The meal was a pleasant affair. The men discussed the world over their drinks, and the women chatted as well…
Lin Xinyuan really didn’t want to talk, but she couldn’t rudely ignore her elders when they took the initiative to speak with her.
The main issue was that her Aunt seemed so… inappropriate!
One moment she was asking if Xinyuan had been eating papayas, and the next she was talking about how a husband and wife should live harmoniously.
She said all sorts of scandalous things, leaving the young girl’s face flushed crimson.
Qin Changyin only held back slightly out of consideration for the others present, but as soon as dinner was over, she pulled Xinyuan aside for more whispering.
While the conversation started normally, it grew increasingly outrageous. She straight-up asked when they were planning to have children because she wanted to be a “Great-Aunt.”
She was incredibly bold, even enthusiastically teaching Lin Xinyuan how to better conceive.
No matter how much Xinyuan tried to explain, the woman just kept talking, clearly not believing for a second that she and Qin Nanfeng hadn’t done anything “naughty” yet.
Her mouth never seemed to stop, making the girl so bashful she nearly retreated into her own collar.
With no way out, she could only listen helplessly.
It wasn’t until they finished the cake and 10:00 PM rolled around that Qin Changyin’s family finally headed back to the city, as the couple had to work the next day.
Watching the three of them leave—especially that woman walking with such a jaunty skip—Lin Xinyuan’s face was red all the way down to her neck.
Waves of indignation and shame echoed in her heart. Her mind was a mess as she silently went upstairs.
In the washroom, clear, steaming water cascaded over the girl’s fair, slightly pale skin.
Under the warm yellow light, she shimmered with an enchanting glow. She lightly bit her lip.
Perhaps it was because of the topics Qin Changyin had brought up, but a thought she had harbored for a long time resurfaced, leaving her agitated.
‘Should I…?’
They had been together for so long; why hadn’t that guy made a move on her?
‘Is it because he can’t?’
She had heard that “Yellow-Haired Brat” say he had never been this intimate with anyone else before. Could that be why?
But Lin Xinyuan had felt it several times now; there was no faking that. ‘It’s impossible…’
‘So why? He clearly drops hints, so why doesn’t he take the initiative?’
‘Does he not like me…?’
‘No… that’s not it…’
Xinyuan’s thoughts grew more chaotic, and she began to let her imagination run wild.
This was accompanied by a physiological throb that made her involuntarily press her legs together, unable to stop herself from gently rubbing them.
It was the only way to marginally soothe the desire in her heart.
She wanted to resist, but it was futile; she couldn’t suppress the “demon” within that was trying to break its seal.
Before long, with a stifled, muffled groan, she finally returned to a state of calm.
Lin Xinyuan leaned weakly against the tiled wall, her breathing light and hurried, her gaze drifting into a daze.
‘She… um…’
She simply couldn’t control herself.
That desire was becoming stronger, but the lingering remnants of her “male” logic told her she couldn’t do this.
How could she be the one to take the lead? That was her final line of defense.
‘I can’t!’
‘But…’
The corners of her eyes were tinged with red, the lingering physical afterglow still present.
The words Qin Nanfeng had said to her that day still rang in her ears, causing her love and her reason to engage in a fierce battle.
“Xinyuan, I love you.”
The girl loved the youth too, but the truth was that over these past few months, their relationship hadn’t made any substantial progress.
Even though he had made a commitment and she was willing to believe him—even if she knew Nan Feng might just be unwilling to “take her” so early—it still made her feel uneasy.
Yet, as soon as she thought about that kind of thing, she couldn’t stop panicking.
It made Lin Xinyuan feel like she was being difficult—wanting it, yet not wanting it at the same time.
Deep love flowed like a continuous river as memories surfaced one after another.
The youth’s playfulness, his tenderness, and that rare moment of sorrow and nostalgia at the cemetery… it all expanded in her mind, making Qin Nanfeng feel more real than ever.
He wasn’t a perfect person, nor was he just that daily playful “Smelly Yellow-Haired Brat.”
He was a living, breathing person—a memory branded into her heart that could never be erased, even if their ending might not be what they wished for.
