Lin’s Mother walked into Lin Yilin’s room and glanced at the caterpillar-shaped bundle of blankets curled up on the bed.

“Your senior is cooking for his girlfriend right now.”

“I know.”

The caterpillar wriggled slightly, and a muffled voice came through.

Lin’s Mother paused, then said:

“Your senior just told me that because of you, he’s been constantly fighting with his own girlfriend. Now that everything’s been made clear, he can finally breathe easy.”

Lin Yilin poked her head out and stared at Lin’s Mother:

“Mom, you’re talking nonsense.”

“But he does care about you quite a bit—he asked how you were feeling.”

This kind of man had too many thoughts on his mind, hiding them deep and tight. No matter what she asked, she couldn’t get anything out of him.

Even if Linlin ended up with him in the future, she’d still be the one hurt the most.

Anyway, suffering a little now was better than suffering a lifetime later.

“Mom, you’re still talking nonsense.”

Lin Yilin tucked her head back under the covers. Her mom always loved tricking her—she’d been like that since she was little.

Her senior never talked about his troubles with anyone else, and he’d never confirm her situation by asking her mom.

“I’m not lying to you.”

Lin’s Mother said.

Lin Yilin turned into a wriggling worm, twisting a few times under her blanket, ignoring Lin’s Mother completely.

Silly kid. Say she was stupid, and yet she was clever as hell in some ways.

Say she was smart, and she was still a complete fool in others.

Lin’s Mother helplessly patted the bed:

“Get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll go pay respects at the Mazu Temple to shake off the bad luck.”

“Can Senior and the others come along?”

“That’s fine—bring the monster itself along and let Mazu chop him up too.”

The caterpillar on the bed wriggled a few more times in protest.

Silly kid.

Lin’s Mother sighed.

……

“So slow.”

Su Muzhi, lying on the bed, glanced at Jiang Linyuan carrying the food containers and lazily rolled over.

“Haha, Xiao Yilin’s mom was a bit tough to handle.”

Jiang Linyuan said.

Su Muzhi stopped moving, lifted her head, propped her chin on her hands, and smiled sweetly:

“In a bad mood?”

“Not at all. Let’s eat first; I’ll wash the dishes later.”

Xiao Su was terrifying. He didn’t think he’d slipped up anywhere, did he?

Even though Xiao Yilin’s reaction was more or less what he’d expected, seeing it in person still stung a bit.

He’d gotten a D-card out of nowhere, but… what was the point? It was just a collector’s item now.

Jiang Linyuan set the food on the table.

“Hehe…”

Su Muzhi shot him a glance, didn’t press further, and ate in silence.

The two of them sat in the room, oddly quiet.

It was rare for him and Xiao Su to have moments like this—just being silent together without saying a word.

“I’m done eating. You’re sleeping outside tonight.”

Su Muzhi suddenly put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and said coldly out of nowhere.

“Xiao Su, I brought you food, and you kick me out right after eating? My heart hurts.”

Jiang Linyuan clutched his chest and said.

“Hehe, I think you’re still not hurting enough.”

Su Muzhi suddenly leaned in close, her eyes curving like crescent moons:

“Did my husband just get dumped?”

What a niche way to put it.

“I was expecting it.”

Jiang Linyuan said.

“Hehe, isn’t this just you making your own bed? Why bother with sincerity? If you’re going to be a piece of trash, go all the way. Sweet-talk Xiao Yilin, tell her she’s your first love, string her along for a few years, and then pull out Yu Songsong in a gentler way.”

“When they clash, you play the victim—complain about how much Yu Songsong tortured you. Xiao Yilin’s heart will soften; she’ll think it’s her fault for not protecting her husband. Guilt will come flooding in, right?”

Su Muzhi sneered coldly.

Wow, too vicious, Xiao Su. So honest people just deserve to be bullied, huh?

And she calls that the “gentler way”?

“Careful, Xiao Yilin might snap.”

“Hehe, if it’s you, she probably couldn’t bring herself to do it. Just let her send Yu Songsong packing. Then I’ll play the big good Samaritan and take Xiao Yilin in. That wouldn’t be bad either.”

“Xiao Su, you’re too ruthless!”

“So, what you did was already good enough. There’s no need to pull a long face. Is giving your girlfriend a bitter look some kind of punishment play?”

Su Muzhi reached out and tugged at Jiang Linyuan’s cheek.

Jiang Linyuan sighed:

“Xiao Su, what kind of girlfriend encourages her boyfriend to go have a romantic relationship with someone else?”

“Oh? Who’s encouraging you? I just don’t want to see your deadpan face! You country bumpkin fool!”

Su Muzhi pulled his cheeks hard, her eyebrows raised, a hint of disdain in her eyes.

“Xiao Su, I love you to death!”

Jiang Linyuan wrapped his arms around Su Muzhi, lifting her up easily, spinning her around and around.

“Country bumpkins really are country bumpkins! So rude!! Put me down!”

Su Muzhi’s face flushed red as she slapped his back.

What was he doing? Hoisting her up like a little kid?

Jiang Linyuan set Xiao Su down on the bed, and she swung her foot to kick him.

“I hope that no matter the outcome, you won’t hide anything from me.”

“Xiao Su, I always report to you first before I take any action.”

“No…”

Su Muzhi shook her head, fixing her gaze on him:

“I don’t just want to hear what I want to hear—I want to hear what you want to say, too.”

Her hand slowly rested on Jiang Linyuan’s chest:

“We’re partners in crime, not boss and subordinate. Say whatever’s on your mind.”

“Xiao Su, is this another scheme?”

“That’s right, that’s right. You’re this upset over getting dumped by Xiao Yilin—so if one day I leave you, would you chase after me without a word?”

Su Muzhi’s hand slowly clenched against his chest, as if she were gripping his heart:

“So, I’m going to hold your heart tight. I have to remind you every moment that the one who loves you most is me—Su Muzhi.”

Jiang Linyuan was silent for a moment, then rested his head on her shoulder:

“I’m sorry, Su Muzhi.”

“Good, you should feel guilty. Toss that harem dream of yours aside and just live a good life with me.”

Jiang Linyuan didn’t speak, so Su Muzhi bit his ear.

“Deaf?”

Jiang Linyuan shook his head.

Su Muzhi kissed him:

“Mute?”

Jiang Linyuan shook his head.

“Hehe, handle Xiao Yilin’s business however you want.”

Su Muzhi leaned back and flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, and said:

“How much you can hide from me is your skill, but if I find out anything beyond what you tell me, I won’t go easy on you.”

Damn man, I knew it, I knew it…

She was always special.

Luckily it was Lin Yilin. Thank God it was Lin Yilin. If it had been Yu Songsong, I would’ve already…!

No, I’m still a little angry.

Let him feel a little pain too.

Su Muzhi stretched out her hand and smiled:

“Tonight, who will come out on top?”

PS: Going to the hospital for a follow-up tomorrow. No chapter today. Rolling my eyes in apology.