I started with a portal, then turned around and handed it over to the nation.

Lin Mo was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

He suddenly sat up in bed, rubbing his messy hair, his mind still a little fuzzy.

The simulated sunlight outside the window is just right; it looks like it's getting late.

After moving into this villa, his tense nerves relaxed, and he slept soundly until now last night.

"Who is it?"

A wary voice came from outside the door, asking Wang Guifen, the mother's voice.

Just as Lin Mo was about to get out of bed, a pleasant female voice came through the door. The voice wasn't loud, but the words were clear.

"Hello, Auntie, my name is Ye Qing, and I'm here to see Lin Mo."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Mo heard his mother's voice change instantly, filled with surprise and enthusiasm, which made his scalp tingle even through the wall.

"Oh dear! Please come in, young lady! Please come in! Mo! Mo! Get up!"

Then, his own bedroom door was knocked loudly, and his father, Lin Dezhu, shouted excitedly from outside.

"Hey kid, get up! A girl's here to see you!"

Lin Mo froze.

girl?

Looking for me?

He glanced at the bedside table subconsciously; there were several sheets of paper with sketches of molecular structures scattered on them.

Lin Mo hurriedly grabbed the blanket and covered the papers tightly with it.

After doing all that, he rushed out of bed and into the bathroom.

As cold water splashed on his face, Lin Mo looked at his reflection in the mirror—his hair sticking up and him still looking sleepy—his mind a complete mess.

Ye Qing?

The name is unfamiliar.

Why would a young woman come to this isolated base?

He quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face, casually threw on a T-shirt and trousers, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

The atmosphere in the living room was strangely lively.

The mother, Wang Guifen, was holding a girl's hand and affectionately inviting her to sit on the sofa, her face beaming with joy.

"Please have some tea, young lady! Don't be shy, make yourself at home! Oh, are you and our Lin Mo... colleagues?"

Lin Mo's gaze fell on the girl.

The girl was wearing a simple white casual outfit, her long hair was tied in a ponytail, and she had no makeup on; her features and skin were very good.

She sat quietly with her back straight and a gentle smile on her face, showing no discomfort whatsoever from Wang Guifen's enthusiasm.

She has a calm and composed demeanor that makes people feel comfortable.

As soon as Lin Mo appeared, everyone in the living room turned their attention to him.

"Mo, what are you standing there for? Come here!" Wang Guifen waved to her son as soon as she saw him, her tone a mix of reproach and urging.

Lin Dezhu stood to the side, hands behind his back, face stern, but the slight upturn of his lips and his constantly scrutinizing eyes betrayed him.

Ye Qing stood up and looked at Lin Mo, her face still bearing that gentle smile. She extended her hand.

"Hello, Lin Mo, my name is Ye Qing."

Her voice was the same as the one I heard outside the door earlier; it was very pleasant.

Lin Mo's cheeks flushed, and he froze.

He hurriedly reached out, quickly touched the other person's fingertips, and then withdrew his hand in a flash.

"Hello...

His voice was dry and his eyes were unfocused; he dared not meet Ye Qing's gaze.

Ruined.

He couldn't help but mutter something under his breath, in a voice only he could hear.

"A typical case of an 'I' person encountering a social terrorist..."

Ye Qing's ears twitched, her eyebrows raised slightly, and the smile in her eyes deepened, but she said nothing.

Wang Guifen didn't notice her son's embarrassment and enthusiastically pressed Lin Mo down on the sofa, right next to Ye Qing.

"Xiao Ye, don't let our son's good looks fool you, he's actually quite dull and never says a word. Don't mind him."

"Mom!" Lin Mo's face turned even redder.

"Auntie, that's not true." Ye Qing smiled and shook her head: "Lin Mo is fine."

"Oh my, you're so good with words!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Guifen was even more delighted. She picked up the fruit plate from the coffee table and pushed it in front of Ye Qing: "Come on, have some fruit. This is all specially supplied from the base; it's very sweet!"

Lin Mo sat to the side, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

He felt like he was sitting on a public execution platform, and every word his mother said made him want to crawl into a hole.

He secretly glanced at Ye Qing beside him. She was picking up a piece of apple and eating it in small bites, her posture very elegant.

She seemed completely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, and instead handled Wang Guifen's questions with ease.

The questions have gone from "Where do you work?" to "How many people are in your family?" and then to "What do you think of my Lin Mo?" The questions have become increasingly outrageous.

Just as her mother was about to ask, "Do you have a boyfriend?", Lin Mo suddenly stood up and interrupted her.

"Um... Ye Qing, let's... let's talk in the study. It's not very convenient here."

Ye Qing glanced at him, her eyes smiling, and nodded understandingly.

"OK."

She stood up and smiled politely at Wang Guifen and Lin Dezhu.

"Uncle and Aunt, let's go talk about some work-related matters first."

"Go on, go on! Work is important!" Lin Dezhu waved his hand, showing great understanding.

Lin Mo led Ye Qing to the study on the second floor as if fleeing, feeling the intense, scrutinizing gaze of his mother behind him.

The two entered the study one after the other, and Lin Mo closed the door behind him.

With a loud "bang," the lively atmosphere in the living room was shut out.

Outside.

Wang Guifen stared at the closed study door, a look of lingering satisfaction on her face. She tiptoed to the door and pressed her ear against it.

"Old man, come and listen, this girl's voice is so beautiful..."

She had just lowered her voice to say something when a large hand grabbed the back of her collar.

Lin Dezhu, his face dark, grabbed his wife from the door and dragged her downstairs.

"What are you doing! What kind of behavior is this!" he scolded in a low voice.

"I was just curious..." Wang Guifen said reluctantly.

"Don't ask too many questions!"

Lin Dezhu's tone was very serious:

"Whether it's work-related or the children's personal matters, let's not meddle! The government brought us here to put our son at ease, not for you to cause trouble!"

He pulled his wife, who kept turning back to look at him, down the stairs.

"Let's go for a walk! Let the kids be on their own!"

The door to the study shut out outside disturbances.

Only Lin Mo and Ye Qing remained in the room.

Lin Mo let out a long sigh of relief, his tense body relaxing. He scratched his head sheepishly.

"Sorry, my mom... she's just too enthusiastic."

"It's okay, Auntie is very cute."

Ye Qing said with a smile. She looked around the simple study and sat down on the single sofa.

Lin Mo sat down in the chair opposite her, with a desk between them.

Safe distance.

He thought to himself silently.

The study quieted down, the atmosphere no longer noisy and awkward, but filled with a sense of quiet contemplation.

Lin Mo didn't know the other party's purpose, so he could only wait.

Ye Qing looked at him, her face still bearing that professional yet gentle smile, and broke the silence by speaking first.

Her question was direct, instantly bringing Lin Mo back to reality.

"Lin Mo, can we talk about what happened after you first entered the 'Door'?"