With a shriek, Lin Xiaolu spun around, stumbling backward in a “thump-thump” until she hit the railing behind her. Then, losing her balance, she slipped and smacked her head against the glass panel beside the railing.
“Ow!”
The pain in the back of her head made her cry out, and she nearly crumpled to the floor.
Fortunately, Lin Yun was quick. Before she could fall, he bent down, reached out, and grabbed her arm, pulling her upright.
“Are you okay?”
Seeing Lin Xiaolu wince in pain, he instinctively rubbed the back of her head. When he saw no injury, he sighed in relief. “Xiaolu, you really need to watch your step.”
—”It’s your fault for scaring me!”
Lin Xiaolu straightened up, brushing his hand away from her head, and grumbled, “Don’t just sneak up on people like that!”
“I saw you two lurking around here, so I had to come ask,” Lin Yun said, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve been spying from the third floor for ages. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”
In truth, he hadn’t noticed at all—it was hard to imagine someone watching him from the upper floors of a shopping plaza. But now that he’d caught them, he needed a plausible excuse.
His reasoning was a bit flimsy, but since the girls were already guilty of tailing him, they didn’t question it.
“I’m sorry, Uncle. I was wrong,” Xia Liang immediately put on her best “good girl” act, looking innocent. “I didn’t mean to; I was just curious.”
“Who’s lurking? I was standing here openly!” Lin Xiaolu, still smarting from her head bump, retorted while rubbing the sore spot. “Can’t I just check what you’re up to?”
“Then why are you here?” Lin Yun fixed his gaze on her.
Lin Xiaolu could only avert her eyes in silence.
She didn’t answer, but her inability to hide her feelings was obvious—her guilty expression said it all. Lin Yun understood and pressed, “You followed me?”
“I was just… curious too,” Lin Xiaolu mumbled.
“Both of you, curious?”
Lin Yun couldn’t help but chuckle. “You two went through all this trouble, watching me for so long, just because of that?”
“What’s wrong with that? And you—what’s with dressing up like this on your day off?” Lin Xiaolu shot back, now that she’d been caught. “You’re so formal; I thought you were going to… you know…”
It finally clicked for Lin Yun why she was here.
He glanced at Xia Liang, who smiled awkwardly and lowered her head in apology, clearly aware that tailing someone wasn’t proper behavior.
Ah, why bother getting worked up over kids?
With a self-deprecating smile, Lin Yun let go of his lingering annoyance and turned back to Lin Xiaolu. “You thought I was going to find you a stepmom?”
“What else?” Lin Xiaolu looked up at him, puzzled.
“How could that be? Even if I were, I’d ask for your opinion first,” Lin Yun said, shaking his head with a sigh. “You probably don’t remember, but today is your mom and my wedding anniversary.”
Lin Xiaolu’s eyes widened.
“Wedding anniversary?”
She stammered, “Wait, but… last year and the year before, we didn’t…”
“Because this is the fifteenth anniversary. The last time your mom and I celebrated was the tenth, when you were only nine,” Lin Yun explained. “Besides, you know we’re visiting her grave next week. I need to prepare a gift for her.”
“Ah…” Lin Xiaolu exhaled, dazed.
She let go of the hand cradling her head, stared at Lin Yun, then lowered her gaze, repeating, “So that’s it… I thought…”
She wasn’t even sure why she felt so relieved.
Her father wasn’t out meeting another woman—he was honoring her mother’s memory.
Though it didn’t mean he had no connection to that Hong Si Yu woman or that he didn’t know Cui Que, at least it meant her wild suspicions were unfounded.
Lin Xiaolu felt her cheeks flush.
Beside her, Xia Liang giggled and nudged her arm. “I told you it might not be what you thought, but you didn’t believe me.”
Lin Xiaolu shot her a glance. She knew she’d made a fool of herself, but she wasn’t the type to stay quiet. She opened her mouth to snap back.
But before she could, she caught Lin Yun’s wistful expression. It was like a splash of cold water, and she swallowed her words.
“…Fine, I was wrong,” she admitted, mumbling, “If that’s the case, I’ll just go home later.”
“After all this, you’re talking about going home now?” Lin Yun sighed, forcing a small smile. “Since you’re here, help me pick something out. We can choose a gift for your mom together.”
“I…” Lin Xiaolu hesitated, unsure how to respond after realizing her mistake.
“Let’s go,” Lin Yun said, tapping the railing and pointing below. “Or are you planning to skip the grave visit next week?”
“How could I?” Lin Xiaolu perked up at the mention. “Even if you don’t go, I will.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
Lin Yun took a few steps toward the escalator and looked back at her. “Or do you want to stay up here, playing general from the command post?”
“…You think I want to?”
“Then hurry up,” Lin Yun urged.
“Alright, I got it.”
“Any ideas for lunch?”
“…Ice cream.”
Meanwhile, Xia Liang, who had watched the whole exchange, smiled warmly at the thawing atmosphere between father and daughter.
Perhaps she felt a twinge of envy, even jealousy, but those feelings were secondary. More importantly, Lin Xiaolu was her friend, and seeing her reconcile with her father made Xia Liang genuinely happy.
“Well then, Uncle, Xiaolu,” she said, waving to them with a bright smile. “Since that’s settled, I’ll head back on my own.”
“You…” Lin Xiaolu frowned, about to say something.
But before she could get a word out, Xia Liang cut in, “Xiaolu, focus on picking out the gift. Your mom will be so happy.”
She didn’t give Lin Xiaolu a chance to finish, even though both knew she might have been about to ask her to stay.
In Xia Liang’s mind, this was a rare chance for the father and daughter to connect. She didn’t need to be a third wheel, making everyone uncomfortable.
So, after saying that, she turned and quickened her pace, as if fleeing toward the crowd. But before she could disappear, a voice from behind stopped her.
—”Hey, you there.”
The man called out, “If you don’t have other plans, why don’t you join us?”
“…No, thank you, Uncle. I can get back on my own just fine,” she replied, turning back with a smile.
“Don’t be so polite. You’re Xiaolu’s classmate, Xia Liang, right?”
Lin Yun softened his expression and tone. “Thanks for indulging her antics. I should be the one thanking you.”
He didn’t know what Xia Liang was thinking, but he remembered that night when she, in a rare moment of vulnerability, had asked Cui Que not to play favorites.
Though he wasn’t Cui Que right now, and she wouldn’t realize that, it wasn’t an excuse to leave her out.
“Come with us. I’ll treat you both to lunch and drive you home afterward.”
He looked at Xia Liang earnestly.
She opened her mouth slightly, unsure how to refuse again.
“Stop dawdling,” Lin Xiaolu interjected, arms crossed, looking away. “Didn’t you say you wanted us to be like family? Now you’re being all formal?”
Xia Liang glanced at Lin Yun, then at Lin Xiaolu, seeing their shared concern.
Logic told her she was just an outsider here, and witnessing their close family bond would only sting.
But emotionally, she yearned for the kind of connection she couldn’t have.
Should I get closer to them? she wondered, trying to hold herself back.
Yet, their care and invitation cracked the walls she’d built around herself, and warmth flooded her heart.
Oh well, maybe I’ll be a little selfish this time.
Remembering someone’s advice, she nodded and gave a helpless but genuine smile.
“Then, I won’t hold back.”
(End of Chapter)
