And the next day, Qu Tantan once again found Lou Xiangwen in the hallway, looking completely lost. He stood there in a daze, like he’d just been struck by lightning, and when he saw Qu Tantan return, he just silently stared at her.

Qu Tantan understood and pointed upstairs.

The two of them continued squatting at the stairway entrance in front of the rooftop, each holding a lollipop, and began their usual routine.

But this time was different. Lou Xiangwen had already gone through the shock, so after telling Qu Tantan everything, it was now her turn to be so surprised she nearly bit through her candy.

It all started with what happened yesterday.

After Father Qu agreed to an investment cooperation with a partner, right before signing the contract, the person in charge made a strange request. They hoped someone could stay on site throughout the ongoing collaboration.

Although he didn’t explicitly name anyone, his words repeatedly hinted that since Father Qu would be busy going out for business talks, it’d be better to have one of their own employees keep an eye on the processing plant.

Although Father Qu didn’t understand why such a request was made, he thought it over and decided there was no hidden trap. After all, he’d be focused on business deals and wouldn’t have time to oversee everything, so they really did need someone trustworthy.

And Lou Xiangwen, who was diligent, reliable, and familiar with the family, was the best choice.

So Father Qu agreed and went to find Lou Xiangwen that afternoon to discuss it. Lou Xiangwen was genuinely happy for them, and since Father Qu had made it clear it would only be for a while, he felt obliged to help in return for all the care the Qu family had shown him. He agreed without hesitation.

But when he met the representative sent by the other company, Lou Xiangwen was dumbfounded.

Father Qu had said it was a sharp-tongued but easygoing man, and told him not to be nervous. Lou had mentally prepared himself, only to be met with a familiar face.

It was none other than Wen Qingqing.

Unlike her usual trendy, stylish appearance, Wen Qingqing was dressed this time in a clean, professional outfit, even with her hair neatly tied up. She really did look like a proper and capable person in charge.

But when she saw the dazed look on Lou Xiangwen’s face, her beautiful eyes sparkled mischievously with a hint of challenge. She extended her hand to him proudly, lifting her chin slightly, as if silently saying: See? I told you there’s no escaping me.

Lou Xiangwen, still dazed, shook her hand, and then got taken along to the new factory the Wen family had just acquired, where she explained the upcoming operations. When it came to official matters, Wen Qingqing’s expression was serious. She didn’t act clingy or talk nonsense like Lou had feared.

Her words were crisp and organized, her introduction very professional. She even asked if he had any opinions at the end, looking completely like someone genuinely discussing business.

Lou Xiangwen relaxed at that and adjusted his attitude, walking around the factory with her and offering his own thoughts.

By the time the tour ended, Lou Xiangwen let down his guard. So when Wen Qingqing politely offered to drive him back to the shop, he hesitated a bit. Thinking they’d have to work together regularly from now on, he eventually agreed.

But the moment he got in the car, Wen Qingqing had the driver lock the doors, then grabbed Lou Xiangwen’s collar with a domineering smile and teased, “Lou Xiangwen, keep running. Let’s see how far you can go.”

Realizing he’d been tricked, Lou Xiangwen : “…???”

---

As for what happened next, Lou Xiangwen couldn’t bring himself to explain under the clear, innocent gaze of the little girl. Covering his face, he stammered and skipped the details, jumping straight to the conclusion: “…Anyway, in the end, she did send me back.”

They never imagined this whole collaboration was actually orchestrated by Wen Qingqing. By the end, Qu Tantan accidentally bit through her candy in shock. She propped her face in her hands and pondered for a while, then suddenly clapped her hands in realization.

She knew something had been off. Even if the juice became popular after development, it was still a new brand with a short registration period. Most companies wouldn’t know much about it yet. Even if interested, they would typically observe for a while longer before acting. Why would a company have more confidence in their future than even they themselves did?

Turns out their family had basically won the lottery while lying down!

And it made sense. Wen Qingqing had sat in their store for an entire week back then, buying juices by the boxful. She would give them away and come back to buy more. She not only understood the flavor advantages of the juice but also knew their shop inside out.

If her family was wealthy, then making a decision like this seemed perfectly logical.

Having figured it out, Qu Tantan, as a direct beneficiary, felt it would be ungrateful to complain. So she patted Lou Xiangwen’s shoulder with a serious little face and said earnestly, “Dad was so happy yesterday, it turns out it was all thanks to you, Brother Lou!”

But Lou Xiangwen, who had been waiting forever just to be met with this kind of praise : “…”

His face fell.

He consoled himself silently: investment cooperation and all that, Tantan probably didn’t understand. She was just vaguely aware that her Dad was happy, and after hearing it was Wen Qingqing behind it, naturally assumed he deserved the credit.

It wasn’t the child’s fault.

…But it wasn’t his fault either!

When Lou Xiangwen thought about how he’d have to work with Wen Qingqing every day for the foreseeable future, everything went dark. He was filled with despair.

Tantan added softly, “We also have to thank Brother Lou. Dad was still worried yesterday, afraid you wouldn’t understand a lot of the technical stuff and might not handle it well.” She patted his head gently and smiled, “But Dad and Mom have decided to take the risk. And if you’re helping and Sister Wen is overseeing things, I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about.

“After all, Brother Lou is so amazing. There’s no way it’ll go wrong, right?”

Meeting her gaze filled with confident dependence, Lou Xiangwen felt a rush of heat to his head and instantly clenched his fists with renewed motivation.

“Yes! No problem at all! I’ll give it my all!!”

Uncle Qu trusted him so much, and Tantan also had such strong faith in him, how could he even think of giving up over such a small setback? They had always cared for him without expecting anything in return. If Tantan hadn’t accidentally let it slip yesterday, he wouldn’t even have known that Uncle Qu’s whole family had been quietly supporting his dream all along.

This time was finally his chance to repay them. He couldn’t back down now!

After connecting with the Wen family, ‘Tantan Juice’ quickly spread across major shopping malls and convenience stores, with the juice brand rapidly gaining popularity in Jincheng.

Now, even the way Father Qu walked seemed full of confidence. It could be said that he was riding high on success. However, with Mother Qu always around to keep things grounded, he didn’t dare show off too much even though he was clearly happy. He became even more cautious and meticulous in his business negotiations.

The couple, in unspoken agreement, chose not to tell the relatives back in their hometown for now. Father Qu figured that if the company was really established in the future, then they could tell his mother. By that time, no one would be able to object anyway.

Mother Qu, on the other hand, understood her younger brother-in-law’s greedy nature all too well. If he found out now, asking for money would be the least of their worries. There was no telling what he might do to deliberately sabotage their collaboration just to spite them.

As for the old lady, she didn’t like going out anyway. In the past, she’d only come visit because Younger Qu coaxed her into it, and those visits always ended on a sour note.

But ever since last time, perhaps influenced by what Tantan said to her, her mind had become clearer. She no longer blindly listened to the youngest son’s stirring of trouble.

Most importantly, she had finally learned to say no to all of the younger son’s unreasonable demands, which had left him quite frustrated lately.

Later, during their weekly phone calls, though the old lady still acted indifferent, she would ‘accidentally’ start chatting with Qu Tantan. But when Father Qu tried to speak, she would complain and tell him to get out of the way, saying long-distance calls weren’t free.

The old and the young actually got along surprisingly well.

One time, Mother Qu overheard Tantan comforting the old lady through the receiver, saying : “Grandpa must be at ease now. That’s why he doesn’t show up in your dreams anymore. He’s afraid you’d miss him too much.”

It sounded like the old lady had been complaining that her late husband hadn’t appeared in her dreams recently.

Mother still remembered how tense they all were the first time the old lady requested to talk to Tantan on the phone.

But the old lady had happily shared that her husband really had visited her in a dream. Her tone had been light and cheerful, saying they had talked for a long time.

The couple had exchanged confused looks, a bit skeptical. Whether it was just a psychological effect or something real, the fact remained. The old lady’s mindset had clearly improved, and that made them happy.

Tantan continued to gently coax her, voice sweet and soft : “But as long as Grandma doesn’t forget him, Grandpa will definitely visit you again. After all, he cared about you so much. So Grandma has to eat well every day, stay cheerful, and treat yourself even better, so Grandpa won’t have to worry.”

The old lady’s voice was too soft for Mother Qu to hear clearly, but just from the tone, she could tell the old lady was happily responding.

Sometimes when Mother Qu listened to their conversations, she even felt a bit ashamed. To be honest, even now she still felt nervous around the old lady, and in the beginning, that fear had even made her reluctant to date Father Qu.

If Father Qu hadn’t been so thick-skinned and persistent, they wouldn’t have ended up together.

She had always thought her mother-in-law was eccentric and hard to get along with, that no matter how much she tried to please her mother-in-law, she would just be ridiculed and sent away.

She never considered whether she had truly figured out the old lady’s preferences, or whether the old lady had long since seen her fear and deliberately kept her distance because of it.

Only after watching her daughter coax the old lady into happiness did she realize.

The old lady wasn’t actually that hard to deal with. She, too, got lonely and wanted company. She had once been someone cared for and doted on.

All these years, it turned out she had never forgotten the old man.

And it was Qu Tantan who had noticed this, and spoken every word that resonated with the old lady’s heart, making her feel like only Tantan truly understood and cared for her.

As her daughter-in-law, Mother couldn’t help but feel guilty.

But whenever they suggested the old lady come live with them, she would respond in her usual cryptic way, saying she was perfectly fine at home and didn’t want anyone looking down on rural folks.

Mother Qu, who hadn’t meant that at all : “…”

It seemed she was destined to never have a smooth relationship with her mother-in-law in this lifetime. But thankfully, she had a thoughtful, sweet daughter who could be the bridge between them and keep both sides happy.

As for the company registration, they could hide it from the folks back home, but not from the people around them who knew them well.

Meng Jiajia’s father even came by to remind them, asking if they had all the necessary permits and helping double-check everything to ensure there were no issues. After that, the two families got together and had a nice meal.

And lately, the kids at the kindergarten were all especially eager to share with Qu Tantan, happily saying they drank ‘Tantan Juice’ the night before.

Although Qu Tantan occasionally complained a little about constantly hearing ‘Tantan’ and not being quite used to it, she was still happy for their family’s early success.

After enjoying a period of popularity, Lou Xiangwen suddenly approached Father Qu with a proposal. Now was the perfect time to take the next step and expand outward. If possible, why not work with a TV station to advertise ‘Tantan Juice’?

He even prepared a lengthy analysis and plan. Whether it was something ordinary people might think of or things completely unexpected, he wrote down every point in extraordinary detail.

It made people feel at a glance that development was not only necessary, but full of potential.

At first, Qu Tantan knew nothing about the discussions between Lou Xiangwen and her Dad. She only found out later when she overheard her Dad talking with her Mom at home. She couldn’t help but be amazed, Lou Xiangwen really had a sharp eye.

And many of his insights were quite unique and even ahead of their time. Qu Tantan dared to say that if he hadn’t wanted to be a screenwriter and instead went into business, he might have already squeezed his way into the ranks of the wealthy.

Sure enough, her father accepted the proposal. When negotiating new partnerships, he would now bring Lou Xiangwen along to get his input on whether things were feasible.

Yet despite being trusted and appreciated, Lou Xiangwen was still the same socially anxious person in daily life—slow-moving and shy, always giving a bashful smile when he saw them, unchanged in the slightest.

After finishing his daily work, he still continued to write his screenplay at night, never once thinking of giving up. But he didn’t tell anyone about it. Only after finishing a portion would he secretly read it to Qu Tantan.

When she praised him, he would beam with joy and gain more motivation to continue.

Seeing the dark circles that had appeared under the young man’s eyes recently, Qu Tantan seemed to see again the moment they first met, when he introduced himself as a screenwriter with a sparkle of brilliance in his eyes.

“Brother Lou, you’ll definitely achieve your dream,” she repeated seriously again. “You’ll absolutely succeed. Brother Lou, you have to believe in yourself.”

Lou Xiangwen gently patted her head, his expression earnest and resolute. “Thank you, Tantan. Don’t worry, I won’t give up. And I believe you’ll achieve your dream too.”

Qu Tantan: “……” He actually still remembered that she once said her dream was to get into Tsinghua University?

---

Seeing that Lou Xiangwen was about to cry and hug her, Qu Tantan, who hadn’t brought a handkerchief this time, hurriedly and awkwardly changed the subject. “So—so I just wanted to apologize to Brother Lou. You could’ve cleared things up already, but I ended up dragging you into it.”

Lou Xiangwen shook his head, eyes still red, and gave her an especially gentle smile. “If you put it that way, then I should be the one feeling ashamed.

“When I saw them fighting, as an adult I should’ve stepped in to stop them. But I was scared, so I didn’t go forward, nor could I think of a solution. Instead, it was you, Tantan. Even at your age, you were the one who came up with a way to drive those kids off and kept Lin Zhenmo from getting hurt.

“I think the rumor was worth it. Otherwise, we might not have been able to help Lin Zhenmo at all, and we probably would’ve been beaten up by a bunch of elementary schoolers.

“So you’re the truly amazing one, Tantan. I’m not going to take those rumors to heart, so you don’t need to apologize.”

He gently patted Qu Tantan’s soft, fluffy little head and said apologetically, “All that complaining earlier… I just thought those rumors were getting more and more ridiculous. It was kind of funny, honestly. I didn’t really take it to heart.

“I just didn’t expect… that you already knew about my reputation even before you moved in.” As he spoke, his eyes reddened again, and his voice grew hoarse. “I always thought you reached out to me because you didn’t know about the rumors…”

“That’s because what Dad said was right,” she replied.

Afraid he might really start crying again, Qu Tantan quickly lowered her head and began counting on her fingers. “For example, we haven’t even met the downstairs neighbors yet, but Lin Zhenmo and Aunt Wan are the same.

“Even though I sometimes think she’s not the best Mom, she’s trying hard to change now. She really does care about Lin Zhenmo; she just doesn’t know how to get along with him. And my Mom says that everyone makes mistakes, and we should give them a chance to change.

