“Good morning! Octopus Bro, another beautiful day at the Krusty Krab!” The alarm clock on the bedside table, shaped like SpongeBob, emitted a cool bubble sound.
A small, fair hand reached out and slapped the black-and-white Bikini Bottom employee cap, abruptly cutting off the alarm.
Xu Yinsheng’s eyelashes fluttered a few times as she woke from deep sleep. She extended a slender index finger to rub her temples, squinting as she opened her eyes a slit.
The curtains weren’t drawn tightly; bright light slipped through the gap into the room, illuminating the floor and ceiling.
“Mm…” Xu Yinsheng let out a low groan. Her whole body ached, making her feel uncomfortable.
After being inexplicably kicked out of his mental space last night, she had infiltrated once more and then decisively typed out “Defeat GG,” ending up filled like a cream puff in the most humiliating way.
Recalling this, Xu Yinsheng’s cheeks involuntarily reddened, especially the part where she was choked and called “Meow Meow Master”—her face grew even hotter and redder, and her body trembled slightly as if mesmerized.
‘Although… but… Damn it! Could I really have that masochistic gene?!’*
Embarrassed, she rolled around on the bed a few times until that strange feeling in her heart dissipated. Only then did Xu Yinsheng leave the warm covers; the cool air hit her face, bringing some refreshment.
She lightly patted her cheeks, forcing those indescribable thoughts down into the depths of her heart, and walked toward the living room wearing her SpongeBob SquarePants pajamas.
In the living room, Zhao Yicheng was placing a pot of century egg and lean pork congee on the table. He wore pajamas printed with a Patrick Star pattern, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing firm and taut forearm skin. Seeing Xu Yinsheng still bleary-eyed, he smiled and said, “Awake? Go wash up first, breakfast is ready.”
After speaking, he turned and went to the kitchen to get some pickled vegetables to go with the congee.
Watching the man’s busy back, a sweet feeling brushed through Xu Yinsheng’s heart, like holding a White Rabbit candy in her mouth.
After a quick wash, the two sat at the dining chairs and began to drink the congee.
The century egg and lean pork congee was steaming hot, tempting and delicious. The meat and century egg complemented each other perfectly. Taking a sip, the two flavors collided and burst on the tongue. With a little pickled vegetables, Xu Yinsheng could easily down two large bowls.
“Old Zhao, where’s that little boy?”
“He’s been crying these past few days. Last night he cried most of the night. He’s still asleep now.”
“And Garfield?”
“Also asleep.”
After this brief exchange, Xu Yinsheng didn’t say anything more and continued focusing on her breakfast.
Today her parents were returning to the country; she would need to pick them up at the airport later.
Thinking about meeting her parents, the last time she saw them in person was… even Xu Yinsheng herself had forgotten how many years ago it was—maybe five years, maybe seven.
Since she was a child, her father and mother had loved traveling around the country—the Potala Palace, Guilin’s landscapes, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City—they’d been everywhere. Each trip lasted anywhere from one to three months. Back then, Xu Yinsheng was entirely taken care of by the nanny.
And when she initially gained the ability to take care of herself, the old couple’s travel scope expanded even further—they ran all over the world: fishing in Iceland, taking photos at the pyramids, and sightseeing marine wonders. Except for a video call every week or two, Xu Yinsheng had almost no interaction with her parents.
“Old Zhao, what do you think about coming with me to pick up my parents?” Suddenly, Xu Yinsheng looked up at the man sitting across from her, a grain of rice still stuck at the corner of her mouth.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yicheng was stunned for a moment, then looked up at her and nodded blankly.
Seeing this, Xu Yinsheng sighed inwardly.
‘Desire is the cornerstone of human nature. Zhao Yicheng is like this now—sometimes lucid, sometimes absent-minded, not much different from a walking corpse.’
‘No! I have to infiltrate his mental space again tonight!!’
‘She refused to believe it. She was willing to risk it all! She still couldn’t…’
“Little Yin.” The man’s voice by her ear pulled her thoughts back.
