TMLSG -Chapter 24 I’ll Come Pick You Up

Tang Zhen arrived at the Zhou residence around nine in the evening.

Zhou Xusi’s father was still out attending social engagements, and Zhou Wan usually lived on campus. So, in the spacious villa, aside from a few housekeepers, the only actual resident present was Tang Zhen’s mother—and technically, only her mother.

Zhou Xusi didn’t live there either.

He owned several properties privately and rarely stayed at this villa for more than a night all year.

Seeing Tang Zhen return home, her mother was clearly surprised. “Why are you back all of a sudden?”

Tang Zhen carefully scanned her from head to toe. “Big brother said you twisted your waist. How are you feeling now?”

Her mother glanced meaningfully at Zhou Xusi, then at Tang Zhen, smiling warmly. “I did slip in the bathroom today and twisted my waist, but it’s not serious. I’ve seen a doctor and applied some medicine already.”

Reassured that her mother was fine, Tang Zhen relaxed.

Her mother walked over, guided her to the sofa, and as they sat, she didn’t forget to include Zhou Xusi. “Xiao Si, you sit too. It’s so thoughtful of you to worry about me and even bring Zhen Zhen home to check on me—I’m really touched.”

Zhou Xusi’s tone was calm. “It’s just on the way.”

“On the way?”

Her mother chuckled inwardly.

Neither Zhou Xusi’s usual residence nor his company was in the same direction as Tang Zhen’s school. How was this “on the way”?

But she had long intended to match her daughter with her stepson, so she had no reason to expose his small lie.

In fact, she was quite pleased.

After chatting with Tang Zhen for a while, her mother pretended her back hurt and prepared to return to her room.

Tang Zhen immediately stood. “Mom, I’ll help you back.”

Her mother initially wanted to refuse but soon changed her mind. “Alright.”

Once her mother returned to her room, Zhou Xusi naturally stayed in the living room to have tea.

After her mother left, the joyful expression on her face couldn’t be hidden. “Your big brother isn’t ordinary, is he?”

Is he?

In this novel, Zhou Xusi is a wealthy supporting male character.

He invests in and provides resources for the female lead, helping her rise. Even though he’s currently focused on game development, he later takes an interest in robotics and gives the female lead a large investment, greatly supporting her career.

Hearing her mother’s words, Tang Zhen remained calm. “Mom, you’re overthinking.”

Whether male lead or supporting male, true love only belongs to the female lead. It had nothing to do with her as a supporting female character.

Just as she thought this, her phone began to vibrate.

She looked down.

It was a video call from Ren Yanjing.

At this hour? Why was he suddenly calling via video?

She asked 000, “Sanquan, is something wrong with the male lead?”

000 didn’t know either. 【Not sure… maybe he just wanted to call you.】

As for the photo Lu Yu had secretly taken, neither Tang Zhen nor the system was concerned.

On one hand, the male lead would never get jealous. On the other hand, her relationship with Zhou Xusi was completely aboveboard. Even if a classmate misunderstood, her three close roommates would immediately clarify things.

After telling her mother, Tang Zhen went to her room to answer the call.

Although she was the stepdaughter in the Zhou household, she still had her own spacious bedroom, cleaned daily by a housekeeper.

Ensuring no one was nearby, she answered the call. She didn’t want her mother to know about her relationship with Ren Yanjing.

Better to keep things simple.

The next second, Ren Yanjing’s face appeared on the screen. He didn’t seem to be in a dormitory—more likely in a car.

Was he heading out?

“Are you driving somewhere?”

“Where’s my baby?”

Both voices sounded simultaneously.

Almost at the same time, both of them asked a question, and there was a brief silence. Finally, Ren Yanjing answered first: “I’ll come get you.”

Tang Zhen blinked in confusion. “We just parted not long ago.”

Ren Yanjing hummed, fastened his seatbelt, secured his phone in a safe position, and started the sports car.

“Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

Tang Zhen’s clear, delicate face glowed in the room. “I’m at home.”

Ren Yanjing paused slightly. “Why are you back home all of a sudden?”

Tang Zhen pulled the phone back so he could see her room. “My mom twisted her waist today. My stepbrother happened to pass by my school, so he brought me back.”

Ren Yanjing slowly eased off the accelerator, pretending to be nonchalant. “Huh? You never told me you had a stepbrother.”

Well, there wasn’t much chance to mention it.

After all, they hadn’t been dating long, and in their recent dates, they hadn’t talked much about family.

Tang Zhen nodded. “My mom remarried last year. I got a stepbrother, and also a stepsister.”

Ren Yanjing casually pulled the car over to the side of the road, still looking effortless. “Who’s your stepbrother? Let me see if I know him.”

Actually, this circle was neither too big nor too small.

Although the male lead didn’t currently know the supporting male, they had both at least heard each other’s names.

Familiar by name, but not really acquainted.

Tang Zhen told him Zhou Xusi’s name.

Ren Yanjing made a mental note.

He seemed to have some impression of the name.

But what Zhou Xusi specifically did, his age, and his social circle—he didn’t really know.

After all, there was a six-year age gap between them, and their social circles didn’t overlap.

Ren Yanjing placed both hands on the steering wheel. “What time will you go back to school? I’ll come pick you up.”

Tang Zhen wasn’t particularly comfortable being under the same roof as her mother.

She wasn’t the original person; their personalities were very different. She was afraid that spending too long around her mother might reveal something.

At the same time, she didn’t want her mother to see Ren Yanjing.

As Tang Zhen hesitated, a notification chimed—she had received a new mission.

Like an order received by a team in a game, every time she received a new task, she got a clear prompt.

She tilted her head to glance.

Mission Eleven read:

【Mission Eleven: Do not let the male lead and supporting male meet face-to-face.】

This time, there was no optional flag—mandatory or not.

It meant this mission had only 1 life point.

But this mission suited Tang Zhen perfectly.

She didn’t want Zhou Xusi to know she was in a relationship. If Zhou Xusi knew, it would be like her mother knowing too.

So she thought for a moment and told Ren Yanjing, “It’s 9:15 now. My mom usually sleeps around 10. I don’t know much about my big brother, so maybe you can wait until he’s asleep before coming to get me.”

At these words, both of them paused slightly, feeling like they were secretly dating under their parents’ watchful eyes. Even though they were adults, it still felt like a school romance.

Ren Yanjing cleared his throat lightly. “Alright, give me your home address.”

He knew nothing about Zhou Xusi beyond the name.

Indeed, it was better not to meet in person for now.

After hanging up, Ren Yanjing quickly called his cousin.

On the other end came a casual, teasing voice: “At this hour? Why’s our A-Jing calling me?”

Ren Yanjing didn’t waste time. His fingers tapped the steering wheel, his eyes deep. “Brother, do you know Zhou Xusi?”

“Oh, him? He’s a classmate from MIT. What about him?”

“Brother, I need a full dossier on him— as detailed as possible.”