“Aunt Wan is very gentle. When she talks to me, she always crouches down and looks me in the eye. She can play piano, sing beautifully, draw, and she’s really good with crafts too.

“Lin Zhenmo is even more special. He’s not bad at studying. Actually, he’s really smart and learns super fast. When people bully him, he doesn’t back down or get scared. He faces it head-on. Even though he doesn’t say much, he really cares about Aunt Wan. The other day, he even whispered to me that he’s never seen her celebrate a birthday, so he wants to throw her one.

“He’s independent and brave, always solving problems on his own. He’s like one of those little geniuses in picture books. Oh! And yesterday when we were building snowmen, he was amazing! He made all these super realistic snow animals like elephants in no time. Jiajia and I were so impressed.

Qu Tantan stuck out her tongue playfully. “But Lin Zhenmo’s so smug about it. Jiajia and I both decided not to tell him.

“This is a secret between me and Brother Lou, okay? You have to promise not to tell Lin Zhenmo!” She winked at Lou Xiangwen and held out her pinky finger. “Come on, pinky swear!”

In a daze, Lou Xiangwen hooked his pinky with hers. That small, soft finger made him suddenly realize—this girl he’d already come to rely on like a friend was still so young.

She wasn’t even in elementary school yet, she was still in kindergarten.

She’d praised so many people and saw the good in all of them, yet hadn’t said a single word about herself. Lou Xiangwen couldn’t help but feel a soft ache in his heart. “Tantan is really smart too. You understand a lot of things. You’re amazing.

He wasn’t as good with words as Qu Tantan, but he meant every word. “I really like you, Tantan. I’ve secretly considered you my good friend for a while now.

“I never said it before, but… thank you for being here.”

This kid was like a little sun, lively and warm. She made it so easy to open up and feel comforted. Despite being so young, she was the one who always comforted him, a grown-up, and made him could talk to her about anything.

Sometimes, Lou Xiangwen forgot she was still just a child in kindergarten. Her emotional maturity made him feel like there was no barrier between them.

And that made him feel a little guilty.

But Qu Tantan didn’t care. After all, she had regressed, f course she knew more than others. Compared to her, Lin Zhenmo was the real genius, good at everything.

After complimenting each other for a while, they finally got to the main issue. But Wen Qingqing’s behavior was still baffling. They didn’t know her true background and couldn’t figure out what she might be planning.

All Qu Tantan could do was pat Lou Xiangwen’s shoulder sympathetically. “Maybe Sister Wen was just trying to scare you. Thinking about it too much will only keep you up at night. It’s better not to dwell on it. When she shows up again, you’ll know what she’s up to.”

That was the only comfort Lou Xiangwen could give himself. He let out a frustrated sigh and held Qu Tantan’s hand, ready to head downstairs.

But before they even got to the stairs, Lin Wan appeared at the hallway entrance. She peeked in, tucked the hair behind her ear, and smiled sheepishly. “I was looking for Tantan. I didn’t expect you’d really be here.

“I just ran into your Mom. She asked if we’d seen you, she’s looking for you to come home for dinner. Xiao Mo said he saw you two come upstairs, so I thought I’d check. Hope I didn’t interrupt your conversation?”

Lou Xiangwen shook his head quickly. “Not at all! I just lost track of time. Can’t believe it’s gotten so late.”

Qu Tantan let go of his hand and ran over to Lin Wan, tilting her head up to examine her curiously. Lin Wan looked like she wanted to cover her face but resisted and gave her a gentle look. “What is it, Tantan?”

“Aunt Wan, were you crying? Your eyes look red here.” Qu Tantan pointed to the corner of her eye, tilting her head in confusion. “Did Lin Zhenmo say something to upset you? You can tell me, I’ll go talk to him!”

Lin Wan chuckled. “No, of course not. It’s not XiaoMo…”

Lin Zhenmo emerged from behind her, face long and expression calm. He glanced over and said blandly, “What did you say just now?”

Qu Tantan immediately covered her mouth and shook her head, looking innocent. “I didn’t say anything at all. So what happened to Aunt Wan?”

“It’s the wind, outside’s really cold.” Lin Wan quickly offered an excuse. “Alright, Tantan, let’s head down. Your Mom’s still waiting for you to come home for dinner.”

Qu Tantan was still a little confused, but thinking it might be a secret between the mother and son, she just nodded obediently without asking further. However, when she walked up beside Lin Zhenmo, she noticed he quietly took a step back and turned his head away, seemingly deliberately avoiding eye contact with her.

Qu Tantan : ?

Huh? When did she provoke this little hedgehog again?

She scratched her head in puzzlement. As they followed them downstairs, she stretched out her finger and poked Lin Zhenmo’s back. He immediately tensed up and paused in his steps but didn’t turn around. “What is it?”

Other than avoiding her gaze, his tone didn’t seem to carry any other oddities.

“Did something happen between you and Aunt Wan? Or… are you mad at what I said before?” Qu Tantan quickened her pace to walk side by side with him and turned her head to study his expression. “I was just joking. Don’t take it seriously.”

“I didn’t,” Lin Zhenmo said expressionlessly, looking straight ahead. “Don’t look around while walking downstairs. It’s easy to trip.”

Qu Tantan : “…Oh.”

When they reached their floor, and were about to part ways with Lin Wan and her son, Qu Tantan tiptoed and whispered into Lin Zhenmo’s ear, “Lin Zhenmo, your ears are bright red! It’s even reached your neck!”

Then she immediately dashed into her apartment, mischievously slamming the door shut behind her.

Lin Zhenmo, realizing what had just happened, was left red-faced and fuming : “…”

Lin Wan paused, then couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. But as soon as she met her son’s blank expression, she awkwardly wiped the smile off her face, looked up at the ceiling, and pretended she knew nothing.

---

For a full half month, Lou Xiangwen went to work every day in anxiety, only to return empty-handed, again and again. But eventually, the final straw dropped.

That day, Father Qu came home early, visibly excited, and shared some big news: they had landed a major order! Not only that, a large company had taken interest in their fruit juice and wanted to invest in a partnership.

Father Qu was debating whether to accept the investment and scale up the shop. While he had once dreamed of growing the business, registering a company, setting up his own processing factory, and becoming a big boss, it had always seemed like fantasy. After being talked down by Uncle Qu and scolded by the old lady, he had withdrawn those thoughts.

After all, Father Qu came from a rural background and had little formal education. He didn’t really understand the world of business and had been learning everything step by step through trial and error.

But now, it was like a pie falling from the sky. All he needed to do was accept the investment, and he could start his own factory. The company’s representative had come personally, laying out a clear and convincing plan, trying hard to persuade him.

Though he didn’t understand why they were so interested in partnering with him, Father Qu had the contract reviewed and confirmed that there were no issues. He brought it home to discuss with Mother Qu.

Compared to her husband’s hesitation, Qu Mama was much more decisive. “Do it. All the benefits are right in front of you, and they’re not trying to scam you, why not accept?”

“But once we register a company, there’s no going back. What if it fails, and we go bankrupt…”

“Then we start over.” Mother Qu gave him a sideways glance. “Business isn’t some guaranteed path. You win some, you lose some. Who knows what the future holds? If you don’t grab the opportunity now, are you just going to wait and regret it later?

“You’re always so quick to advise Xiao Lou, sounding like some seasoned expert.

She gave his head a nudge with disdain and raised an eyebrow. “You said if he falls down, he can get back up again, he’s still young and has chances. So why, when it’s your turn, are you suddenly so timid and scared you won’t be able to stand up again?

“What, are you that much older than Xiao Lou? Old bones and creaky joints, already at the age where you can’t get up after a fall?”

Father Qu stared blankly at his wife, eyes welling up with emotion. “Wifey…”

“Don’t get all mushy. Here’s our passbook. Just go for it.” She stuffed the bankbook into his hands, then turned away slightly, a bit embarrassed but still speaking firmly, “Or are you saying you’ve lost even the courage and confidence to support your wife and child? Then I really would look down on you.”

“Of course I haven’t!”

Father Qu rubbed his eyes, straightened up, and pulled Mother Qu into a hug. “You’re the best, Wifey. When I really earn the big bucks, you can quit your job.”

“Quit my job to do what? Stay home and take care of you and Tantan?” Mother Qu rolled her eyes. “No thanks. That sounds boring as hell.”

“No, no!” Qu Papa quickly shook his head, revealing an awkward smile. “Back when we first met, didn’t you say you wanted to design jewelry? But your family made you become an accountant instead. I know you must have some regrets.”

Mother Qu was stunned.

Father Qu tried to ignore the heat on his face and pressed a fist to his mouth, mumbling, “So… when I have the money, I’ll open a jewelry store for you. You… you can pursue your dream too. Let’s not leave regrets for when we’re old.”

“You’re right. We’re still young. We still have the chance to chase our dreams, right?”

Mother Qu’s eyes turned red too. “You actually remembered that…”

“How could I forget anything my wife said?” Father Qu muttered, “I remember every single word we said when we first met. You didn’t even like me back then, thinking I was uneducated and from a poor family. If I hadn’t been so thick-skinned and kept chasing you, you wouldn’t have even seen me again after the first meeting.”

Mother Qu : “…” Wow, who knew this guy could hold such a grudge?

Even so, Mother Qu was still deeply moved. Her heart felt warm, and a gentle smile naturally appeared on her face.

The two teary-eyed ‘rabbits’ gazed at each other lovingly, it was like watching a pair of clueless newlyweds. Qu Tantan, who had witnessed the whole thing from the side, skillfully covered her eyes, jumped off the sofa, and ran into her room.

When she had just returned, worried she might forget some important turning points, she had written them down in her diary using a code that only she and the future Meng Jiajia would understand.

She flipped through the diary, confirming that this event had never happened in her past life. If it had, there was no way her Dad would have only started considering taking out a loan to start a business later on.

So, was it all triggered by the early appearance of the fruit juice?

After all, their juice really was popular now. It made sense that a company might see the potential and want to invest.

Qu Tantan marked this point with a check in her diary. Thinking about her sticky-sweet parents still cuddling in the living room, she couldn’t help but smile with gentle happiness.

In her memory, although her parents had loved each other deeply, they were very reserved and rarely showed it openly. After the incident, her Dad became silent and steady, while her Mom turned gentle and cautious, completely opposite to how they were now.

But being able to see her Dad and Mom like this now… it was truly wonderful.

Their future would definitely get better and better.

Qu Tantan firmly believed this.

---

Lou Xiangwen naturally had no idea what had happened yesterday, so when he heard Wen Qingqing’s accusations, he panicked at first. But after thinking it through, he felt he hadn’t let anything slip, then the only possibility was that she was bluffing.

So he forced himself to put on a calm expression. “What do you mean, lying to you? What did I lie about?”

Wen Qingqing got even angrier at his evasive attitude. “You clearly aren’t even married, and those two kids aren’t yours, right? Why did you lie to me like that? Do you really hate me that much? Enough to ruin your own reputation just to avoid me?”

“W-Who says that?” Lou Xiangwen stammered, his voice rising with guilt. “You heard Tantan call me ‘Dad’ that day, right? Th-Those two kids are mine!”

Wen Qingqing rolled her eyes and let out a cold laugh. “Cut the act. I know everything.”

Lou Xiangwen : ?

“I’ve already looked into it. You’re not married at all, you don’t even have a girlfriend,” the young miss huffed, glaring at him. “You just got dumped by your ex not long ago, how could she treat you like that?!”

She had originally meant to ruthlessly expose him, but the moment she mentioned the ex, her temper flared. Even she had to tiptoe around Lou Xiangwen, so what right did that ex have to be so arrogant and actually bully him?!

That ex better hope she never runs into Wen Qingqing, or she’s in for it!

“……” Lou Xiangwen’s face turned numb, awkward and bewildered. “It’s one thing for you to investigate me… but this too?”

“How I investigate is none of your business! You’re the one who lied to me first!” Wen Qingqing kept glaring. “And that kid, he’s your boss’s, isn’t he?”

Thoroughly exposed, Lou Xiangwen : “……”

The young lady was truly about to be infuriated to death. She jabbed his chest with her finger again and again. “You really are something, Lou Xiangwen. Pretending to be the father of two kids just to avoid me, even spreading ridiculous rumors in the neighborhood. You think I’d back off just because I found out you’re supposedly in the underworld and once slashed someone?”

The pretty girl lifted her chin proudly. “Then you’ve miscalculated. I absolutely won’t!”

“……?”

Just finding out he was not only famous in the community but also on the street, Lou Xiangwen backed away under her pressure, a question mark slowly rising above his head.

How did the rumors get this outrageous? He could live with the gang stuff, but slashing people?

Suddenly, he remembered how Qu Tantan had pushed him forward to break up a fight, even wildly claiming he was a gangster who’d ‘knives go in white, came out red.’ He went silent.

…Well, that couldn’t be helped either.

Forget it, forget it.

As Wen Qingqing watched Lou Xiangwen’s expression constantly shift and eventually settle into resignation, she raised an eyebrow and tapped his chest again, her beautiful eyes filled with teasing. “Just keep hiding from me, Lou Xiangwen. Let’s see how long you can last.”

After saying that meaningfully, she turned and walked away without giving him a chance to speak, not even lingering in the shop like she used to.

This made Lou Xiangwen breathe a sigh of relief, but also filled him with unease. He had no idea what scheme she’d come up with next.

Because he couldn’t stop thinking about it, Lou Xiangwen couldn’t focus on his book. Restless and anxious, he kept imagining all sorts of scenarios. He sighed heavily. How did she find out the truth so quickly?

No, more importantly, after suffering such humiliation, how did she still have the energy to go and investigate?

Lou Xiangwen truly couldn’t understand. He sighed in frustration again, already sure he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

So when Qu Tantan came back, she immediately spotted Lou Xiangwen squatting in the stairwell in a daze.

