The Talkative Sister and the Quiet Home

Upon Chen Ran’s return to his boarding home, he found Jiang Zilin engrossed in what appeared to be a phone conversation.

This struck him as rather peculiar.

Chen Ran distinctly recalled that Jiang Zilin, the eldest sister of the household, was a severe social recluse who dared not even attend school, possessed no friends, and would invariably shroud herself completely when venturing out, shrinking from even uttering a single word to others.

He remembered his initial days after moving into the Jiang residence.

He had, for a time, even believed his elder sister was mute, contemplating whether he should learn sign language to communicate with her.

“Oh, Xiaoran, you’re back!”

Jiang Zilin, of course, could speak, and was, in fact, quite the chatterbox—what Chen Ran would describe as purely `men sao` (TL Note: A Chinese slang term referring to someone who is outwardly reserved or cold but inwardly passionate or mischievous).

In front of strangers, she remained utterly silent, only capable of nodding with soft hums.

However, once she grew comfortable.

She would transform into her current self.

“Perfect timing! Your sister is just making you a late-night snack. It’s crab roe ramen, would you like a fried egg with it?”

“Yes.”

“Alright~ Oh, and you brought pastries from Grandma’s shop? How lovely! Is Grandma’s shop still open this late?”

“No.”

“Did you get my favorite osmanthus cake~? And why did you buy crispy candy for Lengleng too? Hmph! Didn’t I tell you, you only need to buy for your sister, not for Lengleng!!”

“Tell me, Xiaoran, do you have some ulterior motive towards Lengleng, hmm?!”

Jiang Zilin was truly an intense chatterbox.

Perhaps.

The lonelier one was, the more pronounced this trait became.

He, however, had grown accustomed to it.

“No, I simply bought both to prevent you two from squabbling.”

As Chen Ran spoke, he placed the old-fashioned pastries he carried onto the living room table.

The small house was not particularly spacious.

The house where he boarded resembled a `yihujian` (TL Note: A common Japanese term for a detached, single-family home, often used in China to describe similar self-built houses in rural or suburban areas) or a self-built dwelling found in a rural county town, comprising three floors.

The ground floor housed the living room, an open-plan kitchen, a toilet and bathroom, and a small study along with a garden.

The second floor contained the bedrooms of Jiang Zilin and her younger sister, Jiang Lengleng, along with a small storage room.

As for the third floor.

It was the bedroom of their “mother,” or more accurately, their aunt.

The Jiang sisters’ parents had passed away when they were very young, and their aunt, Jiang Ruohua, adopted and raised them, naturally changing both girls’ surnames.

Beyond that.

The third floor also featured an attic, which served as Chen Ran’s living quarters.

“Where’s Sister Lengleng? Did she go back to her room to do homework?”

“Mm-hm.”

Jiang Zilin nodded.

“She’s been like this lately, heading straight back to her room as soon as she gets home from evening study. Her academic workload is quite demanding.”

Jiang Lengleng was only one day older than Chen Ran and was still a high school student.

Unlike her sister, who was completely unable to attend school.

Lengleng was an exceptional student, incredibly diligent in her studies, earning Chen Ran’s profound admiration.

Settling onto the living room sofa, Chen Ran rested.

As he dismissed the peculiar beautiful girl he had just encountered from his mind, musing on his constant encounters with odd individuals, he turned his gaze towards Jiang Zilin, who, despite still cooking the ramen, was secretly glancing at the pastries on the table.

He then spoke to her.

“Sister Xiaolin, who were you chatting with just now? Your boyfriend?”

“What are you talking about!”

Chen Ran was immediately met with a glare.

“Your sister has only ever spoken to one man in her entire life, and that’s you!!”

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hm!”

“That’s hardly something to be proud of.”

Chen Ran couldn’t help but feel a flush of embarrassment, surmising that Jiang Zilin was probably chatting with their “mother,” Jiang Ruohua.

