“I’m… I’m really, really sorry! Uncle! The phone you bought me… I lost it! Uuuh…”
After stepping back inside, Lin Yu immediately switched into performance mode.
She bowed deeply toward the broad back of the man busy in the kitchen.
The tears were fake—just a little mint balm.
The voice was forced—imitating the girlish tone from a galgame heroine.
She had even secretly opened Witch’s Training Manual before entering and rehearsed the movements of the skill [Apology Triple Combo ☆ Please Forgive Me!] to a flawless synchronization.
Of course, she couldn’t actually use the skill.
If those embarrassing speech bubbles and sound effects popped up, it would expose her identity as a magical girl on the spot.
But rehearsal was necessary.
Everything was prepared.
A perfect apology script- All that remained was his reaction.
However…
One second.
Two seconds.
Ten seconds…
The kitchen remained filled only with the monotonous hum of the range hood and the sizzling noises of a spatula scraping against a wok.
That broad back didn’t even turn around.
“…Huh?”
Still maintaining her bow, Lin Yu quietly lifted her eyelids and peeked through strands of hair.
What was going on?
No reaction?
This wasn’t in the script!
By normal logic, shouldn’t he turn around immediately and say something like:
“Losing a phone isn’t important—are you okay?”
Or maybe scold her harshly and kick her out of the house.
But this?
No reaction at all?
Could it be… he thought her apology lacked sincerity?
Uh… sure, it was her fault, but this wasn’t a Japanese drama.
She wasn’t going to get down on the floor and perform a dogeza, right?
…Unless he paid her enough—
No, no, focus!
Just as her imagination started spiraling, the man finally moved.
He turned off the stove and poured a bowl of thick, gooey pork-and-century-egg congee into a white porcelain bowl.
“Eat first.”
Luo Shaotian’s voice was calm—emotionless.
Lin Yu couldn’t tell what he was thinking, so she could only play along for now.
Also—
Why was this guy suddenly researching recipes today of all days?
“Mm…”
But when her gaze landed on the bowl, her mouth twitched slightly.
Seriously…
This thing… looked absolutely tragic.
The rice was rice, the water was water, the shredded pork looked like it had just returned from a construction site.
This guy… truly had zero cooking talent.
Although she mentally tore the dish apart, she still had to give him face since she lived under his roof.
She cautiously scooped up a small spoonful.
“Eh?”
The taste… was actually not bad?
Flavor balanced, heat just right.
“How is it?”
Luo Shaotian sat across from her, looking somewhat expectant.
“S-still okay…”
Lin Yu nodded slightly, curiosity rising.
“Uncle, what’s up with you today? You’re actually cooking? Did the sun rise from the west?”
“I learned by watching you.”
He answered lightly, his eyes still fixed on her face.
“But why force yourself? Eating this for dinner isn’t very nutritious.”
“You stayed up late last night, didn’t you?”
He sighed softly.
“I figured you might’ve overworked yourself again… so congee would be easier on your stomach.”
Oh.
Oh.
So that’s why?
Wow, turns out this guy actually has a warm side too…
“Haha… I see. Uncle, you’re so thoughtful.”
He ignored her dry laugh.
He sighed again.
“I called you last night.”
“—!”
He called?
When?
Oh right—there was a call record…
She had almost forgotten.
“A very… steady-sounding woman answered.”
Steady?
Definitely not Li Qing.
Ye Ye’s voice was cold, but too young.
Only Chen Bing fit that description.
“She said you were preparing some kind of… Halloween party?”
Halloween party?
Wait wait wait—
Last night she was clearly on a mission.
Her phone was sealed in a waterproof pouch.
Oh!
It clicked instantly.
They were covering for her!
“Ah… yea yea yea!”
She nodded furiously with a perfectly executed “Aha I remember now!” expression.
Flawless acting.
“It was Senior Chen Bing! She’s the vice-president of our club. She’s strict but really cares about me!”
“Sorry, Uncle,”
she pressed her palms together apologetically, smoothly layering on the lie,
“My phone ran out of battery last night, so I forgot to call you back… I made you worry. I’m really sorry!”
Luo Shaotian rubbed his forehead.
He seemed to accept this somewhat plausible explanation, but his doubts weren’t gone.
“Then what happened later?
Explain how the phone got lost.”
“I—I don’t know…”
Lin Yu instantly switched into pitiful mode, fingers fidgeting nervously, eyes avoiding his,
“A-after I separated from the seniors this morning, I found it missing… I searched my friend’s place for ages but couldn’t find it… I guess… maybe I dropped it somewhere…”
Luo Shaotian frowned even deeper.
“I called the number again at noon. A man answered.”
“Ah?!”
