Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

Jinling had entered its coldest season.

Jiang Linyuan had completely regressed, spending his days curled up under the covers like a female investigator trapped in a home security squad’s snare—deep in the mire.

He couldn’t pull himself out, and he was thoroughly enjoying it.

On top of that, Haji Yao had been excessively filial lately, bringing breakfast to his bedside every single day.

It was a bit weird, but the food delivered to his mouth was warm. Don’t think about it, just keep eating.

After eating, he’d accompany Haji Yao to the market in town in the morning, then head home in the afternoon to make dumplings and steam buns, preparing New Year supplies.

At night, he’d call the Department Head, Xiao Yilin, Xiao Su, and the Thief Saint, chatting away on long phone dates.

How lucky they were to have such a gentle and considerate friend like him!

Today was Monday, and following the rotation, it was time to video call Xiao Su.

“Xiao Su! Xiao Su! What New Year gift have you prepared for me? Hurry up and give it to me—time to pay the friend fee!”

Su Muzhi answered the call and was met with Jiang Linyuan’s cringe opening. She lifted her chin, a careless smile on her face:

“Hehe, right, it’s New Year’s, so even a pet should get a little better treatment. What do you want?”

“Shallow woman, the things I want can’t be bought with money!”

Jiang Linyuan fired back indignantly.

Not entirely true, though—pounds could be exchanged for yen, after all. The risk was just a bit high.

“Oh really? Then how about I gift you Shen Wanyu?”

Su Muzhi chuckled softly, staring at Jiang Linyuan.

Is she yours to give away?!

Jiang Linyuan rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Getting his eyes rolled daily by this cringe woman.

Damn, that was too terrifying.

From now on, he should make others roll their eyes at him too.

“You might as well just give yourself to me,” he said.

“Oh?”

Su Muzhi seemed thoughtful, then a smile suddenly spread across her face:

“Giving Jiang-classmate himself to me as a New Year gift? That’s not a bad idea.”

“…I just said give yourself to me, not give me to you.”

“I heard you, I just didn’t want to acknowledge it.”

This Xiao Su! She deserved to be beaten to death with a stick later! Don’t ask what kind of stick.

“How have things been between you and Jiang Zhiyao lately?”

Suddenly, Su Muzhi threw out another topic.

“Same as usual. Why are you asking?”

Jiang Linyuan replied.

Xiao Su definitely knew something. What a dishonest person.

“Hehe, just showing concern.”

What a shame she hadn’t gotten to see Jiang Linyuan in a panic.

Was the pressure from Shen Wanyu and me still not enough? He was still unshaken?

Was it confidence or stronger resilience? Time to add more fuel to the fire. It felt like it would be fun.

Su Muzhi thought for a moment, then smiled again:

“During the New Year, do you want to meet me?”

“No, no.”

“This is just a notification, not a question, though.”

“You don’t even know where my hometown is, do you?”

“Hehe, xx Town, xx Village. Am I right?”

Damn! Doxxing!

Isn’t that illegal?! You’ve even dug up my family background so thoroughly!

“Xiao Su, do you realize how creepy this behavior of yours is?”

Jiang Linyuan said.

“It wasn’t me. My mom investigated your family early on and checked everything out along the way.”

Su Muzhi said with a grin.

This Auntie Shaqima, so wicked!

Why couldn’t she learn from the Future Mother-in-Law! I’m never changing what I call her!

“Annoying, isn’t it? The feeling of having everything laid bare like this.”

Su Muzhi looked at Jiang Linyuan and gave a soft laugh:

“She’s just that kind of person.”

“It’s actually not that bad.”

Jiang Linyuan wasn’t really bothered.

So she had just dug into his family background. Some people might feel uneasy, but he didn’t care.

“You can’t be like that. You should be furious. Say, ‘Ah, how can this person be like this? Does she respect me?!’”

Su Muzhi mimicked Jiang Linyuan’s tone.

