Chapter 86: My Girlfriend’s Getting Better and Better
“This semester is almost over, which means the final exams are coming up soon. Everyone, keep up your effort, okay?”
“Got it!”
After class, Lin Rumeng came over to Lin Yuejiu’s desk. “Sister.”
Lin Yuejiu looked up from her mountain of exercises. “Yes? What’s up?”
“Tomorrow is my birthday. My parents said they’ll throw a party for me and want me to invite whoever I want.”
“So?”
“So I hope you can come too, Sister.”
Lin Yuejiu raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that it probably wouldn’t be anything good.
“Sister? Will you come?”
“Are you only inviting me from the whole class?”
“Of course not! I’m asking you first. Once you agree, I’ll invite the others. So, Sister, will you come?”
Since the whole class would be invited anyway, Lin Yuejiu didn’t expect any trouble and nodded. “Alright.”
Lin Rumeng’s face lit up with a smile and she turned to ask Xu Nianshen beside her, “Brother Nianshen, will you come?”
Xu Nianshen nodded. Since she was going, he’d go too—just to prevent any accidents.
Lin Rumeng’s happiness grew even more. “Great!”
Then she went up to the podium and announced to everyone: “Classmates, tomorrow is my birthday. I’d like to invite everyone to my house for my birthday party. I hope you can all come.”
Once they heard there was a party, everyone responded eagerly.
“Sure, we’ll come.”
“Gotta save face, after all.”
“We’ll come, don’t worry.”
Hearing everyone agree, Lin Rumeng relaxed. “Great, see you all at the Lin household after school tomorrow.”
Lin Yuejiu turned to Xu Nianshen. “Why did you agree so quickly? I thought you wouldn’t want to come.”
“You’re going, so how could I not?” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Gotta make sure my girlfriend is safe—of course, I, her boyfriend, need to watch over her.”
Having been with him for a while, she was used to him saying things like this and no longer blushed. She softly replied, “Then thanks in advance, boyfriend.”
She slid her hand under the desk to grab his, her finger gently scratching his palm.
Xu Nianshen tried to catch her hand, but she had already anticipated it and pulled it back in time, leaving him grasping at empty air.
He looked down, eyes glinting with amusement. His girlfriend was getting better and better.
Chen Qianxi was staring at them closely. What did the Nianshen-Yuejiu pair just whisper about behind her back? She didn’t hear their secret conversation!
Why is Xu Nianshen smiling? What are they saying that she’s not allowed to hear??
Forever at the frontlines of fangirling, Chen Qianxi didn’t even know the latest news.
The day of Lin Rumeng’s birthday soon arrived. She went home early, reminding her classmates on the way to remember to come to the party.
*
After getting into the car, she quickly told the driver to go faster. Lin’s mother had prepared several dresses for her, and she hadn’t had time to choose one last night. On top of that, she still had to do her makeup, so time was tight.
When she arrived home, Lin Rumeng dashed inside. Lin’s mother saw her and hurriedly reminded her to be careful, a helpless smile on her face. This child was always in such a rush.
Because it was Lin Rumeng’s birthday, Lin’s mother had specifically told Lin Yimo to come home early.
Faced with Lin mother’s obvious fondness for Lin Rumeng, Lin Yimo didn’t know what to say. He knew exactly what kind of person his sister really was, but how could he let their parents fully understand? And if they did, what would their reaction be? He didn’t know what to do. Ever since he found out, he had kept a certain distance from Lin Rumeng, but outwardly, he maintained the same demeanor so she wouldn’t notice.
Today, after finishing work, he came home early. The moment he entered the living room, he saw Lin Rumeng holding two dresses and asking their mother, “Mom, which one do you think I should wear?”
Lin’s mother smiled warmly. “Our Rumeng looks good in anything she wears.”
“Oh, Mom—”
“What’s the matter? Still shy?” Lin’s mother teased.
Lin Yimo quietly observed them. Lin Rumeng noticed him, set the dresses down, and ran into his arms. He instinctively reached out and caught her. “Brother, did you come home early today because it’s my birthday?”
Lin Yimo lightly nodded.
Lin Rumeng laughed happily. “Brother, you’re so good to me.”
Lin Yimo gave a polite smile.
“Oh, brother, which one do you think looks better on me?” She held up the two dresses for him to see.
“You’ll look good in either one.”
“Brother, why do you say that too? I mean it—really, which one looks better?”
Lin Yimo poured himself a glass of water. “If you really can’t decide, wear one for the main appearance and the other later.”
Lin Rumeng’s eyes lit up. “Perfect! Thank you, brother!”
She quickly ran upstairs.
Lin Yimo sat cross-legged on the sofa, quietly drinking water, watching Lin’s mother busy preparing for the birthday party. He asked, “Mom, what do you think of Rumeng?”
“Huh? What do you mean, what do I think? She’s my daughter. Of course she’s good.”
“Have you ever thought…” Lin Yimo pursed his lips, “…that this is just what she shows on the outside? That her true self might not be exactly like this?”
Lin’s mother found Lin Yimo strangely cryptic today. “What’s with you? Why are you suddenly talking about your sister? She’s great. What you see is what you get—why are you doubting her? If you have nothing else to do, go help with her birthday party. This is Rumeng’s first birthday at our house—you better make it special, got it?”
Lin Yimo opened his mouth, nodded, and didn’t continue. Judging from his mother’s attitude, now wasn’t the right time.
As the first birthday party for the true daughter of the Lin family, it was treated with great importance. Lin’s grandfather insisted on a grand celebration, inviting many people from their social circle. All those who received the invitation agreed and gave clear confirmations.
Soon, the evening party began. Class 1 students from the senior grade brought their invitations to the Lin residence. Lin Rumeng, considerate as always, told her classmates to call her if they didn’t have a ride, and she would have the driver pick them up.
After school, Lin Yuejiu went with Xu Nianshen to the Xu family. Since Xu’s mother knew Lin Yuejiu would be attending the birthday party, she didn’t say much—everyone has their own choice—and even prepared several dresses for her. Lin Yuejiu instinctively refused, thinking it unnecessary to dress up for Lin Rumeng’s party; a simple outfit would do.
Seeing her refuse, Xu’s mother immediately looked disappointed, her tone pitiful. “I see… Lin Yuejiu is rejecting Auntie. You don’t want the dresses I prepared?”
Lin Yuejiu groaned in her heart and immediately explained, saying she liked the dresses very much.
Xu’s mother’s face instantly lit up with joy and handed the dresses to her for selection.
Lin Yuejiu sighed helplessly to herself: she really fell into a big trap.
Xu Nianshen laughed at her from the side.
In the end, Lin Yuejiu chose a cream-colored dress that wasn’t too flashy, and Xu Nianshen, being considerate, matched it with a cream-colored outfit for himself.
