Hearing this, Su Lili couldn’t help but complain.
“Mom, I feel like you’re setting up a flag again.”
“How is that possible.”
Su Ziling replied with a blank expression, then turned her gaze toward Lin Yizhou, who was not far away.
She had to admit that because of Su Lili’s interruption, she was now feeling a bit awkward.
It was as if someone had torn off her mask, giving her an inexplicable sense of shame.
In this regard, she really admired Lin Yizhou. How did he manage to keep his cool and carry on with that chuunibyou act even after being called out?
“Since you’ve found me out.”
Su Ziling decided to throw caution to the wind. She crossed her arms and assumed a negotiating stance toward Lin Yizhou. “Then there’s no need to keep up this act. Lili must have told you about the future, but… the future is the future, and the present is the present.”
“I understand that.”
Lin Yizhou nodded.
“Now, we are strangers, maybe even irreconcilable enemies.”
Her tone turned calm as she returned to her aloof posture.
“I know.”
“Good that you know. As for Lili, I’ll keep her by my side and take care of her.” Su Ziling narrowed her eyes and spoke slowly. “After all, given your lifestyle and habits, it’s really hard to trust that you can raise a teenage child properly.”
Su Ziling didn’t want Su Lili to become a hardcore two-dimensional fan like Lin Yizhou at such a young age.
Besides, even the future father Lin Yizhou hadn’t managed that, let alone this current version who was a magical girl fanatic.
If he insisted on arguing with her, Su Ziling wouldn’t mind zapping him a bit first.
“Wow…” Su Lili now looked torn. “Mom, Dad, please don’t fight, don’t fight.”
“This isn’t a fight.” Su Ziling’s tone was flat.
“We’re just rationally discussing custody rights.” Lin Yizhou added seriously.
“This…”
The little girl was starting to wonder if she had made the wrong decision.
Logically, the two shouldn’t have reacted like this.
But thinking about it carefully, in her memories, her mother had always been that unyielding and stubborn when it came to matters of principle.
“I feel like both of you, Mom and Dad… are the kind of people who are really stuck in your ways…” Su Lili muttered quietly.
“Not at all.” Su Ziling immediately denied it. She glanced at the time on her phone and changed the subject, “It’s getting late. Let’s go home and eat first.”
“Oh oh!” The moment she heard “eat,” Su Lili instantly forgot all her worries and even enthusiastically waved at Lin Yizhou. “Dad, you come too! Mom’s cooking is the best in the universe!”
Just as she was about to turn and leave, Su Ziling stumbled at those words and gave Su Lili a dirty look.
“Don’t air your dirty laundry like that.”
As she left, the little girl couldn’t help shouting back at Lin Yizhou.
“Mom’s a tough talker with a soft heart, Dad! If you thicken your skin a little, you can just come over for a free meal! It’ll definitely be fine!”
Hearing this, Lin Yizhou let out a wry laugh.
If he had that thick a face, he wouldn’t still be single now.
But Su Ziling did have a point. He wasn’t confident he could take good care of Su Lili.
But the question was…
With Su Ziling’s meager financial situation, could she afford to feed an extra mouth?
Watching the silhouettes of the big and little figures disappear into the distance, Lin Yizhou had his doubts.
—
After walking a certain distance and confirming it was safe, Su Ziling cancelled her transformation and looked down at the little one beside her. She asked curiously,
“By the way, what were you doing out here all alone this late at night?”
“What else…” Su Lili immediately pouted and said with resentment, “Buying food! Mom, you left this morning without leaving me any lunch! I’ve been hungry all day! I waited at home until it was dark and couldn’t take it anymore before I grabbed some money and went out to find a convenience store to save myself!”
Hearing this, Su Ziling slapped her forehead.
She had just remembered that her class schedule today was too packed. She had bought the little girl breakfast in the morning, but lunch… she completely forgot.
This was a failure on her part as a guardian.
Su Lili was only twelve years old, still growing, and she definitely couldn’t neglect this aspect. Otherwise, the girl would end up like her, only reaching a pitiful height of five foot five as an adult, the shortest among the boys in her class.
Although Su Ziling didn’t really care about that, she certainly didn’t want Su Lili to suffer from malnutrition like she did.
“It’s my fault.” Su Ziling patted Su Lili’s head and said in a gentle tone, “What do you want to eat?”
Compared to how she treated outsiders, Su Ziling’s tone toward the little girl was worlds apart.
“Braised chicken with potatoes! Eggplant with garlic sauce! Braised chicken with potatoes! Eggplant with garlic sauce!”
Su Lili waved her arms and legs as she spoke.
“Oh, and since I didn’t have lunch, Mom, you have to cook a little extra!”
“Okay, okay…”
Su Ziling sighed helplessly and affectionately at the little glutton, who had bounced back instantly.
After returning home, Su Ziling turned on the living room light.
Because Su Xiaomeng had a class that evening, she wasn’t home. Otherwise, Su Lili would never have been able to sneak out.
“Wait a little while. It’ll take some time to cook the rice and dishes.”
Su Ziling said as she headed to the kitchen.
“Mm-hmm!” Su Lili nodded obediently and sat on the sofa to wait patiently.
Su Ziling opened the refrigerator. Inside were neatly placed chicken and ribs that had been marinated in the morning and covered with plastic wrap, along with various vegetables and seasonings.
Although cooking was troublesome, there was no denying that it saved a lot of money.
Besides, in Su Ziling’s opinion, what she cooked was healthier than what the outside shops offered.
Well… there was actually a bit of selfishness too.
She had initially thought that boys who could cook were popular with girls, so she taught herself and kept perfecting her culinary skills until she eventually acquired cooking skills that even her little sister praised.
But as for whether she found a girlfriend…
No, she hadn’t.
In fact, back in high school, because she often brought bento boxes to school, she received love letters more than once…
From boys.
It was truly a tragic story.
She skillfully tossed the ingredients into the pot and stir-fried them. When the time was right, she added hot water and turned down the heat to simmer. These dishes were a piece of cake for her.
About half an hour later, steaming hot food was served on the table.
The little girl ate happily. Seeing her joyful expression, Su Ziling, as the chef, naturally felt a sense of satisfaction.
“I’ll go get some more rice.”
“Go ahead.”
The little girl pattered quickly toward the kitchen and, like a thief, swiftly packed a bento box and hid it.
Although Su Lili’s movements were very discreet, Su Ziling saw it clearly.
But she didn’t call it out.
After eating their fill and taking a bath, Su Lili couldn’t wait to speak.
“Mom, I’m going to bed first.”
“So early tonight?”
“Early to bed and early to rise makes you healthy!” Su Lili confidently repeated Su Ziling’s often-used phrase, looking very serious. “That’s what you said, Mom!”
Before she finished speaking, she dashed back to her room like a nimble little rabbit, carefully protecting the hidden bento box in her arms.