Back then.

A mere month after “picking him up” from outside, Jiang Ruohua had confidently entrusted her two daughters and the convenience store to him, then departed alone for a relaxing trip.

Now, she merely called back occasionally.

Leaving Chen Ran somewhat at a loss for how to appraise the situation.

****

The September summer night still felt rather warm, likely due to Linzhou City’s coastal location, as the distant cries of seabirds occasionally drifted in from beyond the window.

The sky was a deep, starless, moonless black.

Jiang Zilin muttered to herself as she cooked the noodles, wondering if it would rain soon and if the clothes in the yard had been brought in.

Consequently.

After preparing her own late-night meal.

Jiang Zilin hastily rushed out to the garden to collect the clothes—not, however, before remembering to snatch a peach shortbread cookie he had brought back and pop it into her mouth.

Having gathered the clothes, she then began tidying the house, darting around the living room with a mop.

She was remarkably adept at housework.

For a woman in her early twenties who had not completed high school, never attended university, remained largely confined to her home every day, and only ventured out on rare occasions to assist at the convenience store.

Mastering domestic chores was an entirely natural outcome.

Chen Ran continued to eat his ramen, observing Jiang Zilin’s bustling activity.

Her long, light-gold hair cascaded around her, and her trembling, deep-blue eyes were fixed intently on the immaculate wooden floor before her.

She was, without a doubt, also very beautiful.

Her round, pretty face exuded a gentle aura, much like the kind older sister next door who had always treated him well since childhood.

She wore a very casual pure white tank top and loose boxer shorts.

Her slightly plump figure was gently constricted by the tight-fitting tank top, and from Chen Ran’s current side angle, it appeared rather… well… somewhat inappropriate.

From this particular vantage point, one could glimpse a portion of her flesh-toned lace bra between her arm and torso, alongside the soft, pale flesh that was being pressed outwards.

Hmm…

Jiang Zilin’s bare feet, calves, and thighs, indeed her entire body, possessed an almost excessively fair complexion.

Perhaps due to a lack of exercise, her legs, waist, and arms all seemed a little fleshy, including her exceedingly well-developed bosom.

The most frequent complaint Chen Ran heard at home was Jiang Zilin lamenting that she had gained weight and absolutely needed to diet.

The result, however.

Was precisely as it was now: after she had finished cleaning the living room, she plopped down opposite the table and began to devour the crispy candy and osmanthus cakes he had brought back, one in each hand.

The notion that one could indulge in snacks as a reward after completing housework.

This was Jiang Zilin’s life motto.

It would be a miracle if she could lose weight like this; though, truthfully, she didn’t really need to, because…

Observing the woman’s practiced motion of resting her two ample breasts on the table to alleviate shoulder strain.

Chen Ran thought to himself.

‘All the fat has already gathered where it’s supposed to, so why bother dieting? Honestly!’

Chen Ran quietly continued eating his noodles.

However, Jiang Zilin, that character, quickly finished the pastries—leaving only a small portion for her sister.

And then, just as swiftly.

She came to sit beside him.

A delightful scent of shower gel, akin to strawberry milk, emanated from her, accompanied by the touch of her slightly warm, soft skin.

By the time Chen Ran registered it, he realized Jiang Zilin was almost pressed against him.

On her round, pretty face, a pair of deep-blue eyes sparkled with a smile as she spoke in a hushed tone.

“Xiaoran, are you going to shower soon~?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Would you like your sister to help you wash, hmm? Teenage boys always think about things like that, don’t they?”

“Oh, right!”

With a sudden, dramatic flourish, Jiang Zilin abruptly leaned closer to him.

“Why don’t the underwear Xiaoran just changed out of this morning have… those kinds of stains? Hmm? That’s not right, there should be some, shouldn’t there?”

“Are you troubled by something? Tell your sister, or perhaps…”

“Your sister can help you check!!!”