Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Shen Qingyi’s condition had not been good these past few days. A few days ago, it was just the fear of her empty home, but now it had escalated to the point where she felt fear in any unlit place once night fell.

The sleeping pills Zhou Shu prescribed her were long gone, but she didn’t want to contact Zhou Shu again, because Zhou Shu was hired by Shen Hongjun to treat her. If Zhou Shu knew her condition had worsened, Shen Hongjun would naturally also know.

Sometimes Shen Qingyi felt she was a contradiction. She disliked Shen Hongjun interfering in her life, yet she tolerated contact with the Shen family members again and again.

She knew she was an anomaly, yet she insisted on pretending to be a normal person.

Shen Qingyi sometimes wondered if the conflict within herself would tear her apart one day, just like her mother.

“Yiyi?”

Shan Ling on the other end of the phone didn’t hear Shen Qingyi’s reply and called her name in confusion, which brought Shen Qingyi back to reality a little.

The coffee in the back kitchen had already overflowed the counter. Shen Qingyi frowned slightly, stopped the boiling water, stepped back two steps, and then said to the person on the phone, “What did you just say?”

Shan Ling chuckled on the other end. “I said I got paid, and I wanted to ask if you have time for us to go out and buy a phone.”

Shen Qingyi ‘hmmed’ and replied, “I’m free anytime.”

“That’s great. I also want to go shopping for some winter clothes,” Shan Ling thought carefully on the phone. “I won’t buy a down jacket. Any one in the mall costs one or two thousand kuai; it’s too expensive. Taotao told me about a large discount store where I can buy cotton-padded clothes that are cheap and nice. Let’s go there to look around.”

Shen Qingyi probably knew which discount store Shan Ling was referring to. It would be crowded with all kinds of people, jostling and pushing, and there would be many pickpockets.

“There are also cotton-padded clothes in the mall. We can shop there first, and if there’s nothing suitable, we can go elsewhere,” Shen Qingyi rinsed the aluminum alloy countertop with water, then picked up a rag to wipe it, saying to Shan Ling on the phone, “When are you free? I’ll wait for you at your compound gate.”

“Tomorrow, is tomorrow okay?”

“Sure. I’ll pick you up at 9 a.m. tomorrow.”

After they arranged the time, Shan Ling was still busy, and Shen Qingyi also had work to do, so they had to reluctantly hang up the phone.

After Shen Qingyi finished tidying the countertop, she saw Nuonuo peeking in. When their eyes met, Nuonuo didn’t avoid her and said with a smile, “Was that Xiao Ling who called, Manager?”

“Yes,” Shen Qingyi rinsed the rag and said to Nuonuo, “I’m taking her to buy a phone tomorrow. You might be alone in the shop.”

Nuonuo leaned against the door frame, crossed her arms, and said, “It’s fine. I can handle it alone now.”

She looked at Shen Qingyi, then glanced at the seating area outside, and whispered to Shen Qingyi, “That Miss Ji is here again. She ordered a hot latte.”

Ji Lingyao had been sitting here for a long time almost every day since she talked with Shen Qingyi last time.

Sometimes she would read a book; sometimes she would just sit there.

One cup of coffee and one book could occupy her for the entire day.

Many people in the coffee shop came to relax and work. The environment here was good and quiet. Outside the transparent glass were lush green views. If one went to the second-floor terrace for coffee, the scenery was even better, with the beautiful colors of autumn everywhere.

However, both spring and autumn were relatively short in this city, and since it was already November, the weather was getting frighteningly cold. Naturally, few people went to the second-floor terrace.

On the first floor, filled with the rich and warm aroma of coffee, Ji Lingyao sat by the window, looking at the fading scenery outside.

She was not in a particularly good mood today. Both her family matters and other issues made Ji Lingyao feel mentally poor. But she was a person who was extremely capable of controlling her emotions, so one could only tell that her complexion was not good, without any other visible expressions.

A warm cup of coffee was placed in front of Ji Lingyao. The person didn’t leave immediately but stood next to her and asked, “Do you have to watch me every day?”

Ji Lingyao was slightly startled. She turned her head and saw Shen Qingyi standing beside her, looking down at her with a slightly poor complexion.

“I just genuinely think your coffee is very delicious,” Ji Lingyao smiled awkwardly. “Why would Miss Shen think I’m watching you?”

Shen Qingyi didn’t buy into that. Regardless of whether her words were true or not, she just looked at her calmly. “I have asked a few people I know about the book you wanted me to find. I haven’t received a reply yet. If I find it, I will notify you immediately.”

Ji Lingyao nodded, took a casual sip of coffee, and said, “I know. I’ve been looking for this book for a while. I believe Miss Shen will definitely be able to find it for me.”

“And after finding it?”

“?”

Ji Lingyao looked up at her, showing a puzzled expression.

“This book is just a regular novel for casual reading. I actually don’t understand why you are so determined to find this book,” Shen Qingyi looked at her and said, “Where did you read it? Perhaps if you tell me the details, I can help you find it.”

Ji Lingyao pursed her lips and thought for a long time before putting down her coffee cup and saying, “This story… was told to me by a nanny sister when I was very young.”

