Lin Cheng got up, washed up, and only then did he notice that the dumplings in Xu Wanyue’s fridge had been swapped out for pork and corn filling.
“I don’t eat corn,” he said, looking at Xu Wanyue with pleading eyes.
“Huh? Why not?”
“I can eat boiled corn just fine, but once it’s made into something salty, it tastes really weird.”
“Oh…” Xu Wanyue’s eyes softened as she gazed at him. “But picky eaters aren’t good kids, you know.”
“It’s fine. I don’t usually eat much breakfast anyway. Just boil some for yourself.”
“Mm, but eating a little won’t kill you.” Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. “I think these dumplings turned out really tasty this time. Want to try one?”
Gazing into her eyes, Lin Cheng suddenly found himself at a loss for how to refuse.
They were filled with such eager hope—bright, clear, and gentle as water.
Before he could even open his mouth, Xu Wanyue winked at him playfully. “If you eat them obediently, how about we go to the Comic Expo this afternoon?”
A moment later, she added, “I can even wear the maid skirt for you.”
And so, thirty dumplings went into the pot—fifteen for each of them. The pork and corn filling wasn’t as bad as Lin Cheng had imagined. In fact, the taste was surprisingly decent. Xu Wanyue’s cheeks bulged as she chewed, her words muffled. “Actually, a lot of picky foods taste bad the first time because they weren’t prepared well.”
Lin Cheng thought about it and realized she had a point.
He didn’t want to go home, so he ended up lounging at Xu Wanyue’s place all morning. She watched idol dramas on the sofa while he rested his head on her soft, pale thighs. Gentle, fragmented sunlight streamed in through the window.
For lunch, Xu Wanyue whipped up two simple vegetable dishes from what was left in the fridge. Afterward, Lin Cheng started looking forward to the Comic Expo. Xu Wanyue went back to her room to change, and when she emerged, she was wearing that maid skirt from before. The skirt’s hem wasn’t too short—it even covered half her calves—so Lin Cheng couldn’t quite tell what kind of stockings she had on.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, Xu Wanyue reached down and lightly grasped the hem of her skirt on her thigh, slowly lifting it bit by bit until it was nearly at the top. Lin Cheng spotted the white garter straps connecting to the stockings—they were white silk garter stockings!
He didn’t think he’d seen these before. New look!
Below her slender ankles were a pair of black leather shoes. Her jet-black hair was tied into a simple ponytail at the back, with a few strands framing her forehead and temples, giving her a gentle, obedient air. She even tilted her waist slightly, nibbling her lip as she asked Lin Cheng, “Do you like these stockings?”
What an embarrassing question.
“You’re drooling, heh heh heh…”
Xu Wanyue’s eyes darkened once more.
Xu Wanyue drove them to the Comic Expo, with Lin Cheng in the passenger seat. He watched the distant blue sky and white clouds, the shadows of trees sliding past the window. It felt like one of those peaceful moments where time stood still. He turned to look at Xu Wanyue, who was focused on the road ahead, her cheeks smooth and flawless.
Lin Cheng had been to a couple of Comic Expos before, camera in hand, snapping photos of plenty of pretty girls. After all, who didn’t love lively, youthful beauties? They arrived at the venue around two in the afternoon, bought tickets from a scalper outside, and headed in. The crowds had thinned out by then. Lin Cheng gently took Xu Wanyue’s hand, and she walked with a slight bounce in her step.
Every now and then, she’d lean close to his ear and whisper, “That girl over there is cute.”
At the expo, Lin Cheng and Xu Wanyue didn’t do much else—just admired the pretty cosplayers together. He’d occasionally snap photos of her posing with others, then they’d play some of the little games around the venue. He wasn’t a fan of crowded places, and neither was she, it seemed. But together, it didn’t matter.
Throughout the day, Lin Cheng noticed plenty of envious stares directed their way—mostly at the stunning girl by his side. After a rest, they wandered some more until the evening sky was dyed with sunset hues and the venue emptied out. They drove off together, and Lin Cheng didn’t ask where they were headed. Half an hour later, Xu Wanyue pulled up outside a modest restaurant.
It was just a simple home-style eatery, nothing fancy. Before going in, she turned to face him and placed both hands on his shoulders. “You have to behave, okay?”
“Behave… how?”
“Mm. I promised my uncle I’d bring my boyfriend to meet him.”
Lin Cheng froze, suddenly flustered. He stammered, “How…?”
“Uncle’s always worried about me being out here alone and unsafe. Knowing I have a boyfriend puts his mind at ease, so… pretty please? Be a little serious today.”
“Got it,” Lin Cheng replied earnestly.
The restaurant was in the middle of its dinner rush, so Lin Cheng didn’t meet Xu Wanyue’s uncle right away. They sat in a corner booth, where she quietly filled him in on her uncle.
