Volume One, Chapter 20: Xu Mi’s Thoughts

“Have you made up your mind?”

Li Xiulan had already guessed her daughter’s thoughts but still wanted to confirm once more. “The concerns you mentioned before won’t just disappear.”

“Have you considered all the obstacles that might stand between you two in the future?”

“Once you make this decision, if you regret it later, it will cause great pain to both you and him.”

Xu Mi’s eyes sparkled with determination. “I have thought it through! I want to believe in Lin Chen!”

Li Xiulan gently patted her head and nodded. “Alright, if you’re sure, then I’ll help you arrange the meeting.”

...

When Lin Chen received Li Xiulan’s call, he was busy making pancakes in bed.

Seeing the caller ID, he jumped up in excitement, fumbling to answer the phone.

“Auntie, is Tang Tang looking for me?”

“What, if Tang Tang doesn’t call you, I can’t?”

“No, no! If you need me for anything, just say the word! My phone’s on 24/7, ready anytime!”

Li Xiulan put her phone on speaker and glanced at Xu Mi, who was listening eagerly nearby.

Xu Mi pouted and tugged her mother’s sleeve.

Li Xiulan smiled indulgently and got straight to the point. “Tang Tang said she wants to try reaching out to you.”

“Really?!”

Even through the phone, Lin Chen’s excitement and anticipation were palpable.

Li Xiulan nodded. “Yes, and you don’t have to wait ten days anymore. Tomorrow’s the weekend, so I’m arranging for you to meet. I’ll send you the time and place later.”

“Great!”

Lin Chen jumped up and rolled around on the bed, barely able to contain his excitement. “Auntie, what kind of outfit does Tang Tang like? Formal or casual? What kind of perfume does she like?”

“And food? What does she like to eat? What gifts? What flowers...”

Seeing him go on and on, Li Xiulan interrupted, “You’ll learn all that little by little.”

Afterwards, she hung up.

Lin Chen stared at the dark screen for a moment, then couldn’t help but let out a long howl to the sky.

Just then, a voice from outside the window cursed loudly: “Who the hell’s screaming at this hour? Don’t you know what time it is? Are you looking for trouble?”

Lin Chen ignored it, quickly getting up and heading next door.

Jiang Yao was taking a shower and looked at Lin Chen, who had barged in, foam on his head: “Are you crazy? Peeping on your godfather while he’s bathing?!”

“Good son, your godfather’s in trouble, it’s time for you to step up!”

...

Lin Chen yanked open Jiang Yao’s wardrobe and grabbed the most expensive suit inside. “Let me borrow this for a day. No need to thank me – tomorrow, you get to be godfather for a day!”

“Damn, that suit cost me over ten thousand yuan. Be careful, don’t mess it up!”

Before Jiang Yao finished, Lin Chen was gone.

He had the suit but lacked dress shoes; his cheap hundred-yuan pair from some online discount store wouldn’t do.

Since it was their first meeting, he had to look the part.

Lin Chen took his wallet and headed straight to the mall.

Meanwhile, at the Xu household, Xu Mi was restless.

“Mom, maybe we should postpone a few days?”

She kept checking herself in the mirror, anxiety evident on her face. “Do I look terrible? It’s so hard to walk now, even need a wheelchair. Will he dislike me?”

“Can’t I see him after I’m better?”

Though she knew Lin Chen had seen her unconscious state, the thought of officially meeting him still made her nervous.

Ye Yun scoffed, “If he really minded, he would’ve taken the 900,000 yuan when your aunt offered it. What’s there to worry about?”

“Your cousin’s right.”

Liu Xiulan bent down to get close to Xu Mi’s face as she looked in the mirror. “Besides, my daughter’s so beautiful, like a goddess. Who could dislike her?”

Xu Mi smiled shyly, a rosy blush spreading across her delicate features, making her even more radiant.

Tomorrow they would finally meet...

And from then on, they would live as husband and wife?

A flicker of hope shone in Xu Mi’s eyes.

This night was destined to be sleepless.

...

The next day.

Lin Chen, sporting dark circles under his eyes, knocked on Jiang Yao’s door.

After barging in on Jiang Yao’s shower last night, his keys had been confiscated, so he had to knock.

Jiang Yao was startled. “Damn, were you a thief last night?!”

“Hey, can I borrow your girlfriend’s face masks, eye masks, creams, stuff like that?”

“Get lost! Her skincare costs over two thousand yuan a set. If she finds out I gave it to you, I’m dead meat!”

“Godfather!”

“Fine, take it. Use sparingly, don’t let her catch on!”

Jiang Yao handed over the products, suspicious. “You’re borrowing my clothes and now my skincare? What’s this, putting on a show? Going on a blind date or what?”

“Mind your own business.”

Lin Chen grabbed the masks and creams and left.

After all the fuss, he finally looked a bit more refreshed.

Then Li Xiulan’s message arrived.

“Meet at 1 PM at the café outside Cuìyuàn Community, Jinshazhou.”

Lin Chen checked his watch and saw he still had over five hours, letting out a sigh of relief.

Then he pulled out his phone, starting to memorize love advice from a popular social app.

After a while, unable to concentrate, he called a florist to confirm the flowers he wanted, then phoned a bakery, wandering around like a headless fly.

Meanwhile, Xu Mi was even more nervous.

“Cousin, why do we need to rent a place? Don’t I have a house?”

“Cousin, does this dress suit me? Is it too plain?”

“Mom, where’s my pearl necklace? And the matching earrings? Can you help me find them?”

“Oh, and the lipstick... Is this one too bright? I don’t think it suits me...”

Sitting at her vanity, Xu Mi chattered on, her face glowing with a mixture of anticipation and shyness she hadn’t even realized herself.

Li Xiulan and Ye Yun exchanged glances and laughed simultaneously.

“All right!”

Li Xiulan snatched the lipstick from Xu Mi’s hand and squatted down in front of her, speaking seriously.

“Tang Tang, you’re already perfect. Don’t be nervous, okay?”

“This was specially chosen by your mom. It can’t go wrong. Even if it does, you still have me! Don’t be afraid.”

Ye Yun held Xu Mi’s hand, her tone earnest. “About renting – the houses under your name are either villas or large apartments downtown, not suitable.”

“Jinshazhou isn’t too remote nor bustling, and it’s not too far from the company. It’s just right.”

Xu Mi frowned slightly. “You’re worried about...?”

“Exactly,” Ye Yun nodded. “Lin Chen seems nice, but a person’s heart is hard to read. Be cautious, don’t let him know your true identity yet, okay?”

Though innocent, Xu Mi wasn’t naïve and immediately agreed. “I understand. Don’t worry, cousin!”

She knew better than anyone that time reveals a person’s true nature.

As the time drew near, Ye Yun led Xu Mi out the door.

Lin Chen was already at the café, eagerly waiting...