Girlfriend and wife are two roles, not in conflict

Xia Lin clicked on Su Bai's social media feed.

The moment she saw the photo, a flicker of surprise passed through her heart—though not too much.

After all, as a mature older sister, Xia Lin had long noticed the potential for Su Bai and Chen Yusheng to become a couple.

Freshman boys, after all, are better off dating girls their own age.

Plus, they both loved gaming—so ending up in a hotel together after playing didn’t seem all that strange.

What truly stunned Xia Lin, even making her chuckle out loud, was Su Bai’s caption announcing his new relationship.

How should she put it?

It was overflowing with humor.

Almost inhuman.

But whatever—it wasn’t offensive or against public decency.

As his academic advisor, Xia Lin had no reason to criticize.

[Summer’s Lin: Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.]

Xia Lin left this comment under Su Bai’s post, a bright smile on her face.

“Hey, Linlin, what’s got you grinning like that?”

Just then, her best friend and roommate emerged from her room, peering over Xia Lin’s shoulder at the phone screen.

Xia Lin didn’t hide it, letting her friend see openly.

After a moment, her friend’s expression turned puzzled. “Wait, isn’t this that freshman who was kinda… involved with you?”

“‘Involved’? Don’t slander me,” Xia Lin shot back, glaring. “Let me reiterate—he just asked for a small favor, and as thanks, he treated me to a meal. That’s it.”

“Oh sure, just a meal. Then why did you come back smelling like alcohol that night?” Her friend smirked slyly. “As far as I know, you never drink alone with men—only at family gatherings.”

Faced with the teasing, Xia Lin remained unruffled. “So what if we had a drink? Su Bai calls me his ‘big sister.’ What’s the big deal about sharing some wine with him? You’re overreacting.”

Her friend sighed. “...Fine, you win. So, your ‘little brother’ is now dating a girl from his class—and you’re not even a little bothered?”

“Why would I be? I’m just happy for him.”

Xia Lin wore the poised smile of an elegant young woman.

Whether it was genuine or forced, even her usually perceptive friend couldn’t tell.

In fact, it was because she knew Xia Lin so well that she’d sensed days ago—Xia Lin had developed feelings for that boy named Su Bai.

Clearly, Su Bai wasn’t just some ordinary guy. Beyond his average looks, he had to come from a well-off but low-key family, and he probably had depth to him.

A few nights prior, after relentless tickle-interrogation, her friend had finally pried some details out of Xia Lin.

Turns out, Su Bai had a knack for investing.

He’d been managing family investments since his teens.

Impressive, sure—though anyone admitted to Jiangcheng University was sharp. Still, book smarts and business savvy were two different things.

Her friend had been rooting for Xia Lin to make a move.

Yet before she could, Su Bai had been snatched up by a pretty classmate.

What baffled her even more was Xia Lin’s reaction.

“No way, there’s gotta be more to this. You’re hiding something!” Her friend shook her head like a detective stumped by a messy crime scene.

She grabbed Xia Lin’s shoulders, rattling her back and forth until Xia Lin laughed helplessly. “What exactly am I hiding?”

“You liked this guy! Now he’s publicly dating someone else, and you’re acting like it’s nothing? No reaction at all?!”

“What do you want me to do? Storm over and accuse them of puppy love? Break them up?”

“...Well, not that extreme. But at least show a little jealousy?”

“I’m way past that age.”

Xia Lin’s tone dripped with the confidence of a mature woman.

Truthfully, her mindset was indeed mature—maybe even too mature. “Ahead of her time” would be more accurate.

She’d seen enough of wealthy young men to know:

At eighteen, they were far from settling down.

Playing the field and enjoying youth was what rich boys did.

Not that it was unusual—rich girls partied just as hard.

Dating was already the tame option.

Xia Lin wasn’t interested in dating. She had no patience for other men. Her plan? Wait for Su Bai to get it out of his system, then swoop in and marry him.

As for the meantime?

She’d stay by his side as the understanding older sister, nurturing their bond.

It might sound a little… unconventional.

But it fit perfectly with Xia Lin’s upbringing.

After all, dating and marriage were two different things.

Chen Yusheng being Su Bai’s girlfriend now didn’t stop her from becoming his wife later.

Winning early didn’t guarantee victory.

The future was bright.

Xia Lin picked up her freshly brewed pour-over coffee.

Took a sip.

And smiled confidently.

Meanwhile, others who knew Su Bai or Chen Yusheng weren’t nearly as composed.

“Holy hell, this guy actually pulled it off??”

Dorm 7, Room 510.

Xue Tao clutched his phone, pacing like a caged animal.

His face twisted in disbelief.

Like some half-evolved caveman.

Muttering like a madman: “How?! Su Bai just made some small-time cash, and Chen Yusheng falls for him? That’s so irrational! What kind of shallow, shortsighted girl would even—?”

Wang Haoran, grinding in a mobile game, cut in: “Or maybe she just likes him for his looks and personality?”

“Bull! There are way hotter, nicer guys out there!” Xue Tao fumed. “Like that rich kid from the math department—the one from Guangdong? He ran to the girls’ dorm every day with breakfast and care packages. Isn’t that way nicer than whatever Su Bai’s got?”

“...”

Wang Haoran was stunned. So this was how locals defined “nice”? As… delivering breakfast?

Wow. Just wow.

No wonder he and Liu Yuanyuan were a match made in heaven.

As for Su Bai’s sudden relationship announcement, Wang Haoran wasn’t surprised. Su Bai had mentioned Chen Yusheng before.

Wang Haoran knew these two were cut from the same absurdly weird cloth.

Couples like this were worth dating. Those cookie-cutter college pairs? Boring as hell.

Su Bai had taste.