“Then I’ll be going now……”
Seeing her cousin already riding their little e-scooter over, the young girl exchanged a bashful glance with Qin Nanfeng, making her final farewell.
“Mm, it’s fine. Anyway, I can’t go back to Tianbei for now, so I can visit you anytime.”
Qin Nanfeng smiled and patted Lin Xinyuan’s small head, then couldn’t help but help her smooth the few mischievous locks of black hair over her forehead.
Such an intimate gesture, especially with acquaintances still nearby, left Lin Xinyuan feeling shy and helpless. Her already unsettled little face grew even redder, but in the end, she said nothing more.
After all, this wasn’t the first or second time such things had happened in front of her cousins. Though she was still embarrassed and a bit awkward, it wasn’t quite so nerve-wracking anymore.
“Let’s go, Sister Yuan! You should be done talking with Brother-in-law by now, right? Time to go home.”
Tang Yayun pulled up on her e-scooter next to the two, gesturing for the girl to get on. But she quickly noticed the reluctance in Lin Xinyuan’s eyes.
Her dark, lively eyes darted around and she giggled, “How about Brother-in-law comes home with us too! Since he can’t go back right now, why not stay with us? Keep Sister Yuan company! Otherwise our lady here will be bored to death~ Don’t you think so, sis?”
Teasing Lin Xinyuan as she spoke, Tang Yayun found herself more and more convinced by the idea.
She had actually been watching their interaction from afar the whole time. For some reason… the more ambiguous they got, the more excited she felt?
It was just like watching a drama series, especially thinking about how her cousin had apparently lived as a boy before. That made her even more thrilled…
Tang Chengmin, who was also riding his scooter, didn’t comment on his little sister’s words and didn’t mind either way.
After the earlier conversation at the dinner table, Tang Chengmin figured it out. From his—let’s say, fairly extensive—experience, his cousin’s boyfriend seemed to really like her.
Of course, maybe it was all an act, but as far as he could see, there was nothing wrong…
Since there were no bad intentions, and Lin Xinyuan wasn’t going to be hurt, he had no reason to interfere with this little couple.
On the contrary, he was actually quite happy to see it. After all, while Lin Xinyuan now showed no signs of ever having been a boy, honestly, the experience itself was hard to put into words…
Having someone who could accept and like little Yuan cousin—a guy who seemed quite outstanding, just a bit less so than himself—and they both liked each other, why wouldn’t he give them his blessing?
“Stop talking nonsense…Yun!”
Hearing Tang Yayun’s teasing and that ambiguous look in her eyes, Lin Xinyuan’s face turned bright red and she immediately scolded her.
But Tang Yayun just kept grinning, seriously considering the possibility. She muttered, “It’s not nonsense! Look, sis, we have so many rooms at home. Forget just one Brother-in-law, even six could fit! Besides, grandpa and grandma won’t say anything. They don’t even know about you and Brother-in-law yet! They’d be thrilled if you had a boyfriend—they definitely wouldn’t complain~”
Tang Yayun’s words almost made Lin Xinyuan tempted, but she quickly shook her head, banishing such dangerous thoughts. Still, she hesitated, her expression conflicted, but in the end she shyly refused: “Let’s not…”
Qin Nanfeng stood by silently, thoughtful, a sharp gleam in his eyes.
“…Bye, Brother Feng…”
Lin Xinyuan sat sideways on the back of the scooter, holding her skirt down with her hand to prevent any mishaps. Calling Qin Nanfeng “Brother Feng” in front of others for the first time, she was clearly uneasy, her words stuttering.
“Remember to contact me when you get home, it’s pretty boring here for me.”
Qin Nanfeng said it as usual, but his eyes, when looking at Lin Xinyuan, seemed a little pitiful, though she couldn’t tell if she was imagining it…
“Okay.”
Lin Xinyuan nodded instinctively, but then thought about it—Qin Nanfeng never looked pitiful. That word just didn’t fit him.
And yet, that’s exactly how it felt now…
Unconsciously, she thought of her little Huang at home, and in that moment, Qin Nanfeng seemed to overlap with him…
Her resolve started to waver again…
Yeah… If the situation in Tianbei got worse, who knows how long that annoying blond would be stuck here. Was he supposed to stay in a hotel forever?
