Chapter 53: Lin Xiaolu Gives Up Thinking

Lin Xiaolu did not listen carefully to the conversation between Hong Siyu and Lin Yun.

Because, in that instant, her mind was a blank.

Only fragments of their dialogue, such as "junior" and "get along well," reached her ears, yet they failed to stir any reaction in her.

She could not recall what she had been doing at that time; it seemed she had merely stood there dazed, and only after seeing Hong Siyu leave did she dive into the elevator like someone fleeing, then ran back home.

The fact that her father knew the contact for Senior Cuique struck her with such immense shock that, for a moment, she was unclear about what exactly she should be worried about.

Did he already know she was a magical girl? If her father already knew she was a magical girl, then hadn't her deception these past days become a joke?

Did the woman named Hong Siyu suddenly visit her home truly only out of Senior Cuique's request? Since he knew that woman named Hong Siyu, what exactly was their relationship?

There was even a question she least wanted to think about: Did Senior Cuique also know her father?

All these possibilities made her heart feel tangled like a mess of silk the moment she thought of them.

She had actually always harbored a vague doubt: Was Senior Cuique treating her too gently and with too much concern?

Previously, she had not thought seriously about it, even actively ignoring the issue, because subconsciously she hoped that Senior Cuique's concern was purely out of approval and liking for her.

Senior Cuique was the perfect magical girl in her eyes, like a virtual character stepping out of an animation, fulfilling all her beautiful yearnings for a magical girl. She admired and revered Senior Cuique from the bottom of her heart, so she hoped that she, too, was special to Senior Cuique.

But she actually could not convince herself of what exactly she had done to earn Senior Cuique's attention.

Clearly, in terms of strength, she could only stand behind Senior Cuique as background; in terms of talent, Xia Liang was more outstanding than her; in terms of personality, she knew her own indirect words and actions were not likable.

What need did such a perfect magical girl have to be so special toward her?

And only today, at the moment she saw her father conversing with Hong Siyu, did she realize that this question could actually have an answer.

If her father truly knew Senior Cuique, then Senior Cuique's deliberate care was likely just a request from her father, merely a matter of social reciprocity between adults.

Such situations were not uncommon in schools; students whose families had connections might receive more attention and guidance from teachers, which was almost an open secret.

Yet, as an ordinary person, what kind of reward could her father possibly offer to make Senior Cuique care for her?

If she thought more extremely, could Senior Cuique possibly have a deeper connection with her father?

She always emphasized that she was an adult; was that also a hint that her relationship with her father might be more intimate? Could they possibly...

Lin Xiaolu was unwilling to think further; there were too many possibilities, and she could not delve deeper.

She only knew that, because she was in such a state of mind, she remained distracted for the entire night that followed.

Even when she later received a message from Senior Cuique in the newly created group chat, notifying her to attend a study session at Xia Liang's home, Lin Xiaolu still could not shake off these chaotic thoughts.

Xia Liang's somewhat worried comfort failed to calm her.

That night, as it grew deeper, when Senior Cuique explained the problems to her in a cool voice under the lamplight, she did not absorb a single word.

She really wanted to ask clearly right there: ask Senior Cuique if she knew her father; ask if her attention toward her was merely out of social obligation. Yet she was equally afraid that if she received a definite answer, this beautiful scene would cease to exist.

And even though she was so distracted, and a single problem was explained several times without her grasping the point, Senior Cuique would still repeatedly and patiently explain the reasoning behind the problem to her, striving to make her understand. Such beautiful yet illusory gentleness made Lin Xiaolu even more unwilling to shatter this dream.

If she could not think it through, then she would not think; she would deal with it when the event occurred.

Sitting by the table, she adopted this ostrich mentality.

Pretending to know nothing, continuing to hypnotize herself, simply enjoying the present moment was enough.

Lin Xiaolu gave up seeking the answer.

Yet, after a few more days passed, just when Lin Xiaolu thought she had successfully forgotten all of this, another matter forcibly dragged her out of her state of self-deception.

She discovered that her father was actually grooming his appearance.

It was not the kind of meticulous grooming he did for work, straightening his hairstyle and suit to perfection; it was truly grooming from an aesthetic perspective.

He dug out a casual shirt from his closet that he had not worn in who knew how long, pairing it with a summer-style silk-linen wool blazer. He cleaned his face with those few bottles of men's skincare products he had rarely used, then went to a barbershop for a haircut, making his entire demeanor appear much younger.

Lin Yun's looks were originally not bad; after careful grooming, his tall and well-proportioned physique combined with a clear, handsome face bearing a touch of weathered maturity made him exude a gentlemanly charm.

Such behavior would be no problem for an ordinary person, but for Lin Yun, who originally had almost no leisure life, it was quite strange, even leaving Lin Xiaolu stunned as if struck by a bolt from the blue.

"No, no... this is truly too abnormal."

The next morning, Lin Xiaolu lowered her head, covering it with her hands, her expression dazed as she said, "This is absolutely not something he would normally do."

"Haha, even if you say that..." Xia Liang beside her forced a dry laugh.

These past two days, she had been thoroughly worn out by Lin Xiaolu's erratic mental state. Originally, seeing the other party slightly improved, she had breathed a sigh of relief, but she did not expect today's state to become even more abnormal, so she could only weakly console her: "Maybe your father just has some special occasion invitation coming up?"

"He? An invitation?"

Lifting her head from her depression, Lin Xiaolu stared with bloodshot eyes: "What kind of occasion could possibly make a man over thirty-five dress up so flamboyantly?"

"Hmm... maybe, attending someone else's wedding?" Xia Liang tried hard to play dumb.

"It's an affair, it's an affair!"

Slapping the sofa beside her, Lin Xiaolu shouted loudly: "It means he's going on a date with a woman!"

"I think calling your father's situation an affair is a bit..."

Xia Liang felt her face almost stiffen from smiling: "And there are no signs proving he wants to find you a stepmother, right?"

"If he wants to find one, let him; I don't care about that."

Pouting, Lin Xiaolu complained: "I just don't want the woman he's dating to be that Hong Siyu; that person doesn't look very decent at all."

Moreover, there was another possibility she did not voice.

That is, if, just in case, the person he is dating is not Hong Siyu, but... what should be done?

The moment she thought of the possibility of such a scenario, the restless emotions that had been suppressed would surge up continuously, until they swallowed up the remaining rationality Lin Xiaolu possessed.

"No! I must find out the situation!"

She suddenly rallied, standing up abruptly: "Moko!"

"Hmm?" Moko, whose name she had just called, completely failed to grasp the situation and replied in a daze.

"When he actually goes out privately, you come help me!"

Clenching her fist, Lin Xiaolu shouted loudly: "I'm going to follow them!"