The next day at noon, Lin Mo ran into Lin Xian’er at the rooftop entrance. She was leaning against the wall, twirling her phone in her hand. When she saw him come out, the corner of her mouth curled up.
“Have you decided?”
Lin Mo looked at her. Sunlight streamed in through the window and fell on her face.
“Alright. I’ll do it,” he said.
Lin Xian’er smiled. “Then it’s settled. Friday after school, at the school gate. I’ll take you to the station.”
Lin Mo nodded. Lin Xian’er took a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to him. “This is my home address and my phone number. Save it.”
Lin Mo took it and glanced at it. On the paper was written: Lin Family, Binhai City, 88 Wutong Road. The phone number was a string of digits.
“Your home is by the sea?” he asked.
“Mm-hmm.” Lin Xian’er looked at him. “You don’t get carsick, do you?”
“No.”
“That’s good.” She put away her phone. “Don’t be late on Friday. Dress a bit formally. Don’t wear your school uniform.” Lin Mo thought for a moment. “What should I wear?”
Lin Xian’er looked him up and down. “Just wear a white shirt and black pants. Not too casual, not too formal. Just… the kind that’s neat and clean. Forget it, I’ll go to the mall later this week and buy some clothes to dress you up.”
Lin Mo nodded. Lin Xian’er turned and walked away. After a few steps, she looked back. “Oh, and when the time comes, don’t call me Lin Xian’er. Call me Xian’er. Or…” she thought for a moment, “call me your girlfriend.”
Lin Mo’s face felt a little hot. Lin Xian’er laughed, pulled open the door, and walked out.
Lin Mo stood there, looking at the note in his hand. Binhai City, 88 Wutong Road. He was going to an unfamiliar city to pretend to be a girl’s boyfriend. He didn’t know why he had agreed. Maybe because she was right—he owed her a favor. Maybe because he wanted to get away from here for a few days, to get some air. Too much had happened these past few days; he needed time to think clearly…
He folded the note and put it in his pocket. He walked down from the rooftop.
In the afternoon, in the classroom. Su Qianqian sat next to him, Shen Qingyue sat in front. Lin Mo lowered his head, pretending to read a book. Su Qianqian’s hand reached over under the desk and pinched his finger.
“Lin Mo, where did you go at noon?” Lin Mo’s heart tightened. “Went to the restroom.”
“For a whole class period?” Su Qianqian looked at him. “Are you constipated?”
Lin Mo didn’t say anything. Su Qianqian stared at him for a few seconds. Then she laughed.
“You’re kind of cute.”
Her hand withdrew. Lin Mo breathed a sigh of relief. But he knew she didn’t believe him. She just didn’t press further.
That night, Room 406. Shen Qingyue came out of the shower, wearing her pajamas. Her hair was still wet, wrapped in a towel. She sat on the bed and looked at Lin Mo.
“Lin Mo, are you free this weekend?” Lin Mo’s heart tightened. “What’s up?”
“I want to…” she lowered her head, “I want to ask you out.”
Lin Mo looked at her. Her face was very red, and so were her ears. Su Qianqian came out of the restroom, also in her pajamas. She glanced at Shen Qingyue, then at Lin Mo.
“Are you two going on a date?” Her voice was flat, revealing no emotion.
Shen Qingyue’s face turned even redder. “N-no, it’s not a date. Just… go for a walk.”
Lin Mo didn’t say anything. Su Qianqian didn’t say anything either. The three of them sat on the bed, none of them moving. The light was on, very bright.
“I have something to do this weekend,” Lin Mo said.
Shen Qingyue looked up. “What is it?”
“Something came up at home. I need to go back for a bit.”
Shen Qingyue looked at him. There was disappointment in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. “Some other time then.”
Su Qianqian remained silent beside him. But her fingers, under the blanket, were puzzling over what Lin Mo had going on. However, due to Qianqian’s identity, she couldn’t show it. As usual, she secretly pinched Lin Mo’s hand.
At ten o’clock. Shen Qingyue was sleepy and leaned against Lin Mo’s shoulder. Su Qianqian was also sleepy and leaned against Lin Mo’s other side. The light was still on.
