### 601. Li Ya’s Invitation
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Lin Nan was just bored hanging out at home, so she decided to join the ruckus.
Around four in the afternoon, she sauntered into a bubble tea shop, ordered the cheapest milk tea, and leisurely gazed across the street at a food stall, scanning for familiar old classmates.
Even though she was practically a ghost back in high school—aside from Chen Yao and Zhu Yong Wen—she had quite a few casual friends whom she’d exchanged a few words and favors with.
Every time she recognized an old classmate, her mind would flood with memories from high school, and her lips couldn’t help but curl into a grin.
Though only two years had passed since high school, it felt like ages due to everything that had happened this past year.
And now, her heart raced with excitement, making her almost impulsively want to join the gathering!
But thanks to her drastically changed appearance and gender, Lin Nan had to suppress her eagerness, staring quietly at the food stall across the street.
The classmates she had seen when her grandfather was hospitalized weren’t there.
Those former classmates were already off in the real world, so the summer vacation had nothing to do with them, and they probably weren’t off work yet, making joining the gathering impossible.
“I’m so jealous…” Taking a sip of her milk tea, Lin Nan propped her chin up with one hand, her gaze fixed intently on those chatting and fooling around, feeling like she’d slipped back into her high school days.
Back in high school, she loved sitting in her seat after class, watching her classmates form groups and mess around.
But back then, she could at least speak a few words and join in the fun; now, she was just a pure bystander.
“It wouldn’t be so bad to crash the gathering as Chen Yao’s girlfriend,” Lin Nan mumbled, regretting her decision. “But what if they recognize me… especially that fatso Zhu Yong Wen…”
As she admired those classmates who were already drinking and ready to feast, Lin Nan’s attention suddenly snapped to a girl by Chen Yao’s side, holding a wine glass.
The distance was too great for her to recognize the girl, but a chick initiating drinks with a guy…
“Could it be one of those girls from high school who liked Chen Yao and is now finally ready to confess?” Lin Nan racked her brain for memories. “But no one really showed any interest in him back then, right?”
“That girl looks super unfamiliar.”
“Wait, is Chen Yao actually drinking? I thought I told him not to!”
“And he’s smoking too!”
Lin Nan kept muttering, “He’s actually drinking with that girl! How could you not say you had a girlfriend? Or at least turn her down! Have some dignity!”
“Vampire temptress!”
Before she knew it, her milk tea was gone again. She looked up at the bubble tea guy at the counter and said, “Another coconut milk tea, please.”
The guy immediately stood up and glanced skeptically at the three empty cups on Lin Nan’s table, wondering where all that milk tea went.
Even if she was chugging plain water, after so much, shouldn’t she be hitting the bathroom?
After receiving another cup of milk tea, Lin Nan scanned the QR code on the table to pay, only to lift her head and see the vampy temptress—who was trying to flirt with her boyfriend—walking over with Li Ya.
As the suspicious observer, Lin Nan panicked for a moment, but after a sip of the cold milk tea, she quickly calmed down.
It’s all good; that girl definitely doesn’t know who I am since I don’t know her either.
And Li Ya isn’t the kind of clueless idiot who’d blow my cover.
Should I pressure the vampy temptress with my identity as Chen Yao’s girlfriend when we cross paths? After all, men are weak against temptation, and if left unchecked, who knows what that woman might do to Chen Yao?
Just then, Lin Nan noticed Li Ya’s eyes fixing on her.
Caught!
Though tension surged, she forced a composed smile and nodded at Li Ya.
“What’s up?” Pan Hui, noticing the sudden pause, turned to see Li Ya’s gaze directed toward Lin Nan in the bubble tea shop.
Lin Nan matched her gaze. Their eyes locked, and then she flashed a slight smirk.
You shameless flirt! Trying to charm Chen Yao, huh?
I’m tempted to throw you into the Min River! Tied up with stones and all!
Pan Hui took a step back, sensing something off from the girl in the bubble tea shop, but still managed to say something nice: “Li Ya, this girl is really pretty. Do you know her?”
“Uh-huh.” Li Ya nodded but didn’t know what else to say.
“What’s her name?”
Lin Nan’s name is Lin Nan, and she’s currently dating Chen Yao.
Oh, or maybe a boyfriend?
Li Ya still assumed Lin Nan was a girl dressing as a boy to date Chen Yao, completely oblivious to her real gender.
Feeling super awkward seeing her again, Li Ya kept quiet for a bit before deciding to help Lin Nan keep her cover: “She’s a… distant relative of mine.”
“Strange, she looks a bit familiar,” Pan Hui frowned.
Lin Nan was also frowning at the sight of Pan Hui, finding her familiar but couldn’t quite place it.
Quickly, she pulled the mask that had been hanging around her ears back over her face, covering half of it to prevent being fully recognized.
Though she didn’t understand why Lin Nan seemed to hold some ill intention, she confidently walked into the shop and extended her hand: “I’m Pan Hui, Li Ya’s high school classmate.”
Pan Hui? That translucent chubby girl? It’s only been two years; did she lose that much weight?
If she weren’t chubby, Lin Nan wouldn’t even remember her name.
She stood up and shook hands with Pan Hui, holding back her biased thoughts and responded with a grin: “I’m Lin Jin.”
My cousin won’t mind me using her name.
Besides, I had used this name even before meeting her.
Giving Pan Hui a once-over, Lin Nan couldn’t help but think.
You must have come to this gathering all dressed up to snag Chen Yao, huh? Putting on makeup for a class reunion!
Li Ya chimed in, linking arms with Lin Nan, “We’re having dinner at the food stall across the street; why don’t we add you to our table?”
“Right! We probably won’t finish everything, and they won’t mind adding an extra spot!” Pan Hui eagerly nodded.
Add me?
No way! Zhu Yong Wen will totally recognize me!
Are you both trying to send me into social oblivion?!
Lin Nan immediately went on high alert and shook her head vigorously: “No thanks, I’m just here to leech off the WiFi and drink bubble tea; it’s too hot outside to go.”
“Come on~” Li Ya habitually whined.
“Really don’t need it; I don’t like eating with strangers.”
Li Ya was stunned; they had been classmates for three whole years, how did they become strangers?
