"Your aunt sent over your favorite corn porridge from home. I came by to bring you some."
Yifan's mom walked straight into the kitchen, getting busy without hesitation.
Yifan stumbled out of his room, pulling up his pants. "Mom, just put it in the fridge. I'll heat it up later."
"As if I don't know you? The moment I leave, you'll crawl back to bed, then grab soy milk and fried dough sticks from the shop downstairs right before heading to work. Just rest. Since I'm here, I'll make it for you."
Without turning around, she continued her barrage of comments. "And what's this? You've got the air conditioning running in the living room too? Feeling rich, are you? If you're rolling in money, send some back home!"
She sniffed the air. "Hmm, this smell is nice. What brand of air freshener is this?"
Click, click.
The stove was lit.
Yifan rushed over to turn it off, meeting his mom's questioning gaze. Flustered, he said, "Mom, I have to leave for work early today. I don't have time to eat. You should head home, and I'll visit you and Dad in a few days."
"Bringing up your dad, huh?"
She tapped Yifan's nose with a finger and sighed. "Your dad's getting more and more upset with you. Says this escape room thing has no future, won't make you any money. He's worried about your career, worried about you settling down. He keeps saying, 'Our family isn't like Jialin's; we can't offer Yifan much help. He has to rely on himself.' Don't think he's nagging you just to nag—he feels guilty, too. That's why he's still working so hard at his age."
"…"
Yifan fell silent.
His mom continued, "I'm not trying to pressure you, but if the escape room doesn't work out in the next few months, just come home and take the civil service exam. That's always a safe path."
Sensing the topic might be a bit heavy, she quickly pivoted. "How about Xinyan? How are things between you two?"
"We broke up." Yifan, resigned to his mom's presence, leaned against the wall in defeat.
"What happened?"
"We weren't compatible."
"Whose idea was it?"
"Hers."
"…"
Her expression shifted instantly, hands on her hips in indignation. "Wasn't she the one who chased after you? And now, just half a month later, she breaks up? Too immature! But it's okay, son. Don't feel bad—old flames out, new flames in!"
Yifan shrugged. "I'm not upset."
She patted his shoulder before noticing something. Her eyes landed behind him. "Son, where's the couch in your living room?"
"!"
Panic flashed across Yifan's face. "Uh, I'm working on improving the escape room. I've been spending more time in the study editing music and designing, so I moved the couch there to rest on when I get tired, hehe."
Her maternal instincts told her something was off.
She gave Yifan a long, scrutinizing look.
"I'm checking it out."
"Wait!" Yifan blurted, grabbing her arm. Seeing her confusion, he forced a smile. "Mom, I'm starving. Why don't we eat the corn porridge first?"
"…"
She shook off his hand, her brows furrowing. "If you're hiding something, you'd better confess before I lose my temper. I'll count to three…"
"…" Yifan felt immense pressure.
There was no way to hide this. His mom was practically a mind reader—there was no fooling her.
Just then—
Creak… The sound of a door opening broke the tension.
His mom frowned, her gaze shifting toward the study.
Yifan's heart skipped a beat.
Seconds later.
Li Yin floated gracefully out from around the corner.
Seeing Yifan's mom, she froze, then swiftly landed on the floor. Thankfully, she hadn't been hovering high, so to his mom, it looked like she had just hopped.
The two locked eyes.
A thought flashed through his mom's mind:
This girl… she looks familiar.
But the thought slipped away as quickly as it came, unable to stick.
Li Yin's reaction was much more pronounced. She glanced at Yifan's mom, then at Yifan, her pale blue eyes suddenly welling up with tears as if she had pieced something together.
The tears rolled down, and Li Yin abruptly smiled. Her dimples pushed the tears into soft arcs.
Yifan's mom was stunned. Why is this girl crying out of nowhere?
Her composure faltered, and she stammered, "H-hi there. I'm, uh, Yifan's mom."
Still crying and smiling, Li Yin nodded. "Hello, Auntie. I'm Li Yin."
"Oh, hello, hello! Li Yin—what a lovely name, like, uh, an example, haha… ha…"
She trailed off, laughing awkwardly at her own terrible pun.
Then, she glanced down at Yifan, her eyes brimming with a murderous glare.
A shiver ran down his spine as he rushed to explain, "Let me clarify! She's a new hire at our company. She just moved to the city and didn't have a place to stay, so I thought she could crash here. Plus, it helps split the rent."
"Is that so?" Yifan's mom turned back to Li Yin, softening her gaze into a smile. "Good morning, dear. Auntie will make you some corn porridge—it's from Yifan's aunt's hometown."
With that, she shoved Yifan out of the kitchen and shut the door firmly behind him. The sound of the range hood drowned out all further conversation.
Yifan jogged back to Li Yin, concern etched on his face. "Why were you crying? Did she scare you?"
"No." Li Yin conjured a gust of wind to dry her tears, then beamed. "Auntie is wonderful."
"Yeah, my mom might speak bluntly, but she means well." Relieved, Yifan urged, "Go wash up, then maybe put on some lipstick."
"Got it!" Li Yin saluted playfully and floated off toward the bathroom.
Watching her retreating figure, Yifan couldn't shake the feeling that she seemed much more at ease now… though he couldn't figure out why.
At breakfast, the two bowls of steaming corn porridge filled the table with warmth.
His mom sat at the head of the table, her eyes lighting up as she watched Li Yin take dainty, measured bites.
Such a sweet girl, she thought. Polite, well-mannered, and graceful. These qualities can't be faked—they're the result of good upbringing.
But why would such a refined girl come to the city alone and live with a guy?
She shot a glance at Yifan, her internal monologue shifting to disdain.
This rascal. Eating like a whirlwind, no regard for manners. And in front of a pretty girl, no less? Does he even know how to act properly?
Her irritation grew, so she focused on Li Yin instead. Watching her gentle movements, she couldn't help but smile.
What a darling girl.
"Burp."
Yifan let out a satisfied belch and patted his stomach. "That was amazing!"
His mom glared at him before turning back to Li Yin with a kind voice. "Take your time, dear. Just leave the dishes; Auntie will wash them later."
She then gave Yifan a sharp look, gesturing for him to follow her into the bedroom.
Once the door was closed, Yifan sat on the bed while his mom leaned against the doorframe, lowering her voice. "Spill it. What's really going on here?"