481. Late Night Tales【17/99】
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This was Lin Nan’s first encounter with someone like herself.
And it just had to be her long-lost cousin.
Lin Jin, this cousin, was adorable and pretty as a child, with a personality that could easily rival any girl. Plus, her mother had a knack for draping her in dresses, which made her quite the popular pick among the relatives. Back then, little Lin Nan didn’t think much of it, but looking back now, Lin Jin’s choice to have surgery to become female probably had something to do with those experiences.
Chowing down on some hot pot noodles from a street stall, Lin Nan occasionally glanced at this unfamiliar cousin, feeling a strange pull towards Lin Jin, as if they were two peas in a pod.
Who knew what Lin Jin had been through? Even with society becoming more open-minded, folks still had a hard time wrapping their heads around someone like her.
Lin Nan herself had declared she was some sort of oddball, and still, a good number of relatives kept their distance.
But Lin Jin seemed used to this kind of rejection, always sporting a gentle smile that was sweet enough to earn her goodwill from everyone around.
She wore light makeup, a loose-fitting T-shirt and shorts, and her legs were a sight to behold, rivaling even Lilith’s—incredibly elegant for an older sister vibe.
What a mature, alluring lady!
So darn envious!
Lin Nan’s gaze couldn’t help but wander to Lin Jin’s assets, which were notably larger than her own.
You could tell her face hadn’t been touched by a surgeon’s kn*fe, but those curves!
If Chen Yao were here, he’d probably be so mesmerized that his eyes would be glued!
Lin Nan shot a glance at her cousin Lin Qi next to her, who was probably dreaming about where else to let his gaze wander—some might say it’s a guy thing.
After finishing their street food feast, Lin Jin, the oldest of the group, voluntarily stood up to pay the bill. She moved with such poise and maturity that Lin Nan began to wonder if this cousin had a boyfriend, or perhaps even a spouse!
“We’ll head back first.” After settling the tab, she flashed Lin Nan a smile. “Let’s chat more tomorrow.”
“Okay, bye!”
Waving goodbye as the sibling duo headed down the increasingly quiet street, Lin Nan turned back to Lin Qi.
This little cousin suddenly sighed dramatically. “Why are all the pretty girls related to me?”
And all post-surgery, no less…
“Clearly it means we have good genes,” Lin Nan teased. “You’ve just grown sideways; not everyone else can take the blame. Look at Cousin Lin Chen—handsome and fit.”
“Pfft! As if! Your dear cousin is dashing and charming!” Lin Qi ruffled his gelled hair with pride. “All the normal girls can’t help but swoon!”
Lin Nan paused for a moment. “Is it really okay for you to talk to me like that? I’m starting to suspect you’re flirting with me.”
“Is that why you tricked your cousin into cross-dressing?”
“Look at Lin Jin! She’s the role model for our generation! If you cross-dress even a bit, maybe a little surgery, some makeup… it could work!”
“Not a chance! I wasn’t raised like Lin Jin, pampered like a girl!”
Engaging in their playful banter, they walked into a roadside inn. With so few travelers visiting this dingy spot, inns were a rare find in this town.
Once Lin Nan’s lodging was sorted, Lin Qi decided not to head home, pumped to hit up an Internet cafe. Compared to the rundown state of his house, he thought maybe snoozing in a cafe’s private room would be comfier.
Lin Nan strolled into her room for the night, not paying much attention to the surroundings, stretching languidly as she plopped down on the edge of the bed.
Checking the time, she realized it was nearing midnight.
“Exhausted,” she muttered. Though she seemed lively around others, solitude hit her with a wave of fatigue.
“Today turned out to be more of a surprise than I expected.” Kicking off her sandals, she sat cross-legged on the bed. “With Lin Jin paving the way, I guess I can break the news to relatives…”
Lin Jin clearly didn’t care much about those relatives, presenting no hints of the tension many would feel facing uptight family members.
Maybe she had just been through a lot, huh?
With a situation like Lin Jin’s, it was plain to see society would be even tougher on her than it would on Lin Nan.
Sitting there, she eagerly fired off a message to her distant boyfriend, Chen Yao, sharing all the juicy details of the day’s amusing events.
Spending so much time with Chen Yao made the moments apart anxiety-inducing, especially worrying about him turning their rental apartment into a disaster zone, and struggling to adapt to the absence of that warm body beside her.
Chen Yao was probably waiting right by his phone, and just as soon as Lin Nan sent her message, she got a reply from him.
“What a coincidence! Pretty, huh?”
With a casual swipe, she sent him a stealthy pic of Lin Jin’s legs.
“Yeah, not bad, but not as nice as yours. My wife’s legs are the best!”
Haha, it’s no wonder someone can’t pull their eyes away from Lilith’s long legs every time they see her!
She understood that admiring beautiful girls is a dude’s default setting. Lin Nan noticed this weakness was universal among men—even she couldn’t escape it. So, aside from a bit of jealousy, she had no real complaints.
“Got any frontal pics?”
“None. Isn’t it rude to snap frontal shots?” Lin Nan casually shot back a selfie. “Just enjoy this one!”
Curling her legs up, she felt out of sorts in this unfamiliar space.
She clicked on the video function, and soon enough, that familiar face appeared on her phone screen.
“Have you showered?”
“Not yet! I’m not planning to in this inn.” In this strange place, the last thing on her mind was a shower. The weather was getting warmer, but she felt dry as ever—no sweat, totally fresh! Who was she kidding? No need for a shower!
“Check if there are any cameras in the room; I’ll tell you how.”
Nodding, Lin Nan switched off the lights, plunging her room into darkness. Following Chen Yao’s guidance, she scoured the area for cameras. Not spotting any suspicious lights, she finally relaxed.
Just wondered if the bedding was clean or not—it gave her the creeps.
She tossed on the bed in her clothes, skipping her usual pre-sleep shower routine—definitely not her style!
With the following day free, she planned to flaunt Lin Nan’s girlfriend status, using Lin Jin to gauge her relatives’ reactions.
Tonight was for attending her eldest cousin’s wedding… who knows if she’d get to have a wedding with Chen Yao of her own someday?
Her mind was all over the place; sleeping alone in a strange place made her a bundle of nerves. The slightest noise sent her jumping!
Her phone, with video on, lay beside her; all she had to do was tilt her head to see Chen Yao’s reassuring face. Yet, despite that, sleep remained elusive.
After tossing and turning for what felt like ages, she suddenly turned to her phone and said, “Can’t sleep—tell me a bedtime story?”
“You’re a grown-up now,” Chen Yao replied with a wry smile. “All right, I’ll find one online.”
“Once upon a time…”
He purposefully lowered his voice and began reading a bedtime story he found online. Closing her eyes, Lin Nan rested her head on her arm, listening to his familiar voice wrapping around her, creating the sensation that he was right there with her.
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Suddenly, let’s have some wicked fun—let the old protagonist from the novels make a guest appearance! /Covers mouth and laughs!
