Under the night sky, No. 3 Nest, bathed in its own neon lights, looked like a glowing giant egg.
Lin Yu had a headache right now, not just because of Sister Next Door’s situation, but also because of Xia Yanran, who for some reason was abnormally insistent on washing his pants.
“Just take them off, come on. It’ll only take a minute—I’ll wash and dry them super fast.”
Xia Yanran trailed behind him from the living room into the kitchen, swinging an empty hanger in her hand as a symbol, “See? They’re soaked through! Isn’t it uncomfortable to wear them like that?”
“There’s really no need, Sister Xia.” Lin Yu pressed his aching temple and had already started calling her Sister Xia. “I’ll just go home and change. Don’t trouble yourself.”
“What trouble!” Xia Yanran wouldn’t let up, even reaching out to tug at his waistband. “Aren’t we good buddies? What’s wrong with washing pants for a buddy? Or is it that…”
She suddenly narrowed her eyes and leaned in, carefully studying his face. “Is there something on your pants you don’t want anyone to see? Like… Mu Liuli’s lipstick?”
Lin Yu was completely thrown by her wild train of thought and instinctively protested, “What’s it got to do with her! And why would lipstick be there? Stop talking nonsense.”
“Then I really have to check!” Xia Yanran, as if she’d found some non-existent leverage, pressed her case even more forcefully. “Hurry up and take them off! Unless you really have a guilty conscience!”
“What guilty conscience!” Lin Yu was both amused and exasperated. Heaven knew what she was scheming now. “It’s cola—you spilled it, remember?”
“Exactly because it was me, I have to be responsible and clean it up.” Xia Yanran puffed out her chest, looking all “I’m a responsible person.” “My mom always says you should have a sense of responsibility.”
Now you start talking about responsibility?
Lin Yu took a deep breath, feeling like her “sense of responsibility” was about to corner him.
He stopped walking, turned around to face the eager Xia Yanran, and tried to sound as sincere as possible.
“Yanran, there’s really no need. Look, it’s so late, and you’re a girl… helping me wash my pants—it’s really not appropriate.”
“What’s inappropriate about it?” Xia Yanran blinked, her face an innocent “I’m pure, I don’t get it” look. “It’s not like you’re taking everything off, just your outer pants. Or could it be…”
A sly smile flickered across her lips. “Lin Yu… are you shy?”
“I…” Lin Yu was momentarily tongue-tied, unable to admit to being shy, which would mean he didn’t see her as a buddy. But denying it seemed to give her free rein.
Hiss… Why does it feel like this girl suddenly got expert advice?
Just as he was racking his brain for a reason she couldn’t refute, Xia Yanran lost patience and simply grabbed both sides of his waistband and yanked down hard.
“Oh, stop dawdling, come on!”
“Xia Yanran! Let go!” Lin Yu was startled and hurried to grab her hands and his belt.
The two of them struggled in the living room, one trying desperately to pull, the other hanging on for dear life—the scene was chaos.
“Let go!”
“You let go first!”
“I’ll wash your pants!”
“I don’t need you to!”
As they tussled, Lin Yu felt his already sore waist ache even more.
Xia Yanran’s face turned bright red from the effort, a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead. She was breathing hard, eyes shining with determination, refusing to give up.
Just then, the sound of the door opening came from the entrance.
“Kacha.”
The front door opened, and Qin Wuyue appeared at the doorway.
She looked at the two twisted up in the living room—especially at her daughter’s attempt to pull off Lin Yu’s pants—her slender eyebrows arching slightly.
“You two… are you playing some new game?”
“Mom, I just want to wash his pants, and he’s being dramatic about it.” Xia Yanran, far from letting go, hurriedly explained, as if she’d found backup.
Hearing this, Qin Wuyue turned her gaze to Lin Yu.
“Aunt Qin, it’s fine, I’ll wash them myself at home. By the way, how’s my sister?”
Because Xia Yanran was still beside him, Lin Yu wasn’t sure if he was seeing things.