At that time, Ji Lingyao was only eight or nine years old, gently held in the arms of a woman who opened a book.

The little girl didn’t recognize many words. The book wasn’t like a picture book with easily visualized images. It was densely packed with words, giving her a headache just by looking at it.

The young woman didn’t force her to read. She just held Ji Lingyao, softly coaxing her, and told her the story.

The warm embrace, the gentle voice, and the rhythm of the woman’s light patting on her shoulder were all deeply imprinted in Ji Lingyao’s memory.

So much so that even now, she still couldn’t forget it.

“I want to find this book,” Ji Lingyao said to Shen Qingyi. “And more, I want to find that person.”

The next day, Shan Ling woke up early. Xu Wentao was still fast asleep, but she was already out the door.

The agreed-upon time with Shen Qingyi hadn’t arrived yet, so Shan Ling first called An Xin.

“Xiao Ling,” An Xin chuckled on the phone. “Why are you up so early?”

Shan Ling smiled. “I have the day off today and have plans to go shopping. I’m already downstairs, so I thought I’d ask if you’ve left the house yet.”

Recently, ‘A Bowl of Porridge’ hired a new cashier. The person was a few years older than An Xin, originally a housewife, but after her children started school and she had nothing to do, she came to help An Xin, earning some pocket money.

With help, An Xin could prepare more side dishes. She had promised Shan Ling the previous day to bring her a portion of side dishes and asked Shan Ling to wait downstairs at her apartment building.

The residential area was not small, but it was old. However, the greenery was well-maintained. The sun at seven or eight in the morning shone through the trees in patches, looking like silver leaves scattered all over the ground.

An Xin’s building only had three floors, each floor a small duplex. Shan Ling had never been inside An Xin’s house, so she obediently waited downstairs.

People on their way to work or school walked past her. Shan Ling looked at the students in their blue and white school uniforms, cycling through the shade of the trees. They seemed to carry the wind and a sense of vitality.

Even though Shan Ling had experienced various hardships here, she still felt that the city had many moments like this that were comforting.

Occasionally, she could understand why Shen Qingyi’s coffee shop had so many customers.

I wonder if Shen Qingyi will arrive early again like before.

As Shan Ling thought this, she heard footsteps coming from the stairwell behind her. She turned and saw An Xin walking out, carrying a takeout bag from her shop.

“Xiao Ling, have you been waiting long?” An Xin was wearing white pajamas underneath a brown trench coat. She looked like she hadn’t been up for long.

An Xin brushed her loose hair aside and said to Shan Ling, “This bag has braised food, and this bag has two portions of porridge. They are both hot. You and your friend must eat them while they are hot, or they won’t taste good when they cool down.”

Shan Ling took the two heavy bags, quite surprised. “Why are they so heavy?”

“Since you paid, I naturally have to give you a bit more.”

“Thank you, Sister An Xin. Next time, don’t give me so much. I feel bad always taking so much from you.”

“It’s fine,” An Xin said with a smile. “I sell these for a living anyway. If you want to eat, I’ll give you more. Next time, when you and Taotao are free, come to my house. Besides braised food and porridge, I can cook many other things.”

Shan Ling loved interacting with people who were good cooks. Her eyes sparkled upon hearing this. “Okay, okay. We’ll come find you when we have time.”

An Xin smiled and chatted with her for a bit before going back upstairs. Shan Ling also carried the porridge out of the compound gate.

She had agreed to meet Shen Qingyi at 9 a.m., but Shan Ling had a hunch that the person would arrive early. Sure enough, standing at the compound gate, she saw the familiar black car across the street.

Shan Ling crossed the road and tapped on the car window.

Quickly, Shen Qingyi rolled down the window. “Why are you so early?”

Shan Ling stood with her hands behind her back, asking seriously, “Does Miss Shen always arrive an hour early?”

Shen Qingyi smiled helplessly. “I had nothing to do anyway, so I thought I’d come early so you wouldn’t have to wait for me on the roadside.”

“But you don’t have to come so early,” Shan Ling wrinkled her little nose. “It’s getting colder and colder now. I feel bad making you wait for me like this.”

“It’s fine in the car,” Shen Qingyi said to Shan Ling. “Get in. You said it’s cold outside, so don’t stand there. Have you had breakfast? I’ll go buy you some.”

Shan Ling raised the two bags in her hands with a smile and said to Shen Qingyi, “I brought breakfast! Let’s eat together!”

Once in the car, Shan Ling took out the porridge and side dishes An Xin had given her.

Perhaps because she helped An Xin a lot, the portions she gave were particularly generous. The bowl of porridge was so full it was almost overflowing.

With the delicious braised food, the two happily nestled in the car, eating breakfast.

After Shan Ling finished eating, she helped clean up. Her movements were so fast that Shen Qingyi didn’t even have a chance to intervene; Shan Ling had already tidied everything up.

“Let’s go,” Shan Ling instinctively buckled her seatbelt and patted her stomach contentedly. “First, buy a phone, then buy clothes!”

Seeing her like this, the worry that had clouded Shen Qingyi for many days clearly dissipated. She smiled lightly and said, “Alright, let’s go.”

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