The weather had been clear and sunny all day.
By evening, thunder suddenly rumbled, and a violent storm swept in with howling winds.
Lin Mo frowned as she looked outside, feeling a headache coming on.
Today was supposed to be her first date with Gu Jingchuan, and she had already picked out her outfit.
Though she had agreed to it on impulse, it was her first time going on a date with a guy, and she couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
"Big sis, with this storm, you should just cancel," Shen Yihan said.
Lin Mo glanced at her 15-year-old younger brother and scoffed, "Go finish your summer homework!"
Out of nowhere, Shen Sizhan popped up, holding a compass with a serious expression. "Sis, I did the calculations—today’s not a good day for you to go out!"
The 11-year-old was already in fifth grade.
Lin Mo swatted him lightly. "Have you even finished your diary entry today? Stop playing with that compass!"
Shen Sizhan’s teacher had assigned daily diary entries for the summer.
"Already done," he replied with a grin.
The rain showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, so Lin Mo plopped onto the sofa. "Let me see it."
Shen Yihan, noticing his sister wasn’t insisting on leaving, hurried to the kitchen to cut some fruit.
If the house was comfortable enough, maybe she wouldn’t go on that date.
Returning with a plate of fruit, Shen Yihan bowed dramatically. "Your Majesty, your humble servant presents this offering."
Lin Mo speared a piece of watermelon with a fork and flipped open Shen Sizhan’s diary.
First entry:
Today was sunny and beautiful. My second brother and I played chess at home. I moved a piece, then he moved a piece, then I moved a piece, then he moved a piece, then I moved a piece, then he moved a piece…
Lin Mo stared blankly as Shen Sizhan filled two whole pages with I moved a piece, he moved a piece, ending with Today was such a meaningful day!
Speechless, she turned to the next entry.
Today was sunny and beautiful. Our family went to a farm. We saw a sheep, and it went baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa baa…
Four hundred "baas" later: I tried baa-ing back, and the sheep headbutted me into the air. Today was a terrible day!
Lin Mo: "…"
She was torn between irritation and amusement. "Shen Sizhan, you’re a natural at padding words—born to be a novelist!"
Shen Sizhan took it as a compliment, his lips curving into a smug Nike-swoosh grin. "Actually, my dream is to become a writer."
Before Lin Mo could respond, her phone rang.
It was Gu Jingchuan.
She tapped the screen to answer.
"Mo Mo, where are you?" Gu Jingchuan’s voice came through, deliberately deepened into a faux baritone.
Lin Mo’s brows furrowed. "Did you swallow a flip-flop or something?"
Gu Jingchuan: "…"
Seated at an expensive Western restaurant, hair slicked back in a "mature" style, Gu Jingchuan coughed awkwardly and took a sip of his free water. "No, I might be coming down with something. Are you on your way?"
Lin Mo glanced at the relentless rain outside. "Let’s call it off. The storm’s too heavy—I don’t feel like going."
Gu Jingchuan sulked. "What? I made a reservation just for this! I’ll send a car for you."
Shen Sizhan, who despised Gu Jingchuan, really didn’t want his sister to go.
In a flash of inspiration, he threw himself onto the floor, writhing. "Ow! My stomach hurts so bad!"
Lin Mo shot him a look before replying to Gu Jingchuan, "No need. My little brother isn’t feeling well. Let’s reschedule."
Click.
The call ended abruptly, leaving Gu Jingchuan fuming.
They had just gotten together, and she couldn’t even prioritize their first date?
But since he was already here, he might as well get something out of it.
He flagged down a waiter. "Bring me two baskets of complimentary bread."
Waiter: "…"
Back at home, Lin Mo watched Shen Sizhan rolling on the floor and smirked. "Keep rolling. You might as well mop the floor while you’re at it."
Caught in his act, Shen Sizhan forced out tears. "Waaah! Sis, I’m not lying! My stomach really hurts!"
