244: Chapter 244 Taking Down Lin Fang in One Go

"What's wrong?"

Li Ran walked up to him and reached out to help straighten his collar. "Your collar is crooked."

Her fingers touched his neck; her fingertips were slightly cool and carried a hint of a tremble.

Qin Lin was stunned for a moment, his body stiffening slightly.

It was because as Li Ran was helping him, their chests brushed against each other.

That sensation was incredibly rich and filled with a certain sense of taboo, forcing him to shift his gaze downward.

Li Ran's hand lingered on his collar for a few seconds before she withdrew it, took a step back, and said with a smile, "There, all done."

Qin Lin retracted his gaze and touched his neck. "Thanks, Mom."

Li Ran smiled. "You're welcome."

The two of them locked eyes; there was something indefinable in Li Ran's gaze, something like anticipation mixed with hesitation.

Qin Lin looked away. "Then I'll head out first."

"Okay."

Qin Lin walked quickly away from the hallway, his heart beating a bit fast.

In that moment just now, he had felt something.

Something ambiguous, dangerous, and something that shouldn't be there.

He took a deep breath, telling himself not to overthink it.

After all, Su Yuran and Su Yuling wouldn't necessarily agree to it.

Otherwise, Su Yuran would have come to find him long ago.

Li Ran was just helping him straighten his collar; it was nothing special.

But a voice in his heart said: No, it wasn't as simple as just straightening a collar.

Her fingers had stayed on his neck for too long, she had intentionally touched him with her chest, and that step back she took was too slow.

Qin Lin shook his head, tossing these thoughts out of his mind.

No, he couldn't think about it anymore.

...

In the hallway, Li Ran stood where she was, watching Qin Lin's departing back, her fingers trembling slightly.

What she had just done was too risky.

But she couldn't control herself.

She didn't know when she had started having these feelings for Qin Lin.

Maybe it was that night when she saw Han Qing move down from the third floor with a satisfied smile on her face.

Maybe it was that afternoon when she saw Qin Lin watering vegetables in the Ecological Plantation, the sunlight hitting his face, looking so handsome.

Maybe it was when she realized her status on the RV wasn't as high as the other person who shared her same circumstances.

She didn't know.

She only knew that she wanted to be close to him more and more, wanted to talk to him more and more, and wanted him to look at her more.

She wanted the same treatment as Han Qing, or at least to raise her status on the RV.

But these weren't the kind of thoughts a mother-in-law should have.

She knew that.

But every time she saw Han Qing being able to live alone with him on the entire third floor, she couldn't control herself.

Li Ran leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

No, she couldn't go on like this.

He was her daughter's boyfriend, a young man twenty-one years younger than her, he was...

She sighed and turned back to her room.

That evening, while Qin Lin was on the third floor, Lin Xiaoyue came by.

She was wearing pink pajamas with her hair tied in a ponytail, looking youthful and energetic.

Qin Lin patted her head. "Your sister-in-law is a good person."

"Of course she is." Lin Xiaoyue looked up at him.

"So when do you plan to be with her?"

Qin Lin laughed. "Didn't you say we should wait a bit longer?"

"I think it's about time," Lin Xiaoyue said seriously. "Sister-in-law already has a very good impression of you; she just needs someone to give her a push."

"You want to give her a push?"

"Mm-hmm." Lin Xiaoyue nodded. "I want to find an opportunity for you and Sister-in-law to be alone for a bit so you can have a good talk."

Qin Lin thought for a moment. "Are you sure she won't run away?"

Lin Xiaoyue smiled. "No, she won't run away now."

"Alright, then you arrange it."

Lin Xiaoyue happily kissed him on the cheek. "Leave it to me!"

...

The next day, Lin Xiaoyue indeed started making arrangements.

She pulled Lin Fang to the Ecological Plantation, saying she had something to show her.

Once they reached the plantation, Lin Xiaoyue said, "Sister-in-law, wait here for a moment, I'm going to go grab something."

Then she left, leaving Lin Fang standing alone in the plantation.

After a while, Qin Lin walked in.

When Lin Fang saw him, she was startled. "Captain? Why are you here?"

Qin Lin smiled. "Xiaoyue asked me to come, said she had something to discuss with me."

Lin Fang frowned. "She told me she had something to discuss with me too..."

She glanced at Qin Lin; he didn't seem to know either.

She understood.

Lin Xiaoyue was playing matchmaker.

Lin Fang's face flushed, and she lowered her head. "That girl..."

Qin Lin smiled, acting naturally as if he were unaware. "Since we're both here, let's chat."

Lin Fang hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

The two of them sat on a bench in the plantation, surrounded by various fruits and vegetables, with the air filled with the fresh scent of soil and plants.

Qin Lin spoke first. "Sister Fang, have you gotten used to living on the RV lately?"

Lin Fang nodded. "I'm used to it, it's quite good."

"That's good then."

After a moment of silence, Lin Fang suddenly asked, "Captain, why... why are you so good to me?"

Qin Lin thought about it. "Because you're worth it."

Lin Fang was stunned. "Worth it?"

"Yes, you're a good person—kind, responsible, and good to your family." Qin Lin looked at her. "These qualities are hard to find in the apocalypse."

Lin Fang's eyes reddened. "But... I've never done anything for you."

Qin Lin laughed. "You don't need to do anything for me. Once you're on my vehicle, you're my passenger. Protecting and taking care of you is my responsibility."

Lin Fang lowered her head, her voice a bit choked up. "Captain, you're too kind..."

Qin Lin reached out and patted her shoulder. "Don't cry. You won't look as pretty if you cry."

Lin Fang's shoulder trembled for a moment before she quickly regained her composure. She didn't pull away from Qin Lin's hand, but looked up and wiped her tears. "I'm not crying."

"Alright, you're not crying."

They looked at each other and both laughed.

Meanwhile, outside the plantation, Lin Xiaoyue was pressed against the door eavesdropping.

Hearing the laughter from inside, she smiled with satisfaction.

It seemed like progress was being made.

She quietly left to find Su Yuran and report the situation.

"Sister Ran, Sister-in-law and Qin Lin are chatting in the plantation."

Su Yuran was reading a book and looked up when she heard this. "How's the chat going?"

"Pretty well, they're both laughing." Lin Xiaoyue sat down beside her. "I think Sister-in-law is about to give in."

Su Yuran nodded. "That's good. Lin Fang is a good person, she's just too conservative; it takes time."

Lin Xiaoyue sighed. "Yeah, Sister-in-law is just that kind of person, used to following rules. But I believe she'll come around sooner or later."

Su Yuran took her hand. "Don't worry, Qin Lin will take good care of her."

Lin Xiaoyue smiled. "I know."

In the plantation, Qin Lin and Lin Fang chatted for over half an hour.

They talked about a variety of things: life before the apocalypse, their feelings after it started, and their hopes for the future.

As Lin Fang spoke, her expression was relaxed, not as tense as before.

When she smiled, her eyes crinkled beautifully.

Qin Lin looked at her and suddenly said, "Sister Fang, you look really beautiful when you smile."

Qin Lin meant it; that sense of shyness was truly alluring and easily sparked one's imagination.