Wei Ke’er furrowed her brows. Having help wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but what worried her was this sudden, unexplained help that made people uneasy.

“Mo’er, you might not know much about Professor Lu, so you may think it’s normal for him to help you when he sees you in trouble. But anyone who knows him a bit would probably be surprised that he would be so willing to help.”

Su Mo looked at Wei Ke’er, already understanding the hidden meaning behind her words but not responding. She genuinely didn’t want to think ill of someone who had just helped her so much.

Seeing that Su Mo didn’t engage, Wei Ke’er continued, “Do you know how people usually describe Professor Lu at school? They say there’s an iceberg hidden in his eyes. He looks gentle and refined, but his gaze never makes anyone feel like he’s easy to approach.”

“Although he’s usually good to the students, that’s all it is—just ‘good.’ In the three years I’ve been at school, I’ve never heard anyone say Professor Lu is especially kind to anyone or has any particularly close relationships. That just shows he’s not as easy-going as he appears.”

“So Mo’er,” Wei Ke’er advised again, “Just be cautious.”

At this point, Wei Ke’er suddenly paused. “Of course, if he’s unmarried, and he’s still so good to you, then I have no objections. But the key is, he seems to be married already, with a son. I’m just worried that he might be treating you as a temporary novelty.”

Su Mo frowned, “Ke’er, you’re overthinking it.”

Actually, Su Mo understood everything Wei Ke’er said. She wasn’t some naive, clueless girl fresh out of society. However, she could tell that Lu Qingze didn’t have that kind of interest in her.

He cared for her, but when he looked at her, it wasn’t the kind of gaze a man would have for a woman. His gaze was pure, like the concern for a friend. The only thing she couldn’t understand was how this concern had come about, especially since they had just met today.

But no matter what, Wei Ke’er was right about one thing. A man with wealth and status like that was indeed someone she didn’t want to get too close to. She had to return the money quickly and draw a clear boundary.

Wei Ke’er thought she hadn’t listened, so she went on talking. “With so many pitiful people in the world, why does he choose to help you? And you’ve seen how Professor Lu is, does he seem like the type to go out of his way to help others?”

“So, I think you should still be careful. Professor Lu’s family background should be pretty good, and I’m just afraid that these wealthy people look all polished on the outside but are rotten inside. Mo, you’re not like Lanshan. You can’t afford to play with people like him.”

Su Mo smiled and nodded, “Okay, okay, I got it. Tsk, look at you now, you’re one step away from turning into an old aunt.”

“Spit! You’re asking for it, huh?”

Wei Ke’er glared at Su Mo and then, seemingly lost in thought, muttered quietly, “I’m just worried about you.”

Su Mo smiled and nodded, “Heh, I know. Don’t worry, I’ll return the money as soon as possible and set clear boundaries with him.”

Wei Ke’er nodded, “Mm. If you don’t have the money, I can lend you some. My scholarship will be coming soon, and I’ll send it all to you then.”

“Thanks, Ke’er. You’re such a kind soul. If I were a man, I’d definitely marry you!”

“Hehe!” Wei Ke’er shot her a sideways glance, “Then what about Young Master Ye? He helped you so much, but I didn’t see you marry him!”

Su Mo fell silent before speaking, “He’s just a friend.”

“What kind of friend does that? I think he’s clearly treating you like a wife.”

There was a subtle bitterness in Wei Ke’er’s words.

It wasn’t a secret that Wei Ke’er liked Ye Jue, but she had never admitted it, nor would she. Instead, she often tried to pair Su Mo with Ye Jue.

Su Mo understood that Wei Ke’er’s reluctance to admit her feelings for Ye Jue was likely related to her relationship with Su Mo, but Su Mo really didn’t have any feelings for Ye Jue beyond friendship. So, she had to explain it to her again and again.

“Ke’er, Ye Jue and I have always just been good friends.”

Wei Ke’er responded, “Mm, good friends, to the point where he almost left the military to follow you to America, good friends who worry more about your living expenses than your own parents.”

Su Mo laughed, “If you were struggling abroad, I’d probably be worrying about you every month too.”

“Wow, should I light a candle for Young Master Ye?”

Su Mo chuckled, “Ke’er, I really don’t have any relationship with Ye Jue beyond friendship, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

Wei Ke’er shot her a fierce look, “How many times have I said this? What kind of relationship I have with Ye Jue has nothing to do with you! If I really liked him, do you think I’d hesitate because of you? Even if you were my real sister, I’d still go for it.”

Su Mo: “… Can we please talk properly?”

“Then why did you enroll in the National Defense University in the first place?”

Wei Ke’er froze for a moment and then glared at Su Mo, “Do you know that you just leaked your aunt’s situation onto Professor Lu’s hands? Tsk tsk tsk, such a distinguished person like Professor Lu, and now he has blood from your aunt all over his hands.”

Su Mo…

Su Mo instantly felt a little sick. Wei Ke’er, seeing her reaction, couldn’t help but laugh.

Wei Ke’er said, “Alright, alright, I was just joking. But if you keep talking about Ye Jue, I’ll send your aunt’s pads to Professor Lu as a souvenir.”

Su Mo: “… Get lost!”

The two laughed and joked for a while before Wei Ke’er suddenly became serious.

“Mo’er, I want to ask you something. Please don’t overthink it, and don’t be sad.”

Su Mo: “What is it?”

“Mo, are you really the biological daughter of the Liu family?”

Su Mo’s smile slowly faded, and after a moment of silence, she replied, “Yes, I’m their biological daughter.”

“Actually, I used to doubt if I was really their daughter. I even thought about doing a paternity test, but Granny said I’m definitely their biological child. She told me that when I was born, she was still working as a maid for the Liu family, and she saw me born. She didn’t leave the Liu family until I was over three months old. Granny wouldn’t lie to me.”

“It’s just that she said I wasn’t very healthy when I was born, and maybe that’s why the Liu family didn’t like me.”

“You weren’t healthy? What was wrong? I think they were just making excuses!”

Su Mo shook her head, “Who knows? But leaving the Liu family wasn’t a bad thing. At least I don’t have to live in fear, worrying about upsetting them. I don’t have to starve or freeze while watching my every move.”

Wei Ke’er felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart and gently patted Su Mo’s hand, choosing not to continue the topic. Instead, she changed the subject and talked about the audition from earlier.

Author Notes:

Thanks to the sweet Strawberry who sent the flowers. Love you~