368: I really hope I can turn 25 soon...

Lin You had always avoided contact with the old folks, not only out of fear but also for a very important reason—

Ancheng is a small city, and there’s a high probability that local people’s social circles overlap.

Lin You could establish relationships with Du Zhaoyu and Xie Xingmeng, but he didn't dare to establish a future son-in-law relationship with their parents.

If both sets of parents inadvertently spread the word about their daughter's boyfriend, Lin You, as the top scholar of the College Entrance Examination in Ancheng, has a certain level of fame. If it reached the wrong ears, Lin You would be exposed to both sets of parents first.

That scene... might be even more terrifying than a love triangle among good friends!!!

Just as he feared, a 'fatal' notification sound echoed in Lin You's mind while his heart was still pounding.

"Ding!"

[After revisiting the university campus with Xie Xingmeng, you rediscovered the feeling of being in love. However, for you at 33, love is no longer just a matter between two people. Only with the blessings and approval of family can you have a better future.

Mission: Visit Xie Xingmeng's home. Reward: 388,000 yuan Dating Funds, 1 progress bar establishment permission.]

Oh no!

Lin You wished he could post on Zhihu asking: What is the probability of being chopped into minced meat by both fathers if you're two-timing?

But the top-rated answer would most likely be—

Not that much.

System overlord... no! System villain, why do you treat me this way?!

Lin You lay on the bed, stunned for a long time. Finally, he reread the two missions, and the corners of his mouth twitched a few times. This time, he noticed the amount of Dating Funds for both missions.

388,000? System, are you also playing the bride price game?

Lin You pondered for a long time, and as he drifted off to sleep, he remarked with some guilt... Fortunately, Xiao Yi's family didn't have old folks.

Otherwise, being chopped into minced meat by the old folks would be a hat-trick... The next day.

Lin You was woken up groggily by Du Zhaoyu's call. After a hurried wash, when he came downstairs, Du Zhaoyu had already bought breakfast and was waiting by Lin You's car, dragging a small suitcase.

Lin You scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, took the suitcase, opened the trunk, and put it inside.

"Xiao Yu'er, why didn't you wake me up earlier?"

Du Zhaoyu smiled gently, "You haven't slept in for a long time, have you? You finally get to be a lazy bug again, of course, I couldn't bear to wake you up. Anyway, there's plenty of time, if it weren't for..."

Lin You took the soy milk and steamed bun from Du Zhaoyu's hand, lightly kissed her lips, and casually asked, "If it weren't for what?"

Du Zhaoyu slightly turned her body, "If it weren't for wanting to see you, I would have gone to the high-speed rail station myself..."

Lin You had just taken a bite of his steamed bun. He froze for a moment, then rushed forward, wrapped his arms around Du Zhaoyu's neck, and kissed her heavily.

"Mmm mmm mmm... no, you have a bun in your mouth..."

A moment later, Du Zhaoyu's eyebrows furrowed, her face full of conflicted emotions. This kind of intimate behavior, which she used to find utterly disgusting and unacceptable, now... she actually found it sweet.

Oh no, Du Zhaoyu, you're beyond saving!

Du Zhaoyu, blushing, got into the passenger seat. She watched Lin You finish his bun and soy milk in a few bites, then let out a relieved sigh.

They were about to be separated for ten days, and her eyes were filled with Lin You; she didn't want to part at all.

"Xiao Yu'er, your birthday is coming up soon, right? Can I come to your house on your birthday?"

Huh?

Du Zhaoyu turned her head blankly, looking at Lin You, wondering if she had misheard.

Lin You smiled and repeated, "I said, I'll come to your house on your birthday."

Du Zhaoyu's expression immediately became a mix of surprise and apprehension, "You... aren't afraid of my dad anymore?"

"I was never afraid, that's called respect! Ahem... Besides, I said I'd come to your house to visit, not to see your dad. I checked, your birthday is on a weekday, so your parents should be at work, right? I plan to go to your house during the day while they're at work, to celebrate your birthday with you."

Yes, Lin You had thought of a way to complete the mission through 'emergency evasion'.

The System's missions for the three good friends had always been directed at the 33-year-old Lin You.

The younger version of Lin You naturally couldn't have the same conditions and environment as the 33-year-old Lin You, so, all along, Lin You had been able to use some clever methods to literally complete the missions.

This mission required a visit to Du Zhaoyu's house, but it didn't specifically name visiting the old folks.

How is visiting Du Zhaoyu not considered a visit?

Du Zhaoyu's tense expression immediately relaxed. Like Lin You, she didn't want to 'confront' her father too early.

Du Zhaoyu's parents had very high expectations for her and doted on her immensely, wishing they could raise her for a lifetime. Her father, in particular, completely disagreed with her falling in love early.

Anyway, she believed that her love with Lin You could last forever. When the time was right, she would come clean with her father, and then the family would be harmonious, and their love would be complete.

If Lin You really wanted to visit her home, wanting their love to be open and honorable, Du Zhaoyu would also be willing to face it with Lin You.

But if they could face it later, without arguing with her father, that would definitely be for the best!

"Then... for these ten-odd days I'm home, I'll learn a few dishes from my mom. I'll make them for you during the day~ Is there anything you particularly want to eat?"

"Anything you make, I'll love!"

"What's that? I'm asking seriously, who wants you to sweet-talk me?"

Half an hour later, in the high-speed rail station's underground parking lot, the two nestled together, both wishing they could merge into each other's bodies.

It wasn't until the high-speed rail's departure time drew closer that they breathlessly separated.

Du Zhaoyu tidied her clothes, her eyes red, "Remember to miss me a lot. No matter how busy you are with studying, you must contact me every day..."

Lin You nodded. After getting out of the car with Du Zhaoyu, he held her hand with one hand and pulled the suitcase with the other.

"I really hope I can turn 25 soon..."

"Me too..."