Her uncle was almost fifty now, and he’d been running this place for over twenty years. It had kept the whole family afloat. He’d never shortchanged her and her sister growing up, doing everything he could to give them the best—running around begging favors so they could attend good schools. Her aunt was forty-eight, and Xu Wanyue didn’t have bad memories of her. Sure, the aunt doted more on her own son, but Xu Wanyue understood that her aunt never really wanted her and her sister around… since they took resources that could have gone to her boy.
That’s why, after getting that million, Xu Wanyue had handed it all over to her aunt.
Neither her uncle nor aunt knew she’d joined the Alliance—joining was supposed to be confidential anyway, to avoid unnecessary trouble.
So that million had been explained away as a gift from “him.” Lin Cheng realized his role today was the domineering CEO type.
He couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, though a strange pressure built in his chest. He wasn’t good at dealing with elders, especially not as Xu Wanyue’s boyfriend meeting her family.
His mind started wandering to weird what-ifs. He had zero experience playing the domineering CEO. Sure, he had money, but the Little Housekeeper Litchi managed it all. His monthly spending never topped five thousand, so he’d never really felt rich.
He’d faced down the SSS-grade Abyss Empress without flinching, but now he felt inexplicably nervous. Lin Cheng scratched his head as Xu Wanyue continued talking about her uncle and aunt. Around eight, when the restaurant had cleared out, her uncle finally emerged from the kitchen in his chef’s whites, towel draped over his neck, sweat beading on his flushed forehead.
“Little Yue, how long have you been here? I just saw your message—been swamped.”
“We just got here a bit ago. You done for now, Uncle?”
“Business was good today. What do you want to eat? Uncle’ll whip it up.”
Only then did his eyes shift to Lin Cheng, scanning him from head to toe. “And this is…?”
“My boyfriend!” Xu Wanyue hugged Lin Cheng’s arm, beaming sweetly.
Lin Cheng glanced at her eyes—they shone with genuine brightness. She really was a natural actress.
He turned to her uncle with a light smile and polite greeting. “Hello, Uncle. I’m Lin Cheng.”
“You’re a handsome one, aren’t you? Wanyue’s mentioned you plenty. Good to finally meet…” Her uncle grabbed a menu from nearby. “What’ll it be? I’ll get it ready.”
“You pick?” Lin Cheng handed the menu to Xu Wanyue. She set it down and ordered a few of her usuals. She’d started to stand and offer to help in the kitchen, but her uncle wouldn’t hear of it. So they sat, and soon he emerged with four dishes, prepared in under ten minutes.
“Your aunt’s overseeing some house renovations— she’ll be by later. Little Lin, care for a drink?”
“Sure.”
Her uncle fetched the restaurant’s best liquor—over four hundred bucks a bottle. Lin Cheng took it and carefully poured for him. Her uncle seemed a bit awkward, fidgeting uneasily.
It was then that Xu Wanyue noticed Lin Cheng had transformed. The childish boy from before was gone. His eyes were gentle and calm, but carried an inexplicable aura that made it hard to breathe.
She couldn’t quite pin it down, but it hit her—he actually pulled off the domineering CEO vibe.
“I heard a lot about you from Yueyue just now. Thanks for taking care of her all these years. To you, Uncle.”
Lin Cheng downed his full glass of baijiu in one go, face unchanged. Softly, he added, “I’ve wanted to toast you for a while. Here’s my chance. Drink at your leisure.”
With that glass down, the mood loosened up. Soon, her uncle and Lin Cheng were chatting away—mostly about Xu Wanyue. He subtly probed Lin Cheng’s job. Lin Cheng had always thought he was bad at lying, but apparently he had some talent. He became an angel investor with stakes in various companies, annual income in the tens of millions. Another glass went down amid the talk; the dishes barely touched, but the peanuts vanished.
Xu Wanyue ate daintily on the side, refilling their glasses when empty. She looked every bit the sweet little girl. The bottle emptied quickly—Lin Cheng drank most of it—and his expression stayed steady.
His tolerance was ridiculously good.
Her uncle tentatively asked if they’d have another. Lin Cheng nodded, and her uncle laughed heartily. Xu Wanyue fetched the next bottle. Still chuckling, he said, “Your aunt’s been nagging me to quit drinking. Like she doesn’t know—this is my one vice. Just had a checkup recently… some issue or other. Follow-up in a couple days.”
“Then don’t drink,” Xu Wanyue said, worry flickering in her eyes. She reached for his glass, but he waved her off.
“It’s fine. Seeing Yueyue bring her boyfriend home has me in high spirits. You know your uncle’s tolerance— a little won’t hurt.”
Lin Cheng’s gaze shifted to her uncle, a glint flashing in his eyes. His expression faltered slightly. Softly, he said, “Uncle, take a breather first. Hold off on the drinks.”
“Come on, Little Lin, don’t be like that…” Her uncle belched.
“No, we’ll drink later. Uncle, ease up on that condition for now. I’ll have someone send over some meds. We can drink after.”
“Condition?” Xu Wanyue blinked in surprise.
“Yeah. Liver cancer.”
Her uncle and Xu Wanyue went pale as sheets the instant the words left his mouth.