Because it had been snowing constantly, for safety reasons, Father Qu had told Lou Xiangwen to close the shop early in the evenings. Lou Xiangwen had agreed with a smile, but in truth had continued to follow his usual closing hours.

This was the first time he’d voluntarily closed the shop and come home so early.

It was obvious something had happened. His whole face screamed ‘Help, I need to vent,’ making Qu Tantan shake her head and sigh.

She patted his head with practiced ease. “What’s wrong, Brother Lou? Did a customer give you trouble?”

Lou Xiangwen, finally meeting his spiritual confidante, almost burst into tears. He stared at Qu Tantan with a pitiful expression until the girl indulgently opened her arms to allow a hug. Only then did his mood lift slightly, and he hugged her as they headed up to the rooftop.

A cold wind was blowing outside, so they decided not to go all the way up, just stayed in the stairwell. Lou Xiangwen even pulled out two thick seat cushions with practiced ease and laid them down for Qu Tantan.

She sat on the step, rummaged through her pocket, pulled out two lollipops, and handed him one.

Then Lou Xiangwen began to chatter away about what had happened during the day. Overcome with emotion, he angrily crunched the lollipop, completely missing the increasingly guilty expression on his little friend’s face.

When he finally finished and looked up, he saw the girl cupping her face in her hands, head down in deep thought.

Thinking she was trying to come up with a plan for him, Lou Xiangwen was touched. “But it’s really no big deal. I just wanted to talk to you a bit. Keeping it all bottled up was making me miserable.”

Qu Tantan didn’t look at him, only gave a half-hearted response with her head down, then waved her little hand at him, “You go on.”

So Lou Xiangwen continued.

“Tell me, how did she find out so fast? She even figured out you’re Uncle Qu’s kid!”

Qu Tantan : “……” She quietly shrank back a little.

“If she hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t have known that the rumors about me had gotten so outrageous, saying I’ve stabbed someone! Everyone should’ve known what my job is ever since that time I was… well, surrounded by onlookers. So how did this kind of rumor get started? And it’s gotten to the point that when Wen Qingqing had people ask about me, they actually believed it!”

“……” This time, the little girl even covered her eyes.

“You know… Um, actually, it’s my fault.”

Afraid that if he kept talking, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night, the little girl solemnly raised her hand and simply confessed, “You know, right? About how we went to the forest park yesterday?”

Lou Xiangwen paused, then nodded.

He did know about that. Father Qu had even kindly invited him along, saying closing the shop for a day wouldn’t be a problem. But he’d heard there would be another family, and not being great with strangers—not to mention feeling a bit guilty about skipping work—he declined.

So hearing her say this now… could it be?

Seeing Lou Xiangwen seemed to have caught on, Qu Tantan nodded to confirm his guess. “We saw Sister Wen there. She probably realized that Lin Zhenmo and I aren’t your kids. But I didn’t think… that she’d really come to find you.”

Wen Qingqing looked like one of those proud, high-born young ladies. Qu Tantan had thought enough time had passed for her to have given up. Who would’ve guessed not only did she have the courage to seek him out, but she even came the very next morning?

Thinking about it, Qu Tantan couldn’t help but admire the young lady’s courage.

No matter how it turned out, Wen Qingqing was truly brave.

“And also…”

“—Also?!”

Lou Xiangwen was still stuck on the disbelief of ‘How could you bump into her there?’ When he heard there was more, he looked up in panic and gritted his teeth, “Fine, just tell me. I can take it.”

Qu Tantan scratched her cheek, “It’s not that bad. I just wanted to apologize.”

Lou Xiangwen : ?

“It’s about the rumors. They should’ve already died down, but I said some things that might’ve stirred them up again and made people gossip about you more.
“I dragged you into that fight and didn’t handle the aftermath well. I’m sorry.”

She told him the full story from before, earnestly apologizing, “I thought people would only know there was some ‘Brother Lou’ around, I didn’t think they’d actually connect it to you, and even believe it too.”

And to think she hadn’t even known who it was when her Mom brought it up.

Qu Tantan cupped her face in frustration.

But Lou Xiangwen wasn’t mad, nor was he as troubled as when he heard about the earlier rumor. In fact, he let out a breath of relief. “Oh, it’s that? I thought it was some other disaster. You gave me a scare.”

He scratched his head and gave the surprised Qu Tantan a sheepish smile, “Honestly, I’m not that bothered. Even before you guys moved here, people said all kinds of things behind my back. I can’t go knocking on every door to explain those weird rumors about me, can I?”

Not that he had the guts to, anyway.

Saying that, he even chuckled to himself, “They used to say all sorts of stuff. If I took it all seriously, I’d never be able to keep living here. I mean, I am kind of strange. If I think about it from other people’s perspective—I’m not good at socializing, I barely go out, I always come home with injuries… and when they greet me, I just nod stiffly and walk away in a hurry.
“Anyone would think I’m weird. They’d probably even suspect I’m a criminal.”

“That’s not weird at all,” Qu Tan-tan interrupted seriously. “Even though the Grandpas and Grandmas around here are warm-hearted and nice, it doesn’t change the fact that this time, they’re in the wrong.”

Lou Xiangwen’s self-deprecating words were abruptly cut off.

He fell silent, slowly putting away his awkward smile, his expression stiffening.

“When we just moved in, my Dad heard those rumors and told me and my mom. Mom got worried, but Dad just said they were just words, those people don’t really know you.”

As Lou Xiangwen’s eyes flickered uneasily, Qu Tantan repeated her Dad’s words with full sincerity, “We’ve never actually met the neighbors or seen anything with our own eyes. We can’t judge someone based on rumors. Only by getting to know someone can we form a fair opinion.”

She gave the young man a bright smile and counted on her fingers, “I think my Dad was absolutely right. Because it’s only after really getting to know Brother Lou that we find out—he’s gentle, amazing, knows all kinds of things we don’t, takes his work seriously, and treats everyone with so much patience.
“My Dad, Mom, and I all like Brother Lou a lot.”

Looking into Lou Xiangwen’s slightly reddened eyes, Qu Tantan said slowly and clearly:

“And we’ve always believed that Brother Lou will become an excellent screenwriter. We’re looking forward to watching your dramas one day.”

Lou Xiangwen couldn’t hold back this time, he actually started crying. He wiped his face in embarrassment, but still forced a smile at the little girl.

To him, these words touched him even more deeply than the comfort she had given him when they first met.

Although Lou Xiangwen always said he wouldn’t give up on his dreams, he was really just pushing forward with a stubborn heart, refusing to give in. In truth, he couldn’t see a clear future. Sitting in the shop every day, he would occasionally wonder—would there come a day when he’d think this kind of life wasn’t so bad after all, and just give up on his dream?

This path was just too hard.

Sometimes, he even doubted whether he truly had any talent, but he didn’t dare tell anyone that.

What he hadn’t expected was that, apart from himself, there was an entire family, who—even without saying it out loud—firmly believed he could succeed, and were genuinely looking forward to the day his dream would come true.

---

“These were all made by Lin Zhenmo! Aren’t they super super amazing!!” Qu Tantan was holding up her arms in a hugging pose, proudly showing off Lin Zhenmo’s creations to the adults.

“These ones were made by me and Tantan, but they’re not as good as Lin Zhenmo’s, hehe,” Meng Jiajia ran over to her own snowmen, lifting her chin proudly.

Lin Zhenmo had still felt a little embarrassed, and his ears turned red as he glared at the two girls. But when he heard the adults’ sincere praise, he froze for a second, warmth bubbling up inside him. He pursed his lips tightly, lowering his head to hide his shyness.

He felt totally out of place.

But the praise continued: “Xiao Mo’s creations are delicate and lifelike, but Tantan and Jiajia’s have a lot of childlike charm too, they’re all wonderful!”

“Xiao Mo’s Mom, has he studied crafts before? Or maybe drawing? No? Then he’s really talented! You should let him take some lessons, he’s amazing.”

“I think so too, just not sure if Xiao Mo enjoys it…”

“You’re right, it still depends on whether the child is interested. Don’t force it.”

“Meng Chaofeng, what’s that supposed to mean? Are you implying something again? It was your idea for your daughter to learn Taekwondo, and now look at her, turned her into a little hedgehog!”

“I didn’t mean that. And besides, she’s our daughter, what’s with this ‘your’ and ‘my’ child…”

“Xiao Mo’s hands are so skillful, must’ve gotten that from Lin Wan, huh? Gosh, I envy your kid. So smart, sensible, and good at everything.”

“Ugh, and I haven’t even started envying Lin Zhenmo yet. Seriously, how does someone get a Mom who passes down both brains and talent? Why don’t I have one like that?”

“…Qu Tantan, are you looking for a spanking?!”

Lin Zhenmo : “……” Why does everyone always go off-topic while praising?

Still, his lips quietly curled upward. So this is what it’s like to go out and have fun as a family. It was not as boring as he imagined. Childish, yes, but… oddly joyful.

The three families were still laughing and chatting around the snowmen, when a haughty voice suddenly rang out.

“Hey, kids, haven’t you looked long enough? You’ve been standing here forever. Children shouldn’t be so domineering, let others have a look too!”

The young man was fairly handsome, but unfortunately held his chin up in a condescending manner. Clearly impatient, he waved his hand dismissively to drive them away, “Come on, move aside.”

The three families : “……” Where did this clown come from?

Meng Jiajia’s Mom was the most straightforward. She immediately rolled her eyes at the man and said sarcastically, “Wow, some people really do think they’re entitled to everything. They take what’s not theirs, kick others out, and still have the nerve to scold you for being ‘domineering’ for standing there. Amazing.”

The young man’s face darkened. “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, nothing. Just telling a little joke.” Wei Xinlan hugged her husband’s arm, smirking. “This is my first time hearing someone say you have to clear the way and let others admire your own creation for free. Isn’t that hilarious?”

She lifted her chin, full of fighting spirit like a battle-hardened hen. “You want to look? Fine. Want us to move? Fine. Pay up. These days even a casual art exhibit costs money. Yet some people have the audacity to demand free viewing and demand we clear the stage.”

The young man immediately turned red with anger, his neck bulging as he stammered, pointing at her with a trembling finger. “You, you, how dare you speak to me like that?!”

Meng Jiajia’s Dad wasn’t having it. He firmly grabbed the man’s hand, a faint chill in his eyes. “It’s rude to behave like this. People might question whether you had any upbringing. The kids are watching. Even if you’re immature, you should at least try to set an example.”

The young man looked big, but was weak in reality. Under the grip of the deputy captain of the criminal police unit, he instantly cried out in pain, gritting his teeth in humiliation and spitting curses as he stormed off, throwing in plenty of profanity.

Lin Wan hadn’t expected that not only was Qu Tantan’s Mom formidable, even Meng Jiajia’s seemingly bubbly Mom could be so sharp and fearless when it came to a confrontation. She stared at the two women, her eyes glowing with admiration.

If only she could become someone brave like them…

Qu Tantan’s Mom also laughed beside her, speaking in a calm and gentle voice, “See, Old Qu? I told you it’s important to teach kids manners. Otherwise, they grow up and turn out like that, becoming a menace to everyone around them.”

She smiled sweetly while making a veiled jab, “Tan Bao’er, you have to pay close attention. Don’t grow up to be a rude adult like that, or I’ll kick you out of the house and disown you.”

Qu Tantan had been trying to figure out with Lin Zhenmo whether the woman behind the man was Wen Qingqing, but as soon as she heard her mother’s words, she nodded obediently. “Tan Bao’er is so well-behaved, she’d never be so rude as to chase children away the moment she sees them, and even curse at them on top of that.”

She looked up and smiled sweetly. “Brother is amazing, he can curse so well. Tan Bao’er doesn’t even know those words.”

The young man instantly choked on his words, completely unsure how to respond to what seemed like Tantan’s sincere praise. His face twisted with anger as he turned to curse at Mother Qu. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking about? You think you can be my Mom? You better take a look in the mirror and see what kind of joke you are!”

Mother Qu just spread her hands indifferently. “I’m your mother.”

The young man: “……” Damn it!

He clenched his jaw, wanting to hit someone, but Meng Jiajia’s father had a firm grip on his arm, completely immobilizing him. He couldn’t win the argument either, and his face turned red with fury as he could only sputter threats like, “Just you wait.”

Wen Qingqing, who had already been recognized, finally came to her senses. Qu Tantan had clearly been the one lying, so why did she have to be the one feeling awkward?

More importantly, she simply couldn’t stand the scene unfolding before her. Face dark, she marched forward, her beautiful eyes glaring at the young man as she scolded sharply, “Song Zhiming, are you here just to embarrass yourself? You’ve disturbed people and you’re still acting so arrogant. Serves you right to be taught a lesson, now hurry up and apologize!”

Seeing that someone reasonable had finally stepped in, Meng Jiajia’s Dad gave her a faint glance and let go of the young man. That glance seemed ordinary, but somehow it carried a weight that made it hard to meet directly. Wen Qingqing instinctively shrank back and felt oddly confused, why was she afraid of him?

She shook her head and looked toward Song Zhiming again. Seeing him still glaring in defiance, her eyebrows shot up. “Song Zhiming, if you keep causing trouble, don’t ever come looking for me again! We don’t need a useless friend who only knows how to curse and drag others down!”

Song Zhiming had liked Wen Qingqing for a long time. His whole outburst had been an attempt to impress her. But now, not only had that backfired, she was threatening to cut him off—how could he accept that?

Panicked by her words, he hurried to obey, reluctantly muttering an apology to the others. Ignoring the girls’ dramatic eye rolls, he then scurried over to Wen Qingqing and gave her a fawning smile. “Qingqing, don’t be mad. See? I apologized. Don’t take it personally, I was just worked up, I swear—”

Even though she now knew Qu Tantan wasn’t Luo Xiangwen’s child, she had seen how gently he held her and could tell the girl meant a lot to him. Wen Qingqing was in emotional turmoil, but still instinctively didn’t want the little girl to see anyone getting too close to her.

