"Are you here to pick us up?"
Lin Mo raised an eyebrow.
Little sister, you’re laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you?
"I’m here to pick up Chu Miaomiao."
Lin Mo swiped his card without hesitation and led Xie Yuling into the residential complex.
Geng Xiao, who had been waiting for Lin Mo at the entrance, followed them in.
"I’m here to pick up Miaomiao too. I already made plans with her."
Geng Xiao smiled as she moved closer to Lin Mo.
But Lin Mo sidestepped, avoiding the hand extended by the scheming girl.
A slick dodge—deadly effective.
Still, Lin Mo simply quickened his pace and reached the elevator.
Meanwhile, Xie Yuling had reverted to her silent, stoic self.
For some reason, she didn’t like this girl who had suddenly appeared.
Maybe it was a pretty girl’s sixth sense?
Ding!
The elevator doors opened.
Lin Mo stepped inside and pressed the button.
Only then did Geng Xiao speak up. "Lin Mo, you seem really familiar with this place. You even have a card to get in."
"Yeah, Auntie Chu gave it to me. I come here for dinner every weekend."
Upstairs, Lin Mo rang the doorbell.
A soft, sweet voice came through the intercom.
"Who is it?"
"It’s me."
The moment those two words left his mouth, the door swung open.
Chu Miaomiao, dressed in pajamas, immediately said, "Let me go change. Just a sec."
"Oh, Lin Mo’s here! Taking Miaomiao out, right?"
Chu Lintian’s voice carried from the kitchen.
"Yeah."
"Want to grab a bite before you go?" Chu Lintian stepped out of the kitchen and immediately noticed the two girls standing beside Lin Mo.
This Lin Mo really does attract girls, huh?
But why does the one on the left seem so fake with her smile?
"Hello, Auntie."
The girl on the left greeted first.
Xie Yuling snapped out of her daze and quickly added,
"Hello, sis."
Lin Mo gave Xie Yuling a puzzled look.
Since when did you become so smooth?
Still, he turned to Geng Xiao.
"She really is Sister Chu."
Geng Xiao immediately covered her mouth in apology. Truthfully, she also thought "sis" was more fitting, but seeing how youthful Chu Lintian looked, she couldn’t help feeling life was unfair—hence the petty "Auntie."
But Lin Mo hadn’t expected Xie Yuling to be this sharp.
Chu Lintian giggled. "It’s fine. I don’t mind either way."
Since she hadn’t hit thirty yet, Chu Lintian genuinely wasn’t bothered.
Besides, she was used to being called "Auntie."
Probably because she wasn’t wearing makeup today.
Normally, to maintain her motherly image, she’d go for heavier makeup.
But at home, she went bare-faced.
Being called "sis" today? Not bad at all.
"Lin Mo, aren’t you going to introduce them?" Chu Lintian asked.
Lin Mo pointed at Xie Yuling. "This is my landlady. She’s in the parallel class."
Then he gestured to Geng Xiao. "She’s Miaomiao’s deskmate."
"Oh, classmates! That’s great. I’ll feel much better leaving Miaomiao in your hands."
With a click, the bedroom door opened.
A girl in a loose black dress stepped out.
Black was slimming, and the oversized cut helped conceal her curves—at least from the front, they weren’t as pronounced.
The cinched waist emphasized Chu Miaomiao’s slender figure.
To sum it up in one phrase: delicate branches bearing heavy fruit.
Unacceptable. I’m killing that security guard tonight.
Geng Xiao bit her lip hard as she took in the stunning girl, her eyes flashing with envy and jealousy.
Even Xie Yuling couldn’t help but be impressed. Remembering what had happened to the girl, she felt a surge of gratitude toward Lin Mo for stepping in when it mattered.
After a quick glance, Lin Mo waved his hand. "Alright, let’s go. Don’t worry, Sis Chu. We’ll bring Miaomiao back safe and sound."
Chu Lintian smiled. "No problem. Call me if you need a ride back."
Leaving Chu Miaomiao’s home, Lin Mo hailed a cab to Fangyuan Plaza.
This shopping district was the largest in Yangcheng’s new urban area.
Plenty to see, but Lin Mo was mainly here to buy a few clothes.
Inside the taxi:
Geng Xiao admired Chu Miaomiao’s outfit. "Miaomiao, your figure is amazing. Anyone with you would be so lucky."
On the surface, it sounded like pure praise.
But Geng Xiao could tell Xie Yuling’s attitude toward Lin Mo was different from everyone else’s.
Only one explanation: Xie Yuling had feelings for Lin Mo.
As for Chu Miaomiao? Anyone could see she only let Lin Mo get close.
So, Geng Xiao needed to pit Xie Yuling and Chu Miaomiao against each other.
A classic case of setting the wolves against the tigers.
Lin Mo didn’t need psychic powers to know how manipulative Geng Xiao was.
Others might not see it, but he’d been her classmate for three years.
Her two-faced nature was no secret.
Not to mention the messy, unresolved ties she had with half the class.
Hao Qiang and Jian Lihao, once best friends, had fought multiple times because of her honeyed words.
But Gao Yuanqiang outplayed her. By the second semester of their first year, he’d already "tamed" her.
He dumped her in less than two weeks.
The reason? Simple—revenge for the guys in the back row.
Gao Yuanqiang had pulled out all the stops, even resorting to seduction.
After that, Geng Xiao only targeted guys outside their class.
Now, it seemed she’d set her sights on Lin Mo.
But Xie Yuling showed no reaction, seemingly unaffected.
Not surprising—Xie Yuling’s whole vibe was icy detachment.
At the plaza, Fang Jun and the others were already waiting inside.
"Hey, Lin Mo!"
Fang Jun stood with An Yuexin and Mai Chuwen.
"You guys are early." Lin Mo greeted them one by one.
"Eh, nothing better to do at home. But damn, it’s packed today."
Second day of the holiday—of course it was crowded. Plenty of people were still off work or school.
"Jiang Yunlu and Wang Qin aren’t here yet. We’ll have to wait."
Lin Mo nodded. At least they were inside the mall with AC.
Just then, the elevator doors nearby slid open.
Three girls stepped out—Jiang Yunlu and an unfamiliar beauty.
Probably Jiang Yunlu’s middle school friend.
Lin Mo didn’t know which school Jiang Yunlu had attended, but judging by her friend’s designer clothes, it must’ve been some elite private institution.
Jiang Yunlu spotted Lin Mo immediately and waved.
"Lin Mo!"
Then she noticed Xie Yuling and Chu Miaomiao flanking him.
The two girls seemed to have silently agreed on a defensive formation, shielding Lin Mo on either side.
Still, Lin Mo raised a hand in greeting.
Most of the group were from his class anyway, so introductions weren’t necessary.
But Jiang Yunlu’s middle school friend grabbed her wrist.
"Lu, is that the guy you like? Kinda mid. Handsome, sure, but his clothes don’t even fit right."
"Bai, stop it. Lin Mo just hit a growth spurt. Guys shoot up at this age."
Zhou Youbai shook her head, eyeing her lovestruck friend with concern.