They all want to control me!

Chapter 16 Did you get the wrong date?

Wenbo Road, Jinfeng Shopping Mall.

Lin Ran and Jiang Qiaoqiao waited for Tao Zhiyao.

The girl carried a white bag, her slender legs were encased in jeans, and she wore white sneakers and white socks—the white socks were the key element.

"Huff, huff... Lin, Lin Ran, I'm sorry, I'm late," Tao Zhiyao said breathlessly.

"It's nothing, but what happened to your face?" Jiang Qiaoqiao noticed that her face was a little swollen.

Tao Zhiyao pouted and said with a wronged expression, "Wang Hui and the others insisted on pinching my cheeks. They wouldn't let me leave unless I pinched them. I even yelled at them using the 'sexy NL' nickname from the web drama they showed me, but they still pinched me..."

Lin Ran introduced Wang Hui to Jiang Qiaoqiao. Wang Hui was Tao Zhiyao's roommate. She was a cheerful and lively girl, a bit childish, and liked to play pranks. She wasn't a bad person. Once, when Tao Zhiyao was being pressured by an annoying senior to sell her a campus card, Wang Hui chased the senior away like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

"A close, albeit strained, friendship," Jiang Qiaoqiao said.

"Yes." Lin Ran said with relief, "It's not easy. You, who have no friends, have actually figured out the meaning of 'frenemy'."

"I'm not an idiot, and I must reiterate to you, I have as many friends as I want!" Jiang Qiaoqiao always stubbornly insists on things that seem inexplicable.

Lin Ran asked her to say a few words to comfort Tao Zhiyao.

Jiang Qiaoqiao did as she was told, and the comforted girl looked up and smiled—it seemed that as long as Lin Ran praised her, all her other worries disappeared.

"That's a real good girl," Lin Ran exclaimed. "Some people can't fake it even if they want to."

"Tch." Jiang Qiaoqiao curled her lip.

"Hmm? Qiaozi, do you have a problem with that?"

Lin Ran sensed that her mood seemed off.

"I have no objection, not at all. Now it's time to take your little cicada to a buffet."

Jiang Qiaoqiao took Tao Zhiyao's hand and walked into Jinfeng Shopping Mall.

The fifth floor is the food court, and it was packed with people at lunchtime; the elevators were crowded.

"Tao Zhiyao is short, so you put her in the corner, then you stand in front of her and protect her," Lin Ran instructed remotely.

"Okay," Jiang Qiaoqiao replied in a muffled voice, doing as Lin Ran instructed.

Lin Ran sensed something unusual, pondered for a few seconds, and asked, "Are you angry? Are you upset that I'm too concerned about Tao Zhiyao and neglecting you? Or is it that she's obedient and thinks you're not?"

"Do your narcissistic uncle and aunt know about this?"

"I'm proud of this. My parents think I'm a confident young man."

"...What kind of amazing family is this?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Lin Ran's words had hit her nail on the head, but this was a normal phenomenon.

Imagine you go out to eat with two roommates, and they keep chatting while you can't get a word in edgewise. You always feel ignored, and anyone would be annoyed in that situation—so we can conclude that a triangle is an unstable shape.

"So why are you in a bad mood?" Lin Ran has one good point: she asks questions when she doesn't understand.

Lin Ran's bald high school chemistry teacher praised him for being clever and quick-witted, because pretending to know what you don't is the most foolish thing. So Lin Ran asked the teacher how to blow up the school, saying that he didn't want to go to class for even half a second. The chemistry teacher was silent for a few seconds, then cursed, "Go to hell! If you blow up the school, how am I supposed to work and earn money to support my family? If you want to blow up, go blow up that island nation across the sea!"

These facts are enough to prove that Lin Ran is outstanding.

Jiang Qiaoqiao gave an excuse: "I'm hungry, so I'm in a bad mood."

"That's easy, a buffet will let you eat your fill."

"Um……"

Upon reaching the fifth floor, at the entrance of the buffet restaurant, Jiang Qiaoqiao took out two coupons from her pocket.

"When did I buy the coupon?" Lin Ran asked, puzzled.

"I bought it, it's in my pocket. Didn't you feel your pocket and notice something was off?"

"without……"

"Damn! I've already given you so many assists, but I really can't carry you."

Jiang Qiaoqiao was speechless. She felt like a mother who had worried so much about her son's exam, only to have him suddenly reply, "Huh? An exam today?" A sense of helplessness washed over her.

Lin Ran chuckled and said, "Next time you want to surprise me, just let me know in advance. I appreciate the thought, I'm so touched."

"Then hurry up and die!"

"No, if I die, my sister will be so lonely."

"..."

Lin Ran's casual remark silenced Jiang Qiaoqiao.

That "sister" really did stir my heart.

Jiang Qiaoqiao, you can't be so spineless. You gave in with just a simple flattering address? How will you ever stand up for yourself again?

