My Villain Is Super Sweet (GL) - CHAPTER 32

The news that Gu Minglan would be coming to stay with her daughter for ten days to half a month hit them like a bolt of lightning. In an instant, all their passionate plans were shattered into pieces.

Both of them were left feeling down and listless, completely drained of energy.

Lin Lang looked at Gu Qingci with a pitiful expression, so full of grievance it was almost spilling over.

Gu Qingci gave her a helpless look. She hadn’t expected this either! Unlike Lin Lang, who was entirely gloomy, she felt half happy and half troubled—but it’s not like she invited this to happen!

The two of them just stared at each other, full of things they wanted to say but couldn’t. They were speechless, eyes full of unshed tears.

Kissing, hugging, cuddling, trying things out, enjoying each other, unlocking new positions—none of that had anything to do with them now.

At least not this year.

After all, Gu Minglan wouldn’t leave until after January 5th at the earliest.

If they even dared to try something behind her back, they’d be risking it all.

Gu Qingci didn’t have the guts to sneak around with Lin Lang under her mom’s nose. The thought alone felt too shameful for her to handle.

And Lin Lang? No way she’d dare to do anything to someone’s daughter right in front of the mom! That’d be like dancing on the edge of death!

Gu Qingci hadn’t even come back yet, but Lin Lang was already feeling how tough the days ahead would be.

Even though ten to fifteen days doesn’t sound that long, Lin Lang could already tell they were going to feel longer than the whole past year.

Because last year, they were physically separated by 8,000 kilometers. Out of sight, out of reach—only occasional video calls to ease the longing.

But now, Gu Qingci would be right here in Beijing, just under her mom’s watchful eye. She’d be close enough to touch—but not to taste.

Talk about torture!

Lin Lang moped around for several days before finally giving in and going over the new house with a fine-toothed comb, hiding anything that might raise suspicion.

Once she’d stashed away everything she could, she started a second round of inspection.

The waterbed? That was fine—it’s just supposed to help you sleep better, no matter what kind of sleep!

The specially installed swing with other uses? It looked normal enough, no one would suspect a thing. Safe.

The mini gym setup? That could be easily explained away—Gu Qingci might just want to stay in shape at home, right?

As for the study that clearly looked like it was meant for two? Well, she’d say it was just more spacious that way!

Now, that big double bathtub for “fun couple time”… yeah, no way to hide that. Gu Qingci would just have to take the fall and say she had a “girly” love for luxury.

Even her own mom couldn’t stop her from being hopelessly romantic, right?

When the house was finally back to looking “pure,” Gu Qingci came home.

Lin Lang arranged for the car with mixed emotions. She first went to pick up Gu Minglan, who was flying in on a domestic flight.

Sure, Aunt Gu’s sudden visit ruined all their original plans, but this was still Gu Qingci’s mom—and her former boss. Lin Lang held a lot of respect for her.

Especially now that she was eyeing her daughter. Naturally, her attitude was extra polite and eager.

“Aunt Gu, over here!” Lin Lang waved warmly and jogged over to take her suitcase. “Why don’t we wait in the car for a bit? Qingci’s flight won’t land for another forty minutes.”

“Let’s head to the car then,” Gu Minglan said, exhaling a puff of white mist. “Beijing sure is cold. So, Lin Lang, are you getting used to life here?”

“Totally,” Lin Lang grinned as she wheeled the luggage along. “As long as I’m making money, I can get used to anywhere.”

Gu Minglan chuckled and shook her head. If anyone was making money, it was Lin Lang. Her business ran on a light asset model—if she had people and clients, she had profit.

Neither Gu Minglan nor Qingci could offer a salary anywhere near even 1/20 of what Lin Lang earned on her own.

Still, it was good to see a young person with drive, willing to try different things.

While they chatted in the car, Gu Minglan noticed Lin Lang seemed unusually tense.

What’s going on? Back when they first met, Lin Lang was never this stiff around her. Was her social ability regressing?

“No need to be nervous. Why so distant now?”

Lin Lang gave a polite but awkward smile. “How could I be? You’re my boss’s boss now—I just don’t want to mess up.”

Yeah, right. Not nervous at all. Just secretly trying to date your daughter—of course she felt guilty! She wanted to leave a good impression, but not try too hard either. It was driving her nuts!

Lin Lang sneakily tried to convince Aunt Gu: “It’s really cold outside. Why don’t you wait in the car while I go meet Qingci?”

But Gu Minglan wouldn’t have it. “No way. I rarely get to pick her up—I want to surprise her.”

Then she laughed as if remembering something. “You know, the last time I regularly picked her up was when she was in kindergarten. If I had to ask someone else to do it, she’d lecture me when she got home.”

She used to be this tiny little thing, scolding her with a soft, childish voice about keeping promises.

After Gu Qingci started grade school and her grandparents retired, they took over the school runs.

Gu Minglan insisted on going, and even flipped the script: “Why don’t you wait in the car, and I’ll go meet her?”

Lin Lang was speechless. She forced a smile. “She’s my boss, Aunt Gu. You’ve got to let me make a good impression.”

