There have been rumors flying around about Lin Lian lately, but Mu Qiu didn’t feel much about it, though Li Yang seemed a bit tense.
He, Guan Yu, and Mu Qiu started a small group and began to ask mysterious questions in it.
[Li Yang: Who do you think looks better, me or Lin Lian?]
Along with two photos attached.
[Guan Yu: Emmm, about this question, how should I say it...]
[Do you want the truth?]
[Li Yang: I got it, I’m just humiliating myself, goodbye]
[No, wait, I haven’t finished. Honestly, you look better! If he’s the heartthrob of the neighboring school, then you’re the idol of our school!]
[Li Yang: Boohoo, really?]
[Guan Yu: Mu Qiu, aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning for saying that?]
[Li Yang: That night, you ate a lot at the Thai hotpot, pay up]
[Guan Yu: Okay, you look better. He’s only eighteen, why are you even comparing yourself to him, feeling insecure as the popular guy?]
[Li Yang: My cousin changed her screensaver from my photo to Lin Lian’s photo]
[Guan Yu: Then your heart broke? I change photos of a hundred people a day when I’m bored, has any of these hundred people ever said anything?]
[Mu Qiu: Those people don’t know you, so who cares what they say.]
[Mu Qiu: Li Yang, pull yourself together. It’s just that he’s younger and fresher, cooler, more stylish, and more popular with young girls. It doesn’t matter.]
[Li Yang: ... You both should pay! I declare that meal to be split fifty-fifty!]
[Guan Yu: Here’s the thing, you create a few more groups and trick Brother Huai, Shu Ran, and Brother Cheng into splitting the bill, then we’ll split too]
[Mu Qiu: Sister Guan Yu, are you suggesting that they would also think Lin Lian is younger, fresher, cooler, and more popular with young girls than Li Yang?]
[The group host has disbanded the group]
Mu Qiu pouted and lifted her head to complain to Cheng Zhirang, who was shooting hoops outside.
"Brother Cheng, Li Yang threatened me, asking for the hotpot money from Sunday night!"
Cheng Zhirang dribbled the basketball and turned to ask her, "Did you and Guan Yu team up to bully him again?"
She replied innocently, "How could I? I’m not like Sister Guan Yu."
Cheng Zhirang laughed, clearly not believing her at all.
"I’m having a meal with Qing Rong and the director this afternoon, you want to join?"
She flipped over and lay back on the couch, "I’m not going, you handle your serious business. Oh, by the way, Qing Rong’s book signing is coming up, could you take a book for him to autograph for me? I won’t be going to the event."
"Sure."
He’s been busier than before, discussing movies and preparing for his birthday party, receiving several phone calls even while playing basketball in the yard.
Mu Qiu didn’t want to disturb him, so after he changed clothes and left, she nestled on the sofa with her phone in hand, either playing games or watching melodramatic TV dramas.
Then she did a video call with Mr. Mu and Mu Ma to prove she had food in her fridge and that she diligently cooked for herself.
Unfortunately, Yuan Chun didn’t believe it at all and called out her tricky behavior: "Is Xiao Cheng cooking for you? There are clearly servings for two people in the ice compartment, do you even know where the eggs are?"
"..." Life is tough, mom. "He only cooks sometimes, like tonight, he’s got something, not coming back for dinner, I will cook for myself for sure."
Mu Zhi leaned in, his face filling the entire screen. Their relationship had improved a lot, rarely breaking into arguments during video calls. At this moment, he just snorted heavily.
"Then tell me, what are you planning to eat tonight?"
"... Noodles with broccoli shrimp stir-fry."
Just as she finished speaking, she saw a message from He Jia, who had been quietly lying in the chat list.
[Qiuqiu, Zhirang’s not home for dinner, right? Come to my place for dinner, auntie will make lemon shredded chicken for you.]
Mu Qiu paused, looked at her father’s large face in the video, and said, "Or maybe lemon shredded chicken."
Mu Zhi mocked her, "You can cook shredded chicken? Bought shredded chicken, right?"
"No, it’s Brother Cheng’s mom invited me over."
Mu Zhi exclaimed, Yuan Chun immediately took over the phone, eagerly asking her, "Does she know Xiao Cheng isn’t there? Specifically invited you for dinner?"
"Yeah, that’s right."
Yuan Chun kept nodding, "That’s nice."
"What’s nice?" Mu Zhi grumbled, "Spoiling her so she doesn’t cook for herself."
"Who doesn’t like being spoiled?" Yuan Chun glared at him, then turned to Mu Qiu, "But you shouldn’t always eat at someone else’s house, be polite."
"Understood."
She sat back onto the sofa, hesitated briefly before casually bringing up another topic.
"Yesterday, Cheng Zhirang proposed."
Mu Zhi: "Huh?! What?! A proposal?!"
The sudden loud voice startled Yuan Chun and Mu Qiu.
Mu Qiu quickly added, "But I refused!"
Now Yuan Chun was shocked: "How could you refuse? Just refused directly? Didn’t he say anything?"
"He said it was okay, I’m young, not wanting to get married is normal. He also said he’d wait a bit and propose again."
She calmly made up a story, saying it without a hint of guilt.
Yuan Chun was now fully satisfied: "I see Xiao Cheng as a mature and stable kid. You two definitely haven’t been together long enough to bring this up. But since he mentioned it, and then said those things after you refused, it shows he truly likes you, which is nice. What do you think?"
"Me? I’ll wait until we’ve been together longer, I haven’t thought about it much yet."
Her words hit right on what Mu Zhi and Yuan Chun were thinking.
Mu Zhi: "You’re so young, dating is fine, but marriage is a serious matter that requires a long relationship to work. You need to understand his daily life, or there will definitely be conflicts later. How long is he planning to wait for a second proposal?"
"It certainly won’t be soon, I told him to think it over seriously, if he proposes again I’ll take it seriously."
She truly worked hard for Cheng Zhirang, using such roundabout measures to create a good image for him.
"He’s unlikely to bring it up again soon," Yuan Chun sighed, "You possibly refusing outright wasn’t great, is he upset about it not being home tonight because of that?"
Mu Qiu called out blankly, "Will he be?"
"Think about it yourself, wouldn’t you be upset?" Yuan Chun had the "tough love" moment, confronting her on screen, "Next time he proposes, tell him to discuss it with us first."
Mu Zhi emphasized again, "Yes, get him to talk to us first. You can’t be tricked into marriage just because you’re young."
"Okay, I understand, next time he proposes, I’ll call you guys. So, should I go to Auntie’s place for dinner? Seems like someone is coming to pick me up."
From the video, Mu Zhi and Yuan Chun sounded approving, "They’re all nice people. Having someone pick you up for dinner in the evening is necessary, it’s too late, it’s not safe to go out alone. But don’t mention the proposal to them."
"Got it."
See, they were completely desensitized to the word "proposal", even repeatedly saying it themselves.
Thank her, Mr. Cheng~