The Seductive Pretender: Sister-in-Law is Turning Gay - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: “Turn Over and Hold Me.”

Lin Yuqing helped them carry two stools upstairs, told them to make themselves at home, and headed back down to get back to work.

Zhong Manjing set her things down with practiced ease, pulled out the table, set up the rice cooker, and called out to Meng Luo, “Come, enjoy the feast.”

“Has this place become your second home?” Meng Luo asked. Seeing this setup, she knew Zhong Manjing definitely didn’t visit just once or twice.

“It wouldn’t be bad if it were,” Zhong Manjing admitted. She proactively served rice for Meng Luo. “Hey, life really has something to look forward to every day now, don’t you think?”

Meng Luo replied, “I think your life specifically started having ‘something to look forward to’ after you met Lin Yuqing. Before, I didn’t get to taste your cooking this often. And those employee benefits—if Boss Lin weren’t working for me, we wouldn’t be enjoying those.”

Zhong Manjing laughed, clearly pleased by the remark. She took a small bowl to portion out Lin Yuqing’s rice, placing it back in the cooker to stay warm, then went to check the contents of the shopping bag.

She had already made Meng Luo wear the new slippers; Zhong Manjing herself wore Lin Yuqing’s pair.

The room had very little furniture, but Lin Yuqing had kept it immaculately clean. The floor was spotless; walking barefoot was no problem at all.

As soon as they entered, she turned on the window AC. Meng Luo listened while sipping her milk tea. “This thing is really loud. Can you actually sleep well with this?”

Zhong Manjing said, “Is it loud? I don’t think so. I think it sounds like natural white noise.”

Meng Luo went silent for a moment. “It’s cool, though. Where did she dig this up? From Old Feng’s place?” Despite her words, Meng Luo was surprised. This used to be just Xiao Ying’s family storage room; she hadn’t expected Lin Yuqing to put so much effort into tidying it up.

Zhong Manjing was like a little sun, always full of vitality. Everyone around her caught her energy. Meng Luo still remembered the day Lin Yuqing first came to the swimming center for a part-time interview.

Back then, she wasn’t like this.

Beautiful, yes, but with a heavy, decadent, and lazy aura. Her eyes looked like they held a blizzard—weary and cold.

Zhong Manjing said, “Don’t worry about it so much.”

She took out the nightgown and held it up against herself, spinning in place. “How do I look?”

Meng Luo: “Great. You’d look good even if you wore a potato sack.”

Satisfied, Zhong Manjing unpacked her toothbrush and placed it on the washstand next to Lin Yuqing’s, feeling deeply content.

Meng Luo finished her meal and milk tea, even making off with two custard buns. Satisfied, she didn’t mind that Zhong Manjing was being extra generous with the things Lin Yuqing provided—after all, she could always come back to mooch more later.

Zhong Manjing walked downstairs with Meng Luo, carrying a small bag of trash. She stopped at the window to tell Lin Yuqing, “I’m going for a walk with Luo-luo to check on Sister Su and take out the trash.”

Lin Yuqing said, “Okay. Come back early, before the square dancers pack up.”

There were many people exercising and dancing in the evenings here; it was very lively. Several open squares were filled with residents and children. But after nine o’clock, they usually headed home, and the town entered its rest period.

Zhong Manjing nodded and stepped out with the trash bag. Meng Luo was looking at her with a complicated expression. After holding it in for a moment, she finally blurted out, “The way you and Lin Yuqing just talked… you sound so much like an old married couple.”

“Do we?” Zhong Manjing blinked, pulling her along. “Then it’s very likely we knew each other in a past life.”

Meng Luo: “Get out of here with your jokes.”

After dumping the trash, Zhong Manjing saw Meng Luo to her car and headed straight for the police station. She had to see how things were going.

Just as she entered, Officer Zhang, who had taken off his police cap, was at the front desk. Seeing her, he said, “I knew you’d show up, girl.”

Su Xiaodong had already come out. He was standing obediently, holding his mother’s hand. After greeting everyone, he ran into Zhong Manjing’s arms. Zhong Manjing asked, “Is everything done?”

Zhang Guojie said, “Almost. They just finished signing the mediation agreement.” He paused before adding, “The police can only do so much this time.”

Zhong Manjing lowered her eyes. “I understand.”

Wang Dingchun was truly detestable, but he had only smashed property. He hadn’t managed to cause significant physical harm to Su Yun or her son yet. The most the police could do was mediate and order him to pay for damages.

