Lin Bei spent five minutes rummaging through her wardrobe before finally picking out what she considered “the most presentable” outfit. A white T-shirt, a pair of jeans, a quick re-tie of her hair—she swapped the shark clip for a rubber band—and to finish, she applied a lipstick Wang Tangtang had given her last time, shade “All Ex-Boyfriends Go To Hell.”

She glanced at herself in the mirror and was just barely satisfied.

Before stepping out, she took a deep breath and reminded herself: “It’s just changing clothes—nothing like going on a blind date.”

As she walked out of the room, Su Chen and Su Chen’s mother both turned to look at her.

Su Chen’s expression shifted.

It wasn’t the kind of relieved “You finally look like a person now,” but rather an expression… one Lin Bei couldn’t quite put into words.

He only stared for a second before quickly averting his gaze and taking a sip of his coffee.

Su Chen’s mother, on the other hand, was very direct: “Oh my, you look so much prettier after changing! I told you you’re good-looking!”

“Thank you, Auntie,” Lin Bei said, sitting down a bit sheepishly and deliberately keeping some distance from Su Chen.

“Where were we just now?” Su Chen’s mother patted the armrest of the sofa. “By the way, Lin Bei, what do you do for a living?”

This was the question Lin Bei least wanted to answer.

“I… I’m currently unemployed.”

“Unemployed?” Su Chen’s mother shot a glance at Su Chen.

Su Chen said impassively, “She got laid off and is now ‘lying flat’ at home.”

“Lying flat?!” Lin Bei snapped. “I’m recuperating and searching for my life’s direction!”

“Have you found any direction after half a month?”

“I have—one direction: cooking!”

Su Chen’s mother burst out laughing. “You can cook?”

“Of course! Brother Su says my sweet and sour ribs are pretty good!”

Su Chen set down his coffee cup. “I didn’t say they were ‘pretty good’—I said they were ‘okay.’”

“‘Okay’ means ‘pretty good,’ then.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“In your dictionary, it does.”

Su Chen’s mother watched the two bicker, her eyes crinkling with laughter. “You two are just like an old married couple who’ve been together for years.”

Lin Bei and Su Chen both fell silent at once.

The living room fell quiet for three seconds.

“Mom,” Su Chen spoke up first, “what exactly are you here for?”

“I came to see you,” Su Chen’s mother said, pulling a thermal bag out of her purse. “I brought you some soup. Your dad asked me to bring it—it’s supposed to be good for your health.”

“What kind of soup is it?”

“Ginseng chicken soup. Your dad said you’ve been losing weight lately.”

Su Chen refused. “I’m not drinking it—it’ll give me heat.”

“Then give it to Lin Bei.”

Lin Bei’s eyes lit up. “Me?”

“That’s right—you drink it. You’re too thin; you need to nourish yourself.”

Su Chen chimed in coldly, “She’s not thin—she can eat three bowls of rice in one meal!”

“That’s because you cook so well!” Lin Bei glared at him, then turned to Su Chen’s mother. “Thank you, Auntie! I’ll heat it up tonight and drink it!”

Su Chen’s mother smiled and patted her hand before standing up. “Alright, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ve got another dinner party tonight, so I’d better be going.”

“Already?” Lin Bei was a bit surprised. “Auntie, please stay a little longer!”

“No, no—you young people need your own space.” Su Chen’s mother picked up her bag, walked to the door, and looked back at Su Chen. “Chenchen—well, Su Chen—see me out.”

Su Chen stood up and followed Su Chen’s mother out the door.

The moment the door closed, Lin Bei heard Su Chen’s mother say something in the hallway. Her voice wasn’t loud, but the door wasn’t fully shut, so she could hear every word clearly.

“This girl—I really like her. If you’re not serious about her, I’ll introduce her to someone else.”

Then came Su Chen’s voice, tinged with a hint of nervousness: “Mom, don’t start playing matchmaker yet.”

“I’m not playing matchmaker. My colleague’s son is a returnee from overseas with excellent prospects—he’s a perfect match for Lin Bei.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because she hasn’t found a job yet! She’s not in the mood for dating!”

“Then help her find one.”

“…Mom, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Su Chen’s mother laughed. “What am I trying to do? I want to hold my grandson!”

The hallway fell silent.

Lin Bei pressed her ear against the door, her heart pounding as if it might leap right out of her throat.

Then she heard Su Chen say something very softly—so softly that she almost didn’t catch it:

“We haven’t even gotten started yet.”

Su Chen’s mother’s laughter rang out: “So there’s hope, then?”

“Mom, you should go now.”

“Alright, alright, I’m leaving. But son, let me tell you—this girl, if you miss out on her, you’ll regret it.”

Footsteps faded away, followed by the sound of the elevator doors closing.

End of Chapter 11: The Landlord’s Family Strikes Again, Part 2