Lin Zihan returned home triumphant after conquering the Gaokao, humming a cheerful tune the entire way with light, bouncy steps.
The first thing she did upon arriving was tuck the vine Little Bai’er had given her into a cabinet in her room.
She was already looking forward to staying up late to craft it into a ring!
She slipped into pajamas made of simple fabric but with an elegantly luxurious design and made her way to the living room.
There, on the dining table, sat a feast led by the pièce de résistance: sweet and sour fish right in the center!
The flushed crimson eyes beneath her golden hair lit up instantly!
“Wow! Mom, how long were you slaving away in the kitchen? Must’ve been exhausting!”
“Oh, this child—what kind of talk is that?”
Elsa, whose face usually bore the weariness of hard years, piled another dish of stir-fried green beans with pork onto the already crowded table.
Tonight, though her features still held traces of fatigue, they were brightened by a long-absent spark of joy and vitality.
“The Gaokao is a huge milestone. Now that it’s over, we have to celebrate. Here, you love sweet and sour fish, don’t you? Dig in—it’s made just the way you like, with the skin crisped to perfection. Delicious.”
“Mm-hmm! I’ll forever sing the praises of sweet and sour fish!”
Sometimes—and today was definitely one of those times—sweet and sour fish really was tastier than steak.
What a lucky day this was turning out to be!
She’d been seated next to Little Bai’er during the exam, and now she was coming home to this lavish dinner.
What more could life demand?
Lin Zihan and Elsa sat facing each other across the table.
Though she desperately wanted to share her joyful experiences from the day with her mother, a moment’s reflection made her hold back.
The memory of that spilled beef stew from last time was still fresh.
Lin Zihan didn’t want this dreamlike bubble of an evening to burst prematurely.
Even if just for a little while… her heart felt truly warm.
Elsa soon noticed the Band-Aid on Lin Zihan’s thumb.
“Hm? Zihan, are you hurt? What happened?”
“Ah… It’s nothing, Mom! I was just so excited on the way home. Nailed the Gaokao, you know? Got all floaty and swung my arms around, smacked right into a lamppost! Haha, what a klutz, right?”
“Hey! Don’t you dare call yourself a klutz! Our Zihan is the smartest kid in the whole city, the top of your generation. All the neighbors say so—Mom’s always been so proud of you.”
“…”
Wasn’t that the truth?
When money was flowing, no one batted an eye if you claimed your head was made of pure gold; nobody dared contradict.
Lin Zihan let out a couple of dazed laughs but didn’t respond.
But tonight, Elsa seemed unusually talkative.
She wasn’t in any rush to eat, propping her arms on the table and gazing fondly at her daughter across from her, her heart full of delight.
“Eat up… These past few years, you’ve suffered alongside Mom, studying so hard. You’ve finally made it through the Gaokao—Mom’s grateful to you…”
Lin Zihan had just picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks.
At those words, her hand paused midair.
Her heart trembled. Surprised, she slowly lifted her head and looked toward her mother, who was smiling bitterly across the table.
Was today… really some kind of blissed-out lucky day?
Or had she been floating through a sweet dream the whole time?!
Had they replaced the living room light? Everything seemed to glow brighter!
“Mom… um, thank you. Really, you don’t have to…”
“Now that the exam’s done, it’s just a waiting game for the scores. All your hard work comes down to those final marks.”
“Ah… yeah, true. I’ll check them when they come out in a bit. Mom, forget that stuff—how about we crack open a celebratory drink? I saw you bought some beer? It’s been ages since we mother-daughter duo shared a glass. What do you say?”
“Mm… Yeah, we should. From here on… once my Zihan aces it and gets into a top-tier school, we’ll be set. We don’t need to chase your Old Dad’s path into some big corporation. Mom just wants you to land a decent job—one that’s respectable, pays well, doesn’t demand killing yourself with early mornings and late nights, and doesn’t ruffle feathers. That’d be enough.”
“Mom…? How about we pour that beer first…?”
“Alright.”
Elsa personally used the bottle opener on the beer.
She poured a glass for Lin Zihan and one for herself.
The mother, weathered by life’s trials, raised her glass with a small gesture.
“So, Zihan… We can’t drink much, so let’s take it slow—just like your path ahead. Walk it steady. Don’t be like your Old Dad, all rush and no reward, ending up with nothing.”