Lin Mo softened slightly. "What happened?"
Shen Sizhan blanked, then glanced at his usually sharp-witted youngest brother for help.
Six-year-old Shen Ji’an scratched his head. "Third Brother must be pregnant."
Shen Sizhan: "…"
Lin Mo: "…"
Meanwhile, Ma Fang had been restless all day.
Now, she stood at the top of the stairs, eavesdropping on the conversation below.
Someone had offered her a million to tamper with Lin Mo’s car.
The young mistress had always treated her kindly, and guilt gnawed at her—but her son desperately needed the money.
"Auntie Ma, what are you doing up here?"
Lin Mo had come upstairs to change into loungewear when she spotted the housekeeper frozen in place.
Ma Fang flinched, lowering her head. "Just… checking if the stairs needed cleaning."
Noticing her unease, Lin Mo frowned. "Are you feeling unwell? If you need time off, just say so. The boys have endless energy during summer break—they can handle chores."
Ma Fang’s eyes welled up.
This girl was too kind.
Taking a deep breath, she murmured, "Miss, I… I’d like to resign."
Lin Mo blinked in surprise. "What?"
Ma Fang kept her gaze down. "I hope you stay safe and happy in the future. Always check your brakes and accelerator before driving. I saw on the news… someone died in a crash because their brakes failed."
Lin Mo tilted her head. "Is your son’s condition worse? Do you need to go take care of him?"
Ma Fang hadn’t expected her to remember. She nodded quickly. "Yes, I must tend to him. And, Miss… forgive my bluntness, but that Gu boy is no good. You’d be better off without him."
Lin Mo knew her brothers disliked Gu Jingchuan, but even Auntie Ma?
Before she could respond, Ma Fang added, "Last time he visited, he left three jin of unflushed waste in the toilet. Disgusting."
Lin Mo’s eyes widened.
Shen Sizhan had mentioned this, but she thought he was exaggerating—after all, he was Gu Jingchuan’s number one anti-fan.
But three jin?!
Repulsed, Lin Mo’s lips twitched. "Got it. I’ll change and settle your pay. It’s pouring outside—stay the night and leave tomorrow."
That evening, Gu Jingchuan received Lin Mo’s breakup text.
It hit him like a thunderbolt.
He immediately called. "Lin Mo, we’ve only been together for a day! Why are you dumping me?"
Lin Mo didn’t want to bring up the poop incident. "I realized I like men, and you like women. We’re incompatible."
Gu Jingchuan: "…"
The call ended. He tried calling again, but she ignored him.
Standing on his villa’s balcony, Gu Jingchuan burst into tears, wailing like a boiling kettle.
After all the effort to win her over, how could she just end it like this?
Snot and tears streaming down his face, he spotted a figure entering the courtyard.
It was Xie Guanyan, returning from work.
Gu Jingchuan hastily wiped his face—he’d never admit to Xie Guanyan that Lin Mo had dumped him.
Damn Xie Guanyan, getting into Qinghua University! He wanted to see him suffer!
Xie Guanyan noticed Gu Jingchuan on the balcony the moment he stepped in.
The tall, lean young man’s gaze darkened slightly.
He wondered how Gu Jingchuan and Lin Mo’s date had gone.
The young man lowered his gaze and walked toward his small room.
He would spend the entire summer working to save money—though university tuition was covered and there was a scholarship.
But he was bound to run into Lin Mo at Qinghua University.
He wanted to wear nicer clothes and shoes, to muster the courage to speak to her.
Even if she was dating Gu Jingchuan, it didn’t matter. He just wanted to be a little closer to her.
Being an ordinary friend would be enough.
Back in his room, Xie Guanyan took a shower in the cramped bathroom.
Washing away the exhaustion, the handsome boy in a white T-shirt pulled out a photo from the drawer.
His slender fingers gently traced the girl’s radiant, delicate face, his obsidian-dark eyes brimming with infatuation. "Goodnight, Shanshan."
