The Seductive Pretender: Sister-in-Law is Turning Gay - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: “That Day You Fell Asleep on the Mountain, a Call From Yuqiu City Came in…”

“That day you fell asleep on the mountain, a call from Yuqiu City came in. It was from here the West Zhou Mental Health Center. They asked if I wanted to come for a second follow-up and even used my name. But when they called a second time, I didn’t answer.”

Lin Yuqing’s voice gradually lowered. “I wanted to treat them as a wrong number, an insignificant promotional call, or just another common data leak. That’s all.”

She wasn’t a fool. She knew that if she kept searching, she would eventually uncover something. The perfectly timed calls, the strange yet vivid drawings, the version of herself she didn’t recognize—these were all pieces of memories that had perhaps been intentionally forgotten.

But not now. She knew it wasn’t time yet.

If she had gone through the trouble of forgetting, why bother remembering? She refused to recall those things; call it self-deception if you want, but she wanted to cherish the present moment more than anything.

Zhong Manjing looked up at her slightly. “Why are you choosing to tell me now?”

“I thought you should know,” Lin Yuqing said. “Since we came back from the bee farm that day, the way we speak to each other has changed.”

They had communicated less and rarely saw each other. Lin Yuqing had only just worked through her own inner conflict when she discovered Zhong Manjing had come to Yuqiu City. She had followed her here in a hurry. Lin Yuqing only knew that her relationship with Zhong Manjing shouldn’t remain in such a muddled, ambiguous state.

Now that she had found her, she realized many things didn’t matter. The things she didn’t know and the things she did know were tangled together, enough to blind someone and make them forget that what lies right in front of them is the most important.

Zhong Manjing said, “I haven’t changed. I still made things for you.”

Lin Yuqing countered, “But that day you grilled pork ribs for Meng Luo and didn’t give me any. Weren’t you telling me you were angry?”

“No, you’re overthinking it,” Zhong Manjing said with a straight face. But under Lin Yuqing’s long gaze, she finally couldn’t help but laugh. She leaned into Lin Yuqing’s embrace, playfully burrowing against her.

Lin Yuqing was happy to be squeezed like this and didn’t pull away. Finally, she wrapped both arms around Zhong Manjing’s back, knowing the anger had dissipated.

“Let’s sleep,” Zhong Manjing murmured against her, resting her leg over Lin Yuqing’s waist. “Let’s just sleep like this. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Zhong Manjing woke up early the next day. A glance at her phone showed it was only 7:30 AM, and the space beside her was already empty.

Her internal clock hadn’t fully reset yet; usually, she’d sleep until noon. She sat up abruptly and saw a note pinned under her phone. It was Lin Yuqing’s handwriting, saying she had gone to get breakfast.

The dry coat on the balcony was gone, along with the dark umbrella from the entryway and her backpack. If not for the note, Zhong Manjing would have thought yesterday was just a dream.

Did she time it to know when I’d wake up? Going out for breakfast this early… Zhong Manjing wondered if Lin Yuqing had slept at all last night. In Lin Yuqing’s arms, Zhong Manjing had slept exceptionally well at least, once she finally drifted off.

Her phone vibrated with a reply to a text she’d sent.

In Ward 2 from 9-11 AM. No walk-in slots.

This was the time Wu Liyuan would be checking on patients today. No clinic, no new numbers, but she could see follow-up patients from yesterday in her office.

However, Zhong Manjing planned to drive back today. There was no longer a reason to stay.

She went down to the courtyard just as Lin Yuqing, backpack on and umbrella up, walked in from the outside. She was followed by a group of people some middle-aged women and others a bit older. Zhong Manjing found them familiar; they looked like…

Lin Yuqing waved at her to wait. She opened her backpack and pulled out several tightly tied breakfast bags, distributing them to the others.

“Thank you, thank you so much!” one auntie in a windbreaker said. “Look at that, our breakfast is still piping hot. Xiao Lin is so thoughtful she said it would get cold easily in the rain, so she let us put everything in her insulated backpack.”

They had bought a lot, including food for children, so it must have been heavy.

“Xiao Lin, are you here with family for a checkup? You don’t look like a tourist. Did you get a slot with Director Wu?”

Lin Yuqing smiled and didn’t answer. Instead, she took out the last portion from the bottom of the bag for Zhong Manjing.

It was soy milk, a scallion egg pancake, and a bag with a thick egg burger. Zhong Manjing looked inside and saw cream sauce, ketchup, and two hash browns.

“I thought she was buying for a kid, but it was for you!” the middle-aged woman said with a smile, taking a bite of her own vegetable bun.

The guesthouse owner also came out. “Auntie Zhu, are you going for a follow-up today? You look much better than last time. Can you eat buns now? Eat less of those… wait, what’s that?”

The owner saw a bottle of Tianfu soda in Auntie Zhu’s other hand. “Auntie Zhu, you can’t have that.”

