Chapter 434: Chapter 434: Like a Little Fangirl
Lan Yan looked at his reply, her temple twitching slightly.
She replied with a line: “What on earth are you thinking about?”
Xiao Si asked, “Then what are you guys doing?”
Lan Yan typed out a line: “Shopping, with your mom too.”
As soon as she sent it, Xiao Si’s call came in.
“Hello.”
Immediately, the man’s low voice sounded: “Wait a minute, did you just say the three of you are shopping? What’s going on?”
His tone was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Lan Yan succinctly explained the course of events to him.
Xiao Si frowned slightly upon hearing it. “Why is Wei Ting’s daughter just like him? Why does she love inviting people to meals so much?”
Lan Yan: “…If you’re asking me, who should I ask?”
Xiao Si suddenly felt an unsettling premonition.
He had a strong feeling he was gaining a new rival in love.
And this rival… wasn’t even a man.
He’s the kind of person who usually doesn’t trust his gut instincts, but when he does get a feeling, he absolutely believes in it.
Just like now, he was convinced of this premonition.
He said, “Don’t get too close to her. Who knows if she’s a high-class green tea type? Usually, these seemingly naive and carefree people are putting on an act. For all you know, she already knows your identity and intentionally waited to approach you today.”
Lan Yan listened to his words, half believing, half doubting.
“Why do I feel like you’re talking so weirdly today?”
Lan Yan didn’t think Wei Yuning was pretending; in fact, she really just came across as adorably clueless.
Xiao Si continued, “I’m warning you, right now she’s Wei Ting’s only daughter. Even though she’s not his biological child, she’s lived in the Wei Family for over a decade. No way does she want to lose her ‘heiress’ identity. So once she learns about you, she’ll definitely go out of her way to stop you from returning to the Wei Family.”
Lan Yan listened to his lengthy advice and coolly replied, “I’ve never even thought about going back to the Wei Family.”
So even if Wei Yuning had other intentions in approaching her, it didn’t really matter to her.
“You haven’t thought about it, sure, but that’s just you. She doesn’t know what’s in your head.”
“…”
At this moment, Wei Yuning’s voice called from outside the fitting room, “Lan, are you done trying on clothes? Do you need any help?”
Every word Wei Yuning said was captured by Xiao Si on the call. “Don’t let her help you get changed! I haven’t even seen your body yet, why should she get to?”
Lan Yan pressed her forehead helplessly. “…What on earth is going through your mind?”
Then, she directed her voice toward the fitting room door. “No need, I got this myself.”
Wei Yuning gave an “oh.” “Alright then, but let me know if you need any help, okay?”
On the call, Xiao Si huffed again, “Why does Wei Yuning’s tone sound like she’s super familiar with you? Didn’t you two just meet? How does such a young girl have such thick skin?”
Lan Yan chuckled softly. “You and her are evenly matched in the ‘thick skin’ department.”
If Wei Yuning didn’t have such thick skin, she wouldn’t have stuck around all day like this.
Honestly, Lan Yan had never met anyone like her before. Meeting for the first time, knowing each other for barely any time at all, and the next second you’re out shopping together.
And the vibe—well, it felt like the three of them had known each other for years. It didn’t feel like they had only just met.
In short, if it were her? She wouldn’t be able to match Wei Yuning’s level of social ease.
She eventually said, “Alright, I’m done talking to you. Go focus on what you’re doing.”
Then, she hung up the phone.
She glanced again at the clothes in the fitting room. Actually, she didn’t really want to try them on—it felt like such a hassle.
So she just decided to linger in there long enough before heading back out.
When she emerged, Mrs. Xiao had already picked out several outfits.
And obviously, Wei Yuning had picked out several as well.
When she saw Lan Yan come out, she immediately sidled up, asking, “So, Lan, do you like any of these outfits?”
Lan Yan tilted her head, giving her a quick glance. She had a feeling that if she said she didn’t like anything, she wouldn’t be able to leave the store today.
So, she picked out three designs she liked best.
And coincidentally, they all happened to be the ones Wei Yuning had chosen.
Seeing this, Wei Yuning beamed with delight. “Lan, see? I have pretty good taste, don’t I? I told you these outfits would suit you perfectly.”
Lan Yan smiled slightly but didn’t say anything.
Wei Yuning’s frequent, almost natural calls of “Lan” were obviously becoming more fluent and effortless.
And Lan Yan couldn’t stop her—not that it was anything worth making a fuss over.
So she just let her be.
Next, the three of them walked through multiple stores, hauling in heaps of purchases.
And within mere hours, Wei Yuning had grown exceedingly close to them, blending seamlessly as if they were long-time acquaintances.