Shen Qingyue closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling. She wasn’t asleep. Su Qianqian wasn’t asleep either. Lin Mo wasn’t asleep either. All three had their own thoughts, and none of them spoke.
After a long time, Shen Qingyue’s breathing grew softer. She had fallen asleep. Su Qing’s hand reached over from under the blanket and touched Lin Mo’s hand. She gripped it, tightly.
“Lin Mo.” Her voice was very soft, so soft that only he could hear.
“Mm?”
“Where are you going this weekend?”
Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds. “Going home.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Su Qing didn’t speak. Her hand held his, very tightly. After a long time, she softly hummed in agreement.
“Then come back soon.”
“Okay.”
Su Qing buried her face in the hollow of his shoulder, her lips pressed against his neck. Her hand still held his, not letting go. Her heart was beating fast. He knew she was worried, afraid. But he couldn’t tell her the truth. She would get jealous, would try to stop him, would do something foolish.
(；一-一)
He felt like a liar. He had deceived everyone. But there was nothing he could do.
Friday afternoon, the school bell rang. Lin Mo packed his bag and walked out of the classroom. Su Qianqian followed behind him.
“Lin Mo, are you really going home?”
“Mm.”
“Then when will you be back?”
“Not sure. If it’s quick, maybe next Monday or the weekend.”
Su Qianqian looked at him. There was unease in her eyes, worry, and reluctance to part.
“Then take care on the road,” she said softly.
“Okay.”
Lin Mo turned and walked away. After a few steps, he looked back. Su Qianqian was still standing there, watching him. The sunlight shone on her face; her expression was hard to make out. But Lin Mo knew she was worried.
He looked away and kept walking.
At the school gate, a black sedan was parked by the roadside. Lin Xian’er leaned against the car door, wearing a white shirt and a black long skirt, her hair loose—looking different from usual. When she saw Lin Mo, she smiled.
“You’re here?”
“Mm.” Lin Mo walked over.
Lin Xian’er opened the car door. “Get in.”
Lin Mo got in. The car was very clean, with a faint fragrance. Lin Xian’er sat next to him and said to the driver, “Uncle, let’s go.”
The car started. The scenery outside slowly moved backward. Lin Mo looked out the window, not saying anything. Lin Xian’er didn’t say anything either. The car was very quiet.
“Nervous?” Lin Xian’er suddenly spoke.
“A little.”
Lin Xian’er smiled. “Don’t be nervous. Just think of it as a trip. The scenery over by my place is nice, you can see the sea.” Lin Mo nodded. Lin Xian’er looked at him for a few seconds.
“Classmate Lin Mo, have you ever been in love?” Lin Mo was taken aback. “No.” Lin Mo didn’t say anything. Lin Xian’er looked at him, the corner of her mouth curving up.
She didn’t press. She turned her head and looked out the window.
“Classmate Lin Mo, you know what? I actually envy you quite a bit.”
Lin Mo was startled. “Envy me what?”
“I envy that someone likes you.” Lin Xian’er’s voice was very soft. “Since I was little, I’ve always been surrounded by girls. It’s not that I don’t like boys, it’s that I never had the chance to get close to them. The ones my family introduced were all… rich, powerful, good-looking too. But I didn’t like them. Because the way they looked at me was like they were looking at a commodity.”
Lin Mo didn’t say anything. Lin Xian’er turned her head and looked at him.
“You’re different. The way you look at me isn’t any different from how you look at anyone else.”
Lin Mo didn’t know how to answer. Lin Xian’er smiled.
“So it was right to ask you to be my fake boyfriend.”
The car drove for a long time. The scenery outside changed from city to countryside, and from countryside to the seaside. The sky was very blue, and the sea was very blue too. Lin Mo looked out the window, and his mood gradually relaxed.
“We’re almost there. Change into these clothes,” Lin Xian’er said.
Lin Mo felt a little embarrassed, changing clothes in the car right next to Lin Xian’er.
Lin Xian’er understood instantly, but deliberately pretended not to notice.
