The days passed by one after another, and recently, Lin Yiren had been pouring her energy into writing her own novel.
“I’m heading out. Remember to pick up Xing Yao on time.” Chen Zhaoyue was leaving for school, but before she left, she reminded again, “I won’t be home that early, so don’t forget to help her with her bath.”
Lin Yiren nodded, dressed in all-black casual wear, sitting on the sofa with her laptop, unwilling to move.
It wasn’t until the sunlight shone down on her that she put down the laptop and stretched lazily, the curves beneath her clothes faintly visible.
‘Help Xing Yao take a bath, huh.’ Lin Yiren relaxed completely, hands resting behind her head.
Actually, bathing Xing Yao was always Miss Chen’s responsibility. The eldest young lady, who had never served anyone before, was surprisingly attentive when helping Xing Yao bathe.
And as for herself, at first she couldn’t even wash properly; her hair was so long now, she couldn’t just scrub and rinse the way she did as a boy. So after her clumsy attempt to help in the bathroom ended up causing more trouble than help, she was kicked out.
“Let’s find something to do first.” She did a kip-up, trying to leap to her feet, but fell back onto the sofa without strength.
This body is too weak! Lin Yiren bit her lip in frustration; after becoming a girl, not only had she shrunk in height, but her stamina was nowhere near what it used to be.
“And now I’m carrying two burdens!” In a fit of annoyance, she slapped herself there, but her whole body trembled, almost letting out a sound she couldn’t hold back.
‘Start working out now.’ The blushing girl covered her mouth, hammering the sofa with her fist.
Once she decided, Lin Yiren fetched a mat from her room and tossed it on the floor, then lay down on it.
Start simple.
She rolled over and lay on her back, hands behind her head, preparing to do a few sets of sit-ups.
Her abdominal muscles tensed, pulling her upper body up, her forearms touching her knees.
“One.” She lay back, then exerted herself again.
‘Let’s do thirty first.’ The ease of the first two boosted her confidence.
But before long, after just ten, her abdomen was already sore and aching, and after forcing out three or four more, she collapsed, completely spent.
So tired. Lin Yiren’s face was flushed as she lay on her back, gasping for air.
After resting a while, she rallied, managed three sets, then got up to do jumping jacks, high knees, and went outside to skip rope a few sets.
After one round, Lin Yiren flopped down on the mat, all grace gone, to rest.
Sunlight from the window fell on her face, tinged red from the workout, sweat beading her forehead and cheeks. The fullness of her chest was pressed out of shape, rising and falling with each breath.
Just this little and I’m so exhausted—I’ll have to train a lot more from now on. Lin Yiren rolled over, patted her soft belly, waved her weak hand, and made up her mind.
After resting, she took a shower, then sat in the chair, steam still rising around her.
“Still have some time.” Checking her phone, she glanced at her laptop, her mind lively again.
She’d agreed to play games with Liu Mingjun before, and now was a good time. She called Liu Mingjun, who was also free, and they agreed to go online together.
“Hey, are you on?”
“Yeah, logging in now.”
With headphones on, that familiar feeling came rushing back.
She was about to hear the sounds of gunfire and teammates yelling in the game—back in school, playing FPS Games was one of her favorite hobbies.
The Lin Yiren engrossed in gaming was no longer that quiet youth, but a passionate sharpshooter!
“Old Lin, your voice sounds so nice through the mic,” Liu Mingjun chuckled.
“Get lost.” Lin Yiren picked the map, pulled her chair closer, straightened up, and entered the battlefield!
“Don’t hold me back.” During warm-up, she moved her mouse, getting her hand feel back.
“You haven’t played in so long, just don’t feed.” Liu Mingjun said.
Without that face-to-face awkwardness, they slipped back into their old rhythm.
“Everyone got a mic?” someone in the Squad asked—a raspy male voice.
Lin Yiren hesitated, but followed the Squad, “Yeah, I do.”
The teammate said nothing more, and Lin Yiren breathed a sigh of relief. At least this wasn’t that other game where she’d have to worry about being called “mom.”
The game began.
Lin Yiren found a spot to camp, listening to Liu Mingjun’s intel while aiming.
Here they come! She fired—but… got instantly headshotted.
A bit rusty. Lin Yiren clicked her tongue—her shots were way off.
The next few rounds, her damage stayed in the single digits.
“Is the green guy even human?” suddenly someone in the Squad spoke up.
Lin Yiren’s hand paused.