So she immediately pushed him away in disgust, her tone petulant. “Why are you getting so close? I don’t care what you say, this has nothing to do with me.”

Song Zhiming kept nodding, trying to please her. “Right, right, nothing to do with you. I just wanted to explain.”

Wen Qingqing couldn’t help but roll her eyes again, and when she turned her head, she found herself meeting Qu Tantan’s gaze. She froze, then instinctively took a step back, turned her face away, and muttered, “Hurry up and leave already, so annoying. Nothing’s gone right today. I never should’ve agreed to come!”

With that, she stormed off. The remaining friends looked around awkwardly, clearly wishing they didn’t know Song Zhiming. They gave the families a few embarrassed, polite apologies, then hurried after Wen Qingqing.

What a disgrace. None of them had ever experienced something like this!

“What bad luck, having to deal with people like that.”

Seeing them slink away, Meng Jiajia’s Mom spat on the ground and crossed her arms angrily. “Totally ruined the mood. Did something wrong and still needed a little girl to force him to apologize, no remorse at all. Looks like a decent person on the outside, but really just trash.”

Her words were fast and sharp, every syllable crisp. Lin Wan couldn’t help but space out a little while listening. She glanced at her son, who was now huddled next to Qu Tantan, and sure enough—Lin Zhenmo was staring at Meng Jiajia’s Mom with a look of agreement.

Lin Wan suddenly felt a jolt of insight, recalling all those arguments where her son had said things like:

—“Why can’t you just say no directly?”
—“If you don’t want to, then don’t. Why do you always suppress yourself?”
—“You’re always avoiding everything. Can’t you be strong for me just once?”

What if she could be like those other Moms, say what she meant, face things bravely, stop avoiding conflict and stop making herself and her son suffer… Would that help Xiao Mo recognize her as his mother again?

Lin Wan suddenly felt a longing toward the other two mothers. Her eyes sparkled, as if she had just learned something important.

Lin Zhenmo felt her gaze from behind and turned around, only to meet her eyes directly. He paused. There was something different in them.

…What was it?

Maybe just a little… more of something.

---

The very next morning, Lou Xiangwen was, as usual, comfortably staying in the shop. Due to the recent snowfall, there hadn’t been many customers lately, and the place had grown quiet.

Today would probably be another slow day.

He had just taken out a book, ready to enjoy some leisurely time, when the sound of the door opening suddenly rang out. He instinctively put on a polite smile. “Welcome, may I help you with—”

But the moment his eyes landed on that familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar face, the words stuck in his throat. He almost rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.

—Oh no, why is she here again?!

However, his look of disbelief clearly enraged the woman. The fury blazing in her beautiful eyes was all too obvious, and a wave of panic swept over him.

Sure enough, the very next moment, she stood with her hands on her hips, her elegant brows raised in anger, scolding furiously:

“Lou Xiangwen, how dare you lie to me—!!”

---

After they finished building a little tiger together, Qu Tantan wiped the imaginary sweat from her brow and cheerfully admired their work, feeling rather satisfied.

Hands on her hips, she suddenly noticed that Lin Zhenmo had been quiet for a while. She turned her head to look for him, and was immediately stunned.

She saw the boy squatting not far away, face serious and focused, carefully sculpting a small dog in front of him. All around him were snow sculptures of various little animals.

Was he making art pieces?!

They were way too exquisite! And to think they were made by an elementary school student???

Qu Tantan, who already considered herself an adult, was instantly shaken.

She rushed over to Lin Zhenmo, circled the little animals a few times, and didn’t hold back her praise. “Lin Zhenmo, you’re amazing! I thought real animals had wandered out here. Your hands are so skillful, you’re way better than me.

“This puppy is so cute, can I touch it? I promise I won’t break it!”

Having finally attracted the little sunflower’s attention, Lin Zhenmo listened to the praise now ringing in his ears again, and couldn’t help but lift the corners of his mouth in a calm little smile. He nodded graciously. “Sure, go ahead.”

Meng Jiajia was also drawn over and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Wow, Lin Zhenmo, who would’ve thought you were this talented! I admit it, we lost. Yours look way better!”

Lin Zhenmo nodded at her with reserved pride, and suddenly thought that her hedgehog haircut didn’t look so bad after all.

And this entire scene just so happened to be witnessed by someone who shouldn’t have seen it.

With an impatient, casual glance, Wen Qingqing saw those two vaguely familiar children, and her mood instantly darkened.

She had come here this time to unwind.

Previously, the young miss had sent someone to investigate Lou Xiangwen. But the people she sent only dug up local gossip. They said Lou Xiangwen might be involved in gang activity and was quite notorious in the area. Shockingly, he had even attacked someone before.

In the underworld, he was known as “Brother Lou.” He’d supposedly fought hard to claim that territory, and was infamous for his ruthlessness—’knives go in white, came out red.’

Wen Qingqing : “…”

She tried to imagine Lou Xiangwen’s fierce expression, but simply couldn’t picture it. Thinking back on their past interactions, her expression grew numb, and her mood sank again.

How could Lou Xiangwen be that kind of person?

She could clearly feel that he was a proper, decent guy—gentle and patient with everyone. He even had the courage to sternly criticize her when she did something wrong, rather than turning a blind eye just because of her background.

Could it be she’d misjudged him? That everything he showed her was just an act?

But that made no sense. He was clearly capable, so why would he work as a lowly shop clerk, bowing and scraping to customers?

Maybe his wife couldn’t stand his bad reputation from gang ties and forced him to find a proper job? And without a degree, the only place he could find work was that small shop?

That’s just so pitiful.

How could his wife treat him like that?!

Caught up in her own wild assumptions, Wen Qingqing started feeling genuine indignation on Lou Xiangwen’s behalf. By the time she calmed down, she grew dejected again. So what if it were true? It was his and his wife’s business. She was just a shameless girl who clung to him without dignity. What did it have to do with her?

Besides, if he really had such a terrifying reputation that even elementary school kids ran away screaming when they heard his name… then maybe he wasn’t such a great guy after all.

And so the young miss, thoroughly heartbroken, kept searching for excuses to comfort herself.

After moping at home for a week, some friends invited her out to relax. One suggested going for a walk in the forest park, saying the scenery would help clear their minds. Wen Qingqing didn’t think much of it and agreed.

And she got tricked.

There were no places to sit, nothing fun to do, and the bare snowy landscape had no appeal. Wherever the young miss looked, she was displeased. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Finally, she exploded and scolded her friends for being useless, yelling that they might as well have gone on a real vacation.

The suitor trying to please her kept apologizing profusely.

Just as Wen Qingqing was stomping her feet, ready to leave, she turned around and unexpectedly came face-to-face with Qu Tantan, Lin Zhenmo, and a child she didn’t recognize. But the moment she saw Qu Tantan, her scalp tingled out of reflex.

Just thinking of how Qu Tantan’s words—though they seemed innocent and naive—always hit right on the mark, as if peeling back the layers of her ugly thoughts, made Wen Qingqing feel a little afraid of her.

She glanced around, but the figure she subconsciously expected to see never appeared.

Both of his children were here, yet he didn’t come to accompany them?

She didn’t know why, but even though she should’ve turned and left immediately, she couldn’t stop herself from pausing. Wen Qingqing stared unblinkingly at them playing, and when she saw Qu Tantan bouncing over into a woman’s arms, she involuntarily held her breath, her heart pounding with nervous tension.

The woman lifted her head, and Wen Qingqing’s heart instantly sank, sank all the way to the bottom of the lake.

Wen Qingqing had always considered herself beautiful, and never thought anyone could outshine her, until she saw this woman. Even though she wasn’t dressed as well as Wen Qingqing, it didn’t diminish her beauty. In fact, she was stunning. Delicate and fragile, with gentle features, it was as if she was born to be doted on.

That must be Lou Xiangwen’s wife, right?

No wonder he would wash his hands of the past and willingly become a small-time shop clerk for her.

Even if it were Wen Qingqing herself, she had to admit: if she were in his shoes, she might have made the same choice.

With a pearl like that in front of him, it was no surprise Lou Xiangwen would reject her so firmly, completely immune to her advances. Even if she tried to tempt him with her family background, if that actually worked, it wouldn’t mean he had fallen for her.

And would she really like a man like that, someone who could be moved by such shallow things?

Wen Qingqing wouldn’t.

She pulled at the corners of her mouth bitterly and finally decided to give up. Hugging her arms, she shot a glare at the still-chattering suitor beside her and said impatiently, “Shut up already. I’m freezing to death. Who holds a gathering in a place like this anyway? So useless, let’s go.”

The friend shrugged helplessly and took her arm again, comforting her, “Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. He meant well. He knew you’ve been cooped up at home lately, so he thought coming here might cheer you up.”

But Wen Qingqing remained upset, especially after seeing Qu Tantan and the others. “What’s there to enjoy here? Cheer me up? It just makes me angrier.”

Her friend couldn’t figure out why she suddenly got mad. She had seemed just a little impatient earlier but still went along with their playful fun. Now, this sudden shift baffled him. “Did someone upset you? Tell us, we’ll back you up.”

Wen Qingqing turned her head away in frustration. “No, it’s… my own problem. I’m just suddenly in a bad mood. Sorry.”

“Then let’s get going before we freeze.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s way too cold here. There’s nothing fun anyway.”

“Told you we shouldn’t have come here in the first place, this place doesn’t suit people like us.”

The group of friends quickly tried to smooth things over with smiles. “Why don’t we go to that new KTV I just opened? What do you think?”

“That sounds good, I love singing.”

Wen Qingqing was dragged along reluctantly as they headed out, but just happened to pass by Qu Tantan’s group. She paused again instinctively, and just then, she heard someone call out:

“Kids, make sure you all put your gloves on! Don’t let your hands freeze, you’ll get frostbite when we go home!”

“TanBao’er, come here, your hair’s all messy.”

A curly-haired woman was calling Qu Tantan over. Her features actually resembled Qu Tantan’s a bit. Next to her, a man was grinning as he held out his hands toward the woman, murmuring something, seemingly asking her to warm his hands, only to be playfully pushed away.

They looked like a loving couple.

Something felt off, but Wen Qingqing couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She instinctively perked up her ears to eavesdrop.

“Xiao Mo, are you cold? Mom will warm your hands.” The beautiful woman from earlier was crouched in the snow, smiling a little awkwardly at the boy with a cold expression, her face tinged with anticipation.

Even Wen Qingqing found herself a little moved by the sight, but the boy Qu Tantan had previously called ‘Brother’ remained unmoved. He even took two steps back. “…No need. I’m not cold.”

The woman smiled gently. “Then make sure you wear your gloves. Were you all building snowmen just now? Can Mom take a look?”

Lin Zhenmo coolly kept his hands in his pockets. “It’s nothing special.”

Qu Tantan grabbed the woman’s hand, put both hands to her mouth to form a megaphone, and shouted across, “Aunt Wan, don’t listen to him! Lin Zhenmo’s snowman looks amazing, totally inherited your craftsmanship! Come take a look!”

Lin Zhenmo immediately flushed with anger and glared at Qu Tantan. “Shut up!” Always the loudmouth!

Lin Wan had originally been feeling a little choked up, but when she saw his blushing face, she blinked and immediately smiled. “Then can Mom take a look? Pretty please.”

Lin Zhenmo replied, “…It’s right there. I won’t stop you from seeing it.”

Wen Qingqing felt more and more that something was off. Her face showed some uncertainty and suspicion. No matter how she looked at it, that beautiful woman and the boy did seem to be mother and son, but that little girl looked like she belonged to another couple altogether?

As for the last unfamiliar child, she got a sharp smack on the butt from the long-haired woman, who sneered, “Meng brat, you’re really getting bold, huh? You even dared to raise your hand at your Mom just now. Today I’ll teach you that your Mom isn’t someone you can mess with!”

Meng Jiajia immediately wailed, “I was wrong, okay? Dad, help me!!”

It was noisy and chaotic, full of fuss and shouting.

Wen Qingqing, finally realizing she had been tricked, was speechless : “…” These were clearly kids from three different families! Where did the ‘siblings’ story even come from!!

The young miss stomped her foot furiously and was about to rush forward to expose Qu Tantan—who knew her foot would slip and she nearly fell. Her suitor quickly rushed to support her with great enthusiasm. Then he looked up and followed her gaze, just in time to see the snow elephant surrounded by a group of people.

Thinking he understood Wen Qingqing’s thoughts, he suddenly exclaimed in realization, “Qingqing, you must think those snowmen are fun but are too shy to go over, right? I’ll tell those kids to move so you can have the spot!”

With that, he eagerly started walking over. Wen Qingqing had just regained her balance when she heard his absurd words. She raised her hand in disbelief to stop him, but it was already too late.

Seeing the man pretending to fiercely drive away the children, Wen Qingqing immediately sensed trouble. Sure enough, in the next second, she met the gaze of the two children.

Wen Qingqing could only blame the sunny weather today—so clear that she could vividly see the astonishment and curiosity in Qu Tantan’s eyes the moment the girl spotted her. Then she tugged the boy beside her, and the two pressed their heads together and whispered something.

Wen Qingqing could totally imagine that they must have recognized who she was, that’s why they were discussing her.

“……” Aaaaaah!!!

At that moment, she wanted to die.

Murderous thoughts arose.

Help! How can someone be so completely oblivious to social cues, and still have the nerve to pursue her?!

This was clearly setting her up! And not just once!!!

---

The heavy snow had been falling for a week straight, and a thick layer had accumulated on the streets outside. Looking out the window, the whole world appeared pristine, untouched by even the slightest speck of dust, filled with a serene tranquility that was utterly enjoyable.

Today, the snow had finally stopped.

Meng Jiajia’s Dad had the day off today, and since it happened to be a weekend, he had asked Meng Jiajia’s Mom a couple of days ago to invite the Qu family to go on an outing with their two children to the forest park.

Mother Qu had recently been getting along well with Lin Wan and knew that she was doing her best to learn how to get along with her child, so Mother Qu also invited the two of them along.

