Hugs of Love

The first to arrive were Jiang Yunlu, Xie Yuling, and Chu Miaomiao.

The three of them got out of the car and walked down the narrow alley. After only a few steps, Jiang Yunlu suddenly slowed down.

She looked hesitant.

“What are you doing?” Xie Yuling asked when she saw Jiang Yunlu stop.

Jiang Yunlu rubbed her fingers together, looking conflicted.

She said awkwardly, “Before my mom came back, I was always trying to set my dad up with Auntie Lili. And now we’re coming here to eat again today... It feels a little awkward.”

Xie Yuling blinked, then suddenly understood.

That had hardly been an ordinary attempt at matchmaking. Back then, Jiang Yunlu had practically wanted to force the two of them together. She had gone out of her way to create opportunities, showering them with concerned questions and warm encouragement. She had been even more enthusiastic than a professional matchmaker.

But now her mother had returned, and she and her father were as affectionate as ever.

And today, they just happened to be coming to Chen Yunli’s place for dinner.

Xie Yuling imagined the scene for her and felt so awkward she could have clawed out three rooms and a living room in the floor.

“The key is, if my mom finds out about all that...” Jiang Yunlu’s voice grew quieter and quieter. “I won’t even know how to explain it.”

Now that Situ Yunshu was back, never mind whether she brought up the matchmaking. Jiang Yunlu was already too embarrassed to mention it to her mother at all.

“Then don’t explain anything today, and don’t say too much.” Xie Yuling thought about it, but couldn’t come up with any better advice. “Just keep your mouth shut.”

Jiang Yunlu sighed and turned to look at Chu Miaomiao.

Chu Miaomiao had been quiet the entire way.

Jiang Yunlu walked over, linked arms with her, and leaned close before lowering her voice. “Today, I’m Lady Miaomiao. I’m not saying a word. I’m only responsible for eating.”

Chu Miaomiao thought about that, then pointed earnestly at herself. “Then I’m Yunlu?”

“Why would you be Yunlu? Just keep being yourself.”

Xie Yuling glared at her in exasperation. “All right, all right. Stop dawdling out here. Let’s go in.”

The three of them reached the door.

Before they could knock, it opened from the inside.

Lin Mo stood behind it, one hand still resting on the doorknob. It was obvious he had come over early to open the door for them.

The moment he appeared, a figure charged straight at him.

“Whoa!”

Lin Mo instinctively reached out and caught her. The force of the impact wasn’t great, but it was solid.

Well, well. Who could possibly be so bold as to throw herself into his arms right in front of the other two?

From the impact against his chest alone, Lin Mo knew without looking that it was Lady Miaomiao.

The girl usually spoke so little it was almost pitiful, but when it came to taking action, she was astonishingly decisive.

Lin Mo lowered his head and saw Miaomiao’s hair as she buried her face against his chest. Her hair still carried the scent of the wind outside and shampoo.

When he looked up, he saw a flash of envy and jealousy in the eyes of the other two.

Neither of them moved.

Xie Yuling’s mouth hung slightly open, and for a moment she forgot to close it.

Jiang Yunlu was even more stunned, her eyes wide. She had never imagined that the first one to rush forward would be Lady Miaomiao.

She probably hadn’t expected this at all. If she had known, she would have gone first.

The two of them had actually been beaten to it by Lady Miaomiao.

Chu Miaomiao seemed to realize what she had done as well. After hugging him for a few seconds, she let go and took a step to the side. The tips of her ears were flushed bright red, but her expression remained as calm as ever.

What was even more deadly was that after stepping away, she deliberately made room.

The meaning was crystal clear:

Your turn.

Xie Yuling and Jiang Yunlu exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked away.

Who would go first?

The question spun through their minds for half a second, but neither of them moved.

Both girls were feeling a little shy and hesitant.

Lin Mo didn’t wait for them to finish struggling with the decision. He reached out, grabbed Xie Yuling, who was closest to him, and pulled her into his arms. His palm landed on her back and patted it twice.

“What? You didn’t miss me?”

Xie Yuling’s hands clenched the fabric at his waist, gripping it tightly.

“I... I did. I just wasn’t prepared.”

Though that was what she said, she held him for several seconds before finally being willing to let go. Even then, she tugged reluctantly at the corner of his shirt.

Last was Jiang Yunlu.

Miss Jiang stood there with a composed expression and her chin slightly raised, looking calm and dignified.

She opened her arms, stepped forward gracefully, and hugged Lin Mo.

“Welcome back.”

Her voice was proper and polite.

Lin Mo lowered his voice. “Why so formal?”

“Mm.”

“Then why are you holding me so tightly?”

The tips of Jiang Yunlu’s ears instantly began to burn. Yet the strength of her embrace didn’t lessen. If anything, she tightened it a little more.

Of the three, she was actually the one who held him the longest.

Xie Yuling watched from the side and exchanged a glance with Chu Miaomiao.

Chu Miaomiao blinked, her meaning roughly: Didn’t she say she was going to be me today?

Xie Yuling rolled her eyes at her without a sound: Just look at her. Does she resemble you at all?

Just then, the sound of an engine came from the entrance of the alley. The tires rolled over the loose gravel of the road, making the noise especially clear.

Jiang Yunlu jerked away as if scalded. Her hands sprang from Lin Mo’s waist, and she took two steps back, casually smoothing her hair as she did so.

The movement was quick and precise.

“Let’s go, Sister Yunshu.” Anyone could tell it was Jiang Chengshan.

The footsteps drew closer.

Situ Yunshu walked up to the door and immediately spotted her own daughter.

“Oh, you’re all here.”

“Yeah! We just got here too.” Jiang Yunlu hurried to speak, her words coming noticeably faster than usual. The blush on her cheeks had yet to completely fade.

Lin Mo, Xie Yuling, and Chu Miaomiao greeted her as well.

Situ Yunshu’s gaze swept over Lin Mo and the three girls. She said nothing, merely smiling.

Only after a moment did she slowly speak.

“Let’s go inside. There’s no point standing around in the doorway. Chengshan said this restaurant is very good, and that he likes eating here and comes often. I wanted to see it for myself.”

There was far too much information packed into those words.

The three girls’ expressions grew a little unnatural at once. Lin Mo raised an eyebrow and looked toward the Old Geezer.

Comes often?

You’ve really got some nerve saying that.

Jiang Chengshan remained perfectly calm. With both hands clasped behind his back and his chin slightly raised, he looked completely open and aboveboard.

His expression seemed to say that none of this had anything to do with him.

“Come on, let’s go eat.”

The Old Geezer waved a large hand and strode across the threshold first.

Mm. Very imposing. Let’s see if you can still look that imposing later.

As they walked along the corridor, Situ Yunshu asked, “Lin Mo, was South Korea fun?”

“It was pretty fun. I took care of a lot of things, and both the process and the outcome went well.”

Jiang Chengshan glanced at Lin Mo. He now knew that Lin Mo was no ordinary person.

But he had no idea what had happened in South Korea.

After thinking it over, he decided not to ask. Since Lin Mo hadn’t brought it up, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to pry.

The group passed through the front corridor and arrived in the main hall, where a new round of greetings and small talk began.

It was also then that Chen Yunli heard the voices and came out from the kitchen.

“Is everyone here? Then should we sit down now, or wait a little—”

Before she could finish, she saw Jiang Chengshan... and Situ Yunshu, who had turned around.