The Seductive Pretender: Sister-in-Law is Turning Gay - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: “It Would Be Just Right If You Slept With Me, What Do You Think?”

Lin Yuqing: I think it’s about to sprout.

Likes: Meng Luo, Zhang Pingrui, Zhang Guojie, Zuo Yang, Su Yun, Wen Xiaoying, Liu Ru…

Meng Luo: I don’t see anything at all? Zhang Pingrui: The leaves are all gone, how can it still sprout?] Xiaoying: 👍👍👍

Zhong Manjing: @Zhang Pingrui, do you understand the power of faith? Lin Yuqing: @Meng Luo, do you understand the power of faith?

Zhong Manjing tapped the image to enlarge it. She was certain: the gardenia had not sprouted yet. Lin Yuqing had misseen it, but she decided to play along with Lin Yuqing’s Moments post.

Returning to her messages, she saw the text Lin Yuqing had sent two hours ago a new shop opening? And Meng Luo wanted to go? Given Meng Luo’s personality, there was no way she wouldn’t have messaged Zhong Manjing directly if she was that excited.

She immediately ran to find Wang Cheng. “Brother Wang, is Sister Feng and the others coming?”

“Getting ready! The weather is great today, so the mother and daughter said they’d pack extra things and head out.” Wang Cheng was clearly delighted. He had set up a new shed in the open space outside the bee farm and started an old-fashioned roaster. Zhong Manjing walked over to inspect it. “Is this a bread oven?”

Wang Cheng replied, “Yes! You know about these? You can bake those honey buns with the crispy bottoms that kids love in this. Just add wood underneath. The open horizontal grill on the other side is for the BBQ.”

Zhong Manjing smiled. “You’re quite talented. Looks like I’ll be enjoying a feast along with Nuonuo tonight.”

Bread baked in this kind of oven was incredibly fragrant, and it could also roast sweet potatoes, corn, and potato wedges all carrying a distinct wood-fired aroma.

She helped Wang Cheng wash the ingredients and prepare the skewers. She and Wang Cheng had eaten very simply over the last three days at most an extra fried egg or ham specifically to save room for this big meal.

At 5:00 PM, Lin Yuqing left work half an hour early and returned to the noodle shop, followed by two colleagues from the swimming center.

Today was Friday. Meng Luo had mentioned that classes ended early, so they should discuss a company dinner. However, the “company” was really just the three of them; the older staff had to go home to children or grandchildren.

Zhang Pingrui lamented, “We’ve only had employee benefits once this week. Is the swimming center going bankrupt?”

He was referring to a pitcher of “Sunrise” Zhong Manjing had made before her trip pomegranate syrup, orange juice, and a bit of iced tea. It was cool, refreshing, and beautiful. Once you drank it, you couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“It’s already better than it used to be. You saw how it was when I first came back,” Meng Luo said, drinking a bottle of soy milk to cool off. “Manjing is off camping and having the time of her life while we’re stuck here.”

Zhang Pingrui: “You have the nerve to say that about her?”

When Meng Luo first took over the swimming center, she was even lazier, closing up whenever she felt like it. It was only after hiring more staff and seeing the influx of kids that things became professional. Lin Yuqing, a later hire, hadn’t seen those “dark days.”

“…” Zhang Pingrui nudged Meng Luo’s shoulder and whispered, “What’s up with Lin Yuqing? She hasn’t said a word since she walked in.”

Meng Luo looked at Lin Yuqing, who was already in the kitchen. “Isn’t she always like that?” A woman of few words and many actions. She was likely preparing for the evening rush.

At that moment, Lin Yuqing’s phone on the windowsill chimed. She quickly wiped her hands and checked it. A smile touched her lips when she saw it was a message from Zhong Manjing.

It was a photo of the roaster; Zhong Manjing said they were having BBQ and baking bread tonight.

Zhang Pingrui whispered, “Is Xiao Lin in love? Look at her eyes.”

“She hasn’t even been here that long. Who would have the guts to pursue Boss Lin? Manjing hasn’t gossiped about it at all.” Meng Luo walked over, biting her straw, and tapped the counter. “Boss Lin, it’s Friday. No rest? Let’s have that dinner.”

