The Seductive Pretender: Sister-in-Law is Turning Gay - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: “Boss Lin, You’re So Romantic.”

If she wasn’t used to living here, Zhong Manjing would likely be kept awake all night by the heat. Lin Yuqing knew she shouldn’t have to suffer like this.

When Zhong Manjing left that night, she said: “I was just teasing you. Did I really make you anxious? Wipe the sweat off your face; I’m not going to eat you.”

Her pace was light, appearing like a graceful butterfly amidst the streetlights and the night. When she was already far away, she turned back to wave at Lin Yuqing: “Goodnight, Boss Lin.”

Lin Yuqing also saw her playful wink.

That night, Lin Yuqing didn’t move the electric fan back downstairs.

Actually, she was used to it; although the weather was sweltering, it was no match for her sheer exhaustion. She usually fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

If she woke up from the heat mid-sleep, she would simply take a cold shower. Usually, this didn’t happen; waking up at 4:00 AM every day kept her schedule very consistent.

She never suffered from insomnia, but tonight, Lin Yuqing tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

She lay flat, looking at the moonlight outside the window; the room smelled faintly of mugwort mosquito coils.

She thought about what had happened that evening: the yogurt, potato cakes, and steamed dough twists Zhong Manjing had brought they should all be safely in the fridge by now… Were the noodles she made good? They should have been.

Most importantly, she thought about those words: an eye for the unique, and the claim that she’d be back whenever she wanted a late-night snack.

Lin Yuqing took a deep breath.

What a mess.

Zhong Manjing had said: “I’m a terrible cook when it comes to noodles. Ever since I failed to take first place the first time I made them as a kid, I haven’t liked making noodle dishes for myself. So, next time I want to eat them, I’ll come find you.”

“As an equal exchange, I’ll cover all the pickles for your shop next week. I just happened to make a few more jars.”

Lin Yuqing couldn’t argue, because she knew that if she refused, Zhong Manjing would just have Brother Li dump them at the trash station again.

The question was: Is this really an “equal exchange”? Lin Yuqing didn’t feel like it was at all.

After turning it over in her mind, she eventually took another shower. Picking up her phone, she saw new messages in the merchants’ second-hand exchange group.

Su Yun: Posting on behalf of Old Feng from the second-hand appliance shop. There’s a window AC unit for sale, only one left at a ‘broken-bone’ price of 600! If you haggle any further, he’ll break your bones! Buy fast, contact 177xxxxxxxx. Last one!

A few scattered replies followed:

• “Who would buy that? No one uses window units anymore. They’re cool, yeah, but they take up space and they’re noisy.”

• Su Yun replied: “But they save electricity and are easy to move! Perfect for a tenant in a small room. If it’s too loud, you just get used to it. Look at the price!”

Since opening her shop and being pulled into the group by Su Yun, Lin Yuqing had never posted, only lurking occasionally.

Six hundred yuan was a reasonable price. She thought about it and finally saved the number.

Zhong Manjing was very busy over the next two days harvesting vegetables, pickling, and preparing the brine. She tried waking up at 4:00 AM for two days, but it was too difficult, so she gave up. Li Dahai now delivered water to “Whatever Noodle Shop” every day; when he came by the residential area to deliver bottled water, he would bring news to Zhong Manjing.

“Sister Zhong, do you have any idea how good business is at Boss Lin’s? When I went at 9:30, Xiao Ying said the noodles were almost sold out. I said I wanted rice noodles, and she said four of the toppings were already gone!”

Zhong Manjing helped him bring out two more jars of pickled cabbage and handed him a glass of home-brewed herbal tea. “Isn’t that great? Boss Lin has incredible skill; that crab roe paste is the stuff of dreams.”

This area had a pier, and Lin Yuqing ran an honest business; a bowl of crab roe tossed noodles was only 16 yuan—she was barely making a profit on the ingredients. Naturally, the crowds were huge.

Li Dahai took a huge gulp, immediately recognizing the refreshing taste of bamboo cane and imperata root: “Don’t be humble. Boss Lin says there are people who come specifically for your pickles. Her crab roe paste can’t compete. Shall I take these two jars over now?”

Zhong Manjing nodded, then told him to wait. When she returned, she had two bags in her hand: “Brother Li, take these vegetables to Boss Lin too. My garden is producing more than I can eat. And here’s a portion for Chenchen—the black tea pudding cake and sesame sugar crackers he asked for last time.”

Li Dahai rubbed his nose sheepishly: “Oh, that little glutton… thank you for remembering.” The neighbors all loved interacting with Zhong Manjing. Although she had only been there for a month and a half, she was warm and generous, and she remembered the small requests of children, which made everyone feel appreciated.

As he took the bags, he said: “But that kid hasn’t been home all morning; he’s probably out playing with Xiaodong. These should go in the fridge, right? He’s lucky.”

Zhong Manjing said: “Wait! Brother Li, you forgot—today is a Saturday makeup day. They should be in school today.”

Li Dahai froze: “Huh? I completely forgot! Your Sister Liu didn’t remember either and went out to talk to suppliers. Chenchen’s grandma went back to the countryside, and I have to deliver water to the Power Bureau this afternoon…”

“No one to pick up Chenchen from school? It’s fine, I’ll go get him,” Zhong Manjing couldn’t help but laugh. “What about Xiaodong? Quick, notify Sister Su.”

The parents were all busy; the kids had dutifully gone to school while the parents thought they were out causing trouble together. Li Dahai, flustered and embarrassed, quickly called Su Yun.

On the other end, Su Yun was packing an order of crab roe noodles and put the call on speaker.

Lin Yuqing was right there and heard the conversation clearly. Su Yun sighed: “What should we do about picking them up? I forgot too! I have a VIP customer coming for a facial and a mani-pedi this afternoon. I won’t be done for at least three hours!”

She heard Zhong Manjing’s voice: “Is there no one for Xiaodong either? Then I’ll pick them both up together.”

Su Yun said: “Your mountain bike isn’t great for two kids. Those two rascals are a nightmare when they’re together; how can you handle them?”

Zhong Manjing said with a laugh: “It’s okay. I’ll take the bus or a taxi. How much trouble could they possibly be?”

Lin Yuqing instinctively thought of Zhong Manjing’s slender arms and legs. When she snapped back to reality, she checked the time and calculated: “Five o’clock? I’ll go help you pick up Xiaodong. They can ride back on my electric scooter.”

“Oh? Boss Lin, you’re listening too?” Zhong Manjing was surprised for a second, then made a quick decision. “I actually need to go to the school area to buy some things. Let’s go together.”

Lin Yuqing paused and said: “That works, but my scooter might be a bit of a tight squeeze.” Regulations were loose in this small county; two kids and one adult on a scooter was technically doable, if cramped.

Su Yun said happily: “I’ll take the child seat off my scooter and put it on yours!”

Lin Yuqing asked: “A child seat can’t fit an adult, can it?”

There was a silence on the other end. Su Yun choked on her words, and Li Dahai finally spoke: “Your Sister Su means one kid in the child seat, and then the back will be spacious enough for the other. Or did you think Sister Zhong was going to sit in the child seat? She’s thin, but the traffic police might still pull her over for that.”

Zhong Manjing imagined the scene she would have to be circled in Lin Yuqing’s arms.

“Wow,” she remarked. “Boss Lin, you’re so romantic.”

Lin Yuqing: “…”

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