Returning home, Ji Nanchan unceremoniously tossed Leng Bingqin onto the sofa, her face dark with anger. “Family meeting, now.”
Leng Bingqin curled up in the corner of the sofa, knowing better than to provoke her while she was in such a mood, so she sat obediently and properly.
Ji Nanchan sat facing her on the coffee table but felt that starting the meeting so abruptly lacked a sense of ceremony. She got up and went to the kitchen to pour two cups of hot water.
Handing one cup to the little nanny, her tone was awkward yet gentle. “Drink some hot water to warm up.”
“Are you still mad at me?” Leng Bingqin mumbled. Ji Nanchan sat back down on the coffee table and shook her head. “I’m not as petty as you.”
Gurgle! This unruly stomach, why was it always hungry? The little nanny blushed, covering her belly and acting cute. “I’m not hungry.”
Ji Nanchan knew she didn’t want to cause trouble, which was why she claimed not to be hungry. Unconsciously, her heart softened again. “If you’re hungry, just tell me. It’s not like I’m going to starve you.”
It seemed this family meeting wasn’t going to happen after all.
Ji Nanchan stood up and headed to the kitchen, with the little nanny trailing behind her like a shadow. “Are you going to make me something to eat?”
Rolling up her sleeves, Ji Nanchan poured out the bag of dried corn kernels Aunt Zhang had given her. Suddenly remembering something, she turned and stared at Leng Bingqin’s forehead.
“You were out in the cold wind aren’t you afraid that bump on your head will hurt? Come here.” She deftly scooped some lard into a bowl, then cupped Leng Bingqin’s face and gently applied it. “Does it still hurt?”
Leng Bingqin looked up at Ji Nanchan’s face still stern, clearly still angry. Yet her actions were unexpectedly gentle, filling Leng Bingqin’s eyes with an unshakeable warmth. “Will you really always be this good to me?”
“Otherwise, should I just abandon you on the street and not care?” Ji Nanchan’s reply was laden with meaning. She didn’t need Leng Bingqin to understand, she just wanted to speak her mind.
“But you yelled at me!”
“Well, you bit me!”
After applying the lard, Leng Bingqin’s forehead gleamed brightly again. “Okay, we’re even~” She buried her face in Ji Nanchan’s chest, clinging to her waist and refusing to let go.
“You’re getting lard all over my clothes!” Ji Nanchan complained, though without much heat. Perhaps she was used to such clinginess, as she allowed Leng Bingqin to hang onto her. Sighing, she turned around to start making popcorn.
“What delicious thing are you making?”
“Aunt Zhang told me to make popcorn for Qin Qin. Weren’t you hungry? Let’s have popcorn then.”
After explaining, Ji Nanchan heated oil in the pan, poured in the corn kernels, and stirred them around. She added a few spoonfuls of sugar, then covered the pan.
The steps were simple, but the little nanny still watched in wide-eyed confusion. “And then? We just leave it like that?”
“Mm, wait and witness the miracle.”
Both of them hunched over, hands on their knees, heads pressed together as they stared intently at the pot, not daring to make a sound.
When the first kernel popped, the two childish fools cheered and high-fived in the kitchen, as if they’d just scored a winning goal in a championship match.
Pop, pop, pop! The pot was hosting a concert, while the two outside watched in fascination.
Ji Nanchan held the pot handle with one hand and pressed the lid with the other, shaking it continuously to ensure every kernel bloomed into a little flower.
That way, the little greedy cat beside her could enjoy one more piece of popcorn.
Leng Bingqin once again became Ji Nanchan’s devoted little admirer, wrapping her arms around her waist from behind. “Cen Cen is so amazing!”
“As long as you behave and don’t make me angry, I’ll make you as much popcorn as you want in the future.”
“Then I’ll try my best to be good.” Leng Bingqin buried her head and mumbled her promise, then suddenly sneezed, “Achoo!”
Ji Nanchan turned off the stove, turned around, and wiped her nose with her sleeve. “I’ll make you a cup of cold medicine. I was afraid you’d catch a cold, and now it seems my fears are coming true.”
The air was filled with the sweet aroma of caramel. Leng Bingqin stared wide-eyed at the pot overflowing with popcorn. “I’m fine, I want to eat popcorn~”
“Go sit on the sofa and wait for me. I’ll bring it out once it’s ready. Go on.”
“Aye aye!” The little nanny happily skipped away.
The smile on Ji Nanchan’s lips faded as she silently rummaged through the cabinet for a small basket, pouring the popcorn into it to cool.
If Leng Bingqin ever regained her memories, how would she face reality?
Leaning against the counter, Ji Nanchan grabbed a handful of popcorn and stuffed it into her mouth until her cheeks were puffed out. “Why overthink it? Everyone is just a passerby, just a passerby.”
While comforting herself, Ji Nanchan prepared a cup of cold medicine for the little nanny and finally returned to the living room with the snacks and drinks.
“Drink the medicine first, then you can have the popcorn.” She handed the medicine to the little nanny and urged her to finish it.
Eager for the delicious popcorn, Leng Bingqin gulped it down in one go.
A satisfied smile curled at the corner of Ji Nanchan’s lips as she suddenly asked, “Qinqin, do you like me?”
Leng Bingqin picked out a piece of popcorn coated in caramel and brought it to Ji Nanchan’s lips, affirming her feelings with certainty. “I’m giving you the best piece of popcorn. Of course, I like you.”
Ji Nanchan took the popcorn with her mouth, the pure sweetness blossoming into a fleeting moment of happiness on her tongue. She ruffled Leng Bingqin’s hair. “What I said earlier was just out of anger. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll give you pocket money every day, and tomorrow when you wake up, we’ll go buy a top-tier smartphone.”
