Chapter 24
Chi Lin was apprehensive about meeting Peng Ziyuan.
While Lou Mi, due to their limited interaction, hadn’t noticed the change in Chi Lin’s personality, Peng Ziyuan, as her mother, would be far more perceptive.
There was no one who knew a child better than their mother.
She could be herself around Lou Mi, but with Peng Ziyuan, she had to be careful.
Fortunately, it was Saturday. She had the entire day to study family photos and Chi Lin’s Weibo posts, trying to understand the original owner and her family dynamics.
The original owner’s Weibo posts were a reflection of her academic struggles, filled with typos and grammatical errors, her thoughts often expressed incoherently.
But she had documented many personal details, including a detailed account of her parents’ divorce.
Chi Lin realized the original owner was deeply attached to her mother.
They had been close when Chi Lin was younger, but her father’s departure had created a rift.
Before the divorce, she had a happy family, her father’s love a constant source of joy.
In her mind, only her biological father was her true father, the rightful member of their family. She feared her mother finding a new partner.
A new relationship would be a betrayal, a rejection of her cherished memories, a threat to her sense of security.
Even if those memories were a child’s idealized version of reality, unaware of her parents’ efforts to maintain a facade of harmony, they were precious to her.
Chi Lin found a screenshot of a WeChat conversation between Peng Ziyuan and her ex-husband, discussing their unhappy marriage and the need to separate.
Peng Ziyuan had initiated the divorce, fueling the original owner’s resentment.
“I hate her. I didn’t have a happy family, and neither will she.”
“Why would someone like Lou Lixing even be interested in her?”
“My dad messaged me. He’s moving abroad and never coming back. I don’t have a dad anymore.”
“My hair, my rules. The more Peng Ziyuan hates it, the more I’ll keep it. Ha.”
…
“I want someone to talk to.”
“LM is annoying me again. She never liked me anyway. So I’ll annoy her even more.”
“I have no friends. LHX isn’t my friend. But I can’t be without her.”
LM was likely Lou Mi, and LHX was Liu Huixin.
Chi Lin had learned pinyin, the romanization of Chinese characters, often used online to abbreviate names.
The more she read, the more uneasy she felt.
The original owner had several followers on Weibo, but her thousands of posts had never received a single comment.
Only a few of her more melancholic posts had received likes.
Chi Lin had initially assumed the original owner was a rebellious, attention-seeking brat, eager to lash out at the world.
But she seemed different.
Lonely, but unable to express it.
Lou Mi returned home before dark.
“Ready?” she asked, emerging from the elevator. “Let’s go.”
“What should I wear?” Chi Lin asked, wanting to make a good impression on Peng Ziyuan.
“What you’re wearing is fine,” Lou Mi said, looking at her simple white t-shirt and jeans.
“Shouldn’t I… dress up? Maybe style my hair?”
“Do you want to give your mom a heart attack? No more styling your hair.”
“So she doesn’t like my styled hair?”
“Your previous… explosion was a bit much. The Dean and Ms. Qi kept lecturing you, and your mom complained to my dad countless times. She’ll be thrilled to see your normal hair. Just be a good girl.”
Lou Mi, realizing she sounded like she was taking Peng Ziyuan’s side, added, “For my dad’s and my sake. We want a peaceful dinner.”
Chi Lin, a mischievous glint in her eyes, said, “Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you.”
Lou Mi stared at her, slightly mesmerized. “You better not… Let’s go.”
“I can’t wear this. It’s my sleepwear.”
“You sleep in jeans?”
“Is that wrong?”
“They’re so… stiff.”
Chi Lin, remembering Lou Mi’s barely-there nightgown, quickly averted her gaze.
“I’ll change. Give me a moment.”
“A moment… how long is that?”
“About ten minutes…”
Chi Lin, forgetting to adjust her language, checked Lou Mi’s reaction. Lou Mi didn’t seem to notice, so she went to change.
Lou Mi opened the fridge, grabbing a drink.
So she’s adopted the ancient way of speaking too.
Wait, is she going to wear that traditional dress to dinner?
West Wharf was a Western restaurant. That would be a bit much.
Chi Lin emerged ten minutes later, wearing her green school uniform.
Lou Mi: “You’re wearing your uniform?”
Chi Lin: “Isn’t it more… appropriate?”
I guess…
Chi Lin was wearing the full uniform, even her backpack.
With her polished shoes, clean face, and neatly tied hair, Lou Mi was certain Peng Ziyuan would burst into tears at the restaurant.
During the drive to West Wharf, Lou Mi, instead of playing games, decided to chat with Chi Lin.
She asked about Ms. Hu and the library study group.
“So you’re getting along with your classmates now?” she asked casually, scrolling through Weibo. “Even having study sessions.”
“It’s alright,” Chi Lin replied. “Only one of them is my classmate.”
“The other two are from different classes?” Lou Mi chuckled. “Your social circle is expanding.”