The forest park, freshly blanketed in snow, was a breathtaking winter wonderland. All around, snow-covered trees stood like silver pines. The crunching sound of footsteps in the snow mixed with the soft rustle of snow falling from bare branches.

The snow, like cotton, tumbled gently to the ground and silently melted into the snow beneath.

On the lake, some people were already ice fishing, occasionally letting out cries of surprise or sighs of disappointment. Children ran wildly in the snow, throwing snowballs at each other, while couples strolled through the forest paths, basking in the quiet sweetness of unspoken connection.

It seemed that after growing up, Qu Tantan—who then preferred food, fun, and entertainment—hadn’t taken the time to truly appreciate beautiful scenery. Even the forest park she used to visit as a child had lost its appeal to her, and she hadn’t returned in years.

But this time, Qu Tantan was surprised to find herself feeling a bit nostalgic for the place.

She exhaled a puff of cold air and smiled. Just as she was enjoying this rare moment of peace, she suddenly felt a chill on her head. Meng Jiajia, having long since gotten restless while Qu Tantan was lost in her thoughts, had made a snowball and thrown it at her with a laugh.

With hands on her hips, Meng Jiajia struck a mockingly defiant pose, “Come on, Tantan! What are you spacing out for? Don’t tell me you’re scared I’ll beat you?”

Qu Tantan narrowed her eyes and instantly perked up. She grabbed Lin Zhenmo and tried to pull him into battle. However, Lin Zhenmo frowned, clearly disapproving of their childishness, and refused to budge, no matter how hard she pulled.

Qu Tantan didn’t push it. Instead, she enthusiastically started forming a big snowball and chased after Meng Jiajia, hurling it with all her might. The two girls chased each other through the snow, laughing and shrieking in delight, their joy so contagious that the adults exchanged smiles.

Lin Wan looked down at her son with concern, only to be pulled away by Mother Qu to watch the ice fishing. She teased in a low voice, “Kids naturally love to play. Just watch, he’ll join in soon enough.”

But Lin Wan shook her head in disagreement. “Xiao Mo’s personality is a bit different. He thinks games like these are childish and prefers reading alone. Ever since he was little, he couldn’t really get along with other kids. That’s why I’m a little worried…”

Qu Tantan was an exception.

The fact that he had once allowed Qu Tantan to drag him around a shopping mall had already stunned Lin Wan. So when she later saw the two growing closer and spending every day glued to each other, Lin Wan had felt relieved, which was why she agreed to this outing.

But most of the time, what she saw was Lin Zhenmo tutoring Qu Tantan. Lin Wan had always been curious about what exactly went on during those study sessions in the room, but not wanting to interrupt, she simply left fruits and juice at the door and quietly walked away.

Would Xiao Mo really join in a snowball fight?

In the past, whenever she tried to coax him into joining, he’d always respond with a look of disdain, as if silently judging her—“You’re this old and still so childish?”

Just thinking about it made Lin Wan anxious.

But Mother Qu wasn’t the least bit worried and even sold out her daughter without hesitation.
“With Tantan there, and you’re still worried Xiao Mo won’t get drawn in? Just wait, she’s about to cause a scene.”

No one knew Qu Tantan better than her mother.

Although she wasn’t sure when exactly her daughter had started harboring such mischievous thoughts, ever since the time her younger brother-in-law had brought her mother-in-law over—and Tantan had cried her way into everyone’s hearts with a show of brave vulnerability, convincing her father to finally distance himself from his younger brother—Mother Qu had seen through her daughter’s true nature.

Qu Tantan might seem like a cheerful little sunflower, always lively and sweet to everyone around her, but she was hiding plenty of mischief. If someone crossed her, they were bound to get into trouble.

She was a bit like a fluffy kitten that liked to casually swipe at people just for fun, and when caught doing something naughty, she’d flash an innocent smile and go back to playing with her yarn ball like nothing happened.

Sure enough, not long after, Lin Zhenmo—who had been standing with his hands in his pockets trying to look cool in the snow—was suddenly struck square in the face by a snowball that seemed to come out of nowhere.

With a loud *splat*, the snowball burst on his face and slid down in fluffy pieces, like torn cotton.

Revealed underneath was Lin Zhenmo’s expressionless face, his phoenix eyes narrowing, their upturned corners making him look rather menacing.

Qu Tantan let out a sharp breath. Uh-oh, this was bad.

She immediately saw him slowly lower his head and take off his gloves. Not caring who had really thrown it, she quickly pointed to Meng Jiajia and threw her under the bus in the spirit of ‘better her than me.’

“Lin Zhenmo, it was her!”

—Please, no friendly fire!!

Meng Jiajia had no idea how dangerous Lin Zhenmo’s combat ability was, nor how he could hold a grudge. Still offended that he had earlier refused to join their snowball fight and called it childish, she immediately admitted it and even snorted at him disdainfully.

She pulled a face at him. “So what if I hit you? Who told you not to play? If you’ve got the guts, come get me!”

Qu Tantan didn’t even have time to stop her suicidal move. Meng Jiajia, already wild and carefree, was in full play mode now. She defiantly threw another snowball at him, and just as she bent down to make another, the next moment—

*Smack*!

A massive snowball landed right on her head.

Meng Jiajia, still completely in a daze: “……”

The moment Lin Zhenmo saw that spiky-haired head, he instantly recognized who she was. Back when he gave a gift, he’d even worried that Qu Tantan might copy her and get the same hedgehog haircut. Now, with old grudges and new ones combined, he simply took revenge all at once.

At this moment, snowballs were already piled up around Lin Zhenmo’s feet. He threw them at Meng Jiajia one by one with such tricky angles that she couldn’t dodge at all, and soon began wailing loudly.

Just as Meng Jiajia was about to be defeated, Qu Tantan finally remembered their many years of friendship and picked her conscience up from where she’d thrown it in the snow. She bent down, hurriedly grabbed a handful of snow, and threw it toward Lin Zhenmo. As expected, with one against two, Lin Zhenmo still won easily.

Seeing that they couldn’t win, Qu Tantan turned traitor on the spot and took the opportunity to start pelting Meng Jiajia instead. This finally enraged both of them, and she ended up being ganged up on.

Realizing things had gone south, Qu Tantan cried out for help and ran toward her mother.

Several adults were chatting and laughing as they watched people ice fish on the lake. Although they were pretending not to pay attention, they were all keeping an eye on the kids. Seeing Qu Tantan being chased, her mother immediately laughed and scolded, “Serves her right for being so cheeky.”

She’d expected this scene long ago. Let’s see if the girl would keep being naughty.

When Qu Tantan flung herself into her arms, her mother ruthlessly betrayed her, smiling as she pushed her back out. “You made the mess, you deal with it. Stop relying on adults to help you all the time.”

Qu Tantan looked up in shock. This couldn’t possibly be her real mother!!

She turned and ran to her godmother, snuggling in and calling out for help. Wei Xinlan quickly protected her little princess, but Meng Jiajia, emboldened beyond belief, saw that her mother was shielding Qu Tantan and aimed her snowballs at both of them.

Wei Xinlan was instantly furious and dragged her husband in. “Meng Chaofeng, hurry up, roll me a big one! I want to make your daughter beg for mercy!”

Meng Chaofeng : “……” Isn’t that also your daughter?

But there was no way to go against his wife. Seeing her already glaring at him, he could only feel deep guilt toward his daughter, obediently rolling a big snowball for Wei Xinlan. Then he turned to pull Father Qu, who was gleefully watching from the sidelines, into the fray.

Father Qu, startled by the sudden ambush, turned to see the situation and instantly felt his boyish spirit stir. Grabbing Lin Zhenmo, who had walked over by then, he prepared to fight back against Meng Chaofeng.

“Xiao Mo, let’s go! Let’s show Old Meng what we’re made of and beat him down like no tomorrow!”

Lin Zhenmo froze, his ears turning a bit red at the affectionate nickname. For a brief moment, he really felt like they were father and son, playing in a snowball fight together. In a daze, he followed Father Qu’s lead and joined the battle.

Seeing her son’s unconsciously brightened expression, so much more lively than before, Lin Wan’s eyes quietly grew moist.

She turned to look at Mother Qu, who was laughing and pointing at Father Qu, then paused and whispered almost inaudibly, “You were right.”

The cold wind howled, and Mother Qu, of course, didn’t hear. She cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted like a megaphone, “Old Qu, can you even do this? You’re losing even with a kid on your side! If you lose, don’t bother showing your face to me!”

Father Qu immediately protested, yelling back, “Just watch! You can’t question a man’s capabilities!”

The next second, he took a sharp snowball right to the face from Meng Chaofeng. That usually stern face actually curled into a provocative smile.

Mother Qu doubled over laughing.

---

In the end, with snow flying everywhere, the adults had completely let loose, no longer caring who was friend or foe. As long as they saw movement, they squinted and chucked a snowball. It had turned into an all-out snowball war.

Meanwhile, the three kids had quietly backed out of the battle without even realizing it.

Qu Tantan rubbed her reddened hands and stood with her hands on her hips, watching the adults charge around like it was a military chase. She shook her head in exasperation, full of disdain. “They’re so childish. Ew.”

Lin Zhenmo glanced at her, thinking to himself that she was the one who had been most obsessed with the snowball fight just now. But as he watched Father Qu and Meng Chaofeng roughhousing like oversized boys, he couldn’t help but smile.

So this is what it feels like to have a Dad.

As Father Qu’s voice rang out, refusing to admit defeat and shouting, “Who ambushed me? Come at me again!” Qu Tantan let out another sigh and muttered, “Seriously childish.”

Her Dad aside, even her always proper and serious godfather had such a side to him. It was truly unexpected.

Just then, Meng Jiajia suddenly called out joyfully, “Tantan, come on! Let’s build a snowman!”

Build a snowman?

Yes, let’s do it!

Qu Tantan instantly jumped up from the snow, eyes shining. “Coming, coming! Where do we build it?!”

Lin Zhenmo : “……”

Once again, he was utterly baffled by Qu Tantan.

Just one second ago she was sighing in mature disdain at others’ childishness, and the next she was seamlessly joining in a childish game with utter enthusiasm. Was she really the same kind as him?

Still stubbornly believing himself to be a little monster, Lin Zhenmo was filled with confusion about the little sunflower.

“Lin Zhenmo, come on! Let’s do it together! I’m going to make a super cute little tiger, even better than Jiajia’s. Roar~!”

Qu Tantan’s urging voice came from ahead. Lin Zhenmo turned to look at her, her face flushed red, wearing a bright smile like a sun-facing flower under the golden sunlight. He slowly walked over to her, thinking, Well, no matter whether she’s the same kind as me or not, she would stay by my side.

He would do his best to keep her.

Even though that was what he thought deep down, outwardly he put on a cool expression, turned his head away and said with disdain, “I’m not doing it. Only girls play these childish games.”

Meng Jiajia refused to back down and was about to argue with him, but Qu Tantan pulled her down and comforted her, “It’s okay. Then us girls will play on our own, we’re not letting the boys join in. Let him be jealous.”

Lin Zhenmo put on a scornful face. As if I’d be jealous…

“Wow, Jiajia, you’re amazing! Is this a puppy? It looks so cute!”

“Let’s build another little tiger! I really love little tigers!”

—Hmmph, no I won’t…

“This is our snowman! I’m going to give him a nice name and even gift him a house!”

“Let’s find him a hat too… Wow, Jiajia, you’re amazing! How do you come up with such good ideas? That’s incredible!”

—Not jealous…

“Jiajia is the best! I like Jiajia the most!!”

—…Hmph.

As Qu Tantan’s cheerful praises continued to echo beside him, Lin Zhenmo kept his head turned away. But from time to time, his peripheral vision would sneak a glance, until without realizing it, his head slowly turned back.

He scrutinized their creations with a critical eye.

They weren’t that great. The snowman was all crooked, what was so impressive about it?

And that puppy? That was supposed to be a puppy? The head was huge, one eye was big and the other small, it didn’t look like anything at all.

Hmph, if he made one, it would definitely look better than Meng Jiajia’s.

---

Qu Tantan just swung her legs and rested her face in her hands, gossiping playfully, “Brother Lou, how did you and Sister Wen meet? When did you meet?”

Lou Xiangwen’s face fell, and he sighed, “It was probably last week. I just helped out a little.”

It turned out that one day last week, Wen Qingqing had been shopping nearby with a friend when the heel of her high heels got stuck in a manhole cover. Neither of them could get it out. Wen Qingqing felt humiliated, thinking everyone around was laughing at her, and couldn’t bring herself to ask anyone for help, so she just stood there, sulking.

Right at that moment, Lou Xiangwen happened to pass by and noticed her awkward situation. Remembering how he himself had once been the subject of spectators’ amusement, he kindly stepped forward to help her pull out the heel.

Unexpectedly, the heel snapped off.

Lou Xiangwen blushed in embarrassment and apologized profusely. After asking for her shoe size, he rushed to a nearby shoe store to buy her another pair of heels. When Wen Qingqing asked for his name and tried to exchange contact info, he didn’t think much of it and directly refused.

But the next day, as soon as he arrived at the store, he saw that same smiling girl walk in.

He had no idea how she’d found out where he worked. She looked around the store curiously, asking about this and that. Though she came off picky and critical, Lou Xiangwen still treated her patiently like a regular customer.

He hadn’t expected that she was just killing time, and in the end, she grandly waved her hand and bought five crates of every juice flavor in the store.

Lou Xiangwen assumed she was trying to repay his help and frowned, stopping her—telling her it wasn’t necessary, that she wouldn’t even be able to drink it all.

But Wen Qingqing wouldn’t listen. In fact, the next day she came back and placed another huge order. Lou Xiangwen found her behavior rather troubling. He felt it wasn’t right. But the more he tried to talk her out of it, the more she bought. Eventually, he gave up saying anything.

Later on, she stopped buying but instead would just chat with him non-stop. Even when he was trying to introduce products to other customers, she’d interrupt him. Once he got frustrated and sternly told her to stop disturbing him.

