Xiaoman and Shuling's Nighttime Conversation

"Great! Ling-jie must have been super adorable as a child."

Gu Ximan's eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly unable to wait to see the photos.

Luo Shuling walked over to the table and picked up the album, giggling. "I was a bit chubby back then. Shuning and Shuhe were the cute ones."

"I don't care—Ling-jie, you’re the cutest in the world!" Gu Ximan cooed, her tone dripping with undisguised favoritism.

After two months of living together, she had already completely molded herself to Luo Shuling’s ways.

Though she adored Luo Shuning and Luo Shuhe just as much, Luo Shuling undoubtedly held the most weight in her heart.

"Wow, such a sweet talker. Your future boyfriend is gonna be lucky—he’ll probably want to kiss you all day long." Luo Shuling grinned, grabbing a bag of chips and the album before kicking off her slippers and flopping onto the bed.

At those words, Gu Ximan’s mind instantly drifted to the memory of her kiss with Gu Luo at the café earlier that evening. The sweet, shy recollection flooded her mind, and her cheeks flushed bright red in an instant.

She hurriedly tidied up the dresses, bras, and white stockings strewn across the bed before bouncing onto it herself with light, lively movements.

As she landed, the soft swell of her chest jiggled against the plush bedding, radiating youthful energy.

"Whoa, that’s insane! Let me touch them, Ling-jie demands it!"

Luo Shuling’s eyes lit up with mischief as she reached out to grab at Gu Ximan.

"Ahahaha! That tickles…!"

Gu Ximan squirmed and giggled, trying to dodge, but her strength was no match for Luo Shuling’s. After a futile struggle, she surrendered, letting Luo Shuling knead and poke to her heart’s content.

Their laughter filled the room.

After a long bout of playful wrestling, the two finally settled down, lazily leaning against the headboard, shoulder to shoulder.

Luo Shuling tore open the chip bag with a crisp rip, releasing a burst of fresh aroma.

"So good! Cucumber-flavored chips are the best."

Gu Ximan hadn’t been a fan of cucumber chips at first, but after eating them with Luo Shuling so often, she’d grown addicted.

"Right? Cucumber flavor reigns supreme!"

Luo Shuling handed her the bag before opening another for herself.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

The crisp sounds overlapped as the two munched away contentedly.

On a quiet night like this, snuggled up in bed with your best friend and sharing chips—nothing could be more blissful.

Luo Shuling wasn’t in a rush to flip through the album, chatting with Gu Ximan between bites.

Only when the mood was just right and enough time had passed did she lick the chip crumbs off her fingers and casually open the booklet.

Seeing this, Gu Ximan rested her head on Luo Shuling’s shoulder, her cold tea-brown hair spilling over them both. The scent of her shampoo momentarily overpowered the light cucumber aroma.

"The big photo album’s at Mom’s place. We’ll check it out next time we visit. This little one’s just got random snapshots I took back then." Luo Shuling explained before flipping the album open.

The first photo showed two identical little girls, dressed the same, sitting properly as they ate small spoonfuls of food.

Their pink, doll-like faces were so delicate they could melt hearts at a glance.

"Wow, they’re SO cute!!!"

Gu Ximan’s eyes shone as she stared at the photo, utterly enchanted.

"This whole album’s just Shuning and Shuhe. I loved taking photos as a kid, so I’d snap random shots of them all the time." Luo Shuling’s eyes softened with nostalgia as she slowly turned the pages.

The album captured moments like Luo Shuning’s energetic sprinting, Luo Shuhe’s focused expression while doing homework, Luo Shuning’s adorable little motions while getting dressed, Luo Shuhe’s blissful face while drinking yogurt, Luo Shuning’s sleepy, dazed cuteness after waking up, and Luo Shuhe’s serene gaze as she stood on the balcony watching the scenery…

Most were photos of the two together.

Though "together" mostly meant candid shots of their daily lives, brimming with warmth.

"They’re seriously so pretty, like little princesses." Gu Ximan added mentally—Though they’re still just a tiny bit less cute than this beauty right here.

Not that she was bragging.

As a child, Gu Ximan had been frail and sickly, which added a delicate, pitiable charm to her cuteness. It made people want to hug and protect her the moment they saw her.

Gu Luo, especially, had doted on her relentlessly—wherever he went, she was with him. He treated her like the most precious treasure, terrified she’d break if handled too roughly.

And Gu Ximan, in turn, had clung to her brother just as fiercely. Wherever Gu Luo went, she followed, even sleeping while tightly hugging him.

There were times when Gu Luo had to use the bathroom at night, and Gu Ximan, half-asleep, would burst into tears upon finding him gone.

Every time, Gu Luo would come rushing back, pants barely pulled up, frantically comforting her.

The bond between them had long surpassed anything describable as mere "sibling love."

Gu Ximan knew—no, she was certain—that no matter what, she would never be a mere "option" in Gu Luo’s heart.

She was, and always would be, his one and only.

She just hadn’t expected that idiot Gu Luo to cave and confess so quickly.

