the fun stuff, so Shu Rong stepped up without hesitation. She grabbed Mommy’s hand and shook her head vigorously, then leaned in and planted a smack.
A wet mark was left on her face. Shu Qingyou was speechless.
An anxious expression appeared on her daughter’s tender, tofu-like face. Those eyes, just opening up, were exactly like Lin Xu’s.
“I really don’t know what kind of bewitching potion she fed you,” she scraped her daughter’s nose tip. “A little favor and you accept it. You really don’t learn from your mistakes.”
Seeing this, Lin Xu quickly changed the subject. “Don’t overthink it. We’re going to the amusement park tomorrow.”
Shu Qingyou thought for a moment, recalling how Lin Xu had first promised to go to the amusement park but bailed, and the second and third times too.
She couldn’t help teasing, “This time, what excuse are you going to use to back out?”
Lin Xu: “I guarantee I won’t. Your needs will always come first in my heart.”
Shu Qingyou’s makeup was exquisite, a few strands of hair falling on her palm-sized face. Her cool features softened a bit when facing Shu Rong.
Lin Xu kept stealing glances at her through the rearview mirror. “You don’t believe me?”
This little action naturally didn’t escape Shu Qingyou. She didn’t respond, just hooked up a smile of unclear meaning, leaving Lin Xu to fret alone.
On the topic of belief or not, Lin Xu kept pressing at the dinner table. Shu Qingyou refused to talk about it, chatting about random things instead.
The result? In the middle of the night, Lin Xu wouldn’t sleep and hovered by her ear, chattering. “Have I become that untrustworthy type in your mind?”
Shu Qingyou didn’t speak, her back to her. She’d known better than to agree to share a bed that night.
Though they had three rules—no releasing pheromones without permission, no touching.
Lin Xu couldn’t stand it and turned into a chatterbox every night, talking about everything under the sun.
Usually, a few words sufficed. But on relationship issues, Lin Xu wouldn’t stop until she got what she wanted.
Amid Lin Xu’s mosquito-like buzzing, Shu Qingyou couldn’t take it. “Come here, I’ll tell you.”
Lin Xu obediently moved closer and got what she wanted—a slap carrying her natural fragrance.
Her sleep disturbed, Shu Qingyou’s tone carried anger. “Settled now?”
Lin Xu pursed her lips and knelt properly in front of her, behaving. “Sorry, I won’t ask anymore.”
The next day was a time of spring warmth and blooming flowers. The three set out lightly dressed.
To show her determination, Lin Xu didn’t even bring her phone. With her little scheme, she kept Shu Rong trapped in her arms, meaning Shu Qingyou had to stay by her side at all times.
Lin Xu knew herself—Shu Qingyou might ditch her anytime.
On a workday, the amusement park wasn’t too crowded.
Shu Qingyou silently observed the two. Lin Xu managed to hide her intentions decently, but her daughter’s eyes kept drifting toward the dangerous rides.
Especially after Lin Xu feinted, riding the carousel. The big and small heads knocked together, afraid Shu Qingyou wouldn’t notice their guilty hearts.
Shu Qingyou wasn’t in a hurry. She waited for them to crack.
Sure enough, Lin Xu stood before the staff, pointing imperiously.
“Why can’t my kid ride the roller coaster!”
The staff didn’t dare offend the shareholder, eyeing the little girl about a meter tall. She was in a bind. “President Lin, this isn’t our rule—it’s nationwide.”
Lin Xu raised her voice. “What rule? Rules are made to be broken.”
Shu Qingyou stepped in to smooth things over and picked up Shu Rong. “See? This is your unreliable mommy.”
Shu Rong gazed enviously at the cars soaring into the sky, on the verge of tears. She super wanted to go up there.
To her surprise, Shu Qingyou hadn’t expected her daughter to crave thrills.
This was probably inherited from Lin Xu.
Thinking of Lin Xu’s speeding, Shu Qingyou felt it necessary to strictly discipline her daughter.
No matter how they talked, it was no use. Lin Xu pulled a long face toward Shu Rong. “Sorry, Rongrong. You’re a bit short—don’t meet the roller coaster height requirement.”
Shu Qingyou covered her daughter’s ears. “She’s still little—that’s the key, not the height.”
Lin Xu pried Shu Qingyou’s hand away. “But I have good news.”
Then she pointed to the highest spot. “We can all play that together.”
Shu Qingyou followed her finger to the slowly rotating Ferris wheel—very high.
Her scalp tingled a bit. “Lin Xu.”
“What?”
“Have I ever told you? I’m afraid of heights.”
Lin Xu was incredulous. “You never told me.”
Shu Qingyou said softly, “You never asked.”
Hearing this, Lin Xu’s mood truly sank. She didn’t care about playing anymore, blaming herself for not considering Shu Qingyou’s feelings.
Lin Xu hurriedly covered Shu Qingyou’s eyes. “Since you’re scared, we won’t come again. Sorry—in the past, I only thought about what I liked, never considering you.”
Shu Qingyou smiled. “Won’t you be sad? I can’t play with you.”
Lin Xu denied it firmly. “Everything else besides you is non-essential.”
Darkness fell before her eyes. Shu Qingyou felt the warm palm over them, the surrounding people’s voices, the machine whirs.
Noisy chaos, until it went silent.
Shu Qingyou listened to the heartbeat in her chest—slightly faster than usual.
The environment returned to normal. She brushed Lin Xu’s hand away and said gently, “You and Rongrong go ride the Ferris wheel.”
Lin Xu: “What about you? I won’t feel at ease.”
Shu Qingyou: “I’ll wait right here.”
“Really?”
“Mm.”