Chi Lin looked at her. “How did you know there were others?”
Lou Mi: “…I just guessed. I’m smart.”
Chi Lin smiled. “You are indeed smart. You even knew I was at the library for a study session.”
Lou Mi: “…”
She had been trying to subtly extract information about Chi Lin’s potential date.
Instead, she had been caught snooping.
Did that martial arts manual also boost her intelligence?
She missed the old, easily flustered Chi Lin.
Since she had been caught, she decided to double down.
“What else would you be doing at the library? Not studying? Dating, perhaps?”
Chi Lin sighed softly.
The library meeting had been a failure. No leads on the Empress. She felt discouraged.
Lou Mi’s heart sank, hearing her melancholic sigh.
What did that sigh mean?
Had she left the library early because of a… breakup?
But who was she dating? She hadn’t mentioned anything.
Lou Mi, unknowingly, mirrored Chi Lin’s dejection.
They arrived at West Wharf and were led to their table.
Lou Lixing and Peng Ziyuan weren’t there yet. As Chi Lin sat down, she noticed Lou Mi choosing the seat furthest away from her.
Chi Lin: “?”
Lou Mi, studying the menu, said, “Order whatever you want. Except live octopus. Remember that time you almost choked on one? Why would a Western restaurant even serve live octopus?”
She was making small talk, trying to fill the silence. Chi Lin noticed a couple approaching their table.
The man, tall and handsome, in his early forties, resembled a dashing CEO from a television drama, his features vaguely similar to Lou Mi’s.
The woman beside him, impeccably dressed and made-up, her face flawless, was Peng Ziyuan.
They approached cheerfully, then, seeing Chi Lin, their expressions changed, their steps faltering.
They must have been shocked.
Chi Lin had doubts about the emotional resilience of people in this era.
“Xiao… Xiao Lin?”
The woman rushed forward, cupping Chi Lin’s face. “What happened to you?!”
It was Peng Ziyuan.
Chi Lin’s head almost popped off.
Peng Ziyuan’s expression wasn’t one of joy, but shock and dismay.
“Mother… can’t… breathe…” Chi Lin gasped.
Peng Ziyuan, hearing the formal address, recoiled, stumbling backward.
Lou Lixing, standing behind her, caught her just as she was about to fall.
Chi Lin: “…”
What’s wrong with this woman?!
Lou Mi watched, amused.
Peng Ziyuan was always dramatic.
“She… she called me ‘Mother’…” Peng Ziyuan said, pointing a trembling finger at Chi Lin.
Though she had heard it once on WeChat, hearing it in person was still a shock.
Lou Lixing, also stunned, looked at Lou Mi.
Lou Mi quickly defended herself. “I didn’t do anything! I didn’t bully or mistreat her! I have no idea why she’s acting like this. Ask her yourself.”
Chi Lin didn’t understand the fuss. “Mother” was a perfectly normal way to address one’s mother.
Lou Lixing explained, “It’s a big step. Xiao Lin hasn’t called you ‘Mother’ in years.”
Chi Lin: “…”
Peng Ziyuan, her eyes welling up, said, “Xiao Lin, if you’re unhappy, please tell me. I know… I was selfish, leaving you for so long. But I love you. You’re the most important person in the world to me!”
“I didn’t know you were on vacation,” Chi Lin said. “I thought you were on a business trip.”
Lou Lixing coughed awkwardly.
Peng Ziyuan’s dramatic outbursts were a regular occurrence. It was best to ignore them.
They sat down, Peng Ziyuan clinging to Chi Lin, refusing to let go.
“Mother… I can’t breathe…”
Chi Lin, uncomfortable with the physical contact, wanted to escape.
“Let me hug my daughter,” Peng Ziyuan said, closing her eyes. “You still smell like… a baby. I can’t believe you ranked 45th in your class! You’re so smart and so cute! I’m so happy!”
Chi Lin, fearing her mother might actually start sniffing her in public, looked panicked.
Lou Mi, watching from across the table, thought Chi Lin was being overly dramatic.
She looked so small and vulnerable, almost inviting someone to bully her.
Lou Mi focused on cutting her steak, trying to distract herself.
Lou Lixing, pleased by the apparent harmony between mother and daughter, had a few extra drinks, his face flushed.
He turned to Chi Lin. “While your mother and I were on our… ahem, business trip, you and your sister were alone at home, taking care of each other. That’s very commendable. Now that we’re back, you can relax. If you need anything, just ask. Oh, and Xiao Lin, you’ll be eighteen soon. You can get your own car then. I’m taking your sister car shopping this weekend. Come with us. Pick whichever car you like, and I’ll buy it for your birthday.”
A car was an expensive gift. Chi Lin was about to decline when Peng Ziyuan, placing a bowl of soup in front of her, interrupted.
“Xiao Lin’s birthday is in two months. Her birthday is in winter. Don’t you remember?”
