The Seductive Pretender: Sister-in-Law is Turning Gay - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: “…Would you Like to Stay at my Place for a While?”

When they finished packing and came out to check out, the guesthouse owner gave Zhong Manjing a 12% discount, saying it was a promotion for first-time guests, and wished her a speedy recovery.

“Thank you,” Lin Yuqing said, standing beside her with her backpack and luggage. Zhong Manjing squeezed her hand. “Alright, let’s go.”

Lin Yuqing glanced at her phone and saw a picture sent by Xiao Ying. She raised it to show Zhong Manjing. It was a video of Su Xiaodong, Chenchen, and the other kids eating noodles at the shop, chattering away.

“When is Sister Manjing coming back? Hasn’t Sister Yuqing picked her up yet?” “Sister Manjing said she’d go to school to attend the parent-teacher meeting for me…” “Oh no, is it because I ate Sister Yuqing’s ribs that she got mad and fought with Sister Manjing? Did they really fight?” “Maybe we should go find Uncle Zhang.” “No, Uncle Zhang said family disputes like this are very hard to mediate!”

Xiao Ying’s voice could be heard off-camera, sounding both amused and helpless: “Look at what these kids are saying.”

A smile spread across Zhong Manjing’s face. She took Lin Yuqing’s phone and pressed the voice message button to reply: “I’ll be back this afternoon, you little rascals.”

Her tone was always gentle when speaking to children. Lin Yuqing looked down at the dark circles under Zhong Manjing’s eyes; they were deeper than when she was at home. Zhong Manjing clearly hadn’t slept well these past two days.

Outside, the rain had turned into a drizzle, and the wind carried the crisp scent of late autumn. Zhong Manjing took the umbrella Lin Yuqing handed her and, for the first time, opened her new one.

“Let’s walk under separate umbrellas,” she said to Lin Yuqing.

Back when Lin Yuqing was with her on the mountain, she habitually tilted the umbrella toward Zhong Manjing. Zhong Manjing had noticed. Even wearing a windbreaker, staying in the rain for too long would invite the chill.

“Once we’re back, you can switch to the new silk duvet. I put the cover inside too, did you see it?”

Lin Yuqing nodded. “I saw it. It’s a very warm blanket.”

“Of course it is. These lightweight duvets are the most comfortable to sleep under. I specifically asked Sister Feng to pick the best ones for us.” Zhong Manjing suddenly remembered, “Since you left, did you move the flowers indoors? It’s been cold and rainy morning and night; they can’t be left outside.”

Lin Yuqing nodded again. “I did. It’s a very resilient plant.” She had checked the care guide and realized that gardenias should have finished blooming and withered by this time.

Zhong Manjing smiled; it seemed she had taken good care of it.

They soon reached the hospital on foot. Wu Liyuan and Wu Lishan were waiting at the front desk. Seeing them, they waved and led them to the cafeteria.

This was a public cafeteria where both doctors and patients could eat, but it was divided by windows and floors. The event was held on the second floor, though people didn’t seem very interested; most were just ordering stir-fry.

In the patient cafeteria downstairs, most patients appeared very calm due to their medication, showing no strong desire to participate. It seemed the cafeteria’s dream of getting a free “signature dish” through the event was falling apart.

Someone tapped Lin Yuqing lightly on the shoulder. She turned to find a stranger in a white coat. Looking at the person’s name tag, Lin Yuqing said politely, “Hello, Dr. Cui.”

Cui Ran said, “I’m sorry, I intended to call Director Wu, but you two were standing so close.”

Zhong Manjing pulled Lin Yuqing behind her and said with a smile, “Does Dr. Cui need glasses? It’s one thing to mistake a doctor for a patient, but it would be trouble if you misread a medical record. Doctor-patient relations are so tense these days.”

Cui Ran continued to smile, while Wu Liyuan shook her head slightly from behind, signaling Cui Ran not to provoke Zhong Manjing.

Wu Liyuan had already ordered dishes from the window and led everyone to sit down. Cui Ran sat with Wu Lishan and Wu Liyuan on one side, while Zhong Manjing and Lin Yuqing sat on the other. The long white dining table felt like it was divided by a clear boundary.

