Forced into a Contract Flash Marriage with the Ice-Cold Beauty - Chapter 19

Leng Bingqin sat down in front of the gaming console, sternly eyeing the four kids lined up in a row. Finally, she pointed to her forehead and asked, “You smashed my head like this, what are you going to do about it?”

“I was the one who threw the stone; it has nothing to do with them. I really know I was wrong. Please let us off, sis,” the chubby kid said, showing some leadership by taking responsibility alone. But his coolness lasted less than three seconds before he started begging for mercy.

Leng Bingqin, feeling a craving, came up with a clever idea to get something for nothing. She deliberately lifted her head arrogantly and said, “Since you seem sincere in admitting your mistake, if you treat me to an ice cream, I’ll let it slide.”

The kids were intimidated and huddled together, pooling their money until they scraped together five yuan. They splurged on a chocolate-coated ice cream cone as an apology.

The chubby kid handed the cone to Leng Bingqin, visibly distressed over his lost pocket money. “Sis, we usually can’t even afford to eat this kind of ice cream ourselves.”

“How badly can’t you afford it?” Taking the cone, Leng Bingqin unwrapped it and ate it delightedly in front of the four kids. “Mmm~ it really is delicious.”

The chubby kid swallowed his saliva, his eyes following the cone as it moved. He was practically drooling with envy.

Leng Bingqin stood up, ready to head home, and waved her hand. “Alright, break it up. We’re even now.”

As the chubby kid and his little followers were about to run off, Leng Bingqin grabbed him again. “Hold it.”

With a pitiful expression, the chubby kid whined, “Sis, you already ate the ice cream. You’re not going back on your word, are you?”

Leng Bingqin grandly pulled out her beloved Guoz-brand phone from her pants pocket, showing it off as she slowly swept it past the four kids like a movie scene in slow motion, frame by frame. Finally, she lifted her head triumphantly and teased, “What’s so great about a Little Genius smartwatch? I have a Big Genius phone. Do any of you have one?”

After work, Ji Nanchan passed by the grocery store, thinking that the little freeloader at home shouldn’t always eat instant noodles when hungry. It would be better to buy some frozen dumplings to stock up.

She took two packs of dumplings from the freezer and was pulling out her wallet when the shop owner, Old Man Li, approached with a smile. “Nanchan, off work? Just 20 for both packs.”

“Uncle Li, aren’t they 15 each?” Ji Nanchan wasn’t one to take advantage, especially not from a neighbor. “You’re running a small business; you shouldn’t give discounts like this.”

She placed the money on the counter and was about to leave when the old man stopped her. “Nanchan, about that favor I asked you earlier, any progress?”

Knowing he was bringing it up again, Ji Nanchan let out an awkward chuckle. “Uh, well. Aunt Zhang doesn’t have that intention. Don’t overthink it. Matters like twilight romance are better handled by one’s own children.”

Her laughter grew increasingly awkward, but the old man wasn’t upset. He waved his hand reassuringly. “I know it’s difficult for you. It’s fine, it’s fine. Oh, by the way, who’s that girl who often walks Fugui? Is she related to you?”

“Why? Did she cause you any trouble?” At the mere mention of Leng Bingqin, Ji Nanchan grew tense, worried that the little freeloader had stirred up trouble again.

“Not at all, I was just curious. That girl comes to the shop every morning and afternoon, more punctual than clocking in and out of work.”

“Does she buy anything? She didn’t try to buy on credit, did she?”

“She just looks without buying. Comes every day, just for this.”

Ji Nanchan followed the direction the old man pointed. There, in the most prominent spot on the wall cabinet, sat a large bucket of Little Lamb cotton candy, like a treasure of the store.

“How much for this bucket?”

“120 bucks. My daughter-in-law brought it back from abroad. I don’t eat this stuff, so I just left it here. That girl really likes it but can’t afford it, so she comes by every day to check if it’s been sold.”

Thinking of Leng Bingqin pestering her for pocket money, Ji Nanchan couldn’t help but laugh and cry. So it wasn’t just about being hungry.

She could easily picture the little fool running into the grocery store, tempted by the shelves full of snacks but only able to look and swallow her drool without buying anything. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ji Nanchan took out some cash and paid. “Uncle Li, could you please pack it in a black plastic bag? Thank you.”

Uncle Li took down the cotton candy and put it in the bag. Despite his age, he still loved to gossip. “You’re so good to her she’s your girlfriend, right?”

Ji Nanchan took the bag without answering. Instead, she repeatedly reminded him, “When she sees the cotton candy is gone tomorrow, just tell her it was sold. Whatever you do, don’t say I bought it.”

“Why are you teasing her like this for no reason?”

Ji Nanchan clasped her hands together in front of her forehead, pleading, “Uncle Li, please don’t spill the beans. I’m begging you.”

.

Walking into the yard, Ji Nanchan didn’t see Leng Bingqin anywhere, so she hurried into the small dark room. She stealthily tucked the cotton candy into a cabinet and finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Qinqin?” Back in the living room, she called out softly a couple of times but got no response.

Suddenly, Leng Bingqin popped up at the gate, holding a dog leash apparently, she had just finished walking the dog. “I’m back!”

Hearing her playful laughter, Ji Nanchan leaned against the table to rest. “Tonight, I’ll teach you how to cook dumplings. It’s even easier than making instant noodles.”

“But I want pan-fried dumplings, with crispy, golden-brown skins.” Leng Bingqin was already smacking her lips just thinking about it.

“Alright, then we’ll have both boiled and pan-fried dumplings.”

Leng Bingqin rubbed her slightly empty stomach. “Are we making them now? I’m a little hungry.”

