Lucas Mu chuckled, "I'm just telling the truth!"
Cherry Miller couldn't help but rub her forehead. "Alright, stop flattering me. I'll go to the kitchen and make you dinner. You guys take a break, it'll be ready soon."
Only then did Lucas Mu let go of Cherry Miller. After watching her head into the kitchen, he immediately jumped over to Yina Yin and asked, "Yina, what do you think about Cherry and Ethan?"
"Enough with the questions," Yina Yin replied without even looking up. "We'll talk about it when my brother gets back. Seems like Cherry and my brother have some kind of misunderstanding."
"But, with Ethan's personality, if he comes back and sees Cherry with another guy..." Lucas Mu made a throat-slitting gesture. "Cherry won't be in trouble, right?"
"He wouldn't dare!" Yina Yin immediately got riled up. "Cherry is my assistant, what right does he have to touch her? If he dares lay a finger on Cherry, I'll never forgive him!"
"No, Yina! I meant, Ethan wouldn't hurt the guy chasing after Cherry, right? If Ethan ever bullies Cherry, not just you, even Aunt Cecilia and Uncle Charles would deal with him!"
"That's more like it!" Yina Yin finally said. "Sigh, I've asked Cherry about it too. She won't say, and if I push, she gets so upset she cries. I just can't bear to press her. She must have her reasons, right? Forget it, we shouldn't meddle in these things."
Lucas Mu said regretfully, "I really thought Ethan and Cherry could end up together. They're honestly a good match."
"But Cherry has to like him first!" Yina Yin tapped Lucas Mu on the forehead. "Why are you so obsessed with this lately? Didn't Aunt Cecilia tell you to spend more time with your little sister at home?"
"No way!" Lucas Mu clutched his pillow in horror. "My little sister is nothing like yours, she's super delicate! I much prefer playing ball and roughhousing with you, Yina! I don't like those dainty little girls!"
"Ha! With that attitude, how are you ever going to get a girlfriend?" Yina Yin mocked him.
"Didn't my dad still end up with my mom? I'm not worried!" Lucas Mu chuckled. "Besides, I'm only fifteen, no rush!"
The two laughed and joked together, and sure enough, Cherry Miller soon whipped up a table full of simple home-cooked dishes.
"Dinner's ready," Cherry Miller called out. Yina Yin and Lucas Mu happily washed their hands and sat down across from her.
Cherry Miller served them rice, and just as she handed it over, the phone rang.
Cherry Miller tapped her headset. "Hello, this is Cherry."
"Cherry, it's Mom. Is this a good time to talk?" Mrs. Miller's voice came through the headset.
Cherry Miller paused with her chopsticks and said, "Hold on a second."
After speaking, Cherry Miller said to Yina Yin, "Miss, I'm going to take a call."
Yina Yin nodded.
Cherry Miller left the table and stepped outside, letting the gentle night breeze blow over her. "Mom, what is it?" she asked.
Her mother spoke on the phone, "Cherry, what do you think of Eric Chen? Uncle Chen and his family are quite pleased with you."
"Mom, I'm only eighteen, it's way too early to talk about this." Cherry Miller said awkwardly. "I only knew Eric as a kid, and now we're basically strangers. We're still getting to know each other, so I can't really say much."
Cherry Miller's mother's voice grew serious. "Are you still hung up on Ethan Yin?"
"No!" Cherry Miller quickly replied. "Mom, I know what you're worried about! I promise, I won't! I've already made things clear with Ethan Yin! There's nothing between us anymore!"
Hearing this, Mrs. Miller finally relaxed a bit. "That's good. Just get to know him for now. He's just returned to the country and his career is just starting. If you can help him now, he'll be grateful in the future."
"Got it, Mom." Cherry Miller sighed. "I'll try to get to know him."
With Cherry Miller's promise, her mother finally felt at ease.
"Cherry, I'm not forcing you to be with Eric. If you meet someone better, I won't object. I just worry about you making the wrong choices." Her mother emphasized, "As long as it's not the Yin family's young master, I won't object to anyone you choose. Understand?"
"Got it, Mom." Cherry Miller sighed, "I'll remember what you said."
"Alright, I'll let you get back to it." With that, Mrs. Miller hung up.
Cherry Miller stood at the door, looking up at the sky, feeling a strange heaviness in her heart.
She stood at the door for a full ten minutes before returning inside.
"Cherry, come eat!" Lucas Mu called out to her. "Or it'll get cold."
"Okay, coming," Cherry Miller replied with a smile.
Thanks to Cherry Miller covering for him, after Rona Muir received her call, she didn't question why Lucas Mu hadn't come home. She just asked Cherry to help keep an eye on her troublesome son.
Cherry Miller naturally agreed right away.
Rona Muir was also very fond of Cherry Miller.
This girl, at such a young age, was steadier and more mature than her peers.
