Return

August 3rd, Yangcheng.

Knock, knock!

"Auntie Zheng, I'm back," a voice rang out in the hallway.

Lin Mo's voice wasn't loud, but it managed to penetrate the double doors.

The room was quiet for a moment, followed by the rustling sound of pots and pans being set down gently, and then the hurried footsteps of slippers sliding across the floor.

Through Lin Mo's divine sense, he saw Zheng Yuan walking out of the kitchen.

"Oh, I thought I heard Xiao Mo's voice." She walked toward the door while wiping her wet hands on her apron.

The wooden door creaked open, revealing the iron grille door outside.

When she saw the tall, straight figure standing outside, carrying bags big and small with a familiar smile on his face, Zheng Yuan's eyes instantly lit up.

"Oh my! It really is you. I thought I was hearing things. Hurry, come in."

She cried out in pleasant surprise, hurriedly unlocking and opening the iron door.

Lin Mo carried his things and walked inside.

"It's been a while, Auntie Zheng. I missed you so much," Lin Mo said with a smile.

These words came from the bottom of his heart. Although he had only left Yangcheng for a little over a month, the people and things here had long occupied a significant place in his heart.

"We missed you too! You child, coming back without even calling ahead," Zheng Yuan playfully slapped his arm, though her eyes were filled with unconcealable joy. "I thought you were going to wait until school was about to start before coming back."

As she spoke, she familiarly took out a cup with a cartoon pattern from the cabinet. This was Lin Mo's exclusive water cup here.

She went into the kitchen, rinsed the cup clean, and then poured Lin Mo a full cup of warm water.

"I just wanted to give everyone a surprise." Lin Mo took the cup, the warmth spreading from his palms to his heart. "Coming back early means I can spend more time with everyone."

"That makes perfect sense!"

Zheng Yuan nodded in satisfaction. Then, changing the subject, she curled her lips toward her daughter's room. "It's good to go out more. Unlike that brat, who just locks herself in her room all day long. I don't even know what she's up to. Look at the time; she's probably still playing dead in bed."

Speaking of Xie Yuling, she wasn't actually sleeping right now.

Having already learned the Yellow Court Spirit Nourishing Sutra, Xie Yuling was currently in a state of deep meditation. Traces of worldly spiritual energy were drawn in, nourishing her newly formed divine sense.

The corners of Lin Mo's mouth lifted, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

"Alright, then let this 'surprise' go wake her up first!"

"Go on, go on," Zheng Yuan waved her hand cheerfully, not minding in the slightest that he was casually entering her daughter's room.

After all, hehe.

Lin Mo placed his things on the sofa and walked straight to Xie Yuling's door. Without knocking, he turned the doorknob.

A comfortable blast of cold air blew against his face.

The room was dim, the curtains drawn tightly. Only the indicator light on the air conditioner emitted a faint glow.

At this moment, Xie Yuling was lying on her bed.

She wasn't sprawled out, but lying flat and properly, with the blanket covering her stomach.

People from eastern Guangdong have a very strong obsession with making sure the blanket covers the stomach.

Lin Mo's gaze fell on her peaceful sleeping face. He could clearly sense the faint but pure fluctuations of spiritual energy around her body.

This girl has made quite a bit of progress.

Lin Mo closed the door to prevent the cold air from escaping.

Then he pulled over the chair from the desk and sat down leisurely.

"The sun is shining on your butt."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble tossed into a calm lake.

The young girl heard the sound, but muttered in her heart, "I must be hallucinating from my cultivation. Why would I hear Lin Mo's voice?"

She steadied her mind, attempting to re-enter meditation.

Seeing this, Lin Mo couldn't help but chuckle and decided to increase the dosage.

"If you don't get up soon, you won't get a share of the gifts I brought back."

Was it really his voice?

The girl suddenly opened her eyes!

Then, she saw a handsome face close at hand. Lin Mo was sitting on the chair, resting his chin on one hand, staring at her with great interest.

"Ah!"

A short gasp of surprise.

"You! You, you, you... when did you get back?!"

The girl's cheeks immediately burned up. She hurriedly pulled the blanket over her head, covering herself completely, leaving only a head of long black hair scattered on the pillow.

What was going on!

She could already project her divine sense to cover the entire room and even a little bit of the living room! Why didn't she feel a thing when this guy sneaked into her room?

This wasn't scientific at all!

"Just arrived," Lin Mo's voice, laced with a smile, came from outside the blanket. "Auntie Zheng said there was a lazy little pig at home who hadn't gotten out of bed yet, so she told me to come take a look."

The girl felt utterly mortified. She threw off the blanket, about to retort, when out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of the bedroom door being secretly cracked open.

Behind the crack in the door was Zheng Yuan's smiling face, clearly enjoying the show.

"Mom!"

Xie Yuling's cry carried a hint of a wail.

The girl, who had just pulled down the blanket, pulled it right back over her head.

"Why didn't you even tell me you were coming back." The girl's voice sounded somewhat displeased.

"If I told you, how would it be a surprise? Oh, you don't want to see me? Then I'll go find Miaomiao and Jiang Yunlu."

Hearing this, the previously shy Xie Yuling fiercely pulled the blanket down.

"Hmph! You jerk!"

"I came to find you the very first moment I got back, and you call me a jerk?" Lin Mo shook his head and sighed.

Hearing these words, the girl actually felt sweet inside. After all, he came back and looked for me first.

But she still put on an unhappy expression.

"Hmph! I don't care, I'm unhappy right now. You need to hurry up and coax me with a gift."

Lin Mo sat directly on Xie Yuling's bed.

"What? A gift? I don't want to give it anymore, unless someone... is willing to..."

Before Lin Mo could finish, someone kissed him on the cheek.

A sneak attack!

Did she really think a Golden Core stage cultivator like me couldn't dodge it?

Lin Mo turned his head to look at the girl, who had once again pulled the thin blanket over her head.

As if the person who had just launched the sneak attack wasn't her.

Because she now had divine sense, Xie Yuling had also become much bolder.

However, Lin Mo pressed his hands down on Xie Yuling's hands that were gripping the blanket.

"Hmm? Mmh!"

Xie Yuling was attacked from the front.

Throwing off the blanket, the girl, whose face was as red as a monkey's butt, glared fiercely at Lin Mo.

"My mom is still home!"

"Auntie is in the kitchen, what are you afraid of? Come on out and see what gifts I brought for you guys."

"No!"

Xie Yuling suddenly grabbed Lin Mo's arm.

"I didn't get a good taste through the blanket just now. I want another bite."

Saying that, the girl took the initiative and went in for the attack.

Of course, it was just a brief taste, but the girl's face was still flushed red.

Lin Mo couldn't help but lick his lips.

"Did you eat candy before going to sleep? So sweet?"

"Hmph, you! Smooth talker!"

Xie Yuling rolled her eyes and ignored Lin Mo.

Happy birthday to me! Reporting in! I want to eat beef hotpot today!