Lin Yu’s head snapped up, watery eyes instantly lighting with perfect surprise.
“Someone picked up my phone?! That’s great! D-did he say when he’ll return it?”
“No.”
He shook his head, expression turning complicated.
“He hung up immediately.”
“…It’s over.”
Lin Yu’s joy collapsed instantly.
“He must’ve taken it to get wiped and sold… I knew it. People these days don’t return lost things…”
“Don’t worry too much.”
Seeing her miserable face, he softened a bit.
“I think I recognized the voice. It sounded like a friend of mine. If he really picked it up, then maybe I can—”
Ring ring ring——
His phone rang, cutting him off.
He looked at the screen—
His expression froze into something weird.
The caller ID was: Lulu.
He answered and put it on speaker.
“Hello?”
“Hello, this is Chaoyang Road Police Station.”
A crisp, professional young male voice came from the phone.
“A citizen turned in a lost phone. Based on the emergency contact stored inside, we reached you. Do you know the owner?”
Luo Shaotian was stunned.
“…Yes.”
Across the table, Lin Yu calmly sipped her congee.
Her long lashes blinked, hiding the smug gleam in her eyes.
Yes.
Everything was according to her plan.
As her male identity, she had turned in “Lulu’s” phone to the police, claiming she found it, and set Luo Shaotian as the emergency contact.
Then she returned in magical girl form to act out the “panicked girl who lost her phone” routine.
Thus, the confusing “strange man answered the phone” incident now had a perfect explanation.
Heh heh heh…
She mentally flashed herself a victory sign.
The crisis of her identity almost being exposed—
completely solved!
I’m such a genius.
“Okay, got it. Thanks, Brother Huang.”
“Brother Huang?”
Lin Yu’s ears perked.
He called a police officer brother?
This guy had connections?
“Yeah. The person who found the phone should be a very good friend of mine. I’ll bring the owner to thank him personally another day.”
PFFT—!
Lin Yu almost sprayed congee everywhere.
Bring—
bring me to thank me?!
What kind of nightmare flag was this?!
Luo Shaotian finally hung up.
“The phone’s been found. My friend handed it to the police.”
He paused, voice lowering—
“The person who found it… was Lin Yu. My brother.”
“I… had some misunderstandings with him lately.”
“A deep misunderstanding.”
“I said harsh things to him. Even hit him.”
His voice was as heavy as a stone soaked in brine.
Never expected… it was him helping again…
“Uh… r-right…”
Lin Yu laughed awkwardly.
“Quite a coincidence…”
“To be honest… I want to apologize to him.”
“Apologize?”
“Yes. For many things.”
He scratched his cheek, uneasy.
“But… I don’t know how to say it.”
Lin Yu felt like this guy had issues.
“What’s there to hesitate about? Just say it.”
“What if he doesn’t accept it?”
“Why wouldn’t he?”
“Because… I pinned him down. Embarrassed him.”
That was true.
She remembered.
Her sister laughed at her all night.
He definitely owed an apology!
Lin Yu’s mind calculated rapidly.
On the surface, though, she acted innocent and teased:
“Uncle, I think you’re just too thin-skinned and can’t pull your face down to apologize, right?”
“…You saw through me?”
He actually admitted it honestly.
Huh?
For real?
This guy was… surprisingly simple.
“Of course!”
Lin Yu’s eyes spun—
a plan forming.
She patted her chest proudly like a helpful strategist.
“Alright! Since you’re embarrassed, and I’m not your good brother, why don’t you… practice apologizing to me first?”
“Practice… with you?”
“Yes!”
She puffed up with confidence.
“Think about it! If you can say it to me—a complete outsider—then saying it to your real friend will be easy! And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I swear!”
“…You little rascal…”
He actually laughed.
The heaviness on his shoulders lifted slightly.
“Fine. Let’s try.”
He inhaled deeply.
“Alright. Here goes.”
He cleared his throat, trying to sound more sincere, though the awkwardness couldn’t be hidden.
“That… Lin Yu…”
Lin Yu immediately put down her spoon, sat upright, hands on knees, big eyes sparkling with focus.
“Mhm! I’m listening! Uncle, begin your performance—
uh, I mean, your apology practice!”
Her seriousness made him even more uncomfortable.
But he forced himself to continue.
“…Sorry. I was wrong.”
Hah?
That’s it?
That’s the whole thing?!
“No no no!”
Lin Yu shook her head wildly like a rattle drum—
a strict little drill sergeant.
“Too stiff! Too blunt! That’s not a real apology!”
“…Then what should I do?”
“Be sincere! Understand? Imagine your good brother is sitting right here!
Make him feel the sincerity from your heart!
Say something to lead into it!”
