Pats Little Shrike's Tail - Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Clearly, Shan Ling hadn’t expected the man to remember her. She recalled that in the month she stayed at Shen Qingyi’s place, the security guard hadn’t greeted her more than a few times.

How could he recognize her so quickly now?

This was not logical!!!

The security guard saw her expression, touched his head, and said, “Wasn’t it you? I haven’t seen you come out to buy groceries in a while, so I thought you weren’t working here anymore. Did I mistake you for someone else?”

“No, no,” Shan Ling quickly explained. “I was just surprised that you still remember me.”

The security guard smiled: “Because you’re probably the only person in our neighborhood who’s afraid of cats.”

Afraid of cats?

Shan Ling suddenly recalled that she was indeed quite noticeable in that regard.

“Ah, I am a bit afraid of cats,” Shan Ling looked nervously at the guard and told him, “Uncle, I went back to my hometown a few days ago and just came back recently. I’m still working as a nanny, but I’ve changed employers.”

The guard nodded: “There are quite a few rich people in this neighborhood.”

“Yes, yes. So, Uncle, next time you see me, please don’t let it slip. I told my boss I hadn’t worked in this area before.”

“I understand. These rich people always have strange tempers. It’s not a big deal. I’ll keep your secret.”

Shan Ling was extremely grateful and handed him the fried dough stick she had bought: “Uncle, have some breakfast. It’s freshly bought and still hot.”

The guard initially didn’t want it, but Shan Ling was too enthusiastic, so he accepted it.

As the saying goes, taking favors makes one indebted. Shan Ling believed that since the guard took her fried dough stick, he certainly wouldn’t sell her out.

Quietly returning home, Shan Ling had just opened the door when she saw Shen Qingyi standing on the balcony in her pajamas. Hearing the door open, Shen Qingyi glanced back and, seeing it was Shan Ling, yawned: “You went downstairs?”

“Mhm.” Shan Ling placed the breakfast on the dining table, then ran to the balcony to see Shen Qingyi, surprised: “Are you watering the flowers?”

“Yes,” Shen Qingyi said blandly. “Didn’t you say I should water them often?”

Shan Ling quickly stopped her.

“Didn’t I water them yesterday? You don’t need to water them again today,” Shan Ling asked her, “Didn’t you hear these flowers crying out that they’re drowning?”

Shen Qingyi blinked, looked down at the soaked plants on the flower stand, and said awkwardly, “I forgot.”

Shan Ling took the watering can from her hand, pushed her out of the balcony, and told her, “Alright, go wash up and eat. They won’t die while I’m here!”

Shen Qingyi glanced back at Shan Ling, smiled, and then went to the bathroom to wash up.

Breakfast consisted of stuffed pancakes and buns, along with a warm glass of milk each.

Shen Qingyi found the combination of Chinese and Western breakfast a bit odd, but the pancake tasted very good, so she didn’t mind.

After a delicious breakfast, Shen Qingyi was responsible for doing the dishes, while Shan Ling went to the balcony to attend to her own affairs.

In Shen Qingyi’s home, the balcony was not only used for drying clothes. Because it was quite large, there was a small tea table on one side, making it very comfortable to watch the sunrise and sunset by the large floor-to-ceiling window.

After washing the dishes, Shen Qingyi wiped her hands and walked towards the balcony, where she saw Shan Ling holding a birdcage, looking at her with a heavy gaze.

Shen Qingyi was also slightly startled when she saw the birdcage, and her steps slowed down a little.

“This…” Shan Ling looked at Shen Qingyi and asked, “You still have this?”

Shen Qingyi nodded, walked over, and took the birdcage from Shan Ling’s hand. This birdcage was bought for Little Fatty back then. It happened to be a cold snap, and Shen Qingyi was afraid it would be cold, so she made it a warm and soft nest.

Little Fatty’s daily life was just eating, drinking, and waiting for her to come home.

However, those days were gone forever.

“Keeping it at least proves I once had it,” Shen Qingyi hung the birdcage nearby, used her hand to wipe away the dust, and then turned to Shan Ling and said, “Don’t dwell on this. Maybe it’s better off flying away. No creature wants to be locked in a small cage for life.”

Shan Ling opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn’t.

“Alright, don’t feel sorry for me. It’s been over two months, and I’m much better now,” Shen Qingyi reached out and touched Shan Ling’s cheek, then lowered her voice and said, “Now that you’re here to keep me company, the house has much more vitality and isn’t so terrifying anymore.”

“Mhm.” Shan Ling held Shen Qingyi’s hand and told her, “I’ll stay with you in its place. You need to be happy.”

Shen Qingyi felt her heart completely filled by that sentence. The golden rays of the morning sun shone on the balcony, making Shen Qingyi want to lean down and kiss the other person.

Shan Ling’s rosy lips, and the soft tongue behind her teeth, made Shen Qingyi want to encroach.

She believed it would be a very, very sweet taste.

Shen Qingyi snapped back to reality, realizing that she had been having improper thoughts while staring at Shan Ling’s lips. Her face immediately blushed slightly. She withdrew her hand, turned her head, and said, “We should get going. Go change your clothes. I’ll call the elevator.”

Shan Ling also came back to her senses, not knowing what she was thinking. She touched her head, mumbled, “Oh,” and went to the bedroom to change.

The two took the elevator to the underground parking lot, and neither of them spoke first during the ride.

Shen Qingyi was embarrassed by her scandalous thoughts. She had almost impulsively kissed Shan Ling. They had only been living together for such a short time, and she was already having such ideas.

