Chapter 19 : Seeds of Doubt
19: Seeds of Doubt
Hehe~
At noon, cheerful laughter rang out at the entrance of Weiyang Apartments. The sound was crisp as silver bells, carrying joy that drifted away with the wind, blowing away some of the early summer heat.
The laughing girl was none other than Chu Tianlan, the Su University Student Council President whom Su Mo had just encountered at the residential entrance—a girl with the gentle, neighborly big sister warmth.
"Hehe, Junior Su Mo, you couldn't possibly think these two are my children, could you? I'm only one year older than you. How could I have given birth to such big twins? Your imagination is really too rich."
Su Mo, following Chu Tianlan through the main entrance of Weiyang Apartments, heard her teasing and couldn't help but feel her face flush with mild embarrassment.
Emmmmmm how could a junior senior who was only one grade above her possibly have given birth to these twins? The timeline didn't add up no matter how you calculated it.
Upon reflection, Su Mo couldn't help but consider another question.
She had come to Weiyang Apartments for part-time work and to rent an apartment. The original plan was for the part-time job guy to take her to the employer's house, but after meeting Student Council President Chu Tianlan at the entrance, he had completely stopped mentioning going to the employer's house.
Combining this with the two cute little ones currently on either side of Chu Tianlan, Su Mo couldn't help but wonder—could the employer actually be Chu Tianlan?
Thinking of this possibility, although finding it somewhat unexpected that Chu Tianlan would hire an outsider as a tutor, to increase her chances of securing the part-time job, Su Mo couldn't help but focus her gaze once more on President Chu Tianlan, whom she usually only saw at various meetings.
Perhaps due to what the 'part-time job guy' had mentioned about the elementary school's temporary afternoon power outage changing dismissal from afternoon to noon, requiring her to hurriedly pick up the two children.
Chu Tianlan's hairstyle today was a simple yet dangerously charming braid. Looking closely, one could notice it carried a hint of faint moisture. The braid hung down along her graceful swan neck, falling across her full chest. Combined with her fresh little white dress and exquisite, natural makeup-free face, it added a virtuous housewife quality to Chu Tianlan, who already looked as gentle as a neighborly big sister.
Unlike An Xiaoqian's mischievous spirit or Lin Muyao's youthful ease, Chu Tianlan's aura was as magnificent as her name suggested, full of tolerance. Just looking at her, one could feel a reassuring gentleness and consideration.
Because she had always been busy completing missions and buying cardiac stimulants in a constant rush for survival, Su Mo had never taken the time to seriously observe Chu Tianlan or other women.
But now, observing carefully up close, Su Mo suddenly understood why her roommate Wu Di had a secret crush on her.
Emmmmmm dating such a gentle, beautiful, curvaceous neighborly big sister who clearly knew how to take care of people would be wonderful in every sense.
More importantly, judging from Chu Tianlan's current intimate interactions with the two little ones, she would definitely be a devoted wife after marriage.
If one could marry such a wife, married life would surely be... blissful and fulfilling in every sense!
Just as Su Mo's thoughts were drifting in strange directions, the group had unconsciously strolled to the small children's garden in Weiyang Apartments designed for kids to play.
In this little garden were many cartoon children's facilities: a seesaw painted with giant pandas, a small giraffe slide in green, all looking innocently adorable.
Faced with these children's toys, the two little ones beside Chu Tianlan immediately lost all resistance, bouncing and jumping while making childish requests.
"Auntie, Chenchen wants to play on the slide."
"Auntie, Ningning wants to build a castle~"
Facing these childish voices rising from left and right, Chu Tianlan first skillfully took the backpacks from both little ones, then gently patted their heads and said, "Go play."
The next second, the two exquisite porcelain dolls ran toward the children's play equipment like unbridled horses, their steps cheerfully pattering.
After the two little ones went to play, Chu Tianlan turned her attention back to Su Mo and the part-time job guy who had come with him.
Facing this combination, as Su University's Student Council President, after brief consideration, she seemed to think of something and said somewhat incredulously:
"Brother Wang, don't tell me Junior Su Mo is the tutor you found for me. Isn't this a bit of overkill? Junior Su Mo was a top scorer when he first enrolled!"
Hearing Chu Tianlan mention 'top scorer,' this commendatory term, combined with the fact that Su Mo and Chu Tianlan seemed to know each other from their earlier interaction at the entrance.
At this moment, part-time job guy Wang Tao couldn't help but look at Su Mo, this university student he'd just met this morning, with somewhat resentful eyes.
Really, if you have advantages, you should mention them! That's how you expand competitiveness! This young person is really too young!
