My online dating circle has millions of followers, why would she put a collar on me?

He walked out of the gate of Lanyue Mansion, scanned a shared bicycle, and rode a short distance when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He thought it was Xia Anmian urging him, but when he took out his phone, he saw it was Su Xiaoyue.

Little Moon: Honey!!! The follow-up test results are in!!!

Little Moon: The doctor said the recovery is going exceptionally well!!! Even better than expected!!!

Little Moon: I'm so happy!!!

Little Moon: Honey, what are you doing? I miss you (✪ω✪)

Jiang Yi parked his bicycle on the side of the road, leaned it against the shoulder, and typed a reply: "It's good that the follow-up examination was successful, which means you're recovering well. Can you be discharged today?"

Little Moon: Mm-hmm! The assistant is handling the discharge procedures; we'll be home soon.

Little Moon: Honey, I almost cried when I saw the follow-up report today.

Little Moon: After so many surgeries, it's finally successful! My face is finally healed! (´;ω;`)

Little Moon: Thank you, husband. If it weren't for your constant encouragement, I might have given up long ago.

Jiang Yi stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard.

He recalled what Jiang Miaomiao had said—"She is afraid to interact with people because of her birthmark and is usually very lonely"—and that bittersweet feeling welled up in his heart again.

"You're welcome, you persevered on your own," he typed back. "You're much braver than me."

Little Moon: Honey, you have such a sweet tongue (///ω///)

Little Moon: Oh, by the way, honey, my mom said she'd like to invite you to dinner. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days.

Jiang Yi almost threw his phone away.

Invite me to dinner?

Su Xiaoyue's mother wants to invite him to dinner?

He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and typed: "No need, no need, your mother is so busy, don't bother her."

Little Moon: No trouble at all! My mom said she really wants to meet you and see which boy is so nice to her daughter.

Little Moon: But don't worry, honey, I told her we'll make arrangements after we meet.

Little Moon: You'd better get ready first, my mom is very picky.(´•ω•`)

As Jiang Yi looked at the word "picky," an image flashed in his mind: a middle-aged woman in a custom-made suit, with exquisite makeup and sharp eyes, sitting in a private room of a high-end restaurant, scrutinizing him with the same eyes she would use to examine a criminal, asking him questions he couldn't answer at all.

He shivered.

"Okay, I understand," he typed back, trying to keep his tone calm.

Little Moon: Honey, are you nervous?

Jiang Yi: "No."

Little Moon: You must be nervous! Every time you say "no," it means you're nervous!

Jiang Yi was taken aback.

When did he say "no"?

Scrolling through the chat history, I found that he had indeed said it several times. Every time Su Xiaoyue asked him, "Are you unhappy?", "Are you busy?", or "Do you not want to talk to me anymore?", he would reply with "No".

He himself hadn't even noticed this habit.

But Su Xiaoyue noticed it.

This girl understands him better than he imagined.

Or rather, to understand "him".

"Okay, I'm a little nervous," he replied honestly.

Little Moon: Hehe, don't be nervous, my mom doesn't eat people.

Little Moon: And I'm here, I'll put in a good word for you!

Little Moon: Honey, what are you doing right now?

Jiang Yi glanced at the time; it was almost midnight.

He had arranged to meet Xia Anmian at 2 PM, which was more than an hour away, but it would take half an hour to cycle there. Including buying some things on the way and arriving early, the time was actually quite tight.

"I have some things to take care of outside. What about you? Rest well after you're discharged from the hospital, and don't go out unnecessarily."

Little Moon: Okay, I'll go home and lie down obediently.

Little Moon: Honey, you're busy, I won't bother you anymore. Remember to call me tonight!

Little Moon: Mua! (*╯3╰)

Jiang Yi replied with an "okay," put his phone back in his pocket, and got back on his bicycle.

He rode very fast, the wind whistling past his ears, making his clothes flutter. The magnolias by the roadside shone white in the sunlight, but he paid no attention to them.

My mind kept replaying Su Xiaoyue's last few words.

"You're nervous every time you say 'no'."

She's too perceptive.

His keen perception frightened him.

If he says something wrong, or something that doesn't match what Jiang Miaomiao said before, will she notice it immediately?

What will you do after you realize it?

Jiang Yi dared not think about it.

He shook his head to clear his mind of these chaotic thoughts and sped up his ride towards the agreed-upon shopping mall.

I arrived at the mall at exactly 2 p.m.

Jiang Yi locked his bicycle, walked quickly into the mall, and took the elevator up to the cinema on the fifth floor.

Xia Anmian has arrived.

She stood by the escalator at the entrance of the movie theater, wearing a light gray trench coat over a black knit sweater, her hair tied in a low ponytail, looking both neat and gentle.

The moment she saw Jiang Yi come up the escalator, the corners of her mouth curved slightly. It wasn't a big curve, but Jiang Yi had known her for over two years and knew that it was when she was truly happy.

"I'm two minutes late." Xia Anmian glanced at her phone, her tone stating a fact, but her eyes were full of laughter.

"There was a traffic jam on the way." Jiang Yi walked over and naturally reached out to rub her hair.

She didn't flinch, but wrinkled her nose: "Your hands are sweaty."

"By riding a bicycle."

"Then don't touch my hair."

"I touched it."

"Jiang Yi."

"Um?"

You deserve a beating.

Jiang Yi smiled, withdrew his hand, and took out his phone from his pocket to take a look.

No new messages.

He put his phone back in his pocket and took Xia Anmian's hand: "Let's go, the movie is about to start."

Which hall?

"Hall number three, it's over there."

The two walked side by side toward the theater. Xia Anmian's hands were small, with slender fingers and distinct knuckles; they felt like warm jade in her palm.

Jiang Yi held her hand, and that feeling of security returned to him.

This is the real thing.

The person beside you, and the feelings you share, are the real ones.

Those emoticons and sweet words flashing on his phone screen were all fake. He was forced to do them.