My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 46

From that day on, Zheng Yao had already started looking for an apartment for Shen Baiyi.

It wasn’t just because of that kiss.

Shen Baiyi couldn’t possibly live with her forever. She had originally planned to have Shen Baiyi move out once she started university.

After all, they each had their own lives to live – where there’s meeting, there must be parting.

Before, she had been somewhat hesitant, but now she just felt more determined about this decision.

That kiss made her acutely aware that Shen Baiyi was already an adult who might start dating in the future, possibly having a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Having her own private space would be much more convenient then.

But as her thoughts shifted, new concerns emerged. What if Shen Baiyi lived alone and fooled around with others?

A girlfriend would be acceptable, but what if she dated a boy and got pregnant?

Just thinking about this gave Zheng Yao a headache.

But what troubled her even more was that Shen Baiyi’s clinginess seemed to have reached its peak.

This was particularly evident in how whenever Zheng Yao left her room, she would see Shen Baiyi’s eager, longing gaze.

Except when bathing or using the toilet, Shen Baiyi followed her everywhere, even sitting right next to her when watching TV on the sofa.

What made Zheng Yao more concerned was that their physical contact seemed to be gradually increasing.

Yet it remained within a somewhat intimate but still relatively normal range.

What surprised Zheng Yao even more was that Shen Baiyi still remembered wanting to get a part-time job. On the fifth day of summer vacation, Shen Baiyi suddenly approached her, saying she needed to go for an interview.

“What interview?”

Zheng Yao almost thought she was hearing things.

Shen Baiyi?

An interview?

What kind of interview could a freshly graduated high school student and prospective university student possibly have?

“Didn’t I promise you before? Once vacation started, I would go earn money for you,” Shen Baiyi said softly.

Although she was reluctant to be apart from her sister, she couldn’t keep staying at home, eating her sister’s food and using her sister’s things. She needed to learn how to make money so she could give more to her sister in the future.

“You have more than enough money to get through university,” Zheng Yao opposed the idea of Shen Baiyi taking a part-time job. Shen Baiyi was like a delicate Lin Daiyu – naive and simple, easily tricked by others if she wasn’t careful.

Remembering how Shen Baiyi had kissed her while drunk last time, she pinched the bridge of her nose.

She should have probed into Shen Baiyi’s sexual orientation or romantic interests long ago.

But she always felt too embarrassed to bring it up, dragging her feet until now without asking.

As a result, she still wasn’t sure whether Shen Baiyi had been influenced by bad classmates or simply had the bad habit of kissing people when drunk.

After all, when sober, Shen Baiyi seemed quite normal. Although a bit clingy, it appeared more like a younger sister’s dependence on her older sister.

It was herself who had gradually started seeing Shen Baiyi differently since that kiss.

Like right now, even while they were talking, her attention had already focused on the other’s rosy lips.

Setting that aside, Shen Baiyi’s lips were quite soft.

Wait, what was she thinking?!

Stop it!

She’s still a child!

“Sister, I’m already an adult,” Shen Baiyi said deliberately, emphasizing the word “adult” particularly heavily.

In her sister’s eyes, she seemed to always be a child. Recently, the other hadn’t taken her closeness seriously at all. But she was already nineteen years old – clearly an adult.

So she had to change her sister’s mindset and make her realize that she was already grown up, no longer a child.

“I’m a nineteen-year-old adult woman. I can take on a part-time job to earn money while gaining some experience.”

She spoke with determination.

Seeing her resolute attitude, Zheng Yao pressed her lips together and finally conceded: “What time is the interview?”

Shen Baiyi: “Nine o’clock.”

There was still time. Zheng Yao stood up: “Wait, I’ll go with you later.”

This was completely unexpected for Shen Baiyi. She quickly nodded, watching her sister busily preparing to go out, feeling sweet inside.

Her sister was so worried about her.

She wasn’t even comfortable letting her go to the interview alone, insisting on going with her.

A wide smile spread across her face.

Her good mood lasted all the way to the interview location, but when she turned around, she noticed her sister’s expression had turned serious.

“Sister, what’s wrong?”

“This is where you said you’d be working part-time?” Zheng Yao frowned deeply.

Before them stood a restaurant.

It looked quite familiar – it was the same one where Shen Baiyi’s class had held their gathering last time.

“Yes.” Shen Baiyi nodded. “Last time I was here, I asked the owner. She said they’re hiring summer workers with a monthly salary of three thousand.”

“Waitressing is hard work.” Zheng Yao’s college roommate had once worked part-time at a restaurant and would always complain about how exhausting the job was.

“I’m not afraid of hard work.” As she spoke, Shen Baiyi checked the time. “Sister, you should head back first. I’m running late and need to go in.”

Zheng Yao naturally couldn’t rest easy. Besides, since they were already here, as the “guardian,” she certainly needed to check the place out together.

Otherwise, Shen Baiyi might get cheated without even knowing.

When Zheng Yao insisted on coming along, Shen Baiyi naturally couldn’t refuse. They approached the person in charge together, and before Zheng Yao could speak, they saw the other person break into a wide smile:

“Xiao Shen, is this your friend? Here for summer work together?”

The person couldn’t hide the admiration in their eyes when they saw Shen Baiyi and Zheng Yao, though immediately after speaking, they thought it unlikely.

Not to mention this woman looked like a celestial beauty, her entire demeanor and clothing clearly indicated she wasn’t short of money, nor did she seem like someone who needed to work as a waitress to gain experience.

