Due to the early start, Lin Ran was woken by his 7:30 AM alarm.

He felt slightly tired. Waking up early really wasn’t his thing.

First, he showered, shaved, and washed his hair. He picked a simple white T-shirt, loose jeans, and sneakers. Then he grabbed the car keys from his bedside table.

His black BMW M3 sat parked downstairs, looking brand new and spotless. Lin Ran drove to pick up Xu Zhi. It was Saturday.

When he arrived at Xu Zhi’s apartment complex, she and Xu Mo were already waiting at the entrance.

Xu Zhi wore a blue wrap-around tank top, revealing her delicate collarbones and smooth, flawless back. Her skin was porcelain-white, glowing softly in the warm sunlight. Below, white hot pants hugged her perky hips. Xu Zhi rarely wore dresses, even with legs many girls envied.

Xu Mo wore a white dress falling halfway down her calves. The fabric was slightly sheer. Her hair flowed loose behind her, with a trace of sweat on her forehead.

“Ready to go?” Lin Ran parked in front of them.

Xu Zhi naturally slid into the passenger seat. Xu Mo bit her lip slightly, opened the back door, and sat down. She cracked the window a little. The breeze fluttered her hair.

Xu Zhi buckled up and glanced at Lin Ran. “You rented this?”

“Borrowed it. From Su Nisheng.”

“She’s really good to you,” Xu Zhi muttered softly, her voice tinged with a hint of jealousy.

“I’m good to her too,” Lin Ran replied casually, smiling. His driving was steady. The wind blew in as Xu Zhi gazed at the passing scenery, lost for a moment.

It was a bright, sunny morning.

She hadn’t been up or out this early in a long time.

Xu Zhi already knew Xu Mo was aware she wasn’t Lin Ran’s girlfriend. So asking was fine. After a half-hour drive—morning traffic slowed them a bit—they reached the hospital. Lin Ran accompanied both girls to handle the paperwork.

Her mom could already walk, but Xu Mo gently supported her. Once the paperwork was done, Xu Zhi tapped Lin Ran’s shoulder. “Come to my place for lunch?”

“You cooking?”

“No. My sister is.”

“Sure.”

Lin Ran nodded lightly. He walked over to Xu Zhi’s mother, helping her into the car. Her name was Lin Qingwan, forty-two, with faint streaks of gray in her hair.

“Xiao Lin, this car… isn’t cheap, is it?” she asked carefully.

“It’s okay. Around seven or eight hundred thousand. Paid in full, no installments.”

“What do your parents do, Xiao Lin?” Her voice held a trace of caution.

“My parents passed away young. Demolition compensation gave me a few million. Now I run a small business.” Lin Ran answered gently, no arrogance in his tone.

“Oh my… running a business so young? You’re impressive, Xiao Lin.”

“Nah, nothing special, Auntie. I’m just a hands-off manager.”

Lin Ran knew she was probing carefully. He answered steadily. After dropping her off, he looked at Xu Zhi and Xu Mo.

“Who’s coming with me to buy groceries?”

Xu Zhi hesitated, glancing at Xu Mo. Xu Mo raised her hand shyly. “I’ll go.”

“Alright.”

Xu Zhi was hopeless at cooking. She stayed home to tidy up instead.

Xu Mo now sat in the passenger seat.

The seatbelt pressed lightly against her chest. She looked a little flustered, keeping the window slightly open. Lin Ran set the navigation to the nearest supermarket. He parked and they walked in together.

The supermarket wasn’t crowded. Lin Ran helped Xu Mo pick eggplants, luffa, tomatoes, and chicken wings. She followed behind, poking his back lightly with her finger.

Lin Ran turned.

Xu Mo shrank back like a startled fawn. He watched her, puzzled, until she whispered, “Anything you want to eat?”

“Hmm… how about a fish?”

Xu Mo froze for a second, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I don’t know how to cook fish.”

“No problem. I do.”

“You… can cook?”

“Yeah. A must for any guy living alone. Though I’ve been too lazy lately.”

“Cooking isn’t that hard. It’s kinda fun,” Xu Mo said softly, hands behind her back.

“Mainly hate washing dishes,” Lin Ran admitted awkwardly.

He bought the supermarket’s last wild mandarin fish. Then they headed out with the groceries. Xu Mo sat in the passenger seat again. As the heat rose, she closed the window. Lin Ran turned on the AC.

“Mom seems… to really like you,” she murmured.

“That’s good.”