As for the part-time job guy's somewhat resentful gaze, Su Mo didn't receive it—or rather, had no time to receive it.
Because at this moment, she was being dragged by the pant legs toward the garden by the two little ones Chu Tianlan had just released.
As for why the two little ones chose Su Mo?
Su Mo could guess the general reason with tearful helplessness.
Emmmmmm children mostly relied on instinct to find companions.
They would usually be afraid of fierce-looking people. They would also be afraid of those with bad tempers. Strong, robust people would likewise make little friends feel pressure.
As for Su Mo, with her weak constitution, gentle features, and mild, non-violent temperament, she perfectly fit children's criteria for choosing friends and had always been popular with kids since childhood. Su Mo didn't mind this, as occasionally spending time with imaginative little friends was quite interesting and relaxing.
Incidentally, due to this aura that children loved, Su Mo would also often be barked at by passing dogs when walking on the street.
"Big brother, are you auntie's friend? Will you play on the slide with Chenchen?"
"What big brother? Chenchen is stupid. This is clearly big sister. Big sister, will you build a castle with Ningning?"
Su Mo, being pulled by the pant legs by the two little ones, was forced to walk forward.
When she heard little girl 'Ningning's' statement, Su Mo nearly broke out in cold sweat. Fortunately, looking back, she found that the two people behind hadn't noticed, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
To prevent the two little ones from saying any more shocking statements that might arouse suspicion, Su Mo directly took one little hand in each of hers and walked toward the small swings ahead.
Hmph hmph hmph, the little loli wanted to play in the sand, the little shota wanted to play on the slide, but unfortunately, today Brother Su Mo wanted them to play on the swings!
Lifting the two little ones onto the swings, Su Mo stood behind them, gently pushing.
Soon, waves of childish laughter filled the little garden.
Hearing the happy laughter of Ningning, Chenchen, and Su Mo playing together, seeing that Su Mo's face showed no annoyance or dislike toward the children, but rather seemed quite happy.
Witnessing this scene, a gentle smile curved across Chu Tianlan's intellectually beautiful face, her deep peach blossom eyes narrowing slightly. The small mole under her left eye corner became even more alluring due to this small movement.
If Su Mo had seen Chu Tianlan's smile at this moment, she would have been greatly shocked.
Because the current Chu Tianlan had an overlapping sense of déjà vu with Su Mo's favorite Raiden Shogun character.
Whether it was that absolutely beautiful face, the mature neighborly big sister aura surrounding her, or the mole at her eye corner, it was all too similar. Combined with her proud figure, achieving the fragrant single slash might not be difficult.
Part-time job guy Wang Tao, skilled at reading people's expressions, was also slightly amazed by Chu Tianlan's smile.
However, he quickly didn't forget the main business and timely steered the conversation back on track.
"Miss Chu, what did you mean by 'top scorer' just now?"
Hearing the part-time job guy's question, Chu Tianlan smiled and responded:
"Junior Su Mo scored over 700 points on the college entrance exam back then. Having him tutor my nephew and niece, I'm completely at ease. Thank you, Brother Wang. Here's your commission fee."
While speaking, Chu Tianlan took out her phone and directly transferred 1000 yuan to Brother Wang.
Seeing the 500 yuan more than planned in commission fees, under money's influence, Wang Tao's favorable impression of both Chu Tianlan, this benefactor, and Su Mo increased somewhat.
With this increased goodwill, when searching for rental housing for Su Mo, after rummaging around and thinking of Su Mo's needs, Wang Tao had a moment of conscience and spoke up:
"Miss Chu, Brother Su Mo wants to rent an apartment in Weiyang Apartments. You happen to have a unit listed for 5000 yuan rent, which should suit Brother Su. You just gave too much commission fee, and I'm too embarrassed to collect another fee.
How about this—you two can look at the apartment later. If it's suitable, I'll send you an electronic rental agreement. This time I won't charge you a commission fee!"
After saying this, perhaps due to earning less money, part-time job guy Wang Tao's departing steps carried a few degrees of heaviness.
Chu Tianlan watched the community part-timer Wang's retreating figure, recalling the detail he had just mentioned about Su Mo wanting to rent an apartment.
At this moment, her delicate eyebrows couldn't help but furrow slightly.
Generally, university students, even couples in love, would rent near the university town.
It was both cheap and close to school, and the environment wasn't bad either.
But why did Su Mo want to rent in Weiyang Apartments?
It was really quite strange, and somewhat mysterious.
Just as Su Mo was patiently playing with the two little ones, little did she know that at this moment, a seed of doubt had quietly been planted in Chu Tianlan's heart!