“Of course, I remember,” Lou Lixing said. “Two months is just around the corner. I have to start preparing her gift.”
Peng Ziyuan, beaming, said, “You’re the best! I’ll buy Mimi’s car, and you can buy Xiao Lin’s.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Lou Lixing replied.
“We’re so in sync!”
Chi Lin cringed at their exchange, their blatant flirting suffocating her.
She had expected adults to be more mature, but they were worse than children.
Lou Mi also couldn’t stand it anymore. “Can we please focus on eating? We can discuss gifts later.”
“Right, let’s eat!”
“Dig in!”
Lou Mi, observing her parents’ cheerful demeanor, concluded their romantic getaway had been a success.
Spending two weeks alone together, away from their children, had rekindled their romance.
And seeing their delinquent daughter transformed into a well-behaved, academically improving student had further boosted Peng Ziyuan’s mood.
Peng Ziyuan’s happiness meant Lou Lixing’s happiness, creating a harmonious family atmosphere.
It was the kind of warmth Lou Mi had always longed for.
After dinner, Peng Ziyuan and Lou Lixing insisted on taking the girls shopping.
The mall was the largest in the city, with four floors, each larger than both sections of the National Library combined.
Every major brand had a store here.
“Xiao Lin, tell me what you want. Don’t worry about the price. Tonight, you’re a princess!”
“Mother, please keep your voice down…” Chi Lin pleaded.
“Why should I? I want the whole world to know my daughter ranked 45th in her class! 45th!”
“I don’t need anything…” Chi Lin said, exhausted.
A mother and son passing by stopped.
The mother, pointing at Chi Lin, said to her son, “Look at that girl!”
The boy, pointing at Peng Ziyuan, replied, “Look at that mom!”
Lou Mi, overhearing their exchange, burst out laughing.
Chi Lin didn’t dare look at anything in the mall. If her gaze lingered on an item for more than two seconds, her mother would immediately purchase it.
It was overwhelming.
“Please,” Chi Lin begged, wanting to glue her mother’s mouth shut. “I don’t need anything. Stop buying things. It’s such a waste.”
Peng Ziyuan, touched by her daughter’s apparent frugality, said, “My Xiao Lin has grown up! She’s worried about my spending! I’m so happy! I want to spend money on you! As much as I want!”
Chi Lin: “Why are we stuck in this loop…?”
They entered a jewelry store. Peng Ziyuan, admiring a pair of rings, asked the sales assistant to show them to her.
“These are our classic Maillon Panthère rings,” the assistant explained. “The chain-link design is inspired by a panther’s paw print, symbolizing both strength and grace.”
Peng Ziyuan liked the platinum and rose gold rings.
Lou Lixing wondered if she wanted another pair of rings, having just purchased engagement rings recently.
Peng Ziyuan turned to Chi Lin. “Xiao Lin, try these on.”
“Me?” Chi Lin asked.
“I think they would suit you.”
Before Chi Lin could respond, the assistant said, “I’ll get your size. One moment.”
She returned almost instantly with two rings in similar sizes.
Chi Lin tried on the rose gold ring. Peng Ziyuan gasped.
“It’s perfect! It looks so good on you!”
“Your fingers are so slender and elegant,” the assistant added.
“But… we’re not allowed to wear jewelry at school,” Chi Lin said.
“You can wear it outside of school, on weekends, during vacations,” Peng Ziyuan said, pulling Lou Mi over and asking if she preferred gold or platinum.
“I usually wear platinum, but…”
The assistant presented her with the platinum ring. “You and your… sister would wear the same size.”
Peng Ziyuan tried it on Lou Mi. It fit perfectly, enhancing her elegant hands.
“Beautiful,” Peng Ziyuan murmured, admiring the matching rings on their fingers, envisioning a harmonious blended family.
“We’ll take these,” she told the assistant. “No need for wrapping. We’ll wear them now.”
“Certainly!”
“Auntie,” Lou Mi said, “these are couple rings…”
Peng Ziyuan blinked, then turned to the assistant. “Can only couples wear couple rings?”
“Of course not!” the assistant replied quickly. “They’re perfect for mothers and daughters, best friends, sisters…”
Peng Ziyuan gave Lou Mi a thumbs-up. “See? Perfect!”
Lou Mi sighed, giving up.
Chi Lin remained silent throughout the ordeal.
Lou Mi leaned closer and whispered, “Your mom has lost it.”
Chi Lin, looking at the ring on her finger, asked Lou Mi, “Don’t you like it?”
Lou Mi, startled by her earnest expression, quickly said, “I didn’t say I didn’t like it!”
Chi Lin thought, What’s the big deal? It’s just a ring.
Both Lou Mi and the original owner were fortunate to have people who cared about them.
“That’s good,” she said, smiling softly.
She had considered taking off the ring, but seeing Chi Lin wearing hers, she decided to keep it.
It does suit me, she thought.
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