At dusk, the lingering sunlight bathed every corner of the city.
The golden glow was the sky’s final tender gift to the earth before evening fully arrived.
Lin Zihan stepped gracefully out of the taxi.
Her light, lively steps made her golden hair shimmer in the slanting rays of the sun. Simply walking, she resembled a forest elf—stunningly beautiful.
The aunties shopping for dinner ingredients at the neighborhood supermarket spotted this ray of sunshine returning home and greeted her warmly with cheerful smiles.
“Hey! Zihan, you’re back? Where’ve you been? Didn’t you just finish the Gaokao and start summer break?”
“Yes, yes, but even on summer break, we can’t just slack off~ I found a quiet spot to preview what I’ll be studying in college ahead of time. Oh… Auntie Zhang, is that beef you’re buying? Looks like your family is in for a feast tonight!”
“Tsk tsk tsk, just look at you. If my kid were half as diligent as you, I’d be over the moon. You aced the Gaokao and still don’t slack off one bit. Here, here—I’ve got so much beef, planning to make beef meatballs, but we can’t eat it all. Take some home for a midnight snack.”
Such conversations were an everyday occurrence for Lin Zihan.
She might not even realize it herself, but her smile had quietly become a treasure to the residents of the complex.
Who wouldn’t dote on a bright, beautiful, and sensible kid like her living in the neighborhood?
Zihan hurriedly waved her hands, smiling wryly as she took a couple of steps forward. She didn’t take the beef from Auntie Zhang’s hand.
Instead, she pressed her palms together with a crisp clap, her golden bangs swaying as she cheekily replied.
“Thanks for the kind offer, but… I was actually planning to buy some beef myself today to make steak at home~”
“Alright, alright. Uh, but your family isn’t…? Ah, never mind, never mind. You’re still growing—you need plenty of nutrition. If there’s any trouble, just tell me, okay?”
“Pfft… What trouble? There’s always a way around difficulties, right?”
“That’s true, that’s true. Oh… My kid should be home from school soon. I’ll head back and start dinner then.”
“Mm-hmm, take care!”
Lin Zihan waved goodbye as Auntie Zhang left, lugging a big bag of beef. Her smile shone brighter than the fading sunset.
Only after Auntie Zhang’s figure vanished did Lin Zihan slowly lower her arm.
She dipped her head slightly, and beneath her golden bangs, the clear sparkle in her right eye gradually faded.
Sigh… Lin Zihan knew exactly what Auntie Zhang had wanted to say but held back.
Good news doesn’t travel far, but bad news spreads like wildfire. The whole neighborhood had known about her family’s troubles for ages.
In other words—
Everyone knows our family is a bit tight on cash!
The flower shop’s business had been rough these past few years—market trends, nothing more.
Hee hee, but things are different now!
Auntie Zhang, you have no idea—I’ve got a part-time gig these days. I’m earning money!
Just thinking about that day at the restaurant, when Little Bai’er protected her and offered her a high-paying job with the Ye Family Maid Corps, filled her heart with warmth.
In her not-so-long life, there had been so much misfortune that even a small stroke of luck felt like a heavenly blessing.
Let alone…
Something this huge and wonderful.
But this was her little secret with Little Bai’er~ Lin Zihan didn’t want her mom to know.
She subconsciously reached to tug at the ribbon around her waist but grasped at empty air.
Only then did she realize she wasn’t wearing her maid outfit anymore—she’d changed into casual pants before heading home.
Good grief… It had become a conditioned reflex.
She’d completely molded herself into the shape of Little Bai’er’s maid. Little Bai’er had better take responsibility!
Behind her, the taxi driver got a new fare. The engine roared to life, and the car pulled away from the complex entrance.
Zihan pulled out her phone and tapped to pay the fare.
—Before paying, she dug through the app’s backstage for the best coupon.
It cut the fare right in half!
Having a bit more financial security didn’t mean she was living large. Saving money was still priority one.
