Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

After leaving the milk tea shop, Jiang Linyuan couldn't help humming happily.

At the thought that Miss Zhao was going to give up her secrets, he couldn't wait to beat the drum and tell people he had another harvest.

But really, Miss Zhao was pretty nice.

For people who treated Xiao Su unfairly, she seemed to hold a compassionate heart, overflowing with pity, almost like a mother.

Jiang Linyuan paused for a moment, then suddenly understood.

No wonder she could casually suggest dating me, she didn't actually want to be my girlfriend, she wanted to be my mother!

Thinking of that, he got angry.

I can call someone mom, but I can't be their son, just like the mothers and sons in Hai Jiao and Wa Li, the concepts are different!

"Why didn't you let me make an appearance just now?"

A shout came from beside him. Jiang Linyuan looked up and saw Su Muzhi.

While Jiang Linyuan was talking to Zhao Qiulu, she had been waiting nearby for his message.

But in the end she didn't get to.

Jiang Linyuan looked at her and thought for a moment, actually feeling that Xiao Su also wanted to be my mom.

When people are young, they sometimes treat their favorite toy like a child.

Xiao Su's childlike heart hasn't faded, but her motherly instincts are growing.

Thinking this, Jiang Linyuan let out a long sigh, then asked:

"Xiao Su, you..."

"Do you want to be my mother?"

The air went quiet for a long moment.

In that instant, Su Muzhi thought a lot.

Come to think of it, Jiang Linyuan probably never met his biological mother, and even if he did, the memories would be vague.

Could it be that missing memories of a birth mother from infancy made him crave maternal love as he grew up?

Is that why he suddenly asked such a strange question now?

She hesitated a bit and said:

"If you sever the mother-son relationship with your mom, I can let you call me mom from then on."

Even the form of address, I want to be the only one.

Jiang Linyuan laughed out loud after hearing that.

Nope, I completely don't understand what she's saying.

Is Xiao Su even human?

You can take "mom" to build a bridge, but not to build a matchmaking bridge.

"Xiao Su, like this, you'll never be my mom in this life."

"Then I'll reluctantly be your girlfriend."

"Then does that mean I can recognize other girls as my mom?"

"Shut up! Don't talk!"

Su Muzhi couldn't stand it any longer and grabbed Jiang Linyuan's mouth.

I thought he lacked motherly love, but it turns out he's just being weird!

If he really had that thought, in seven days, Xingnan University would be crawling with his moms!

Jiang Linyuan felt it was unfair, how could Xiao Su accuse first! I'll cover your mouth too!

He reached out and covered Su Muzhi's mouth, and the two of them walked down the street covering each other's mouths.

...

Back in the courtyard house.

Su Muzhi, still not in a good mood, picked up a pillow and smacked Jiang Linyuan with it:

"Did you just stick out your tongue and lick my palm?"

"Nonsense! I resisted!"

Jiang Linyuan protested.

"Hehe, you did want to lick."

Su Muzhi showed a face of disgust.

She didn't like the wet feeling of palms, it made her a bit sick.

"Fine, what did you and Zhao Qiulu talk about inside, why didn't you let me in to catch you red-handed?"

Su Muzhi didn't continue to press Jiang Linyuan about that and flopped on the bed, turning her face toward him.

"She wanted to be my mom and comfort me, so she didn't let you in..."

Before she finished, another pillow was thrown.

This Xiao Su, always throwing pillows every day!

Jiang Linyuan picked up the pillow and pressed it against Su Muzhi's neck.

Hee hee, take that for throwing it!

Su Muzhi only made a muffled sound, half her face pressed to the bed, the other half showing a teasing look at him:

"What’s up? Planning to murder your girlfriend?"

"Yeah, yeah, when Xiao Su dies, I'll inherit your estate..."

"Hehe, if I die, you still have something to inherit from me; if you die, I don't think I have anything to inherit from you."

"I'll leave you a pile of debts so you can help pay them off."

Su Muzhi bent her legs and lightly kicked Jiang Linyuan with her heel:

"Let go, I'm feeling a little uncomfortable."

"You could have said that earlier."

Jiang Linyuan put down the pillow and sat at the edge of the bed.

Suddenly Su Muzhi lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him with a giggle:

"I tell everything, but my boyfriend tells nothing, isn't that unfair?"