“I’m her sister.” Zheng Yao spoke up first, glancing at the other person’s name tag. “Manager Wang, please carry on. I’m just here to observe.”

Though she claimed to be just observing, she stood there like someone from the regulatory bureau. Manager Wang cleared her throat slightly, immediately abandoning any thought of trying to negotiate the salary down.

For waitstaff, there weren’t many complicated interview procedures anyway – as long as they had all their limbs and could work efficiently, that was enough. Not to mention Shen Baiyi’s outstanding appearance – with such high looks, she could completely serve as the restaurant’s face.

Originally, she thought the other party might be short on money, hence working part-time during summer break. But now it seemed…

Her family didn’t seem too supportive.

Manager Wang was smooth-talking. With just a few words, she made everything sound good and even significantly increased the salary and benefits.

She was afraid of losing this catch.

If she didn’t value Shen Baiyi, why would she, as a manager, bother with hiring a mere waitress?

This was the internet era, with short videos being filmed everywhere. Their restaurant had them too, though they hadn’t gained much traction.

But this Shen Baiyi, with such outstanding looks – even before starting to film videos, Manager Wang felt she was about to go viral.

Of course, she had to secure this person firmly.

“I remember wages can be settled daily.” Zheng Yao suddenly added toward the end of the conversation.

Daily wage settlements offered much more freedom than monthly payments.

Manager Wang’s expression turned hesitant: “That’s possible, but…”

“Then we’ll go with daily settlements.” Zheng Yao immediately finalized the decision. “I’m fine with a slightly lower wage too.”

A bitter smile appeared on Manager Wang’s face. It was possible, but how could that retain employees?

The part-time arrangement was eventually settled. Shen Baiyi would officially start work the next day, leaving her with one more day of leisure.

Since they were already outside, Zheng Yao decided to take her out for a meal.

Sitting in the private kitchen restaurant, she served dishes to Shen Baiyi while saying, “Eat more. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be the one watching others eat.”

Hearing this, Shen Baiyi glanced at her: “Are you angry, sister?”

Although her sister had been fighting for better terms for her all day, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her sister seemed displeased.

“Not at all.”

Zheng Yao looked at her in surprise, not expecting Shen Baiyi to be this perceptive.

It wasn’t exactly displeasure.

More like an indescribable melancholy.

Today’s events made her realize more clearly that Shen Baiyi wasn’t like her pets Bub and Yaoyao – not some pitiful creature living solely under her protection.

They were fundamentally different after all.

“Don’t be upset, sister.” Shen Baiyi also served food to her sister, her eyes curving into smiles. “When I save up my wages, I’ll buy you a gift.”

“Saving money to buy me a gift?” Zheng Yao was amused by her words. “You should save your money for your own future expenses.”

She lacked for nothing – why would she need Shen Baiyi to buy her gifts?

Shen Baiyi just smiled without responding.

Of course she was going to buy her sister a gift.

Not just a gift – she planned to give all her earnings to her sister.

Someday she’d be capable enough to support her sister too.

It was still early after the meal. Just as Zheng Yao was about to head home, Shen Baiyi tugged at her sleeve and pointed at a nearby advertisement screen: “Sister, I want to watch that movie.”

Zheng Yao’s gaze followed the direction, her expression slightly awkward.

That movie was actually adapted from her novel.

It had been screening for several days with generally positive reviews, but she’d been too busy house-hunting for Shen Baiyi to watch it.

“Will you come with me, sister?” Seeing her silence, Shen Baiyi softened her voice, holding her sister’s hand and gently swaying it. “I’ve never been to a cinema before.”

Zheng Yao’s eyes flickered.

Indeed, having grown up in the mountains, Shen Baiyi naturally never had the chance to visit a cinema. And since coming to live with her, she’d been buried in studies, with even less opportunity.

“Alright.”

Without further hesitation, she nodded decisively.

Unfortunately, their timing was off – there were no more tickets available for that movie at this hour.

The next screening wouldn’t be until evening.

But Zheng Yao was someone who hated making multiple trips once she’d gone out. Asking her to make two trips in the sweltering heat was worse than torture.

“How about watching something else?” She glanced at Shen Baiyi.

“Of course!” Shen Baiyi responded without hesitation. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll enjoy watching anything.”

A perfect fangirl attitude.

Zheng Yao chuckled quietly: “Even horror films?”

She still remembered how Shen Baiyi had been so frightened in the haunted house that she hid in her arms. Come to think of it, it had been so long – she still hadn’t trained Shen Baiyi to be braver.

Shen Baiyi seemed to still be putting up a brave front: “I’d like those too.”

Seeing this, Zheng Yao raised an eyebrow and was about to buy two tickets for a horror film when she suddenly imagined Shen Baiyi burrowing into her arms. Her movements subtly paused.

She used to think Shen Baiyi was just a bit too clingy, but now it often stirred other thoughts in her.

Frowning slightly, she instead bought tickets for another movie. The title sounded quite serious “Cramped” very much like the style of her suspense novels.

With about twenty minutes left before the movie started, she took Shen Baiyi to buy drinks and popcorn.

“Shen Baiyi?”

While waiting, an exclamation came from behind them.

The moment she heard the voice, Shen Baiyi’s eyes darkened. She turned and looked indifferently at Lin Weiwei and her new girlfriend.

Away from school, Lin Weiwei seemed even more unrestrained, dressed particularly provocatively.

Shen Baiyi frowned and subtly positioned herself in front of Zheng Yao, afraid she might take an extra glance.

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