Shortly after, Su Yun with red, swollen eyes and Wang Dingchun came out. Wang Dingchun looked completely indifferent. Zhong Manjing stepped forward and handed a food container to Su Yun. “Sister Su, you probably haven’t eaten. This is the eight-treasure rice I made; the little one can eat it too, it’s sweet. The sides are just small dishes spicy white cabbage with pork and pig ear with cucumber salad I made this afternoon. Take them home.”

Su Yun smelled the mouth-watering sour and spicy scent of the cabbage, and her anger and sadness faded slightly.

“Thank you, Sister Zhong,” Su Yun whispered. She looked down and saw her son holding a small bag containing sesame cookies.

Zhong Manjing patted her back and comforted her softly, “As long as you can still eat and drink, life’s hurdles will pass.”

Su Yun smiled bitterly. “Yes. I don’t see things as clearly as you do.”

As Zhong Manjing walked Su Yun out, Officer Zhang caught up. “Su Yun, let me drive you two home! Just to be safe.”

With Officer Zhang escorting Su Yun, Zhong Manjing felt at ease. She stood there for a while, scanning the area. Wang Dingchun was nowhere to be seen.

She looked down at her phone, found a familiar string of numbers, and pressed her lips together.

Did I actually make it in time for this moment?

By the time Zhong Manjing finished her internal planning and returned to the shop, it was already nine. Lin Yuqing had just taken off her apron and emerged from the kitchen carrying a dish of lotus root slices pickled in plum and purple cabbage vinegar.

“Hungry?” she asked. Noticing Zhong Manjing’s somber expression, she added, “What’s wrong? Did things not go well for Sister Su?”

“No, it went smoothly. After accepting the mediation, Wang Dingchun was released.”

Lin Yuqing nodded. “In this situation, mediation is the only option. Without physical injuries as evidence, even refusing mediation wouldn’t lead to him being detained by the authorities.”

“That’s true, but it still feels wrong,” Zhong Manjing said, picking up a piece of lotus root and eating it. “I saw the rice you kept warm for me in the cooker.”

Before Lin Yuqing even sat down, she went back to the kitchen twice, bringing out two more side dishes and two cups of Smoked Plum soup. “It’s heated up. These two dishes chili tripe and spicy orchid tofu were brought over by Xiao Ying this afternoon. Try some.”

Zhong Manjing had eaten a large bowl of eight-treasure rice for dinner, so she didn’t want noodles for a snack. Lin Yuqing used the leftover crab oil to fry two “blooming” starch sausages for her. Zhong Manjing enjoyed the crispy edges of the sausages, and her frustration finally began to soothe.

It was quiet, save for the tireless chirping of cicadas outside. Zhong Manjing noticed Lin Yuqing wasn’t really touching the tripe or the tofu, focusing only on the rice.

“Not eating? These two are pretty good,” Zhong Manjing said. “You’re not trying to leave them all for me, are you?”

Lin Yuqing smiled. “The eight-treasure rice is very fragrant, and there are plenty of dishes. You also left me beef and bottle gourd; I’ll finish these first.”

Zhong Manjing: “That’s fine, as long as you’re full.”

Lin Yuqing scooped the last half-bowl of eight-treasure rice and chewed slowly. She wouldn’t tell Zhong Manjing the real reason when Xiao Ying brought the dishes this afternoon, she had tasted them. They were good, but they weren’t made by Zhong Manjing.

In the past, she could eat two large mantou with just a bit of pickled tuber. But not anymore. She realized her palate had been spoiled by Zhong Manjing.

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back. She had become accustomed to Zhong Manjing’s feeding, and her fridge was always stocked with her food. She felt she did too little for Zhong Manjing, far less than what she received.

After finishing the meal and tidying up, they went upstairs to rest. It was very cool inside. Zhong Manjing sighed, “Having a window unit really is comfortable.”

The new nightgown hadn’t been washed, and she hadn’t gone home to get her own, so she borrowed some of Lin Yuqing’s clothes. After showering and lying on the small bed, Zhong Manjing felt very relaxed.

The bed was a folding single, about one and a half times the width of a dorm bed. It was fine for one person, but two people would definitely be a squeeze.

Lin Yuqing came out from the shower and saw Zhong Manjing already lying down playing on her phone. She hesitated, slowing her pace.

Unfortunately, the room was so small that no matter how slow she walked, she arrived.

Zhong Manjing: “What’s wrong? Feeling shy?”

