Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 42   

Chapter 42

An Xin was very fast at cooking. In less than half an hour, she had prepared a plate of cheesy ribs and a platter of garlic potatoes, as well as some fried chicken, fries, and popcorn chicken. The three of them gathered around the dining table.

“Do you want some staple food?” An Xin set the bowls and chopsticks, asking the two, “I didn’t steam any rice, but there are still steamed buns in the fridge if this isn’t enough.”

“No, no need. This is so much, I doubt the three of us can finish it.” Shan Ling twisted open the juice bottle to pour drinks for everyone. The TV was playing an energetic variety show, and the atmosphere was particularly harmonious despite it being past 10 PM.

An Xin stopped bustling around, sat down, and said, “Actually, I usually don’t sleep until 1 or 2 in the morning, and I don’t get up until after 9 AM the next day.”

“We’re the same!” Xu Wentao was eating the cheesy ribs. The rich cheese and crispy ribs, fusing together, were so delicious they almost made her tongue fall off, and she couldn’t help but chime in, “We also sleep around 1 or 2 AM. Sometimes when we’re having too much fun, we don’t sleep until 3 or 4 AM.”

“And you manage to get up the next day?”

“We just have to rush to get to the mall by 10 AM, so we barely manage to wake up.”

“That’s not bad.” An Xin wrapped a piece of rib and placed it in Shan Ling’s bowl, saying, “Sometimes I also want to take a break, but I can’t find a suitable chef for my own small shop. I have to do everything myself.”

Shan Ling thanked her and looked at An Xin, saying, “Mainly, Sister, your shop is too small, just three tables and chairs. If it were like other big restaurants, the business would probably be even better.”

“But the rent for a big shop is expensive,” An Xin said helplessly. “Actually, I plan to secure a new location outside. I’m currently looking around. I figure once I find a suitable one, I’ll take it over and plan to start my own bigger operation.”

“What about the shop in the mall then?”

“We’ll see. If I can find a suitable chef, I’ll keep it running. If not, I won’t operate in the mall anymore,” An Xin explained. “I’ve saved up almost enough money. Although the customer traffic in the mall is high, the rent is very expensive, so I don’t actually earn much in the end.”

Shan Ling and Xu Wentao didn’t know much about running a business, but going from renting a small stall to potentially buying a bigger spot was a huge leap forward no matter how you looked at it.

“Sister An Xin, if you open a new restaurant in the future, we’ll definitely be frequent customers to support you,” Xu Wentao said, munching on a rib with a laugh. “I feel like no matter if you open a porridge shop or a full restaurant, the taste will definitely be excellent.”

An Xin smiled, saying cheerfully, “Thank you. I’ll definitely invite you two to come and support me then.”

By the time Shan Ling and the others finished eating, it was nearly midnight. Fortunately, they all lived in the same residential compound, so walking back wasn’t dangerous.

However, walking in the cold midnight wind made them shiver quite a bit.

Shan Ling breathed out a puff of white air and watched it dissipate in the cold air.

“Tao Tao.” Shan Ling linked arms with Xu Wentao and asked, “Does everyone need to have a dream?”

“Huh?” Xu Wentao turned her head to look at her, not understanding the meaning of Shan Ling’s sudden question.

“I mean Sister An Xin. She looks so hardworking. She’s already so tired every day, yet she’s still thinking about opening a bigger restaurant,” Shan Ling said. “I just feel like I’m a complete failure, and I don’t even know what I do all day.”

“Who isn’t like that?” Xu Wentao told Shan Ling, “We have many dreams when we’re little, but when we grow up, all we want is to earn more money. Don’t say you don’t; I’m a few years older than you and I don’t either, right? Sister An Xin is different. She definitely knows what she wants, which is why she strives towards her goal.”

Xu Wentao thought for a moment and said, “How does that saying go… Oh, ‘clear-headed in the human world’.”

Shan Ling nodded: “Yeah, being clear-headed is always good.”

Knowing what you want, knowing what your dream is.

