Qiao Meina had already guessed it was Lin Can. She just hadn't confirmed it—until now. But it was certain. It's him. My guy.
"Is it that Lin Can outside?"
"Outside?"
Yang Wuluo looked out and saw Lin Can walking toward the café.
Aah!
"Speak of the devil, and the devil shows up!"
Yang Wuluo jumped in her seat, her skirt flipping as her bottom lifted and plopped back down again. She quickly lowered her head in panic, her thoughts spiraling—What do I do, what do I do? That helpless feeling when someone you've longed to see for so long suddenly shows up right in front of you.
Qiao Meina calmly sipped her milk tea and gave the panicking JK girl another once-over.
"You know Lin Can?" Yang Wuluo, though flustered, still had the sharp mind of a top student.
"You said he went to Modu—that was to find me."
Qiao Meina smiled faintly. It was simply the truth. She was straightforward and didn't like to beat around the bush.
Ah~
Yang Wuluo was in disbelief. After holding it in for so long, she finally found someone to pour her heart out to… Was it his girlfriend?
She wasn't sure if it was his girlfriend, but that didn't matter anymore. Lin Can was about to come in.
She felt like she'd just suffered social death. No—she had suffered it.
Qiao Meina laughed. "I didn't expect such a coincidence. Looks like my Can Can is quite popular~"
"I'm so sorry! I was rambling earlier. There's nothing going on between me and Lin Can, don't get the wrong idea! I wish you two happiness!"
Yang Wuluo shot to her feet in a panic, hurriedly took off her sun jacket, handed it to Qiao Meina, and tried to flee. She mumbled to herself—I said Lin Can treats me so well, that I had a crush on him, that I even force-kissed him?
Aiyooo~ Why did I say all that?! So embarrassing!
Pfft—
As Yang Wuluo stood up, Qiao Meina was stunned. "Wait—wasn't she just a tiny loli? Why is she so tall?"
Suddenly, a sense of crisis hit her.
Yang Wuluo wasn't short at all. She just liked wearing JK uniforms. But she was 170 cm tall, and she looked great in that style.
Because she had such a baby face—pure and youthful—people often assumed she was short. She gave off the same vibe as the actress who played Yue Qiluo in Wu Xin: The Monster Killer: a loli face with a tall frame.
You could always trust Lin Can's taste in women.
Whether it was appearance or inner qualities, he had excellent judgment.
And… he liked this type of pure, well-bred girl.
After all, girls like Qiao Meina, Chu Qingning, Aiyire, and Miao Youxi—they were all of this type.
Over time, they came to understand his preferences.
It was hard to say whether he should be praised for not being swayed by gold-diggers or influencer types,
or for being a refreshing outlier who only cared for pure-hearted girls from good families.
Qiao Meina had nothing against Yang Wuluo. She could only blame her own Can Can for being too outstanding.
After all, people who shine attract attention. That's completely normal.
Just like the four of them had plenty of admirers too—but they ignored all of them, only caring about Lin Can.
So of course, they hoped Lin Can would only care about them, too.
Crash!
"Ah—!"
"Careful… Sigh…"
Just as Qiao Meina was about to warn her, the fleeing Yang Wuluo bumped into a server carrying milk tea. It spilled all over her, and she slipped, falling hard to the floor—right as Lin Can walked through the door.
Tragic. She was utterly defeated. The most humiliating kind of social death.
Sigh~
Yang Wuluo was speechless. Why is it that every time I run into Lin Can… I'm on my knees?
Lin Can looked down at the kneeling Yang Wuluo. The height difference, the milk tea dripping from her pale face…
In front of him was Yang Wuluo. A little further back sat Qiao Meina. Was he panicking?
Not at all.
He had already seen the two sitting together when he entered.
Lin Can called out to Qiao Meina, "Wait for me a bit, I just ran into a classmate."
Qiao Meina nodded, watching them calmly.
To her, she wasn't just representing herself—but also Chu Qingning and the rest of the girl squad. A small-town girl didn't pose any real threat. The key was Lin Can's attitude.
And that one sentence had already eased 50% of her concerns. He was so calm.
"Lin Can… I…"
Yang Wuluo was mortified. She tried to get up, but her legs were wobbly. She was literally scared stiff.
"I'll help you up."
"No no, I'm covered in milk tea—I'll get your clothes dirty."
Top student Yang Wuluo loved reading and studying. She was a sensible girl and knew to keep a proper distance from a guy who had a girlfriend.
"Stop talking nonsense and get up." Lin Can pulled her up in one go. "Be careful next time, or what lands on your face won't be milk tea."
Yang Wuluo: ????
Lin Can turned to the server and said, "I'll pay for their milk tea—please make two new ones."
Then, under Qiao Meina's gaze, Lin Can walked over holding flowers in one hand, supporting Yang Wuluo with the other—calm and collected, not a hint of hesitation.
This wiped out the remaining 50% of Qiao Meina's worries.
Because if there was something fishy going on, he would've let Yang Wuluo go—not helped her over.
Meanwhile, Yang Wuluo looked at Qiao Meina and felt a deep sense of guilt. "Maybe I shouldn't go over?"
"You can't walk like this. Just come sit first."
Sigh~
Yang Wuluo felt anxious, but also touched. Lin Can was still just as kind to her, even with his "girlfriend?" right there.
Am I really that important to him?
You treat me so well. How am I supposed not to fall for you?
No wonder he was the man I had a crush on. He really was too good.
Lin Can helped Yang Wuluo sit down.
"Are you hurt?" he asked in front of Qiao Meina—not to put on a show, but out of genuine concern. There was no need to hide anything, because there was nothing to hide.
"I'm okay. Thank you, Lin Can."
Yang Wuluo lowered her head. Can I die from embarrassment now? Why did I bare my soul to a stranger like that earlier? I just want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"Good to hear." Lin Can handed her a tissue, then looked at the bouquet in his hand—thankfully, it was still clean.
Lin Can knew how to prioritize.
Qiao Meina had come to Yang'an and was heading back to Modu today. Whether as the host or as her "junior," she was the main character today. Everyone else was just a side note.
And side notes? Well, you add those in when there's time.
Lin Can turned to Qiao Meina, handed her the flowers, and smiled. "I saw this bouquet earlier and thought it looked nice—bought it for you. I hope you'll be like a sunflower, happy every day."
"Xiexie~"
Qiao Meina accepted the flowers, leaned forward slightly, wrapped her arms around Lin Can's neck, and whispered in his ear, "I thought you'd panic?"
Lin Can tilted his head with a slight smile. "Told you—I'm a good guy."
Qiao Meina snorted. "A too good guy, spreading warmth everywhere. So annoying."
Lin Can: "If I weren't such a softie, I wouldn't have met you all."
Qiao Meina thought for a moment. "That's true. If you weren't a softie, we wouldn't have clicked. Fine—I forgive you. Mua~"
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Not to mark territory—there was no need. Since Lin Can had seen Yang Wuluo, Qiao Meina had been watching his every move. Not a single twitch of his expression was off. He was totally open.
Yang Wuluo finally spoke up, "You two are… dating?"
"I'm not his girlfriend…" Qiao Meina wrapped her arms around Lin Can's, smiling as she said, "I'm his… mother-in-law."
Pffft~
People around them who overheard that choked on their milk tea and turned to look.
What's going on?
How old is she supposed to be to be a mother-in-law?!
Huh?!
Yang Wuluo was just as stunned.
Completely unbelievable.