Suddenly Became a Boy – What Should I Do? - Chapter 74.2

Cheng Shiyin’s mother studied Lin Xin. “He seems like an honest kid,” she thought. “Not the smooth-talking type,” she mused. “After all, he hasn’t said a word this whole time.” But noticing how easily he made himself at home while the parents were away, she deducted five points from his initial score of 60.

“His face is decent, though,” she admitted, adding two points back.

The awkward silence was broken when Cheng Shiyin’s mother finished cooking and turned to Lin Xin with a casual remark, “Young man, your home isn’t far from here, right? Your family must be waiting for you to have dinner with them.”

It was a clear and polite dismissal—anything to avoid letting Lin Xin stay for dinner.

Lin Xin smelled the fragrant rice and immediately grasped the unspoken message in Cheng Shiyin’s mother’s words. With a respectful bow, he replied, “Ah, it’s getting late. My family must be waiting for me. Auntie, I’ll visit again another time.” He moved to leave, so hurriedly he nearly forgot to change out of his slippers.

But just as Lin Xin’s hand touched the door handle, Cheng Shiyin’s mother remembered a dish she hadn’t yet cooked. Blocking his escape, she said, “Wait a moment, young man. Let’s chat for another five minutes.”

Cheng Shiyin, familiar with her mother’s tactics, gave Lin Xin an encouraging thumbs-up before heading into the kitchen to finish cooking the forgotten dish. Lin Xin had no choice but to return to the sofa, realizing he wouldn’t be leaving until dinner was served.

Lin Xin sat stiffly, much like a student in their first job interview—because, in a way, this was one.

“So, you two have known each other for a while now?” Cheng Shiyin’s mother began.

“Yes, it’s been some time,” Lin Xin answered dutifully.

“And how are things between you?” she asked.

“Very good. We’ve never had an argument,” Lin Xin replied.

Back and forth, Lin Xin answered countless questions about his family, hobbies, personality, and whether he had any bad habits. Though some of his answers didn’t quite align with Cheng Shiyin’s mother’s expectations, she chalked it up to the common tendency to embellish during interviews. However, compared to the glowing praise her daughter had given, Lin Xin seemed quite ordinary. Was this the famed “love is blind” phenomenon?

Cheng Shiyin’s mother moved on to more practical topics—academics and career plans. After all, graduation was next year, and finding an internship now was crucial for landing a job later. While their family was open-minded, she couldn’t entrust her daughter to someone who might end up unemployed.

Lin Xin’s answers, however, failed to reassure her.

“I’m not at the internship stage yet, but I won’t shy away from entering the workforce when the time comes,” he said confidently.

“What?” Cheng Shiyin’s mother thought. “Shiyin has already started interning, and you’re still waiting for the ‘right time’? What are you even thinking?”

Glancing at her busy daughter in the kitchen, Cheng Shiyin’s mother began questioning whether Lin Xin was truly a suitable match for her daughter. Dropping all pretense, she asked directly, “Do you have no plans for work after graduation? Or are you planning to marry right away? You’ve been together for years, but in your current state, it’s unlikely you could marry my daughter.”

Lin Xin froze at the sudden severity of her tone. It took him three seconds to process her words before he latched onto the key point, “Years? We haven’t even known each other for a year!”

“What? Did I remember wrong?” Cheng Shiyin’s mother’s expression stiffened, her confidence faltering. She stammered, “Aren’t you Gu Nian?”

“Gu Nian—” Lin Xin thought. “Nian—WHAT?!”