The Seductive Pretender: Sister-in-Law is Turning Gay - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: “This is Quite Romantic too, Boss Lin.”

Zhong Manjing’s expression was as if she could already see the flower buds competing to bloom, but she couldn’t see them in Lin Yuqing’s eyes.

She said, “This pot of flowers had been dead for a long time when I arrived.”

“Then give her a little time.” Zhong Manjing turned around, her sleeves fluttering. The temperature in the room was a bit too cool, so she was wearing one of Lin Yuqing’s shirts. It was a bit long on her. She whispered, “As long as you give her a little time, even the most barren place can be brought back to life.”

Time, combined with ample patience and love, seasoned with delicious food. She wanted to raise Lin Yuqing properly all over again, and she wanted a different ending for herself.

Lin Yuqing asked, “Then why didn’t you teach me how to care for it?”

Zhong Manjing said, “Because I will come to take good care of it, don’t worry. Let’s go, I should head back. I’ll leave the bed to you; do you need to take a nap?”

“I won’t sleep. I’ll go straight to the swimming center after I drop you off.”

Zhong Manjing straddled the back seat with practiced ease and put on the helmet Lin Yuqing handed her—a new one.

“It seems Officer Zhang’s lecture made a deep impression on both of us.” Zhong Manjing noticed a bulging bag in the front of the electric scooter. “What’s this?”

“It’s the firecracker flowers you brought me last time. I dried them so they can be used for tea,” Lin Yuqing said softly. “Hold on tight.” The scooter glided out steadily, and Zhong Manjing quickly wrapped her arms around Lin Yuqing’s waist.

Before she got off, Lin Yuqing gave Zhong Manjing a separate, pre-packaged bag.

Zhong Manjing took it with a smile. “I gave you flowers last time, and now you’ve given me a return gift.”

“What I give is nothing compared to what you give me.”

Zhong Manjing checked the time, whispered “Wait for me a moment,” and hopped off the scooter. A short while later, she emerged carrying a glass container taller than her head with both hands. Two Baroque-style paper bags were hanging from her arms, covered in “God of Wealth” and animal-themed badges.

Lin Yuqing hurriedly got off to take the glass container. “Employee benefits?”

“No, I made too much ‘Xiao Diao’ Pear Soup yesterday. It was originally for you, but since you couldn’t finish it all, I turned the rest into employee benefits.”

Inside, translucent slices of snow pear floated in an amber liquid that shimmered as it moved. It wasn’t just the scent of pear.

This jar looked to be about five pounds. Lin Yuqing found it hard to imagine if Zhong Manjing’s definition of “in passing” was completely different from her own.

“Oh, it’s the ‘Autumn Tiger’ season now. This is the best for moistening the lungs and relieving dryness. I added some ‘Nine-Process’ preserved plums while boiling, but I’ve already scooped them out.” Zhong Manjing hooked the remaining two bags onto the front of the scooter.

Luckily, Lin Yuqing’s scooter had a folding side basket, otherwise, she wouldn’t have known how to carry all this to the swimming center.

“This bag is specifically for you. Eat some when you have nothing to do at work—just some small pastries.”

Lin Yuqing could tell there was quite a lot in those two bags. She sighed and turned to say sincerely, “Thank you. You give me too much, making these every day.”

“It’s all in passing. Don’t I go find you for late-night snacks every day too? Go on to work, and be careful on the road.”

The scooter started up slowly. Lin Yuqing looked in the rearview mirror; Zhong Manjing was still standing there.

The scenery along the road seemed to have been put in slow motion. Every moment touched by sunlight was etched into her heart.

There was a small archway covered in flower vines at the courtyard entrance. It was currently in full bloom, with roses blooming in complex splendor. She stood by the flower arch, waving with a smile, a healthy flush on her fair face. The sunlight fell from her eyelashes onto the delicate roses nearby—it was beautiful.

She was beautiful; Lin Yuqing didn’t even care about the flowers at first glance. Gripping the handlebars, Lin Yuqing thought out of turn that the sunlight and the wind this afternoon felt very gentle, warming one’s heart.

