After being reborn, this was the first time Xu Musen visited Yao Mingyue’s home.

At the dinner table, Liu Rushuang deliberately arranged for them to sit together.

Yao Mingyue seemed to still be holding onto her cold attitude, holding her cheek in her hand and purposely turning her head away from him.

However, under the table, her little feet, which were only wearing sandals, were already excitedly moving around.

Xu Musen felt uneasy, both of them pretending not to notice the other, yet Yao Mingyue unconsciously moved her chair closer to him.

She was so close now that he could smell the faint fragrance on her, a floral scent that seemed like it belonged to a garden.

Liu Rushuang, with her chin resting in her hand, watched the two of them with a look of amusement, though she said nothing.

“So, I’ve been traveling for work lately. How have you two been?”

At her words, Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue exchanged a brief glance.

Yao Mingyue turned her head away without speaking.

Xu Musen coughed awkwardly. “We’re fine, just like before.”

Yao Mingyue clenched her fist, ‘Like before? That’s how you describe it?’

“Well, ‘like before’ doesn’t cut it! I thought you two were spending more time together, going to school and back. I thought there would be more progress,” Liu Rushuang smiled mischievously, feigning disappointment.

Yao Mingyue froze, and her face flushed, though she tried to hold it back.

Xu Musen was caught off guard by her teasing, “Auntie, don’t joke like that. There’s nothing between me and Mingyue…”

Yao Mingyue gritted her teeth, trying to hold back the urge to respond.

Liu Rushuang watched their reactions with a knowing smile and then said, “What I mean is, you two go to school together, so your grades should have improved, right? What were you thinking?”

Xu Musen felt his discomfort deepening but managed to respond with a strained smile, “…I was thinking about the grades too.”

Liu Rushuang giggled, lightly patting her chest. “That’s good! Honestly, you’re both at the age where you might get interested in the opposite sex, dating is perfectly normal. University is coming up, there’ll be more opportunities.”

Liu Rushuang’s words hinted at something, though she didn’t say it outright.

From a certain angle, these two women’s fishing skills were more advanced than He Qiang’s.

Poor Xu Musen, in his past life, he was manipulated by this mother-daughter duo.

The housekeeper brought in the dishes, a table full of seafood delicacies.

Since Xu Musen was already here, he didn’t hold back. The two families had always been neighbors, so they often ate together.

But whenever he glanced back, he saw Yao Mingyue elegantly slicing a piece of Russian sausage.

She looked at him briefly, then smiled slightly, and with one swift movement of her knife, the sausage was split in two with a crisp snap!

Xu Musen swallowed hard, haunted by the memories of his past life, and quickly returned to eating.

“Hehe, now this feels like a family meal,” Liu Rushuang said with a satisfied smile, serving more food to both of them.

However, when Liu Rushuang used the same chopsticks she had used to eat earlier to serve Xu Musen, Yao Mingyue subconsciously shot her a resentful look.

Xu Musen sighed internally.

It’s the classic case of a mother being a wingman, and the daughter turning her into a rival.

It’s really too much.

Liu Rushuang continued to chat, and the meal was filled with a strange yet lively atmosphere.

“By the way, it’s almost summer, so I bought some clothes for both of you. Have a look.”

Liu Rushuang handed them shopping bags, each containing a set of clothes.

Xu Musen took a quick glance.

Wait, isn’t this a couple’s outfit?

Although not overly obvious, the colors and brand were identical.

“Auntie, I think these aren’t necessary…”

“Of course they are! I already took the tags off, and I can’t return them.”

Xu Musen smiled bitterly. If they wore these outfits out, the gossip at school would drown him in a sea of saliva.

“Is there something wrong? Don’t like them? Are you saying my taste is outdated?”

Liu Rushuang pretended to be hurt, blinking her eyes at Xu Musen.

“Of course not, it’s just…”

“Hehe, there’s no need to be polite with me,” Liu Rushuang cut him off, propping up her chin with a playful smile. “Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask you, Musen.”

“From tomorrow, Xiao Song will be traveling with me for work, and no one will be around to look after Mingyue at home, so…”

Xu Musen’s face stiffened as he realized disaster was about to strike, but Yao Mingyue’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“So, for the next little while, Mingyue will be having dinner at your place and going to school with you every day. Is that alright with you, Musen?”

Liu Rushuang smiled warmly, but she had already dug a pit for Xu Musen.

It wasn’t even a request. The two families were close, and due to things from years ago, helping each other like this was a given.

Yao Mingyue’s eyes were sparkling with barely suppressed excitement.

