Lin Mo couldn’t figure it out.
After tonight, she planned to have a proper talk with him.
Truthfully, if it weren’t for Dr. You strongly insisting she take the test, she would’ve asked him tonight.
Her phone buzzed with a notification.
It was a message from Xu Zunlong: "Xiao Mo, the driver has arrived at the location."
Lin Mo replied: "Got it."
She didn’t dawdle after going downstairs, giving Shen Sizhan a quick wave before leaving.
The butler’s lips curled into a knowing smile.
Miss Lin didn’t take the third young master with her—she must be sneaking out for a date with the master!
Wonderful! There’s hope! They’re in the honeymoon phase!
The journey took about an hour.
Xu Yali personally came to open the door.
The elegant woman wore an ink wash-colored qipao that accentuated her graceful figure.
Lin Mo carried gifts in one hand and looped her other arm through her teacher’s. “Xu-laoshi, you’re so beautiful! You look like you’re barely thirty!”
Xu Yali chuckled, whispering as they walked to the living room, “Such a sweet talker! But you should take care of your figure too. You’re still young—make sure to be safe.”
Lin Mo’s parents were gone, and Xu Yali felt it was her duty as an elder to offer gentle reminders.
Xie Guanyan was twenty-nine, at the peak of his vigor.
Lin Mo was an adult, but marriage and children were still far too early.
If Lin Mo were also twenty-nine, she wouldn’t have said as much.
If she wanted children, fine—but only if she understood the sacrifices involved.
The sudden shift to adult topics made Lin Mo’s cheeks flush. She feigned innocence. “Laoshi, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
Xu Yali patted her hand playfully. “Shame on you, the top scorer in the college entrance exams failing biology.”
In the villa’s living room, Xu Zunlong emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron. “Lin Mo’s here! Sorry I didn’t come out to greet you—I was stir-frying.”
Lin Mo smiled. “No worries! I didn’t know you could cook!”
Xu Zunlong puffed up proudly. “Of course! Cooking is a must for any real man!”
Xu Yali guided Lin Mo to the sofa, shooting a glance at the kitchen. “You don’t know this, but back then, he apprenticed under a state banquet chef just to impress Xu Yan’s mother.”
Xu Zunlong and his wife had a loving marriage, and Xu Yan, raised in such an environment, naturally treated his loved ones well.
Xu Yali sometimes thought it was a pity things didn’t work out between Lin Mo and Xu Yan.
But love had no logic, no first-come-first-served rules.
Lin Mo’s eyes crinkled. “Then I’m in for a treat tonight!”
Xu Yali deadpanned, “Not really.”
Lin Mo: “…”
Xu Yali couldn’t help laughing. “He got kicked out after three days, with the chef warning him never to mention his name in public.”
Lin Mo burst out giggling. “Then how did Xu-shushu win over Auntie?”
Xu Yali smirked. “I suspect she was poisoned into stupidity. She was the only one who thought his food was good, which only fed his ego. Today, he insisted on showing off his ‘skills.’”
Lin Mo mentally chewed on this unexpected dose of couple goals, then realized she hadn’t seen Xu Yan yet.
“Where’s Xu Yan?”
Xu Yali tilted her chin upward. “Upstairs. His dad wanted to surprise him, so he didn’t tell him you were coming.”
After two hours of labor, Xu Zunlong finally served four dishes and a soup.
The dishes looked passable, but the pork intestine and mung bean soup was… unsettling.
Xu Zunlong untied his apron and shouted upstairs, “Xiao Yan! Dinner’s ready!”
A voice drifted down. “No need. I’m not eating your cooking.”
Xu Zunlong grinned. “Your Lin Mo-jie is here!”
The next second, a lanky teenager in a black T-shirt appeared at the stairwell.
Lin Mo tilted her head and smiled. “There’s a delicious soup waiting for you!”
Xu Yan’s heart nearly leaped out of his throat. “Okay.”
He’d thought he’d never see her again in person.
The meal was surprisingly pleasant.
All three tactfully avoided the infamous soup.
Noticing the untouched pot, Xu Zunlong urged Xu Yali and Xu Yan to try some.
Both pretended to be deaf.
Xu Zunlong rolled his eyes. “Philistines. Lin Mo, you try it. Xu Yan’s mother always said this was my best dish.”
Not wanting to offend him, Lin Mo ladled half a bowl.
One sip later, she finished the entire portion.
Xu Zunlong: “…”
After dinner, Lin Mo chatted with Xu Yali while Xu Yan lingered downstairs, interjecting occasionally.
By the time they wrapped up, it was past ten.
Lin Mo needed to head back.
She met Xu Yan’s gaze. “Wishing you all the best. I’ll be waiting in Jingbei—come watch me dance someday.”
A spark flickered in Xu Yan’s eyes as he nodded. “I will.”
As Lin Mo stepped into the car outside, Xu Yan called out, “Lin Mo-jie.”
She turned. “Hmm?”
Xu Yan held up his phone. “Can we take a photo together?”
Lin Mo walked back. “How about this—Laoshi, Xu-shushu, let’s all take one.”
The four of them squeezed into the frame: Lin Mo arm-in-arm with Xu Yali, Xu Zunlong beside them, and Xu Yan next to Lin Mo.
The slender, handsome boy wore a rare, genuine smile.
Lin Mo got home close to midnight.
She messaged Xie Guanyan, who, as always, promptly opened the door.
Shen Sizhan trailed behind. “Jie, why so late?”
Lin Mo shrugged. “Lost track of time.”
Xie Guanyan asked nothing, his gaze tender as it rested on her.
Upstairs, Shen Sizhan yawned. “I’m hitting the sack. Don’t stay up too late.”
Lin Mo nodded, showered, and collapsed into bed—only to see Dr. You’s text: “Don’t forget the inhibitor drops.”
She’d nearly forgotten. After applying them, she replied: “Done. Get some rest, Dr. You. It’ll be fine.”
Dr. You: “Doubt it. Drank three cups of Wangcha Ji. Pulling an all-nighter.”
Lin Mo worried he’d drop dead from exhaustion. “Hang in there.”
The second she sent it, she passed out.
Sometime in the dead of night, a warm, tingling sensation crept up her foot.
Her eyes fluttered open to see a breathtaking man kneeling in the shadows, pressing kisses to her toes.