Maybe it was the first time she’d been treated that way, but Wen Qingqing seemed stunned. When she came to her senses, she complained that he didn’t have to be so harsh, then stormed off in anger.

Lou Xiangwen figured she wouldn’t be back after that. But the next day, she showed up again as if nothing had happened. This time she didn’t interrupt, just sat in the store watching him work, occasionally commenting with mild disdain about the customers.

Even when Lou Xiangwen ignored her, she could still entertain herself, waiting until he got off work, then pestering him with questions about where he lived.

Before he realized it, Wen Qingqing even knew all the product prices in the store and would casually help out when he was busy. This was part of why Mother Qu’s colleague had misunderstood that day.

Listening to Lou Xiangwen’s account, Qu Tantan suddenly thought Wen Qingqing was actually kind of adorable. Especially the way she splurged—rich big sis mode was even cuter!!

She suddenly felt a bit of regret. Why had she chased the lady off so harshly? That was a major client who bought five crates of each juice flavor every day!

Just for the money the lady threw around, she deserved gentler treatment. Who knew, maybe one day she’d come back for the juice, even if it wasn’t for Lou Xiangwen.

Unfortunately, after what happened, Wen Qingqing probably wouldn’t return.

Qu Tantan shook her head regretfully. But seeing Lou Xiangwen’s relieved and thankful expression, she figured it was for the best. After all, Wen Qingqing had been disrupting his life. Since Lou Xiangwen clearly didn’t like her, it was better they didn’t meet again.

She picked up a bottle of orange soda beside her and handed it to him comfortingly. “This one’s on me, Brother Lou. Since the situation’s been settled, don’t dwell on it anymore.

“Sister Wen probably didn’t know you still needed time to study. I’m sure she didn’t mean to bother you. And she did help you out a few times, too. Now that she’s gone, isn’t it just right that you can go back to your normal life?”

Lou Xiangwen had been feeling a little down, overwhelmed by Wen Qingqing’s relentless attention, and worried people might think she was his girlfriend or even the store owner. Especially if Mother Qu ever misunderstood, things would get messy.

But thinking about it now, what Qu Tantan said made sense. Her words made him feel much better. Touched, he took the soda, and seeing that it was his favorite flavor, he even felt a flicker of joy.

The little girl remembered what he liked.

Lou Xiangwen had always been socially anxious and didn’t have many people he was close to. After moving here, he had even fewer friends. When things troubled him, he had no one to confide in. Even though he knew Uncle Qu and the others were kind, he still felt embarrassed to talk to them about his personal problems.

Only with Qu Tantan.

Even though she was still a child and probably didn’t understand his troubles, that was exactly why Lou Xiangwen felt at ease around her. He could talk without fear of judgment or ridicule.

Every time Lou Xiangwen confided in her, Qu Tantan would always listen quietly. Even if she couldn’t offer any real help, her occasional head pats were enough to comfort him.

Of course, if the little girl took the initiative to give him a hug, Lou Xiangwen would be even more overwhelmed with joy. It would be like getting an instant energy boost, reigniting his confidence and drive to keep going.

Lou Xiangwen actually had a habit that he couldn’t really call just a habit.

Every night before bed, he couldn’t help but replay the events of the day in his mind. If there was something that bothered him, he’d agonize over every word—wondering whether he shouldn’t have said something, whether his friend might secretly think he was immature, or even laugh behind his back for being useless.

He knew that was unlikely, but he still tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

So later, he started deliberately trying to hold things in. But bottling up too much only made him feel even worse. Sometimes, he even thought something was wrong with him. As a result, he became increasingly cautious in conversations with friends, barely speaking at all.

But it was different with Qu Tantan. Every time he vented to her, Lou Xiangwen would feel completely relaxed afterward, like all his worries had been washed away. At night, he could fall asleep easily without thinking about any of it again.

This period had been the most relaxing time for Lou Xiangwen in recent memory. This life—aside from still not having settled on a script—was exactly the life he had dreamed of. He was genuinely satisfied with this job.

He was truly grateful for the Qu family’s appearance in his life. They gave him the courage and confidence to start over. Especially Qu Tantan. Although the little girl liked to play pranks sometimes, she had helped him many times too.

Thinking of this, he mustered a rare moment of boldness and reached out to pat Qu Tantan’s head. When she looked up at him in surprise, he rubbed his nose awkwardly and gave her a warm, bashful smile.

Qu Tantan : ?

Seeing the girl narrow her eyes slightly, looking somewhat displeased, Lou Xiangwen flinched and quickly explained, “I just wanted to thank you for the comfort and the soda. And you came over today to hang out, but ended up having to help me deal with problems instead. Thank you, Tantan.”

The little devil, having been properly flattered and soothed, immediately changed to a cheerful expression. “It’s okay! After all, I’ve caused trouble for Brother Lou before too, and you didn’t mind, right?”

She waved her little hand generously. “We’re neighbors—it’s only right to help each other.”

Lou Xiangwen looked confused. “Have you ever caused me any trouble? I don’t think so.”

Qu Tantan : “……” Oops, that just slipped out.

Lin Zhenmo, who was nearby and seemingly doing homework but in fact listening with full attention : “……”

He paused with his pen in hand, then silently glanced at Qu Tantan: You haven’t told him yet?

Somehow, with a mysterious sense of unspoken understanding, Qu Tantan immediately gave a firm look back : Not yet.

She had accidentally forgotten.

Lin Zhenmo was speechless and threw her another glance : So what are you going to say now?

Qu Tantan : Act cute and get away with it.

She cleared her throat lightly and smiled sweetly with her hands propping up her cheeks. “Tantan’s such a good girl, of course I wouldn’t cause trouble for anyone. I just always hear Mom and Dad say that, was that wrong?”

The more guilty Qu Tantan felt, the more innocent her smile appeared. “Then, Brother Lou, why don’t you teach me the right way to say it?”

Her smile was so sweet that Lou Xiangwen was immediately lulled into a daze. He hurriedly shook his head, denying it, “No, no, Tantan is definitely a very good girl. How could you cause me trouble? But even if you did, I’d still be really happy.”

He spoke from the heart, completely unaware of what these two had done behind his back.

Lin Zhenmo, who had seen firsthand how Qu Tantan ‘operated’ : “……”

He suddenly recalled that every time she had tricked him in the past, she had also smiled just as sweetly, like a swaying little sunflower radiating sunshine.

Lin Zhenmo fell into thought, wondering if he, too, had unknowingly been coaxed and fooled by her like Lou Xiangwen.

When lunchtime came, it was Lin Wan who came to pick up the two kids.

She smiled a little awkwardly. “Your Mom was supposed to come, but something came up at work and she had to go to the office. I didn’t have anything to do, so I came instead.

“Tantan, would you like to have lunch at Aunt Wan’s place today?” Lin Wan gently patted Qu Tantan’s head and asked kindly, “If you don’t feel like it, we can eat out instead.”

Qu Tantan didn’t mind at all and even cheered, “I’ll eat whatever Aunt Wan makes!”

Lin Zhenmo looked like he wanted to say something, but when he saw her bouncing happily behind his Mom like a little tail, completely forgetting about him, he quietly swallowed his words again.

He followed them silently, thinking coldly to himself : Fine, let her try Mom’s cooking. She’ll probably be so ‘happy’ she’ll cry.

Back at the Lin house, Lin Wan refused the kids’ help, blushing as she said she’d do her best to make a delicious meal. Qu Tantan, who had no idea what awaited her, eagerly agreed and innocently said she would love anything Aunt Wan made.

Lin Zhenmo glanced slowly at his Mom’s guilty-looking face but still chose not to expose her.

He took Qu Tantan back to the room, ready to continue doing homework.

Opening his essay book, he pondered for a while but really didn’t know what to write. So, with a serious expression, he solemnly wrote an essay titled <Study Plan for Teaching Qu Tantan>.

He nodded with satisfaction. This should just about meet the word count.

What he didn’t know was that next to him, Qu Tantan—who was being ‘forced’ to learn how to write an essay—had been biting her pen for a long time, trying to figure out how to avoid mentioning the whole situation with Lou Xiangwen and Wen Qingqing. After much frustration, a lightbulb suddenly went off in her head. She decisively began writing a short essay titled <How to Compliment Without Repeating Yourself>.

She counted the rows and columns and nodded with satisfaction.

Mm, not bad. Should be enough words.

After finishing, the two of them both glanced at each other warily, then closed their essay books somewhat guiltily. At Lin Wan’s call, they went to wash their hands and eat.

Then, Lin Zhenmo calmly sat across from Qu Tantan, watching her being warmly welcomed, all while eating a plate of burnt potatoes—smiling through tears.

He silently turned his head away and shrugged.

—Oh, maybe this is retribution.

---

Seeing that Luo Xiangwen truly couldn’t take it anymore, Qu Tantan’s eyes flicked with mischief. She stepped boldly into the shop and softened her voice, feigning innocent curiosity: “What are you two doing?”

Lou Xiangwen straightened his posture, eyes lighting up. “N-no, it’s nothing!”

He quickly glanced at the woman and stammered awkwardly, “The kids are here. Y-you being like this isn’t very appropriate… Can you take a few steps back? I can’t get out like this.”

His words made the woman so angry she felt suffocated. When she saw the two children seemed to know Lou Xiangwen well and weren’t accompanied by any adults, she frowned and questioned, “Who are they? You know them? How come I’ve never seen them before when I came by?”

Just as Lou Xiangwen was about to respond, the little girl ran over, tilting her head up to look at them. Her smile was so sweet and soft that even Lou Xiangwen, who was well aware of her little devil nature, couldn’t help but soften his gaze. He forgot to answer for a moment.

And it was precisely in this pause that Qu Tantan suddenly called out in a milky voice, “Dad,” while stretching out her arms to him, seemingly wanting a hug.

Lou Xiangwen : “……”

That one word ‘Dad’ not only blanked Lou Xiangwen’s mind but also froze the woman beside him. She stood stunned, unable to react for a long while.

Even Lin Zhenmo looked at Qu Tantan in disbelief.

Seeing that Lou Xiangwen still wasn’t playing along, standing stiff and bewildered, Qu Tantan sighed helplessly and tugged at his clothes. Her soft little voice pleaded again, “Dad, hug.”

Lou Xiangwen was still stiff and hadn’t recovered. Although he wasn’t used to being called that… the little girl was just too cute!!

Her smile was so sweet, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Who could possibly resist a hug request from her?

At least, Lou Xiangwen couldn’t.

Completely at her mercy, Lou Xiangwen sighed and picked Qu Tantan up, only for her to lean close and whisper into his ear, “Dad, who’s that Sister?”

It looked like she was whispering a secret, but the volume was just right for the woman nearby to hear.

Wen Qingqing’s heart sank instantly, and her expression turned unpleasant.

Lou Xiangwen didn’t understand at first why the girl was calling him that. But then, catching a glimpse of Wen Qingqing’s shifting expression from the corner of his eye, it was like a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind—

Suddenly, it all made sense!

Like grabbing onto a lifeline, Lou Xiangwen hurriedly responded. He gave a little cough, his refined face flushing red, and stammered, “Th-that… actually I… uh… Dad… Dad’s not too sure either… Let’s just say she’s a customer. You should call her Sister Wen.”

Lou Xiangwen was really bad at lying, and Qu Tantan couldn’t help but shake her head inwardly. “I see. I was wondering. Just now the uncle from the bookstore suddenly told me to hurry and find Dad. I thought maybe Dad got into trouble or something. It scared me!”

Lou Xiangwen quickly shook his head, “No, no!”

“I know Dad’s a good boy.” Qu Tantan patted Lou Xiangwen’s head, then turned and gave Wen Qingqing an innocent squinty-eyed smile. “So is Sister Wen here to buy something? Tan Bao’er knows a lot about these things and can help introduce them to Sister!”

Wen Qingqing : “……”

She hadn’t believed Lou Xiangwen had a daughter, but seeing how close they were now, she began to waver. Though she hadn’t known Lou Xiangwen long, she was aware that he usually kept his distance from people. She had never seen him close to anyone.

Could he have somehow known she’d come today and arranged for this girl to act in front of her? But the child was so young, how could her acting be this good?

At the very least, she didn’t see any hint of forced effort when the child called him ‘Dad.’ And when Lou Xiangwen looked down at the girl, the tenderness in his gaze made her feel a pang of something.

Especially when he bent down to hug the girl. The movement was careful and practiced, like he’d done it countless times.

Wen Qingqing couldn’t help but believe it. Lou Xiangwen, who looked so young, was actually a father.

So all the times he had avoided her, ignored her… it was because of this?

Because he already had a family?

Thinking back to what Qu Tantan said earlier, Wen Qingqing felt even more stifled. So everyone knew, and seeing her constantly visiting Lou Xiangwen, finally couldn’t bear it anymore and sent the little girl over to confront her?

Just imagining it made Wen Qingqing feel thoroughly humiliated, her face burning. Her gaze toward Lou Xiangwen sharpened, and she shouted angrily, “…I don’t believe it! Are you really father and daughter? I’ve never seen her before!”

Qu Tantan tilted her head, looking puzzled. “I’m Dad’s daughter. Why would Sister need to see me for that to be true? If Sister hasn’t seen me, does that mean Dad isn’t my Dad?

“That’s so strange.” Her eyes were clear and curious. “Sister Wen, what’s your relationship with Dad? Why don’t you believe Dad is my Dad?”

Lou Xiangwen had just opened his mouth to say something, but was immediately silenced by Qu Tantan’s words. After thinking about it, he realized what she said was way more effective than anything he could’ve come up with, so he obediently shut his mouth again.

He shouldn’t underestimate the little devil. She could be a handful sometimes, but in moments like this, she really gave him a strong sense of security!!

Wen Qingqing was thoroughly blocked by the child’s words. She wanted to lash out, but couldn’t bring herself to get angry at an innocent child. Her beautiful eyes glared fiercely at Lou Xiangwen, and she stomped her foot, shouting, “Lou Xiangwen, aren’t you going to say something?!”

