The restaurant was quiet, only a few other patrons scattered about.
Lin Feng and Su Yue sat across from each other at a small table by the window.
A waiter approached and set down their dishes.
Lin Feng clasped his hands together and bowed his head slightly.
"Thank you, Fairy, for treating this humble commoner to such a meal."
Su Yue's face flushed red.
She reached over and pinched his arm.
"Don't call me that!"
She glanced around nervously, checking if anyone had overheard.
Lin Feng chuckled and picked up his chopsticks.
He took a bite of his food, then looked at her.
"Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?"
Su Yue's gaze drifted to the side.
She seemed hesitant.
"If there's something you need," he said gently, "you really don't have to be so reserved around me."
He tilted his head.
"Is it money? Even if you asked for a billion, I'd definitely give it to you."
She relaxed slightly at his casual tone.
"A billion?" She almost laughed. "Where would you even get a billion? Do you think money grows on trees?"
Then she sighed.
"I don't have problems with money," she said quietly. "Actually, it's quite the opposite."
Lin Feng waited.
"About your question from yesterday," she continued. "About how I felt about streaming."
She paused.
"To be honest... I like it."
She looked down at her plate.
"I earned more in the past two days than I have in the last two months combined across all my part-time jobs."
Her voice grew quieter.
"That's why I'm actually quitting my jobs. I want to focus on this full-time."
Lin Feng looked at her, confused.
"Isn't that a good thing? Why do you look so troubled?"
Su Yue was silent for a moment.
"Actually... I might've lied a little when I said I liked it."
She met his eyes.
"To be honest with you, I don't really know if I like it. What I know for certain is that I definitely like the money."
Her fingers tightened around her chopsticks.
"When I said I didn't care about being recognized as the bunny girl... the truth is, I honestly didn't care that it bothered me."
"Su Yue..." Lin Feng called softly.
But she continued.
"The situation with my family isn't looking good."
She took a breath.
"My parents used to work all the time. I would take care of my siblings while they were out. But then... an incident happened."
Her voice wavered slightly.
"My father was injured during work. He became bedridden. It was a mismanagement issue, but there was nothing we could do about it."
She stared at the table.
"Now my mother stays home looking after him. She can't work anymore."
She looked up.
"That's why I picked up so many part-time jobs. That's why I didn't care if I wore a bunny outfit and danced for strangers on the internet."
Lin Feng reached across the table and placed his hand over hers.
She smiled weakly.
"It's okay. I've already come to terms with it."
She wiped her teary eyes with her free hand and took a steadying breath.
"Anyway, as I was saying..."
She composed herself.
"After getting the money from streaming, I sent it back home. But my mother... she's suspicious."
Her brow furrowed.
"She thinks I might be involved with dangerous people. She's refused to take the money."
She looked at him helplessly.
"I don't know what to do now."
"My parents are a little old fashioned so I can't exactly tell her that this is what I do now."
Lin Feng was quiet for a moment.
I never thought Su Yue's situation was like this.
In the future, he hadn't heard much from or about her. Maybe she really did eventually get involved with dangerous people and it didn't turn out well for her.
He pushed those thoughts aside.
He gave her a reassuring smile.
"There's no need to worry," he said. "I have a plan."
…
Later that day.
A taxi pulled up to a quiet residential street.
Lin Feng and Su Yue stepped out, and the car drove off behind them.
They walked side by side, hand in hand, each carrying shopping bags filled with gifts.
As they made their way down the street, they caught glances from neighbors peering over their fences. Curious eyes followed them.
Finally, they arrived at the doorstep of a modest house.
They could hear murmuring from inside.
The front door creaked open.
A young girl stepped out - maybe twelve or thirteen years old.
She noticed Su Yue.
"Ah…"
Then she turned and bolted back inside.
A loud shout echoed through the house.
"MA! SU YUE BROUGHT HOME A HUSBAND!"
Su Yue's face turned crimson.
Lin Feng glanced at her with a hint of amusement.
She shot him a warning look.
"Don't. You. Dare."
"Keeping my mouth shut," he said.
At that moment, the door swung open fully.
A woman stood in the doorway. She looked similar to Su Yue - the same gentle features - though a bit older, with faint lines around her eyes.
"What nonsense are you…"
She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Lin Feng.
Her eyes went wide.
She immediately turned back inside.
Another shout rang out.
"HUSBAND! XIAO YUE BROUGHT HOME A HUSBAND!"
"See? I told you so!" the girl's voice echoed smugly from somewhere inside.
Su Yue buried her face in her hands.
…
A few moments later.
Lin Feng sat next to Su Yue on one side of the living room table.
Across from them sat her mother, who was practically beaming.
He noticed two small figures peeking out from behind the stairs - the girl from before and a younger boy.
The mother turned toward them.
"What are you two doing back there? Come introduce yourselves to the guest properly!"
The two children shuffled over to the table and stood before Lin Feng.
They bowed in unison.
"Hello! I'm Su Lan!" the girl said.
"I'm Su Chen," the boy added quietly.
Lin Feng smiled warmly.
"Very polite kids."
The mother clicked her tongue.
"Who? These troublemakers?"
She waved her hand dismissively.
Then she turned to the boy.
"Xiao Chen, go get your father. He should come greet the guest too."
Lin Feng raised his hands quickly.
"Ah, no, it's alright. I heard he's unwell - there's no need to trouble him."
The mother waved off his concern.
"He won't die."
Lin Feng turned to Su Yue with a questioning look.
"He's fine," she said. "He can walk around a little, so it should be okay."
The mother nodded firmly and turned to the boy again.
"Why are you still standing there? Go!"
Su Chen ran toward the stairs.
"Don't run up the stairs!" she shouted after him.
A few moments later, footsteps descended from above.
Su Chen carefully guided his father down the stairs. The man moved slowly, one hand on the railing, the other on his son's shoulder.
He made his way to the table and sat down next to his wife with her help.
Despite his condition, his eyes were sharp and alert as he regarded Lin Feng.
The mother turned to the two children.
"Alright, you two. Go outside and play."
"But we don't want to…"
"What?" The mother's tone sharpened. "You don't want to?"
They scrambled out the door instantly.
The room fell quiet.
The mother turned back to face the two young people before her, her smile returning.
Su Yue cleared her throat.
"Um, so..."
She gestured toward Lin Feng.
"This is Lin Feng. He's my classmate."
She paused, a slight blush creeping across her cheeks.
"And also my... business partner."
"Business?" the mother said, turning to her husband.
"Partner?" the father finished.
The two exchanged a glance.
Then they looked at Su Yue.
Then back at each other.
Slowly, knowing smiles spread across both their faces.
Su Yue noticed immediately.
"What?" she asked.
They just kept smiling.
"What? Seriously, what is it?"
They smiled even wider.