Chapter 225 222. Overprotectiveness
Life at home was unusually comfortable. Because An Han had turned into a girl, her mother tried her best to meet her needs and indulge her whims.
Except for her little sister being a bit annoying, life at home felt much better than university. An Han had almost forgotten about Su Peng.
That was until the third day of winter break…
“An Han, are you planning to go on a blind date?”
At the lunch table, this sudden question made An Han jump in surprise. She raised her head in disbelief, all her curse words stuck in her throat, and could only respond with a confused, “Huh?”
Her mother didn’t seem to be joking. Her gentle smile quickly faded into a serious expression. “If I let you date freely, you might get fooled. It’s better to start with some people we know well.”
“Don’t worry, these are all neighbors and relatives’ recommendations. I’ll pre-screen them for you. Anyone with bad character, a poor reputation, or unattractive appearance, I’ll filter out for you.”
An Han was still a bit stunned, her large eyes full of confusion. “But didn’t you say I couldn’t date?”
“You will, sooner or later. Isn’t it better for me to oversee things so you don’t get deceived?”
She shook her head quickly, trying to refute her mother’s idea. “That’s an arranged marriage!”
“And you can’t guarantee the people you choose are problem-free either!”
“Besides, I just became a girl, I can’t accept dating a boy at all!”
Her mother had been listening quietly to her rebuttals, but at this point, she raised a faint eyebrow. “Oh? Then what about Su Peng?”
You still remember his name!
“He’s just a normal friend!”
Her mother nodded with a smile. “Right, a normal friend… a normal friend who lives next door, drives us on trips, and you act more relaxed around him than you do around us.”
Seeing her mother teasing her in such a sarcastic way was rare. An Han’s face flushed red, embarrassed and unable to look up.
“Mom! Last night, my sister even video-chatted with a handsome guy!”
“Stop lying! She didn’t!” An Han shoved a piece of sweet and sour pork into her sister’s mouth.
She let out a sigh. Her mother’s sudden overprotectiveness caught her off guard, making it even harder to adjust. Up until now, she had basically been left to her own devices—riding her bike to school from second grade, often hanging out in internet cafes in middle school, and her mother rarely intervened. Even her academic performance was not pressured; while other parents forbade early romance, her mother occasionally asked if she had a crush on a girl since middle school…
“Mom, I’m twenty,” An Han said helplessly, trying to make her mother let go. “I’m an adult, not a child like my sister who’s easy to deceive.”
Her little sister pouted. “Tch~”
“You see, nothing bad has happened to me while studying away from home for years.”
“But now you’re a girl…” Her mother put down her chopsticks, worried. “It’s different from before.”
A boy might at worst be tricked out of money, led astray, or become a troublemaker. Even then, he could still work in construction or do physical labor. But a girl?
Her mother always believed girls needed more protection. That’s why if her sister came home ten minutes late, she would chase her with questions; over half an hour meant a strict scolding. Back when An Han was in middle school, she often stayed up all night at internet cafes, yet her mother never scolded her seriously—at most, a couple of words.
An Han understood her mother’s protectiveness but still deeply resisted it. She had expected to watch Su Peng’s blind date as a joke, but now she herself was being forced into one.
She sighed and covered her face with her hands.
“You like Su Peng, don’t you?” her mother asked suddenly.
An Han’s face turned even redder. She instinctively shook her head to deny it, but quickly realized that continued denial might really lead to a blind date…
So she reluctantly nodded slightly, hiding her embarrassment.
Her mother rested her hands together, her knuckles against her chin, leaning in to ask, “What do you like about him?”
“I…”
Her mind went blank. An Han looked at her mother, unable to come up with a reason.
Is it because he’s handsome?
Although he did match her aesthetic, she wasn’t the type to swoon over a good-looking guy. Even as a boy, Su Peng’s looks alone wouldn’t have made her feel affection.
Was it the system stirring feelings? Or was it because she felt cared for as a girl?
Perhaps a bit of the first, but that also made her more cautious. Perhaps a bit of the second, but that wasn’t the main factor.
She lowered her head and replied, a little shyly, “I like everything about him…”
Her mother’s gaze was on her, her little sister’s curious eyes beside her. Talking about feelings in front of the people closest to her made her face burn bright red.
Perhaps her words had opened a floodgate. She continued, “Because being with him is fun… and I feel safe…”
“There’s no other special reason.”
She lowered her head, poking at her rice with her chopsticks.
No one else gave her the feelings Su Peng did.
Her mother was silent for a moment, rubbing her temples. She didn’t have a very good impression of Su Peng: too handsome, easy to attract other women, and possibly taking advantage of situations.
“Let’s leave it at that for now.”
But seeing An Han’s determined attitude, she could only temporarily compromise.
An Han breathed a sigh of relief, quickly finishing her meal, then dashed upstairs as if escaping.
“I’ll be going to Grandpa’s this afternoon.”
She had only climbed a few steps when she paused and turned back to ask, “Does Grandpa already know?”
“Yes.”
“Oh…” An Han asked anxiously, “And what did he say?”
“Grandpa said boys are all spendthrifts; having another girl around is fine!” her little sister suddenly chimed in. “He even said Mom should take you over to see him!”
Grandpa’s reaction seemed rather mild.
An Han felt a little relieved. “Will anyone else be there this afternoon?”
“Aunt, another aunt, a few uncles…”
The more she heard, the paler her face grew.
Why did visiting Grandpa involve so many relatives? And all of them people she usually got along with?
“They all think you shouldn’t be dating now.”
“Mom, how many people did you tell about me…” An Han sighed in exasperation.
Not only had her mother mentioned her becoming a girl, but also her feelings. Her mother had a flaw: to her, her sisters were close family, so she liked discussing home matters with them.
After a few peaceful days, trouble had come knocking.
She hurried upstairs, intending to escape into the game world for a while.
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