Chapter 76: You’re Something Else

Ming Jin’s hometown was a small county town at the foot of the Green Mountain. The town was somewhat isolated, with slow development. Aside from a few tall buildings in the city center, most of the houses were relatively low. The main roads weren’t particularly wide, just enough for two cars to pass side by side.

The connection between the county and the surrounding villages was strong—most of the town’s residents had moved there from nearby rural areas in recent years.

Though isolated, the town had its advantages. The air quality was excellent, with a clear blue sky like a freshly washed canvas. In the distance, rolling green mountains stretched endlessly, making the landscape look like a painting.

Lin Chuan carried his sports backpack over his left shoulder, while Ming Jin’s beige handbag hung over his right. In one hand, he pulled a medium-sized suitcase as he squeezed onto a bus heading into town with Ming Jin.

“Are you sure you can manage?” Ming Jin asked with a smile. “Give me my bag, I can carry it myself.”

“It’s nothing,” Lin Chuan said eagerly, wanting to prove himself. If he could, he would’ve carried her along with the luggage.

Once they arrived, they first went to a hotel to drop off their things before heading out to take care of business.

Ming Jin had been feeling a little off. She had calculated the timing and figured it was around that time of the month. So, as soon as they arrived at the hotel, she asked where the restroom was and handed Lin Chuan her ID card. “Go check us in.”

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“Gzaktbv.”

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Fbl tzydnle yaswde, bla casop qwaasokdt pzktbvzu.

Nkd Ubwyd rwv esod vbl pwkvnypl, vssj swv bkp vskzlvaklp, yde yhskele xyjkdt lul nsdvynv okvb bla.

“Dkys Nw, fwpv sdl assx?”

“Zlyb.”

“Feeling thrifty?”

“Yeah.”

He sat on the bed, fiddling with the bedsheets, his face completely flushed.

“Why, though? Don’t tell me you were worried I wouldn’t cover my share of the cost?”

“It’s not about the money,” Lin Chuan mumbled, sneaking a glance at her before lowering his voice. “I just… wanted to spend more time with you. Once we go back, we won’t have many chances to meet—unless, of course, you want to see me.”

Ming Jin chuckled. “You really like hanging out with me that much?”

Lin Chuan nodded earnestly.

Ming Jin sat down beside him, and he immediately caught a faint scent—a mix of cosmetics or perfume, something subtle yet dizzying.

“Not many people like being around me for long. Even my sister doesn’t.”

“Why?” Lin Chuan asked, puzzled. “You’re great.”

“That’s just your perspective,” Ming Jin said lightly. “I have a terrible temper, no routine in my life, day and night flipped upside down. I smoke, I drink. Sometimes, I can sleep an entire day away. When I get mad, I curse people out, even argue with women downstairs. I’m definitely not the ‘ideal woman’ you’d imagine.”

Lin Chuan was genuinely surprised. He hadn’t noticed any of that about her. The idea of her quarreling with people was almost hard to believe. Were all artists this temperamental?

No, that couldn’t be right—his lady boss wasn’t like that at all.

So, he didn’t fully believe Ming Jin’s words.

She warned him, “You’re a good kid. It’s best not to get too close to someone like me, full of negative energy.”

He was bright, cheerful, and had a promising future. Ming Jin didn’t want to drag him down.

“Alright, enough of that.” She ruffled his short, spiky hair. “You barely slept last night and got up early today. Get some rest now. We have things to do this afternoon.”

Lin Chuan didn’t want to waste this precious alone time by sleeping. “I’m not tired. Anything I can do to help?”

Ming Jin had already reclined on the bed, propped up against a pillow, playing on her phone. “Nope.”

Seeing that, Lin Chuan simply got off the bed, opened his suitcase, and started refolding his already neatly packed clothes.

Ming Jin looked at him helplessly. “You really can’t sit still, huh?”

Lin Chuan replied seriously, “I want to prove that I can take good care of you.”

“Then… go downstairs and buy something for me.”

“Alright!” Lin Chuan immediately perked up. “What do you need?”

“Sanitary pads.”

Lin Chuan froze for a moment, then quickly nodded and rushed out of the room.

After he left, Ming Jin sent him a WeChat message: “If you don’t know which ones, ask the store clerk. One pack for daytime and one for nighttime.”

A while later, Lin Chuan replied with a simple: “Okay.”

She could already picture that fool fumbling around nervously, and the thought made her smile. Looking at the neatly packed suitcase on the luggage rack, she felt a mix of emotions.

It had been a long time since she had met such a sweet man.

Not only was he kind to her, but he was also incredibly sincere. He made it clear that he wanted something with her—no games, no tricks, just honesty.

He knew when to advance and when to retreat, understood boundaries, and was a responsible man.

Unlike the men she had encountered before—hypocritical, pretentious, lusting after her body yet too prideful to admit it. They’d rather spin grand, earth-shattering love stories just to justify their desires. What a load of nonsense. She knew herself well enough—she was not the kind of woman men typically adored.

What a pity.

If it weren’t for her period, she wouldn’t mind having something happen with Lin Chuan. She really liked this little guy.

