The scorching summer sun seemed to soften here; the layers of leaves blocked the sunlight, and the sifted rays weren’t too overwhelming.

Mu Qiu was led by Cheng Zhirang, walking step by step toward the entrance of the garden villa.

The gate was open. Just as they reached a cluster of daisies, a very elegant woman walked out from inside.

"You’re here?"

"Mom."

The woman was wearing a cheongsam, with a graceful demeanor. Apart from the slight traces of age on her face, there was no visible indication that she was Cheng Zhirang’s mother.

Mu Qiu was somewhat surprised, and bowed slightly to greet her.

"Hello Auntie, I’m Mu Qiu."

"Hello," He Jia gently supported her, her voice warm and pleasant, "Can I call you Qiuqiu?"

"Of course, Auntie."

"You’re really beautiful, Cheng Zhirang found himself a lovely girlfriend."

Cheng Zhirang was surprisingly addressed by his name and even chimed in, "She is very beautiful."

Mu Qiu felt a bit embarrassed, wanting to let go of Cheng Zhirang’s hand, but a small gesture couldn’t succeed. Cheng Zhirang simply pulled her along as they walked inside.

He chatted with He Jia as they walked, "Is Dad at home?"

"Of course, I specifically instructed him. Qiuqiu, what do you like to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it. We have a Master Liao here, who is an excellent cook, even Cheng Zhirang loves his food."

Mu Qiu scratched the palm of Cheng Zhirang’s hand.

"Mom, have Master Liao make a soup, an old duck soup, and something to replenish energy and blood. This is peach gum she brought, let’s stew a pot of it too."

Mu Qiu’s eyebrows twitched.

He Jia’s expression didn’t change, still gentle and elegant, just that her look at the two of them became somewhat subtle.

"Alright. You’re only here for a meal, yet you brought something. Did you ask Qiuqiu to bring it?"

Mu Qiu immediately shook her head, "He didn’t ask me to bring it; it was my brother who advised me to bring it. It’s polite to bring something for the first meal."

The words came out naturally.

Cheng Zhirang glanced at her, amusement in his eyes.

He Jia jokingly scolded, "I haven’t even started talking about him, and you’re already defending him."

With that, they had already entered the living room. Cheng Zhirang placed the gift box on the dining table and led her to meet Master Liao in the kitchen.

He Jia walked beside them, speaking gently with Mu Qiu.

"You can just tell Master Liao what you want to eat later, don’t be shy. After ordering, let Zhirang show you around; his father is still upstairs handling things, you’ll meet him later."

"No need to be formal, just treat this like your own home."

"Before bringing you here, he wouldn’t tell me much about you, except for knowing your name and having seen you on a show, I know nothing else, leaving me totally unprepared."

Mu Qiu couldn’t help but speak for Cheng Zhirang again, "I told him not to prepare anything, it wouldn’t be right to trouble you over one meal."

He Jia’s smile deepened, she patted her on the shoulder, "Alright. You can directly tell Master Liao, once you’re done, let him show you around while I bring these documents to his father upstairs."

"Okay, Auntie."

He Jia thought that with her around, they might not be able to spend time alone together, so she found an excuse to go upstairs.

Mu Qiu watched her go upstairs, indeed letting out a breath of relief. Turning, she listened to Cheng Zhirang talking with Master Liao.

She could actually order food, she was prepared to come and help wash vegetables. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Anything else you’d like?" Cheng Zhirang asked her after ordering dishes, "There’s an old duck soup, a peach gum milk stew, a steamed bass, a..."

"That’s enough," Mu Qiu replied calmly, "just a simple meal, no need to trouble yourself. I can’t eat that much."

"But you barely had breakfast, you usually eat more at lunch when breakfast is light."

"I’m on a diet."

"..."

Cheng Zhirang stifled a laugh, leading her out of the kitchen.

"Really, nothing else you want to eat? Now that the others are gone, you can tell me."

Mu Qiu grabbed his hand, shaking her head, "I definitely won’t be able to eat much at lunch, no need to go through the trouble. Show me around, let’s go outside first."

"Okay, do you want to wear a hat? It’s sunny outside."

"I’ll wear your hat."

Cheng Zhirang went upstairs to get her a baseball cap he had from many years ago, and then led her outside.

"There are only four of us for lunch today, you don’t need to be nervous."

"I’m not very nervous meeting other people’s parents. But these are your parents."

Cheng Zhirang curled his lips into a smile, holding her hand tighter, his voice becoming even more gentle.

"Let’s go, I’ll take you to the left path. When I was in school, I’d ride my bike back through that path after school."

Mu Qiu’s attention was instantly caught.

On the spacious and clean asphalt road, tall sycamore trees were planted on both sides, lush with leaves, sunlight filtering through the overlapping leaves, dappling the ground.

If time could rewind.

A handsome eighteen-year-old boy would race down that road on his bike, dappled sunlight cascading over him, the wind ruffling his clothes and hair, revealing those strikingly beautiful eyes, perhaps along with newly formed abs...

If there were girls standing on both sides of the road, they would surely be covering their mouths in excitement, calling his name, just like Cheng Zhi does now.

Eighteen, such a beautiful age, if they had met at that age...

Forget it, she hadn’t graduated elementary school back then.

Mu Qiu adjusted the cap, walking beside Cheng Zhirang on the small path, asking him, "Did you live here when you were young?"

"Yes. I’ve lived here since I was a child, went abroad for two years in between, and debuted after returning."

"You must’ve been the school idol in high school, given how handsome Brother Cheng is."

Cheng Zhirang laughed and shook his head, "Not really a school idol. Plenty of good-looking guys in those days."

"?" What kind of mythical school is that, a training camp for handsome guys? Why wasn’t this amazing place shared?

"You weren’t the best-looking one?" She asked, eyes wide.

"How can you differentiate? I never compared with others."

"Going by the number of love letters received, the loudness of cheers on the basketball court, the feedback from boys and girls in class, tons of ways to find out."

"Clearing the mailbox daily, no idea how many overall. On the basketball court, focused on the game, hearing cheers but no clue whom they were for."

Mu Qiu leaned against him, tilting her head to look at him, "No way, the chants of your name must have been the loudest. I saw your debut photos, you were stunning.

If I were around, I’d definitely scream your name so much I’d lose my voice."

Cheng Zhirang laughed, "You want a high school crush?"

"Cheering doesn’t mean a major crush, but if it were for you, yes, I’d want to try it. Did you have a high school crush?"

This topic needs a proper answer.

Cheng Zhirang shook his head honestly, "No."

"As good-looking as you are, liked by so many, not one ever made a first move? Are your standards too high, not even pretty girls catch your eye?"

Cheng Zhirang turned to look at her, his voice clear and smooth, "Maybe destiny wanted me to wait for you?"

"..."

Why did he suddenly start saying sweet nothings to make her blush?

Feeling shy, she coughed. Cheng Zhirang just watched as a slow blush spread across the tips of her ears.

He suddenly laughed.