Lin Yuqing received a warm welcome at the swimming center. Meng Luo had already received a message from Zhong Manjing and had moved a table to the poolside with Zhang Pingrui, waiting for the pear soup to make its entrance.

“Aren’t we just too lucky?” Zhang Pingrui couldn’t wait to pour a small bowl and drain it in one go. “Why is this pear soup so fragrant? My god, if we had benefits like this every day, I’d work here until I die.”

“You can work until you die by yourself. We’re already ‘laying flat’ enough as it is. Forget it, you should just listen to Uncle Zhang and take over his shift,” Meng Luo waved him off. “Zhang Pingrui, stop drinking so much! Give it to me!”

Meng Luo sighed wistfully. “Every time there are employee benefits, as long as people know it’s from Manjing, everyone who usually slackers off gets as active as can be.”

While they were competing for the soup, Lin Yuqing observed the water while taking small sips of the pear soup from her thermos.

She didn’t know about the others, but her own cup was definitely filled to the brim.

Zhang Pingrui said, “Strange. My mom usually makes pear soup during the autumn dryness, but why doesn’t it taste like Xiao Zhong’s? Aren’t the ingredients just pears and preserved plums?” He took another sip. “It really is different. This is sweeter and fresher; my whole throat feels fragrant after drinking it.”

“There’s the taste of dried tangerine peel, but it’s not bitter,” Meng Luo said. “Instead, it makes the sweetness stand out more.”

Lin Yuqing explained, “The ingredients are different. This contains water chestnuts, red dates, and lilies for dryness; astragalus, tangerine peel, and dwarf lilyturf to lower ‘fire’ and boost energy. She probably added hawthorn and goji berries too. The pear soup she makes has a complex flavor, which is why it’s so fragrant.”

Zhang Pingrui was stunned by the explanation and could only look at Lin Yuqing with a face full of admiration.

Lin Yuqing happened to give the bag of dried firecracker flowers to Zhang Pingrui. “Give this to Officer Zhang. It’s thanks to him not being too hard on us regarding that traffic violation last time. I noticed his voice was quite hoarse from shouting while on duty.”

“It’s over, it’s over,” Zhang Pingrui muttered. “A daughter really is better—so thoughtful. I’m really afraid my dad will skin me when I go back…”

Meng Luo pointed to the bag next to Lin Yuqing. “What about this? This God of Wealth bag is definitely Manjing’s. Let’s see what goodies she made for you.”

“She said it’s just some small pastries,” Lin Yuqing said as she opened the bag, but she froze for two seconds after seeing the contents.

Inside were individual transparent bags of thousand-layer water chestnut cake, custard crisps, and snow skin mooncakes. There was a partition in the middle, and underneath were ten perfectly arranged mini burgers, each about the size of a child’s palm, with a note attached: Can be stored frozen.

Meng Luo opened the other bag. “And what’s this? A whole bag of coffee mochi balls and two black sesame European breads. Great. Boss Lin, I hate you. I hate why I’m not you.”

She pulled out her phone and sent a voice message to Zhong Manjing in protest: “Favoritism! This is pure favoritism! Why don’t I have any? Does your ‘small’ pastries have anything ‘small’ about them at all?”

Zhong Manjing quickly replied with a voice message: “Those mini burgers are very small. Those are all for Boss Lin.”

Lin Yuqing couldn’t help but chuckle. Meng Luo took a piece of water chestnut cake and stuffed it into her mouth. “I’ve decided to dock Lin Yuqing’s pay. Seeing her eat this well makes me unhappy.”

Zhong Manjing said, “Oh? Actually, I have two custard European breads in the oven. You wanted ‘dirty’ milk tea last time, right? If the deal is a raise for her, I’ll guarantee employee benefits three times a week.” The sound of water being poured could be heard in the background; she was likely brewing something.

Meng Luo broke into a wide grin. “Hey, who are we? That’s only natural! Baby sis, my dear baby sis, it’s all thanks to Lin Yuqing working here. Her daily pay is now 100, paid on the spot—satisfaction guaranteed. Are you making the milk tea right now?”

