Lin Hai drove the car back to the villa. Now that he had a vehicle, it was time to prepare for picking up his parents and Yunyun.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Hai gave his mother a call.
“Mom, pack your things. I’ll come get you tomorrow.”
“We’ve been packed for ages. Your father—that stubborn old man—ever since you called last time, he’s been on my back every day to get our stuff ready. He’s practically itching to move to the city right away…”
Lin Hai hung up the phone. Just thinking about his parents arriving tomorrow made his heart race.
The moment he stepped inside—
What the hell? What is that thing?
Lin Hai jumped back in shock.
Right in front of him stood a creature half a person’s height, looking like a cross between a lion and a dog, with two little horns on its head. It was staring at him with eyes as big as brass bells.
“Dad, I’m disfigured! Waaah…” The moment the monster saw Lin Hai, it lunged toward him.
“Stop, stop, STOP!” Lin Hai quickly put his hands up to block it.
He looked it over carefully.
“No freakin’ way… you’re Ahua?” Lin Hai could hardly believe his own eyes.
Seriously? He’d just stepped out for a bit, and when he got back, Ahua had turned into some kind of four—unlike beast?
“He couldn’t keep his mouth shut and drank that bucket of ambergris.” From the big bed, Chu Lin’er’s voice drifted over.
“Tch. You greedy little glutton. Now look at you—ugly as sin.” Lin Hai kicked Ahhua aside with one foot.
“Dad, Dad! Sure, I got uglier—but my skills got better!” Ahua scurried back over, as if afraid Lin Hai might abandon him.
“Oh? What kind of skills?” Lin Hai paused, actually a little curious.
“I can catch ghosts now. Feels like I can suppress anything filthy or evil.” Ahua wagged his tail as he spoke.
“Really?” Lin Hai’s face lit up with surprise.
“Really!” Ahua nodded his doggy head.
“Alright then—go catch her!” Lin Hai pointed straight at Chu Lin’er.
Ahua followed Lin Hai’s finger—and immediately deflated.
“Dad… I’d kinda like to keep living.”
“Pfft. So you’re still just as useless as before.” Lin Hai kicked Ahua aside again.
“Dad, I really did level up! As long as I’m in the room, no spirits or unclean things can even get close!” Ahua trailed after him again.
“Oh yeah? Then how come she got in?” Lin Hai pointed at Chu Lin’er again.
“She… she’s the exception.” Ahua’s tail drooped again.
Lin Hai ignored him and walked over to Chu Lin’er instead.
“Hey. I need to tell you something.”
Chu Lin’er didn’t even look up. Her eyes were glued to her phone, fully absorbed in a game of Gomoku.
Lin Hai rolled his eyes and snatched the phone right out of her hands.
“Hey! Snatch my phone again, and I just might punch you!” Chu Lin’er grabbed it right back.
“Can you listen to me for a second?” Lin Hai said, a little exasperated. He really had no idea how to handle this girl.
“I’m listening. Go ahead.” Chu Lin’er kept playing.
“My parents are coming tomorrow. Could you… move out?”
With his parents in the house, having a ghost around just didn’t feel right.
Chu Lin’er’s hand froze. She lifted her head abruptly.
“You’re kicking me out?”
“It’s just… my family’s coming. Wouldn’t it be kind of awkward with you here?” Lin Hai looked a little embarrassed.
“Fine.” Her voice was flat.
She lowered her head and went back to her game. Two moves later—she lost.
“This is boring.” She tossed the phone onto the bed.
Uh…
Lin Hai wasn’t sure why, but suddenly he felt a pang of guilt.
“Hey—”
Before he could finish, Chu Lin’er turned her head and simply floated away.
“Tch.” Lin Hai sighed.
He could tell—she was in a bad mood.
He’d never really noticed it before. But now that they were about to separate, it hit him: somehow, living together had grown on him.
Lin Hai walked through the rooms, checking the household supplies.
Living alone, he never really thought about it. But now that his parents were coming, he realized a lot of things were missing.
It was too late tonight. He’d have to buy some stuff before heading out tomorrow.
The next morning, Lin Hai sent a WeChat message to Liu Xinyue.
“Xinyue, you free?”
“Mm. Just finished vocal practice.”
“I’ll come pick you up. Help me shop for some things.”
Lin Hai grabbed the car and headed to the school.
“Whoa, Hai Zi—new ride?” On the way, he ran into Liu Liang, Wang Peng, and the gang. A round of lively banter followed.
“Oh yeah, Hai Zi. The Hu Group went under—heard you were the one who reported them. That’s insane.” Liu Liang suddenly brought it up.
“I didn’t do much. They dug their own grave.”
“Speaking of which, their assets are going up for auction. My family’s eyeing something too—if we win the bid, dinner’s on me.” Liu Liang grinned.
“Auction?” Something clicked in Lin Hai’s mind.
They chatted a while longer, then Lin Hai drove to the vocal room.
“Xinyue, how’s practice going?”
“I still can’t get that feeling you had. But everything else is pretty much set. Practicing more probably won’t help much.” Liu Xinyue shook her head.
“Then take a break. Relax a little. Get ready to bring home that championship trophy.” Lin Hai flashed a victory pose.
“It’s not that simple. I hear there are some really strong contenders this time.” Worry flickered across her face.
“Don’t worry, Xinyue. You’ve got this.” Lin Hai gave her an encouraging look.
He drove them straight to Walmart.
“Xinyue, I’m picking up my parents tomorrow. There’s still some stuff missing at home. Help me pick out a few things.”
“Okay.”
The two pushed a cart through the aisles, carefully choosing each item.
“Xinyue,” Lin Hai said suddenly, “come home with me tomorrow.”
“Home?” She blinked. “Home where?”
“My parents’ place.”
“Your—oh…” Her heart instantly began to race.
“Is that… okay?” Her voice was tight.
“Of course it is. Even an ‘ugly daughter-in-law’ has to meet the in-laws eventually—and you’re not ugly at all. You’re gorgeous.” Lin Hai gently pinched her cheek.
Liu Xinyue looked down.
“Lin Hai… what if your parents don’t like me?”
“Why wouldn’t they? You’re beautiful, kind, thoughtful—how could anyone not like you?”
“But… but my family…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. She bit her lip, and her eyes began to glisten.
Lin Hai’s heart ached. He gently pulled her into his arms.
“Xinyue, stop worrying. My family’s ordinary—my parents are simple farmers. When they hear about your situation, they’re not going to judge you. They’re just going to want to take care of you.”
“And besides, your dad will wake up soon—two more treatments, and he should be conscious again. Just imagine it: our families together, warmth all around. Wouldn’t that be something?”
“Lin Hai…” She lifted her head and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Meeting you… is the greatest blessing I could ever have. I’ll be good to you—for the rest of my life.”
“Silly girl. Meeting you is my blessing. We’re gonna stay together forever, and no one’s gonna tear us apart.” Lin Hai stroked her hair softly.
“Oh wow. Public display of affection right here in broad daylight? Mind your surroundings, would you? If you have no shame, at least spare the rest of us.” A jarring voice cut through the moment.
“Huang Shan?” Lin Hai recognized him immediately.
“Pfft. They say Liu Xinyue is our school’s pure and innocent campus beauty. Well, after today—ha! What a joke. Looks like she’s just another flirty butterfly to me…”
SMACK!
A crisp slap sent Huang Shan stumbling sideways.
“SHUT YOUR FILTHY MOUTH!” A furious voice rang out.
