Mated at First Sight
Chapter 178 - 161: Boss! Sister-in-law! (One more update)_1

Now that he knew of his feelings for Mu Lin, Jing Chen was somehow at a loss on how to get along with her. All those courting tips he’d found online, and the countless lines of sweet talk he had memorized, just wouldn’t come out at this moment. Or rather, his mind was practically blank.

"Why are you staring at me?" Even with her eyes closed, Mu Lin could still feel the burning gaze coming from his side. There was a slight hesitation to it, too. She asked, "Is there something you want to say to me?"

She couldn’t help but wonder, why was he looking at her instead of focusing on driving?

Mu Lin thought, the Jing Chen at this moment really didn’t feel like Jing Chen.

"Ahem..." Caught staring, he let out an awkward cough. Jing Chen’s voice echoed beside Mu Lin’s ears, "Are you still sleepy? I’ll drive more steadily then." His words were gentle and considerate, but they only made Mu Lin feel awkward.

"Your driving is steady enough already." Opening her eyes, Mu Lin saw the trees at the edge of the road passing slowly by. She suggested, "We could actually go a little faster." With this snail-like speed, when were they going to reach their destination?

"Okay." Jing Chen nodded, and increased their speed.

After a short pause, "Linlin," Jing Chen’s pleasant but somewhat constrained voice once again filled Mu Lin’s ears.

Mu Lin responded with a soft hum.

"We are quite far from the military compound. We’ll have lunch downtown first when we get there, and then go do acupuncture for my grandpa." It sounded like he was asking for Mu Lin’s opinion.

Mu Lin didn’t really have any special requests, "You decide." She didn’t bother to worry about such details.

Jing Chen simply hummed in response, and the quiet was restored once again.

"Actually," Mu Lin turned to look at Jing Chen, "I rather liked how you were not too long ago." Confident, flamboyant, calm, intelligent, domineering, and even a little childishly cheeky. Today’s Jing Chen really didn’t feel like Jing Chen.

A gentle smile played on his lips, his eyes radiating warmth. "I understand." With Mu Lin’s casual admission of liking him—even knowing that it wasn’t the kind of like he hoped for—Jing Chen’s heart still bloomed with happiness at that moment, filled with an inexplicable joy.

Mu Lin had no idea, her offhand remark was nothing short of pure encouragement to Jing Chen, urging him to win her heart and body.

He was determined to succeed.

...

Baking Home.

A peculiar name for a restaurant, indeed. It was more of a casual diner, but it had this name that really caught people’s attention.

The business here seemed to be booming.

"Let’s go inside." After parking the car, Jing Chen walked over to Mu Lin and said, "The food here tastes really good. I think you’re going to like it."

Mu Lin nodded. She didn’t have particular food preferences. However, she didn’t expect to see Jing Chen, a person of his stature, eating in such a commonplace place. It must be because the food was really good.

As they entered the restaurant, most of the seats were already taken. The place was filled with chatter.

At the sound of the doorbell ringing, a man who was still busy giving instructions at the check-in counter turned around. He stared at Jing Chen, stunned at first, then his face filled with delight. He promptly walked up to them.

"Boss, why are you here today?" Looking at Mu Lin beside Jing Chen, he seemed to have realized something. He then went straight for a bow towards Mu Lin and exclaimed, "Hello, Sister-in-law!" This shout startled the nearby customers, and their gazes simultaneously shifted to Mu Lin and Jing Chen. Mu Lin was also taken aback.

Mu Lin felt like the young man with dark skin standing in front of her was extremely worked up. It seemed to be the first time that Jing Chen brought a lady here, hence the misunderstanding.

But that address... well, let Jing Chen explain it himself.

However, just when Mu Lin thought Jing Chen would deny it, he chose to lightly pat the young man’s shoulder instead and said, "I specially brought Linlin here to try your food today, is there still a seat available? Fang Zi."

The man named Fang Zi was quick to nod, "Of course." He had to make way for the boss’s visit, no matter what. After saying that, he paused again, looking rather embarrassed. "I’m sorry, Boss, Sister-in-law, our private rooms are all occupied since we have a lot of customers today. I can find you a quiet corner in the dining hall if that’s alright?"