Xu Musen sighed internally, realizing it didn’t matter whether he had an opinion now.

After dinner, Xu Musen quickly retreated home.

At the villa, the mother and daughter exchanged a glance.

Liu Rushuang was the first to speak. “Mingyue, have you been having a fight with Musen?”

“Who’s fighting with him?”

Yao Mingyue’s voice was flat.

But Liu Rushuang smiled knowingly. “A mother knows her daughter. The frustration is written all over your face. What’s going on with you and Musen?”

Yao Mingyue’s eyes flickered, but thinking about the past couple of days and Xu Musen’s behavior, she didn’t feel like talking.

Liu Rushuang watched it all and smiled. “As a woman who’s been through it, I just want to tell you, don’t push a guy too hard. If you put too much pressure on him, he’ll crack.”

“Of course, you also shouldn’t be too reserved. If you always wait for him to make the first move, you might miss your chance.”

“Sometimes, you need to take the initiative. After all, my Mingyue is so beautiful, there’s no guy who wouldn’t fall for you.”

Liu Rushuang lovingly petted her daughter’s head.

Since her husband’s unexpected passing, Liu Rushuang had poured all her warmth into her daughter. She didn’t care too much about grades, only hoping her daughter would find someone to be with for the rest of her life.

However, Liu Rushuang underestimated her daughter’s feelings.

Mingyue took her words to heart—but only halfway, and she amplified that part indefinitely…

The next day.

Xu Musen had just woken up when he heard the lively chatter in the living room.

Liu Rushuang had arrived and was talking to Xu’s parents, likely discussing taking care of Yao Mingyue.

What surprised Xu Musen was that Yao Mingyue was there too.

She was wearing the “couple’s outfit” from yesterday, a refreshing short-sleeve top and a knee-length skirt.

Her legs were as slender and smooth as chopsticks, with no trace of hair, looking like they were made of warm jade.

The top accentuated her perfect figure, and her long hair was tied into a ponytail.

Her face, exquisite without makeup, was already a masterpiece.

Xu Musen couldn’t help but think that this quiet version of Yao Mingyue was the unattainable white moonlight in many boys’ lives.

In the past, Xu Musen had been fooled by her appearance.

“Musen, you’re up! Hurry up and put on the clothes Auntie bought for you and get ready for school,” Liu Rushuang said cheerfully.

“The clothes aren’t washed yet.”

“I washed them when I brought them over.”

Well, Xu Musen knew that wearing the outfit was non-negotiable today.

Although his parents never directly accepted Liu Rushuang’s help, she had quietly invested money in his father’s company, helping the family improve.

Xu Musen eventually found out about this and felt grateful to his mother-in-law.

He reluctantly wore the matching short-sleeve shirt and shorts. The quality of the clothes was excellent, and the design was top-notch.

Xu Musen and Yao Mingyue stood together—one cold and beautiful, the other tall and handsome. They made a perfect pair.

Xu’s parents couldn’t help but nod inwardly. If their son and Yao Mingyue got together, they’d have much less to worry about.

Liu Rushuang smiled as she looked at the two of them. “Musen, you’re getting more handsome by the day. Well, let’s chat for a while longer, you two go on and don’t be late for school.”

They were pushed out the door.

Along the way, the two walked in silence.

Xu Musen was thinking about catching the bus to school when he noticed Yao Mingyue was following him out of the neighborhood.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you taking the car?”

Though his tone was a little dismissive, it was the first time he spoke to her.

Yao Mingyue smiled slightly. “Aunt Song is going on a business trip with Mom, so I’ll be taking the bus too.”

Xu Musen felt like she was doing it on purpose.

Yao Mingyue had a bit of a cleanliness obsession. She’d usually rather take a taxi than sit on a crowded bus.

The bus arrived.

Xu Musen boarded first, standing in a corner, holding onto the clothing’s logo, hoping no one would think it was a couple’s outfit.

But Yao Mingyue, with a knowing smile, got on and stood next to him expressionlessly.

As the bus started moving, Xu Musen tried to maintain some distance, but she kept inching closer.

There was plenty of space next to them.

Eventually, Xu Musen was pressed against the window, and Yao Mingyue left just enough room for him to breathe.

Relieved, Xu Musen thought he should wake up earlier next time to avoid this bus!

However, as the bus jerked, he suddenly felt something soft brush against him. And… it felt like his rear had been touched.

Did she just grope him?

Xu Musen turned around, shocked, to see Yao Mingyue standing with a stoic expression, her mouth curving upward.

“I didn’t stand still, my hand slipped.”