It was after 10 p.m. when a message from Qiao Yushan popped up on WeChat.
"We met a month ago, and I was attracted to your keen judgment and strong adaptability, as well as your honesty and kindness toward me. We haven't lived together or had sex. My mother hopes you'll transfer to a government department. I've told her that we haven't decided on our future direction yet."
This was clearly Qiao Yushan's way of explaining the situation to her parents, but she had put it very succinctly, without any superfluous chatter.
There was also a WeChat transfer for 5,000 yuan!
"Tomorrow take my parents out to enjoy the scenery."
Su Weifeng immediately accepted the transfer. His deal with Qiao Yushan involved financial transactions, so it was good to keep things clear, and then he replied, "Going out for fun is no problem. I'll take care of it. But now you've dug yourself into a hole."
"What do you mean?"
"You said I treat you well... That's going to be tricky. We're going out for a day, and I need to show how good I am to you. So wouldn't you also have to happily accept and similarly show some gratitude toward me?"
"..."
"Given that you don't have much experience in love, I have two plans. Choose one."
"Tell me."
"The first one, we act very intimate. This isn't just about physical contact. It requires emotional closeness, including eye contact and facial expressions—every aspect needs to convey that we're deeply in love, inseparable. This will be hard for both of us, but the upside is that your parents would believe we're really close, and it would deal a blow to Zhao Lianqing, potentially making him give up pursuing you."
"I can't do that."
"Then the second option is to be strictly respectful, as if we're currently in a state of mutual admiration. This would only prove that there is some kind of formal relationship between us. It won't concern your parents too much, Zhao Lianqing's confidence will still be strong, and I can tell... your parents would probably prefer you to be with Zhao Lianqing."
"That's too weak an effect. How about a compromise?"
"You want it to be not too intimate, yet still convey to others that our relationship has reached a certain level. That's really difficult."
"Let's start with the second plan, and I'll decide on how to adjust depending on the situation."
"Alright, you really are CEO material." He sent an emoji with a thumbs-up.
After sending this message, there was no further response. Su Weifeng didn't mind and searched online for places to visit.
He had been away from his hometown for six or seven years, and the changes there had been tremendous. Without navigation, Su Weifeng wouldn't be able to tell one place from another. Despite being a local, he probably knew less about the area than people who had settled there just a year or two ago.
As a soldier, once he received orders, no matter how difficult, he would complete the mission. This had become a habit over the years. Being out of the military meant no more missions, but Su Weifeng was still a man of his word.
The next day, Su Weifeng rented a minivan and quickly made several purchases. By nine o'clock, he arrived at the residential complex where Qiao Yushan lived.
"Why didn't you come out with your uncle and aunt?" Within two minutes, Su Weifeng was surprised to see Qiao Yushan stepping out of a taxi that had just pulled up, so he immediately walked up to her, his face full of confusion.
"Oh…" Qiao Yushan turned her head toward him, a hint of bewilderment in her eyes, then she flashed a brilliant smile and blinked, saying, "I had some matters to take care of. Here I am, just rushed back."
Su Weifeng was taken aback, even though she had spoken only a sentence, something seemed off. Qiao Yushan's demeanor had changed drastically that day. She was no longer the aloof and haughty executive but seemed like a lively and beautiful young girl.
Sensing the confusion in Su Weifeng's eyes, Qiao Yushan tilted her chin up and said, "What, do you prefer it when I always have a stern face? I can't relax a bit when we're out having fun?"
Su Weifeng immediately gave her a thumbs-up and said, "Impressive, impressive. I really didn't expect you to have this side to you. I can hardly recognize you."
Qiao Yushan gave Su Weifeng another coquettish look and said, "Right? Always showing you that side, I was afraid you'd get tired of it. Changing styles can give you a sense of novelty, right?"
Su Weifeng narrowed his eyes, reached out toward Qiao Yushan's shoulder, and said with a grin, "Absolutely, you've really dazzled me today. Let me give you a hug."
"Ah!" Qiao Yushan immediately stepped back, rolling her eyes at Su Weifeng, "Don't mess around, we're in broad daylight with so many people watching."
Su Weifeng, still with a smile, took a step forward and said, "We're not doing anything else, can't we hug and cuddle a bit while dating?"
"Do you really want a hug?" Qiao Yushan stared at Su Weifeng, squinting her eyes.
"Yes, you're so cute today, I just can't help myself." Su Weifeng spread his arms wide open.
"Alright then, go ahead and hug." Qiao Yushan lifted her chin and puffed out her chest, but there was now a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Su Weifeng's arms were getting closer and closer to Qiao Yushan's body, while her expression became increasingly tense.
Suddenly, Su Weifeng's arms stopped mid-air, then he dropped them, saying with a wry smile, "You can't do this to me. Don't you know human nature is the least resistant to temptation? Little sister."
"Ah…" Qiao Yushan gasped softly, then her expression relaxed completely and she revealed a smile as radiant as a blooming flower, saying, "Did my sister mention me to you?"
"No," Su Weifeng shook his head.
"Then how did you know I wasn't her?" Qiao Yushan, no, this should be an impostor Qiao Yushan, asked curiously.
Su Weifeng, half laughing half crying, said, "Even though you two look very alike, there are still some differences. If you look closely, you can see them. Plus, your personalities are different. With such a sudden change, how could I not notice?"
"You're quite observant," the impostor Qiao Yushan said, extending her hand. "Let's get acquainted once again, Lin Xuanxuan, Qiao Yushan is my cousin."
"Su Weifeng!" Su Weifeng shook her hand and then politely let go, smiling, "Cousins looking so much alike, that's really rare."
Lin Xuanxuan smiled proudly and said, "Our mothers are twins, and both of us inherited more genes from our mother, so that's why we look so alike."
As they were talking, the real Qiao Yushan and the others had already walked out of the residential area. Seeing Su Weifeng and Lin Xuanxuan standing together, Qiao Yushan's face changed suddenly. Her cousin was a real sly one. Now that she had seen Su Weifeng first, could it be that the gig was up?