If she wasn’t complaining about being hungry, she was on her way to complaining about it. Ji Nanchan chuckled, holding her shoulders as they walked toward the kitchen. “We’ll make them now.”

Before the two could step into the kitchen, a commotion erupted outside the yard loud banging on the door and angry shouts.

“Ji Nanchan, I know you’re home! Open the door! Hurry up and open the door!”

Puzzled, Ji Nanchan glanced at Leng Bingqin and instructed, “Don’t follow me. Stay inside.”

She walked into the yard and pulled open the iron gate. Aunt Wang, the plump woman from the alley, stood there with her son in tow, glaring at her.

Ji Nanchan crossed her arms over her chest, lazily scanning the two of them before leaning against the doorframe to block the entrance. She put on a mocking tone, “Aunt Wang, you should watch fewer comedy skits. Look at this scene you’re making, it’s like ‘Aunt Xue tearing into Fu Wenpei,’ shouting ‘Open the door! Open the door! Open the door!’ over and over. It’s so disruptive to the neighbors.”

Aunt Wang was notorious in the alley for her sharp tongue. No one dared to cross her in a street argument. But Ji Nanchan, a master of verbal sparring, had never been intimidated by her bluster, making her a thorn in Aunt Wang’s side.

Finally seizing an opportunity to go all out, Aunt Wang was determined to win this argument. Hearing Ji Nanchan’s sarcastic remark, she shoved her son forward and demanded, “Cut the nonsense! I just want an explanation. Why did your girlfriend bully my child?”

Ji Nanchan tilted her head and scrutinized the chubby kid, then smirked at Aunt Wang. “Bully? Is your kid missing an arm or a leg? Did he lose half a pound of flesh? You come here accusing my girlfriend without any evidence?”

“A whole group of kids can testify that she blocked them at the grocery store entrance, bullying and extorting them, taking all their money. With behavior this awful, did you pick a partner with your eyes closed? Just dragging anyone you find into the alley. What, are you so desperate for someone to warm your bed at your age that you’d settle for just anyone?”

Hearing the shrew’s unrestrained attack on Cold Ice Qin, Ji Nanchan’s temper flared instantly. “What kind of partner I choose is none of your damn business! Everyone knows your son and the kids from a few houses down are the neighborhood bullies today picking on this one, tomorrow beating up that one. If it weren’t for the neighbors giving you some face, the compensation alone would’ve bankrupted your family.”

Just as Aunt Fatty Wang was about to launch another assault, Ji Nanchan cut her off, refusing to acknowledge the accusation. “Bullying and extortion? You’d better not slander or defame. If this goes to the police station, I won’t have it easy, but neither will you.”

Aunt Fatty Wang was thoroughly enraged. With one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Ji Nanchan’s nose, she spewed a stream of abuse: “You little bitch, don’t you dare play word games with me! If you’ve got the guts, bring your girlfriend to the grocery store entrance. I’ll have all those kids come out as witnesses.”

“Your mouth is so foul, it’s a wonder your husband hasn’t divorced you yet. Sooner or later, he’ll be suffocated by the stench.” Ji Nanchan slumped her shoulders and shook her leg, starting to act recklessly. “How much can you trust kids’ words, especially from troublemakers like your family? But if you insist on a confrontation, fine. Qin Qin, come here.”

Ji Nanchan turned and beckoned to Cold Ice Qin, who cautiously approached, peeking out with just half her head from behind. Seeing Aunt Fatty Wang’s fierce expression made her even more timid.

Ji Nanchan shielded her, then pointed to the still-swollen bump on her head, exaggerating the situation to demand an explanation: “It’s been two days, and this bump still hasn’t gone down. Why don’t you ask your precious son what happened? If Auntie Zhang hadn’t persuaded me to keep the peace that day, I would’ve smashed your door down already.”

At a disadvantage, Aunt Fatty Wang eyed the timid Cold Ice Qin, who didn’t look like the delinquent she’d imagined, and the shiny, prominent bump was undeniable evidence.

She was momentarily speechless, her eyes darting around as she searched for a way out. Soon, she resorted to baseless accusations: “Hmph, tripping or bumping into a door either could cause a bump like that. What makes you say my son did it? Weren’t you the one just talking about slander and going to the police? Show me the evidence if you’ve got it.”

“Aunt Fatty Wang, what era are you living in? Uncle Li’s grocery store has a huge surveillance camera at the entrance, it captures every kind of scoundrel. Since you’ve come to my door today, let’s settle all the old and new scores at once.” Ji Nanchan stood tall and righteous, seizing the opportunity to press the issue.

Cold Ice Qin clung tightly to the hem of her clothes from behind, her mind racing about how to explain the ice cream incident. Her guilt was overwhelming, her nails digging deep into her palms, leaving marks, but she barely felt the pain.

A warm hand covered the back of hers, fingers slowly intertwining. A surge of courage, warm and reassuring, washed over her heart. Ji Nanchan had quietly reached back, unknowingly holding her hand.

“Don’t you dare twist the truth here! If you want to check the surveillance, then let’s check it. Who’s afraid of whom?” Aunt Fatty Wang, out of tricks, could no longer rely on her usual brute force. She had no choice but to brace herself and agree.

“Great, absolutely great. Since you have no shame, I’m determined to tear that mask off today.” Ji Nanchan raised a hand and repeatedly slapped her own iron door, creating loud banging noises as she raised her voice to call out to the neighbors.

“Everyone, come out and join the fun, watch this farce! Auntie Wang’s son threw stones at my girlfriend, and now they’re here claiming my family bullied her son. Let’s all go check the surveillance footage together you be the judge! I’m putting it out here today: let’s see which family won’t be able to hold their head high or show their face in this alley from now on!”