“No,” Lin Yuqing sat down. “I’m just afraid of crowding you. You sleep on the inside, I’ll take the outside.”

“It’s better if I sleep on the outside. I’m a restless sleeper; I’m afraid I’ll kick you off the bed.” Zhong Manjing tried to make space, but Lin Yuqing remained sitting on the edge. “No need. I’m a restless sleeper too. I’ll stay on the outside.”

Zhong Manjing tossed her phone aside. “Is that so? Then we have quite a lot in common. Come on, no more phones. Lights out, let’s sleep.”

Lin Yuqing agreed and lay down. Because the bed was small, the two were almost touching as they lay flat on their backs. The moonlight spilled through the gap in the curtains, and the room was silent except for the roar of the window AC.

Strange. Truly strange.

Why didn’t this bed feel so small this afternoon? And the AC didn’t seem this loud then, either. The night was simply too quiet so quiet she could hear Zhong Manjing’s every breath.

Lin Yuqing remained motionless. Although she wasn’t used to this, she didn’t speak. She didn’t know if Zhong Manjing was sleepy, so she just listened intently. Before long, she heard the breathing from the other side become rhythmic and steady.

Zhong Manjing was asleep.

Lin Yuqing took a soft breath and closed her eyes to sleep. A second later, a long leg was thrown over her, bending across her waist. A foot lightly touched her inner thigh. Despite the thin pajama pants, a lingering itch spread through her.

Unaccustomed to this, Lin Yuqing shifted, but the slender leg draped over her waist didn’t budge.

Smooth hair began to invade the crook of her shoulder. Lin Yuqing could almost imagine what was happening. Zhong Manjing’s head leaned close, her breath warm and slightly moist against Lin Yuqing’s neck. A mix of cool and hot, with long hair falling as she moved Lin Yuqing couldn’t tell if the itch was from the hair or the breath. For the first time, she felt this bed was.

Way too small.

She struggled to shift her body slightly, hoping to improve the situation. She carefully lifted Zhong Manjing’s leg to place it back on the bed, intending to sleep on her side.

Just as she adjusted her posture, the person behind her pressed closer. This time the legs were well-behaved, but her upper body pressed tightly against Lin Yuqing’s back. Soft curves, like a water balloon or a marshmallow, pressed with a strong sense of presence against her spine.

Lin Yuqing was quite thin, and she had assumed Zhong Manjing was the same. She now realized she was dead wrong Zhong Manjing’s “softness” wasn’t in the places that were usually visible.

Any further forward, and Lin Yuqing would truly fall off the bed.

No matter how she adjusted lying on her back or her side Zhong Manjing managed to accurately press against her. Eventually, Lin Yuqing’s palms began to sweat. She decided to get up and turn the temperature up a bit.

It must be because it’s too cold.

Just as she was about to rise, Zhong Manjing’s arms wrapped around her waist.

“Lin Yuqing.”

Lin Yuqing’s back stiffened. “…Did the AC noise wake you up?”

“Mhm.” Zhong Manjing’s breath tickled Lin Yuqing’s ear again. “Aren’t you sleeping? Where are you going?”

Lin Yuqing ignored the question. “Are you hot?”

“No.” Zhong Manjing let out a soft laugh. “Why don’t we change positions, Lin Yuqing? Do you know the most space-saving position for two people sleeping together?”

Lin Yuqing said nothing.

“Turn over and hold me.” Zhong Manjing propped herself up, wanting to see Lin Yuqing’s expression. “Let me sleep in your arms. That way I can’t move around, and we can both sleep well.”

Lin Yuqing didn’t move. Zhong Manjing leaned down with a smile. “You’re not actually shy, are you…?”

Those fine, annoying strands of hair tickled Lin Yuqing’s cheek, neck, and shoulder again. She didn’t have much time to think about whether Zhong Manjing had been awake all along. She suddenly flipped over, wrapped her arms around her, and practically “stuffed” the troublemaker into her embrace.

After a long while, Lin Yuqing asked in a muffled voice, “Is the AC still too loud?”

Zhong Manjing’s ear was pressed against Lin Yuqing’s left chest, listening to the steady, powerful heartbeat. The body temperature was scorching, warm, and made her feel safe. In this moment, she truly realized she had been reborn right here in Lin Yuqing’s arms.

She sniffled slightly, her nose feeling a bit sour, and whispered, “Lin Yuqing, this is the most stable sound I’ve ever heard.”

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