“You look at those big eyes, double eyelids, a pointed chin—just so fresh and lively. You can tell right away she’s a good kid!”
Song’s mother said with a beaming smile to Song’s father, who was sitting on the sofa sipping tea. Then she gently nudged her to sit beside her. “You go chat with uncle first, Auntie will get you some snacks.”
Jiang Ling sat stiffly on the sofa, feeling as if her bottom had sunk slightly into the cushion. This really was some high-end stuff—so soft… no, wait!
What did she mean by ‘finally dating’?!
Panicked, she looked up and caught Song Meng’s half-smiling, half-smirking expression, clearly enjoying the show.
Immediately, Jiang Ling’s ears, cheeks, and even her neck burned bright red.
This person was definitely doing it on purpose!
“Your name’s Jiang Ling, right?”
Song’s father was silent for a moment, then calmly asked, “Are you getting along well with our Mengmeng? She’s a shy child—that’s on me. If she ever makes you feel uncomfortable, remember to communicate with her in time…”
Listening to such serious and earnest words, Jiang Ling wanted to interrupt several times but felt too embarrassed. She could only nervously fidget with her fingers and keep nodding while staring at the floor tiles.
Her thoughts had already drifted far away: What if a bad woman brought her home to meet the parents? Help, urgent!
Also, why were they so naturally accepting that their daughter was a lesbian?!
Was this something very common?
Jiang Ling felt her little brain couldn’t handle this kind of shock and was about to explode.
“Look at you, you’ve gone quiet when talking to the kid. Drink your tea!”
Song’s mother chided Song’s father with a glance, then cheerfully placed a fruit plate on the table, filled with all kinds of snacks. “Xiao Ling, eat some. You’re here now, I don’t even know. Why don’t you just stay for dinner?”
“Ah, no, no, thank you!”
Jiang Ling finally found her voice and waved her hand nervously.
After that, she quickly glanced at Song Meng standing nearby. Her eyes showed a mix of embarrassment and pleading, biting her lip anxiously.
Seeing her pitiful expression, Song Meng laughed to herself and sat down close beside Jiang Ling. “Lingling, you still have to work later, so no dinner for you, right?”
As she spoke, she naturally intertwined their fingers, and with a slight squeeze, the distance between them grew even smaller. Her smile was bright and confident.
Jiang Ling felt like a little rabbit trapped in a hunter’s snare in the jungle. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t escape her fate. She angrily pinched the back of Song Meng’s hand hard.
“Ow!”
Song Meng gasped, then calmly lowered her eyes to look at Jiang Ling’s obedient posture. Her gaze immediately flickered away.
“Oh, is that so? What a pity.”
Song’s mother looked genuinely regretful, then smiled again. “Well, there’s plenty of time ahead. Let’s not talk about it now. You must be tired—go to your rooms and chat.”
Jiang Ling felt like she had just been pardoned and hurried to follow Song Meng’s footsteps. Just as she was about to step into her room, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she caught Song’s mother’s gaze.
Her smile was radiant as she said, “By the way, are you a 1 or a 0?”
“Ahem, ahem, ahem!”
Jiang Ling almost choked on that question.
Auntie, you sure know a lot!
Song Meng looked at Jiang Ling standing there, cheeks red and stunned, and covered her mouth to laugh softly. “Pfft, she’s a 0.”
With that, she led a confused but speechless Jiang Ling into the room.
Just to be safe, she locked the door.
Hearing the click of the door, Jiang Ling snapped back to reality, glaring at Song Meng with frustration. “You better explain what’s going on! What ‘dating’?”
Song Meng looked at Jiang Ling’s raised head and glaring eyes, her gaze lingering on the plump cheeks before she reached out to rub them. “Well, that’s just how things are.”
What things?
She hadn’t heard any of this before!
Jiang Ling pushed away her wandering hand, took a few steps back to keep some distance. “You go explain it to Auntie yourself later.”
“Why don’t you go?”
Song Meng tilted her head. “Fallen for me?”
“Not at all!”
Jiang Ling sat down on the bed with a troubled expression, her eyes dull as she twisted her fingers. “I… I saw how happy she was. I just can’t bring myself to tell her this is all your made-up story.”
“So you should be the one to explain…”
“I refuse.”
Before she could finish, Song Meng’s amused voice followed closely, “You said you’d do anything without hesitation. Why the change of heart now, hmm?”
Jiang Ling immediately felt her chin being tilted up gently but firmly.
Her eyes grew moist as she stared at Song Meng. After racking her brain for words, the only phrase that came to her lips was—
“Bad woman.”
She pouted and turned her face away.
Seeing Jiang Ling’s displeased look, Song Meng withdrew her hand hovering in midair.
She then walked over to the desk, took out a photo album, and placed it into Jiang Ling’s palm, her voice soft. “The little Song Meng’s growth diary. Want to take a look?”
“I’m not looking.”
That was obviously an intentional change of topic—she wasn’t falling for it!
But even so, Jiang Ling begrudgingly opened the album. What greeted her eyes was a miniature Song Meng, looking seriously stern while clutching a milk bottle, as if pondering some great matter of life.
“Pfft, so cute.”
Jiang Ling couldn’t hide her genuine reaction and traced the little Song Meng’s cheek with her finger, slowly flipping through the pages.
From childhood to university, every photo was there. The only constant was the calm expression on Song Meng’s face.
“They were probably too enthusiastic earlier. Sorry about that.” Song Meng leaned on Jiang Ling’s shoulder. “They probably all thought I’d be alone forever, so they were so happy.”
Jiang Ling’s fingers froze mid-flip.
Ah, damn Song Meng. Didn’t she know the quickest way to get to her was by playing the emotional card?
She tried to hide her expression, feigning nonchalance with a soft “oh.”
“So even if it’s just pretending, could you play along with me? Make them a little happier?”
Song Meng murmured, holding Jiang Ling’s hand, pointing to the last page of the album—blank. “I want this photo to be you and me.”
Hearing that, Jiang Ling’s heart skipped a beat.
She wasn’t good at saying no anyway. With Song Meng bringing it up to this point, Jiang Ling hesitated, then tentatively said, “Pretend… that’s okay, right?”
“Mm.”
Receiving the affirmative, Jiang Ling was silent for a long time. She lowered her gaze to their intertwined fingers. A flush of warmth rose in her chest. Finally, she nodded slowly and lightly.
It was only pretending… right?
When she found someone she truly liked, this relationship would naturally fade away.
Seeing her agree, a certain indescribable feeling flashed in Song Meng’s eyes. Her arm naturally wrapped around Jiang Ling’s waist, tightened, and pulled her closer.
“So, to celebrate our first day together—”
Outside the window, the sun had shifted to the west without either of them noticing. Golden light bathed them both in a hazy glow.
“Come, give me a kiss, little girlfriend.”