Chapter 2: I’m His Cousin
Looking at the half bowl of noodles left in front of her, Lin Muxi made up her mind, put down her chopsticks, and stood up without even finishing her meal. She pulled her cap as low as she could and, while her good buddy was still chatting with the old lady, quickly slipped away through a small side path.
She ran all the way home, closed the door, and leaned against it, breathing heavily.
That was way too close, like being chased by enemies in a video game. Her heart was pounding like crazy.
She couldn’t figure out why Mo Ziyang would suddenly show up near her home. Normally, if he came to hang out, he would send her a message on QQ first. But today, he appeared out of nowhere.
Right now, Lin Muxi could only pray that Mo Ziyang wasn’t here to find her. Hopefully, he just happened to pass by and stopped for a bowl of noodles.
But… come on! How could a rich kid like him run here just to eat noodles? If she told anyone, they’d laugh their heads off.
Thinking about it wouldn’t help, so Lin Muxi sat on the sofa, took out her phone, opened QQ, and decided to send him a message to test whether he was here for her.
[Lin Muxi: Are you awake yet? peeks.jpg]
Staring at her phone screen, her nervousness went through the roof. Her small hands were trembling, as if his next message would be a final judgment on her fate.
Minutes passed with no reply. She could only keep staring at the screen.
About five or six minutes later—
[Mo Ziyang: I’ve been up for a while. I heard there’s a comic convention at the exhibition center. Wanna go? I already bought the tickets.]
[Lin Muxi: Huh? This early?]
[Mo Ziyang: Of course. I just had breakfast downstairs at your place. I’m coming up now, open the door.]
Oh no oh no oh no—he’s already downstairs?! This is the end!
The message scared her so much she almost dropped her phone.
She didn’t have time to think, she quickly locked the door and hid in her bedroom. As long as she pretended she wasn’t home, he would leave.
With that thought, she felt a little relief and quickly typed a reply.
[Lin Muxi: But I’m not home right now.]
Please, I’m begging you, believe me and just go!
She was one step away from kneeling to her phone. This was the worst luck, waking up as a girl was already bad enough, and now her best buddy showed up at her door? With his personality, if he found out…
Countless embarrassing scenarios flashed through her mind. She didn’t even dare imagine the rest.
[Mo Ziyang: Not home? Then whose shoes are at your door? Open up.]
Crap! She forgot to put her shoes back on the rack when she came in!
Cold sweat covered her forehead as she quickly typed an explanation.
[Lin Muxi: Uh… I guess I left in a hurry this morning, changed shoes, and forgot to put them away.]
She had just sent the message when—knock knock knock—loud knocks came from the front door.
“Eep!”
The knocking made all the hairs on her body stand up. What should she do? Was her secret going to be exposed today?
She tiptoed out of her bedroom and peeked through the peephole. There he was, Mo Ziyang, standing outside her door, looking at his phone.
[Mo Ziyang: Hurry up, open the door! Don’t think I don’t know you’re still sleeping in on the weekend.]
“Open up! Lin Muxi!”
Knock, knock, knock!
The urgent knocking and shouting from outside came again.
Lin Muxi’s legs were shaking from nerves as she quickly typed a reply on her phone, still trying to make Mo Ziyang leave. If she could just send him away today, she could protect her image.
[Lin Muxi: I have someone at home today, it’s really not a good time… my cousin is here.]
[Mo Ziyang: If someone’s there, why is it so quiet? Are you joking with me?]
Before Lin Muxi could type another excuse, Mo Ziyang directly called her phone.
🎵 “My love is at the ends of the earth~ Flowers are blooming at the foot of the green hills~…” 🎵
Oh no. At this distance, even with the door between them, he could definitely hear her ringtone.
Aaaah! Mo Ziyang, you dog! You fight without honor!
Lin Muxi froze in place.
“Lin Muxi, open the door! I can hear your ridiculously old-fashioned ringtone. I bet you’re hiding right by the door.”
Her knees felt weak. She knew she had no choice now, she was done for…
Trying to calm herself, Lin Muxi took off the hat hiding her long hair, put on her best “normal” face, and slowly opened the door just a crack, poking her head out to make one last attempt.
Seeing Mo Ziyang standing there with a face that clearly said “I’m annoyed”, she silently prayed he wouldn’t recognize her.
“Lin Muxi, you—”
When Mo Ziyang saw the girl’s face, the words he was about to curse with got stuck in his throat. He didn’t expect Lin Muxi to be telling the truth. “Lin Muxi” really did have a younger female cousin here.
Lin Muxi almost laughed at the look on his face.
“You… where’s Lin Muxi? Have you seen your cousin? I’m his friend.”
Mo Ziyang tried to peek inside through the crack in the door while asking “the cousin.”
“I have to say, you really look a lot like your cousin. I almost thought you were him.”
Seeing him grinning foolishly, Lin Muxi couldn’t help but laugh.
When the nervous little girl finally smiled, Mo Ziyang took the chance to ask if he could come in and sit.
“N-no, strangers can’t come in.”
The moment she said it, Lin Muxi felt so embarrassed she wanted to disappear, gripping the doorknob and shaking her head nervously.
Mo Ziyang’s eyes widened. This was the first time he’d seen such a cute “cousin” of Lin Muxi’s, how could Lin Muxi keep her a secret like this?
“Don’t worry, I’m just your cousin’s classmate. I’m here to play with him.”
He reached out to pat her head, ignoring her protests, and pushed the door open to walk right inside.
Lin Muxi didn’t know why, but his head rub made her feel a little dizzy. By the time she came back to her senses, he was already right in front of her.
Ah! What was I just doing? I actually enjoyed him patting my head?!
“No! You can’t!”
She quickly tried to stop him from going further, but Mo Ziyang tripped over the door frame as he stepped in—
“Oh crap—”
“Kyaa!”
A cute cry escaped from under him. Mo Ziyang realized in horror that on his first “meeting” he had accidentally pushed down his good friend’s “cousin.” If Lin Muxi found out, he’d definitely get chewed out.
Underneath him, Lin Muxi’s face was burning hot, she had just been pushed down by Mo Ziyang! And she’d even made that kind of sound! Too embarrassing…
“Uh… if I said I didn’t mean to, would you believe me?”
Looking down at the girl, Mo Ziyang asked awkwardly.
“Get… get up…”
Lin Muxi covered her face with one hand and pushed against his chest with the other, trying to get the infuriating “good brother” off her.