Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

Jiang Linyuan led Yu Songsong toward the house that Su Muzhi had given him.

When Jiang Linyuan opened the door, Yu Songsong stared dumbfounded at the scene inside the room, then looked at the boy beside her, asking cautiously:

"Senior, what do you mean by this?"

"I found you a place to live. You'll stay here for a while, so your mom can't bother you."

Jiang Linyuan said.

Yu Songsong immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but deep down, she still felt a sliver of disappointment with his answer.

"Then thank you, Senior."

She took off her sun hat and curiously examined everything in the house.

"Don't thank me, I'm acting as the agent here, I get paid. Remember to pay the rent, we'll sign a contract in a bit."

Jiang Linyuan's words instantly dampened Yu Songsong's mood.

Why is this guy such a Mood Killer!

She bumped into Jiang Linyuan discontentedly, saying:

"Senior, the rent won't be too expensive, right? This place looks really nicely decorated."

"1k a month."

Jiang Linyuan said.

Yu Songsong thought for a moment, then hesitantly said:

"Senior, maybe just take me to a hotel instead."

?

Wait, you...

Jiang Linyuan said:

"Don't mess around, Junior, I'm trying to abstain again."

Yu Songsong realized the unintended implication of her words, feeling a bit embarrassed, and quickly explained:

"That's not what I meant, Senior. I meant, my mom probably won't stay in Jinling for long, so I could just crash at a hotel for a bit."

"What about afterwards?"

Jiang Linyuan asked.

Yu Songsong thought about it and said:

"I'll just ignore her then. Anyway, I have my part-time job now, plus the financial aid, I can get by. After graduation, I can find a job to support myself..."

As she spoke, she started giggling foolishly again:

"And then, I'll meet someone I like..."

"Stop right there, save the dreams for nighttime."

Jiang Linyuan looked at Yu Songsong, feeling exasperated at her lack of ambition.

"Do you think your mom will just let you go? There was a first time, there will be a second. If this goes on, will you really still have the mental energy for this?"

Yu Songsong said indifferently:

"Aren't you here, Senior?"

"So your mom latches onto you, and you latch onto me, is that it?"

Jiang Linyuan was speechless.

Yu Songsong got anxious and said angrily:

"I'm not like her at all!"

"Then prove it to me."

Jiang Linyuan said bluntly:

"I'll find you a job. Starting now, you need to become independent. Consider the 1k monthly rent as pressure. Can you do it?"

Yu Songsong's stubborn nature flared up again, and she puffed up her cheeks in anger:

"What's so impossible about that!"

"Alright, it's settled. I brought the rental contract, sign it."

Jiang Linyuan had already prepared everything and pulled out the contract.

Without another word, Yu Songsong signed it without even looking.

Jiang Linyuan could only shake his head, wondering why this Thief Saint seemed so ditzy lately.

...

In the following days, Yu Songsong transformed from a Thief Saint into an Overworked Beast. Through Jiang Linyuan's referrals, she took on several tutoring jobs.

Although it was more exhausting than attending classes, Yu Songsong genuinely felt a sense of joy from within.

It was an experience she had never had before.

About a week passed like this, with Jiang Linyuan checking on Yu Songsong's state every evening.

One night.

"Junior, how have you been feeling lately?"

Jiang Linyuan looked at Yu Songsong, whose face was gradually losing its youthful naivety, and asked.

"Much better. Also, Senior, can you stop coming over to mooch dinner every single night!"

Yu Songsong, wearing an apron, was busy in the kitchen. Seeing Jiang Linyuan cracking sunflower seeds, she said irritably.

"Aiya, I'm tired of the school cafeteria, so I came to try some good food at my junior's place."

Jiang Linyuan said with a grin.

It had to be said, this Thief Saint's cooking skills were really good. It felt like she used to cook at home often before.

"Senior, you have to pay for the food."

Yu Songsong said this, but in her heart, she was actually happy that Jiang Linyuan came to see her every night.

"You're trying to make money off me now?"

Jiang Linyuan said.

"Yes."

Yu Songsong placed a plate full of braised pork in front of Jiang Linyuan:

"My expenses are high now, utilities, rent, plus the money for groceries every day..."

"Senior can't skimp on a single cent you owe!"

To be honest, even with Jiang Linyuan's help, for an 18-year-old girl to live independently in a big city like Jinling, no matter what, it was impressive.

Yu Songsong, full of spirit! You haven't let me down!

Jiang Linyuan picked up a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.

So delicious!

"Or you'll kill me?"

Jiang Linyuan said with a smirk.

"Yes, I would kill you, Senior."

Yu Songsong said with a serious face, then laughed:

"Just kidding. Senior has helped me so much, I wouldn't just kill you."

As she spoke, she also sat down, and the two began to eat.

Suddenly, Yu Songsong asked:

"Senior, how are things at school?"

Jiang Linyuan knew what she meant and said:

"I talked to your counselor. We said you went out for an internship. Your mom is still stubbornly refusing to leave the school."

"Oh."

Yu Songsong said flatly.

Then, as if struck by a sudden whim, she stood up, put on a sun hat in the room, struck a pose, and looked at Jiang Linyuan:

"Senior, do I look good like this?"

"What are you doing?"

"Come on, answer me, Senior, do I look good or not!"

"The hat was a gift from me, so full marks."

"So that means full marks."

Yu Songsong smiled, plopped down next to Jiang Linyuan, pulled out her phone, and aimed the front camera at both of them: 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Senior, smile."

"Hehe."

Yu Songsong slapped the back of his hand:

"Stop messing around!"

Jiang Linyuan rolled his eyes and forced out a smile.

Yu Songsong pulled down the brim of her hat, leaning against Jiang Linyuan. The evening sunset spilled in from the balcony, a blush gradually creeping up the girl's face:

"One, two, three..."

"Bro!"

Click!

"Senior! Don't yell nonsense!"

"What did I yell?"

Another bout of playful bickering ensued between the two.

A moment later, after they had cleared the dishes, Jiang Linyuan sat on the sofa scrolling through his phone, and Yu Songsong didn't mention him leaving.

She just stared at him blankly.

This... isn't so bad either.

Yu Songsong rested her chin in her hands, put on that sun hat again, and smiled as she looked at Jiang Linyuan before her.

In this twilight hour when the sun had set but the moon had yet to rise, the girl's eyes still shone with light.

...

Yu Songsong had been missing from school for almost a month.

She herself had gradually forgotten about the issue with her mother.

This day was a Saturday. Happily wearing her sun hat, she planned to go out with Jiang Linyuan to watch a movie.

But the moment she stepped out, she saw a familiar figure.

Her mother.

How could she be here? How did she find out?

Before Yu Songsong could even think, her mother had already recognized her.

"Hah, my dear daughter, so this is where you've been hiding!"

Yu Songsong’s mother strode over, angrily grabbed Yu Songsong, and flung the sun hat from her head onto the ground.

She shouted furiously:

"All these days you've been hiding from me like this! Did you think wearing a hat would hide you well enough!"

As she spoke, she looked at the beautiful ladies' sun hat on the ground, her anger growing even fiercer, and stomped on it!

"What kind of trash is this!"

Crunch.

In a daze, Yu Songsong, who had been full of anticipation just moments before, seemed to hear the sound of something shattering.

The sound of something cracking and exploding into pieces.

And then, came the overwhelming, sky-scorching rage!