When Lin Zhiyu arrived at the Hua Xia Academy of Biological Sciences, it was already seven o’clock.
This was a rare time for him to be late.
Usually, he would arrive by 6:30.
It must be said…
Ahem, early romance is not recommended for students.
Lin Zhiyu wore a long cashmere coat and a thick cream-white scarf, making him look even more refined and elegant. But only he knew the real reason for the scarf: to cover up the “strawberries.”
“Gege, I’ll pick you up at noon.” Xie Youzhou leaned in gently, attempting to kiss Lin Zhiyu’s forehead, but his attempt was blocked by Lin Zhiyu’s palm.
“There are people around.” Lin Zhiyu felt embarrassed being affectionate in public, even though they were in a car.
But the front windshield was transparent!
“You should get back to work. Isn’t the company preparing for the IPO? You must be swamped. Don’t worry about picking me up at noon.”
“I’m not that busy,” Xie Youzhou replied, smiling. “Everything’s arranged and handled. I’ve got more than enough time during the workday.”
As he spoke, Xie Youzhou’s slender fingers pressed a button.
The once-transparent front windshield changed color, blocking the view from outside!
“Now they can’t see us.”
Xie Youzhou gently held Lin Zhiyu’s hand, slowly pressed down, kissed Lin Zhiyu’s forehead, then slowly moved down, gently kissed the tip of Lin Zhiyu’s nose, and finally caressed it on his lips.
Lin Zhiyu’s ears turned red as he shyly tilted his head and returned the kiss.
Normally, he’d never imagine doing something like this in public.
—Even with some cover.
But he didn’t want to push Xie Youzhou away.
They’d missed so many years.
Even an entire lifetime.
Now, he didn’t want to leave room for regrets. Every day, every moment together was precious beyond words.
“Alright… I should go now.”
There was a hint of nasality in Lin Zhiyu’s tone, but to Xie Youzhou it sounded like coquettishness.
Xie Youzhou gave him one final deep kiss before reluctantly pulling away.
He pressed his forehead against Lin Zhiyu’s.
“Gege, I’ll pick you up at noon.”
“Mhm,” Lin Zhiyu replied softly.
He took a sip of water to hide the faint blush on his face before getting out of the car.
After closing the door, he waved to Xie Youzhou.
“You should go to the office.”
Xie Youzhou lowered the car window, his deep blue eyes filled with tenderness. “I’ll wait here until you’re inside.”
Lin Zhiyu felt both helpless and warm-hearted, giving Xie Youzhou a gentle look before turning to leave.
But as he walked a few steps, he spotted his father and Qiuqiu standing about ten meters away, to the right of the school gate!
Lin Zhiyu froze: “?!!!”
Why were his father and sister here?!
Father Lin, suppressing his anxiety, smiled, “Zhiyu, why didn’t you come home last night? Don’t you know Dad was worried? Qiuqiu was too!”
Pinched by her father’s hand, Lin Zhaoqiu nearly yelped but quickly chimed in, “Yeah, gege! I was worried, too. Why didn’t you come home?”
Lin Zhiyu was both amused and exasperated. “Dad, I did tell you I was at Xiaoyou’s house. We had some very important… ahem, things to handle, so I couldn’t come home. But we finished up last night, and I’ll be back tonight.”
“No matter how busy you are, you have to take care of yourself and come home on time.” Father Lin coughed lightly. “This morning, I went to the market early and got fresh tenderloin and lamb chops. I’ll make your favorite sweet and sour pork and cumin lamb at lunch. You have to come home for lunch.”
Lin Zhiyu cast a quick glance at Xie Youzhou.
The hint was clear—
Let’s move our noon date to dinner.
Xie Youzhou, unwilling to give up, said earnestly, “Uncle, my gege and I have…well, another very important matter to handle at noon.”
“That’s perfect. Come to our house, and I’ll cook for you. You can work while you’re there. Qiuqiu and I won’t bother you.”
Father Lin forced a smile.
He was about to reach his limit.
Although Father Lin had a kind smile on his face, Xie Youzhou still shuddered for some reason.
