Chapter 68: How Shall We Sleep Tonight?

“Vivian, the front seat is yours.”
“You take it. I’m fine in the back.”
“If you won’t sit up front, then neither will I.”

When Lin Ran came to pick up Vivian, it made sense for Jiang Shuyou to ride in the passenger seat. If she sat in the back, it would look as though Lin Ran were her chauffeur. Now that his girlfriend was here, Jiang Shuyou naturally wouldn’t take the front seat. She moved to the back, hugging Vivian’s arm.

“Vivian, why are you so good to me?”
“You’re my best friend. I’m going to Lin Ran’s place to cook, and you bought groceries in this sweltering weather and got them ready. If something happens to you, how could I just leave you be?”
“Vivian, you’re the best, mua~mua~mua~!”

Lin Ran said, “Auntie’s coming over. What are we having for dinner?”
Jiang Shuyou answered, “Hot pot.”
Lin Ran frowned. “Hot pot? You’ve come all this way, we should have something nicer.”
Jiang Shuyou replied, “My mom loves Shu Du hot pot. Every time she visits, she has to have it. Let’s just go to that Jin Cheng Impression Hot Pot near where we’re staying.”
Lin Ran nodded. “Alright then.”

…

At Jin Cheng Impression Hot Pot.

After ordering, the three of them sat inside to wait. Lin Ran had suggested picking up Jiang Shuyou’s mother by car, but Jiang Shuyou refused, saying traffic would be terrible during rush hour. Her mom might arrive by subway before they could even get to the airport by car.

Jiang Shuyou scrolled through her phone while Lin Ran and Vivian cuddled, lost in their own world.

Half an hour later—

Jiang Shuyou received a call from her mother. “She’s here,” she announced.

Vivian immediately pushed Lin Ran away, composing herself. “Right now, you’re Shuyou’s boyfriend, so please behave.”

Lin Ran looked at her in disbelief. “You’re really getting into character fast, aren’t you?”
Vivian retorted, “She’s already at the door. Can’t let our guard down now. Let’s go meet Auntie.”

Vivian grabbed Lin Ran’s hand to go greet her, but the moment she spotted Jiang’s mother, she quickly let go, twisted her waist, and nudged Lin Ran over to stand beside Jiang Shuyou, maintaining the proper distance.

“Mom!” Jiang Shuyou dashed forward to hug her mother.

Jiang’s mother stroked her daughter’s hair. “You’ve grown well.”
“Shuyou’s boyfriend takes good care of her,” Vivian said with a smile as she approached. “It’s been so long, Auntie.”
“Vivian, you’re getting prettier too.”
“Thank you for your kind words, Auntie.”

Jiang’s mother shifted her gaze to Lin Ran, sizing up the tall, handsome young man.

A gentle cough from Vivian served as a reminder.

Jiang Shuyou quickly said, “Mom, let me introduce you. This is Vivian’s—cough, cough—my boyfriend, Lin Ran.”
Lin Ran greeted her politely, “Hello, Auntie.”
“Hello, hello.” Jiang’s mother was courteous, but her eyes still lingered on Lin Ran, scrutinizing him carefully.

Lin Ran said, “Auntie, Shuyou told me you love hot pot, so I made sure to reserve a table here.”
Jiang Shuyou took her mother’s hand and led her over. Jiang’s mother whispered, “Xiao Lin is quite handsome.”
Jiang Shuyou replied, “Mm.”

When it came to looks, Lin Ran was the kind of man any mother-in-law would approve of.

At the table, one side was against the wall, with two people on either side.

“Please, Auntie, have a seat,” Lin Ran offered. Instinctively, he was about to sit beside Vivian, leaving Jiang Shuyou to sit with her mother.

Jiang’s mother was perplexed.

Vivian whispered, “Move! Sit next to your girlfriend!”

Oh.

Lin Ran realized he’d forgotten their roles—tonight, he belonged to Shuyou.

He stood up. “Waiter, could we get another chair, please?”

Jiang’s mother waved her hand. “No need, it’s fine. You sit with Shuyou, I’ll sit with Vivian.”

With that, she swapped seats with Lin Ran.

Now Lin Ran sat opposite his actual girlfriend, and beside her best friend, Jiang Shuyou.

The two of them sat uncomfortably straight.

Jiang’s mother looked at them, puzzled. Weren’t they a couple? Why did they seem so awkward, so distant? Was there no affection between them?

Vivian, always observant, noticed Jiang’s mother’s doubt and quickly messaged their group chat: [Can you two act a bit more affectionate?]

Jiang Shuyou didn’t reply. Even if they were pretending to be a couple, her real boyfriend was sitting right across from them—how could she dare touch him?

Lin Ran replied: [Vivian, even if it’s just pretend, I can’t act all lovey-dovey with your best friend in front of you.]
Vivian: [You have to do it anyway. If Auntie sees through our act, she’ll be heartbroken.]
Lin Ran: [Sigh, okay. You’re sure you won’t mind?]
Vivian: [It’s just for show, nothing real. I’m fine.]
Lin Ran: [Since you said so, I’ll get into character.]

Was she just waiting for that response?

Lin Ran relaxed. He put his arm around Jiang Shuyou’s shoulders and flashed a smile at Jiang’s mother. “Auntie, thank you for coming all this way to see Shuyou and me. This toast is for you.”

Seeing Lin Ran being so affectionate, Jiang’s mother smiled. “Xiao Lin, you’re quite outgoing, aren’t you? Shuyou, why are you blushing so much? A little hug from your boyfriend and your face is red as a tomato.”

