Hearing this, Song Meng’s hand tightened unconsciously, her fingertips turning pale from gripping her phone.
After a moment, she raised her standard gentle smile, the kind she showed to outsiders, her voice devoid of any excess emotion. “Is that so? Then Lingling has really caused you trouble.”
She bit down on the words “my Lingling” with heavy emphasis, each syllable sounding a bit like she was gritting her teeth.
Lin Xiaoyu caught her expression, a rare mischievous smile flashing in her eyes. Just as she was about to say something more, Jiang Ling hurriedly snatched the phone back.
“What weird things are you two even talking about?”
Jiang Ling glared at Lin Xiaoyu, tossing the messy clothes from the bed onto her. “Go wash up!”
Lin Xiaoyu didn’t object at all. She obediently put on her clothes and walked off to wash up, waving at the camera as she passed with an easy smile, acting as if nothing fazed her.
Once Lin Xiaoyu walked into the bathroom and the sound of running water filled the air, Jiang Ling finally looked away, turning to the quiet Song Meng on the screen who was staring back at her. “Out so early?”
Seeing that Jiang Ling didn’t mention what just happened, Song Meng’s expression grew even more tense as she asked calmly, “What did you do last night?”
Jiang Ling was instantly caught off guard.
Her gaze wavered, and she fiddled with her fingers. “… Blow-dried my hair.”
“Blow-drying your hair is exhausting?”
Song Meng frowned as she questioned her, and Jiang Ling answered with a straight face, “It’s tiring to hold the hair dryer up all the time, and you have to… move your wrist and everything.”
As she spoke, her ears reddened, and her mind involuntarily replayed last night’s heated events.
Though Song Meng was still a bit suspicious, she didn’t dwell on it and changed the subject. “It should be in the afternoon. Should I come pick you up?”
“No need, just send me the address.”
Since she had already agreed to go with Song Meng, Jiang Ling didn’t think much of it. After a few simple words, she hung up and quickly messaged Bai Xue in the group to report her plans.
[This afternoon I’m going out to eat with a classmate, then practicing tonight.]
There was no reply for a long while after sending it, and Jiang Ling tilted her head in confusion. Just then, Lin Xiaoyu came out of the bathroom, so she stopped thinking about it and hummed a tune as she went to wash up.
The temperature had already dropped, and so-called picnics probably weren’t actually outside in the cold wind. Thinking of Song Meng’s parents’ warm and enthusiastic demeanor, Jiang Ling figured they just wanted a meal together.
So, instead of casually throwing on a T-shirt, Jiang Ling chose an outfit that was more mature and proper.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she suddenly felt something was off.
Lin Xiaoyu glanced at her as she passed by and said indifferently, “Why are you dressed so formally? Going to meet the parents?”
That was when Jiang Ling finally realized.
Even if she and Song Meng were only pretending to be girlfriends, this still counted as meeting the parents!
At this thought, Jiang Ling’s heart started to pound nervously.
She had met them once before, but since it was rushed, they hadn’t really chatted—she’d spent most of the time in Song Meng’s room.
This time…
She swallowed hard, an unprecedented tension welling up inside. Without thinking, she grabbed Lin Xiaoyu’s hand. “Xiaoyu… would you like to come with me…?”
“Not interested.”
Lin Xiaoyu didn’t shake off her hand, but her refusal was swift and direct. “This is your arrangement with her. Don’t drag me along.”
After a pause, she gently cupped Jiang Ling’s face and added softly,
“But if you invite me and only me, I’ll be happy to join anytime.”
In the afternoon, the weather was sunny and pleasant.
There was still half an hour before the appointed time. Jiang Ling hesitated at the door for a long time, took a deep breath, and finally made up her mind to step out.
…I’m already here, whatever happens, happens!
“Hello, miss, do you have a reservation?”
As soon as she entered, a smiling hostess greeted her warmly.
“Yes… It’s for 1107.”
Just in case, Jiang Ling checked her phone again before cautiously giving the number.
“All right, miss, please follow me.”
The server immediately gestured for her to follow, leading the tense Jiang Ling through several turns before stopping in front of a door with the number 1107 on it.
Jiang Ling glanced at the door number, compared it with the one Song Meng had sent, then knocked lightly.
“Knock knock—”
She’d barely knocked twice when a familiar gentle female voice came from inside. “Coming.”
The door opened, sunlight pouring out at just the right angle. Jiang Ling stared at Song Meng, who stood there, the warm orange light casting a cozy glow on her.
“You’re here early.”
Song Meng checked the time, a half-smile on her face as she reached out to take Jiang Ling’s hand, the gesture smooth and natural.
“I was worried I wouldn’t find the place. Also, why are you holding my hand… cough, cough!”
Jiang Ling’s half-complaining “why are you” was cut short when her gaze met the eager eyes of Song Mother inside the room.
So Jiang Ling abruptly fell silent, lowering her eyes awkwardly. Her fingers, which had been trying to escape, obediently stayed in Song Meng’s palm. Her cheeks flushed as she greeted politely,
“Hello, Auntie.”
She glared at Song Meng in frustration, then looked back to meet Song Mother, who was coming over to greet her.
“Oh, Xiao Ling, you’re here?”
Song Mother’s tone was bright and joyful. As soon as she took Jiang Ling’s hand, her brows knit with concern. “Why are your hands so cold? Come, sit—let Auntie warm them up.”
Faced with such overwhelming warmth, Jiang Ling didn’t know what to do. Song Meng smiled and supported Song Mother gently. “Mom, I’ll take care of it.”
With that, Song Meng tightened her grip over Jiang Ling’s hand, wrapping it securely as she gently pulled her to sit down.
“Really, no showing off your affection in front of me~”
Song Mother gave their intertwined hands a playful look, but her tone was full of joy rather than impatience.
As they chatted, Song Father entered the room. Seeing Jiang Ling, he paused, then broke into a gentle smile and gave a slight nod in greeting.
Jiang Ling stood up immediately. “Hello, Uncle.”
“No need to be so formal. I just checked, and the food’s almost ready.”
Song Father waved a hand, motioning for her to sit.
After a while.
Jiang Ling looked at the table, piled high with delicious dishes, and her stomach growled in protest. She sneaked a glance at Song Father and Song Mother, and, seeing that they had already picked up their chopsticks, finally let out a small sigh of relief and reached out to pick up some roast meat in front of her.
The place was like a farmhouse restaurant, with all the meat freshly butchered and grilled, the aroma filling the air.
But perhaps because she was too nervous, Jiang Ling struggled for a long time but still couldn’t pick up that piece of meat.
She drew a soft breath, blaming her jittery nerves, and shakily reached out with her chopsticks again.
But just as she was halfway there, another hand reached into her line of sight, stopping her.
Song Meng deftly picked up the meat and slowly held it to Jiang Ling’s lips, her eyes bright with laughter. “Baby, let me feed you—ah—”
…?
Jiang Ling stared in disbelief at Song Meng’s sudden use of such an intimate nickname. The words “What the heck are you doing?” were on the tip of her tongue, but under Song Mother’s warm gaze, she swallowed them back.
She forced a tight smile, braced herself, and opened her mouth to take the meat. Before she could even chew, Song Meng’s voice, filled with undisguised amusement, rang out again:
“How come you’re not saying ‘thank you, darling’ today? Are you feeling shy?”
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