Lin Yuqing: “Where to?”

Meng Luo said, “Not sure. We talked about the skewered chicken in the alley behind the supermarket, but it’ll be packed on a Friday. What do you want?”

Zhang Pingrui chimed in from behind, “BBQ! BBQ! How can it be Friday without BBQ?”

“Who asked you? I’m the boss!” Meng Luo was about to tease him when Lin Yuqing looked up and said, “I want BBQ too.”

“Let’s go then. Three grilled meat shops in town, take your pick.” Meng Luo was feeling generous, but Zhang Pingrui groaned, “Boss, can we get something better? I’m tired of those three!”

Lin Yuqing said, “Xiao Zhong just messaged. They’re having BBQ in the mountains tonight pork ribs, beef tongue, black tiger prawns, and tomahawk steaks.”

“What BBQ?” Just then, a small motorcycle sputtered to a stop outside. Wang Nuoyan sat on the back clutching a bunny plushie. “It’s the aunties who are always with Jing-jing!”

It was Feng Xiangxia. she patted the ingredients piled on her backseat. “Look at how much I’m bringing. With Xiao Zhong there, we won’t finish it all. Lao Wang says it’s beautiful in the mountains right now. It’s the weekend, why don’t you all come along?”

Meng Luo looked at Zhang Pingrui. In a single glance, a consensus was reached. She turned to ask Lin Yuqing, only to find her already taking off her apron and washing her hands.

…Oh. No need to ask.

“Do we have a car?” Meng Luo asked the soul-searching question. “Mine is in the shop for maintenance.”

Zhang Pingrui said, “My dad took mine.”

Feng Xiangxia’s bike was overloaded with food and a child. They stood in a stalemate until Lin Yuqing said calmly, “I have one.”

She pushed out her electric scooter. “It has a 150km range; more than enough for the bee farm. I checked the map—taking the backroads, it’s about an hour and a half. Just charge your phones and entertain yourselves on the way.”

Feng Xiangxia laughed. “I know a shortcut. Let’s go now, we can be there in an hour.”

Meng Luo hadn’t expected a two-wheeled “sports car,” but she didn’t mind. “Is it fully charged?”

Lin Yuqing nodded. “Long ago.”

Zhang Pingrui and Wang Nuoyan cheered, “Let’s go!!!”

Before starting the motor, Zhong Manjing sent another message: What are you eating tonight?

BBQ. Lin Yuqing replied. Naturally, the other side asked: What a coincidence, where?

Lin Yuqing typed: Not telling you.

She couldn’t help but smirk as she pocketed her phone. She revved the motor and set off with her two “passengers” in a grand procession. She thought she was giving Zhong Manjing a surprise, unaware that Zhong Manjing already knew.

After skewering all the vegetables, Zhong Manjing heard a sound in the distance the roar of a motorcycle engine. Wang Cheng recognized it immediately and looked up happily to see his wife and daughter.

Wang Nuoyan took off her helmet, her hair messy from the wind. “Daddy! Daddy, we have guests! Jing-jing, look at us!”

“Sister Jing-jing!” “She’s fine, Sister Yuqing didn’t lie to us…”

Zhong Manjing looked up.

At 6:30 PM, the sky was still bright, but the sun was beginning to set. The treetops were painted with a layer of sweet, golden honey-light. Lin Yuqing’s scooter followed close behind, somehow carrying three people: Meng Luo, Zhang Pingrui, and Su Xiaodong.

Su Xiaodong was sandwiched between the two adults like a piece of filling, his chubby face pressed against Meng Luo’s back. While Lin Yuqing looked serious and normal, the two adults were windblown with messy hair and no “expression management” left.

Feng Xiangxia’s bike was similarly crowded with Nuoyan, Chen-chen, and Zhang Xiaohua.

Finally, Lin Yuqing stopped in front of Zhong Manjing. A group of children spilled out like radishes falling into the dirt, immediately finding ways to amuse themselves without needing adult supervision.

