During dinner, Lin Xingyao squirmed restlessly at the table, calling out “Mama” and “Mom” again and again.
The little one cleverly distinguished her two mothers by using a single word for one and a repeated word for the other.
But Xingyao didn’t notice that the atmosphere at the dinner table was a little unusual. When she called “Mama,” Lin Yiren blew on the food and fed it to her; when she called “Mom,” Chen Zhaoyue thoughtfully wiped her mouth.
Yet the two young women always avoided eye contact. Whenever their gazes met by chance, they immediately looked away as if scalded.
Not long after dinner, the two of them were about to return to their own rooms.
Lin Yiren hesitated for a moment, thinking she should be more open-minded. She couldn’t act so bashful just because of this. So she took the initiative to break the silence: “Yaoyao’s been saying she wants to sleep with you these days.”
Chen Zhaoyue gripped the doorknob, turned back, and gave a bright smile. “Then I’ll sleep with her tomorrow, good night.”
She was wearing light gray pajamas, her softly curled hair falling over her shoulders, looking every bit the gentle, homey girl as she smiled warmly.
Lin Yiren’s heart thudded wildly. She nodded blankly, “Good night.”
After changing her pad, Lin Yiren, still in her pajamas, came to the bedside and unclasped her bra, pulling it out through the collar.
As she changed the pad, she thought of the tingling, numbing sensation brought by Miss Chen, and couldn’t help but feel a little shy. But just now, Miss Chen had looked so calm and open. She was probably just overthinking it.
Don’t use your current convenient identity to secretly covet her. She told herself firmly.
Just then, Xingyao turned over sleepily. Lin Yiren quickly patted her on the shoulder, coaxing her softly.
She was almost drifting off herself as she patted when the phone on the table suddenly lit up.
Lin Yiren got out of bed and picked it up, discovering it was Old Liu sending another message.
She had been vague earlier, saying she’d been busy lately. Now Liu Mingjun had also sent a message saying he had finished his graduation defense and had time to come visit.
Lin Yiren pursed her lips, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and hesitated for a moment.
A red dot appeared again next to Liu Mingjun’s avatar on the phone screen, and below it was her chat with Deng Min.
She had recently written a few short stories and sent them to Deng Min, made some revisions based on her suggestions, and now one of the stories she’d posted online had started to attract a few readers.
She was adapting well, too. With a bit more courage, Lin Yiren arranged to meet Liu Mingjun in a couple of days.
After putting down her phone, she lay back on the bed, her body curving as she searched for a comfortable sleeping position. Soon, her gentle breathing could be heard.
***
A few days later, Lin Yiren felt that her period was almost over, so she called Old Liu out.
She put on her old casual pants, changed into a T-shirt with wild English letters printed on the back, tied her hair into a neat ponytail, and ignored Chen Zhaoyue’s disapproving look as she went out.
This was her usual outfit back in school. On the bus, Lin Yiren looked out at the familiar scenery.
She and Liu Mingjun had arranged to meet at a place they used to frequent during school.
There weren’t many people in the restaurant. Liu Mingjun, a little over 1.8 meters tall, stood out easily as he scanned the entrance for a familiar face.
His old buddy hadn’t shown up for a long time. When that guy finally arrived, he was definitely going to grill him about what had happened.
At that moment, a graceful girl walked in. Though she wore simple, androgynous clothes, they couldn’t hide her alluring curves, and her features were radiant.
Liu Mingjun meant to glance away after a look, but found the beauty was walking straight towards him.
Why does it look like she’s here for me? He was a guy whose mind liked to wander, and was just letting his imagination roam when he suddenly noticed her clothes looked familiar. Weren’t those the ones his buddy often wore!?
In just a few steps, his mind raced—he was supposed to meet his old friend, but here came a girl, dressed in Lin Yi’s usual clothes, and her looks matched the type Lin Yi liked… Could it be?
Not bad, bro, you’ve got some game.
He felt a bit relieved—turns out, Lin Yi had found a beautiful girlfriend during his absence, and was even wearing the “boyfriend shirt.” Maybe soon Lin Yi would show up, being all lovey-dovey.
But when the girl stood in front of him, her first words shattered his guess:
“Old Liu, it’s me, Lin Yi.”
What the heck!?
As a native of Jiangnan, he blurted out a northern phrase.
***
Lin Yiren gave a brief account of her experience, but left out the part about the child, afraid it was too much to take in.
After she finished, she took a sip of tea and looked at the person across from her, who was completely dumbfounded.
No matter how hard he tried, Liu Mingjun just couldn’t imagine his old buddy turning into a delicate young woman. He watched as this stunning girl gently parted her lips, listing off evidence one after another, and felt like he was in a dream.
Surely he couldn’t have dreamed his buddy had turned into a woman!
“What, still don’t believe me?” Lin Yiren watched his exaggerated expressions and said, “I can even tell you about your little website’s—”
“I believe you! I believe you!” Liu Mingjun surrendered, raising his hand.
Lin Yiren glanced at him sideways and let out a snicker.
“Bro, making that face with this look is totally cheating.” Liu Mingjun put on a look of horror.
Lin Yiren looked at him with disdain. “Cut it out. Let’s just get along like we used to.” She paused and added, “But don’t suddenly come up and bear-hug me like before.”
Liu Mingjun nodded, though surprise still lingered in his eyes.
“Let’s eat.” Lin Yiren picked up her chopsticks, secretly letting out a sigh of relief. She hadn’t lost this friend, after all.
After the meal, the two went to buy bubble tea, and Lin Yiren started talking about her things left in the dorm.
Liu Mingjun slapped his forehead and said with feeling, “Not long after you left, a girl with an extraordinary air came and directed everything as she took away your stuff. She’s really beautiful, too.”
So it was Miss Chen who came in person. Lin Yiren’s eyes flickered.
Seeing her friend’s infatuated look, she felt a bit annoyed and said, “I’m living with her at the moment.”
“What?! You’re living with such a gorgeous girl?” Liu Mingjun suddenly felt his guess wasn’t so far off after all. His previously single buddy really had found a beautiful girlfriend!
“She’s just taking me in.” Lin Yiren left it at that and walked ahead, a small smile curving her lips. Her swaying ponytail carried a hint of pride.
The two walked into the bubble tea shop. Liu Mingjun scrolled through the menu, and Lin Yiren tried to lean in for a look. But then she realized they couldn’t act like same-gender friends anymore, so she quietly found another menu.
Liu Mingjun breathed a silent sigh of relief. Of course he didn’t have any thoughts about his buddy, but glimpsing that slender neck, the smooth long hair, and the faint fragrance reminded him—this was no longer the old Lin Yi.
They were still friends, but they’d need a new way of getting along.
After finishing their bubble tea and chatting casually for a while, they agreed to meet online for games when they had time and then parted ways.
The bubble tea shop was near the urban village. Lin Yiren walked along the street lined with street vendors on both sides toward the main road. The sunset’s light draped over her like gauze, tinting her porcelain-white skin a faint yellow.
Her social identity had now fully become that of a girl. Apart from Liu Mingjun, she didn’t want to bother explaining things to those she only nodded to in passing.
But, pumping her fist with determination, she wouldn’t become the type to cry daintily in someone else’s arms.
Tonight, she’d have a long-awaited round of gunfights and savor the thrill of a man’s passion!
Lost in her thoughts, Lin Yiren subconsciously turned into a less crowded alley she used to frequent.