Chapter 28: Renewal
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
Lin Su had suspected Lin Lu might betray him, but he never imagined that his “tool sister” wouldn’t even last three sentences before breaking down. Thank goodness he hadn’t sent her to take the civil servant exam—what a traitor to the people!
Si Longqiu hadn’t predicted this plot twist either, so she was completely unprepared mentally. Her daughter’s earth-shattering confession hit her soul like a thunderbolt, making her deeply aware of how complicated the world was. What else could I possibly know? What else did I need to do? What could I still hope for? At that moment, she wished she had a classic meme of Du Siyue’s expression—she just didn’t understand.
Lin Lu pulled the blanket up over half her face and said, “Brother, just admit it already.”
Si Longqiu grabbed her daughter’s hand firmly and asked again, “Does this really have something to do with you or not?”
Lin Lu shook her head as if it might fly off. No, no, I’m single and happy.
Si Longqiu asked again, “So Shi Wenze really is your brother’s boyfriend?”
Lin Lu sneaked a glance at Lin Su and, seeing no denial, muttered, “Yeah.” Of course, betraying a teammate was one thing, but the little sister still helped emphasize the key point: “He’s chasing him. Not caught him yet.”
Is that even the question? Si Longqiu dropped her daughter’s hand and stood up, asking seriously, “Then where did his son come from?”
Both siblings fell into confusion. Two more people who didn’t understand the world.
Lin Lu was the first to speak, “Mom, you must be mistaken. Where would Shi Ge get a son?”
“Impossible,” Si Longqiu said. “He admitted it himself—said he needed to leave work on time to take care of his son.”
Lin Su frowned. “You went to ask him?”
Si Longqiu, “…”
Suddenly, the situation quietly reversed, and Lin Su took the high ground.
He crossed his arms and pronounced in righteous judgment, “Mom, don’t you think what you’re doing is a bit wrong?”
“I didn’t ask anything inappropriate!” Si Longqiu argued. “A common person feeling dizzy asks for help from a public official. Isn’t that reasonable? First, explain the son’s situation!”
“There’s no son,” Lin Su frowned again. “He probably thought you were an eager auntie trying to set him up, so he made up an excuse to leave early. What exactly did you do?”
Si Longqiu recalled Ms. Fishhead and was convinced by this reasoning. She relaxed slightly. There was no horrifying unmarried parent situation—no daughter, no son. But she quickly found another point of concern. “Why did you get a boyfriend?”
Lin Su answered, “Because he’s handsome, has a good job, is safe, has a permanent position, paid vacation, social security, stable hours, and a decent salary.”
Lin Lu secretly gave her brother a thumbs up. “You sure know how to pick the highlights. Even If You Are the One would approve of that.”
Si Longqiu said, “But he’s a man.”
Lin Su said, “I know.”
Si Longqiu rubbed her temples. The emotional rollercoaster that night had been too intense. She needed some ibuprofen. No mother could remain calm and unruffled facing this situation, so she tried her best and asked her son, “Do you think there’s any chance you might change your orientation a little?”
“Maybe.” Lin Su leaned against the wall, speaking casually. “If he’s willing to change, I’m open to it.”
Lin Lu had never expected that answer. Her eyes shone with admiration. “That’s my brother!”
Si Longqiu put a hand over her chest. Whether from anger or shock, she felt pain there. She also imagined her son, post-transition, calling her “Mom.” That image was unbearable; her face turned pale.
“Mom.” Lin Lu knelt by the bed and patted her back. “Are you okay?”
Si Longqiu said she was fine for now, but if Lin Su kept talking, she might not be.
“What time is it? Go to sleep.” Lin Lu tried to smooth things over. “I have to work tomorrow.”
“Fine, you sleep first.” Si Longqiu tugged the blanket over her daughter and told her son, “Come with me.”
Lin Lu watched her mother’s retreating back and silently mouthed to her brother, Need backup?
Lin Su shut the bedroom door coldly behind him. You’ve already betrayed the organization once and lost the party’s trust. Lin Lu whimpered.
The living room was brightly lit. Si Longqiu wanted to continue talking with her son but didn’t know what to say. Lin Su filled a glass at the water dispenser. “Weren’t you pretty happy when you thought he was your son-in-law?”
Si Longqiu said, “I was happy, but that’s a different matter. Why did you suddenly change your orientation?”
Lin Su replied, “I didn’t suddenly change. I’ve been this way since I was young. I just kept it hidden. You and Dad didn’t notice—that’s your fault, not mine. You missed the secrets of my adolescence.”
Si Longqiu’s headache returned. Please stop with the moral blackmail!
Lin Su handed her the cup. “I added some roselle.”
“No flower can help now,” Si Longqiu patted the sofa, signaling him to sit beside her. “Your sister said you’re still chasing, haven’t caught him yet. I see that Xiao Shi is quite popular. Is there a chance you’ll never catch him at all?”
Lin Su snatched the cup back. Drinking water was fine; talking heart-to-heart was fine—but first things first: I’m not chasing him. He’s chasing me.
Si Longqiu paused. “So he hasn’t won you over yet?”