“Ugh… okay, I’ll try again…”
He closed his eyes, clearly gathering emotions.
He gathered…
and gathered…
and gathered so long that Lin Yu nearly fell asleep.
But when he finally opened his eyes—
something had changed.
“Ah Yu…”
His body leaned forward slightly, his voice deep like the resonance of a cello.
“Sorry. I was too impulsive at the café that day.”
Lin Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
This guy—
Isn’t he getting too into character?
Why is your voice that low?!
Is this an apology or a confession?!
She held back laughter only through sheer will, urging him to continue with her eyes.
“I shouldn’t have acted before understanding the situation.”
Each word sounded like it was squeezed painfully from his chest.
“I shouldn’t have said such hurtful things.”
Lin Yu nodded encouragingly.
Very good.
The victim is pleased.
“I was blinded by that surge of power.”
His hand on the table clenched tight.
“I know a simple ‘sorry’ can’t fix anything.”
Of course.
At minimum, two KFC V50 meals would be required.
“But… I really do want your forgiveness.”
Forgiveness?
Mm… better make it three meals…
Just as she was calculating her compensation, his voice softened—
carrying a fragility she’d never heard.
“Because… you’re my only friend.”
Lin Yu froze.
Eh?
What?
“Even though we stopped contacting each other after college… I still remember those days.”
“No schemes, no tricks.
Life was simple. People were simple.”
“After leaving school, pressures piled up. I was forced to compare, calculate gains and losses. Slowly became someone I hated.”
His eyes turned distant.
“I may be considered one of the more successful ones… but honestly, working in this job, soaking daily in society’s darkest corners, seeing the ugliest parts of humanity…”
“Sometimes I really wonder if the world is even salvageable.”
“But when I think of you…
I feel like maybe the world isn’t so bad after all.”
He looked directly at her—
so seriously her heart clenched without warning.
“H-hey…
Why are you staring at me like that…?”
“You’ve always been the sun in my sky.”
“Sounds cheesy, I know. But it’s true.
Because you’re the most pure, kind, and also the most… stupid person I’ve met.”
“Ha!?
Who are you calling stupid?!”
She wanted to snap at him, but he continued.
“Remember back in college?
You kept dreaming about buying that camera?
You saved for months, living on plain buns and pickles, insisting it was your ‘dream machine’ that would help you photograph pretty cosplayers and escape singledom.”
Lin Yu’s heart squeezed hard.
Of course she remembered.
That was the closest her useless twenty-something self ever got to escaping singlehood.
“Too bad you never bought it.
I heard photographers have an easier time finding girlfriends…”
If I had bought it, I’d be a legendary playboy by now!
Probably!
“But I never saw you buy it.
I thought you used the money to gacha your game again.”
“Later, I found out… that money…”
A swallow slid down his throat.
“…you gave it to me.”
Lin Yu’s eyes widened.
He— He knew?
But she—
“At the time, my dad fell sick. My family needed money urgently. I posted a fundraising link on social media.”
“When I reviewed the donations, there was one weird anonymous account at the bottom.”
“I didn’t think much of it. Just thought it was a stranger.”
“Until one day, I saw you using that same small account to argue on a game forum…
The avatar and username matched perfectly.”
“So it was you, Ah Yu.”
“…Damn. Should’ve changed accounts earlier.”
Classic Ah-Air.
He knew everything.
Oh well—
one good deed in a lifetime wasn’t bad.
“But Ah Yu… my dad still passed away.”
“…What?”
“But your donation… bought him three more months.
Let him leave with dignity.”
“I’ve always wanted to thank you.
And return the money.”
“But after graduation, you cut contact with all our classmates.
No reunions, no groups. I never got the chance.”
Of course.
No way I’d let them see what a failure I’d become.
“Even when we met again recently… I didn’t know how to say it.”
“So, sorry.
Really… sorry.”
He covered his face with both hands.
He wasn’t crying— but his breathing was heavy.
“I’m… such an idiot…”
The heaviness in his voice was suffocating.
Lin Yu stared at him, feeling like her throat was being crushed by invisible fingers.
She suddenly didn’t know—
Should she respond as “Lulu”
or as “Lin Yu”?
The spoon in her hand stirred aimlessly.
The congee in the bowl had long gone cold.
What should she do?
What should she do??
Forget it!
A grown man—
why is he being so dramatic at a time like this?
After a moment of thought, she flicked a finger and bonked him on the forehead, prying his hands away.
“—Tch!”
He looked up, startled.
And saw— a girl’s face, bright and lovely as a summer flower.
Her rosy lips curved gently.
“Alright, alright. I forgive you~”
Luo Shaotian blinked, dazed.
That smile… felt like sunlight.