Under the gaze of the three women, Zhong Manjing chatted nonchalantly with Lin Yuqing: “Is the sauerkraut at the shop all gone? I made two new jars before I left. Did Brother Li deliver them to you?”

Lin Yuqing said, “He did. He brought them this morning. We still have stock; I had Xiao Ying put them away.”

“I used a few new types of vegetables. One jar is a mixed pickle with many varieties.”

Lin Yuqing listed them off like a pro: “Chinese broccoli, yellow and red carrots, bell peppers, cucumber, lettuce, celery, cabbage, and onions.”

Zhong Manjing was surprised: “You looked!”

Lin Yuqing said, “Xiao Ying sent me a picture when she received them. I could see everything inside. I’m sure they taste excellent.”

“Those pickles are great with barbecue. Do you eat the Korean style? That’s good with grilled meat too. Eating it plain is too salty. I haven’t tried making it yet,” Zhong Manjing said. “I want to try it when I get back. It needs to be marinated with spicy paste.”

Lin Yuqing gave her full credit: “I’ve never seen you make anything that wasn’t delicious.”

Zhong Manjing cupped her face with a beaming smile, turning to Lin Yuqing. “Since I’ve been gone for two days, there were no staff benefits. Did Meng Luo pay your wages properly?”

“She hasn’t come to work in the afternoons lately, says she has post-holiday syndrome.” Lin Yuqing thought for a moment before adding, “She paid me the same. I’ve… saved up some money.”

She was thinking of a gift, but she still couldn’t figure out what to give.

The room had been decorated slightly, but not much. Furthermore, she thought of something more important: Xiao Ying and Sister Su had told her that winter would arrive quickly after the start of autumn, with almost no transition. Her room with the window AC unit was comfortable in the summer, but it would be very cold in the winter. She wasn’t sure how to stay warm.

Cui Ran, Wu Liyuan, and Wu Lishan: We want to say something, but for some reason, we can’t break into the conversation.

The things Zhong Manjing and Lin Yuqing were talking about was a life entirely foreign to them. Even Wu Liyuan didn’t know Lin Yuqing could live like this. In the tests, Lin Yuqing had said all she wanted was a stable life, enough food, and warmth. That answer had never changed.

Had she really found the life she wanted now?

More and more questions arose in Wu Liyuan’s mind. She began to seriously consider Zhong Manjing’s suggestion.

The food finally arrived. The chef also brought a cup of osmanthus plum soup. The spread was rich: six dishes and two plates of pastries.

“This is one of our signature dishes, hawthorn ribs it’s sweet and sour. We also have shredded pork with garlic sauce, stir-fried cured meat with garlic scapes, sugar-marinated tomatoes, and stir-fried potherb mustard. I wasn’t sure of your tastes, so I ordered a bit of everything,” Wu Liyuan introduced.

Zhong Manjing smiled again. “Really? I thought you liked sweet and sour flavors yourself, Director Wu. Look, both main dishes are sweet and sour.” There was also the stir-fried cured meat with garlic scapes, which was good for eating with rice.

Next to them were two small round plates of pickles. If Zhong Manjing wasn’t mistaken, these were the pickles she had brought yesterday. She didn’t expect to see them on the table so soon.

Wu Liyuan didn’t show any embarrassment and smiled naturally. “Eat up, please don’t be polite.”

Zhong Manjing picked up her chopsticks. “Of course. How could we be polite when Director Wu is being so generous?” She tried the ribs and the shredded pork. “Mmm, tastes good. No need for improvements here.”

She tasted the rest of the dishes and gave high praise for all of them. The taste was indeed good, and she often made these dishes at home. Zhong Manjing also ate a finger mochi and a chocolate mochi bun. Soon, she was half-full, and her eating speed slowed down noticeably.

Lin Yuqing ate too, but she ate slowly, and the rice in her bowl disappeared gradually. She took a sip of the plum soup, tried a finger mochi and a small piece of the chocolate mochi bun. Finally, her eyes lit up when she tasted the pickles, and her eating speed picked up.

Cui Ran couldn’t help but ask: “What’s wrong? Do these dishes not suit your taste?”

Lin Yuqing said, “I’ve had similar dishes to these. They were the same, but the ones she made tasted better.” Lin Yuqing pointed to Zhong Manjing, then to the plate of pickles. “This is delicious. This was made by Xiao Zhong. Have you tried it?”