Just like last time. Maybe even fate thought they weren’t meant to be.

While she was lost in thought, Lin Chuan returned, carrying a big bag filled with not only sanitary pads but also brown sugar, red dates, and goji berries.

Ming Jin looked at him helplessly. “You bought so much?”

He didn’t stop moving, immediately picking up the kettle. “I’ll make you some brown sugar water. You rest.”

Soon, a warm cup of red date and goji berry brown sugar water was ready. Lin Chuan sat on the edge of her bed, gently blowing on it before handing it to her. “It’s not too hot now.”

Ming Jin chuckled, took the cup, and sipped. She had to admit—he was pretty good at this. It was really sweet.

“Lin Chuan, you’re something else.”

Since she had enjoyed his brown sugar water, it was only polite to compliment him. “You know, you handle work so well, and now you’re showing off your domestic skills too. That’s rare.”

Lin Chuan, without a hint of modesty, replied, “Of course. Any woman who marries me will be incredibly lucky.”

Ming Jin: …

Why did she feel like this guy’s little eyes were desperately hinting at something?

“Lin Chuan, how old are you?”

“Twenty-four.”

“You studied with Shang Jie?”

“I’m two years younger than him, but we’ve always been together.”

“That doesn’t add up. Shang Jie is almost twenty-nine.”

Lin Chuan looked a little proud. “I skipped grades to catch up to President Shang. I got into university when I was only sixteen.”

“You’re impressive.” Ming Jin said enviously. “I was never good at studying. Barely scraped my way into an art school, and my academic subjects were terrible.”

“I can teach you,” Lin Chuan offered eagerly. “Whatever you want to learn, I can teach you.”

“Learn what? It’s enough for me to just handle my own work properly.”

Lin Chuan thought for a moment, then nodded. “That makes sense. You’re already doing great. In the future, I’ll handle our kid’s homework—you won’t have to worry about a thing.”

Ming Jin: …

Wow, he really thinks ahead.

Lin Chuan glanced at her shyly. “The first time I met you, I had already thought about where our future kids would go to school.”

It was impossible not to be moved.

Ming Jin had never heard such a confession before. It was a little corny, but so sincere.

…

That afternoon, Ming Jin brought Lin Chuan to a two-story house. It was well-maintained, with tiled exteriors and clean, freshly painted white walls. Flowers and plants adorned the second-floor balcony.

She instructed Lin Chuan, “Wait for me downstairs. Don’t wander around or come up, okay?”

“You don’t need me to go with you?”

“No. This is my family home. My aunt and uncle live here now. I’m going in to discuss something with them.”

Lin Chuan thought about it and realized it wasn’t appropriate for him to follow, so he said, “Alright. I’ll wait here. If you need anything, just call me or shout for me.”

Ming Jin entered the two-story house.

The door was opened by her aunt—a woman approaching forty, with a sallow complexion, small eyes, and a slightly sharp, mean-looking face.

Seeing that it was Ming Jin, her aunt’s expression showed a hint of surprise. “You’re back. What do you need?”

“Of course, I have something to discuss.” Ming Jin’s face carried a fake smile. “Auntie, can I come in and talk?”

Auntie stepped aside and let her in. After letting her in, she turned around and called her husband, “Mingjin is back. Stop playing cards and come home quickly!”

Mingjin took a learning device out of her bag and handed it to her aunt. “This is for Pingping. He’s in junior high now, and he can use it to look up words.”

At this, her aunt’s expression softened slightly, and she said politely, “Oh, you didn’t have to spend money on this. He’s not good at studying, just obsessed with playing games. Buying this for him is a waste.”

“Just keep it,” Mingjin replied.

Not long after, her uncle hurried back.

“Mingjin, you’re back. What’s the matter?”

“It’s like this, Auntie, Uncle—I’ll be direct. This house was left by my dad before he passed away. It was originally occupied by my mom and stepfather. Now that they’re both gone, this house is still under my name on the property deed.”

As she spoke, Mingjin carefully observed their expressions. Their smiles disappeared instantly, and they looked at her as if she were their enemy.

Mingjin’s own expression turned cold as she continued, “Since the house is in my name, I will have to take it back sooner or later. My sister, Mingjue, will be graduating from university in two years. She can’t keep renting with me. The housing prices in Jiangcheng are skyrocketing. I was thinking of selling this house in our hometown, adding some of my savings, and putting a down payment on a place in Jiangcheng’s main city district within this year. Whether it’s for Mingjue or me, having our own place will give us some security. When she starts dating, having a house will give her confidence too.”

Hearing this, her aunt’s face turned rigid. “Mingjin, you need to have a conscience. I’m your mother’s biological sister. She agreed that we could live here. How can you just take it back?”

“I don’t care what my mother promised you,” Mingjin said emotionlessly. “You saw how she and my stepfather treated Mingjue and me when we were kids. I don’t recognize her as my mother. This house was left by my father for us sisters. You’ve lived here rent-free for so many years—that’s already me showing family kindness. But now I need to buy a house in Jiangcheng, so I must sell this place. I’ve already contacted a real estate agent, and I have a buyer willing to meet the price. Now, I just need you to move out.”