She was neither arrogant nor impatient, always knowing when to advance or retreat.
So it wasn't just Cecilia Gu who liked her; Rona Muir liked her too.
With Cherry Miller as a guarantee, Rona Muir felt confident leaving her son in her care.
Seeing that his mom really didn't ask, Lucas Mu happily went back to his dorm to rest.
The next morning, just woke up.
It was Monday again, so she got up early to prepare breakfast and school supplies for Yina Yin.
Just as she finished getting everything ready, the head of school security called Cherry Miller on the internal line: "Assistant Miller, there's a female student named Cindy Wu at the gate, insisting she knows the young miss. She even brought gifts. But according to school rules, students from other schools can't enter except for the school festival. What do you think we should do?"
Cherry Miller thought for a moment and realized this Cindy Wu was the girl Yina Yin had protected yesterday.
She must be here to thank her.
Yina Yin came over, drying her hair. "What's up?"
Cherry Miller repeated what the security guard had said.
Yina Yin immediately grinned, "A beauty bringing gifts? How could I refuse? I'll go right now!"
Before Cherry Miller could stop her, Yina Yin strode out the door and rode off on her motorcycle!
Cindy Wu stood at the gate of Saint Diana Academy, looking nervous and timid.
This place was nothing like Youlin High School—so ordinary.
Everything here exuded a noble aura that made people admire it from the bottom of their hearts.
Even the security guards here wore uniforms that were custom-made, definitely not something you could just buy anywhere.
Just as Cindy Wu was feeling intimidated, a flashy motorcycle suddenly screeched to a halt right in front of her.
It stopped abruptly before she could even be startled.
Someone took off their helmet with a cool flourish and gave her a mischievous grin.
Her freshly washed hair hung messily yet stylishly over her face, making her look extra handsome.
Wu Xinlan's heart skipped a beat from the coolness, then realized the person was exactly who she'd come to find.
Wu Xinlan felt her heart beating even faster.
"Hey, beauty, so early—what brings you here?" Yin Yinuo stretched her long legs, got off the bike, set her helmet down, and leaned in to look at Wu Xinlan.
Wu Xinlan was being teased by Yin Yinuo, but she didn't resist.
"I made this myself, I hope you don't mind," Wu Xinlan said, blushing as she handed over a lunchbox she'd been holding. "I know students at St. Andrew's High all come from wealthy families. This probably isn't worth much to you, but it's just my little token. Of course, if you don't like it, I can—"
Yin Yinuo grabbed the lunchbox and opened it right away. Inside was an exquisitely made bento.
"Wow! It's beautiful! You did an amazing job!" Yin Yinuo picked up a fork, tasted a piece, and her eyes sparkled. "It tastes great too!"
Wu Xinlan hadn't expected that a student from such a prestigious school would not only protect her in a fight, but also eat the bento she'd made herself.
Wu Xinlan was absolutely thrilled inside.
Her heart beat faster and faster, and her face grew even redder.
Wu Xinlan felt like she was falling in love!
"Your bento is delicious, but you shouldn't work so hard on it." Yin Yinuo, famous for her flirting skills, spoke gently. "High school studies are always tough, so take care of yourself. When the school festival starts, I'll treat you to a meal at St. Andrew's High, okay?"
"Really?" Wu Xinlan felt her heart thumping, almost leaping out of her chest.
"Of course it's true," Yin Yinuo laughed. "This time, the director is bringing together several schools for the event. St. Andrew's Academy will be all dressed up. I heard from the director that top students can attend St. Andrew's Academy for college. I hope I see you here. Good luck!"
"Mm!" Hearing Yin Yinuo's encouragement, Wu Xinlan felt as happy as if she were dreaming.
Oh my god! She was actually encouraged by her idol!
Uh, yes—she'd always thought Yin Yinuo was a boy!
So, she kind of fell for Yin Yinuo.
"Thank you, I'll do my best!" Wu Xinlan said, blushing. "I won't bother you anymore. Just seeing you today made me really happy!"
After saying that, Wu Xinlan ran off, her face still red.
Yin Yinuo watched Wu Xinlan's back, smiled, packed up the bento, and rode her motorcycle back to the dorm.
Mi Xiaoying saw that Yin Yinuo's hair was still wet, so she quickly fetched a hair dryer to dry it. Seeing the bento on the table, she couldn't help but say, "Oh my, Miss, another girl brought you a bento!"
Yin Yinuo chuckled, "Of course! Nuo-ge's charm is unbeatable! Even better than my brother's!"
"Yes, yes," Mi Xiaoying said helplessly. "But does she know you're a girl?"
"She should know, right? Not sure!" Yin Yinuo looked at Mi Xiaoying, puzzled. "Is that important?"
Mi Xiaoying couldn't help but sigh.
Of course it's important!