After watching Lin Can leave her room, Qiao Meina flopped back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling as she let out a long sigh.
"Huu~"
Just now, she had smothered him against her thigh—yet in the end, she was the one who suffered for it. Her whole body now felt strange and uncomfortable, in a way she couldn't quite describe.
Still, nothing would ever happen between her and Lin Can. Setting aside the fact that her parents were in the next room, even if they weren't, he was her best friend's boyfriend. Qiao Meina wasn't the kind of person who'd get between a couple.
Guest Room.
Lin Can had just lain down when his WeChat pinged. It was from Miao Youxi.
Miao Youxi: [Ah Can, are you there?]
Lin Can: [Yeah, I'm here.]
He already had a feeling why she was messaging him.
Miao Youxi: [My birthday is in a few days. I want to invite you and the others to Dali to celebrate.]
Lin Can: [Sounds good.]
Miao Youxi: [I actually wasn't planning on celebrating, but the girls insisted. I felt bad making them pay for everything and bring gifts too, but they're dead set on coming. So I have to at least cover their travel expenses.]
Lin Can: [That's fair. Don't worry about it—I'll pay for the flights.]
Miao Youxi: [No no no, it's my birthday. I should be the one paying.]
Lin Can: [It's fine. It's settled.]
Miao Youxi: [Alright then… Just note down how much you spend, I'll save up and pay you back next semester.]
Lin Can: [Hard seats don't cost much.]
Miao Youxi: [Hard seats?]
Lin Can: [Yeah, from Chengdu, the Western Region, Modu, Yang'an—hard seat tickets to Dali.]
Miao Youxi: [How about you upgrade the tickets? I don't want the girls to have an uncomfortable trip. I'll pay you back for however much it is. Is that okay?]
Lin Can: [Upgrade, huh?]
Miao Youxi: [Mhm.]
Lin Can: [An upgrade's not out of the question… but—is there a little something in it for me?]
Seriously?!
Miao Youxi knew he was messing with her—bargaining. No way he'd budge without a little reward.
Ayi Re was right: "Send Ah Can some of your pretty foot pics. Once he sees those, he'll agree to anything."
Sigh…
Ding ding ding—
Miao Youxi sent Lin Can a dozen carefully hidden, treasured foot pics.
Honestly, she liked her feet best, so her gallery had plenty of them.
Miao Youxi: [Ah Can, does this "reward" get us upgraded tickets? (shy blush)]
Lin Can: [What do you take me for? 😡]
Miao Youxi: [Pfft—spitting blood.]
Lin Can: [😂 Just kidding. It's your birthday—of course we're all coming. I'll book the flights for everyone.]
Miao Youxi: [You're the best. As a thank you, I'll record a video of my feet playing with a bottle of Ambrosial yogurt just for you.]
Lin Can: [😱]
A moment later, the video arrived.
Oh no—
What did Ambrosial ever do to deserve such treatment?
Morning.
Full-time housewife Wang Min was up early preparing breakfast. But when she stepped into the living room, she was greeted by the scent of food wafting from the dining area—on the table were corn porridge, eggs, greens, and poached eggs.
In the kitchen, Lin Can was frying egg pancakes.
Wang Min walked in and asked, "Ah Can, did you make all this? You're a guest—how could we let you cook?"
"Good morning, Auntie. I woke up early and didn't know how to thank you all for letting me stay the night, so I took the liberty of using your kitchen to make breakfast. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not, of course not! Ah Can, you're such a good kid."
"Auntie, try this egg pancake. Let me know if it needs more seasoning."
"I'll get some chopsticks."
"No need. I'll feed you. Open wide, Auntie."
Wang Min giggled, "Hehehe~" She couldn't help but laugh—her husband had never fed her like this, yet here was this young man doing so.
"Ah~" she opened her mouth, took a bite, and chewed. "Mmm, it's delicious! Ah Can, you're amazing. Whoever marries you will be so lucky!"
Soon, Qiao Tiansheng got up and wandered over, drawn by the smell. "Hey, you made egg pancakes, Ah Can?"