Afterward, picking out the best beef at the supermarket was a breeze—the owner handled it for her.
With a thank-you, she bounced down the supermarket steps.
In the darkening dusk,
The golden-haired girl hummed a trendy tune from the internet, swinging her loaded plastic bags like a happy child. Just like every blissful day lately, she set off for home. It was truly the happiest silhouette in the world.
“Mom! I’m home!”
She didn’t know if Mama was in, but calling out first upon returning was always the safe bet.
Zihan slipped off her shoes in the entryway—which was far plainer than the Ye Family Villa’s—and hung her little bag on the coat rack.
As she finished these motions, she heard the door ahead of her creak open.
It was Elsa, Lin Zihan’s mother.
This was unusually early for her?
She usually stayed at the flower shop until after ten at night, only heading home once the last customer was gone.
Elsa emerged, her messy golden hair the same color as Zihan’s but much duller. Even marked by the traces of time, her face still hinted at the stunning beauty of her youth, carrying that distinctive Northern European charm. But now it bore signs of fatigue and discomfort.
“Mom?” Lin Zihan hurried over in two quick strides, worry creasing her brow. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? You look so listless.”
“It’s nothing… Cough. Just a little cold, head hurts a bit.”
“You can’t take a little cold lightly… Did you take medicine?”
“I did, I did… I closed the shop early this afternoon to come home. Sigh… Too bad it’s Lesser Heat today. Some customers might want flowers—I could check if I can manage and head back to watch the shop later.”
“Hey! No way! You’re already home—what’s the point of going back? We don’t really need… Um, anyway, Mom, you go lie down first. Leave everything else to me, okay?”
“Mm… Sorry to trouble you.”
“What kind of mom says that to her daughter? Hahaha!”
Being so boisterous wasn’t really Zihan’s style, nor had her upbringing encouraged such big laughs.
But acting this way… it always seemed to put her mom more at ease. Over time, it had become their habit.
After settling that, Zihan grabbed the beef and headed to the kitchen to get started.
But just as her foot in black ankle socks and slippers was about to cross the kitchen threshold—
She was called back from behind.
“Zihan, wait a sec. Cough…”
“Hey… We can talk at dinner! Go back to bed for now.”
“It’s fine… Mom’s not that bad off. More importantly… there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Um…? Go ahead?”
Huh? Why did the air feel heavier all of a sudden?
Elsa half-clenched her hand into a fist and pressed it to her mouth, coughing fiercely a few times.
After the coughing fit, the worry in her eyes was no longer hidden. She gazed straight at Lin Zihan with unfiltered concern.
“Zihan… Cough, answer me honestly. Tell the truth—these past few days, heading out so early and coming back so late every day, what have you been doing?”
“Eh…?”
“I figured… You’ve been secretly working a job, haven’t you? Zihan, I’ve told you… Cough, I’ve told you so many times—don’t think like that. Mom can handle it. You can’t get used to putting yourself below others. Working odd jobs leads nowhere. Your sights… Cough, they need to be set higher, on the long term…”
“Mom!”
“!”
That voice.
It was hard to tell if it was a playful interruption or a gentle rebuke.
In any case…
When Lin Zihan cut her off and looked up,
Zihan’s expression held no displeasure.
—Just a carefree smile.
She waved it off, a mischievous grin lighting her impish face.
“Pfft… If you ask me, Mom, you’re overthinking it. Didn’t I tell you before~? I found a study room to preview college courses ahead of time. Better safe than sorry! Who says going out means working a job? And besides, is there even a need?”
“You… You’re serious?”
“Mm! Of course it’s true!”
Of course it’s true.
True mixed with false, false mixed with true.
Some truths, spoken plainly, would bring a storm of kitchenware crashing down.
Some lies, spoken earnestly, bought a moment’s peace.
See?
Mom was heading back to her room now for some proper rest, wasn’t she?