Lin Su gave a cool “Mmm.”
Si Longqiu asked again, “So are you planning to let him catch you?”
Lin Su replied with the same cold “Mmm.”
Si Longqiu was at a loss for words again. She was quite familiar with these little love games. Mutual liking was one thing, but having to be pursued was another. The whole process was basically a carbon copy of herself thirty years ago—playing hard to get, pretending to reject but secretly welcoming, spoiling her husband because he had a good temper. What else could she say? The DNA was strong; this son was definitely hers.
Lin Su warned, “Don’t bother him at work anymore.”
Si Longqiu emphasized, “I haven’t agreed to this marriage yet.”
Lin Su said, “Then keep not agreeing. It’s almost three in the morning. We’ll deal with the rest tomorrow. Go back and get some sleep.”
Si Longqiu, “…”
Lin Su gave his mother a gentle push and pull back toward the bedroom. He pulled out his phone and saw Shi Wenze had just sent him a WeChat message—no words, just a clock-out and goodnight emoji. Round and chubby, kind of cute. Leaning against the corridor wall, Lin Su carefully typed back: Working tomorrow?
The phone on the bathroom counter buzzed. Shi Wenze, electric toothbrush in mouth, unlocked the screen, surprised that Lin Su was still awake so late. After rinsing, he sent a voice message.
Lin Su slipped his Bluetooth earbuds in and lay on the bed, opening the message. Maybe only people in love enjoyed a string of 59-second voice notes without getting annoyed. Shi Wenze’s voice was low and husky, stirring something warm and soft in the silent midnight. Lin Su hugged his blanket, pressing his face into it as if to soak up the sweetness. No more melancholy or emo feelings—it was like being wrapped in sugar. Sure, his image might be a bit shattered, but who cared? No one else was watching anyway.
“Stop zoning out, go to sleep soon,” Shi Wenze whispered. “I’m off in the morning, but I have to work at two in the afternoon. I’ll finish the meeting by six and come pick you up at the gallery.”
Lin Su replied, Okay. Outside, a million stars glittered. The whole Qinghu Garden smelled faintly of flowers. The gentle rain mist tapped the glass like a lullaby. This kind of weather was perfect for sleeping, so perfect that Lin Lu almost missed her alarm the next morning. Yawning, she went downstairs and found their mother still in bed and Lin Su alone, studying the microwave. Instantly alert, she stepped forward to take over: “What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.”
Lin Su stood nearby and asked, “Is this how you’re making up for betraying your brother?”
Lin Lu confessed eagerly, “I really didn’t mean it last night. Mom came at me asking if I’d had Shi Ge’s baby. Who could handle that?”
Lin Su handed her two eggs. “You still gonna make it to work on time?”
“Yeah, plenty of time. I’m flying over,” Lin Lu said cheerfully. “Work’s not important anyway. Of course I gotta help my dear brother with his favorite breakfast.”
Lin Su leaned on the microwave. “But you never let me in the kitchen, so I can’t improve.”
“No improvement means no progress,” Lin Lu fried the eggs. “Besides, think of it this way: your meals won’t be my responsibility forever. When you get married, the unlucky one will be Shi Ge. So rather than you blowing up our kitchen, I’ll just put up with it. Cooking isn’t that hard anyway.”
Lin Su thought her strange logic kind of made sense.
Lin Lu asked, “How did your talk with Mom go last night?”
“Nothing much. I told her to go to bed halfway through,” Lin Su said, washing an apple. “We’ll continue today.”
“But she still hasn’t gotten up,” Lin Lu pointed upstairs. “So maybe it’s not as earth-shattering to her as we thought. Her beauty sleep’s probably more important. Are you still going to the gallery this morning?”
“Yeah,” Lin Su said. “Gotta pay the final installment to the renovation company. I’ll leave after breakfast.”
“I’ll drive my car for you,” Lin Lu packed a sandwich onto a plate. “You really don’t want to buy your own?”
“On the list. All the models I want have waiting lists,” Lin Su said, not in a hurry. Those who’d never ridden a motorcycle wouldn’t understand its charm.
Around eleven, the sun came out over Chengdu. Clear skies after rain always lightened the mood, especially in the lively alleys of the old city. The calls of street vendors mixed with kindergarten music floated through half-open windows. Shi Wenze stretched and shuffled out of bed in slippers, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and checked his phone.
Lin Su had sent a message half an hour ago, asking if he was up.
Shi Wenze replied, Just got up.
Ten minutes later, Lin Su called. “I’m outside your shop.”
Shi Wenze dropped his water bottle and hurried downstairs.
Lin Su was examining the rough tattoo parlor sign, holding a bouquet—not roses, but colorful lisianthus, bright and pretty.
“Bought at the alley corner,” Lin Su said. “I asked for directions. The shopkeeper seems to know you, so I’m helping out her business.”
“The neighbors here all know each other pretty well,” Shi Wenze smiled. “What’s the sudden visit for?”
Lin Su slipped the flowers into Shi Wenze’s arms. “I came to renew.”
This Title is available for faster chapter releases through paid Patreon membership. Any proceeds go to keeping the website running. Check it out HERE.
