A Home Visit and Unexpected Revelations

“Please come in.”

“Alright.”

After chatting with the Goddess at the doorway for a while, I finally mustered the courage to invite her to my home to rest. After all, she had classes in the afternoon, and I figured she didn’t have much time left for her lunch break.

If I were still a boy, no girl would ever accept an invitation to my home. However, since I was now a girl, the Goddess seemed to accept my invitation quite naturally, without a second thought.

Bai An An entered my home with a slight hesitation, her eyes darting around curiously.

“So this is your home. It’s actually my first time visiting your place, Ling Jiu.”

A hint of insecurity crept into my voice. “My home is quite small; I apologize for the humble surroundings.”

Bai An An gently shook her head. “Actually, the place I live in is about the same size as yours.”

“Why? Don’t you have a villa nearby?”

“Well, that has little to do with me. My sister and I are currently renting an apartment together.”

“You have a sister?”

“Yes, we have a very close relationship. She just moved in with me recently.”

Suddenly, I found myself interested in my sister-in-law… No, the Goddess’s sister.

“What’s your sister’s name?”

“Her name is Bai Yu, and she attends junior high at our school.”

“Oh, why haven’t I heard about her before?”

Bai An An offered a wry smile. “I’d always suspected she was my sister, but I had no proof. Once I confirmed our relationship, I felt quite awkward telling others about it.”

Right, because I’m an outsider.

Bai An An became a little flustered. “No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just a very complicated matter, and I don’t know how to explain it.”

“I understand. It’s a family affair, isn’t it? Don’t worry, since it involves privacy, I’ll pretend I know nothing.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

Yet, why did the name Bai Yu sound so familiar? It was as if…

“Ah, what a fragrant aroma.”

Bai An An’s surprised voice interrupted my thoughts as she noticed the table of dishes I had prepared.

“Did you make these dishes, Ling Jiu?”

I nodded. “Yes, I did.”

Bai An An clicked her tongue in amazement. “I can’t believe it’s true that you said your cooking skills were excellent.”

Feeling a little shy, I twirled a strand of my hair. “Actually, I haven’t cooked in a long time. Today, I just wanted to try my hand at it again.”

“They look perfect in color, aroma, and taste, but I wonder how they actually taste.”

The Goddess’s demeanor, like a connoisseur evaluating cuisine, actually revealed her inner weakness to me.

She hadn’t eaten lunch, had she?

“Allow me to let you sample my cooking. I have a fair bit of confidence in it.”

I went to the kitchen to fetch chopsticks and, while I was there, brought back two bowls of rice.

“Please, try some.”

“Then I won’t be shy.”

Bai An An delicately picked out some fish-fragrant shredded pork, elegantly placed it into her mouth, closed her eyes, and chewed slowly.

I instantly grew nervous, as if I were a chef facing a Michelin inspector, where her single word could determine my fate.

Seeing the Goddess’s expressionless face, my heart suddenly quickened. Then, she scooped a small spoonful of Mapo Tofu with her spoon and ate it mixed with rice. Her cheeks immediately flushed crimson, and she broke into a sweat, as if she were eating not tofu, but fiery chilies.

“Is it too spicy?”

“This flavor…”

Bai An An frowned, then tasted all the dishes. She finally put down her chopsticks and sighed.

Nervously, I asked, “How was it?”

Bai An An looked at me with a burning gaze, her voice filled with regret.

“Ling Jiu, how wonderful it would be if you could live with me. That way, my sister and I wouldn’t have to worry about where our next meal comes from.”

“Is it really that exaggerated?”

Bai An An said earnestly, “You might not realize it yourself, Ling Jiu, but you’re already total wife material.”

“Eh? Eh? Eh?”

Seeing my bewildered expression, she chuckled.

“That’s right, you’re completely different from before! Not only have you become cuter, but also much softer. Coupled with your cooking skills, no one could resist your charm!”

As Bai An An spoke, a slight sense of loss suddenly flickered across her face.

“It’s a pity I can’t cook. It seems you truly are more outstanding than I am, Ling Jiu.”

I shook my head. “How could that be? I have very few skills worth mentioning, while you are a perfect, all-around Goddess. I’m merely trying to find a means to make a living.”

“So you’re really planning to be a virtuous wife?”

“…”

It seemed that whether male or female, I was destined to be a good-for-nothing waiting to be taken care of.

A sudden urge to prevent the Goddess from misunderstanding made me blurt out:

“Of course not. My ideal is to follow in your footsteps. I know I might not be as excellent, but I hope to watch your back and keep moving forward, following excellent people. Perhaps one day, I too can become excellent.”

Bai An An’s eyebrows raised slightly, and she said with a serious expression, “Then you must work hard to achieve your goal. I won’t stop and wait for you.”

I lowered my face, not wanting her to see my joyful, leaping expression.

This was my wish; though it held nothing particularly commendable, it was filled with my sincerity.

My Goddess was indeed a favored daughter of heaven, but I harbored the pride of wanting to compete with her. Her response meant she saw me as an equal opponent, not merely a simp.

To be a simp to the point of losing equal standing was too great a loss.

I wanted to be her assistant, to help her in my own way. A simp who only flattered often missed the point. To be with her, I had to at least prove I possessed strength equal to hers.

Otherwise, it would simply be a relationship between a master and a pet.

“Yes, as long as we don’t stop, the path will continue to extend. So, let’s both keep moving forward.”

Just then, I heard the sound of the door opening.

“Wow, Sister, you’re actually sneaking food behind my back!”

I turned my head. Ling Chen had returned, carrying a bottle of drink. He paused when he saw Bai An An beside me, then politely greeted her, “Hello.”

Bai An An was a little taken aback, then nodded. “Hello.”

She immediately reverted to her usual cool and dignified demeanor, whispering to me, “This is…”

“This is my younger brother, Ling Chen.”

“I didn’t even know you had a younger brother.”

“He just moved in with me recently.”

“It seems every family has its hidden stories.”

“I’ll explain everything properly when I get back to school.”

Ling Chen enthusiastically asked, “Are you Sister Bai An An?”

Bai An An nodded. “Yes.”

“I’m Ling Chen. I often hear my sister talk about you, and I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

Bai An An gave me a meaningful glance, and I felt a pang of panic. Why did Ling Chen have to bring me up now!

Bai An An’s tone turned somewhat cold. “What did Ling Jiu say about me?”

“Sister often says you’re an excellent top student, not only beautiful but also kind-hearted. She admires you greatly.”

Upon hearing Ling Chen’s words, Bai An An’s taut face relaxed slightly. Her gaze at me held a hint of reproach, as if asking, ‘Why don’t you praise me like this to my face?’

I was on the verge of tears; Ling Chen’s ‘assistance’ was incredibly ill-timed. Between best friends, where does such admiration come from? Doesn’t it sound a bit… queer? Besides, I’m not the type to praise people directly. The Goddess would lose trust in me if she knew I talked about her behind her back!

“Is that so?”

Ling Chen’s words flowed like honey. “Indeed, seeing is believing. I never expected you to be so stunning; I thought Sister was exaggerating. It truly surprises me that someone with Sister’s personality could have such an outstanding best friend.”

Bai An An feigned deep thought. “Yes, why would Ling Jiu have a best friend like me? Ling Jiu, do you have any ideas?”

My mouth twitched. The two of them might as well perform a crosstalk comedy act. Their coordination, their tone—it was too perfectly synchronized!