Xu Lin finished his phone call and ca out, only to see Miss Ji Yun with a helpless expression. He grabbed a few bottles of drinks and walked over.
"Here, juice. What are you guys talking about?"
"Uh, Xu Lin, who's this pretty lady?"
"She's my cousin," Xu Lin replied, glancing at Li Muxue.
"What about Teacher Chu?"
"She's a friend of ours."
"Then why did you say she's your cousin?"
"Because if I said she's just a friend, you guys would definitely start spreading so strange rumors. Isn't that right, Ji Yun~?"
Xu Lin looked at Ji Yun, who imdiately gave his hand a light slap. "Do you even need us to spread rumors?!"
"Anyway, about Sister Liu, there's more to that story. Xu Lin, go ahead and explain." Ji Yun smoothly passed the topic back to him. Xu Lin's expression shifted slightly as he turned to Zhuo Yan, raising a finger.
"Shh, I'll tell you, but don't get too excited."
"Why would I get excited?"
"Well, Sister Liu is Liu Qinnuan. You get it now?"
"Get what… Liu Qinnuan?! The 'little fairy'?"
"What little fairy?"
"The one who played the Little Dragon Maiden in Dragon Palace."
"Oh, I haven't seen it. But if you an the one who shot that ad with , then yeah, that's her."
"She has co to our Linshui?" Although Zhuo Yan wasn't a fangirl, the ntion of a celebrity's arrival still stirred her emotions.
"Yep. If you want an autograph, you can get one."
"Borrow a pen and paper."
"No need; she carries signed postcards with her."
"A celebrity!" Zhuo Yan glanced at Xu Lin. "You've been on TV, so you're technically a celebrity too."
"If you say so."
"Speaking of which, I think I saw you in the news." Sothing suddenly occurred to Zhuo Yan, and she pulled out a crumpled newspaper from her pocket.
"You carry cut-up newspapers with you?"
"My dad loves reading our city's morning paper. After he finished, I glanced at it and saw an article about you. So, I cut it out."
Zhuo Yan spread it out on the table. Xu Lin saw three pictures and so text. The headline read: Young Store Owner Catches Serial Thief.
"This headline..."
The three photos were close-ups of him wearing a mask. One showed him pinning soone down, another showed him standing in front of his store, and the last was of the police taking him into a patrol car.
"By the way, I was wearing a mask. How did you recognize ?"
"I see you every day. Even with a mask, I'd recognize you. Plus, it's all over the internet too. Xu Lin, this is like another way of becoming famous."
"I think this one's more important." Xu Lin pointed to the photo with the store sign in the background. That shot saved him a lot of advertising costs.
"By the way, is the mala tang at your place any good?"
"I haven't even tried it myself."
"You're the owner and you haven't tried it?"
"The renovations just finished, and the equipnt was just set up."
But Zhuo Yan's question reminded him of sothing. Even though mala tang isn't hard to make, there should still be a training video. He rembered Uncle Cui ntioning it before.
Xu Lin quickly stood up and headed to his room. "You two wait for them here; I've got sothing to do."
"Alright, go ahead."
In his room, Xu Lin turned on his computer and contacted Jiang Zing. She had ntioned wanting to help edit a video about snow princess cakes. After exchanging a few words, she replied that she hadn't returned ho yet. She had fallen asleep on the way, and by the ti she woke up, it was already past 9 p.m.
Now locked inside Teacher Su's house, Xu Lin saw that she had just returned with so good food. She planned to eat first before heading ho and even posted a picture of herself and Su Qingwan eating pork cutlet rice together. They looked just like sisters, which made Xu Lin smile.
Xing Mimi: "Let's talk in the evening."
"You should just take a day to rest. I can handle this myself. I'm free tonight anyway."
Xing Mimi: "I'm free too."
"Alright, we'll talk later."
"Okay."
After closing the chat, Xu Lin opened his phone and called Cui Niancheng. The call rang for a while before the other party hung up, and Xu Lin understood he was busy and didn't call again.
Sitting down, he reviewed the clips and photos from their recent trip to Qinglong Lake. He planned to pick so parts to make a vlog, putting the segnts where he showed up together as a record of everyone's trip. Last ti, Liu Qinnuan had done a great job organizing everything, saving Xu Lin a lot of work. This ti, Xu Lin quickly decided on the pacing and organized a rough sequence within minutes.
"Xu Lin, dinner's ready!"
"Coming!"
Xu Lin opened the door and walked out, noticing that Liu Qinnuan and Chu Fengyi had already arrived. The girls were busy bringing dishes to the table. Xu Lin headed straight to the restroom to wash his hands. Just as he got them wet, his phone rang again, and he had to rush back to answer it.
Sure enough, it was Uncle Cui. Xu Lin quickly picked up the call.
"Hello, Uncle Cui. Were you busy just now?"
"Yeah. What's up? Any problems?"
"It's about the training materials. You haven't given them to yet, and I'm planning to open for business this weekend."
"Oh, the materials are in the bag I brought over to you. There's a USB drive in there with both text and video resources."
"I see. I haven't checked it yet. Sorry to bother you."
"No problem, I was just stuck in so boring social engagents. By the way, there's sothing I didn't ntion last ti, but I'd like to ask for your help now."
"Uncle, you've helped so much already. Just say it."
"Haha, alright. My daughter is living in Linshui with her mother. Things aren't easy for them, especially for my daughter. I'd like you to look after her a bit."
"That's doable, but you might want to let her mom know first. Otherwise, as a single guy, it could look inappropriate."
"I know. I'll talk to her and then let you know."
"Uncle, honestly, you should spend more ti with them. I think that's what matters most."
Xu Lin felt that if Uncle Cui cared about his child, he shouldn't avoid awkwardness or let work be an excuse. However, he didn't say it too bluntly.
"I understand. It's not my daughter I'm avoiding seeing—it's her mother. I plan to go back to Linshui before the New Year and spend it with them properly."
"Well, you're busy then."
"Alright, I'll hang up first."
"Wait, one more thing. What are their nas?"
"My daughter is using my ex-wife's surna now. She's called Jiang Zing."
"...!"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing… Got it. You take care, Uncle."
After hanging up, Xu Lin scratched his head and took a deep breath.
"Damn! My ntor turned out to be my future father-in-law? And does Jiang Zing even know her dad owns this shop?"
He wondered whether he should tell her. But by the ti New Year's ca, she'd find out anyway. Should he hold off for now? If she learned later that he had known all along and didn't tell her, she might not be happy about it. From her deanor that day, it was clear she still missed her father. Was the issue more on her mother's side?
Maybe he should wait a few days until the shop opened and business picked up. Then, breaking the news would feel like a good way to celebrate.
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