“But… you’re just pretending for her, right?” Xu Mo asked cautiously.

“We’ll let Xu Zhi confess after your mom recovers. She’s mostly worried about the 400,000 surgery fee. But… I’ll help your sister earn it soon.”

“Huh?”

“Top secret,” Lin Ran winked playfully, then focused on driving.

At home, Lin Ran carried the groceries inside. Xu Mo started washing vegetables. She’d doubted his cooking skills—until she saw his knife work. His movements were so fast and smooth she couldn’t follow.

Had he trained as a chef?

He peeled and sliced eggplants into long strips. Xu Mo handed him one; he chopped it instantly. Lin Ran checked the spices. “You just cook the rice. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Huh?”

“Any food allergies?”

“No.”

“Perfect.”

Xu Mo removed her apron and tied it around him. Lin Ran began cooking.

Even Xu Zhi was stunned. She hadn’t known he could cook!

But he could—and he was good. Xu Zhi had been watching TV with her mom when the aroma hit. Her mom pinched her waist, urging her to help. Xu Zhi entered the kitchen but was shooed out.

“Too much smoke. Just wait,” Lin Ran said.

Xu Zhi happily returned, hugging her mom’s arm. “See how he spoils me?”

“Xiao Lin’s a good boy… don’t you dare hurt him.”

“Of course not, hehe,” Xu Zhi chatted with her mom.

After one TV episode, Lin Ran removed his apron, washed his hands, and brought out the dishes: braised eggplant, tomato scrambled eggs, sweet and sour mandarin fish, stir-fried luffa, and cucumber soup.

Enough for four people. Xu Zhi was the first to taste. Her eyes sparkled. “Why didn’t you tell me you could cook?”

Lin Ran rolled his eyes. “If neither of us cooked, how would we survive?”

Her mom pinched her again. “Look at Xiao Lin. Now look at you…”

Xu Zhi pouted, aggrieved, and silently shoveled rice. The meal was warm and lively. After eating, Xu Zhi volunteered to wash dishes. Lin Ran joined her in the kitchen.

“I’ll do it. It’s harsh on your hands.”

“Please, I’m not some princess,” Xu Zhi said, not moving. Lin Ran gave up. They washed together as she hummed softly.

“That happy?”

“Why not? But… are we really doing that project you mentioned?”

“Don’t like it?”

“No, it’s just… I’m scared I’ll mess up. I researched yesterday. It looks hard. Those girls show so much skin, and even then, they don’t always earn much.”

“Don’t worry. You won’t have to show skin.”

“What? Like I don’t have curves?” Xu Zhi teased, lifting her chest slightly. Lin Ran glanced over. Her figure wasn’t huge, but perfectly shaped—perky, with a slender waist and elegant curves. Sunlight from the window caught her pale collarbone.

“Busy this afternoon?”

“Yeah. Planning to hunt for a good used camera at the flea market.”

“Want me to come?” Xu Zhi asked tentatively.

Lin Ran thought, then shook his head. “Nah. It’s far, and scorching hot. I’ll go alone.”

Xu Zhi nodded quietly. “Okay.”

Lin Ran kept washing. The kitchen air grew a little cooler. He opened his mouth to speak when his phone rang. He answered. “What’s up?”

“What time this afternoon? I’ll wait.”

“Two o’clock. I’ll pick you up.”

“Alright.”

The call ended.

Xu Zhi’s movements stiffened. She’d been eavesdropping. The voice on the other end was cool and clear—like ice cubes clinking—not Su Nisheng’s.

“Who was that?” she asked casually.

“A friend.”

“You asked her to go camera shopping…?”

Lin Ran gave a barely audible “Mm.”

Xu Zhi fell silent for seconds. Her eyelids lowered slowly. “Should I not have asked?”

“Huh? It’s fine,” Lin Ran replied.

Xu Zhi didn’t speak again, washing quietly.

Lin Ran stayed silent too. When the dishes were done, Xu Zhi tilted her head. “Let me see you out?”

“No need. Rest at home.”

Xu Zhi stood at the door, watching him quietly, biting her lip.

“Okay.”

He stepped outside.

Behind the closed door, the girl turned. Her mom emerged from her room. “Xiao Lin left?”

“Yeah.” Xu Zhi forced a smile.

“Silly girl… you didn’t even see him off.”

“Ugh, he’s busy. Besides, he cares about me. It’s too hot out there,” Xu Zhi mumbled, heading to her room.

She shut the door, turned on the AC, buried herself under the covers, and closed her eyes.