Xu Jia: "You like good food?"

"Of course I like good food," Luu Yuming said, as if it were obvious. "I’m not really into traveling and all that. In the past, whenever I had to travel for work, I’d basically just spend my time hunting down all the local delicacies..."

"As for the sights, I might take a quick look, but I won’t spend a lot of time on them."

Xu Jia smiled. ’So Luu Yuming’s tastes are pretty simple.’ That wasn’t a bad thing. Life was simpler and happier that way.

As long as Xu Jia didn’t try to get romantic with her, Luu Yuming felt they got along quite well. When it came time to pay the bill, however, Xu Jia stopped her.

Watching Xu Jia return after paying the bill, Luu Yuming pouted. "We agreed I was treating you." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Next time," Xu Jia said nonchalantly. ’Perfect,’ he thought, ’I’ve already secured another meal with her.’

Luu Yuming scratched her cheek. "I feel like I’m getting deeper and deeper in your debt."

Xu Jia mulled it over for a moment. "If you really feel that bad about it, why don’t you make me a couple of formal suits? I really like the one you gave me."

Luu Yuming glanced at the shirt Xu Jia was wearing. "I can tell."

He was wearing the exact outfit she had given him. A black shirt and black suit pants—she had to admit, he looked really good in them. But she still had to say, "Aren’t all your suits custom-made? I’m not exactly a big name..."

"You’re being modest," Xu Jia said, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled. "Your bridal brand is very well-known, especially the matching men’s formal wear. It’s highly sought-after. It’s a shame your brand doesn’t produce suits on their own, or people would be lining up to buy them."

Luu Yuming hadn’t expected him to know all that, and she couldn’t help but feel a small thrill. "Alright. I’ll make them for you when I have some free time."

Xu Jia could see that Luu Yuming hadn’t understood his true intention, and he found it a little amusing. He wasn’t in a hurry. "Alright. Take your time. Don’t wear yourself out."

Luu Yuming stretched. "I won’t. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be working half-days and taking the other half off. I won’t have as many classes."

An idea sparked in Xu Jia’s mind. "That’s great. In that case..."

"But I won’t exactly be free. I still need to check on the renovations for my new place. I can’t just leave everything to Luu Jun." Luu Yuming yawned as she spoke. "Let’s part ways here. I’ll drive myself home."

Xu Jia knew he couldn’t rush things. "Alright. Text me when you get home safe."

After Luu Yuming got in her car, Tan You appeared out of nowhere. Luu Yuming glanced at her. "Mom, what are you doing here?"

Tan You sighed in resignation. "How did I manage to raise such a sweet, simple girl? You’re nothing like me."

Luu Yuming whined playfully. "It’s because I’m not like you that I can be this way with you! What’s wrong with being sweet and simple? Besides, no one else knows I’m like this. I can definitely keep up appearances."

Tan You said, "Right, ’keep up appearances.’ That Xu Jia is just too smooth. Treating you to dinner is one thing, but now he’s getting you to make clothes for him."

’His ulterior motives are painfully obvious. He didn’t say it out loud, but how could Luu Yuming not think of him while making the clothes? He’s creating a psychological anchor, making it so she’ll think of him every time she sits down at her sewing machine.’

But that was the one thing Tan You couldn’t say out loud. Pointing it out would only make Luu Yuming pay even more attention to him.

Luu Yuming didn’t understand what her mother was getting at, but she knew how to be charming. "So I’ll make them. It’s no big deal. I do owe him a favor, after all. He even gave me tickets to Fashion Week. Making him a couple of suits as a thank-you gift isn’t going too far."

Tan You sighed. ’This is exactly what it feels like to watch a boar from the outside coveting your own precious cabbage—and the cabbage is completely clueless.’ How could someone as calm, self-possessed, rational, and aloof as her end up raising such a sweet, simple girl?

’A sweet, simple mama’s girl, at that. Was I just bad at raising kids?’

"Am I just no good at raising the younger generation?" Tan You reflected, for the first time. "How did I raise you to be like this?"

"What’s wrong with how I am?" Luu Yuming retorted. "Only people who grow up surrounded by love turn out like me. Mom, you did a great job. I’m this way because you make me feel secure. You give me the confidence to face the world."

"Of course, it’s also just that I’m a simple person, not like Little Min. She’s been a deep thinker since she was little."

Luu Yuming argued her case with conviction. ’She just wanted to be her own mother’s sweet, simple girl. What was so wrong with that?’

Tan You waved her hand. "Forget it. As long as you’re happy."

"Actually, Mom, you’re a wonderful teacher. You know I’m a simple person, so you never forced me to deal with all that scheming and backstabbing, you just let me seek my own inner peace and tranquility. But at the same time, you made sure I learned everything I needed to know, so I wouldn’t be easily fooled."

"You knew Little Min was a deep thinker, so you guided her accordingly. I once read a saying: ’Teach according to the student’s aptitude.’ I think that’s you, Mom. You let each of us choose the path that suits us best."

Luu Yuming had grown serious now. Her radiant face looked almost dreamlike under the glow of the streetlights. In the play of light and shadow, she looked like a beauty who had stepped right out of a classical oil painting, absolutely dazzling.

Tan You was a little surprised. "Well, that’s a rare sight. Hearing you say something so profound."

Luu Yuming’s serious expression shattered in an instant. "Well, that’s all I’ve got! Anyway, I’m just so grateful that you’ve always been here, Mom. You’re my greatest source of confidence in this world. Even Little Min can’t compare to how important you are to me."

"Little Min would be heartbroken to hear you say that," Tan You teased. This was her first time in a parental role, and she was still learning and growing through trial and error.

"No, she wouldn’t. We both know you’re the most important person in our hearts." Seeing the light turn green, Luu Yuming started driving again. "We’re not the least bit jealous about coming in second to you."

"The older I get, the more I understand that saying, ’A child with a mother is a treasure.’"

Luu Yuming’s words gave Tan You goosebumps. This was where she fell short compared to her daughter. Luu Yuming was incredibly expressive, especially when it came to her emotions; she was so passionate.

Tan You, on the other hand, was not. She had a typically reserved personality. Of course, she understood the importance of positive reinforcement in raising a child and was never stingy with her praise. But ultimately, she wasn’t like Luu Yuming, who could say "I like you" and "I love you" at a moment’s notice.

"Just focus on driving. I’ve noticed you’ve become quite the sweet-talker as you’ve gotten older." Tan You tried to keep a straight face, but a smile crept onto her lips anyway. When she spent time with Luu Min, it was purely for companionship while she studied, and the atmosphere between them was, by comparison, somewhat serious.

But being with Luu Yuming always put Tan You in a good mood. ’No wonder so many men like sweet, simple girls; they really can brighten your day.’ But when it was her own sweet, simple girl being targeted by someone, Tan You’s mood was not nearly as pleasant.

She hadn’t raised Luu Yuming to be this way just so she could be some man’s source of emotional validation. Therefore, she had to find something to keep Luu Yuming busy.