“I…I…” Jiang Shuyou stammered, fumbling for words. Flustered, she reached for some tripe, but pricked her finger on a fish bone, drawing blood. She cried out.

“My dear!” Jiang’s mother, worried, was about to rise but sat back down.

Because Lin Ran was quicker.

“Let me see,” Lin Ran said, grabbing Shuyou’s hand.

“It’s nothing,” she protested, trying to pull her hand away, but Lin Ran held on.

“How can you say it’s nothing? Your finger’s bleeding. Fish bones can be toxic and cause infection. Let me suck it out for you.”

“No, that’s—!”

Before she could finish, Lin Ran brought her white, jade-like finger to his lips.

Wasn’t this affectionate enough?

No one could say he didn’t love her daughter now.

Jiang’s mother looked astonished.

It was a bit much, a little over the top, but oddly sweet as well.

A daughter meeting a man who cared for her like this was a kind of happiness.

But… Vivian was nearly squirming with discomfort. She had only asked for a little more intimacy, not this. Why did he have to use his mouth? He’d never kissed her hand before.

Hmph!

Jiang Shuyou felt as if Lin Ran had drained all her strength, leaving her light-headed. Fortunately, it was just her hand—if it had been her dainty foot, what would Lin Ran have done then?

“All done,” Lin Ran said.

Jiang Shuyou quickly withdrew her hand, wiping it on a napkin—still damp with his saliva, disgusting.

Jiang’s mother beamed, “Xiao Lin, it’s clear you really like my daughter, isn’t it?”

“Like isn’t enough. What I feel for your daughter is love!”

“Yes, yes, love, love, love. Haha.”

“Auntie, please eat. I’ll cook some tripe for you.”

“Thank you, you’re too kind.”

“It’s only right.”

“Xiao Lin, did you and Shuyou go to school together?”

“No, I graduated from Zhejiang University.”

“Zhejiang University?” Jiang’s mother’s eyes lit up. “That’s a prestigious school. Very impressive.”

Vivian forced a smile. “Yes, he’s very accomplished. Your Shuyou is lucky.”

“Xiao Lin, what do you do for a living?”

“I work in the gaming industry.”

“That’s great. And your family—?”

Before she could finish, someone in the restaurant called out, “Whose Bentley is out front? Could you please move it? My car can’t get out.”

“That’s my Bentley. I’ll be right there.”

Lin Ran’s reply drew everyone’s gaze.

“Auntie, my family is just ordinary. Please enjoy your meal, I’ll be back after moving the car.”

With that, he got up to move the Bentley.

Jiang’s mother was stunned.

Jiang Shuyou muttered, “Mom, are you interrogating him? Asking all these questions…”

Her mother smiled. “No more questions.”

A Bentley—what else was there to ask?

As soon as Lin Ran left the hot pot restaurant, he got a private message from Vivian: [Are you really acting? Because it seems like you’re actually reporting to your future mother-in-law.]

Lin Ran replied with a laugh: [You’re overthinking it. I’m just acting—but my acting is flawless. Don’t worry. I won’t get carried away and turn this into something real.]

Vivian: [Good.]

After he moved the car and returned, Jiang’s mother didn’t ask any more questions about him. The hot pot restaurant was noisy, so they just chatted idly.

When the meal ended, Lin Ran paid the 498 yuan bill. In the group chat, Jiang Shuyou transferred the money to him, with a message: [This is my share. You take it.]

Lin Ran accepted and replied: [You’re a generous boss.]

As they left the restaurant, Jiang’s mother asked, “You two share an apartment? Where do you live?”

“Just up ahead, not far. We’ll be home in a few minutes,” Jiang Shuyou replied.

Her mother nodded. “And Xiao Lin, where do you live?”

“I used to live in Phase One—”

Before he could finish, Vivian cut in, “He used to live in Phase One, but then he moved in to share the apartment with the three of us.”

Lin Ran was surprised but quickly realized why she said that—if he’d claimed to live in Phase One and was now pretending to be Jiang Shuyou’s boyfriend, Jiang’s mother, having come all the way to Shu Du, would surely insist on meeting his parents out of courtesy.

So, saying they were all housemates was safest.

Jiang’s mother nodded. “Sharing is good. Having a young man at home makes it safer for you two girls. Let’s go home—which unit is it?”

“Two-bedroom,” said Jiang Shuyou.

Her mother made a sound of understanding, glancing at her daughter.

Jiang Shuyou immediately caught her meaning.

A two-bedroom apartment—so her daughter and her boyfriend must share a room, and Vivian sleeps in the other.

In reality, they all shared one room.

Mother and daughter walked ahead, arms linked, chatting.

Lin Ran and Vivian walked behind. Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Ran slipped his arm around Vivian’s shoulder. She tried to shake him off, but he whispered, “Relax, Auntie’s watching.”

Only then did Vivian refrain from pushing him away.

Vivian muttered, “You kissed Shuyou’s hand just now…”

Girlfriends did get jealous over things like that.

Lin Ran grinned. “That was just for the act. If you want, when we get home, for the sake of love, you wash your pretty feet and I’ll give them a kiss too.”

“Gross.”

“Vivian, I just realized something.”

“What is it?”

“I get why you didn’t want me to say I lived in Phase One. But… tonight, where am I supposed to sleep? With my real girlfriend—you, or my fake girlfriend, your best friend?”

“This—!”

Vivian was stunned.

A single oversight—how had she not thought of this?