Zhang Pingrui asked Lin Yuqing, “Is this what girls’ friendship is like?”

Lin Yuqing replied, “Stay out of it.”

Zhong Manjing didn’t reply to Meng Luo again, but Lin Yuqing’s phone rang. It was Zhong Manjing asking if she had drunk the pear soup.

I drank it. It’s delicious. I also tried the water chestnut cake and mochi balls; very fragrant. Lin Yuqing realized she never seemed to feel hungry anymore. Meng Luo used mouth movements to tell Lin Yuqing to ask, so Lin Yuqing typed: Are you making milk tea?

Zhong Manjing replied: No, I’ve suddenly fallen in love with wellness. I’m making flower teas now.

A picture was sent over. There were several glass pitchers of different colors on the table. Zhong Manjing sent another explanation: [Here is a week’s worth: Lime flower tea, Jasmine tea, Roselle tea, Imperata root & water chestnut water, Licorice & dwarf lilyturf pear soup, and Smoked plum soup. One cup a day will let you live to ninety-nine. I made so much; come pick them up after work.

Under Meng Luo’s envious gaze, Lin Yuqing replied: “Okay, Young Mistress.”

When Lin Yuqing returned, she naturally brought Meng Luo along. Just as they neared Zhong Manjing’s residence, they spotted a strange, old black electric scooter parked at the entrance.

A “thud” followed—the sound of a heavy object falling and something shattering.

“I said I don’t need you to go, don’t you understand? Get out! If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police!” It was Su Yun’s voice.

“I’m his old man! What’s wrong with me going to a parent-teacher meeting for him? I already went to school to see Xiaodong today. Am I an embarrassment? You damn woman, blocking me from seeing my son—I’ll sue you in court!” There was another crash.

“Who allowed you to see Xiaodong? He doesn’t have a father like you! If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police!” Su Yun’s voice was trembling with rage. Wang Dingchun approached her with a cold sneer, skillfully smashing whatever he could reach near Su Yun and grabbing her ponytail. “Fine, you want me to leave? Give me money. Give me all the money, and I’ll leave right now.”

As Lin Yuqing rushed in, she saw Su Xiaodong—who had been held in Zhong Manjing’s arms with his eyes covered—charge forward like a whirlwind. He had grabbed a bamboo broom much taller than himself from somewhere and started swinging at Wang Dingchun’s legs.

“Let go of my mom!”

Wang Dingchun didn’t expect this and was struck, stumbling back a few steps and letting go of Su Yun. But he became even more furious. “Wang Xiaodong, you little brat! You dare hit your old man? Your skin must be itching! Look closely, I’m your dad, you’re my son.”

“I’m not your son, and I’m not a little brat. Leave!” Su Xiaodong swung the bamboo broom wildly, but he was just a child after all. Wang Dingchun snatched the broom, intending to hit Su Yun. “That woman raised such a useless thing.”

Seeing Wang Dingchun about to hit his mother, Su Xiaodong’s face turned bright red. He lunged at Wang Dingchun’s leg like a small beast and bit down. “I’m not useless! I’m a useful ‘Sesame Cookie’!! Mom, hurry and hide with Sister Manjing!”

The scene was chaotic. Su Xiaodong heard his mother crying and calling his name. His body wouldn’t stop shaking, but he kept chanting in his mind: I am a sesame cookie, I am a sesame cookie, it won’t hurt when I get hit later. I have to hold onto his leg… I’ll probably be kicked against the wall in a moment…

But the expected pain didn’t come. Su Xiaodong opened his eyes and saw Sister Lin Yuqing.

Like a heroine, she had seized Wang Dingchun’s neck from behind while simultaneously kicking the back of the man’s knee. Wang Dingchun knelt on the ground in pain, revealing Sister Manjing standing behind him.

Amidst Wang Dingchun’s cries of pain, a smile appeared on Zhong Manjing’s pale face. Looking at Lin Yuqing, she said:

“A beauty saving a beauty this is quite romantic too, Boss Lin.”

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