Zhong Manjing shared half of her food with Lin Yuqing and finally remembered. When she first arrived, this Auntie Zhu and the others were heading to the second floor; they were here to see Wu Liyuan as well.

Auntie Zhu laughed. “I’m fine now.” She took a sip of the soda, looking energetic as she continued eating her bun. Her voice was full of joy. “Director Wu’s medication is excellent. I can eat and drink now without throwing up. I just need to progress slowly from vegetables to meat. One more follow-up and I’ll definitely be cured.”

She wasn’t a first-time guest, so the owner knew her well. In fact, the owner was familiar with almost everyone eating breakfast in the courtyard, except for Lin Yuqing who had arrived yesterday.

Lin Yuqing and Zhong Manjing didn’t leave immediately. They stood to the side, listening to the chatter and the owner’s concerns while eating. The rain continued to fall, but the atmosphere was warm, with no trace of the chill from outside.

“Jinxi, Jinxi! Are we heading back today? My daughter told me to hurry back.” Another woman entered it was the auntie in the plaid skirt from yesterday, her hair neatly styled.

She spotted Zhong Manjing instantly. “Oh, it’s you, little sister! Did you get a slot? Did you get your medicine?”

Zhong Manjing was mid-bite into a hash brown and nearly choked. She instinctively avoided looking at Lin Yuqing and replied calmly, “Yes, it’s done. I got the medicine and the appointment.”

A cup of soy milk was held out to her; Zhong Manjing took a hasty gulp. It was the helpful auntie from the elevator. It turned out she had come with Auntie Zhu.

Lin Yuqing suddenly asked, “I didn’t see you take your medicine last night. Why?”

“Didn’t take it? How can you not take it?” The plaid-skirt auntie and Auntie Zhu became even more worried. “You can’t just stop medication. You must follow the doctor’s orders! Look at me—I’ve been listening to Director Wu, and that’s why I’m almost better. Xiao Lin, why haven’t you been keeping an eye on her?”

Lin Yuqing looked at Zhong Manjing. After swallowing, Zhong Manjing said, “I’ve just had some sleep issues lately, which is why I came to see Director Wu. She’s a famous sleep specialist.”

“I’ll check your prescription when we get back,” Lin Yuqing said.

Auntie Zhu added, “Yes, yes. Sleep medication especially needs to be monitored. You know, Xiao Lin, watch the dosage, don’t let her take too much.”

Lin Yuqing nodded, finished her pancake, and waited.

Zhong Manjing said, “We can drive back after breakfast.”

“Let’s see your medicine first,” Lin Yuqing insisted. “Don’t come all this way just to go back without it.”

Lin Yuqing naturally believed Zhong Manjing had serious sleep issues. Everyone back home knew she often had her days and nights reversed, sleeping in a daze that was completely different from their schedule. Lin Yuqing and Meng Luo had worried her body wouldn’t be able to handle it.

So, hearing Auntie Zhu, Lin Yuqing naturally attributed the situation to Zhong Manjing’s health.

Zhong Manjing fell silent and slowly finished her soy milk. Lin Yuqing followed her back to the room and looked around.

“Don’t you think this egg burger isn’t fluffy enough? I feel like the ratio of baking powder…” Zhong Manjing tried to distract her, but Lin Yuqing had already scanned the room.

“Where is your medicine?” Lin Yuqing asked. If the hospital had prescribed sedatives or sleep aids, Auntie Zhu was right—it would be safer if Lin Yuqing kept them.

Zhong Manjing’s voice cut off. Honestly, she hadn’t come up with a reasonable explanation yet. Finally, she gave up and said directly, “I didn’t get the medicine. Director Wu’s slots for yesterday were all taken.”

Lin Yuqing immediately put down her packed bag. “We’re going to the hospital to find her now. Since we’re already here, we can’t leave without the medicine.”

“…It’s really fine. I’ll just adjust when I get back.” Zhong Manjing tried to persuade her, but it was no use. Lin Yuqing walked over, gently took her wrist, and led her out. “We’re going to the hospital.”

The benefit of the guesthouse was its proximity to the Mental Health Center just a few minutes’ walk.

“Director Wu doesn’t have slots today! She’s not consulting!” Zhong Manjing’s mind was racing. She pulled out her car keys to try and stop her.

“If she’s not consulting, she’s still working,” Lin Yuqing said. “Shouldn’t she be doing rounds at this hour?” She had seen the schedule on the way in; Wu Liyuan’s name was right at the top of the first row.

She led Zhong Manjing into the hospital lobby. Wu Lishan was at the information desk. When she looked up and saw the two of them, she froze mid-sentence.

Lin Yuqing didn’t give her a second glance. She bypassed the desk and headed straight for the side door leading to the inpatient ward.

Before they reached the door, Wu Liyuan, carrying a medical chart and followed by a group of doctors, walked in. She came face-to-face with Lin Yuqing.

Both sides stopped in their tracks. Lin Yuqing, standing beside Zhong Manjing, was the first to speak.

“Hello, Director Wu.”

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