That was probably what Xu Wentao meant by “clear-headed in the human world.”

On Saturday, Zhou Shu came to treat Shen Qingyi. As soon as she entered the house, she noticed many signs of life, even fresh fruit peels in the trash can, proving that the house had been occupied.

“Yiyi,” Zhou Shu turned to look at Shen Qingyi, who was walking over with a cup of tea, and leaned back on the sofa, saying, “Have you been staying at home recently?”

“Mhm.” Shen Qingyi nodded. “The long-term rental is still renewed, but I sometimes come back to stay here.”

Zhou Shu picked up the hot tea, blew on it, and said, “You’re not afraid of loneliness anymore?”

“I’m still afraid at night,” Shen Qingyi said she was afraid, but her expression looked quite candid.

Zhou Shu eyed her askance, leaned closer, and gossiped: “You’re not afraid anymore, is that related to that girl from your dream?”

Shen Qingyi was slightly taken aback, and Zhou Shu burst into laughter.

“It is, isn’t it?” Zhou Shu asked slyly, “Did you bring her home? That’s fast! How long have you known each other? Not bad, Yiyi. I never knew you were so quick at picking up girls, as fast as you are at brewing tea.”

Shen Qingyi glared at her: “Stop talking nonsense. I just invited her over to sit for a bit.”

And stayed overnight, that’s all. They didn’t do anything, so why was Zhou Shu making her sound like a pervert?

“Alright, alright, I won’t gossip anymore.” Zhou Shu took a sip of tea, then adopted a serious attitude, saying, “Regardless, this is a very good sign. If possible, you should spend more time with that girl. It might be beneficial for your treatment.”

Shen Qingyi nodded, acknowledging the advice.

The two-hour therapy session passed quickly. Zhou Shu noted down the final point and said to Shen Qingyi, “You still shouldn’t take too many sleeping pills. Your current dosage worries me very much, Sister is very concerned about you.”

Shen Qingyi replied, “I’m already trying to cut back.”

Apart from the night Shan Ling was there, when she didn’t take any medication, she had taken half a pill or a whole pill on other nights, but overall, she was gradually recovering.

“Okay, then you need to pay close attention next week. Don’t overwork yourself, and eat appropriately,” Zhou Shu said. “It’s winter now, so make sure to keep warm.”

“Thank you, I will.”

The two packed up and left together. While walking towards the elevator, Zhou Shu looked at Shen Qingyi and puzzledly asked, “Isn’t today Saturday? Are you going out?”

“Mhm.” Shen Qingyi pressed the elevator button and said, “I’m going to pick up Jiaojiao to take her out to play.”

Zhou Shu was aware of the relationship between Shen Qingyi and the Shen family. She had been treating Shen Qingyi for so many years that the Shen family’s affairs couldn’t be hidden from her. Therefore, Zhou Shu was slightly surprised to hear that Shen Qingyi wanted to take her paternal half-sister out to play.

“Why did you suddenly decide to take Jiaojiao out to play?” Zhou Shu looked at her curiously. “You used to dislike interacting with people on your father’s side, didn’t you?”

Shen Qingyi said, “She works at the amusement park.”

This abrupt, seemingly unrelated sentence made Zhou Shu understand. She narrowed her eyes and grinned: “Aha, so you’re going to see your girlfriend, huh?”

“Oh, our poor little Jiaojiao is going to be Sister’s tool for picking up girls.”

“You better shut up.”

Shen Qingyi stepped out of the elevator and said to Zhou Shu, “Don’t talk nonsense to my dad’s side, or you won’t be allowed into my house again.”

“I know, I know.” Zhou Shu smiled, her eyes crinkling. “I’m not someone without boundaries. You go find your little girlfriend, and I’ll head back too.”

Zhou Shu waved at Shen Qingyi and walked in the opposite direction.

Shen Qingyi watched her for a moment before turning and getting into her car.

The car door closed, but Shen Qingyi didn’t start the engine right away. She called Shen Jiaojiao first.

