“I am her…”
Inside the bathroom, the girl stood before the mirror murmuring to herself, utterly perplexed.
The words “it” had spoken in the dream were easy enough to understand at first—meaning the dreamscape shifted according to her own state of mind. But that final sentence remained a stubborn mystery she couldn’t quite unravel.
Lin Xinyuan pinched her cheek, her face full of doubt. “Could ‘she’ be referring to me as I am now?”
That would be logical… but then why would “it” go out of its way to say that? Wouldn’t it have been simpler to just say “it” had nothing to do with her? Why single out another subject? And what did “it” mean by saying they might meet soon? Leaving things half-said like that… honestly, what a cryptic riddle-monger.
Lin Xinyuan grumbled internally. The more she thought about it, the weirder it felt, but eventually, she stopped dwelling on it. After all, she didn’t care much about the past anymore. As long as it didn’t affect her, it didn’t matter; she just wanted to live in the present.
Involuntarily, she thought of the jade bracelet tucked away in her backpack, which hadn’t been taken out in a long time. Come to think of it… she had been furious with that thing when she first woke up. Now…
Cough, well, it’s fine… I don’t hate it that much anymore.
With a faint smile on her lips, and not wanting to keep a certain guy waiting outside, she finished washing up and began her skincare routine. Although she was gradually becoming less resistant to cosmetics, she rarely used them unless she was going out to a crowded place. However, she still used basics like facial cleanser.
After finishing her skincare, the girl tilted her head left and right in the mirror. Feeling that her face looked much fresher and more supple, she nodded in satisfaction. But then she saw her hair—tousled into a mess like a bird’s nest—and her mood soured.
“Stinky blondie… restless hands…”
She muttered under her breath, not daring to speak too loudly for fear of being overheard. She spent a bit more time smoothing out the tangles before finally returning to the bedroom.
Lin Xinyuan righteously kicked the stinky blondie out of the room since she needed to change. Fortunately, Qin Nanfeng didn’t cause any trouble this time and obediently stepped out. She breathed a sigh of relief. She was still a little afraid of him acting up again. Just to be safe, she double-locked the door before starting to change.
Slowly shedding her pajamas, she put on a set of casual everyday clothes. Then she sat at her desk, facing the mirror, preparing to tie a simple high ponytail. But halfway through, she paused as a thought struck her.
I do this almost every day. He probably gets tired of looking at it… Should I try a different hairstyle?
Biting her lip, Lin Xinyuan opened her phone to look for ideas.
Five minutes later, the door finally opened from the inside. Hearing the sound, Qin Nanfeng, who was leaning against the wall scrolling through his phone, instinctively looked up. He froze for a moment. A flicker of intense emotion flashed in his eyes before quickly returning to normal, as if it had never been there.
He smiled and tucked his phone into his pocket. “Let’s go down for breakfast.”
As he spoke, he walked over and expertly took Lin Xinyuan’s soft hand, leading her toward the stairs.
“Um…”
Lin Xinyuan murmured, staring at the tall figure in front of her. She hesitated, wanting to say something.
Is this hairstyle… not pretty? It shouldn’t be… I think I look great… but why did he have no reaction? Phew… Stupid guy! No sense of aesthetics…
“What’s wrong?”
Qin Nanfeng noticed the girl’s steps were lagging. He slowed his pace and turned back, feigning confusion.
“…”
Seeing him look over, Lin Xinyuan felt shy. She hesitated but quickly made up her mind. She lowered her head, her other hand nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling slightly: “Brother Feng… do you think I…”
“Is there anything different about me today…?”
The girl’s face was flushed, and her bashful look was incredibly adorable. After speaking, she peered up at his expression from time to time, looking both embarrassed and expectant.
Qin Nanfeng didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he suddenly closed the distance and wrapped an arm around her slender waist. Caught off guard, Lin Xinyuan didn’t struggle or retreat; she simply let her blushing face sink into his chest.
“Look up.” “Ah… oh…”
Lin Xinyuan was slightly dazed, but she obediently tilted her pretty face upward. She pursed her lips, straining to look up into his eyes.