Lin Can: "Yes, Uncle. Want to try one?"
Qiao Tiansheng: "Sure!"
Lin Can: "Here you go—chopsticks."
Wang Min chuckled into her hand, mouth still full of pancake. This rascal—Uncle gets chopsticks, Auntie gets fed directly. The double standard! But honestly… I kinda like it.
Soon, the pancakes were served on the table.
"I'll go wake up Meina," said Wang Min.
She opened Qiao Meina's bedroom door, walked over to the bed—and saw her daughter sleeping, clutching the blanket, blushing, murmuring something in her sleep.
Wang Min leaned closer to listen.
"You naughty little brother… no, stop it… mouths are for eating, not that…"
SMACK!
Wang Min slapped her daughter's butt, making Qiao Meina bolt upright with a scream, "Ahh! Mom! What the hell?!"
"What the hell? I should be asking you what that dream was about!"
"What dream?!"
"You were saying… you… I don't even know how to repeat it!"
Wang Min jabbed her daughter twice, exasperated.
"Tell me—what's really going on between you and Lin Can?"
"What else? We're just close like siblings!"
"Pfft. 'Just siblings'—and yet you're dreaming about him?"
"Mom, stop it! I'd never dream about something like that."
"Enough, enough. I'm done arguing. Get up—Ah Can made breakfast."
Wang Min left. Qiao Meina rubbed her head, got up, washed up, then thump-thump-thumped her way to the dining room. She sat down beside Lin Can, eyes lighting up at the spread on the table.
"Wow~ You made all this?"
"Mhm."
"You're so sweet. Let's eat!"
The morning sun poured through the windows as the four of them sat around the breakfast table, chatting and laughing as they ate.
Wang Min found herself liking Lin Can more and more.
Rich, handsome, dotes on my daughter, and he can cook? I'm crying. How did my daughter get this lucky?
And she still insists 'we're just like siblings'?!
Just from this breakfast alone, Wang Min's heart was set:
"I don't care if you're siblings or not—Ah Can is the one. Meina, you must get him!"
After breakfast.
Qiao Tiansheng had to head to work. Before he left, he patted Lin Can on the shoulder and said sincerely, "Ah Can, Uncle's heading out. Next time you come to Modu, tell Meina in advance—I'll take the day off and bring you to Disneyland."
Qiao Meina laughed, "Dad, Ah Can's not a kid anymore. Disneyland? Really?"
Lin Can smiled, "Actually, I've never been. I've always wanted to go. Next time I'm here, let's go together."
"Great! It's a date then. I better get going."
"Bye, Uncle—safe travels."
Qiao Tiansheng didn't take the Passat to work that day. Instead, he left it for Wang Min and Qiao Meina to drive Lin Can to the airport.
After putting on some light makeup, they headed downstairs. Right before leaving, Wang Min suddenly said she was going out shopping—a perfect excuse to give the two of them some alone time.
On the way to the airport.
"Meina-jie, after you went to bed last night, I retouched all the photos we took and sent them to your email."
"Oh."
"Also… I saw you were almost out of that face mask brand you use. I ordered a new box—it should arrive today."
"Oh."
"Meina-jie, why are you just saying 'oh'? You're quiet…"
"It's nothing."
Qiao Meina wasn't in the best mood.
Maybe it was because she had been too happy yesterday. It was the happiest day she could remember in her 19 years of life.
And now he was leaving for Shudu—and that sudden emptiness was hitting hard.
They had agreed to just be "siblings," but…
Her heartstrings—those had already been plucked by this boy who doted on her, spoiled her, let her bully him, and always protected her.
At the airport terminal.
Qiao Meina hugged Lin Can tightly, tilted her head up, and forced a radiant smile. "Go on—let me know when you get to Shudu."
Lin Can let go, gave her shoulder a pat. "Alright. Drive safe on the way back."
She stood there, watching him walk into the terminal. Then she turned and left, stepping out of the hall, looking up at the blue sky.
"Qingning… you're so lucky."