Jiang Qiaoqiao patted her cheeks to clear her head, then dragged Tao Zhiyao, who was already drooling, into the restaurant.

Tao Zhiyao didn't stand on ceremony at all, taking a large plate and stuffing food into it with all her might.

Jiang Qiaoqiao was not to be outdone, and she sought out all the junk foods that were high in oil, salt, and fat, trying them all without exception.

Lin Ran was ashamed. A little girl with a huge appetite and a rich girl who loves junk food—it's amazing how they're put together.

The following scenes were even more exciting. Tao Zhiyao had five extra meals in total, and Jiang Qiaoqiao couldn't eat anymore after finishing just one plate.

High-oil and high-salt foods stimulate the body to produce dopamine, bringing happiness and making people eat more and more, but they can easily increase the burden on the stomach.

Tao Zhiyao is different; her ability to eat is a natural gift.

It's worth mentioning that Tao Zhiyao brought Lin Ran a lot of steamed buns, and she hadn't forgotten her words after the wall slam on Thursday: "I like steamed buns!"

After Jiang Qiaoqiao finished eating, she pretended to be on her phone but was actually chatting with Lin Ran, while Tao Zhiyao was still eating, her rosy lips covered in oil, and she occasionally let out happy humming sounds.

"I have a suggestion for you: stop calling her Little Cicada, call her Little Pig instead, because she can eat even more than a pig."

"Being able to eat is a blessing, you know?" Lin Ran retorted.

"I understand, but not like that. My family is well-off and can afford it. But if you really marry her, are you sure you can handle the cost of food and drink?" Jiang Qiaoqiao spoke the truth.

"...We'll talk about the future later."

Lin Ran clicked his tongue, not expecting that Jiang Qiaoqiao shared the same worries as him; it was hard not to be telepathic.

[Teamwork +1]

Great system, the additions you made this time were spot on.

After finishing the buffet, Jiang Qiaoqiao took Tao Zhiyao for a walk to aid digestion. No, it should be said that Jiang Qiaoqiao was the one who aided digestion, while Tao Zhiyao only ate until she was about 80% full.

I came across a women's clothing store.

Jiang Qiaoqiao hadn't been to a shopping mall in a long time, so she dragged Tao Zhiyao inside and dressed her up like a doll.

While Tao Zhiyao was changing clothes, Jiang Qiaoqiao couldn't resist the girl's desire to look pretty. She picked out a dress with a complicated pattern that resembled Lolita and stood in front of the dressing mirror, trying it on repeatedly.

"Lin Ran, do you think I'll look more docile in this little dress? Like your little cicada."

Jiang Qiaoqiao was unconvinced and said to Tao Zhiyao, "You're such a good girl. Why do you have to dress up and compete with me? Make me admit that I am the best!"

The mirror reflected Lin Ran's slightly flushed face as she repeatedly twisted her waist, a sight that Lin Ran found irritating.

That's enough.

"I'm helping you with your date, can't I at least pick out a few dresses?" Jiang Qiaoqiao said indignantly. "Even though I'm a little lame, I still have human rights!"

"Human rights my ass! Look at the way the staff are looking at you! They've grabbed brooms, ready to sweep you out like a pervert!"

"what?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao was so engrossed in choosing clothes that she didn't notice her surroundings. When she turned her head, she saw that the shop assistant was indeed staring at her.

She coughed twice, feigning seriousness:

"This little dress is nice, it would fit my girlfriend perfectly, but the fabric is a bit cheap, it's not pure silk, so the quality is a little lacking."

The sales clerk's expression softened upon hearing this. Clothing stores aren't afraid of you complaining about the quality of the clothes; they're afraid of you complaining about the price, because there are always better clothes waiting for you.

Jiang Qiaoqiao quickly put the Lolita dress back and waited for Tao Zhiyao to come out of the dressing room.

The last two girls (?) bought two dresses and a tank top as a base layer.

One of the dresses and the tank top were bought by Jiang Qiaoqiao. Faced with Tao Zhiyao's strange look, as if asking, "Are you a cross-dresser?", she explained:

"Actually, I have an older sister who has helped me a lot with my studies and relationships. She has recently gone through puberty and can no longer fit into her old clothes, so I bought her two new outfits."

"Huh? Lin Ran has an older sister?"

"My adopted god-sister is an extraordinary woman who combines beauty and wisdom. I deeply admire her; she is my guiding light and beacon in the vast sea of ​​my life!"

Jiang Qiaoqiao didn't hold back in praising herself.

Lin Ran sneered: "You call me narcissistic? I think you're just as narcissistic. You're quite the talker. A beacon of light on the sea, why don't you go play chess with Chang'e in the moon and be the moon of my life?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao pretended not to hear, fully demonstrating the greatness of Ah Q's spirit.

Lin Ran felt mentally exhausted, and at the same time, a strange thought came to her mind:

"Is this really a date with Tao Zhiyao? I chatted with Jiang Qiaoqiao the whole way, discussing this and that, it felt like I was on a date with her."