The stinky blondie’s eyes… are actually quite nice…
At this moment, the young man’s eyes were full of laughter and tenderness. He stared straight at her, making her heart rate accelerate continuously. Eventually, she couldn’t take that gaze anymore and tried to look down, but her chin was gently caught by a warm, large hand.
“Don’t move, I’m taking a careful look…”
The young man’s voice was deep, echoing in her ears. Goosebumps broke out across her skin, and her legs began to feel weak and tingly.
“T-taking a look?”
The girl’s tongue tripped, her shame beyond words.
Qin Nanfeng nodded solemnly. “Yes, exactly. I’m observing a very cute Xinyuan.”
“You… hurry up… I haven’t had breakfast yet!” Lin Xinyuan closed her eyes in embarrassment, her hands gripping his clothes tighter. This guy… so cheesy… such a turn-off…
There was no response. Qin Nanfeng just watched her, his gaze meticulously tracing her features. The girl had a classic oval face, elegant eyebrows, and long, thick eyelashes that fluttered like butterfly wings. Even without makeup, she was pure and captivating. Her face, still carrying a hint of “baby fat,” was currently stained a deep red—a picture of innocence that felt like a temptation.
She had tied her hair into a playful side ponytail; the dark hair created a stark contrast against the porcelain, almost pale skin of her neck. And there, on the right side of her white neck, was a small red mark. It wasn’t obvious, but it shimmered with an ambiguous hue, utterly alluring.
Regarding the mark he had left last night, Qin Nanfeng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He narrowed his eyes, having no intention of pointing it out, and continued to study her closely.
“Are you done yet…?”
After waiting for what felt like forever, the girl couldn’t hold back anymore and peeked one eye open. She immediately saw a pair of eyes already brimming with desire, like a hungry wolf. It gave her a sudden fright.
Qin Nanfeng was slightly surprised by her reaction but didn’t mind. He only pulled her into a tighter embrace. Because their bodies were pressed flush against each other, Lin Xinyuan suddenly felt something against her abdomen that made her heart race with panic…
It felt like… something was expanding.
Expanding?
As someone who used to be a guy, Lin Xinyuan understood almost instantly what that was. Her already flushed face turned a violent shade of crimson.
This guy… in broad daylight… he’s pointing a “gun” at me… Phew…
Even though they were both wearing thick winter clothes, Lin Xinyuan could still feel that burgeoning pressure… it was terrifying.
It’s so big… if we actually did that, I’d definitely die…
Lin Xinyuan couldn’t help but feel a wave of dread. Although she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes before, she had heard Chen Ze, that big-mouth, brag about how well-endowed the stinky blondie was. Back when she was a guy, she had scoffed, thinking the gap couldn’t be that large. But now, she realized how naive she had been.
The more the girl thought about it, the more scared she became. She was already considering the feasibility of a Platonic relationship. Yet at the same time, her body’s physiological response was indescribable—love and fear intertwined.
In truth, her heart had likely already accepted her fate, but she clearly wasn’t ready yet. Frightened into hiding her head back in his chest, her body trembled with a mix of embarrassment and indignation. “You… that thing of yours…”
Seeing her this scared, Qin Nanfeng just laughed. “It’s a normal physiological reaction. Xinyuan, have a little understanding for your boyfriend…”
At this point, his expression shifted back to its usual flirtatious look. He leaned down to her earlobe, a wicked smile on his lips. His voice was low as he whispered, “After all… Xinyuan is so beautiful. No matter the hairstyle… especially today’s.”
“You look so tempting that your man… really wants to take you right here and now…”
As soon as those words were out, the girl’s small body froze. Her face exploded into a deep red, and her entire body felt like it was radiating heat. Shame… fear… all sorts of emotions flooded her heart. But more than anything, there was a sense of… pleasure? The pleasure of being validated by the person closest to her.
Her chest felt tight, a physical reaction to an overwhelming emotion. But Lin Xinyuan wasn’t suffering at all; she was only filled with joy.
He likes it… He likes it… Like, like, like, like! I like it too!