My Online Girlfriend Has a Twin Sister

His expression was no longer anxious. Things had finally reached this point. Now that the moment was here, Chen Yuan felt a strange sense of relief.

From now on, he wouldn’t have to bear this guilt alone anymore.

This novel feeling arose within him, like a cat that had been secretly raiding the pantry, finally discovered by its owner next to the nearly empty bag of treats. He no longer had to feign perfect obedience. Instead, under his family’s shocked gazes, he was about to just flop down in surrender.

It was as if to say: ’See? I’m not the person you imagine me to be.’

Ever since Mr. and Mrs. Chen sent Chen Yuan to Lanjing University, their phone calls had been filled with endless advice that put immense pressure on him.

For example, they’d tell him to prioritize his studies and grow into a fine young man.

These earnest hopes were merely their fantasies. In their eyes, their child was walking a glorious path through life.

In reality, life wasn’t like that.

Enduring pain and agony.

Being deceived and misunderstood.

Learning lessons after getting hurt, gradually becoming twisted by a chaotic and dysfunctional society, and slowly learning how to protect oneself.

This was the life most students truly experienced after leaving the shelter of their parents’ arms.

These were the things most useful for growth, not the elegant formulas an old professor wrote on a blackboard.

SLAM.

Chen Yuan slammed the car door shut, feeling a sense of catharsis. He walked with his parents from the underground garage to the elevator entrance. His mother, Liu He, clutched two expensive gifts for their first meeting, giving neither of the men a chance to take them from her. This woman from a small northern city, with distinct crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, had a fiery glint in her gaze; she was determined to solemnly present these gifts to the future daughter-in-law she already cherished, despite never having met her.

She was already lost in her imagination.

’The moment the door opened, a holy, heaven-like light would shine down. A dignified and quiet girl would be there, her eyes holding a hint of bashfulness and shyness, her entire being radiating the glow of vast knowledge. Perhaps she wore glasses, and behind the lenses were the eyes of a top student who won scholarships year after year.’

’Well-behaved, bright, and worldly-unwise, yet full of purity.’

Liu He’s cheeks rose, unable to contain her smile.

At that moment, she desperately wanted to tug her husband’s sleeve and whisper a few things. ’Thank goodness I never openly said that I actually quite liked the daughter of Chen Yuan’s aunt. That girl Ke Bing is nice, and her age is just right, but the crucial thing is she goes to an ordinary second-rate university. A complementary match is, in the end, no better than a union of two powerhouses.’

Of course, Liu He couldn’t say this in front of Chen Yuan. She could only swallow her words, saving them for the next six months of private nagging.

In just half an hour of speculation, her image of a future daughter-in-law had evolved from a simple girl into a dozen glittering labels, and as it happened, Liu He liked every single one.

"Mom," Chen Yuan called out abruptly.

"What is it, son?" Liu He asked, snapping out of her daze with a smile.

"Dad..." He looked at his father, who was trying his best to stand up straight and appear affable.

"Hm?" Mr. Chen adjusted his glasses.

"...The weather’s nice," Chen Yuan muttered after a moment’s hesitation. "Really nice, isn’t it?"

"You’re acting so strange."

DING—

The elevator arrived at the thirteenth floor, and the heavy doors slid open.

Chen Yuan stepped out first and stood before the door.

The room number, 1302, was right in front of him, so close.

Chen Yuan gripped the handle and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, then opened them again. The unlocking pattern appeared on the small screen of the door lock.

Behind him, his parents straightened their backs, suddenly a bit stiff. They peered inside tentatively, their eyes flickering with anticipation.

A ray of sunlight, so bright it was almost blinding, shone through an open window in the living room and into the house, reflecting off the entryway. The polished floor was brilliantly lit.

A pair of clean flat shoes came into view, followed by a deep red maxi dress that grazed the ankles, adorned with floral patterns like blooming flowers. The pearls embedded in the hem were like dewdrops about to fall from the petals.

The delicate dress enveloped a graceful figure.

Fair hands were clasped together, a sign of slight nervousness.

Jiang Ning pressed her lips together tightly, her gaze lowered slightly as she looked toward the entryway just a few steps away. Her uneasy eyes seemed to be veiled in a layer of mist.

And beside her, the once-lively Jiang Yao was so uncharacteristically well-behaved that one could hardly recognize her. To differentiate herself, she wore a less elaborate but immaculately clean white dress and simple white sneakers. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, with a barrette holding back her bangs.

The rippling hem of her skirt was like floating snow.

Her complexion was even fairer than snow.

She too was peering out tentatively.

Outside, Mr. Chen and Liu He stood frozen, as if hit by a paralyzing spell. The affable smiles on their faces were fixed, their eyes wide as they stared at the people inside.

In an instant, there was dead silence.

Liu He, still holding the bag of cosmetics, had broken out in a cold sweat, her palm clammy, though she herself didn’t even notice.

At first, the moment they saw Jiang Ning, the couple was completely stunned.

They had never seen a girl who looked like this before. In other words, they’d never had the chance to, at least not in real life.

To them, the stunningly beautiful actresses on TV represented the absolute limit of the word "beautiful." People like that didn’t exist in real life, where someone even slightly pretty would receive endless praise.