Lin Mo had no choice but to change clothes in front of her. Fortunately, it wasn’t underwear or anything. After changing, Lin Mo turned his head to look at Lin Xian’er and found Xian’er staring blankly at his abs.
When she saw him looking, Lin Xian’er’s expression turned playful.
Lin Mo could only turn away awkwardly, pretending he hadn’t seen. Internally he raged at himself. ‘She was the one staring at me, so why am I the one blushing and embarrassed?’
Lin Mo saw a sign on the roadside: Wutong Road. The car turned into a small road lined with plane trees on both sides. The leaves were very green.
The car stopped in front of a white house. Three stories, not large, but very exquisite. There was a small garden at the entrance, planted with flowers of various colors.
“We’re here.” Lin Xian’er got out of the car.
Lin Mo got out as well. The sea breeze blew over. He took a deep breath and felt completely refreshed.
Lin Xian’er looked at him. “How is it?”
“Pretty nice.”
Lin Xian’er smiled. She walked over and linked her arm through his. Lin Mo stiffened.
“Don’t be nervous,” she whispered. “My family is watching.”
Lin Mo looked up. Behind the second-floor window, someone was watching them. It was a middle-aged woman, her hair tied up, wearing house clothes. When she saw Lin Mo looking at her, she smiled and turned away.
Lin Xian’er pulled Lin Mo inside. The entrance hall was spacious, with several pairs of slippers on the shoe rack. Lin Xian’er changed into a pair of pink ones and handed Lin Mo a pair of blue ones.
“Come in.”
Lin Mo changed shoes and walked in. The living room was large, with a light gray sofa. On the coffee table were fruits and snacks. The TV was on, playing a variety show. A middle-aged man sat on the sofa; seeing Lin Mo, he stood up.
“So you’re Lin Mo?”
“Hello, Uncle.” Lin Mo bowed.
The man smiled. “Don’t be polite, have a seat.”
Lin Mo sat down on the sofa. Lin Xian’er sat next to him. The woman came out of the kitchen, holding a fruit platter.
“You’re Lin Mo, right? Have some fruit.”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
The woman placed the fruit platter on the coffee table and sat down next to Lin Xian’er. She looked at Lin Mo, examining him up and down.
“You look quite spirited. How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“A year younger than Xian’er.” The woman smiled. “Are you classmates?”
“Mm.”
“What major?”
Lin Mo answered truthfully.
The woman nodded. “That’s good. What do you plan to do after graduation?”
“Haven’t decided yet.”
The woman wanted to ask more, but Lin Xian’er interrupted her. “Mom, stop asking. He just got here, let him rest a bit.” The woman smiled. “Alright, alright, I won’t ask. You two chat, I’ll go cook.”
She stood up and went into the kitchen. The man also stood up and followed. Only Lin Mo and Lin Xian’er were left in the living room.
“Your mom is quite warm,” Lin Mo said.
Lin Xian’er smiled. “She’s just like that. Don’t mind her.”
Lin Mo shook his head. Lin Xian’er looked at him for a few seconds.
“You did well just now.”
“Did well how?”
“Neither servile nor overbearing.” Lin Xian’er said. “The blind date candidates I had before, when they met my mom, either they were too nervous to speak, or they were putting on an act. You’re good.” {Here I have to explain on behalf of those NPCs: it’s because Lin Mo doesn’t know what kind of big shots your parents are, otherwise he would definitely be trembling too. The boys who met Lin Xian’er before, every one of them knew about Lin Xian’er’s family background, so how could they remain calm?}
Lin Mo didn’t say anything. Lin Xian’er leaned back into the sofa and looked at Lin Mo.
“Classmate Lin Mo.”
“Mm.”
“Thank you.”
Lin Mo turned his head to look at her. Her profile was very beautiful—long eyelashes, a straight nose. Sunlight streamed in through the window and fell on her face; her skin was very fair.
“You’re welcome,” he said.
Lin Xian’er smiled. She closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth curving. Lin Mo turned back and looked at the TV. The people on the variety show were laughing, and the audience was laughing too. But he didn’t laugh. He was thinking, could he really act well these two days? Wouldn’t something go wrong?