Chapter 25: Ugh, This Tight and Hot Little Outfit is So Uncomfortable, I Feel Like I’m About to Get a Heat Rash
What soulmates? What nonsense.
If Lin Yibai knew what Xia Changyu was thinking, she'd probably laugh until her teeth fell out.
There’s no such thing as “rare kindred spirits.” It’s just that guys sometimes think alike, that’s all!
If you asked Lin Yibai about shopping, food, or makeup. She probably wouldn’t know a thing. But if you asked about politics or the economy, she’d have a lot to say. You could say that’s just a guy’s natural instinct.
Lin Yibai didn’t want to talk more with her love rival. She turned her head and looked at the bus that had just pulled up outside, then asked impatiently. “Do you have any more questions?”
Say what you want quickly, or just let it go. Don’t slow me down when I’m trying to leave work, got it?
But Xia Changyu felt really excited. He nodded right away and said, “Yes, I still have a lot I want to talk to you about!”
Lin Yibai: “......”
Xia Changyu saw that Lin Yibai looked annoyed and nervously asked, “W-what’s wrong?”
Lin Yibai rolled her eyes and said in a cold voice. “I don’t care how many questions you have,
but I’m telling you. Right now is not a good time to be asking them. Got it?”
When Xia Changyu noticed the hotel shuttle bus outside was already waiting, he realized he really was keeping Lin Yibai from getting off work.
If she didn’t hurry, she’d probably have to sit in the back of the bus, where it was bumpy and uncomfortable.
Lin Yibai was getting super annoyed. So annoying it was almost painful.
She frowned. When he saw Xia Changyu finally backing off, she turned around to leave.
“Wait!”
Suddenly, a voice called from behind.
Lin Yibai was really about to explode. “You!!?”
She had never met a person this annoying!
Xia Changyu took a deep breath and said, “This is really the last question.”
Lin Yibai, clearly out of patience, said, “Say it!”
Xia Changyu asked, “I just wanted to ask... what do you do after work? Go shopping?”
Just like his girlfriend Gu Xiaoxue made him do, even when he was utterly exhausted, he still had to go shopping with her.
But Lin Yibai couldn’t agree with that at all.
Why go shopping? Such a shallow thing to do!
She spread her hands and said, “You’ve been working all day too, right? Aren’t you tired? How do you still have the energy to go shopping? I think it’s better to go back, have some barbecue, open a cold beer, and just relax. That’s what I’m planning to do.”
Xia Changyu: “Really? Then, can I—”
Lin Yibai: “You ask way too many questions.”
Xia Changyu: “Sorry, I just—”
Lin Yibai cut him off. “Don’t say ‘just’ anything. Right now, I’m really annoyed by you. Got it?”
She didn’t hide how fed up she was. She waved her hand and got on the bus.
Leaving Xia Changyu behind, standing there in a mess of emotions.
He didn’t understand why Lin Yibai was being so hostile. But that didn’t stop him from imagining the perfect evening that Lin Yibai had described. Barbecue and cold beer after a long, tiring day.
He could only think, that girl... she really got to him.
Xia Changyu smiled with longing and said, “A hot summer night, a tired body after work,
barbecue, ice-cold beer... Aaaaah! Can I go to her hotel and eat barbecue and drink cold beer with her?”
There’s nothing that goes better with a tired body than barbecue and beer! What a relaxing and wonderful feeling that must be.
As a guy, that’s probably one of the most enjoyable scenes he could imagine. Way better than dragging yourself out to go shopping after a full day of work.
He still had to go shopping with his girlfriend, which felt like pure torture. It was like losing years off his life just walking around those stores.
But there was nothing he could do. After all, Gu Xiaoxue was his girlfriend. And unfortunately, his girlfriend was not that girl named Lin Baiyi.
Still, since he was the one who agreed to this relationship. He felt he had to stick with it, even if it made him want to cry.
He wasn’t the type to cheat or run away from his responsibilities.
But if Gu Xiaoxue keeps acting like this, and her roommates keep causing trouble...
Then, things might change.
At that point, it wouldn’t be about cheating. It’d be about protecting his peace of mind. Got it?
Because after seeing someone as amazing as Lin Yibai, how could anyone care about a little pond once they’ve seen the ocean?
……………………………………
Meanwhile, back at the hotel—
Lin Yibai was feeling nice and relaxed. She took off all her clothes and jumped in the shower.
Looking at her beautiful body in the mirror, she actually felt kind of bored.
“Yeah, I look good… too bad no one gets to enjoy it.” She shook her head with a sigh, and her standards were getting even higher.
Sometimes she wondered, “If the male version of me stood in front of me right now, would he throw himself at me without hesitation?”
After all, it would be herself, just in male form!
But… she suddenly felt unsure.
“If the guy version of me was a little more amazing, a little more handsome, maybe he’d be good enough for the me right now… Wait, why am I thinking like this?! We’re the same person! Why am I hesitating? Tch!”
She thought this kind of thinking was wrong, or maybe she was stuck in a strange state of "inner conflict."
When she was in her male self, she would turn into the female version, and only she would be good enough for herself.
But when she was in her female self, she would turn into the male version, and that guy version… didn’t feel like he was good enough?
She then noticed some small red spots on her chest. She’d been too distracted earlier while working. Now it felt a little itchy.
From her 20 years of experience as a guy, she was pretty sure.
“It’s not dirty or some disease. It’s just from wearing those super cheap disposable underwear. They're hot, tight, and stuffy! It’s no surprise I’m getting a heat rash!”
Girls’ bodies are way more delicate than guys’. She only got heat rash as a little kid. Even playing basketball under the hot noon sun never gave her problems back then.
But still, it didn’t seem too serious.
After washing up, she took off that cheap disposable underwear and threw it away.
Ten yuan for seven pieces, no wonder the quality sucks. Hot, stuffy, soaked in sweat, and already falling apart.
……………………………………
7 PM.
There was another routine meeting.
They just gave a quick overview of tomorrow’s tasks. The organizers invited some livestreamers and internet celebrities, and planned some outdoor music and dance activities.
But Lin Yibai wasn’t really paying attention to the meeting. She was more distracted by the girls around her. Somehow, they even dragged her into the conversation.
One girl leaned over and whispered, “Hey, I’ve been watching you for a while… you’re not wearing one either, right?”
Lin Yibai: “?”
The girl put her finger to her lips. “Shhh, don’t say it out loud. I’m not wearing one either. I could just tell, you and I are the same type!”
Lin Yibai (in her mind): That’s not true! I didn’t mean to!
The girl was super friendly and talked like they were already close friends. She went from underwear to makeup in no time.
Too bad Lin Yibai had no idea what she was talking about.
Foundation, makeup remover, lipstick colors like wine red, rose red, vintage red, tomato red…
Wait, aren’t they all just red?! Her head started to hurt.
Then the girl asked excitedly, “Oh, and seamless underwear is really nice too! So… what kind of underwear are you wearing?”
Lin Yibai said, “Men’s.”
The girl’s eyes lit up, “Woooow!( ˶°ㅁ°) !!”
She thought Lin Yibai meant the kind of boxer shorts some girls wear.
But actually, Lin Yibai meant real men’s boxer shorts, with holes in them.