“Hahaha, you got called out!” Liu Mingjun laughed from the other side.
This feeling… it really had been a while.
Checking the scoreboard, she saw the one who spoke was sitting at second place.
“Stop talking.” She frowned prettily, hands never stopping.
Gradually, she got her groove back.
Pushed out, lined up her shot—insta-killed one.
Took a sniper’s position, took down two more in a row.
The room’s air conditioner hummed quietly, the keyboard clicked rapidly, and a girl’s crisp voice sounded from time to time.
“Can’t even kill me—is that a bot?” After burst-firing the last enemy, Lin Yiren used her mic to taunt the one now below her on the scoreboard.
“So satisfying.” She leaned back coolly, stretching.
“Another round?”
Lin Yiren checked the time and said, “Nah, I have to go pick up my dau…..”
Halfway through, she quickly clamped her mouth shut.
“Go where?”
“Nothing, I’m logging off.”
“Hey, wait,” Liu Mingjun called, “A Champion Team is coming to Haishi for a match soon, but I can’t make it. Want to go watch?”
“I’ll think about it.” After hanging up, Lin Yiren checked her phone for details and found out her favorite Squad would be there.
Would there be anyone to look after Xing Yao if she went? Her first thought was of her daughter as she checked the match schedule.
I’ll talk it over with Chen Zhaoyue. She decided to pick up Xing Yao first, straightened her casual outfit in the mirror, and headed out bare-faced.
The sun was already dipping when Lin Yiren left, and by the time she brought Xing Yao home, the evening clouds were glowing red.
“Mommy, we flew again just now,” Xing Yao said in her soft baby voice as they entered.
“We didn’t fly, sweetie, we were riding in the car.” Lin Yiren stroked her little head.
Star Yao’s Teacher had told her that Xing Yao was at an age full of wonder for the world, with great emotional needs, and to be patient with her questions.
She remembered that before, she’d brushed off a lot of Xing Yao’s questions with just a few vague sounds. Lin Yiren felt a twinge of guilt.
While Xing Yao played on the floor with the toys Chen Zhaoyue had bought, Lin Yiren tied on an apron in the kitchen, pulled back her hair, and started preparing dinner.
Without Chen Zhaoyue’s portion, cooking time was much shorter.
Hearing the clatter of bowls and chopsticks, Xing Yao ran over with quick little steps.
Lin Yiren pulled out her hair tie, letting her hair fall like a waterfall. Watching the adorable little dumpling struggle to climb onto the chair, she couldn’t help but scoop her up.
“How about eating dinner on Mommy’s lap tonight?” She pressed her cheek against her daughter’s.
“Okay!” Xing Yao happily rubbed her head against the fragrant crook of Mommy’s neck.
“Ah~”
Xing Yao opened her mouth and took a bite of food, her cheeks puffed out adorably.
Lin Yiren felt her heart melt, even thinking that her situation was a stroke of luck.
Lin Xing Yao nestled on her mother’s chest, basking in the soft warmth on her head, feeling this must be the most comfortable place in the world.
This dinner without Chen Zhaoyue was unusually joyful.
Meanwhile, at school handling graduation matters, the eldest young lady suddenly shivered for no reason.
***
After dinner and a short rest, Lin Yiren was preparing Xing Yao’s clean clothes when her daughter tugged at her pants, asking, “Can I play a little longer?”
Lin Yiren was instantly softened by those pleading eyes. But if Miss Chen came back and saw Xing Yao hadn’t bathed yet, would she…
Whatever! So what if Xing Yao’s bath is a little late! Have I really let Miss Chen intimidate me lately?
Pounding her chest, Lin Yiren said to her daughter, “Mommy will play something even more fun with you!”
Her words were met with sparkling eyes from her child. Nice!
“Ready?”
“Ready!”
“Here we go!”
***
In the silent night, the weary Miss Chen got out of her car, her steps hurried after a long day, eager to get home sooner.
By now, her daughter was probably in pajamas, lying in bed, and Yiren would be there, gently reading her a story.
It was such a peaceful scene, one she hated to disturb.
Click—the door opened, and the bright lights in the living room stung her eyes, accompanied by peals of laughter.
Lin Yiren was sprawled on the mat, her hair in disarray, playing and laughing with Xing Yao.
Smiling, Lin Yiren asked Xing Yao, “Want to fly again?”
“Yes! Mommy, hug!”
Lin Yiren got up—only to see a figure standing by the sofa, watching her.
Her smile froze on her face.