“Sister~”

As soon as Shen Jiaojiao answered the phone, she called out to Shen Qingyi clearly and sweetly, her tone light and lively.

“Mhm,” Shen Qingyi said. “I’ll pick you up in a bit, and we’ll go to the amusement park. Did you tell your mother?”

“I did,” Shen Jiaojiao said in a soft, childish voice. “Sister, come quickly. I’m wearing my princess dress today. When you arrive, help me see if it looks nice.”

“Okay.” Shen Qingyi’s tone softened a bit as she told her, “I’ll be at your house in about twenty minutes.”

“Mhm mhm, goodbye, Sister~”

After Shen Jiaojiao hung up the phone, she turned to Aunt Jiang and said, “Grandma Jiang, my sister is coming to see me, and I want to wear my new princess dress.”

Aunt Jiang smiled upon hearing this: “Jiaojiao wants to wear her new dress?”

Shen Jiaojiao said very seriously, “When going out to play, you have to look pretty, otherwise who will look at the new clothes I bought?”

“Jiaojiao makes sense. I’ll go find it for you.”

“Okay~”

After saying that, Shen Jiaojiao saw Tao Wanyue and Shen Hongjun coming down the stairs and happily ran over.

“Daddy~” Shen Jiaojiao held out her arms, and Shen Hongjun picked her up.

“Why is Jiaojiao so happy today?” Shen Hongjun bounced his little daughter in his arms and said happily, “Did something good happen? Who were you just talking to on the phone?”

“To Sister.” Shen Jiaojiao hugged Shen Hongjun’s neck, smiling sweetly. “Sister said she’ll come get me in a bit and take me to the amusement park to play.”

Shen Hongjun was surprised to hear this. In the past, when he brought Shen Jiaojiao to see Shen Qingyi, she was always indifferent. Why was she suddenly taking Shen Jiaojiao out every day, and always to the amusement park?

“Why is your sister always coming to find you recently?” Shen Hongjun asked curiously. “Where else does she take you besides the amusement park?”

Shen Jiaojiao thought about it, shook her head: “Nowhere else. We just go to the amusement park every time, eat something, and then come back.”

Shen Hongjun found it strange, and Tao Wanyue also found it strange.

“Jiaojiao,” Tao Wanyue said to her daughter, “Don’t always bother your sister. Don’t go today, okay?”

Shen Jiaojiao didn’t dare argue with her mother, only looking at Shen Hongjun with a wronged expression, burying her head in his shoulder, looking like she was about to cry.

Shen Hongjun felt sorry for his daughter. He patted Shen Jiaojiao’s back, then turned to Tao Wanyue and said, “If Jiaojiao wants to go, let Qingyi take her. It’s rare for the two sisters to have such a good relationship.”

Tao Wanyue frowned, looking at her husband without speaking.

Upon hearing Shen Hongjun’s words, Shen Jiaojiao lifted her small head and kissed his cheek. She happily hugged his neck and said, “Thank you, Daddy! Daddy is the best!”

At this moment, Aunt Jiang called out to Shen Jiaojiao from upstairs, holding a piece of clothing: “Jiaojiao, is this the little skirt?”

Shen Jiaojiao looked up and told Aunt Jiang: “Not the pink one, it’s the white one.”

Perhaps afraid Aunt Jiang wouldn’t find it, Shen Jiaojiao told Shen Hongjun, “Daddy, put me down. Grandma can’t find my skirt, so I have to tell her where it is.”

Shen Hongjun laughed, putting her down. He playfully rubbed Shen Jiaojiao’s nose and said, “Little girl, why are you so vain? Just like your mom.”

Tao Wanyue half-rolled her eyes. After her daughter went upstairs, she turned to Shen Hongjun and said, “Why is Shen Qingyi always looking for Jiaojiao recently?”

Shen Hongjun looked at her puzzledly: “The older sister comes to find her younger sister and takes her out to play. What’s wrong with that?”

Tao Wanyue stared at him, remained silent for a while, and then asked, “How is Qingyi’s illness progressing?”

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