Even Mrs. Xiao appeared to take quite a liking to her.
Halfway through though, Wei Yuning got a phone call that forced her to leave.
She didn’t want to go, but alas, it was her biological mom on the other end, and there was no escaping it.
“Uh, Aunt Yun, Lan, my mom’s here. I have to head to the high-speed rail station to pick her up. If I don’t, she might just strip a layer of skin off me.”
Mrs. Xiao smiled upon hearing that. “Alright, go on then. Picking up your mom is more important.”
“By the way, Aunt Yun, Lan, can I add you both on WeChat? We should totally hang out again sometime.”
Mrs. Xiao instantly agreed, as she genuinely enjoyed the girl. “Sure thing, let’s do it.”
She swiftly pulled out her phone, opening up her WeChat QR code.
“Lan, how about you?”
Lan Yan: “…”
Could she say no?
But seeing Mrs. Xiao’s curious gaze, and not wanting to trouble her, she gave in.
Oh well, whatever…
Elated, Wei Yuning added both of them on WeChat before happily taking off.
As Mrs. Xiao watched Wei Yuning’s departing figure, she chuckled and teased, “Yanyan, I really think that Xiao Ning has a crush on you. She couldn’t take her eyes off you in these few hours, and every time she saw something nice, her first thought was you. She’s so enthusiastic around you—it’s hard to believe you just met. Honestly, the girl’s pretty interesting. She doesn’t seem like the scheming type.”
“Looks like our Yanyan is not only popular with the boys but also has the girls falling for her too,” Mrs. Xiao teased with a grin.
Lan Yan: “Aunt Yun, can you please stop making jokes? Meeting her was pure coincidence.”
Mrs. Xiao quickly replied, “Mark my words, she’ll definitely keep seeking you out. She’s really intrigued by you—a total little fangirl.”
Lan Yan: “…”
Wei Yuning reached the high-speed rail station an hour and a half later.
When she arrived at the exit, Gao Han was already there, waiting for her.
“Hehe, Mommy~ I came to pick you up!”
Mentally bracing herself, Wei Yuning plastered on a wide smile and approached, adopting a high-pitched, sing-song tone.
“Come, come, let me carry your bag for you, Madam!”
As she said this, she reached out for Gao Han’s bag.
But Gao Han smoothly dodged her, saying, “Speak properly. Stop that squeaky voice!”
Still keeping up her act, Wei Yuning continued in that same tone, “This is my proper voice! If you don’t like it, then I’ll stop.”
Clearing her throat, she shifted back to her normal tone.
“Dearest Mom, any special instructions for me?”
She blinked her big, round eyes and earnestly asked.
Gao Han stared at her sternly, “Why did you sneak off here?”
Wei Yuning replied, “Because I miss Dad, of course.”
Gao Han narrowed her eyes. “Hmm?”
Seeing her mom’s intimidating expression, Wei Yuning gulped nervously before adding, “It’s because you tried matchmaking me! I’m only twenty-three, not thirty-two. I haven’t even graduated from college yet, and you’re already setting me up with guys! It’s way too soon, and I’m not okay with that!”
Finishing her sentence, she turned her head away, her face a clear display of defiance.
With a helpless sigh, Gao Han said, “I’m not asking you to marry right now. I just want you to meet talented people. If you find someone suitable, start a relationship, and when the time is right, you can eventually get married.”
Wei Yuning shot back, “Mom, your daughter isn’t unattractive. I’m not going to end up single, so stop worrying, okay?”
Gao Han’s persistence stemmed from her own rationale.
“Sure, you’re not unattractive, but tell me, have you even dated anyone? All your friends are girls—there’s not a single man in your circle! How are you planning to get married in the future?”
“Mom, come on. Since when was it a rule that girls must have male friends? No male friends means I won’t get married? Who told you that nonsense? Also, could you stop listening to all that gossip and focus on the real world? I’m perfectly normal. I just don’t like befriending fake men, that’s all.”
Wei Yuning understood that her mom worried about her possibly liking women.
This all stemmed from a ridiculous school rumor way back that her mom somehow believed in.
No matter how much she explained, Ms. Gao still carried suspicions deep down.
Since then, her mother had been introducing her to different kinds of eligible men.
It was as though she feared something tremendously scandalous might happen.
“Fine, fine. Let’s get in the car before we make a spectacle of ourselves here,” Wei Yuning said as she grabbed her mom to steer them toward the car.
Once on board, Wei Yuning humorously addressed her mom again, “Dearest Mom, I assure you, my preferences are completely normal—absolutely, totally normal.”
