"Mom, I'm having a small get-together with friends tonight. I'll be home right after dinner."
"Friend? Male or female?"
The mother's words contained a subtle inquiry, each word a meticulous probing.
"She's my best friend from when we were in the orphanage, Mom, don't worry about her."
Xu Lan's cheeks flushed crimson from the lie, and her voice lowered even further.
The mother on the other end of the phone seemed to pause for a moment, then let out a soft snort, tinged with disdain.
"Hmph, you're always such a worry. Your best friend from the orphanage? After all these years, you still have contact with her?"
Xu Lan felt a slight tightening in her heart, and her fingers unconsciously gripped her phone tighter.
"Mom, don't worry. She's a friend I grew up with, and we're very close. We just bumped into each other today and had a meal together."
The mother's voice carried a hint of scrutiny.
“Lanlan, you’re all grown up now, you should be more sensible. Let the orphanage thing go. Your life is different now than it was before. Don’t let people and things from the past affect your life now.”
"Mom, don't worry about me. I'm on my way home."
Xu Lan's voice remained gentle as she tried to comfort her mother on the other end of the phone.
"Then hurry up and stop wandering around outside."
"Okay, I understand."
Xu Lan responded softly, then pressed the end button, and gave Lin Yuan an apologetic smile, "My mom is urging me to go home right away, it seems I have to leave."
A doting smile appeared on Lin Yuan's lips, his eyes full of understanding.
"It's alright, go ahead. We'll have plenty of time to get together in the future."
Then, Lin Yuan took out his phone from his pocket and handed it to Xu Lan with anticipation.
"Why don't we add each other on WeChat? That way we can keep in touch in the future."
His voice held a desire to restart the past, and this gentle touch marked the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship.
Xu Lan took the phone and, with a few deft strokes of her fingertips, typed in her WeChat ID.
A profile picture suddenly appeared on Lin Yuan's phone screen.
She was a girl with a ponytail that swayed gently, and her smile was as bright as the warm spring sun.
"Alright, I'm leaving now."
Xu Lan returned the phone to Lin Yuan and turned to walk towards the ride-hailing car she had called.
Lin Yuan watched Xu Lan's car disappear into the night.
A gentle night breeze caused Lin Yuan's suit jacket to flutter slightly.
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