For a moment, Wu Liyuan felt like the roles of host and guest had been reversed. Who was treating whom? She asked, “You can tell the difference?”

Zhong Manjing laughed while scooping rice: “Don’t listen to her, she’s showing off.”

But Lin Yuqing said seriously, “She has made many delicious things for me. The food Xiao Zhong makes tastes different from outside food. Anyone who has eaten it can tell.”

Wu Lishan: “Lin… I mean, Ms. Zhong, has she made anything else that was particularly good?”

Lin Yuqing said, “Actually, everything she makes is delicious. I’m not joking.” She casually mentioned a few dishes. Wu Liyuan looked silently at the mochi bread; she felt like Lin Yuqing’s tone was subtly suggesting they were “blindly imitating” the better version.

But that wasn’t true! Weren’t these the flavors Lin Yuqing used to like?

Zhong Manjing wiped her mouth with a smile and stood up. “Alright, that’s enough. Didn’t you say we could participate in the cooking event? Director Wu, I won’t be polite then. I’ll borrow the kitchen for a bit.”

She saw that Lin Yuqing hadn’t eaten much. Her taste buds had been spoiled by Zhong Manjing’s persistent feeding over the past month, and Zhong Manjing felt quite satisfied with that.

Zhong Manjing wasn’t in the kitchen for long. She soon came out with a plate of stir-fried potherb mustard with minced meat. It looked nearly identical to the dish on the table. Wu Liyuan looked at her, puzzled.

They hadn’t eaten much of the original potherb mustard dish anyway. How could adding a bit of minced meat make it so different? Could the flavor really be elevated that much?

Zhong Manjing said, “Try it.”

“I won’t be polite.” Lin Yuqing was the first to respond. She scooped a spoonful onto her rice and, after just one bite, began eating heartily.

Because of the previous comparison, her current appetite seemed particularly strong.

Wu Liyuan suspiciously took a bite. After chewing a few times, she looked up at Zhong Manjing in surprise. She then tried the original dish again and immediately frowned.

As expected, the contrast was glaring. You couldn’t say the cafeteria’s version was bad, but compared to the one Zhong Manjing made, the difference was night and day.

“How did you do it…?”

“After blanching, you need to rub it with salt to bring out the fragrance. Have you eaten pickled vegetables? Those are made with potherb mustard; they’re very fragrant and have a crisp texture. The minced meat is a mix of fat and lean, which renders out the oil. Greens stir-fried in lard taste the best.”

By the time Zhong Manjing finished speaking, the rest of Lin Yuqing’s rice was gone. She even took a few more bites of the pickles, looking completely satisfied. It was obvious she was used to eating Zhong Manjing’s cooking daily.

But Wu Liyuan didn’t understand.

As the two were preparing to leave, Wu Liyuan said quietly to Zhong Manjing, “You… when did you learn all this? I never heard that you could cook.” In her limited knowledge, the eldest daughter of the Zhong family was known for her extravagant lifestyle; how could she possibly get her hands dirty in a kitchen?

“People change,” Zhong Manjing said flatly. “You should try to truly understand what Lin Yuqing wants, Director Wu. Until next time.”

The two of them gathered their things, said their final goodbyes, and got into the car, leaving the others standing there with complex expressions.

On the way back, Lin Yuqing didn’t let Zhong Manjing drive. Zhong Manjing was happy to relax. Lulled by the post-meal drowsiness and the pitter-patter of rain on the window, she fell asleep. When she woke up, they were already at the door.

“We’re here.” Zhong Manjing stretched lazily and prepared to get out. “Give me the medicine I was prescribed.”

Lin Yuqing got out with her backpack but didn’t answer. Instead, she walked over to Zhong Manjing’s side. “The medicine is with me. The doctor said I have to supervise you.”

Zhong Manjing couldn’t help but laugh. “What, you don’t trust me? I can’t exactly run over to your place every time I need to take medicine before going back to sleep, can I?”

“That would be too much trouble for you.” Lin Yuqing finally voiced the words she had been preparing all the way back: “…Would you like to stay at my place for a while? I’ve tidied it up again; it’ll be more comfortable to sleep in. I’ll just supervise you until your schedule is back to normal, then you can move back. How does that sound?”

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