My Virtual Wife From my Phone Has Come to See Me - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: When Can I Get a Chance to Pet Xing Xiaochu?

With the final two pieces of fabric sewn together, a creamy-yellow cloth fish with golden seed-bead eyes was born in Qi Ying’s hands.

Guazi, thinking the little fish was for him, trotted over with his tail held high, meowing expectantly. However, Xing Xiaochu scooped him up, tapped his tiny nose, and said, “This one is mine.”

The kitten looked up at her, confused. “Mew—”

The yellow cloth fish was sewn onto the side waist of the dress. Qi Ying hid the thread ends and, seeing that the fish sat perfectly straight, turned to Xiaochu. “Does this work for you?”

“Yes, it looks beautiful like this.” Xiaochu stared at the lovely dress on the mannequin. Despite the slight quirkiness of the fish at the waist, she was extremely satisfied.

This was the first outfit Qi Ying had ever made specifically for her. The altered school uniforms and pajamas didn’t count.

Seeing her satisfaction, Qi Ying smiled too. She took the dress off the mannequin and handed it over. “Go try it on.”

Xiaochu nodded eagerly.

While Xiaochu went to change, Qi Ying tidied up the living room. She moved the mannequin back to the storage room and swept up the loose threads and fabric scraps. Little Guazi squatted at Xiaochu’s door, butt wiggling as he tried to peer through the crack, scratching at the door in his urgency.

Soon, Xing Xiaochu emerged wearing the creamy-yellow dress.

“Sister.” Xiaochu pinched the hem of her skirt. “Look, does it look good?”

Qi Ying looked up, and the room seemed to brighten instantly.

Xiaochu was already naturally striking. Though there was still a lingering touch of childishness in her face, she was already too beautiful to ignore. Having put on some healthy weight under Qi Ying’s care, her complexion looked rosy. Wearing the yellow dress made her skin glow, making her shine like a little sun.

Qi Ying could hardly look away. “You look truly beautiful,” she remarked sincerely.

Xiaochu was thrilled by the compliment. She was a bit shy, but mostly just happy.

“Meow—”

Guazi spotted the cloth fish on Xiaochu’s waist. Thinking it was his toy, he hugged her calf and tried to climb up, making her gasp in pain.

“Mew! Mew—!”

Guazi jumped around, lunging for the little fish. Xiaochu dodged left and right, eventually hiding behind Qi Ying. The little guy scurried over on his short legs, and the girl and the cat began a high-speed chase around Qi Ying.

“This is mine!” Xiaochu told him, sounding a bit annoyed.

Guazi’s little legs were a blur; occasionally he’d launch himself at her skirt. Qi Ying reached out and snatched him mid-air.

“Alright, you two, stop it. Don’t ruin the new dress.” Qi Ying held the wriggling kitten with both hands. Seeing his sharp claws extended, she squinted slightly. Xiaochu leaned in too, looking from Qi Ying to the cat.

Both of them had the same thought at the same time.

Snip, snip—

“Mew-woo—!”

Qi Ying held Guazi on her lap, presenting a tiny paw to Xiaochu. “Watch the quick. Kittens have shallow claws; don’t make him bleed.”

Xiaochu took the nail clippers very seriously and gave Guazi’s claws a thorough trim.

Guazi cried and wailed, but both owners ignored his protests. After the front paws came the back paws. The little guy was almost at his breaking point by the time they successfully finished the manicure.

Once freed, the kitten hopped off the sofa and stomped away, muttering “maledictions” with his tail twitching. Because he was so small, he tripped on the rug and landed chin-first. His tail wasn’t held high with joy anymore; he trudged dejectedly to his bed and slept with his back to them.

“Oh dear,” Qi Ying said. “He’s sulking.”

Xiaochu cleaned up the clippings, her eyes crinkled with laughter, but she let out a loud sneeze in the next second.

Qi Ying’s expression changed instantly. She reached out to touch Xiaochu’s forehead. Xiaochu looked up with half-closed eyes; Qi Ying’s palm was warm and comforting, making her feel soft all over.

“You’re still burning up,” Qi Ying said worriedly. “Get back under the covers, quick.”

Xiaochu blinked. “But Sister, I’m hungry.”

“Covers first,” Qi Ying said sternly. “I’ll go boil the dumplings.”

Left with no choice, Xiaochu changed back into her pajamas and returned to bed.

Perhaps because she had slept too much during the day, she wasn’t sleepy at all. She looked at the dress she had folded neatly and couldn’t help but reach out to touch it again and again.

Knock, knock, knock—

“I’m coming in~” Qi Ying called from outside.

Xiaochu hurriedly responded and set the dress aside.

Qi Ying brought the dumplings in. Since realizing that in this world, two women couldn’t be heedlessly intimate, she had made it a habit to rarely enter Xiaochu’s room—and always knock when she did.

She placed the steaming dumplings on the bedside table and set up the bed tray in front of Xiaochu. “They’re fresh out of the pot and very hot. Be careful.”