This wasn’t a dream. She was Qin Nanfeng’s girlfriend now, and she would definitely… definitely be his future family.
So why was she afraid?
‘It’s probably because… it’s big?’
‘The feeling… but…’
Thinking of this, Xinyuan’s face grew even more bashful and conflicted.
After a long silence, she finally seemed to make up her mind.
‘If Brother Feng hints at it again… then I’ll… I’ll just… fine…’
Otherwise, there was no way she would take the initiative!
After all, she used to be a guy; what would it look like if she was the one being so forward?
Having reached this compromise, Lin Xinyuan felt better.
It gave him a chance without putting her through too much mental anguish.
‘Yes… that’s it!’
At that moment, a smile finally appeared on her lips.
Though she looked even more nervous and shy, her brow had clearly relaxed.
The sound of water in the washroom continued pitter-pattering.
Having figured everything out, Lin Xinyuan stood up.
Her body was already clean, so after a quick final rinse, she put on her nightgown and walked out.
She used the hair dryer in the living room for a good while until her hair was mostly dry, just slightly damp.
She moved quietly back to the bedroom door, peeking inside.
Finding that a certain someone hadn’t returned yet, she felt a secret sense of relief.
Just as she was about to let out a sigh of relief and prepare for the next step of her plan, someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder.
“Ah!”
The girl let out a terrified shriek and scrambled into the room, only to hear someone laughing behind her.
“You jerk… why do you walk without making a sound! You nearly scared me to death!”
Realizing what happened, Xinyuan immediately turned around and glared at the prankster.
“Weren’t you the one acting all sneaky like a thief?”
Qin Nanfeng walked up to her, reaching out to hug the soft, fragrant girl who had just washed herself clean, but she immediately dodged him.
“You stink… don’t touch me…”
Xinyuan pinched her nose and backed away.
Even though some time had passed, there was still a faint smell of alcohol in the air.
She curled her lip in distaste, then, as if thinking of something, her watery eyes darted around.
“Can you go wash up first? That smell is annoying… it’s gross…”
As she spoke, she hurried toward the bed, her bare white feet pitter-pattering in her slippers across the room.
Her avoidant little manner was quite adorable.
Qin Nanfeng’s gaze lingered imperceptibly on her legs, but his expression remained neutral.
He chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “Then what about my birthday gift?”
“Hmph… I’ll give it to you after you’ve showered and brushed your teeth!”
Lin Xinyuan used the remote control to turn on the air conditioner and waved her hand at him.
“Hurry up… Smelly Brother Feng, you’re polluting the air…”
With that, she dove under the covers as if the air he breathed was toxic.
This behavior caused a flash of suspicion to cross Qin Nanfeng’s eyes as he fell into thought.
Logically speaking, while the girl didn’t like alcohol, she shouldn’t be this repulsed by it.
She hadn’t reacted this strongly before; it almost felt… performative.
‘Hmm? Has this girl… finally seen the light?’
A smile gradually spread across Qin Nanfeng’s lips.
With expectations rising in his eyes, he grabbed a set of clean clothes and turned to leave, closing the door behind him.
The moment she heard the door shut, Lin Xinyuan threw back the blankets.
She crept out of bed like a thief, gently turning the handle to peek outside.
Only after confirming the light was on in the washroom did she relax.
She slowly closed the door and locked it.
Then, she hurriedly pulled out a white flying-sleeve dress from the very bottom of her suitcase.
It was the one she had originally worn to get revenge on Qin Nanfeng the first time she dressed as a girl.
‘I was planning to get back at that Yellow-Haired Brat, so how did it end up like this…?’
She bit her pink lip, a mix of confusion and endless shame spreading through her heart.
But she endured it and changed out of her nightgown.
The familiar feeling of the fabric made her feel a bit dazed.
‘Right! The hat…’
She suddenly remembered and rummaged through the suitcase again, finding the sun-hat with the ribbon.
‘Pre… preparation complete!’
Amidst her nerves, the girl put on the hat.
Finally, she placed the prepared gift on the nightstand and unlocked the door.
Then, she scrambled back under the covers, waiting quietly with a racing heart.