“And then, a dark thought would bloom in your heart—that you have to take fierce revenge through her daughter.”

She paused, then looked at Jiang Linyuan and smiled:

“How about it?”

“First of all, that thought isn’t dark.”

Jiang Linyuan corrected her phrasing, meeting Su Muzhi’s eyes:

“Second, that’s not why I became friends with you, Xiao Su.”

“Hehe…”

Su Muzhi still wore a smile:

“I know. With my charm alone, I could win Jiang-classmate over. Why bother adding any impurities?”

“Narcissist.”

Jiang Linyuan commented, then asked:

“When are you coming?”

“Jiang-classmate doesn’t want revenge, but I sure want to get back at her.”

Su Muzhi said:

“How about the first day of the new year?”

“Auntie Shaqima and the Vice Principal would be pretty pitiful, wouldn’t they? On a day for family reunion, their daughter runs off to someone else’s house.”

Jiang Linyuan reminded her.

“Hehe, this is just a rehearsal for the future. Next year, the year after—they’ll have to learn to adapt.”

Su Muzhi didn’t care at all, smiling lightly:

“What’s the matter, Jiang-classmate getting shy?”

“Don’t embarrass yourself.”

Jiang Linyuan said.

Though with Xiao Su’s figure, he felt there wasn’t much to embarrass himself with—it’d probably starve the kids.

“Then it’s settled.”

Su Muzhi nodded, automatically filtering out Jiang Linyuan’s incomprehensible remarks.

“The Vice Principal and Auntie Shaqima won’t chase me down, will they?”

Jiang Linyuan asked again.

The order was wrong—you couldn’t cut in line. If everyone wanted to come, they should come together.

What if his other good friends got angry?

“I won’t let them come. It would be way too boring if they showed up.”

Su Muzhi smiled.

A good friend coming over to play at home was perfectly normal.

“Now Jiang-classmate can think about how to introduce me.”

Right before hanging up, Su Muzhi added.

“Aren’t we just good friends? What’s there to introduce?”

“Good friends, huh? Hehe, fine.”

“Are you really coming on the first day of the new year? Not spending time with your family?”

“I won’t stay long. I’ll still spend most of my time with my parents.”

“That works.”

…

Time flew by, and soon it was New Year’s Eve.

The weather forecast said there would be snow today, but Jiang Linyuan didn’t see a single flake.

False intel.

In the morning, Haji Yao still delivered his food. Munch, munch—delicious.

He crawled out of his doghouse, threw on his clothes unhurriedly, and noticed someone heading toward his front door.

“Hongmei, Happy New Year! I’m here today to tie your red thread of fate!”

Aunt Ma’s weathered face grinned like a chrysanthemum, followed by a middle-aged couple and a flashily dressed girl.

“They’re here for you.”

Jiang Zhiyao poked Jiang Linyuan in the waist.

“I’m going back to sleep for a bit. If anyone asks, say I’m dead.”

Jiang Linyuan couldn’t be bothered to deal with this and turned to head inside.

“Hey, hey, hey, Little Yuan, don’t be shy! Come out and say hello!”

Aunt Ma’s sharp eyes caught Jiang Linyuan trying to escape, and she called out loudly.

Father Jiang and Mother Jiang also stepped out, seeing Aunt Ma’s setup and wearing expressions of utter speechlessness.

Wondering how much money she’d taken from the girl’s family to be this eager to bring them over.

“Just meet them once and make it clear. You can’t avoid it, and it’ll only be more trouble later.”

Mother Jiang said crossly, then looked at Jiang Zhiyao:

“Go with him.”

What rotten cabbages dared to compare with the one she’d raised? Chase them off!

Jiang Zhiyao nodded, glanced at Jiang Linyuan, and when he didn’t say anything, she secretly reached out and grabbed his hand.

Jiang Linyuan looked at her but said nothing.

Jiang Zhiyao’s lips curled up involuntarily.