Xiaochu nodded, holding her chopsticks.

“Vinegar or chili sauce?” Qi Ying asked.

Xiaochu thought about it. “Either is fine.”

“I’ll get you both, then.” Qi Ying returned to the kitchen to prep two small dipping dishes and brought back a bowl of dumpling soup as well.

The dumplings were exactly the flavor Xiaochu liked. Eating the hot food made her feel less miserable; it was as if eating a meal Qi Ying prepared was a cure in itself.

While she ate, Qi Ying tidied the bedroom. Seeing the empty wardrobe, she said, “It’ll be autumn when school starts. You need some fall clothes. Anything specific you want? I can go to the mall and get them for you.”

Xiaochu blew on a dumpling and looked up. “I’ll be wearing a school uniform for classes, so I don’t need many clothes, Sister. What I have is enough.”

Qi Ying still felt the kid had too little.

“I’ll just pick some out for you myself. I know your measurements anyway.” Qi Ying closed the wardrobe door and turned to see Xiaochu eating slowly—one dumpling, one sip of soup, chewing in tiny bites. It was fascinating to watch.

She eats like a little cat, Qi Ying thought.

Qi Ying watched with interest as Xiaochu blew on her soup. Feeling the stare, Xiaochu grew self-conscious. She stopped after a few bites and looked at Qi Ying, puzzled, still clutching her chopsticks.

“Sister, is something wrong?” Xiaochu asked.

Qi Ying shook her head. “Take your time. Call me when you’re finished. I’m going to go check on our sulking cat.”

As cute as it was to watch Xiaochu eat, she was a young adult; staring at her like a zoo animal was a bit much. Luckily, the other “animal” in the house didn’t have that problem. Sulky little Guazi was quickly bought off with a cat treat, allowing Qi Ying to pet him freely.

When can I get a chance to pet Xing Xiaochu? Qi Ying wondered playfully.

By the time the dishes were cleared, it was late. Qi Ying tucked Xiaochu in tightly and turned off the light so she could sleep.

After exiting the game, Qi Ying went to bed, planning to check on Xiaochu in the morning. If the fever persisted, she’d have to take her to the hospital for an IV.

Fortunately, the next morning while Qi Ying was brushing her teeth, her phone “dinged.” It was a notification from the system.

[Dear Designer, Xing Xiaochu’s fever has broken! She slept very comfortably last night, so please don’t worry.]

Qi Ying’s eyes lit up. Brushing her teeth with one hand, she opened the camera view in Xiaochu’s room. Xiaochu was sleeping soundly on her side. When Qi Ying noticed she was hugging the dress she had made for her yesterday, her toothbrushing hand froze.

Xiaochu… likes the dress that much?

Looking at the sleeping child and the dress in her arms, a strange sensation welled up in Qi Ying’s heart—a mix of satisfaction and deep tenderness. She felt as though something in her heart was being gently tickled by the scene.

Biting her toothbrush, she stared at the screen, her heart feeling soft and warm.

When Qi Ying entered the game after getting dressed, she found Xiaochu still asleep. She crept into the room, placed a glass of water and medicine on the nightstand, and reached out to feel her forehead.

“Mmh…”

Xiaochu seemed to be waking up. She hugged the dress tighter and groggily opened her eyes.

Qi Ying had intended to sneak away, but seeing Xiaochu awake, she said helplessly, “You’re awake? Remember to take your medicine when you get up. I’m heading out to work.”

Xiaochu was still dazed. It took her a moment to call out “Sister.” She tried to get out of bed, but then realized she was clutching the creamy-yellow dress. Her cheeks flushed red instantly, and she ducked back under the covers.

Qi Ying pretended not to notice the little movement, continuing her caring instructions: “Order delivery for lunch. Nothing too greasy or heavy—eat something light, okay?”

Xiaochu, buried in the quilt and clutching the edges, nodded with a flushed face.

Qi Ying couldn’t help but laugh. She rubbed Xiaochu’s head and said, “I’m off then.”

“Goodbye, Sister,” Xiaochu called out from her cocoon.

Exiting the game in the stairwell, Qi Ying prepared for business.

With late summer approaching, many shops were displaying autumn wear. Qi Ying needed to rotate her stock too. She stripped the mannequins in the window and dressed them in caramel-colored autumn outfits.

She and Xia Ruoxin had agreed that caramel-toned coats and sweaters would be the mainstay this year. They had prepared several samples in advance to test the reaction.

As Qi Ying was adjusting the cuff of a cashmere coat on a mannequin, she caught movement in the corner of her eye. Several people had walked into the shop.

Qi Ying looked up and saw Shi Yu entering, surrounded by several others. Her expression shifted slightly.

She stepped out of the window display, pulled out her phone, and sent a voice message to Xia Ruoxin: “Shi Yu is at the shop, she brought a bunch of people…” Before she could finish, someone tapped her from behind, startling her into hitting “send.”

Shi Yu stood behind Qi Ying, looking at her with a beaming smile. “Hi, A-Ying.”