The Yandere Queen's Manual for Training Her Wife - Chapter 2

If you were to ask what kind of person the eldest daughter of the Xia family, Xia Mingtang, was, nine out of ten people would probably shake their heads and sigh, “She’s not easy to get along with.”

But this doesn’t mean Xia Mingtang is bad at socializing. On the contrary, if she wanted to, her little mouth could sweet-talk its way out of anything, just like now.

“Are you the owner of this inn, my dear sister? I see that the decor here is so elegant and unique, which I find very pleasing. I’m hoping to stay here for a while, so I hope you won’t mind the disturbance.”

Shi Shi looked at Xia Mingtang, who had suddenly transformed into a “proper young lady,” with a look of disbelief. Perhaps it was because the usual image of the fiery eldest daughter of the Xia family was so deeply ingrained in people’s minds that her sudden display of such dignified and kind behavior seemed odd and unsettling.

Facing the slightly theatrical guest, Qin Yan appeared completely unbothered. She nonchalantly settled the abacus beads with one hand, a gentle smile on her face.

“I appreciate your fondness for my establishment, dear guest. However, the inn is currently undergoing inventory and is not accepting new guests. If you wish to vacation in Yunjing Town, you may want to try another inn.”

The owner’s voice was clear and pleasant, but her words were cold and disheartening.

Xia Mingtang, having been gently rebuffed, wasn’t about to give up. In a split second, her face took on a look of tearful sadness.

“What a pity. Actually, my reason for coming to Yunjing Town is not for a vacation, but to bid a final farewell to my late grandfather.”

Shi Shi, who was watching the scene unfold, nearly choked on her saliva. If I remember correctly, didn’t the Xia family’s old master pass away before you were even born?

But as her friend, she absolutely couldn’t expose her. She simply watched Xia Mingtang’s performance in silence.

Xia Mingtang brushed her fingers across her eyelid, wiping away a non-existent tear.

“Grandfather loved plum blossoms. He used to say that the plum blossoms in Yunjing Town were a sight he would never forget. When I passed by here just now, seeing the plum blossoms in this courtyard blooming proudly and full of life, I was reminded of how my grandfather used to tell me stories under the plum blossom tree.”

As Xia Mingtang spoke, she would secretly glance at the person across from her. It had been a long time since she had acted, and she was feeling a bit unsure without any feedback from her audience.

But it was too late to back down now.

She ruthlessly pinched herself, forcing her eyes to turn red. “Perhaps this is fate. I was hoping I could stay in a place my grandfather loved, so I could feel closer to him. Oh, well~”

She slowly began to walk towards the inn’s entrance, pulling her suitcase behind her, leaving what she believed to be a very lonely and dejected figure.

Shi Shi, who was observing from the sidelines, had to use all her willpower to keep from laughing out loud. This is way too dramatic. If I were the owner, I’d just quietly watch you walk out the door.

It was about ten steps from the counter to the door, but Xia Mingtang took half a minute to cover the distance.

Three steps, two steps, one step… Xia Mingtang was genuinely starting to feel like crying now.

“Wait.” Qin Yan’s voice was soft, but Xia Mingtang’s ears were sharp. The moment the words left her mouth, Xia Mingtang teleported back to her.

Even the young worker wiping a table nearby couldn’t help but want to roll his eyes. Miss, you just spent a full half-minute walking that short distance.

Qin Yan stepped out from behind the counter and looked at the young woman before her. She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a striking and beautiful face that would normally be considered intimidating. However, the faint redness in her eyes made her seem incredibly pitiable.

The inn owner let out a subtle, knowing chuckle, her words kind and gentle. “Your heartfelt filial piety moves me. I should, of course, help you.”

The young worker, who had been listening to the commotion, was so surprised that the owner had so easily changed her mind that he stopped wiping the table and blurted out, “Sister Qin, but…”

Qin Yan made a “shush” gesture and spoke calmly, “Yi Yi, please register the guest for check-in.”

The worker, Yi Yi, understood that the owner had made up her mind. Though he was reluctant, he walked to the computer on the other side of the counter. “ID card, please.”

Xia Mingtang reached for her handbag, but stopped halfway and sighed sadly.

“To be honest, I left in a hurry for this trip and accidentally lost my ID card. It will take some time to get a new one.”

Yi Yi couldn’t hold back anymore. “This is a legitimate inn. You can’t check in without an ID card.”

Shi Shi, who had picked Xia Mingtang up at the airport that morning, was also completely confused. Didn’t you just have your ID card?

Before Shi Shi could figure out what Xia Mingtang was up to, she was pushed forward.

Xia Mingtang held Shi Shi’s shoulders and looked pleadingly at Qin Yan. “How about using my friend’s ID card to register? We only need one room. You can see we’re good people, my dear sister~”

You don’t look like good people at all.

Yi Yi decisively turned off the monitor and looked at Qin Yan, waiting for her to show them the door.

Qin Yan’s gaze lingered on Xia Mingtang for a few seconds, as if in thought, but no emotion was visible.

Xia Mingtang was already frantically brainstorming her response in case of rejection when she heard a heavenly voice speak.

“Anyone can have an accident while traveling. It’s fine. Please use this guest’s ID card to register.”

