Chapter 88: A Birthday Celebration and an Unexpected Stay

Before they knew it, the day after tomorrow’s school dismissal arrived. As Lin Duo packed her schoolbag, she brought up a topic with Gu Xuexuan. “My high school roommate is celebrating her birthday today,” she explained. “So I won’t be able to walk home with you. Could you help me pick out a suitable gift?”

For some inexplicable reason, Gu Xuexuan didn’t seem particularly pleased. “It sounds like you two are particularly close. You talk about her all the time.”

“We did share a dorm for a whole year, after all!” Lin Duo’s lips curved into a smile as she thought of her roommate. “And while that girl has her fair share of quirks, she’s actually quite endearing.”

“If you’re so familiar with her, why don’t you just pick out the gift yourself?” Gu Xuexuan retorted. “I’ve never even met her, so of course I don’t know what she likes. I can’t help you with this.”

“Xuanxuan?” Lin Duo was utterly bewildered by Gu Xuexuan’s reaction. This was so unlike her usual self.

Gu Xuexuan, sensing her words had been too harsh, forced a smile. “I’m just a bit tired after a full day of classes. I don’t really feel like going shopping.”

“Oh, I see… In that case, you should head home early and rest!”

****

After bidding farewell to Gu Xuexuan, Lin Duo was left to choose a gift alone. She eventually settled on an inexpensive lavender decorative bottle from an accessories shop. *’A small gift carries deep sentiment,’* she thought. Besides, given Shen Jing’an’s affluence, she wouldn’t care for anything overly valuable.

Having informed her adoptive parents before leaving that morning, Lin Duo followed her phone’s navigation, taking a bus directly to Shen Jing’an’s residential complex. By coincidence, the gatekeeper was the same one from six months prior.

Remembering the beautiful girl who had visited, he greeted her warmly. “Little sister, you’re here for Uncle Long’s precious daughter, aren’t you? Just go right in.”

The address ‘Uncle Long’ felt rather peculiar, imbued with a strong, almost underworldly, vibe. Lin Duo, however, didn’t dwell on it. After thanking the gatekeeper, she proceeded inside.

The complex boasted excellent landscaping, with most of the villas being three-story detached homes. Their elaborate, Baroque-inspired designs clearly indicated they were residences for the wealthy, stirring a pang of envy in Lin Duo, who came from humble origins.

However, envy was just that. She wasn’t one to be discontent; the mere fact of living as a girl already filled her with profound joy and gratitude.

Following the provided address, Lin Duo arrived at a villa and rang the doorbell. The door quickly opened, revealing Shen Jing’an, who greeted her with a beaming smile. “You’re finally here! Come in quickly!”

Two other girls of their age were seated in the living room. They rose to introduce themselves, revealing they were Shen Jing’an’s close middle school friends who had ended up attending different high schools. Lin Duo first presented her gift, offering words of blessing.

Then, the four ‘girls’ gathered in a circle, chatting about various mundane topics. Personality changes are typically very gradual, yet when viewed over a period of time, they can be remarkably significant—and Lin Duo was a prime example.

She once dreaded such social gatherings, usually just listening quietly and never actively participating in social events. However, after a year of high school life, serving as a class committee member and student council executive, and even twice standing center stage before an audience of thousands, Lin Duo had become far more confident and outgoing.

She no longer felt such aversion to these social settings, now able to integrate quite naturally. A lively and beautiful girl easily garners goodwill from those around her, which in turn boosted Lin Duo’s self-confidence. This virtuous cycle subtly brought about a tremendous transformation in her previously somewhat unsociable personality.

In short, despite meeting for the first time, Lin Duo and the other two girls quickly hit it off, chatting animatedly for a long while. Shen Jing’an was naturally delighted by this sight.

She even set aside her usual demeanor and acted as a server, bringing out various prepared high-end fruits and desserts. Afterward, the four squeezed onto the sofa to watch a new comedy film, laughing and talking in perfect harmony.

It wasn’t until around 9 PM that the main event began. One of the girls brought a prepared seven-tier cake from the kitchen to the living room, adorned with sixteen candles. This was followed by singing, making wishes, and blowing out the candles. Shen Jing’an even emotionally embraced each of her friends.

As it was getting late, Lin Duo felt a longing to return home. She tugged at Shen Jing’an’s sleeve. “Um, shouldn’t we be heading back soon? My parents will worry if it gets too late.”

“It’s fine, just stay and play a bit longer! It’s rare for the house to be this lively!” Shen Jing’an was clearly in high spirits and not ready for the evening to end.

Since it was the birthday girl’s wish, Lin Duo reluctantly put aside her thoughts of leaving. The four then played board games for over an hour. Seeing that it was already past 11 PM, Lin Duo couldn’t help but ask again, “Xiaojing, where are your parents? They’re still not back at this hour?”

“Oh, them? They’ve been quite busy lately, so it’s normal for them not to come home for days. But it’s fine this way; it’s more comfortable living in this big house alone!” Shen Jing’an had always been somewhat rebellious toward filial piety.

By this point, Lin Duo had received a text message from her adoptive mother, solidifying her decision to leave. “It’s really too late. I’ll just take a taxi back.”

Unexpectedly, the girl to her left suddenly spoke. “Don’t take a taxi this late, it’s not safe. Haven’t you heard about last week’s abandoned body case in the wilderness? A taxi driver did it to a female passenger—first rape, then murder, and even dismemberment. It’s truly terrifying!”

Lin Duo, who was naturally timid, lost her composure after being frightened like that. “Then… what should I do?”

“Just stay and sleep here! My bed is huge, so two people will definitely fit. Plus, there’s a guest room with a double bed. If you’re not comfortable sharing a bed, I even have floor mats at home.” It seemed Shen Jing’an had prepared for this eventuality.

Hmm… She had lived in a girls’ dorm for a year without being exposed, so it should be safe this time, right? The pitch-black view outside the window at that moment genuinely made Lin Duo feel afraid, so she half-heartedly agreed to stay.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

How can I, the Holy Son, marry someone?

BattleFemale ProtagonistMarriage

Read Now →
Not interested