“Mhm…” Leng Bingqin’s mouth was stuffed with popcorn, making her look like a little hamster with puffed cheeks. She was content with the warmth and fullness of the moment, as well as Ji Nanchan’s kindness toward her.
The curtains weren’t fully drawn, and the morning light squeezed through the gaps, bringing a vibrant glow.
Bai Qingrang, disturbed by the light, furrowed her brows slightly and turned over with a hint of irritation. Lu Zhiming was right she did have a temper when waking up.
Her smooth, delicate shoulder was exposed outside the covers, and the chill of late autumn finally roused her from her dreams.
Her arm inadvertently reached for the space beside her, only to find it empty and cold. Her dazed gaze gradually focused, but she didn’t see the figure she had hoped for.
Pushing back the covers, the scattered kiss marks on her body bore witness to a night of pleasure. What lingered wasn’t just fatigue but also the soreness in her lower back with every step she took.
Moving slowly, Bai Qingrang made her way to the bathroom. The shower pouring over her head couldn’t wash away the memories Lu Zhiming had left her.
Closing her eyes, her mind was filled with Lu Zhiming’s kisses forceful, gentle, seductive stringing together the entire entanglement from the kitchen to the bedroom.
That tall, well-built body, with its eye-catching muscle definition, especially the distinct shark lines on her waist and abdomen, exuded a mix of sharpness and allure.
Wiping the water from her face, Bai Qingrang tried to push the increasingly vivid images out of her mind, reminding herself that this was nothing more than a game between adults.
An arm, smooth as a serpent, coiled around her waist, and a tender whisper drifted by her ear, “Qing Rang, good morning.”
Bai Qingrang was startled by the sudden presence behind her, but the surprise quickly gave way to a familiar, intoxicating delight.
She turned to face the person who had just occupied her thoughts, her tone laced with reproach: “I thought you had left.”
“Leaving without a word is too harsh. I don’t like it.” Lu Zhiming was sincere; she was not one to evade. She drew Bai Qingrang into her embrace, gently nuzzling her ear, and explained, “I can’t cook breakfast, but I brewed some black tea. The tea you offered me last night is still good, right? It hasn’t gone bad?”
“Lu Zhiming, you’re interesting, but also more dangerous than I imagined.” Bai Qingrang rejected her intimacy, snatched the towel to wrap around herself, and left the bathroom.
Lu Zhiming watched the figure disappear through the doorway, a look of restless frustration crossing her face. The one who had broken the tension and initiated the kiss was her, and now the one turning cold afterward was also her.
Was this some kind of push-and-pull game? Intriguing.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Lu Zhiming found no trace of Bai Qingrang and guessed she must be in the kitchen, so she headed downstairs to look for her.
Sure enough, Bai Qingrang had changed into fresh pajamas and was standing by the stove frying eggs.
Lu Zhiming leaned against the doorframe, quietly admiring the most beautiful scene of the morning, until Bai Qingrang turned around with a plate in hand.
Their eyes met, followed by a wordless silence. Bai Qingrang brushed past her and headed straight for the dining table.
Lu Zhiming followed behind, unable to resist asking, “Miss Bai, did I do something wrong?”
Bai Qingrang didn’t answer the question. Instead, she arranged the toasted bread slices on the plate, layered them with cheese, bacon, and fried eggs, making a simple sandwich.
“Let’s eat. Milk or juice?” Bai Qingrang’s voice was cool and clear, as if everything that had happened the night before was just a dream.
“Whatever you’re having is fine.” Lu Zhiming pulled out a chair and sat down, setting aside her doubts. She took a bite of the sandwich, and the crispy texture of the toast brought a satisfied smile to her eyes.
Bai Qingrang handed her a glass of juice and casually shifted the topic. “In my life plan, I’d work hard in my early twenties, settle down and build a career by thirty, and have my first child by thirty-five. But later, I realized that not every woman can find a partner who truly suits her.”
Without a single word of rejection, every sentence conveyed refusal. Lu Zhiming understood, raising her glass to ease the awkwardness. “Cheers, wishing Miss Bai the best in finding the right person.”
Bai Qingrang clinked glasses with her and took a small sip, then murmured to herself, “I’m thirty-two this year. In my step-by-step plan, success and failure are about fifty-fifty.”
“So you’re the older sister, but I’m only a year younger, it’s not much of a gap.” Lu Zhiming maintained her smile, generously brushing off the sting of rejection.
“Why do you always go along with others’ choices?” Bai Qingrang voiced her thoughts. Her attitude toward Lu Zhiming today had been rather harsh, so why wasn’t she angry at all? Even her questions were about what she had done wrong, when clearly, the one at fault was Bai Qingrang herself.
Lu Zhiming hadn’t intended to bring up her past, but since the topic had come up, she saw no reason to hide it. “I’m an orphan. At the welfare home, the first skill all children learn before becoming their own person is to adapt. Adapting brings peace.”
Bai Qingrang paused slightly as she drank her juice. She set down the glass, her eyes tinged with a hint of pity.
Lu Zhiming looked up at her and waved his hand to stop her. “Don’t look at me like that. People like us have particularly sensitive self-esteem, and the last thing we want to see is pity.”
“I’m sorry.”
Glancing at his watch, Lu Zhiming smoothly changed the subject: “What time do you start work? I can drive you to the office.”
“No need, I’ll take a taxi. I can’t keep troubling you,” Bai Qingrang declined politely, clearly eager to clarify the ambiguous nature of their relationship.
Lu Zhiming didn’t insist. Standing up to leave, he bid farewell courteously: “The breakfast was delicious. Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll take my leave now.”