“Mom’s given half her life for you… Now that the Gaokao’s finally behind us, the road forward is yours alone. You’ve got to make Mom proud… Don’t let anyone look down on us. Don’t let them say the Lin Family’s Eldest Miss can’t even afford to fix her eyes… Don’t let them…”
Lin Zihan hadn’t even taken a sip yet.
She had no choice but to gently set her glass down.
Because her mother was crying again.
Ahh, seriously.
Who could come save her? Turns out today wasn’t a sweet dream after all.
Just a merciful little interlude in an ongoing nightmare.
Even so, Lin Zihan still mustered words of comfort.
“Ahaha… Mom, what’re you thinking? Did someone gossip again? What do they know! My eye? I just don’t want to fix it! It’s not like we can’t afford it! Come on, Mom! I just crushed my exam—you could at least toast me with that beer! You’re making it sound like I bombed it!”
“You’re right… you’re right. Look at me… Such bad luck, such bad luck. What kind of nonsense is this? Come on, Zihan—for the day our mother-daughter duo finally earns some respect—cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Lin Zihan merely took a delicate sip—though when she’d first raised her glass, she’d intended to down it all.
Elsa, on the other hand, drained hers in one go—despite being the one who’d suggested sipping slowly.
The rest of the dinner passed in a haze.
Lin Zihan suddenly found the sweet and sour fish wasn’t quite so sweet anymore.
Whatever her mother asked, she answered with half-hearted replies.
Just going along with what Mom wanted to hear.
Lin Zihan’s heart remained utterly calm.
Until the meal’s grueling end, when Elsa posed this question that finally sharpened her focus.
“Zihan, you haven’t run into those Ye sisters these past couple days, have you? Haven’t gone stirring up trouble with them? Be honest with Mom—that thing you mentioned before still has me worried sick… I’m thinking maybe I should take you to the Ye Family to apologize. We don’t want to get on their bad side…”
Lin Zihan tightened her grip on the phone in her pocket and let out a weary breath.
She stood up, shaking her head with a perfectly natural smile.
“Nope, nope. Didn’t you tell me last time to keep my distance from them? Heh, of course I listened to you, Mom. Haven’t seen them these past couple days—probably won’t cross paths again anytime soon.”
“That’s good… that’s good… My girl’s so obedient. Thank the heavens… Mom doesn’t have much, just a dutiful daughter.”
“Thanks for the praise~ So… Mom, you head to bed. You’ve been busy all evening—I’ll handle the dishes.”
“Hey, no need. You’re the one wiped out from the exam. I’ll clean up. Get some early sleep, and tomorrow morning, help Mom sort out the flower shop stuff. I’m always messing up the accounts.”
“Sure thing! I can handle that!”
Lin Zihan didn’t fight for dishwashing duty.
Mom was right.
She really was exhausted.
Back in her room, Lin Zihan collapsed onto the desk like a puddle of jelly, utterly limp.
She fished her phone from her pocket, lightly nibbling her soft lower lip.
Her fingers brushed through the long golden bangs over her forehead, touching the eyepatch hidden beneath on her left eye.
Soon, she let her hand drop.
Her right eye, meanwhile, was fixed on the phone screen—on Little Tea Cat’s avatar next to the contact labeled “Little Bai’er”!
“Heh… Ye Zhiyun did say not to message Little Bai’er, right? Mm-hmm, gotta follow that~”
Even as she voiced her compliance, Lin Zihan had already opened her chat with Ye Zhibai.
She switched the camera to selfie mode.
Twirling in her swivel chair, her golden hair trailing a halo of shimmering light.
Her bare toes tapped the floor to stop the spin.
Now, her face and the Baby’s Breath potted plant on the desk were both perfectly framed.
She found the ideal angle and snapped the shot!
In the frozen image, Lin Zihan’s smile beamed utterly carefree!
Satisfied, Lin Zihan nodded repeatedly at the photo and hit send without a second thought.
Perfect!
She figured her message would sink without a trace—after all, what free time did an angel like her have to reply?
But mere seconds later, a response actually popped up.
Lin Zihan bolted upright and reopened the chat.
Ye Zhibai had replied:
—”Looks good.”
Hm?!!
Angel says I look good!!
Should’ve run a brush through my hair first!
But before Lin Zihan could bask in it for long—
Another message followed hot on its heels.
“Baby’s breath. Looks nice.”
Lin Zihan stared speechlessly at the Baby’s Breath potted plant on her desk.
“…”
Little Bai’er.
When you message, please don’t send them one by one, okay?
Careful, or I might not make you that vine ring?
Just kidding.
