Chapter 122: Mother’s Shrewdness

"...So, what are your thoughts? Your father and I have already scouted several suitable companies for you. They’re not far from home, and the food is great!"

"Youyou, are you listening? What do you think?"

Just as Lin Luoyou was caught in her own internal dilemma, Ji Lan spoke up again. However, Lin Luoyou had been so preoccupied with her own thoughts that she barely heard half of what was said.

"Oh, oh, I’ll look into it..."

"What do you mean 'look into it'? Do you think those companies are going to keep a spot open for you while you wait? You need to make a decision in the next couple of days!"

"Mom... actually, I was thinking of staying in City A." Lin Luoyou hesitated for a moment before voicing her thoughts. "Can't you just let me stay here? I’ve been here for four years, and I’ve really grown to love it."

There was a moment of silence on the other end. For a second, Lin Luoyou worried that she had poured a bucket of cold water on her mother's enthusiasm and upset her.

Just as Lin Luoyou was debating whether to soften her tone and act a bit spoiled, she heard her mother ask in a cautious, probing voice:

"You don't want to come back? Are you seeing someone there? Who is it? Do your father and I know them?" Ji Lan’s rapid-fire questions left Lin Luoyou struggling to keep up. "But at your age, it really is time to date. Find some time to bring the young man back so we can meet him—don't keep him all to yourself!"

Wait, where did that come from?

"Mom, back when I was a freshman, you were the one telling me not to rush into dating! It’s only been a few years; aren't you just pushing your daughter away now?"

"Hey, how is this 'pushing away'? Isn't it good to have someone who cares about your well-being? We’d be thrilled to have someone else looking after you!"

Regarding the drastic change in her mother's stance on her love life over the past three years, Ji Lan had a different perspective:

"Like you said, that was when you were a freshman. Back then, you were protected by your father and me, and you hadn't seen much of the world. We were just worried someone would trick you with a bit of sweetness. But now, you’ve been taking such good care of yourself in City A and have been exposed to so much more of the world; naturally, your perspective is different from what it was three years ago. Your father and I trust your judgment."

Lin Luoyou realized once again how open-minded her parents actually were.

It turned out that, unknowingly, it wasn't just her who had grown; the mindset of those around her was constantly evolving, too. She had grown up, yet she had always assumed her parents were standing still. But through constant communication, she discovered that to avoid a generation gap, they had actually embraced many of the trendy, modern ideas of her generation.

"...Tell your mother the truth, are you really not seeing anyone? Are you not with Zhen Hao?"

In a moment of distraction, Lin Luoyou was startled by her mother’s sudden question: how did she even figure that out?

"I'm really not seeing anyone... I swear! But how did you know about Zhen Hao..."

Lin Luoyou didn't finish her sentence, but Ji Lan understood exactly what she meant.

She rolled her eyes immediately. "Please, who am I? I’m your mother! Do you really think I’m as clueless as you are about the little schemes and feelings of those people around you?"

Lin Luoyou was speechless. She couldn't help but think that if she had even half of her mother’s shrewdness and insight, she probably wouldn’t still be single at twenty-three.

But... wasn't her mother trying to push her to come back to their hometown to work? How did the conversation drift so far off track?

Lin Luoyou’s eyes darted around, and she quickly interjected:

"Anyway, Mom, I have things to do here—I need to get back to my thesis. I won't keep you! Bye!"

Before her mother could react or pivot back to the topic of returning home, Lin Luoyou hung up the phone in a hurry.