I Really Didn’t Want to Increase My Favorability!

Xu Lin left Su Qingwan’s home, got on his electric scooter, and headed quickly in the direction of his place.

Although “quickly” was relative—he was going at about 20 kilometers per hour. The speed limit was set, and the scooter seemed to be running low on power. The 20% battery warning light was already on, and if it died halfway, he’d have to push it home. There was no way he’d meet his midnight deadline in that case.

It was a bit chilly, with the wind biting at him, but Teacher Su’s scarf did make a difference.

Wrapped warmly, he could take in the surroundings with ease. The light snowfall brushed against his cheeks, and everything around him was adorned in a soft layer of snow. The ground, covered in its silvery-white coat, sparkled like crystal under the streetlights.

The serene view of the snowy forest and water in the still night brought a sense of calm. For a moment, it felt like the entire street belonged to him.

This scene reminded him of a snowy night in his past life—the only time he’d ever had a real chance to change his fate.

A close classmate of his, unable to get into university, had decided to return home and start a studio to develop a video game. Everyone had supported him—at least emotionally. He had asked many of his good friends to join him.

Getting into university was already the pinnacle of achievement for most people, the reward for years of hard work. Who dared to gamble it all? Who had the courage to take such a risk? They admired him but didn’t dare follow.

Xu Lin had been tempted at the time, but thoughts of his parents ultimately held him back. He chose not to go.

A few years later, after graduating, that classmate’s indie game had sold 4 million copies and received a $100 million angel investment from a major company. The guy became a billionaire overnight, leaving the classmates who didn’t join him utterly stunned. They were left with only one thought: regret.

But now, looking back, Xu Lin didn’t feel much regret. Opportunities are something you grasp yourself. If you choose to give them up, why dwell on it afterward?

At the time, he had only felt a bit sour about it for a day before moving on. No lingering regret, no lasting impact—perhaps that was the true spirit of a slacker.

Reflecting on the past while enjoying the snowy scenery, he found that the 20% battery held up well. A few minutes later, he arrived at the east gate of his apartment complex.

Just as he was about to go in, he noticed two security guards and a girl standing near the guard booth, seemingly in some sort of argument.

What was going on so late at night? Drunk, maybe?

Not long ago, he had seen a drunk couple crash their car into the barrier gate because it didn’t open fast enough. They had a heated argument with the property management afterward, but in the end, they paid for the damage, and the issue was resolved without further trouble.

Xu Lin wasn’t the type to stick around and watch drama unfold, especially late at night, so he planned to just scoot past.

But then he heard the girl repeatedly insisting she was here to visit a relative.

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The guard, however, was firm, saying that visitors at night had to register with an ID, name, and phone number.

“Take that guy, Xiao Xu, from Building 15—we only let him in because we know him,” the older guard said.

Hearing this, Xu Lin waved at the guards in acknowledgment, then noticed the girl. She was stunning, with a beauty that reminded him of a young Athena Chu.

But her outfit was strange—she was dressed in grayish-yellow workwear, paired with leather boots. In her hand, she carried a long, heavy-looking bag, clearly packed with tools.

Her appearance didn’t resemble someone visiting relatives at all. If anything, she looked like she was here to dig up a grave.

This made Xu Lin think of a particular character—Feng Baobao, the female lead from The Outcast.

As he continued walking toward the entrance, the girl suddenly ran up to him and grabbed his arm!

Xu Lin hurriedly braked, worried that if he kept moving forward, he might accidentally pull the girl to the ground.

“That’s dangerous. What’s going on?” he asked.

“You’re Xiaolinzi, right?” The girl smiled.

“Ha, what Xiaolinzi… I’m not a eunuch, okay? And don’t call me that.”

“I’m your cousin,” she said matter-of-factly.

“My cousin…?”

Xu Lin paused, racking his brain. On his mother’s side, there were two older sisters—his aunts—who had four kids between them, two boys and two girls. But he had met all of them, including his cousin Lin, whom he’d seen just last week.

“I know my two cousins very well,” he said firmly.

The security guard chimed in, “Miss, please stop causing trouble, okay? It’s not easy for us to do our job here. If you’re really looking for someone, they can come down to get you.”

“Or you could leave an ID,” the other guard suggested.

“But I don’t have an ID with me, and I don’t even remember my ID number. Why are you being so strict? What could a girl like me possibly do wrong?”

“That’s not the point,” the guard said, clearly flustered. He seemed stuck in a dilemma. The constant night shifts over the past two weeks had already worn him out, and now this unexpected hassle had landed on his lap. Still, dealing with a young woman required caution—getting accused of harassment or worse would only make things more complicated. Letting her in might have been easier, but it wasn’t exactly proper procedure.

“Miss, please don’t get upset. At least tell us who you’re here to see,” the guard tried again.

“I told you, I’m here to see my aunt. This is her son,” she said, flicking her messy hair back and glancing at Xu Lin.

Xu Lin quickly shook his head. “So, who’s your aunt, then?”

“My aunt’s name is Li Ying,” the girl replied.

“My mom’s last name is Li, but her name is Li Yuan,” Xu Lin clarified before continuing to walk forward.

“Your name is Xu Lin, isn’t it?”

“Uh… yeah, how do you know that?”

“Your dad’s last name is also Xu.”

“Well, that’s obvious, isn’t it?” Xu Lin chuckled, stopping his scooter. He was starting to feel like the girl might actually know something. She not only knew his name but also his mom’s name.

“It’s not obvious. I don’t know your dad’s name because I left Linshui when I was very young. I only heard about my aunt’s marriage later, and that’s how I learned about you.”

“Let me call my mom and check,” Xu Lin said.

Since she seemed confident, it wouldn’t hurt to confirm. If she really was his cousin, it would be quite a surprise. How could he have a cousin he knew nothing about? Which aunt was her mom? And why had there been no mention of her all these years?

With these questions swirling in his mind, Xu Lin dialed his mom’s number. The phone rang six or seven times before she finally answered.

“Xu Lin! It’s late—why aren’t you home yet? Why are you disturbing my rest?” she snapped as soon as she picked up.

“Mom, calm down. I’m at the east gate of the complex. There’s a girl here, and the security guards won’t let her in,” Xu Lin explained.

“So?” his mom asked, still annoyed.

“She knows my name and says she’s my cousin, but I don’t have a cousin like her…”

On the other end of the line, his mom suddenly went silent. Xu Lin’s eyes narrowed. No way… could this girl actually be his cousin?

“Ask her what her name is,” his mom finally said.

“What’s your name?” Xu Lin turned to the girl.

“My name is Li Muxue,” she replied.

“She says her name is Li Muxue,” Xu Lin relayed into the phone.

There was a pause before his mom’s voice came back, urgent and serious. “Bring her home. Now.”

“She’s really my cousin?”

“Yes, I’ll explain later. Just bring her back.”

From his mother’s tone—tinged with excitement and the faint edge of tears—Xu Lin picked up on the emotion behind her words. He nodded.

“Alright, she really is my cousin,” Xu Lin said to the two security guards.

The guards were stunned. So she really was here to visit a relative?

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You’re just doing your job. Can we go in now?” Xu Lin asked.

“Yes, with a resident accompanying her, she can go in,” one of the guards replied.

“Yay! Thank you, dear cousin. You’re truly my lucky star!”

The girl grinned cheerfully, then hurried inside with quick, energetic steps.

“Which way?” she called over her shoulder.

“Just straight ahead,” Xu Lin responded.

“Got it!”

Watching her brisk pace, Xu Lin quickly followed behind, not wanting to let her out of sight.

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