Hmph. At least he knows what’s good for him.

Lost in these childhood memories, Gu Ximan kept flipping through the album until she suddenly let out a puzzled, "Huh?"

"Hm? What’s up?" Luo Shuling blinked curiously.

"This photo… this park… it looks just like the one in my hometown!" Gu Ximan pointed at the park in the background behind the little girl in the black dress. After a closer look, she gasped.

"Ling-jie, this is the little park in Caixin County! Ling-jie, you guys went to Caixin County when you were kids?"

"Yeah! Oh, right—I don’t think I ever mentioned it to you or your brother. Our grandma’s from Caixin County, so we’d visit during holidays sometimes."

"That’s where me and that idiot Gu Luo grew up!" Gu Ximan exclaimed, thrilled. "We might’ve even met as kids! We used to play at that park all the time."

"Oh my gosh, we totally might have!"

Luo Shuling matched her excitement, though inwardly, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Then she added, "We can ask your brother at breakfast tomorrow, see if he remembers anything."

"Why wait till morning? Let’s go ask him now!"

Gu Ximan’s curiosity burned—this coincidence felt too magical to ignore.

But just as she started to sit up, Luo Shuling wrapped an arm around her waist to stop her.

"Your brother looked really tired earlier. He’s probably asleep by now. Let’s just ask him at breakfast."

Gu Ximan paused, remembering how exhausted Gu Luo had been after carrying all their shopping bags during their triple-date that evening. She nodded.

"You’re right, Ling-jie. Tomorrow it is."

"Good girl, good girl." Luo Shuling stroked Gu Ximan's cool tea-brown hair and smiled:

"Would you like me to stay and sleep with you tonight, Lingjie?"

"Yes, yes!"

Gu Ximan immediately threw herself into Luo Shuling's arms.

The two burst into playful laughter and teasing once again.

Exhausted from their antics, Gu Ximan lay on her side, her cheeks flushed with a hint of shyness. After hesitating for a while, she finally whispered:

"Lingjie... you know... the first time... is it really... like that...?"

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned suggestive, as the two beauties began sharing intimate secrets.

Truth be told, the topics girls discuss in private are far spicier than what boys imagine.

Anyone who doubts this need only glance at their girlfriend’s chat history with her besties.

Luo Shuling also lay on her side, blinking mischievously before curling her lips into a knowing smile. "It is," she replied softly, "but it depends on how gentle the other person is."

"And also on them..."

Here, she deliberately paused, leaning closer to Gu Ximan’s ear to finish her scandalous words.

Gu Ximan’s eyes widened in shock.

W-w-w-w-what...?!

So this is the real Lingjie?

Damn... that’s hot!

As someone who had already "evolved," Gu Ximan wasn’t overly flustered. Instead, her face still pink, she grinned back. "Lingjie, you’re full of surprises..."

"Mmm, girls mature faster, so we naturally know more," Luo Shuling teased, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"Hehehe, true enough."

Gu Ximan mimicked the expression, and the two shared a conspiratorial laugh before diving into their little "exchanges."

Every sentence was so risqué it could’ve triggered a content filter.

After what felt like forever, Gu Ximan finally opened up completely. Hesitating briefly, she stammered, her face burning:

"L-Lingjie... there’s something I want to tell you... Can you keep it a secret?"

"Of course. Just between you, me, and the walls."

"O-okay... I trust you, Lingjie."

In this world, Gu Ximan trusted Gu Luo the most—and Luo Shuling came second. She had fully embraced their influence.

Taking a shaky breath, she murmured almost inaudibly:

"Lingjie... I have a frien—well, I mean... it’s me... I..."

Not rushing her, Luo Shuling waited patiently.

After much stammering, Gu Ximan finally continued:

"It’s just... I’ve noticed... when I’m alone with a guy I like, getting... close... it doesn’t feel quite right... But if my bestie—Xuexue—is there... and we’re together... it’s way more fun..."

"Is this... some kind of sickness...?"

"Or am I just... a total... pervert...?"

Luo Shuling blinked, barely suppressing a smirk, and countered with a question instead: "Hmm... What if it were me instead of Xuexue? Would you still enjoy it, Manman?"

Huh?!

Gu Ximan’s brain short-circuited briefly. But after mentally picturing it, she nodded honestly. "Well... yeah..."

"And what if it were Shuning instead of Xuexue?"

"Uh... probably still fun..."

"How about Shuhe?"

"...Yeah, that too."

The more she heard, the brighter Luo Shuling’s eyes sparkled. "Xiao Man," she giggled, "seems like you’ve awakened quite the... interesting preference."

"Cough—"

Gu Ximan’s face burned, her gaze darting away. Finally catching on, she asked, "Lingjie... you never even asked who I like..."

"I already know," Luo Shuling replied playfully.

"Eh?! Who, then?"

"Hehe, the same person I like."

"W-what? Say it!"

"Guess who I like first~"

"......"

No way was Gu Ximan risking that—it’d be an instant self-report.

So she desperately changed the subject.

............

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