Luo Xiangwen thought to himself that he absolutely couldn’t speak up. If he accidentally exposed Qu Tantan, then whether he had to keep getting entangled with this young lady or face the wrath of a disgruntled little devil, either outcome was beyond what he could handle.

So he very shamelessly shrank back, turned his head, and pretended he hadn’t heard anything at all.

“I was clearly asking Sister, so why is Sister Wen making Dad answer for her?” Qu Tantan said with an air of righteousness, shaking her head as she scolded, “That’s really impolite. The teacher said that responding when someone asks you something is basic manners. Sister Wen is being rude.”

As she said that, she turned to Lin Zhenmo to confirm, “Isn’t that right, Brother? Mom taught us that too.”

Lin Zhenmo, who had just watched her lie through her teeth with a dead-serious expression : “…”

Under the silent pressure of her expectant gaze, he reluctantly nodded and mumbled an “Mm,” with his eyes closed.

Unexpectedly, aside from the little girl, Luo Xiangwen apparently had an older son too? Just how young was he when he got married and had kids?!

Wen Qingqing trembled as she pointed at Luo Xiangwen, stunned to discover he was ‘that kind of person.’ Her face flushed red and pale like a flickering traffic light, and she was so humiliated and furious that tears nearly fell.

“Luo Xiangwen, you bastard! Just you wait—you, you all—ugh, I hate you so much!!”

After her outburst, she didn’t dare meet the eyes of the two children, afraid she’d see her own twisted expression reflected in their innocent gazes. Feeling like her earlier affections were utterly shameful, she stomped her foot, covered her face, and ran off sobbing.

The moment she remembered how the nearby store owners all knew Luo Xiangwen had kids, and how they had all seen her chasing after him, Wen Qingqing felt like dying on the spot.

She swore she’d never come to this mall again!

When she finally made it to the parking lot and got in her car, she rolled down the window. Only after sitting in the backseat with the cold wind blasting her face for a while did the burning heat fade.

At first, she was filled with murderous rage. But once she calmed down, Luo Xiangwen’s face began to circle in her mind again and again.

She was clearly pretty and came from a good family. Tons of people liked her. So why did Luo Xiangwen always treat her with such indifference—like he wanted nothing to do with her?

No matter what kind of hints or temptations she threw at him, he never budged. He stubbornly insisted on staying as just a little shop clerk. And yet, it was precisely this aloofness, his apparent disregard for her surface-level advantages, that made her unable to let go.

She thought about the way she had sat in the store, smiling playfully while teasing Luo Xiangwen as he tried to avoid her, and about how every time he saw her, he seemed increasingly distressed. Wen Qingqing bit her lip, her heart in a mess. She wanted to just give up. But only moments later, she found herself picturing his cold, aloof face again, and couldn’t bear it.

Realizing this about herself made her feel both angry and ashamed. In the end, she clenched her jaw, punched the soft seat beneath her, and muttered furiously:

“No matter what, I don’t believe he’s really married with kids!”

—Luo Xiangwen must be lying to me!

Just wait. When she got back, she’d find someone to investigate and get to the bottom of whether he really was the father of those two kids!

---

Luo Xiangwen had no idea what was awaiting him. The moment he saw Wen Qingqing finally storm off in a rage, he let out a huge sigh of relief, not showing a shred of sympathy for her.

“Thank goodness you came in time, Tantan. You really saved me!” He hugged the little girl tightly, set her on a bench, and looked genuinely touched, nearly on the verge of tears. “I’ve told her so many times, but she just won’t listen. She keeps hanging around here like she owns the place. Lately, people have even started mistaking her for the store owner!”

Totally unaware of Qu Tantan’s strange expression, he kept complaining pitifully, “It’s fine if it’s just the customers, but even the locals are starting to believe it. I can’t just walk up and explain to everyone. I’m too embarrassed to talk to Uncle Qu about it either. It’s been eating me alive lately!”

Qu Tantan: “…” Yeah, her Mom was so misled she nearly got into a fight with her Dad over it.

She didn’t expect that neither of her parents had told Luo Xiangwen anything about that fight, and he still believed he’d done a good job covering it up.

Luo Xiangwen had no idea what she was thinking. He got so worked up he almost gestured wildly with his hands. “You have no idea, she comes here and sits all afternoon every day. No matter what I say, she won’t leave. I don’t even have time to study anymore.”

When the store was quiet, he used to spend time reading and writing, preparing for new scripts. But now, he hadn’t had the chance in ages. What’s worse, even after work in the evenings, he’d sometimes run into Wen Qingqing ‘by coincidence’ while she claimed to be shopping. She even naïvely said she wanted to visit his home.

Luo Xiangwen wasn’t blind to her intentions, but they just weren’t compatible. There was no possibility between them. Wen Qingqing was clearly a pampered rich girl who could have anything she wanted, including the stars in the sky, if she asked. There would always be someone willing to pluck them for her.

But Luo Xiangwen just wanted to focus on his dreams, to write a script he could be proud of, and maybe even take back his first project from Brother Xiang one day.

With all the time he needed for work and study, he had no space left to deal with a spoiled girl who expected the world to revolve around her. Especially since his previous relationship had already taught him a hard lesson, he wasn’t interested in dating anymore.

But for some reason, the more he avoided Wen Qingqing, the colder and more indifferent he acted, the more interested she became. She grew more clingy, her behavior more coquettish, even flirtatious at times.

Luo Xiangwen became thoroughly panicked and speechless.

He really didn’t get it. If he’d treated his ex-girlfriend like this, she’d probably have slapped him and kicked him out by now. But with Wen Qingqing, why did it seem to make her like him even more?

Was it that he didn’t understand women at all?

Hearing him complain with such pitiful earnestness, Qu Tantan paused and almost burst out laughing. Wen Qingqing had been so obvious, practically confessing her love, and all Luo Xiangwen could think was how she was getting in the way of his study time.

At that moment, even Qu Tantan couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for the beautiful Young Lady. The Young Lady was spoiled, yes, but surprisingly not unlikeable.

Qu Tantan just hoped that girl would never find out what Luo Xiangwen was really thinking.

However, Qu Tantan didn’t point it out directly. Whether Lou Xiangwen knew about Wen Qingqing’s feelings or not, those were a girl’s sweet little thoughts. It wouldn’t be right to mock them.

---

Lin Zhenmo didn’t really know what Qu Tantan was thinking. He just saw that she seemed to prefer the picture book in her hands, and couldn’t help putting down his own and leaning over to take a look.

It wasn’t the kind of English book a child her age was supposed to understand, as it even had complicated phonetic annotations.

He was a little surprised.

In the past, when Lin Zhenmo didn’t feel like going home right after school, he would stop by the bookstore or library and read for a while before heading back. Over time, he discovered that the knowledge in books was actually quite simple; he could remember everything after just one read, even if the material was more advanced. He could understand it quickly.

Back in kindergarten, his peers had always seemed like idiots to him. The teachers’ lessons were too simple. He thought the others must just be too dumb, which was why the teacher had to explain things over and over again.

He couldn’t understand why they still couldn’t grasp something so simple, always making noise, while the teacher still patiently repeated herself.

He grew impatient listening, and didn’t want to hang around a bunch of idiots. But then the teacher labeled him as ‘not sociable,’ and constantly worriedly spoke to his Mom.

When Lin Wan asked him why he wouldn’t play with the other kids, he only thought it was boring. But when he tried to explain his thoughts, Lin Wan became even more worried, thinking he was too withdrawn, and hoped he could make some friends.

Faced with the good intentions of adults, Lin Zhenmo just felt frustrated. He didn’t understand why, even after explaining himself clearly, they still couldn’t understand. Worse yet, his teacher even suspected him of lying.

So it turned out that not only were his classmates idiots, but the adults—the teacher, even his own Mom—were idiots too.

No one could understand him. And no one ever would.

Panic stirred in Lin Zhenmo’s heart. He suddenly felt he was terrifying.

But because of that, he also became painfully aware of how out of place he was. Just like the little monster in the storybook he’d once read. The monster wanted to blend in with the humans and make friends. That monster longed so much to be human, but different was different. Eventually, the humans would discover his abnormality and drive him away.

But Lin Zhenmo thought the monster in the story was just too stupid that it didn’t know how to hide its unusual side.

So he told himself he needed to learn from that. He must never let anyone discover how strange he really was.

So once he reached primary school, even though he still thought everyone else was dumb, and knowledge he could learn just by flipping through a book still needed to be tediously explained by teachers, he would rather sleep on his desk and be mistaken as a lazy troublemaker than show his intelligence.

And later, when he started learning more complex things beyond his current age group and found he could still learn them quickly through self-study, he became even more certain that he was an anomaly.

He was a little monster walking among humans, who couldn’t fit in and could never be understood.

But that was fine. He would hide himself well and pretend to be a normal human.

He wouldn’t let anyone find out.

But Qu Tantan was different. Even though in Lin Zhenmo’s eyes, the little sunflower was also a little fool. She still needed her parents to carry her around, still struggled to get out of bed in the morning and didn’t want to go to school. Yet, she was somehow oddly different from other kids her age.

He couldn’t quite say how yet. But every time she looked at him, or spoke to him, he would get that feeling again.

He even had a faint hunch: even if he accidentally revealed his abnormality, she would understand him.

Maybe—just maybe—she was the same kind as him. The one he had been searching for all along.

Just as Lin Zhenmo’s thoughts were drifting, Qu Tantan suddenly tugged on his arm and shook it. “Lin Zhenmo, Lin Zhenmo, do you know how to read this word?”

He glanced over—it was an easy word. His expression shifted slightly. He read it out loud, then silently took back his earlier thought.

—Qu Tantan really was a little fool after all.

But fortunately, she was eager to learn and loved studying. Even if she wasn’t smart, that was fine. He could help teach her.

Unaware she’d just been silently insulted, Qu Tantan blinked her round eyes in surprise. Although she had deliberately chosen a relatively simple word to ask about, elementary school hadn’t introduced English yet, so she hadn’t expected Lin Zhenmo to really read it out loud—and with surprisingly good pronunciation too.

…So he actually knew it! He hadn’t been lying to her!

Which meant—when he said the French picture books were simple—that was true too?!

—Liar! Wasn’t he the one who always slept in class, didn’t like to listen, and barely scraped by on exams? He was supposed to be the most notorious underachiever in their class!

Qu Tantan comforted herself : maybe her little neighbor just had a natural talent for languages, but not much aptitude in other areas, which was why people misunderstood him. After all, in a small city like this, foreign language education wasn’t emphasized. It was normal for his talent to go unnoticed.

But she didn’t think much more about it. Cheerfully tugging his hand, she whispered excitedly, “Lin Zhenmo, you’re really amazing! You can make money, you can fight, and now it turns out you even know English and French! How are you so smart?!”

Lin Zhenmo, who could make money and fight: “……” Seriously, who includes “can fight” in a compliment?

Qu Tantan would.

Her eyes were bright and dazzling, like stars twinkling. “Lin Zhenmo, I’m telling you, you mustn’t give up on studying! With how smart you are, and your talent for languages, if you study well, you can totally become an outstanding diplomat in the future!”

Qu Tantan vaguely remembered that at this age, a lot of kids thought studying was useless, and it was better to jump into society early to make money. But later on, most of them would regret it, regret giving up on studying when they had the chance.

Even though Qu Tantan had been reborn, and didn’t feel much regret in her previous life, she still believed that now she had another chance, she should study well.

But not everyone gets the opportunity to start over.

Qu Tantan thought that with Lin Zhenmo’s exceptional talent in languages, it would be such a shame if it were wasted.

He might only be disinterested in studying because of neglect from his family and the influence of his surroundings and the people around him. He probably hadn’t yet realized his own brilliance because no one had discovered it.

So first, the priority was to find a way to spark his interest in learning.

Meeting Qu Tantan’s bright and sparkling eyes, Lin Zhenmo could tell she was completely sincere. He was first made flustered by her blunt praise, his ears turning red, and then as he slowly digested it, his emotions became complicated.

…See? He always said that Qu Tantan sometimes said things that made him feel different.

Maybe it was because of her mental maturity, but in any case, she was totally different from other kids her age. Even though she wasn’t that smart and could still be childish—clinging to and whining at her parents like any child—she would sometimes say things that were unexpectedly profound.

Qu Tantan was truly unique, and she displayed her uniqueness so openly and confidently, as if she wasn’t worried at all about not fitting in with others.

That often made Lin Zhenmo curious about what she was thinking, but he always kept those questions to himself.

Because of what she said, Lin Zhenmo came to realize that Qu Tantan truly recognized and appreciated his strengths.

The little sunflower believed what he said.

Just that one thought made the corners of Lin Zhenmo’s lips lift uncontrollably, and his mood instantly soared.

She thought his language talent was exceptional just after seeing him read two picture books; she believed he could make money just because he delivered milk and flyers for a few days… oh, and she genuinely thought being good at fighting was impressive too.

No one had ever praised Lin Zhenmo in such an exaggerated way. It felt awkward, but he was secretly a little happy too.

He hadn’t even shown any real abilities yet, but Qu Tantan still believed he was smart, that he shouldn’t give up on studying, and that he should become an outstanding diplomat in the future.

How was she so naive?

But surprisingly, it felt nice.

Lin Zhenmo tried to hold it in, but the smile still spread across his face. He took the picture book from her hands and softly cleared his throat. “If there’s anything else you don’t understand, I can teach you.”

Qu Tantan nodded vigorously and praised him without hesitation, eyes closed in full exaggeration, “Lin Zhenmo, you’re amazing! You’re just too awesome! This is perfect. I was just struggling with things I didn’t understand and couldn’t find anyone to help me, and now you’ve shown up at the perfect time!”

The corners of Lin Zhenmo’s lips couldn’t help rising again, and this time, even the small dimples on both sides of his cheeks were visible.

By the time it was almost noon, the two kids had unknowingly finished flipping through the entire picture book.