“You heartless girl!” her uncle shouted, standing up and pointing at her. “You want us to move out and live on the streets? Do you have the heart to let Pingping go begging? He’s just started junior high!”

Mingjin wasn’t here to argue. She suppressed her frustration and said, “Begging? That’s too dramatic. He has both his parents. Why would he need to beg? As far as I know, you have a house in the countryside, not far from the county town. You won’t be homeless.”

Her aunt immediately protested, “You expect us to move back to the countryside? That’s too much! How can we go back there? People would laugh at us!”

“The countryside house is an option if you truly have nowhere else to go. If you don’t want to live there, you can sell it and rent a three-bedroom apartment in the county town. Either way, I’m taking this house back. You have three months to sort things out.”

After saying this, Mingjin turned and walked away.

Her aunt chased after her, yelling, “You heartless ingrate! Your mother promised this house to us, and now you’re snatching it back. You’re disrespecting your dead mother!”

Her uncle followed suit, shouting, “Don’t think we don’t know! Back then, you and your sister refused to pay for your stepfather’s medical treatment, which is what killed him! Your mother died because of you too! Having relatives like you two is a curse on our family!”

By now, the commotion had drawn the attention of the neighbors. Some were even standing around with bowls of food, enjoying the drama.

Lin Chuan frowned slightly and looked toward the courtyard.

Mingjin’s face was deathly pale. She stared at her uncle with unwavering intensity. “Yes, I’m heartless. That man got lung cancer, and I was so happy I wanted to announce it to the world. That was karma—he deserved to die! Not only did I refuse to save him, but when he died, I even burned incense and thanked the gods.”

“Everyone, listen to her! What kind of person says such things? Even if he wasn’t your biological father, he raised you for so many years! And yet, you cursed him to die every day. Now you’re trying to steal our house! How did we end up with such a heartless relative?!”

Mingjin was shaking with rage. She lowered her voice, gritting her teeth. “Fine, then let me be honest with you. Yes, I’m deliberately taking this house back because I don’t want you to live here. Do you know why? Back then, when that scumbag was abusing me, one night I ran to your door in the pouring rain, begging you to help me, to take me in. But what did you do? You didn’t even open the door. And now you talk to me about family? Isn’t that laughable?”

Her aunt and uncle’s faces showed guilt. “You were disobedient. Your stepfather had every right to discipline you.”

“He was ‘disciplining’ me?” Mingjin let out a bitter laugh. “Yes, he was ‘disciplining’ me. And my mother just watched. I screamed until my voice was hoarse, but she wouldn’t even say a word. She just let that beast—”

Her aunt sneered, “Isn’t that your own fault? Who told you to dress up all flashy every day, seducing men everywhere? It’s all your own doing—don’t blame anyone else! You’re nothing but a shameless woman, a disgrace! And you still have the nerve to blame us?”

A bitter smile appeared on Mingjin’s lips. So, after everything, being assaulted was still her fault.

She glared at them fiercely, enunciating each word clearly. “I, Mingjin, have never wronged anyone—it’s you who have wronged me. Three months is too much time, huh? Fine, then three days. You have three days to move out, or I’ll have people ‘help’ you move!”

With that, she grabbed a stunned Lin Chuan and walked away without looking back.

As soon as they stepped onto the street, all the strength seemed to drain from Mingjin’s body. If Lin Chuan hadn’t reacted quickly and caught her, she would have collapsed.

Seeing her pale lips and bloodless face, her steps unsteady, Lin Chuan quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Mingjin waved a hand, gritting her teeth. “I got so angry at those two that my stomach started hurting again.”

Just earlier, Lin Chuan had looked up some information on his phone downstairs. He knew that women sometimes had stomach pain during their period, but he hadn’t realized that getting angry could trigger it too.

He held her closer, his voice gentle as he comforted her, “If you’re feeling angry, just hit me. Let it out.”

Mingjin grinned, lightly punching his shoulder. “Like hitting you would make me feel better? Are you dumb or what?”

The county town was small, and the hotel was only a few hundred meters away. Lin Chuan simply carried her back, ignoring the curious stares from passersby.

Since he didn’t care, Mingjin cared even less. After all, she had heard enough gossip about herself to last a lifetime.

“Lu Linchuan, you heard everything I said back there, right?”

“I heard.”

“Then you should know to stay away from me. You’re a good guy. You deserve a better girl.”

Lin Chuan frowned, lowering his gaze to look at her. “If you say that again, I’ll throw you into the nearest ditch. Try me.”

Mingjin: …

“What era do you think this is?” he muttered to himself. “Typical small-town mindset—so old-fashioned.”

“What are you mumbling about? Are you looking down on country folks now?” Mingjin shot back. “City people think they’re so great? Say one more word and I will hit you.”

Catching her off guard, Lin Chuan suddenly planted a firm kiss on her forehead. “As long as I’m here, no one will bully you again. I’ll take care of you.”

A breeze passed by, and everything fell silent.

She looked up at him, eyes wide in surprise.

His eyelashes—so long, so unbelievably long.

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