The bathroom was warmly lit. Su Youzhu was drying her damp, light green short hair while wrapping her slender figure in a towel. She stared at the chat window on her phone and fell into a brief silence.

"Miss me?"

A rare smile curved on her lips: "What kind of reason is that, huh."

From the living room came the sound of a woman complaining, mumbling: "What's wrong lately? First it's storms, then it's gas explosions, how dangerous. Zhuzhu, have you reached your brother yet?"

Su Youzhu stepped out of the bathroom, her delicate, pale face showing no emotion: "I got in touch. He's still at school now, busy preparing for interviews, really busy."

The lies came effortlessly.

Shi Jing cast a suspicious glance at her precious daughter and asked, "Why doesn't he answer my calls but answers yours instead?"

Su Youzhu tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Maybe it's because I'm cuter."

Shi Jing scoffed, reaching out to pinch her cheek: "Shameless!"

Although they weren't biologically mother and daughter, their personalities matched well, and they got along seamlessly with deep affection.

There was no difference from being a real daughter.

Shi Jing felt deeply indebted to her son and had been striving to make up for it over the years. But that kid was naturally reclusive. Even during holidays when she insisted he join for a meal, he would refuse and prefer to keep to himself.

After the car accident, his personality had grown even stranger.

Thankfully, the family still had their treasured daughter.

The relationship between Su Youzhu and Gu Jianlin was the closest.

At least closer than with his mother.

After all, there was no generation gap.

No matter how good a mother and son's bond is, there are always things they wouldn't share.

It's different with peers. They talk about everything, with no reservations.

"He's aiming for Qingbei after all. Even with his grades, he still has to put in some effort. He even said he met some senior girls working on beauty projects. They gave him lots of cosmetics and skincare products, and he'll bring them back for us."

Su Youzhu replied softly: "Probably in the next few days."

"Really?"

Shi Jing was very satisfied to hear her son striving to bring glory to the family. Then she said, "If he gets into Qinghua, that'll really bring pride to the Old Gu Family. That boy is just too reclusive. He's almost eighteen and hasn't found a girlfriend yet. Honestly, getting into college is secondary; the family isn't short on money."

She sighed: "The real issue is that he must carry on the Old Gu Family line somehow. Otherwise, when I pass away, how would I face his grandparents? Even if I meet his father, I couldn't stand tall."

Su Youzhu lounged on the sofa, fiddling with her phone absentmindedly: "Is that so?"

"Zhuzhu, you young ones have a closer bond with him."

Shi Jing fondly rubbed her supple cheeks and said, "I'm leaving this matter to you."

Upon hearing this, Su Youzhu raised her head slightly, her eyes brightening: "Hmm?"

Shi Jing grinned: "Help him figure things out."

Su Youzhu lowered her head again and replied faintly with an "Oh."

"I think he's got nothing to worry about in that area."

"Oh? Could there be someone already?"

"Hmm? No idea."

"What good are you then!"

Shi Jing rolled her eyes, suddenly noticing her daughter's weary expression: "Zhuzhu, what's wrong?"

Su Youzhu yawned tiredly, staring blankly at her phone, looking adorably dazed.

"Nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night... I'm tired…"

Shi Jing tapped her forehead lightly, scolding: "You child, what are you even up to all day? Your teacher called again today saying you weren't paying attention in class, just daydreaming all the time. At your age, what can you be thinking about? Or could it be about some boy? They say your thoughts show on your face, and look at you, you don't seem clever at all."

She teased, "Three kids in this house, and only Xia is worry-free."

Still in a daze, Su Youzhu spoke softly: "Mom, I'm not dumb."

Shi Jing glared at her: "If you're not dumb, then who is? Go look in the mirror; you radiate dumbness!"

Ever since she was young, this little daughter had always been this way, as if her brain didn't function quite right.

Besides occasionally dressing up in cosplay makeup, her favorite activity every day was resting her chin and staring off into space.

Sometimes, she could do it for an entire day.

Back in middle school, there was once a time when the school called her parents.

The incident happened during a biology class when the teacher asked her to explain, "From where does blood flow to where?"

Thinking it was geography class, she blurted out, "It flows from west to east."

Shi Jing and her father had briefly worried about her mental state.

They had been hesitating for years about whether to get her a psychologist...

·

·

Inside the cave, Gu Jianlin fell silent for a moment: "You sure know a lot. I'm a descendant of the Gu Family, but even I didn't know this place was connected to my family, yet you do? Who told you?"

He paused: "You slipped earlier. Your 'guide'? Did you mean your mentor?"

It was now absolutely clear to him—this person was his father's student.

But the thing was, the personality profile he had analyzed didn't quite match the facts.

It made him feel increasingly absurd and baffled.

Moreover, reality had already disproven it.

Moon Princess, however, calmly responded: "Don't snoop into a beautiful girl's business."

Gu Jianlin gave her a sidelong glance and said coolly: "You're a beautiful girl?"

"Am I not?"

Moon Princess narrowed her charming eyes, lightly lifting the hem of her black skirt, her slender and alluring legs pressed tightly together, the curves strikingly alluring.