"...What do you want to ask?"

"Do you like me, or do you simply like the process of taming me?"

"When I'm tamed by you, will you still like me?"

Su Muzhi placed her hands on Jiang Linyuan's chest and spoke softly.

"Yes."

Jiang Linyuan said.

"A lie?"

"The truth."

"Your heart is speeding up."

"Being this close to a pretty girl, it's hard for my heart not to speed up."

"Then I'll take what you said as true."

"Alright, Xiao Su, stop acting, move away, we're not actually boyfriend and girlfriend, is this proper?"

Jiang Linyuan stood up and brushed away Su Muzhi's hands.

Su Muzhi looked down at her hands, then lifted her head to Jiang Linyuan and said:

"You've made me a little angry."

"Why are you angry?"

Su Muzhi turned her face away but said:

"You know, it's always been you confessing to me. This time, how about I do it once?"

She smiled:

"Jiang Linyuan, I like you, can you be with me?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you rejected me before."

"That was because you said all lies."

"You're not completely honest either."

Jiang Linyuan said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"If I were serious?"

Su Muzhi said.

"Then I'd agree."

Jiang Linyuan smiled and spread his hands:

"But you also said if I ever married someone, I'd definitely cheat."

"So, would you still seriously say it again?"

Su Muzhi tilted her head back and smiled lightly:

"Interesting, isn't it? But you're really brave, saying you'll cheat so openly in front of your girlfriend."

"First, that's false."

Jiang Linyuan emphasized, then added:

"And I never hid things from you: you know about Xiao Yilin, you know about Yu Songsong, you know my family situation, you know about me and the Department Head..."

"Even if I told many lies, these things, I never lied to you about."

Su Muzhi was silent for a while before saying:

"Truly an unqualified boyfriend."

"False."

"Truly an unromantic boyfriend."

"False."

"Truly a boyfriend I wish I could tear to pieces."

"False."

"Is that all you can say? Are you proud? Arrogant?"

Su Muzhi stood up, grabbed Jiang Linyuan by the collar, eyes full of anger:

"I've already regressed and changed a lot for you, and you won't change at all?! Even with how you call me, you cling to the 'false' bit?"

"Because false is false. Me liking you is false, you liking me is false..."

"It's real!"

Su Muzhi cut Jiang Linyuan off roughly, her voice suddenly louder:

"If I didn't like you, why would I give so much? Why force myself to adapt to you?"

"Because you're afraid of sunk costs, afraid I'd leave you."

"If I were afraid, why would I openly tell you everything?! I could hide my feelings so well, you could keep chasing me happily forever, just like Shen Wanyu!"

"Because you are Su Muzhi."

Jiang Linyuan said:

"Because you're the lawless, say-what-you-want, do-what-you-want Su Muzhi."

Su Muzhi laughed, a laugh tinged with bitterness:

"That... was the old me, Jiang Linyuan."

"Because of you, I'm not the old me anymore, and you, it seems, haven't changed at all."

Jiang Linyuan fell silent for a moment and said:

"Because I don't need to change..."

"Get out!"

Su Muzhi threw a pillow again, smacking Jiang Linyuan's face.

He left the room and shut the door.

Cold wind blew, the ground had puddles of melted snow, like small pools.

"Just now Zhao Qiulu called and hoped I could take Su Muzhi out tomorrow."

A cool voice sounded beside him. He turned his head; it was Shen Wanyu.

"Was the Department Head eavesdropping?"

Jiang Linyuan asked.

"Just planning to come find you about Zhao Qiulu's matter."

Shen Wanyu glanced at the quiet room.

"Nothing much to say. I'll have a meal with Zhao Qiulu, a simple date, casually reveal some vulnerability, and let Xiao Su appear as the villain to take me away."

Jiang Linyuan said.

"Now she doesn't seem likely to cooperate with you."

Shen Wanyu said calmly.

"Why not?"

"Because you quarrelled."

"Not a quarrel, she only said what she had been wanting to say."

"Since you came to Yanjing, you seem to have been deliberately making Su Muzhi unhappy."

"Yeah."

Jiang Linyuan nodded.

"Why do that? Playing with emotions, you used to just taste lightly. With Su Muzhi, you don't seem to toy, you seem to torture."

Shen Wanyu looked at Jiang Linyuan and asked calmly.

