The rented room was dimly lit.
Lin Fan stared at the mold spots on the ceiling, his mind completely filled with Mu Qingxue's icy eyes and her words: "How childish, please move aside."
"So annoying!" He sat up abruptly, thrusting both hands into his hair and scratching furiously.
Defeat after defeat!
This "find mom" mission was simply a hellish starting difficulty!
Rustling sounds came from beside him.
Mengmeng was wearing his oversized T-shirt, barefoot, tugging at the hem of the shirt.
"Daddy..." Her voice was tiny. "Does... Mommy not like Mengmeng?" Her little face looked aggrieved, like a wet, stray kitten.
Lin Fan's heart twitched; his outburst just now had scared her.
"No!" He softened his tone and stroked his "daughter's" hair. "Mengmeng is the cutest, everyone loves you." But inwardly, he felt even more distressed.
With Mu Qingxue's attitude, avoiding him was the best he could hope for.
"Daddy!" Mengmeng's eyes lit up, and she leaned in to whisper, "Mommy likes studying, I saw her reading books every day!"
Lin Fan was stunned.
She likes people who are good at studying? What kind of strategy was this? Was he supposed to go become a top student now? That was completely unreliable.
Yet looking at his "daughter's" expectant big eyes, and thinking of his own predicament... he had to treat a dead horse like a live one!
"Alright! Mengmeng is right!" Lin Fan slapped his thigh. "We're going to the library! Let's try our luck!"
In the afternoon, the sunlight was just right.
The library was quiet, with the rustling sound of turning pages. The air smelled of old books and wood.
Lin Fan led Mengmeng by the hand, tiptoeing like a thief.
Mengmeng was very sensible; she walked on tiptoe, her big eyes looking around with curiosity.
Found her!
In the corner by the window, Mu Qingxue sat quietly.
The sunlight spilled over her fair profile and long hair, edging them in gold. She looked down at her book with intense focus, surrounded by a chilly aura that kept everyone at a distance.
Lin Fan took a deep breath, his palms sweating.
It was supposed to be a "chance encounter," but it felt like walking to the execution ground.
He nudged Mengmeng, signaling her to stay close, and braced himself as he walked over.
Mengmeng obediently hid behind him, poking her little head out to observe in secret.
Getting closer and closer, his heartbeat speeding up. "M-Mu... Classmate Mu." His voice was dry, stuck in his throat. His cheeks burned, so awkward his toes curled inside his shoes.
A standoff! The air froze!
Suddenly! A small pink figure darted out "swoosh" from behind Lin Fan!
Mengmeng's hands were holding a brightly colored children's picture book!
She rushed in front of Mu Qingxue, lifted her flushed little face, and held the book high like she was offering a treasure!
In a milky, baby voice: "Pretty big sister, look at this! Mengmeng likes reading books too!"
The soft, sweet childish voice shattered the dead silence!
Mu Qingxue's gaze slowly moved from Lin Fan's face to the little one.
On her frozen face, was there... a tiny crack?
She lowered her gaze, her sight landing on Mengmeng's clear, expectant big eyes. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, along with a hint of... softness she hadn't even noticed herself?
For the very first time, Lin Fan saw an emotion other than indifference on Mu Qingxue's face!
It was infinitesimal, yet like a spark!
Igniting hope!
Driven by some inexplicable impulse, Mu Qingxue reached out and took the childish picture book.
The cover featured a grinning cartoon bear.
Her slender fingers turned a couple of pages filled with pictures and phonetic alphabet guides.
And then! Lin Fan almost thought his eyes were playing tricks on him!
The corners of Mu Qingxue's mouth curved upward into the slightest hint of a smile!
Very faint!
Almost invisible!
Yet it made Lin Fan's heart pound violently!
"Do you like reading books too?" she asked softly, her voice turning much gentler! The freezing coldness that pushed people a thousand miles away was gone!
Mengmeng grew bolder, nodding her little head like pounding garlic: "Mm-hmm! I like it! I like little bunnies and the big bad wolf the most!" As she spoke, she reached out her little hand and gently tugged at the hem of Mu Qingxue's skirt.
Raising her fair, tender little face, her big, grape-like eyes filled with longing, she acted like a spoiled child in a sweet, soft voice: "Mommy, hug me! Mengmeng's legs are tired from walking!"
"Mommy"!
Spoken aloud once again!
This time there was less insistence, and more reliance and coquettishness!
Listening to it... it actually sounded somewhat harmonious?
Mu Qingxue's body gave an imperceptible start!
She looked down at the little girl who was tightly gripping the hem of her skirt and gazing up at her with pleading eyes. Her expression was exceptionally complex!
That title was like a key, touching a corner of her heart that had never been reached before.
An unfamiliar, warm emotion quietly sprouted—an instinct close to maternal love!
Yet her reason screamed in protest!
Absurd!
A child of unknown origin!
An inexplicable boy!
She could not be fooled by such a clumsy trick!
Reason and emotion engaged in a fierce tug-of-war!
She hesitated, struggling.
In the end, she neither pushed Mengmeng away nor immediately denied it in a cold voice.
She slowly squatted down!
This movement made Lin Fan skip a heartbeat!
With a trace of caution, Mu Qingxue gently stroked Mengmeng's soft hair. Her tone softened considerably: "Little one, did you mistake me for someone else? Big sister is not your mommy."
She still denied it, but her tone had softened immensely, even carrying an unperceivable gentleness!
Mengmeng blinked, her small mouth pouting slightly as a trace of disappointment flickered across her face, but she didn't make a fuss or cry.
Mu Qingxue gently handed the picture book back to Mengmeng, stood up, and seemed ready to leave.
The warmth from just now felt like an accidental interlude.
Right at that moment, Mengmeng made a new move.
She hurriedly rummaged through the pocket of her washed-out T-shirt, pulling out something shiny. Holding it carefully in her small hands, she presented it to Mu Qingxue like a treasure!
It was a tiny strawberry-flavored fruit candy wrapped in colorful candy paper!
"Pretty big sister," Mengmeng looked up, her smile as sweet as the candy itself, "I'll give you a candy to eat! Eating candy makes your mood better, you know!"
Mu Qingxue stared blankly at the little candy before her.
In the sunlight, the candy reflected a faint shimmer, mirroring in her clear pupils.
She seemed to hesitate, her fingertips curling slightly.
Lin Fan's heart leaped back into his throat!
Finally, Mu Qingxue reached out and took the candy.
Their fingertips accidentally brushed against Mengmeng's warm little hand.
Both of them shrank back imperceptibly.
"……Thank you."
The two soft words were like another pebble dropped into Lin Fan's heart lake, sending ripples spreading outward!
Mu Qingxue held the candy tightly in her palm, not looking at them again.
She turned around, cradling her books, and walked away quietly.
Her retreating figure blended into the depths of the bookshelves.
Lin Fan let out a long, long breath.
His back was soaked through!
The process had been perilous, almost dying of awkwardness.
Yet the outcome... was far better than expected!
The iceberg campus belle's heart seemed to have... truly been cracked open by this little piece of candy!
Mengmeng tugged at Lin Fan's hand, raising her little face to gaze with shining big eyes in the direction where Mu Qingxue had left.
"Daddy," her voice filled with anticipation, "did Mommy like Mengmeng's candy, so now she likes us?"