That would cost a fortune…
Although it’d be embarrassing, and grandpa and grandma would find out about Qin Nanfeng, it didn’t seem as bad as leaving him bored and alone here.
…It’s just meeting the parents, that’s all…………………
She wasn’t afraid! Mm… uh…
Besides, Qin Nanfeng came to Leishi for her. Otherwise, he’d have gone home long ago…
Wait—he really can’t go back. What if he caught something…
Whatever the case, bringing a friend home to hang out should be fine, right? Even if this friend was a bit… special…
Hmm…
As her mind swirled with thoughts, torn and anxious, she heard Tang Yayun and the others’ voices beside her.
“We’re heading out then, Brother-in-law!”
“Alright, drive safe.”
“Mm-hmm, Sister Yuan, we’re off!”
Just as the words left the girl’s mouth, the scooter beneath her started to move. Affected by inertia, Lin Xinyuan, sitting sideways on the back, leaned uncontrollably to the side. She snapped back to her senses and quickly grabbed the seat to steady herself.
“Wait…Yun!”
“What is it?” Tang Yayun blinked in surprise, quickly hitting the brakes, turning her head back with a puzzled look. “Did you forget something, sis?”
Tang Chengmin also stopped his scooter, equally confused.
“……”
The brother and sister stared straight at Lin Xinyuan, waiting for her answer. But now she regretted it, unable to speak for a moment. Yet seeing Qin Nanfeng still watching her from not far away, she couldn’t help herself. Even though that annoying blond just smiled and waved her off, she could clearly picture him bored, or lonely…
After thinking for a moment, she bit her pink lips, her eyes conflicted, glanced at Qin Nanfeng behind her, and finally spoke: “Bring him along…”
After she finished, she averted her gaze, not daring to see her cousins’ reactions.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Tang Chengmin and Tang Yayun almost spoke in unison, still bewildered, making Lin Xinyuan even more uneasy. She didn’t say a word, just let out a soft, embarrassed whimper.
Seeing her shameful expression, the siblings soon understood what Lin Xinyuan meant, exchanging a glance—everything understood without words…
So… how did things end up like this…
With the cold wind whistling past her ears, Lin Xinyuan sat sideways on the back seat, hugging the waist of the tall figure driving ahead, wanting to say something but holding back.
Qin Nanfeng caught a glimpse of Lin Xinyuan’s little face in the rearview mirror, noticed her conflicted look, and asked curiously, “Xiao Yuan, did you want to say something?”
The scooter was moving slowly, so the two could hear each other clearly.
“Um…” Lin Xinyuan realized and quickly ducked her head behind Qin Nanfeng’s back to avoid his gaze, eyes cast down. “I just wanted to say, don’t get the wrong idea… I just thought you looked bored, so I brought you back to hang out…”
At those words, Qin Nanfeng didn’t tease her further, just smiled in his eyes: “Alright, I know my Xiao Yuan is the best.”
“As long as you know…”
Lin Xinyuan hummed softly, then fell silent, only hugging Qin Nanfeng’s strong waist a bit tighter, resting her head against his back, nose filled with his cool, refreshing scent.
However, this scene…………
It felt so familiar…………
For a moment, everything seemed blurry in front of her eyes, as if she was transported back to that October…
That scorching sunny day, she had leaned on Qin Nanfeng’s back just like this, the same scent, the same person, but a completely different feeling. Back then, she was still Lin Xinyuan, approaching that annoying blond with revenge in mind, trying to make him pay…
But now… she’d ended up like this…
Thinking that, the little figure in Lin Xinyuan’s heart wailed in embarrassment.
Unconsciously, her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
For example… Qin Nanfeng’s ex-girlfriends…
Even though she knew Qin Nanfeng had probably lured Li Xue away from her on purpose, and nothing really happened, she still felt upset.
Besides, who knew if he’d had anything improper with other girls before…
Lin Xinyuan was seriously displeased, very displeased.
It was as if her favorite toy had been spat on by someone else—tainted, and it made her uncomfortable…
No way… She had to get this straight…
“Brother Feng, I… can I ask you something…”