Different Lives

Before he knew it, almost a month had passed since Lin Yu transferred to University A, and he had been living with Tang Manman for a full month as well.

Over this past month, Lin Yu experienced a lifestyle vastly different from what he was used to.

How should he put it?

His life with Xia Muzhu leaned more toward...

Family.

She would keep the household chores perfectly organized, leaving him with absolutely nothing to worry about.

She would prepare rich and delicious meals for him right on time.

She remembered his preferences and tastes by heart.

She paid attention to the daily weather and temperature.

She would remind him to wear extra layers or take an umbrella before heading out.

She cared for him deeply and took great care of him.

Yet, she wasn't overly clingy.

Nor did she often act cute or spoiled with him. (Except in bed, of course.)

If he found a nine-to-five job in City H after graduation and handed all his money over for her to manage...

Then their dynamic would truly resemble that of a model married couple.

If, in the future, they had a cute daughter or a mischievous son like Xia Yueshan...

Then, as a man, his life would be completely fulfilled.

And what about his relationship with Tang Manman?

Being with her, Lin Yu felt a sense of romance that was much more suited to their current age.

She was gentle, obedient, and loved sticking to him like glue.

Any small gift or little surprise could keep her happy for half the day.

She loved dragging him around to explore mountains, oceans, amusement parks—every place couples were supposed to visit, she wanted to pull him along.

It was as if she was trying to make up for something.

She liked to act spoiled with him, but her only demands were hugs and kisses.

She could be emotional at times—not in the form of rage or screaming, but rather when she was deeply moved, or when he teased her a bit too far. She would start crying softly in a way that made him feel tender toward her, though she was incredibly easy to coax back to smiles.

In terms of daily life.

She didn't know much more than the average girl.

Even though she didn't come from a wealthy background.

Thanks to her mother's meticulous care, she only ever had to handle simple household chores.

Because of this, she couldn't manage the finer details of daily life as flawlessly as Xia Muzhu did.

More often than not, he had to share the burden with her.

Like cooking more complex dishes, making porridge, or wrapping dumplings.

The two clumsy individuals would divide the tasks.

Working, playing, and growing together all at once.

Laughter and cheerful voices always accompanied them.

The feeling of being with Xia Muzhu was entirely different from being with Tang Manman.

Neither was superior to the other; they were just uniquely different experiences.

It was like comparing a very sweet orange to a very sweet cantaloupe.

Because they were both sweet, Lin Yu loved them both.

But there were definitely differences.

Simply put.

Lin Yu felt that being with the two of them was like experiencing two distinct stages of life.

Being with Tang Manman was the beautiful romance of college and youth.

Whereas being with Xia Muzhu felt more like the perfect love of someone who had already entered society, or even marriage.

What?

Qing Mo?

Her...

She was more like a disruptor.

Like a speck of impurity in white jade, or a splash of ink on pure white cotton.

He didn't know why.

Qing Mo felt to Lin Yu like a roadblock on the path of a stable and long-lasting relationship.

Picture a couple strolling hand-in-hand forward.

Then suddenly, she jumps out.

It was safe to say that the vast majority of men in this world would be unable to reject her.

Incredibly wealthy and stunningly beautiful.

And exceptionally wild in bed.

She could satisfy almost every need a man could possibly have.

She was like a wave of temptation bound to rise up in the long river of love.

If a couple's little boat of love was sturdy enough, they could naturally sail through these turbulent waters safely.

But what she stirred up wasn't just a wave; it was a tsunami!

She was the other woman who could make someone's long-settled heart pound violently once again.

She was the affair that every man would feel ashamed of, yet find impossible to refuse.

She was temptation incarnate!

Holy crap.

Thinking of this, Lin Yu's mood suddenly became a bit complicated.

What kind of ridiculous, heaven-defying dumb luck did he have?

Love that should have belonged to three distinct, important stages of life, he had somehow encountered all at the same time.

It truly left him feeling both helpless and thrilled...

Perhaps the old sayings were right.

Speak of the devil—just as he thought of Qing Mo, a message from her arrived.

Qing Mo: I'm coming to your place tonight.

Qing Mo: Make preparations beforehand.

???

Looking at Qing Mo's message, Lin Yu's head was full of question marks.

Reading her tone, why did it feel like he was the shameful, kept sugar baby in this scenario?

Oh well.

Considering it was quite a hassle for her to fly all the way over, he decided not to give her a hard time.

Long Aotian: OK.

Long Aotian: About what time will you arrive?

On another note.

After sending the text, Lin Yu thought of another issue.

Should he ask Tang Manman to make herself scarce?

Stroking his chin in thought, Lin Yu waved the idea off.

Why should she?

They were already good friends who had rolled around in the same bed.

What was there to avoid?

If Tang Manman was truly too embarrassed, he could just pour some alcohol into her.

That way, he'd have an extra helper on hand, and he wouldn't have to worry about fumbling around when the time came.

Qing Mo: I'll reach City N around seven.

Qing Mo: I'll have a surprise for you then.

A surprise?

Seeing Qing Mo's message, Lin Yu couldn't figure out what kind of surprise she was talking about.

Was it money?

But he wasn't short on that.

Was it some expensive gift?

If he wasn't short on money, what gift could he possibly lack?

So what could this surprise Qing Mo spoke of be?

Lin Yu let his thoughts wander for a bit, but ultimately couldn't come up with an answer.

So he simply stopped thinking about it.

Anyway, Qing Mo would be arriving by evening. He'd see what the gift was soon enough!

So for now...

Lin Yu turned his head to look at Tang Manman, who was sitting beside him, earnestly listening to the lecture and taking notes.

It was time to start planning how to get Tang Manman drunk!