Every time Lin Zhenmo taught Qu Tantan a word, he’d get her admiring gaze and genuine praise. His ears were red and his lips curled up high. Because of that, he never felt annoyed or bored. He didn’t even realize that he was now like those teachers he once didn’t understand—patiently repeating simple words over and over.

In fact, once the picture book was done, he still felt a bit reluctant to stop. He thought that if all classmates were as obedient and eager to learn as this, he wouldn’t have thought they were all hopeless idiots.

Unfortunately, not everyone could be like this little sunflower. And she was really good at giving compliments, every sentence was fresh and not repeated.

What he didn’t know was that now that the study session was finally over, Qu Tantan also let out a breath of relief inwardly. Compared to learning, coming up with so many compliments was actually even more exhausting for her brain.

If it went on any longer, she might have run out of things to say.

So when she saw that Lin Zhenmo seemed excited and about to pull out that French picture book from earlier, she quickly stopped him and tugged on his sleeve to drag him outside. “Ahh, I didn’t even notice the time. Let’s go find Brother Lou now, or it’ll be time for lunch soon!”

Lin Zhenmo was a little disappointed, but after thinking it over, he realized there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. Qu Tantan was still young, forcing her to study too much might make her lose interest.

So he let her drag him back to the neighboring store. But before they even stepped inside, they heard voices coming from within.

“Lou Xiangwen, what are you always hiding from? I didn’t come the past two days, and you didn’t even ask why. Now that you see me, you’re avoiding me like I’m going to eat you!”

Hearing the angry and frustrated voice of a woman, Qu Tantan’s eyes lit up. She knew the person she’d been waiting for had finally arrived. She quickly grabbed Lin Zhenmo, who was about to step inside, and peeked secretly into the store.

The store was now empty of customers. Just like Mother Qu’s colleague had said, it was a beautiful woman inside.

She was dressed in stylish, high-end clothes and wore a pair of fashionable coffee-colored boots. She looked noble, like some rich heiress from somewhere. Her personality seemed a bit spoiled, but her stunning looks made up for it.

The woman was standing angrily with her hands on her hips, cornering Lou Xiangwen and loudly questioning him, “Say something! Aren’t you worried that something might have happened to me?”

Lou Xiangwen’s face turned bright red as he desperately shrank back, pressing himself against the wall to avoid any contact with her. He had already curled up pitifully into a ball and was completely unable to fend off her barrage of questions, not knowing how to respond.

Just as he was stammering helplessly, his sharp eyes suddenly caught sight of two children outside the door watching the scene unfold. His gaze unintentionally took on a pleading look.

Who would have thought that this usually cowardly, seemingly useless young man would actually be such a magnet for romance? Even his ex-girlfriend—questionable character aside—was undeniably beautiful, just based on looks alone.

Meeting Lou Xiangwen’s aggrieved and pitiful gaze, Qu Tantan, who had been thoroughly enjoying the scene of him being cornered by a beautiful woman, couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

She realized her neighbors were all uniquely quirky in their own ways, and pretty entertaining too.

---

However, there was only Lou Xiangwen in the store.

When he saw Mother Qu, he was quite surprised and asked why she came at this hour. She couldn’t really say what her real purpose was, so when he asked if she had come to help pick up Qu Tantan, she just went along with it and said yes.

After chatting with Lou Xiangwen for a bit and seeing that the woman never showed up, Mother Qu felt too embarrassed to talk about the woman directly, so in the end, she held in her curiosity and went back home.

It was Father Qu who later swung by the shop in the afternoon. He subtly probed a few of the nearby store owners he was familiar with, and finally got to the bottom of the matter.

That woman was actually coming for Lou Xiangwen and had nothing to do with Father Qu. No one knew the full details, but it had started last week. A pretty woman would show up at the store now and then looking for Lou Xiangwen. He’d been too busy serving customers to pay her any attention, and she would just sit in the store and refuse to leave.

Lou Xiangwen really couldn’t do anything about her. He couldn’t get her to leave, so he eventually just pretended she didn’t exist.

Father Qu had recently been busy negotiating juice deals outside and hadn’t been to the store in a while, so he had no idea any of this was going on. That’s why when Mother Qu asked him about it, he was genuinely confused and innocent. He had no clue who she was referring to.

Now, holding a box of strawberries to win Mother Qu over, he pleaded with her to explain things to her colleague the next day, to make it clear he had really been wronged. Mother Qu, feeling quite guilty, fed him a strawberry and repeatedly promised she would explain everything.

After listening for a while, Qu Tantan finally understood. So it all started because of Lou Xiangwen.

She remembered how confused he looked when he came to pick her up that afternoon, worried that her parents had had a fight and urging her to go home and be good so she wouldn’t upset her Mom. Her expression turned a little odd, and she almost wanted to laugh.

If Lou Xiangwen knew the whole story, who knows what kind of face he’d make?

Now that it was clear that Lou Xiangwen’s work hadn’t been affected by this woman and his attitude remained as serious as ever, Father Qu decided not to interfere. Once the misunderstanding with Mother Qu was cleared up, he changed the subject.

But Qu Tantan remained full of curiosity about this beautiful woman who had come for Lou Xiangwen.

So on the weekend, she couldn’t wait any longer. Using ‘going to see Brother Lou’ as an excuse, she dragged Lin Zhenmo to the store. Father Qu didn’t quite trust the two kids going alone, so he secretly followed them and only left after seeing they had safely arrived and were with Lou Xiangwen.

Lou Xiangwen had no idea what Qu Tantan was planning. He was surprised but delighted to see the two of them.

It had been a long time since Qu Tantan last came to the store.

He missed those times when she would sit there reading picture books. When he was struggling to come up with script ideas, her innocent, imaginative thoughts always gave him endless inspiration.

Even when they didn’t talk, just having her sit next to him, flashing him a bright smile every now and then, was enough to lift his tired spirit as if it had been soothed.

But ever since Mother Qu stopped working overtime, Qu Tantan no longer came to the store after school to go home with him.

Now seeing the two kids come again, saying they missed him and wanted to play with him—although he still felt a bit awkward around Lin Zhenmo—Lou Xiangwen couldn’t help but smile and quickly invited them in to sit.

Qu Tantan sat in her usual seat, legs swinging, glancing around the store. She spotted the new juice flavors that had just been developed. After someone pointed out the business potential, Father Qu had been experimenting with new flavors, which had become quite popular.

Seeing that the pretty woman hadn’t appeared yet, Qu Tantan got a little bored. She pulled some money out of her pocket, put it on the counter, grabbed two bottles of the new juice, and handed one to Lin Zhenmo.

“This is my absolute favorite—grape flavor. Try it, Lin Zhenmo,” she said, lying on the table with her face half-covered by her hands, leaving only her bright eyes visible. “I’m really sharing it with you this time, no tricks!”

Lin Zhenmo paused. He didn’t plan to refuse and took the grape juice from her hand without changing expression.

A few days ago, after Qu Tantan left, Lin Wan had been flattered in a way she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She had carefully washed that precious strawberry she received, ready to eat it, when she noticed Lin Zhenmo silently watching her.

For a moment, Lin Wan blushed, unsure whether to eat it or not.

She hesitated, then quietly asked her son if he wanted it. It wasn’t that she was being stingy—she just felt that since Qu Tantan had given it to her with such sincerity and innocence, she wanted to treasure the gift.

To her, giving it away—even to her son—felt disrespectful to Qu Tantan.

But she hadn’t expected her son to just stare at her like that, his dark phoenix eyes full of complex emotion, as if wanting to say something but holding back, making her feel conflicted and troubled.

Naturally, Lin Zhenmo refused. He wasn’t going to fight his Mom over a strawberry. But watching her happily praise Qu Tantan while unknowingly about to eat what he believed should have been his—it stirred up all kinds of emotions in him.

Suddenly, he understood why Father Qu had looked so exasperated and helpless back then, like he had a toothache and an itch in his hands at the same time.

Especially when Lin Wan mistakenly thought her son liked strawberries, she went out of her way to buy a whole bunch the next day. Coincidentally, she was seen by Qu Tantan, and happily shared how she had discovered her son’s preferences.

And when one person said it, the other actually believed it.

Faced with Qu Tantan’s look of sudden realization—surprised, and even a bit guilty and sheepish—Lin Zhenmo closed his eyes and forced himself to hold back his impulsive hand. If she hadn’t been wearing those little sunflower hair ties at the time, he might not have been able to resist tugging her pigtail.

After being ‘tormented’ by her multiple times, Lin Zhenmo no longer felt tense or stiff around Qu Tantan. In fact, he even felt a bit of camaraderie with Father Qu.

He didn’t resist her occasional attempts to win him over with cuteness, either—he would simply accept them calmly.

So, when he took the grape juice she offered and heard her emphasize that she was genuinely sharing it, Lin Zhenmo didn’t believe it at all, but he nodded anyway, pretending to trust her.

Still, the flavor of the juice was genuinely delicious.

Lin Zhenmo couldn’t help but take a few more sips. When he realized he was being greedy, he tried to set the bottle down. But just as he turned his head, he saw Qu Tantan had already chugged down half the bottle in one go.

It was actually a normal scene, not particularly funny, but he couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile. Then, mimicking her, he also gulped down half a bottle.

“It’s really good.”

Seeing him sit so upright, seriously holding the juice bottle and giving it praise, Qu Tantan felt like laughing. It was as if she could see a future version of him, politely holding a wine glass at a business event, negotiating deals with others.

Help—she wasn’t going to get this image out of her head.

She reached out and poked his straight back. “Sitting like that, doesn’t it get tiring? Relax a bit. It’s just the two of us here anyway.”

Lin Zhenmo was caught off guard by the poke and instinctively stiffened. Then, realizing it was just Qu Tantan beside him, he hesitated for a moment but eventually followed her lead and relaxed his posture. As he adjusted himself to sit more comfortably, he still cautiously glanced around.

Qu Tantan really wanted to laugh. Unable to resist, she poked him again mischievously. Lin Zhenmo reacted like a hedgehog—flinching as if ready to bristle, but when he realized it was her, he softened again and just glared at her with his deep black phoenix eyes.

She used to think Lin Zhenmo’s eyes looked too cold and fierce. But now, they seemed more like those of a grumpy little dog—looking mean and ready to bite, but once familiar, very affectionate.

Hehe, Lin Zhenmo was actually really fun.

---

Why did Qu Tantan resemble a little puppy so much?

She would bite when angry, but otherwise, she was super clingy and impossible to drive away. Once she realized she wouldn’t get hurt, she completely let loose—mischievous to the extreme, making others grit their teeth in frustration. But even then, you just couldn’t bring yourself to hit her.

Disturbed by her teasing, Lin Zhenmo tried to glare her into submission. But Qu Tantan had already built up full immunity, she wasn’t afraid at all. In fact, she happily leaned her head closer to him.

She was just like a little stray puppy he had once met. At first, it barked at him fiercely, as if afraid he’d come close and bully it. But after several encounters, once it realized he meant no harm, it would even come over to beg for food and completely ignore his rejections.

After a few more times, it even chased after him, whimpering and biting his pant leg, clinging to his leg with its tongue lolling out. Lin Zhenmo tried to scare it away, but it no longer reacted like it did at first. Instead, it happily wagged its tail at him.

Unfortunately, just when he had finally decided to bring it home, it disappeared the next day.

Lin Zhenmo searched for a week but couldn’t find any trace of it. Later, he heard it had likely been adopted by someone else. He felt a little down but was happy that it had found someone who could take good care of it.

After all, he wasn’t confident he could do that himself, and he wasn’t sure if his Mom would even accept having a puppy at home.

Since it had found an owner, there was no need for him to struggle or feel conflicted anymore. It was a good thing.

But Lin Zhenmo never forgot that little puppy.

Now, seeing Qu Tantan’s sly, mischievous grin, Lin Zhenmo couldn’t help thinking of that puppy again, even while feeling exasperated.

They were just so alike—especially their personalities.

Realizing he had subconsciously likened Qu Tantan to a little puppy, he awkwardly rubbed his wrist. When his fingers brushed over a deep bite mark, he paused. Then rubbed it again, and suddenly looked her in the eye—calm and direct.

—That’s right. She was indeed a little puppy that bites!

Two little puppies, locked in an unyielding stare—you glare at me, I stare at you. That’s what Lou Xiangwen saw when he turned around after just finishing with a customer, and he couldn’t help but pause in surprise.

He smiled. For the first time, he felt that this kid Lin Zhenmo wasn’t as difficult to approach as he had once imagined.

Maybe it was because they had come too early. Qu Tantan stared at the customers coming and going for a long while but didn’t spot that beautiful woman. Bored out of her mind, she tugged at Lin Zhenmo—who had already started doing homework—and suggested they go browse the bookstore next door.

Lin Zhenmo had already planned to accompany her today, so when she said she was bored, he casually pushed his homework aside and followed her to the bookstore next door.

The bookstore owner recognized Qu Tantan and greeted her with a smile. He patted her head and pointed to a corner, telling her that a new batch of picture books had just arrived and that she could check them out if she was interested.

Qu Tantan sweetly thanked him and pulled Lin Zhenmo toward the corner, silently marveling at how warm and friendly people seemed to be these days.

She skillfully picked out an English picture book and was reading it for a while when she noticed Lin Zhenmo reaching for another book. Curious, she peeked over and saw that he was holding a French beginner’s picture book.

Qu Tantan’s eyes widened. “Can you even understand that?”

Lin Zhenmo nodded nonchalantly. “It’s explained in detail. Once you look at it, you get it. It’s pretty simple.”

Thinking she wanted to read it too, he opened the book and tilted his head toward her. “Want to read together?”

Qu Tantan : “…” Damn it, he totally showed off!

Seeing how natural he looked, as if there was nothing unusual about it, she stubbornly leaned over to read with him. But not long after, she quietly backed away, lifted her English picture book up in front of her face, and pretended none of that had happened.

…She couldn’t understand a thing! Not at all!

---