Our daughter is dating

"First, condition number one."

"Even though I've said yes, we can't make our relationship public until the college entrance exams are over."

Chen Fan nodded.

"No problem. I promise."

Su Ruochu continued, "And don't forget what you promised me before."

"You said you'd get into the same university as me."

"If you don't get in, what I just said won't count."

"Can you do it?"

"Yes!"

Chen Fan answered without a trace of hesitation.

"Don't worry. I'll definitely get in."

"No matter where you go, I'll never let you leave me again in this lifetime."

Su Ruochu's cheeks flushed, but warmth filled her heart.

She wasn't made of stone. There was no way she could feel nothing at Chen Fan's mushy declarations.

Besides, she had never disliked Chen Fan to begin with. She had even been a little fond of him.

"What's the last condition?" Chen Fan asked with a smile.

"The last one... I haven't thought of it yet. I'll tell you when I do."

Chen Fan smiled.

He understood that Su Ruochu had only brought up these three conditions to cover her embarrassment.

Really, she was just giving herself a graceful way out.

"All right. Whenever you think of it, just tell me. I'll definitely honor it."

At last.

Their relationship had finally taken its most crucial step forward.

As the rain poured down, the atmosphere gradually grew more intimate.

Su Ruochu stood close to Chen Fan, her thoughts a mystery to him.

Chen Fan hesitated, then slowly put his arm around Su Ruochu's shoulders and drew her toward him.

Su Ruochu trembled.

But this time, she didn't resist.

Instead, she gently rested her head on Chen Fan's shoulder.

"Ruochu."

"Mm?"

"I'll remember today forever. July fifth. This is our anniversary now."

"Mm."

Su Ruochu murmured her assent, even gathering the courage to reach out and gently wrap her hands around Chen Fan's arm.

At last, Su Ruochu had fully accepted Chen Fan.

It was a year and a half earlier than when she had agreed to become his girlfriend in his previous life.

They nestled against each other, watching the raindrops fall.

Both seemed to cherish this rare chance to be together.

A little over ten minutes later, the rain finally eased.

"I need to go home."

Su Ruochu spoke softly.

"Stay with me a little longer."

Seeing how reluctant Chen Fan was to let her go, Su Ruochu shook her head.

"I can't."

"I've been out for a long time already."

"If I don't go back soon, my family will worry. You don't want my parents to catch us, do you?"

Hearing that, Chen Fan hurriedly replied.

"Then I'll walk you home."

This time, Su Ruochu didn't refuse.

"Okay."

Instead of riding their bicycles, they pushed them leisurely along the road toward her home.

Unfortunately, they hadn't gone far before someone called out in the distance.

"Oh no, it's my mom."

Su Ruochu's expression changed, and she quickly gave Chen Fan a push.

"Hurry, you need to leave."

Chen Fan was reluctant.

"Why don't I take you over to her? I'll just say I'm your classmate."

But Su Ruochu blushed and said softly, "Do you think my mom would believe that?"

"If you want us to be forced apart, go ahead."

At that, Chen Fan decisively mounted his bicycle.

"Then I'll go."

"Hey, take the umbrella!"

Su Ruochu handed him the umbrella.

"See you tomorrow."

Chen Fan waved with a smile and rode away.

His excited singing drifted back from the distance.

"We ordinary folks are feeling mighty happy today..."

"Pfft."

At the sight, Su Ruochu couldn't help laughing.

Then she hurriedly waved, got on her bicycle, and rode over to meet her mother.

"Mom, I'm over here."

"Where did you run off to? You scared me half to death."

Lin Wanxiu hurried over, looking at her daughter with concern.

"Mom, why did you come out?"

Smiling, Su Ruochu linked arms with her mother.

"You ran out in such heavy rain. How could I not worry?"

"What did you come out for?"

"Oh, it was nothing. I left my textbook at Honghai's computer school."

"Did you have to come get it right now?"

Lin Wanxiu clearly wasn't convinced.

"Look how soaked you are. Your exams are almost here. What if you catch a cold?"

"And who were you talking to just now?"

Su Ruochu's pretty face flushed, and she hurriedly replied, "Nobody. Just a stranger who was sheltering from the rain with me."

"Really? Just a stranger?"

Lin Wanxiu stared at her daughter suspiciously.

"Mom, what are you doing? Can't we go home before we talk? I'm so cold I'm going to get sick."

Hearing that, Lin Wanxiu forgot her questions and hurriedly urged her along.

"Quick, go home and change your clothes. I'll make you some ginger soup."

Before leaving, Lin Wanxiu couldn't help glancing back.

She couldn't shake the feeling that her daughter was acting strange tonight.

That evening, Su Xuecheng opened the bedroom door and walked in. Lin Wanxiu was applying moisturizer.

"Is our daughter asleep?"

"She is."

"Then let's get an early night too. I've been entertaining people all day. I'm exhausted."

Su Xuecheng lay down on the bed and stretched comfortably.

Lin Wanxiu turned to look at him.

"Xuecheng, haven't you noticed something's been off with our daughter lately?"

"Off how?"

"I think your daughter is dating someone."

Su Xuecheng suddenly laughed.

"And here I thought it was something serious. Our daughter's growing up. Isn't it perfectly normal for her to date?"

Lin Wanxiu sprang to her feet.

"Su Xuecheng, what kind of father are you?"

"Our daughter's about to take her college entrance exams, and you don't care at all!"

Seeing his wife was angry, Su Xuecheng quickly sat up and tried to laugh it off.

"Could you have misread things? Maybe she's stressed about the exams, and it's given you the wrong impression."

"Impossible!"

Lin Wanxiu glared at him, then sat on the bed and lowered her voice.

"Just before dinner tonight, your daughter suddenly grabbed a raincoat and an umbrella and ran out."

"She didn't come back for almost an hour."

"When I went out to look for her, she looked all nervous, as if she'd just parted ways with someone..."

Su Xuecheng frowned.

"Did you get a good look? Could you be overthinking it?"

"Hmph. Do you think I'm stupid? That easy to fool?"

Lin Wanxiu snorted. "I saw perfectly clearly how nervous your daughter was."

"She came home wearing a school uniform jacket tonight and hid it in her bedroom. She thought I hadn't noticed."

"That jacket was so big. It was obviously a boy's."

"Besides, she took a raincoat and an umbrella when she left, but the umbrella was gone when she came back."

Hearing all this, Su Xuecheng frowned.

"Even if you're right about all of that, even if our daughter is dating someone..."

"It's not that big a deal, is it? She's growing up. She should have some privacy of her own."

Lin Wanxiu glared at him. "I'm not against our daughter dating, but the timing matters."

"Do you realize what time it is? The college entrance exams are in three days."

"What if this distracts her and she does badly?"

Su Xuecheng looked at his wife and asked, "You didn't question her, did you?"

"Do you think I'm stupid? Of course I pretended not to notice."

"Good."

"Whatever happens, don't bring it up yet. We'll talk about it after the exams."

But Lin Wanxiu wasn't satisfied.

"We can leave our daughter alone for now, but you need to find out who that little brat is."

Su Xuecheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Is that really necessary?"