Qin Yan’s claim that the inn was not accepting new guests was true. The room that was quickly prepared for them was empty, and even the bedding was brought up from the storage room downstairs.

Shi Shi knelt by the bed, helping to make it while also swatting at a mosquito. “It’s so cold, and there are still mosquitoes. They have such a strong will to live.”

In contrast, Xia Mingtang was in her own little world. She pulled open the curtains, took a deep breath of the fresh air outside, and smiled blissfully. “Mosquitoes are a good sign. It means this place is full of life and suitable for living.”

Seeing her genuinely happy face, Shi Shi was even more confused. She stood up and walked over to Xia Mingtang.

“Wait, are you really planning to live here for a long time? I didn’t have a chance to ask earlier, but you can tell me now. What’s this all about? You have a perfectly good villa to live in, but instead, you’re putting on this melodrama, lying about losing your ID, and stubbornly squatting here as an undocumented resident?”

Now that only Shi Shi and Xia Mingtang were in the room, Xia Mingtang, facing her childhood friend, didn’t play coy. “When we came into the inn today, did you notice anything special?” she prompted.

Shi Shi thought carefully, following Xia Mingtang’s lead. Something special… does the owner being exceptionally beautiful count? Come to think of it, Xia Mingtang only started acting so dramatically and changing her attitude 180 degrees after she saw the owner’s face.

If being able to change one’s expression was a talent, then Shi Shi was a natural prodigy.

In just a few seconds, Xia Mingtang saw a whole range of expressions on her face: from thoughtful, to a sudden realization, to a look of exasperation, and finally, disgust.

Xia Mingtang didn’t know what Shi Shi was thinking, but she guessed it wasn’t good. Annoyed, she had to be more direct.

“That big jade abacus on the counter, did you not notice it at all?”

Shi Shi tried to recall the details. The jade abacus was indeed exquisitely made, using high-quality Hetian jade. It also looked a bit familiar.

“Could that abacus be…”

“The one the Ji family bought at a charity gala two years ago,” Xia Mingtang finished her sentence for her.

Shi Shi saw the certainty in Xia Mingtang’s words, but she still felt a bit hesitant. “But it’s just an abacus. Maybe it was a gift…”

“It’s not that simple.” Xia Mingtang scoffed. “The Ji family is all about gaining a good reputation. They’re masters of maintaining appearances. They spent a high price on something at an auction, and they wouldn’t easily give it away before they’ve gotten all the value out of it.”

“So you suspect this inn has a deep connection to the Ji family?”

Shi Shi was about to continue with her deduction when she saw the indignant look on Xia Mingtang’s face and couldn’t help but laugh. “Ha, you really don’t hold back when talking about your future in-laws.”

The moment Shi Shi’s words left her mouth, she was met with a glare from Xia Mingtang. But Shi Shi was unfazed and continued to prod the tiger. “Speaking of which, your two families have been in contact for so long. The wedding must be happening next year at the latest. I’ve heard that this third young lady of the Ji family is no simple character either.”

“If you admire her so much, then you marry her!” Xia Mingtang grabbed a doll from the windowsill and savagely mauled its head, as if it were Ji family.

“Now that I’ve left Rong City, there’s no way this marriage will happen.” Remembering the various events in the inn’s lobby, a happy expression appeared on her face.

“I was worried that my plan wasn’t detailed enough, but now it seems that even heaven is on my side.”

Shi Shi’s teasing was just that, but she was genuinely worried about her friend. “So, you’ve decided to pin your hopes on this inn owner? Is that reliable?”

Xia Mingtang was now full of confidence. “With my cleverness, it’s absolutely reliable. The original plan hasn’t changed. Now the enemy is in the open, and I’m hidden, which gives me an extra layer of advantage. Why wouldn’t I take it?”

Seeing her so self-assured, Shi Shi couldn’t help but pour a little cold water on her enthusiasm. “But if I remember correctly, you almost couldn’t even get into the inn just now. Your first step of the plan was almost dead on arrival.”

“That’s impossible.” Xia Mingtang’s eyes lit up with hope. “With my divine acting skills, no one can resist… Cough, cough!”

She was speaking with great passion, almost patting her chest in determination with the doll, when she turned and saw the person at the door and choked.

Yi Yi, meeting Xia Mingtang’s gaze, walked straight into the room, placed a box of mosquito coils on the cabinet, and said concisely, “This room has been empty for a while, and there might be mosquitoes at night. Sister Qin asked me to bring this over.”

“Thank you. Please thank the owner for her concern for me,” Xia Mingtang said, accepting the mosquito coils.

“You’re welcome. I’ll be going now.”

After Yi Yi left, Xia Mingtang gently tapped the green mosquito coil box. Unconsciously, she looked up and saw Qin Yan arranging flowers in the courtyard.

The wind blew, the flowers swayed, and the person stood in the picture.

When did Owner Qin appear there?

Xia Mingtang’s heart was full of questions. Just then, Qin Yan, who had been meticulously arranging the flowers, suddenly looked up, as if making eye contact with her through the window.

Even though there was a considerable distance between them, and Xia Mingtang was on the second floor, she inexplicably felt a sense of guilt.

There’s definitely something up with this inn owner!

Xia Mingtang nodded firmly to herself, then pulled the curtains shut and tucked the mosquito coils into the bottom drawer.

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