“What did you just say? I didn’t catch it.” Zhao Yicheng frowned, trying hard to recall what Xu Yinsheng had said just now, but ultimately came up with nothing.
Xu Yinsheng rolled her eyes at him, but abiding by the principle of caring for a patient, she didn’t dwell on it. She handed him her empty bowl and said, “I said, give me another bowl. I haven’t had enough yet.”
Watching the man’s back as he entered the kitchen, Xu Yinsheng recalled the conversation in the mental space last night, and she pouted.
‘Zhao Yicheng, actually you are not my burden. On the contrary, you are the best brother and friend in my life. If you hadn’t been by my side back then, maybe now I would have already become a truly idle and bullying ne’er-do-well.’
An hour later, Xu Yinsheng looked at herself in the mirror with satisfaction. Her long wavy hair lay neatly and lightly on her shoulders. She wore light blue professional skinny pants, apricot-colored flat-heeled shoes, and light makeup. Overall, she looked petite and adorable.
“This is passable.”
She smoothed the long hair on her cheeks, then patted the man beside her on the shoulder, playfully thumped his chest, and said, “Let’s go! Our target is the Shabondy Archipelago!!”
The road was smooth. The two drove Xu Yinsheng’s blue Maserati straight to the airport, found a random parking spot, and waited at the airport exit.
The airport exit was already packed with crowds of people picking up arrivals, just like Xu Yinsheng—a sea of people, bustling and lively.
After about twenty minutes, amid the dense crowd, Xu Yinsheng, relying on the superhuman vision granted by her Dream Demon form, successfully spotted a loving couple with their arms linked.
The man was about 1.8 meters tall, his skin slightly dark—but the kind of healthy tan from regular exercise. He wore the latest men’s black suit from the Jinlante brand. His hair was neatly and naturally parted, with a few strands casually falling across his forehead.
The woman holding his arm was dressed like a noble lady, wearing a light white off-shoulder dress. Around her neck hung a blue diamond necklace, and the pendant on her chest was also a sapphire. On her earlobes were two large ruby earrings. One could tell at a glance she was a wealthy woman.
The woman was very beautiful, with a delicate face shape and refined features. Her eyes were round and bright, and the corners of her mouth always curved upward. Her face was about forty percent similar to Xu Yinsheng’s, but more mature, charming, and feminine.
The two looked to be only in their early thirties, but Xu Yinsheng knew that this pair of unqualified parents were already nearly fifty.
‘I really wonder how the hell they maintain themselves with all their world traveling.’
Setting aside that thought for now, Xu Yinsheng excitedly waved.
“Mom, Dad, over here, over here! Here, here!”
Unfortunately, her voice was drowned out by the louder shouts of others. It wasn’t until her parents got closer that they could barely hear her.
Chen Ruomo pulled Xu Shiji and curiously walked up to Xu Yinsheng, looking at her with confusion. “You are?”
“Mom, it’s me, Xu Yinsheng! We were on the phone just a few days ago.” Xu Yinsheng was excited.
Chen Ruomo turned her head, pressed against her husband’s ear, and asked in a low voice, “Shiji, don’t we only have one son? When did we get an extra daughter?”
“Momo, you forgot. Yinsheng has mixed gonadal dysgenesis. Now she’s a daughter.” Xu Shiji replied in a low voice.
“Then who is that young man beside her? Did Yinsheng find a boyfriend?”
“Uh… looks a bit like the Zhao boy.”
Their voices were very low, but because they were so close, Xu Yinsheng heard everything.
Xu Yinsheng: …
After getting her husband’s explanation, Chen Ruomo suddenly realized, and pulled Xu Yinsheng into a hug. “Daughter~ let Mommy hug you. Mommy has missed you so much these years~”
Meanwhile, Zhao Yicheng proactively took the luggage from Xu Shiji’s hand, smiled, and said, “Uncle Xu, let me take care of these.”