"Because I like her."

Jiang Linyuan said.

Shen Wanyu looked at him and slowly widened her eyes.

"You said, is it reasonable that Xiao Su did so much for me?"

Jiang Linyuan asked again.

"Unreasonable."

"Right, who likes someone only for that person to go chasing after others, and the girl still smiles and says I'll help you?"

"But isn't that good for you?"

"Good?"

Jiang Linyuan smiled briefly:

"Do you think Xiao Su had a happy childhood?"

"..."

"Actually it's the same. Su Muzhi was groomed like a puppet by her mother, controlled, all in the name of love."

"Even when it's painfully uncomfortable, she still accepts it, even forces a smile, saying it's for the best."

"For her mother, that actually is good."

Jiang Linyuan said softly.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew, the courtyard trees shaking their leaves.

Shen Wanyu looked at Jiang Linyuan and suddenly laughed:

"You underestimate Su Muzhi, Jiang Linyuan, you're too arrogant."

She smiled and walked away without concern.

"Tomorrow you just accompany Zhao Qiulu, leave Su Muzhi to me."

Watching Shen Wanyu walk away, Jiang Linyuan raised an eyebrow.

What did the Department Head mean?

Xiao Su was so angry earlier her chest nearly burst, so what else could she do.

Forget it, don't think about it. It's come this far, this is the last move.

Can't let all previous efforts be for nothing.

...

The next day.

Jiang Linyuan arrived at the milk tea shop again.

Same Miss Zhao, same classic seat.

Before entering, he took out his phone and sent Su Muzhi a message:

"Xiao Su, are you ready?"

[Hehe]: Rural fake boyfriend, I don't need you to arrange things.

The tension in the message was still strong.

But Jiang Linyuan wasn't particularly bothered. If two people were always sweet and never angry, that would be weird.

Too fake, too polite, and they wouldn't even be able to fight.

After a fight and reconciliation, the relationship becomes better.

And if they don't reconcile? Then there's no relationship at all!

Ignoring Xiao Su's strange reply, Jiang Linyuan sent Shen Wanyu a message:

"Department Head, is Xiao Su in position?"

"Yes."

The Department Head's reply was as concise as always.

Good, everything's ready, the playboy is on the move!

Target: Miss Cao Cao, Miss Zhao!

...

Across from the milk tea shop was a cat café.

Su Muzhi put down her phone and watched Jiang Linyuan walk into the milk tea shop, sneering:

"From yesterday until now, he still hasn't apologized? His first sentence is this?"

The cat that had been sitting on her lap seemed frightened and jumped to the feet of Shen Wanyu across the way.

It rubbed against her pants to show friendliness.

"That damn cat..."

Su Muzhi looked at the white cat, a bit annoyed.

She hadn't been this angry in a long time.

"Cats in cat cafés are usually more affectionate. If they dislike you, Su Muzhi, you need to find the problem in yourself."

Shen Wanyu looked at the cat by her feet and waved it away.

"I do have problems, but his problems are worse, right?"

Su Muzhi looked toward the milk tea shop; through the glass she could see him chatting happily with Zhao Qiulu:

"Hehe, wait and see for later."

"Later? He'll just dump you."

Shen Wanyu said lightly.

"I won't be dumped."

Su Muzhi showed a very confident smile.

"Sometimes you really have inexplicable confidence."

Shen Wanyu watched the white cat that came back and frowned, shaking her foot to scare it away.

"What would he use to dump me?"

Su Muzhi asked.

"Just ignore you, like he did with Yu Songsong before."

Shen Wanyu said.

"Hehe, back then I didn't care. Game over: kissed me, hugged me, slept with me, and still thought to dump me? Back then, I only wanted his body."

"It didn't matter what he thought."

Su Muzhi said matter-of-factly.

Shen Wanyu said calmly:

"He is at least my friend."

"Hehe, friend? I hope you always call him that."

Su Muzhi snorted derisively.

"I don't ask him to change; if that's the case, he and I can only be friends."

Shen Wanyu lowered her head and said.

"Hehe, I don't mind. Let him play if he wants to."

Su Muzhi was silent for a while, then laughed again.

"By the way, thank you."

"...What did you say?"

"Nothing, never mind."

Su Muzhi turned her head and looked at the milk tea shop.