Ranking

The car came to a smooth stop. The driver, dressed in a well-fitted suit, quickly got out from the driver's seat and jogged around to open the doors for the passengers in the back.

Su Yuyao and Qing Mo got out first. Gu Yue couldn't move because Tang Manman was still using her lap as a pillow.

Lin Yu stood up and gently pushed Tang Manman's shoulder. Seeing she didn't wake, he applied a bit more force and nudged her again.

She must have been truly exhausted.

Even after several attempts of lightly shaking her shoulder, her biggest reaction was just a slight frown.

Lin Yu had no other choice. He crouched down, continuing to shake her shoulder while softly calling her name.

"Tang Manman?"

"Wake up, we're here."

"Tang Manman..."

Perhaps she had already been on the verge of waking from all the shaking, or maybe it was something else, but after Lin Yu called her name just a couple of times, her eyes slowly fluttered open.

Upon waking, Tang Manman didn't react at first. She simply lay there, her eyes open, gazing intently at the familiar face before her. Even her blinks were slow and deliberate, as if afraid that with one careless move, this person she had longed for day and night might vanish again.

Tang Manman's unwavering stare made Lin Yu's heart ache. He tried hard to ignore the feeling welling up inside him, forcing a faint smile as he said,

"Time to get out and eat."

Hearing this, Tang Manman blinked in confusion a couple of times. It seemed only then did she realize this wasn't a dream.

She nodded, and as she sat up, she instinctively wiped the damp corner of her mouth with her hand.

After a brief moment of collecting herself, the realization of who had been her pillow for the entire journey hit her, and Tang Manman's face flushed a deep, fiery red.

Lin Yu wasn't in the mood to tease her. He pulled a couple of tissues from the dispenser and handed them to Gu Yue. After she cleaned the drool from her skirt, Lin Yu led the two of them out of the car.

This restaurant was Lin Yu's choice.

In S City, its prices weren't quite at the absolute pinnacle, but they weren't far off.

Lin Yu's main reason for choosing this place was its wide selection of high-end ingredients.

Lobster, king crab, Wagyu beef—it had everything.

Lin Yu's goal in coming here was to indulge in delicacies he usually couldn't justify buying.

After all, for Qing Mo, money was just a string of numbers.

Lin Yu saw no need to save on her behalf.

Tang Manman and Gu Yue were clearly intimidated by the restaurant's prices, hesitating for a long time without daring to order much.

So, Lin Yu simply doubled his own order, effectively covering for both of them.

Qing Mo, of course, needed no mention. She generally shopped without looking at prices, simply choosing what she liked!

What surprised Lin Yu a little was Su Yuyao. She ordered without any pressure at all, acting perfectly normal, not even batting an eye at dishes costing hundreds or thousands. It seemed she came from a well-off family too.

Both Tang Manman and Gu Yue were very reserved, as if it was their first time dining in such a high-end restaurant.

Especially Tang Manman, who kept casting pitiful, uneasy glances at Lin Yu, seemingly seeking a bit of security from him.

Lin Yu saw it.

But he could only pretend he didn't.

Halfway through the meal, Lin Yu excused himself to use the restroom. As he came out, he saw Qing Mo waiting by the door.

Lin Yu's heart tightened. He tried to pretend he hadn't seen her, lowering his head to make a quick escape, but Qing Mo, who had been prepared, reached out an arm to block his path.

Lin Yu let out a soft, helpless sigh, knowing he was in for another round of her usual back-and-forth.

Bracing himself, Lin Yu spoke up quickly before Qing Mo could start, explaining,

"I didn't stop Xia Muzhu from meeting Tang Manman. Xia Muzhu left because she had her own things to attend to. If you don't believe me..."

"I believe you."

Lin Yu's prepared speech was cut short by Qing Mo's two lightly spoken words.

Lin Yu blinked, looking at Qing Mo with curiosity in his eyes, wondering why she was being so reasonable today. Had she been possessed by something nice?

Qing Mo didn't offer much explanation. She had already figured it out during the whole interaction between Lin Yu and that woman.

It was Lin Yu who wanted her to come. It was she herself who didn't want to.

As for why that woman didn't come, why she didn't come to assert her dominance in front of outsiders like them, Qing Mo couldn't understand.

Learning that Qing Mo wasn't there to pick a fight, Lin Yu relaxed, then looked at her with some curiosity and asked,

"Then what is it you want?"

Qing Mo looked at Lin Yu. She opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. She stepped aside to clear the path and said flatly,

"Nothing."

Lin Yu was baffled, but since Qing Mo said nothing, he decided to leave.

After taking a couple of steps, he turned back uneasily to look at Qing Mo, confirming,

"Really nothing?"

Qing Mo gave him a cold look and replied,

"Keep asking and there will be."

Lin Yu ducked his head and hurried away.

Qing Mo walked into the restroom. She stood before the clean, long mirror, looking at her own stunningly beautiful yet aloof reflection in the glass. That sense of weariness and restless irritability, suppressed deep in her bones, surfaced once again.

There had been a lot going on lately.

A whole lot.

And it wasn't just the quantity; things were messy too.

She was busy to the point of exhaustion.

Coming to see Lin Yu this time, she had intended it as a chance to relax a little.

But somehow, just now, standing in front of Lin Yu, she suddenly felt her throat tighten. All the things she wanted to say got stuck, not a single word coming out.

For no apparent reason...

She just wanted to maintain some dignity in front of Lin Yu...

...

After the sumptuous lunch, the group went downstairs. It was time to part ways.

Lin Yu first turned his gaze to Su Yuyao. Contrary to his usual stern expression, he asked with a pleasant smile,

"Full?"

Suddenly enveloped by an unprecedented gentleness, Su Yuyao was momentarily stunned, but she quickly caught on. Her clear, bright eyes sparkled as she nodded excitedly, replying in a softened, sweet voice,

"Very full."

"Good. Can you go back and do your homework now?"

Lin Yu's smile remained, still warm and friendly.

Su Yuyao's delicate little face instantly fell, as if the happy person from a moment ago had never existed.

Su Yuyao left, crestfallen.

After watching Su Yuyao leave, Lin Yu turned to Gu Yue and asked,

"What are your plans?"

"Heading back?"

"Or staying in H City for a while?"

"But let me say this upfront: if you stay in H City, I won't have time to keep you company."

"I have things to do."

Gu Yue knew Lin Yu was going to spend time with his girlfriend. She pouted regretfully, thought for a moment, and said,

"I'm not in a hurry to go back."

I finally made it all this way.

"I'll look around here for a bit."

Lin Yu nodded and said,

"Alright. Be careful."

"You can go now. Bye."

Lin Yu waved at Gu Yue, effectively dismissing her.

Gu Yue glanced at Lin Yu and Tang Manman, waved back, said her goodbyes, and turned to leave.

After Gu Yue left, Lin Yu set his sights on Qing Mo.

Before he could even open his mouth to usher her away, Qing Mo suddenly asked a seemingly random question:

"Am I number three?"

Lin Yu and Tang Manman were both momentarily at a loss, unable to grasp what she meant by "the third one."

Qing Mo herself, however, seemed quite pleased. With a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, she left.