Come on, Aunt Gu! This wasn’t about whether she wanted to go—this was a setup! A lose-lose situation!

If she waited in the car, Qingci would never let her hear the end of it.

She made a dramatic face, making Gu Minglan laugh even harder.

“Don’t worry, I’ll put in a good word for you,” Aunt Gu said.

Lin Lang sighed inside and joked, “I’m just afraid when my boss comes after me, you’ll be the one handing her the weapon.”

That made Gu Minglan laugh even more.

When Gu Qingci finally arrived, she glanced briefly at Lin Lang but immediately rushed into her mom’s arms, snuggling up and pouting sweetly. “Mom, I missed you so much!”

Gu Minglan was grinning from ear to ear as she hugged her daughter tightly. “I missed you too.”

She gave her daughter a once-over and touched her cheek. “Good, you haven’t lost weight.”

Then she remembered to vouch for Lin Lang. “Lin Lang came all this way to pick you up—say hi, quick!”

Gu Qingci glanced shyly at Lin Lang.

Was this… official permission for a hug?

Come on, Lin Lang! Why aren’t you stepping up? Don’t make me do it!

Like she’d read her mind, Lin Lang smiled and opened her arms. “Didn’t miss me at all?”

Gu Qingci stepped right into her arms, hugging her tight around the waist. Her voice was small but bold, cheeks flushed pink as she whispered, “I missed you. Missed you so much.”

Right after those words, Lin Lang’s hug tightened noticeably.

Gu Minglan watched with a smile and only spoke up after a while: “Alright, let’s go home.”

The two of them slowly let go, eyes locked on each other like magnets.

Eventually, Gu Qingci reluctantly moved over to her mom’s side.

Gu Minglan held her daughter’s hand and gently reminded her, “I heard Lin Lang helped set up the house. You better thank her properly.”

“She’s supposed to be your assistant at work, but now she’s basically doing your home chores too. Be good to her, alright?”

Qingci nodded along, thinking: Helped me set it up? It’s her house too! If she’s got the nerve, then don’t live in it, hmph!

This time, Qingci’s flight had landed just like before. The only difference was, last time she and Lin Lang went straight to a hotel. Today, the three of them went to their new home together.

On the way, Lin Lang ordered food. The community didn’t allow delivery people inside, so she had it sent to the gate. After getting home, she dropped off the luggage and went down to pick it up.

After Qingci showered, the three of them had lunch together. They laughed and chatted. Gu Minglan looked proud, wearing the expression of a mom watching her daughter grow up. She praised how lovely the house looked.

The place had a warm-toned design—cozy, soothing, and full of life. It really felt like a home.

Only someone who loved life could have arranged this, she said.

As she walked around praising the place, Lin Lang and Qingci kept stealing glances at each other, occasionally sneaking in a quick hand-hold when Aunt Gu wasn’t looking.

Qingci even got a little mischievous, subtly brushing her leg against Lin Lang’s under the table—slowly, teasingly, just enough to make her squirm.

Lin Lang sat stiff as a board, pretending nothing was happening. She gave Qingci a glare: Be good! Stop teasing!

By the end of the meal, she felt mentally and physically drained.

After lunch, she tactfully excused herself.

What do you expect? The boss could skip work to stay home and relax with her mom, but the humble assistant still had to go back to the office.

But amid all the disappointment of “my girlfriend came back, but her mom came too,” there was at least one piece of good news.

Gu Minglan was very respectful of her daughter’s independence. She didn’t step foot in the master bedroom, nor did she comment on any of the more “couple-like” details in the house.

She understood her daughter was grown now and needed space to figure out her own life.

All the careful preparations and made-up explanations the girls had rehearsed? Totally unnecessary.

In the following days, it was supposed to be Qingci spending time with her mom—but in reality, Minglan brought her to meet all sorts of old friends.

Some were business contacts, some were college classmates.

After all, Gu Minglan graduated from Huada University. About half of her old classmates had stayed in Beijing and were now in powerful positions.

Since her daughter would be working here in the coming years, she wanted to make sure everyone knew and would keep an eye out for her.

Qingci understood. Her mom was starting to pass along her own network, and she didn’t want to mess it up. She behaved well and did whatever she was asked.

One of those friends was a professor at Huada.

Qingci already knew this professor—her mom introduced them when she first enrolled. She’d been visiting once a year ever since to maintain the relationship.

Since they knew each other, Qingci left after a bit to let the two old friends catch up, using a visit to the EF8 lab as an excuse. But really, she just wanted to sneak away and see Lin Lang.

Huada was huge, and she couldn’t stay away for too long. She picked a quiet meeting spot and sent her location to Lin Lang, urging her to hurry.

If Lin Lang dawdled, they might only have time for a few words before Qingci had to head back.

When Lin Lang finally arrived, Qingci saw her running toward the pavilion from a distance.

As soon as she reached her, slightly out of breath, they locked eyes—and within three seconds, they were in each other’s arms, kissing passionately like they hadn’t seen each other in years.