“Xiao Lin, Xiao Meng, Xiao Zhang! Come help unload these things, there’s a lot packed with ice!”

Before Lin Yuqing could even say hello to Zhong Manjing, she was whisked away to help Feng Xiangxia. Wang Cheng immediately started processing the meat. The quiet bee farm was suddenly bustling.

“…I didn’t expect you to ride an electric scooter here.” Zhong Manjing looked at the mud on the tires with admiration.

“Their cars were unavailable.” Lin Yuqing stood before her, and Zhong Manjing handed her a damp towel. “Wipe the sweat.”

Zhong Manjing looked at her with a half-smile. “So you’ve come to camp here too? And have some BBQ while you’re at it?”

Lin Yuqing said, “Our team dinner didn’t happen last time. She said she’d bring us for BBQ today.”

“Hey, hey, don’t distort the facts!” Meng Luo approached holding a pork rib. “It wasn’t just my idea. They both said they wanted BBQ, and Sister Feng invited us.”

Zhong Manjing pointed at the kids curious about the beehives. “How did all these little radishes get here?”

Zhang Pingrui said gloomily, “Who knows? We met them on the road, and they insisted on coming. Xiaohua was supposed to help her brother sell crabs, she still has her backpack on! But the boys wanted to play with you, so Lin Yuqing just picked them all up…”

Lin Yuqing said, “It’s crowded, sorry.”

Zhong Manjing pushed Zhang Pingrui toward the kitchen to help. Could he stop being a third wheel? But as soon as one left, another arrived.

Meng Luo was still holding the rib, now chopped: “Honey garlic ribs, do we marinate them first? Can the bread dough go straight into the oven?”

Seeing her clumsy movements, Zhong Manjing took over. “I’ll do it.”

Lin Yuqing stayed by her side, helping where needed. When Zhong Manjing prepared the marinade, Lin Yuqing smashed and minced the garlic so Zhong Manjing wouldn’t have to touch the pungent ingredients.

The old roaster was at the perfect temperature. Zhong Manjing had proofed the honey bun dough before they arrived. Before putting them in, she brushed the bottoms with honey water. Along with the buns, she roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn.

While the next batch of meat went in, Lin Yuqing whispered, “Xiaolei sent some oysters and hairy crabs for us. How do you want them?”

Zhong Manjing said, “We can salt-bake some of the crabs. The fire is strong, so they’ll be done in ten minutes.”

As they all worked, the sweet scent of baking bread filled the air. Zhong Manjing pulled the bread out to brush it once more with honey syrup for that perfect crust. During a brief lull, she served plum soda to the kids, who immediately swarmed her, hugging her legs.

“Don’t worry, everyone gets some.” “Jing-jing! A kiss, a kiss!” “Me too! I want a kiss from Sister Jing-jing!”

Zhong Manjing squatted down, laughing as the kids jostled her. “Whoever eats the best tonight gets a kiss as a reward.”

Lin Yuqing leaned against the tent entrance, the string lights casting deep shadows across her face. She watched Zhong Manjing quietly. She watched her laugh, play with the children, and cook.

To her, Zhong Manjing looked like a painting, perfectly blended into the wilderness. It brought a sense of peace so profound her breathing slowed.

Zhong Manjing walked over and handed her the last plum soda. “Is this place comfortable?”

Lin Yuqing nodded. “Yes. No wonder you didn’t want to come back.”

The soda bubbles burst in her mouth, the tart plum and sweet soda blending like the cool summer breeze or the sunset they had seen on the way. A faint medicinal scent drifted over Zhong Manjing’s fragrance.

Zhong Manjing suddenly smiled. “Lin Yuqing, I’ll take you up on the car roof later to see the most beautiful stars. Don’t get drunk.”

“I don’t drink. I have to go back tonight.” Lin Yuqing paused mid-sip. “The scooter is charging; getting back won’t be a problem.”

“Have you seen my tent? It’s huge. It fits several people, and we can make beds on the floor. Stay here tonight. You can’t stay wound tight forever; take a rest.” Zhong Manjing’s eyes curved like crescent moons. “It would be just right if you slept with me. What do you think?”

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