My Online Girlfriend Has a Twin Sister

At dawn, a sliver of pale light appeared on the horizon. The city was still fast asleep.

Breakfast stalls were already bustling with activity. City sanitation workers hurried to finish cleaning the streets before sunrise. Soon, office workers would begin to trickle out of their homes, and the streets would fill with the to and fro of traffic. Only then, with the blaring of car horns, would the city truly awaken.

Liu He and Mr. Chen were early risers. People their age rarely slept in; they were always up before six. Back home, they would go out for a walk together to breathe in the fresh morning air.

Here in Lanjing, Liu He hesitated for a moment but decided not to break the habit.

She decided to go downstairs with Mr. Chen and buy some breakfast along the way.

Liu He figured it would be the perfect chance to invite Ningning and Yaoyao to eat with them. After receiving such a grand reception yesterday, it was only right for them, as elders, to return the favor to the younger generation. It would help them leave a kind impression. Besides, their high-speed train was at eight-thirty. Without this breakfast, they would probably have to leave without even seeing the two sisters again.

For a moment, Liu He felt a little sad to leave. They were such wonderful girls, after all.

This was the greatest reward of her trip. She wouldn’t have to worry about Chen Yuan’s future marriage anymore. Finding a potential daughter-in-law this wonderful had to be a blessing earned from her family’s good heart over the years.

As the two of them were heading out, they glanced at Chen Yuan’s tightly shut bedroom door.

"Our son is still asleep. Should we wake him up to come with us?"

"Forget it," Mr. Chen said, shaking his head. "Let him get some sleep. After we leave, he can head to his classes. Young people need their rest."

"Alright then. Let’s go, the elevator is this way." Liu He gently pulled the door shut and gestured outside.

Mr. Chen and Liu He had argued last night, but that’s just how married couples were. They’d fight one moment and make up the next. With so many years between them, they never truly held a grudge. Once the heat of the moment passed, they would naturally reconcile.

Of course, the problem itself wasn’t solved. In the short term, neither could persuade the other.

In a way, the two of them came to understand their son a little better. If even they had their disagreements, it was only natural for Chen Yuan, who was at the center of it all, to feel confused and uncertain.

As Liu He stepped into the elevator, her eyes inconspicuously swept over the door to apartment 1301. She thought about the two sisters living there, completely unaware that... at that very moment, they were asleep in Chen Yuan’s bed.

An idea began to form in Liu He’s mind.

’Since we can’t agree, I shouldn’t be too hasty. After I get back, I’ll find some time to visit our hometown. I’ll tell Chen Yuan’s grandparents all about his life at university, and I’ll "casually" drop in some details about Jiang Ning. The two of them have doted on Chen Yuan since he was a boy; they’ll naturally be overjoyed to hear the news.’

’Then, the next time Chen Yuan goes home, they’re bound to ask him about it.’

’Mr. Chen has always been a filial son. Once he sees how happy his parents are, his insistence on Jiang Yao will fall apart on its own.’

Liu He’s scheme was exceptionally clever. For the clueless Jiang Ning, the two words "best ally" would be no exaggeration to describe her.

But no matter how brilliant her plan was, it would all go up in smoke in half an hour, when she saw the two sisters emerge from Chen Yuan’s bedroom together.

All those plans would go up in smoke.

They had all slept in the same bed. Her son had done something so outrageous. Given Liu He’s traditional values, she would no longer have the gall to ask Jiang Yao to swallow her pride and accept the situation...

Because she was a woman herself, and she knew just how precious virtue and love were to a good girl.

...

By the time Liu He returned from her breakfast run, carrying steaming hot buns and pork and preserved egg congee...

「In the dim bedroom.」

Perhaps because she had been so exhausted yesterday, Jiang Ning—who was always an early riser—had actually slept until seven. She slowly woke, frowning as she rubbed her tired eyes.

The darkness of the room, especially with the curtains drawn tight, made her misjudge the time. She thought it wasn’t even light out yet.

The first thought that crossed Jiang Ning’s mind was, ’I’m up pretty early today.’

She turned her head, tilting her chin up slightly to look at the soundly sleeping Chen Yuan. Half his face was buried in the covers, his bangs resting lazily on his forehead. His peaceful expression highlighted the handsome, boyish charm of a college student.

Jiang Ning watched him quietly for a moment. She suddenly had the urge to reach out and poke his cheek, just to tease him.

’That would be fun.’

In the end, Jiang Ning resisted the impulse and didn’t disturb Chen Yuan. Instead, she fumbled for her phone on the nightstand. When she lit up the screen and squinted at the time, her pretty eyes suddenly shot wide open.

"It’s seven o’clock!"

She shot upright with a WHOOSH and shook Chen Yuan’s shoulder, her voice panicked.

"Chen... Chen, we’re running out of time! What time is your parents’ train this morning?"

"Mmm..." Chen Yuan rolled over without opening his eyes. "Is it morning already?"

"The sun is up."

"Okay, I’m getting up."

But despite his words, he just snuggled deeper into the covers, showing no sign of getting up. He seemed to be deliberately dawdling. It took a good deal of pulling from Jiang Ning before he finally sat up.

"Your parents must be up by now! How are Yaoyao and I supposed to get out? But if we wait until after eight for you to see them off, I’ll be out of time. I’m supposed to be picking someone up... Ugh, maybe I should just call and tell them I’ll be late." She stopped mid-panic, hesitating.

"They’re not. Don’t worry, my parents aren’t up yet."

"Really?"

"How could I ever lie to my Ningning?" Chen Yuan said with a faint smile.

This eased Jiang Ning’s worries, and her panic subsided a little. But she couldn’t hear Chen Yuan’s inner thoughts: ’Lie to my Ningning? You bet I would!’