Chapter 101: I Am Not the Biological Daughter
After freshening up, the two of them headed out, took a cab to the agreed place, and pushed open the private room’s door. Inside, the seats were nearly all taken, but when the others saw them, they called out for the pair to sit down. Two spots had been saved on purpose, and Chen Qianxi quickly sat beside Lin Yuejiu.
“Our class’s one and only couple is finally here! Come on, come on, if anyone has questions, ask them now!”
“I’ll go first! When did you two get together?!”
“Second year of high school, second semester.”
The whole room gasped.
“That early?!”
“So you’ve already been dating for a year? You’ve hidden a whole year-long relationship from us?!”
“You two really did a great job keeping it a secret! You fooled so many of us?”
“I said it ages ago, there was something between them!”
“So our Nianshen–Yuejiu CP wasn’t wrong after all.”
“And we even shipped them into becoming a real CP.”
Everyone raised their glasses. “No need to say more—cheers to you two!”
Xu Nianshen and Lin Yuejiu exchanged a look, then picked up their cups and clinked glasses with everyone.
“So that means you went through a whole year of long-distance?”
“And you still stayed together after long-distance? Wow, I really didn’t expect that. Your relationship must be solid.”
Lin Yuejiu smiled. “No helping it. Our bond is deep.”
“May Xu Shen and our goddess Lin stay together forever!”
“Yes, forever! I hope not only to see you as a couple, but someday at your wedding.”
Xu Nianshen raised his cup with a smile. “I’ll borrow your good wishes.”
“Xu Shen, you’re too polite.”
The private room buzzed with chatter and laughter. They played all sorts of games, but because Xu Nianshen and Lin Yuejiu were the focus, the others had tweaked the truth-or-dare rules to target them.
For example: Kiss for one minute.
The moment that dare came up, everyone’s eyes lit up. But Xu Nianshen chose to drink instead, refusing to let them see.
“Ah, come on, really?”
“Xu Shen, that’s too stingy.”
“So petty, not letting us watch.”
Xu Nianshen smiled faintly. “Exactly. I’m not letting you watch.”
Lin Yuejiu pressed her lips together, unable to hold back a laugh. “Teacher Xu, you’re really stingy.”
Xu Nianshen raised his brows, calmly admitting it.
Hmph. They hadn’t kissed that many times to begin with. Even he hadn’t had enough—why should others get to see?
Another dare: Hug and kiss for three seconds.
That one failed too—Xu Nianshen still chose to drink.
Then came: Stare into each other’s eyes for thirty seconds.
This time, Xu Nianshen agreed readily. “This one’s fine. Let’s do it.”
“Whoa, I’ve got my camera ready!”
“Me too, already set!”
Lin Yuejiu chuckled, then turned her head to meet his gaze. She looked straight into his eyes, both of them holding faint smiles.
A couple with looks like theirs, staring at each other—it was such a rare chance. Everyone watched without blinking. When they snapped photos, they even thoughtfully muted their phones and switched off the flash.
When the gathering finally ended, Lin Yuejiu was ready to leave with Xu Nianshen. But Chen Qianxi suddenly grabbed her arm.
“Jiujiu, today… can you come home with me instead?”
Lin Yuejiu: “Huh???”
Xu Nianshen: “???”
Chen Qianxi forced herself to ignore the stares from the others. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. I really missed you.”
“Alright, I’ll go with you then,” Lin Yuejiu agreed, then turned to Xu Nianshen. “I’m heading off.”
“Okay.” Xu Nianshen didn’t ask further. “Be careful on the way.”
“Mm.”
After waving goodbye to the others, Lin Yuejiu left with Chen Qianxi. The two of them walked quietly down the street.
Lin Yuejiu didn’t ask why. Chen Qianxi felt a little uneasy and asked, “Why aren’t you asking me?”
“Asking you what?”
“Like… why I wanted you to come to my house?”
Lin Yuejiu gave her a gentle smile. “If you want to tell me, you will. I don’t need to ask.”
Chen Qianxi sniffled. “Jiujiu, you’re really so kind… so gentle.”
“Let’s hurry back then.”
The two of them returned to the Chen household. On the way, Chen Qianxi had already told her parents. When they knocked, Chen Mu was already waiting. Seeing the girl beside her daughter—fair-skinned, flawless, with bright, clear eyes, the very image of a beauty-in-the-making—Chen Mu immediately smiled warmly.
“This must be Jiujiu, right? Qianxi has told me about you so many times. Come in, come in.”
“Hello, Auntie.” Lin Yuejiu greeted politely.
“Ah, hello, hello. Come inside.”
Chen Mu fetched her a pair of slippers. Watching Lin Yuejiu change into them, she immediately pulled her into the house.
Chen Qianxi stared in disbelief. “Mom, you’re not getting me slippers?”
Without even turning her head, Chen Mu replied, “The slippers are in the cabinet. Can’t you get them yourself? Don’t you have hands? How old are you now, and you still expect me to wait on you?”
Chen Qianxi: “…”
Could the favoritism be any more obvious?
“Come, Jiujiu, sit down. Have some fruit.” Chen Mu ushered her to the sofa and handed over a fruit platter.
“Thank you, Auntie,” Lin Yuejiu said sweetly, looking soft and obedient.
The more Chen Mu looked at her, the more she liked her. Such a pretty child—her smile made her even more adorable and sweet. Then she glanced at her own daughter, shook her head, and sighed. Why did her own girl have to turn out the way she did?
Chen Qianxi caught the glance and the headshake, then looked at herself. Her face filled with question marks.
Wait a second. What’s with that headshake? You disapprove of me?
Lin Yuejiu stood up and walked toward the kitchen. “Auntie, do you need me to help?”
“No, no, girls shouldn’t be in the kitchen. Don’t touch cold water, don’t get near smoke or grease.”
“Oh… okay then.”
“Qianxi, hurry over and help!”
Chen Qianxi’s eyes went wide. “Wait a minute—she’s a girl, and I’m not a girl?”
“Look at yourself. Do you look like a girl? That’s what a girl should be like. You? You’re careless and sloppy, no posture standing, no grace sitting. Go on, help. And besides, she’s a guest. How can it be the same?”
Chen Qianxi: “…”
I get it now. There’s no love left for me. I’m clearly not the biological child. Must’ve been picked up from a trash can.
“What are you dazing out for? Go help!”
“…Fine.”
Chen Qianxi trudged over with a face full of grievance, while Lin Yuejiu watched with a laugh.
How warm this felt—bickering, joking, laughing. This was the kind of home she longed for.
Not long after, dinner was ready.
“Alright, food’s ready!”
Lin Yuejiu instinctively wanted to help bring the dishes, but Father Chen stopped her with a smile. “No, no, you girls shouldn’t be carrying these.”
“Then…”
Lin Yuejiu glanced toward Chen Qianxi, who was carrying the plates. Father Chen leaned closer and whispered, “Honestly, I don’t want Qianxi carrying them either, but there’s nothing I can do. I’m not the one in charge here.”
For a moment, Lin Yuejiu didn’t react. But when she followed his gaze to Chen Mu, she immediately made an “OK” gesture.
Father Chen’s face was full of helplessness. What could he do?
