Delivery Guy

Just as Chu Lian was about to get out of bed, her phone rang. She frowned, thought for a moment, then unlocked her phone and pressed the answer button. The next second, a pleasant male voice came through: "Are you Chu Lian? There's a delivery for you. Please come downstairs to pick it up."

"A delivery? When did I order something again? Hmm..." Chu Lian was momentarily confused by the word "delivery," then quickly recalled, "Ah, yes, I'm Chu Lian. Please wait a moment. I'll be right down."

She had almost forgotten that a few days ago she had asked someone to buy a few cosplay outfits from Japan. The package must be the clothes arriving. The reason she hadn't thought of it at first was simply because she didn't expect them to arrive so quickly.

After releasing her first video, she had mentioned that she would soon publish a set of cosplay photos. But with everything that had happened since, and her second video already trending widely online, the cosplay photos were still nowhere in sight.

It wasn't that she'd forgotten; rather, the outfits hadn't arrived yet, so she had kept pushing the schedule back. Originally, she could have just bought something online, but she couldn't find a design she liked. So she had asked someone to buy them from an anime goods hotspot.

"Ah, I spaced out again. I need to hurry—the delivery guy's been waiting."

Chu Lian snapped out of her thoughts. Checking the time, she saw that three minutes had passed since the call. The delivery guy must be getting impatient.

Still in her lacy pajamas, her fair legs exposed, she stepped out the door, slipped into her slippers, and hurried downstairs.

"Why isn't she here yet? It's been three minutes. Should I call again?" A delicate-looking young man sitting in the passenger seat turned toward the handsome guy leaning on the car door and asked with a grin.

"Su Li, can't you be a little more patient? Being in the delivery business requires patience. From her voice, she sounds like a young girl—still growing. It's understandable if she's a bit slow. We're not in a rush, so no need to keep bothering her," the handsome guy replied without even turning his head, offering a lecture-like response.

"Alright, alright, Qing Yun. You're just like that Electromaster guy—incredibly patient when it comes to women. No wonder you're both still single," Su Li said, picking his ear with his pinky, clearly annoyed. But that last line landed a direct hit on Qing Yun, causing his perfectly straight posture to stiffen.

"Having patience with women is normal. Unless it's one of those people who make you want to slap them the moment you see them, why make a fuss? Besides, HQ specifically said this delivery has to arrive on time." Qing Yun's once firm voice turned low and weak.

Su Li looked at Qing Yun's back and curled his lips. "Stubborn guy. Clearly has a crush but won't confess. Now both of you are like this. What's the point? Tsk. I need to figure out a way to help those two. They've been single for years."

Of course, he only dared to mutter these thoughts to himself. If he ever voiced them aloud, Qing Yun would drop everything and chase him to the ends of the earth. For the sake of his own survival, keeping his mouth shut was definitely the smarter choice.

"Alright, I won't say another word. I'll wait with you." After that, Su Li fell silent and pulled out his phone to pass the time. What he happened to be watching was Chu Lian's performance video from yesterday afternoon.

Qing Yun was about to say something else when the door in front of him opened. A petite figure stepped out, lifted her small head, and looked at him, asking, "Are you the ones delivering a package?"

"What a delicate and adorable little girl!" Because Chu Lian's hair was a bit messy and she was wearing traditional-style pajamas, her appearance was quite different from her video persona. So while Qing Yun found her familiar, he didn't immediately recognize her.

"Are you Miss Chu Lian? This is your delivery. Please accept it," Qing Yun snapped back to attention and gestured to the box at his feet, smiling at Chu Lian.

"Ah, thank you, big brother! Could you help me carry it in?" Chu Lian cheered happily when she saw the package, but after glancing at her small hands and the large box, she blushed slightly and asked Qing Yun for help.

Her adorable expression was too much for Qing Yun's heart to handle. He nodded instinctively. "I knew big brother was the best! Arigato~" Chu Lian grinned with her eyes squinted cheerfully.

"It's our duty. Please open the door," Qing Yun said, box in arms, practically glowing with joy from the praise.

"Alright, follow me, big brother~" Chu Lian suddenly remembered she hadn't opened the door and quickly walked over to open it again for him.

Inside the living room, her parents were watching TV on the couch. Hearing the door open, they looked over and saw a tall figure carrying a large box following Chu Lian.

"It's my delivery. I need to bring it upstairs, so I asked him to help," Chu Lian smiled and explained to her parents, pointing at Qing Yun. Then she turned and headed upstairs without further comment.

"Ah, my Little Lian'er is growing up, actually shopping online now. As her mom, my heart aches… I can't cuddle her like before..." her mom said dramatically, her face falling as she watched her daughter walk away.

"You've seen how much she's changed recently. It's normal she knows how to shop now. She can earn her own money. We don't need to interfere. Raise your daughters rich, not your sons—if she grows up content, she won't crave material things later. Let her be," her dad replied calmly, never lowering his newspaper.

"But I really miss holding her like before she got sick. Her body was so soft and cuddly! Hugging her felt amazing..." Clearly, mom was a hardcore Chu Lian fan and started to pout.

Her youngest daughter Chu Chu clung to her elder sister more than her, and even her oldest daughter Chu Ke preferred Chu Lian. Ever since Chu Lian fell ill, she had become more distant too, making her mom feel sad.

Knowing his wife's nature well, her husband sighed and said, "Alright, stop playing the pity card. Every time you say something like this, it means you want to buy something. What do you want this time?"

That flipped her mood instantly. "Hubby, you're the best! I knew you'd agree! Since Little Lian'er bought something, I want to buy too! I want this..."

Not far away, Chu Lian had just escorted the awkward Qing Yun out the door. Watching her mother act cutesy at her age just to get her way, Chu Lian couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.

"I saw nothing. I heard nothing. Let's go, Su Li," Qing Yun muttered after getting into the driver's seat, speaking to Su Li who was still glued to his phone. Then he started the van and drove off.

Clearly, witnessing Chu Lian's mother in action had left him rattled. Not out of offense, but because of how loving the couple still were after all this time. Compared to his own situation, it made him feel a little gloomy.

"Heartbroken again? Saw another couple being sweet and now you're depressed. If you really care that much, go confess already. You always stop halfway and now look at you, still single. Serves you right," Su Li thought to himself, sneering internally.

As the scenery flashed by outside the window, Su Li pondered—what next? Would he always be alone? The person he liked... would they ever accept him? Probably not. No one would like someone like him...

His heart drifted into confusion once again.

Suddenly, Su Li exclaimed, "Chu Lian?! That was Chu Lian just now!"

But it was too late. The van was already far from her house. He'd have to wait for another chance to meet her...

Back in her room, Chu Lian stood holding a pair of scissors, staring at the large box in front of her and praying silently, "Please don't be a seller's showcase... please be a buyer's showcase, or else this could be troublesome."

After a moment of prayer, she opened the package. In an instant, all the items she had ordered appeared before her eyes.