Gao Han stared at her intently, her eyes clearly spelling out: “I don’t believe you.”
Exhausted from trying to clarify herself, Wei Yuning let out a long sigh and leaned back in her seat. “Whatever. Believe what you want.”
Gao Han replied, “If you immediately found yourself a boyfriend, I’d believe you.”
Wei Yuning: “…Should I just grab some random guy off the street to make you happy?”
Gao Han replied with a straight face, “That’s fine. Go ahead. I’ll watch.”
“…”
Speechless, Wei Yuning rolled her eyes dramatically.
She had only said that to make a point, and Ms. Gao actually took it seriously?
Typical Mom!
Deciding to play dead, she leaned back and stayed silent.
Gao Han stared at her peaceful facade and immediately saw through her daughter’s ploy.
“Alright, the New Year is around the corner. I’ll suspend your mandated socializing activities for now.”
Wei Yuning didn’t respond, knowing there was more to her statement.
“However, after the holidays, if you still haven’t found a boyfriend, don’t blame me for arranging new introductions with different men.”
Opening her eyes, Wei Yuning turned to look at her mom. “Mom, do you think finding the right guy is like shopping at a farmers market? You think I’ll find ‘the one’ in a month?”
For years, she had remained single because she hadn’t found someone she genuinely clicked with.
Plenty of people had pursued her, but either they didn’t spark her interest or they were only after her family name.
The fact that she wasn’t Wei Ting’s biological daughter was no secret in their circle.
Many of those pursuing her had ulterior motives, and she was fully aware of it.
They’d say one thing to her face and another behind her back.
She knew exactly what rumors circulated about her but chose to ignore them unless confronted directly.
Gao Han responded, “Then just play by my rules.”
Hearing this, Wei Yuning resumed her “play dead” strategy…
Moments later, Gao Han changed the subject.
“Do you know why your dad has been making frequent trips to Yue City lately?”
“What else could it be for? It has to be work. Unless… could Dad secretly have a mistress here? But Dad doesn’t seem like the trashy type.”
Even the driver was taken aback by her bold speculation.
Gao Han, however, smacked her lovingly. “You brat, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Rubbing her arm, Wei Yuning replied, “I didn’t say anything bad. I was just drawing an example.”
“Wei Yuning, is pissing me off the only thing you’re good at?”
“Oh, I can do plenty. For instance, I’ll take care of you and Dad in your old age. And when the day comes that you both go to the afterlife, I’ll light candles, burn incense, and keep you company during holidays.”
“…”
Gao Han couldn’t even be bothered to respond to her anymore.
She said, “For your information, your dad’s been searching for his biological daughter.”
Momentarily confused, Wei Yuning blurted, “What?”
“What biological daughter? Isn’t Dad unable to have children? Where would this daughter come from? Wait—don’t tell me my earlier joke was true? Did Dad actually have a mistress here?”
“But hold on, if Dad could have children, why wouldn’t he have one with you?”
Gao Han: “…”
She could barely get a single sentence in before this brat fired back with ten.
Taking a deep breath, she silently repeated to herself: Don’t get angry, don’t get angry.
“Before I married your dad, he hadn’t had his accident yet.”
Hearing this, Wei Yuning’s face lit up with understanding. “Ohh, so that’s it. Alright, guess I was overthinking.”
“But still, why wait so long to look for his daughter? Why not find her earlier? Isn’t it too late now?”
Annoyed, Gao Han replied, “You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?”
Pouting, Wei Yuning teased, “Geez, Mom, you didn’t have to snap. I was just curious. If you don’t know, then leave it at that.”
“Anyway, if Dad wants to find her, let him. I wouldn’t mind having a sister.”
Gao Han wasn’t concerned about the search itself; she worried more about Wei Ting being deceived in his desperation.
“I’m just worried someone might trick your dad. Imagine someone faking it, claiming she’s his daughter—what then?”
“Dad isn’t stupid. He’d definitely insist on doing a paternity test.”
“Even paternity tests can be faked! Don’t you ever watch TV dramas?”
“…Mom, you’ve been watching too much TV. That stuff only happens in dramas.”
Gao Han didn’t feel reassured. “No, I’ll have to keep an eye on this myself.”
Wei Yuning: “…”
She didn’t bother to stop her mother. Honestly, the more her mom busied herself elsewhere, the less she’d meddle in her own life. Perfect scenario.
Pulling out her phone, she glanced at her WeChat messages.
Noticing that Lan Yan had accepted her friend request, her face lit up, and she quickly shot a message:
[Lan, are you free tonight? Let me treat you to dinner, please? Or tomorrow works too. Just let me know when you’re available. Deal?]