Xie Youzhou hesitated, then replied with a cautious smile, “Sure, Uncle Lin, that’d be great. I’ve missed your cooking; it’s better than any chef’s!”
Father Lin smiled very perfunctorily.
“Really? Maybe it’s because your standards aren’t very high. Are you any good at cooking yourself? If you plan on starting a family, that’s something you’ll need.”
A level one alarm suddenly sounded in Xie Youzhou’s mind. Uncle Lin had a misunderstanding of him. He had to perform well!
“Uncle Lin I’m pretty skilled in the kitchen. How about I cook lunch today? I can make all of gege’s favorite dishes, including sweet and sour pork and cumin lamb!”
“Oh, hard to believe!” Lin Zhaoqiu scoffed. “You can cook? Don’t waste the tenderloin and lamb we went to great lengths to get!”
This was something she bought with great effort after her father dragged her to the vegetable market at 6:04 and squeezed among a bunch of old men and women!
God knows she was already so sleepy that she almost lost her soul, and she was almost squeezed to heaven!
She will be angry with anyone who destroys these things she exchanged her life for!
“Well, sister Qiuqiu, you’ll see soon enough. If it’s not good, I’ll pay the price with my life,” Xie Youzhou joked.
Lin Zhaoqiu deliberately said: “Hey, bragging without thinking.”
“Alright, alright, let’s not make a scene. We’ll see at noon.” Lin Zhiyu gently tapped her head. “You are so smart. Let’s go now.”
“Dad, you don’t need to worry so much about me. I’m heading in now,” Lin Zhiyu told his father. “You can go home too.”
“Alright, go on in.”
Father Lin stared at Lin Zhiyu’s scarf inconspicuously and couldn’t help but clench his fist.
His son Zhiyu has never liked wearing a scarf since he was a child. There is definitely something wrong!
I’m afraid he was really bullied by that brat yesterday!
Yet, as he watched his son’s figure walk away, moving with ease, he slowly felt reassured.
To gain a precise understanding of everything related to homosexuality and love, Lin’s father did a lot of research on related popular science. Now when he thought of some tragic cases, his face became very grim.
But when he glanced at Xie Youzhou, he relaxed a bit.
Xie Youzhou was a good kid whom he had watched grow up. Especially during the family’s hardest times, he had never abandoned them and had provided a lot of help.
Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
“Uncle Lin, should I drive you and Qiuqiu home?” Nineteen-year-old Xie Youzhou was exceptionally handsome, his smile bright and infectious.
It was hard not to like him.
But Lin’s father did not get on the bus.
“No need. Qiuqiu and I have other errands to run, and it wouldn’t be convenient for you to drive there. We came on the electric bike.”
Lin Zhaoqiu looked at her father in surprise, wanting to ask what other errands he could mean.
But remembering his earlier instructions, she bit her tongue.
She said nothing.
“Alright then, Uncle Lin. I’ll be on my way. If you need anything, call me anytime. Gege’s busy, but I’m available whenever.”
Xie Youzhou didn’t insist on giving them a ride since he sensed that Lin’s father didn’t want to accept. There was even a hint of displeasure.
Xie Youzhou kept his face composed, but internally he sounded the alarm: Something wasn’t right…
Uncle Lin must have known something and is not satisfied with him!!!
After Xie Youzhou drove off, his expression turned serious.
This wouldn’t do. He had to win his future father-in-law over!
Determined, Xie Youzhou pondered deeply on how to please his father-in-law, considering every possible approach.
…
Meanwhile, across the ocean, the Ruan family manor had plunged into darkness. Without the funds to maintain it, the once-grand manor was now pitch black, as ominous as a scene from a horror film.
Under the cover of night, a group stealthily approached the manor. The man leading them was thin, with an untidy beard and greasy hair, resembling any common vagrant in Country M.
But when the light occasionally caught his eyes, a flash of malice and cruelty revealed his true nature.
Yes, Hortez was back.
He knew that Ruan Jiaojiao wasn’t living at the Ruan Manor anymore, but he hadn’t gone to her right away, even though he longed to.
Instead, he’d come here first.
After all, the family was what Jiaojiao cared about the most. How could he not make an impression on his future in-laws first?