Chen Yuan himself had been praised for his delicate features from childhood to adulthood.

But this girl before them, with her long, wavy hair and dress, was just unbelievably beautiful!

She was on a completely different level from those celebrities and actresses. She was so exquisite you couldn’t find a single flaw, down to the last pore. If a normal person was standard definition, she gave off the impression of being in 4K Blu-ray.

The shock was more than just words could describe.

While the couple was still lost in boundless astonishment, not yet having recovered, and as they were carefully examining this girl, the door opened fully, and another radiant girl appeared!

It made them feel as if they’d been caught in an Illusion Technique.

The two girls looked exactly the same. Instantly, their vision blurred, their minds went blank, and they had no idea which one to look at.

From the long hair, the eyes, the small, delicate nose, to the dewy lips, there was no difference at all. The only way to tell them apart was by their hair and clothes.

Chen Yuan, having been around them for a long time, could tell who was Jiang Ning and who was Jiang Yao with a single glance.

But this was his parents’ first time seeing them.

Any ordinary person standing before these two would feel a bit dizzy and find it hard to tell them apart.

GULP—

Liu He swallowed hard and turned her head stiffly, casting a pleading look at Chen Yuan. At the same time, Mr. Chen did the exact same thing.

That heartless Chen Yuan, however, was no help at all.

He turned his face to the side and stared at the wall, as if trying to make a masterpiece materialize from it.

His entire body screamed, ’I don’t know,’ ’Don’t look at me,’ and ’I’m behaving myself.’

"Uncle, Auntie," Jiang Ning said in a soft voice, hurrying forward to take the things from their hands. "Please, come in. Lunch is almost ready."

"Hello, Uncle~ Hello, Auntie~" Jiang Yao said, being impossibly well-behaved, her cheeks tinged with shyness.

Hearing her sweet, gentle voice, the couple’s hearts melted.

They snapped out of their stupor and walked into the apartment in a daze. Chen Yuan followed behind them, head down, and gently pulled the door shut.

"Hello, Auntie. I’m Jiang Ning. You can call me Ning or Ningning."

"Dear, you’re just so beautiful, like you stepped right out of a painting," Liu He said, her face beaming. She opened her mouth, then looked at Jiang Yao and hesitated. "How are... the two of you...?"

"Auntie, we’re twins," Jiang Yao said in a small voice, taking her future mother-in-law’s hand. "I’m the younger sister."

"I’m the older sister."

"Oh! No wonder I opened the door to two identical girls! You really gave me a fright. They’re really twins! Look at that," Liu He said, tugging on Mr. Chen’s sleeve, her eyes filled with unconcealable curiosity.

"Well... Auntie, we’ll go finish up dinner. Please, have a seat on the sofa. It’ll be ready in a moment."

"We can’t let you do all the work. Let me help. It’ll just take me a second to wash my hands."

"No, no, no," Jiang Ning said, tying her apron on again. She politely led Liu He and Mr. Chen to the sofa and settled them in. "We’re just about to plate everything. It’s already done."

"Ning, you’re too kind. Such a good, capable girl."

Jiang Ning blushed slightly at the compliment, which only made her already captivating face look even more beautiful.

They went into the kitchen together.

The couple’s eyes followed their figures, their curiosity unabated. When Chen Yuan cautiously walked over...

Liu He grabbed him and yanked him over.

"Why didn’t you tell me they were twins? I was completely floored, you brat!" she said, glaring and pinching Chen Yuan, whose face contorted in pain. "Which one are you dating? The older sister or the younger one?"

"Son, your mother and I didn’t know what to say just now. It was so awkward. Why didn’t you tell us about this beforehand?"

"I..." Chen Yuan knew he couldn’t hide it any longer. He scratched his head. "You two have to promise me first. Prepare yourselves, then I’ll tell you."

"Prepare for what?" Liu He asked, confused.

"Just... try not to be too surprised. It might be a little hard to accept."

"Just spit it out! Stop being so dramatic. You’re really asking for a beating."

"Okay, okay, I’ll tell you," Chen Yuan said in a low voice. "Both of them... are my girlfriends."

Mr. Chen: "..."

Liu He: "???"

Disbelief, shock, confusion.

Countless emotions appeared on their faces, before they both settled on utter incredulity.

It was a priceless sight to behold.

Chen Yuan met his parents’ gazes. Seeing their expressions changing in a flash, he silently took a few steps back.

After a moment of silence.

Liu He’s voice trembled as she asked, "Son, Mom didn’t mishear you, did I? What do you mean? This pair of twins... are both your girlfriends?"

"Yeah. That’s the situation right now."

"You’re saying you’re dating two at once?"

"It’s not that I’m dating two. It’s that they both like me, and I haven’t decided who to be with, so I had you meet them both at the same time."

"’You haven’t decided... meet them both at the same time...’" Liu He repeated his words and lowered her head.

The next moment, she raised her hand and swung her palm right at Chen Yuan.

"Mom!" he yelped, scrambling to dodge and grabbing a pillow for cover.

"Get over here! Who said you could dodge!" Liu He’s brows knitted into a tight knot. She lowered her voice and cursed, "Are you playing at having three wives and four concubines? You think this is ancient times? You brat, you’re really asking for a beating!"