How shameless!

As a result, Shen Qingyi felt awkward looking at Shan Ling while driving, afraid that her eyes might give something away and make Shan Ling dislike her.

Shan Ling’s silence was due to the birdcage. Before, she only knew Shen Qingyi missed her bird form, but she hadn’t realized that Shen Qingyi still thought about her after all this time.

Should she find a time to transform into a bird and meet Shen Qingyi?

But if she turned into a bird, how would she change back?

Naked?

That would be too embarrassing…

Neither of them knew what the other was thinking. They arrived at the coffee shop in silence, and only when they started working did things feel a little better.

Today, Shen Qingyi taught Shan Ling how to use the ordering machine and let her try dealing with a few customers.

Shan Ling was very smart. She remembered things after being taught once and was careful to repeat the price of the coffee three times to avoid complaints about the cost.

Business was moderate at the coffee shop today, not too many people, not too few. It got a little busy near noon, but in the afternoon, the crowd thinned out a lot. Only a few customers sat quietly, browsing the internet or studying with laptops or phones.

Shan Ling really enjoyed this quiet state. The amusement park was too noisy; the mall was noisy, and the children were noisy.

The little bodies’ screams nearly shattered one’s eardrums, unlike here, where the surrounding customers were very quiet and rarely made requests, making it exceptionally peaceful in the winter.

Around 3 PM, Nuonuo and Shan Ling were chatting quietly behind the counter.

“Xiao Ling, how far along are you and the Boss now?” Nuonuo was very nosy. She always felt that Shan Ling and Shen Qingyi had mutual feelings, but she didn’t understand why her Boss hadn’t successfully wooed Xiao Ling after all this time.

Shan Ling asked in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“I mean…”

She quietly leaned into Shan Ling’s ear and said, “About you two dating?”

Shan Ling’s face immediately flushed red. She covered Nuonuo’s mouth and said, “Don’t, don’t, don’t talk nonsense. She’s our Boss.”

Nuonuo smiled, pulled Shan Ling’s hand away, and laughed, “I’m just asking. Why are you so nervous?”

How could Shan Ling not be nervous? It was one thing for Xu Wentao to say this, but why was Nuonuo asking the same thing?

Could Shen Qingyi… really like her?

But Shan Ling genuinely didn’t understand what it was about her that Shen Qingyi would like.

Just as the two were arguing, the coffee shop door was pushed open. Nuonuo smiled and called out, “Welcome!”

When she saw who it was, she quickly poked Shan Ling, stood up straight, and looked at the man in front of her, saying, “Hello, Mr. Shen.”

“Jiejie~”

Shan Ling saw the tall man holding a little girl’s hand—it was Shen Jiaojiao.

Shen Jiaojiao was wearing a denim skirt and a down jacket today. She was bundled up like a cute little penguin. Holding her father’s hand, she asked Shan Ling, “Why are you here?”

Shen Hongjun looked at Shan Ling when he heard this, noticing the unfamiliar face. He walked over and smiled kindly: “Hello, are you the new employee?”

Shan Ling nodded. Looking at Shen Hongjun, she asked, “Yes, may I ask who you are?”

Shen Jiaojiao clung to the counter, stood on her toes, and said, “Sister Xiao Ling, this is my Dad, and also my sister’s Dad.”

Shen Qingyi’s father?

Shan Ling understood. She greeted Shen Hongjun again: “Hello, Mr. Shen. My name is Shan Ling, and I’m Yiyi’s friend.”

Shen Hongjun seemed very satisfied with such a polite employee. He chuckled and asked, “Is Yiyi in the shop?”

Nuonuo nodded: “Yes, the Boss is tidying things up upstairs. Do you need me to call her?”

“No need, I’ll go up and find her myself.” Shen Hongjun turned to his little daughter and told her, “Jiaojiao, what would you like to drink or eat? Ask the two sisters to get it for you. I’m going upstairs to see your sister.”

“Okay.” The little girl didn’t look back. She leaned on the glass display case and pointed to a red velvet cake with a cherry, saying, “Sister Xiao Ling, I want to eat this.”

Shan Ling agreed, took out a slice of the red velvet cake with a bright red cherry, and asked Shen Jiaojiao, “What else would you like to drink?”

Shen Jiaojiao shook her head and told Shan Ling, “Coffee is too bitter. I really don’t understand why adults love drinking it so much.”

Nuonuo crossed her arms and told her, “There are non-bitter ones. You just don’t dare to try them.”

Shen Jiaojiao tilted her head up and said seriously, “Sister Nuonuo, you should be kinder to children, or you won’t find a boyfriend.”

Nuonuo gave a frustrated grunt. When she saw Shen Hongjun had completely gone upstairs, she bent down, pinched Shen Jiaojiao’s cheek, and said to her, “Why does this little girl talk so much? Do you and your sister have the same dad? Why doesn’t she talk as much as you?”

Shen Jiaojiao wasn’t angry about having her cheek pinched. She said smugly, “Because my sister talks little, I talk a lot. Why don’t you understand such a simple principle?”

Nuonuo was about to argue with the child, but Shan Ling stopped her with a smile and asked, “Jiaojiao, where would you like to eat?”

“My usual spot,” Shen Jiaojiao announced and went to table number nine by the window.

Nuonuo sighed helplessly and told Shan Ling, “You take this to her first. I’ll take care of the customers.”

Shan Ling nodded, carrying the small wooden tray, and walked over.

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