Qin Wuyue’s silent look seemed somehow off, and he thought he recognized a familiar expression in her eyes. It really felt a bit uncanny.
“Yanran, let go of Xiao Yu for now. Go next door and help your Sister Lin back to her room and get her dressed.” She didn’t answer Lin Yu’s question, but addressed her daughter first.
“Huh? She’s not… dressed?”
Xia Yanran was confused, not understanding why anyone wouldn’t be dressed, and looked back at Lin Yu.
“She fainted in the bathroom.”
Lin Yu replied casually, but in his heart couldn’t help grumbling—Aunt Qin, couldn’t you just do a good deed all the way to the end?
The next second, Qin Wuyue, as if hearing his thoughts, explained.
“Yanran, you go first. I need to talk to Xiao Yu.”
“Oh…” Since her mother said so, Xia Yanran couldn’t refuse, but the suspicious look she gave Lin Yu before leaving was obvious.
She really did admire Lin Mowei, but when it came to Lin Yu being too close to any woman, she’d show her disapproval all the same.
Before she left, she whispered in Lin Yu’s ear, “Later, I’m going to ask you exactly why Sister Lin wasn’t wearing clothes. Hmph.”
Lin Yu suddenly remembered an old saying—when a woman is catching a cheater, her IQ rivals Einstein.
Looks like even Xia Yanran is no exception.
Wait! Why am I flustered? There’s nothing between us!
His sister’s sudden incident and Xia Yanran’s unexpected intensity had made Lin Yu almost forget that he never actually accepted Xia Yanran’s confession. They were just “good buddies.”
Qin Wuyue walked over and sat on the sofa, crossing her legs. Her not-very-long nightgown was instantly pulled up to a rather daring height.
He didn’t even need to look for an angle—just a glance in her direction and Lin Yu could see a swath of snow-white skin.
“Xiao Yu, don’t just stand there. Come sit beside Auntie, I want to talk with you.”
Qin Wuyue patted the seat next to her with a gentle smile.
“…What now?” Lin Yu swallowed and slowly moved to the sofa, keeping a polite distance.
“Aunt Qin, what did you want to talk about?”
Qin Wuyue gave him a look. She had to admit, Lin Yu’s performance was pretty professional.
Seeing his look—wanting to look, but not daring—Qin Wuyue actually found it amusing.
But after the amusement, she considered another possibility. Was this boy… just pretending?
She still remembered the way he fooled Xia Yanran yesterday and the way he looked at her this morning.
“Xiao Yu.” Qin Wuyue called his name softly, her tone tinged with inexplicable sadness. “Are you very afraid of Aunt Qin?”
Lin Yu’s pupils shifted and he turned to meet Qin Wuyue’s eyes. She, already mature and alluring, now looked both worried and saddened.
If it had been before, Lin Yu would admit he’d already be sunk by now. But now…
See? She’s acting again.
With our relationship—you know my strengths, I know your depths—how could I not know you?
“Eh? Aunt Qin, what are you saying? Why would I dislike you?”
Lin Yu put on a flustered look, as if truly puzzled by Qin Wuyue’s words, his eyes full of thought and unease—he didn’t even glance at her legs.
Only the flamboyant can defeat the dramatic.
His act made Qin Wuyue pause, her brows knitting ever so slightly.
Even if he matured early due to his upbringing, he was still an eighteen-year-old boy.
Could it be… I’m being too sensitive?
Qin Wuyue wasn’t one to doubt herself. The hesitation only lasted a moment before she decided to try a new tactic.
If it had been before yesterday, she would never have done this. But since Lin Yu had already rejected her daughter, then… doing this shouldn’t be a problem, right?
“Xiao Yu,” Qin Wuyue leaned forward, her fingers trailing down her fair thigh, her voice changing to something indescribably seductive and sweet.
“I know boys your age are very curious about women’s bodies. I saw you peeking at Yanran and Auntie… Do you want to… touch?”