3 – Fool
The old lady’s cooking skills were quite good; the hand-pulled noodles had a nice chew to them.
After finishing the meal, the old lady took a red banknote from her pocket and stuffed it into Lin Yaojia’s pocket. “Jiajia, do you still remember where the restaurant is?”
Lin Yaojia searched through the original owner’s memories. The original owner’s memories were particularly sparse—only Grandmother Lin and the big fat orange cat at the door. Forget the restaurant; she couldn’t even find out how old she was this year.
So she shook her head honestly.
The old lady sighed. “It’s a good thing Xiao Qin is with you. Today is a class reunion, Jiajia. Remember to have fun.”
Just as she was speaking, someone knocked on the door. A girl wearing a JK skirt pushed the door open and said with a smile, “Good morning, Grandmother Lin, Jiajia.”
Xiang Qin’s father and Lin Fu were high school classmates, but he hadn’t gotten into university back then and now worked as a driver for Lin Fu.
Xiang Qin was the same age as the original owner and had always lived with her grandparents next door.
She and the original owner had always been classmates. Lin Fu placed her by the original owner’s side so she could take care of her.
“Xiao Qin, you take Jiajia out to play first.”
The old lady said with a smile.
“Okay.” Xiang Qin had delicate features and a sweet smile. She walked over and took Lin Yaojia’s hand, saying softly, “Jiajia, let’s go.”
Lin Yaojia pretended to be the original owner, nodding blankly.
Once they left the house and walked out of the alley, the smile on Xiang Qin’s face faded. She let go of Lin Yaojia’s hand. “How much money did Grandmother Lin give you?”
Wow!
She sure knows how to switch expressions!
Lin Yaojia had a pretty good idea of what was going on. She lowered her eyes and didn’t speak.
Xiang Qin seemed to know she wouldn’t answer and directly reached into Lin Yaojia’s sweatpants pocket, pulling out a brand-new hundred-yuan bill.
Seeing Xiang Qin’s practiced and familiar movements, Lin Yaojia sighed. It seemed the original owner had suffered quite a bit.
With the money in hand, Xiang Qin’s smile returned. She folded the bill and put it in her crossbody bag.
“Let’s go.”
She impatiently nudged Lin Yaojia’s shoulder.
The current body was quite thin, probably around eighty pounds. Lin Yaojia stumbled forward several steps from the push, her eyes widening in surprise.
The words “fuck you” were on the tip of her tongue when 998 immediately jumped in: 【Darling! Hold it in, just hold it in. If you curse now, you’ll break character!】
Lin Yaojia fell silent. She bit the soft flesh inside her cheek, holding back for a long time before managing to swallow the words.
She tried communicating with 998 in her mind.
【When can I curse back?】
998 hurriedly wiped away sweat: 【At least find an opportunity, like going to the hospital or hitting your head or something, so others know you’ve returned to normal.】
I have to go to the hospital?
Lin Yaojia instantly wanted to quit: 【I want to go back. I’m not doing this anymore!】
998 played dead and didn’t respond.
Lin Yaojia was furious: 【What are you playing dead for?】
998 remained silent.
It seemed it had gone mute.
Lin Yaojia took a deep breath, staring at the back of Xiang Qin’s head, silently planning how to get back at her later.
She had always been someone who held grudges, with a heart as small as a needle’s eye.
Yicheng wasn’t a particularly developed city. Located north of the capital, the weather was generally cold.
So even in the height of August, the temperature wasn’t too high.
Getting off the bus, Xiang Qin headed straight for the restaurant ahead.
Lin Yaojia followed behind her, thinking about how to slip away later and go to an internet café.
998 was puzzled: 【Why are you going to an internet café?】
It waited for a long time, but Lin Yaojia not only didn’t respond, instead she looked up at the sky.
Hmm… the weather’s not bad today.
998: […] Great, it was beginning to understand just how petty this person could be.
The original host had just finished her first year of high school, and with classes about to resume and a reshuffling of classes, the class monitor had organized a class reunion.
Lin Yaojia followed Xiang Qin to the private room.
Almost everyone had arrived, and it was quite lively, with a total of five tables.
“Qin Qin, over here!”
A girl stood up, waving at Xiang Qin.
“Got it.” Xiang Qin waved back, then turned to Lin Yaojia and said coldly, “Follow me.”
She grabbed Lin Yaojia’s wrist, turned around, and resumed her usual gentle demeanor.
When they took their seats, the girl who had waved earlier put her arm around Xiang Qin’s shoulder and said warmly, “I haven’t seen you in so long. Ever since the holidays started, you’ve been too busy to even show your face.”
Xiang Qin smiled. “I’ve been a bit busy these past few days, but it’ll ease up soon. Let’s go shopping then.”
“Sure!” the girl immediately agreed.
She glanced at Lin Yaojia.
This fool was just like before—as soon as she sat down, she started fiddling with the cutlery in front of her, not talking to anyone.
At school, the girls usually wore uniforms and tied their hair in ponytails. Today, finally free, most of them had their hair down and wore dresses, with a few even sporting light makeup.
This fool was dressed the plainest of them all.
A white T-shirt, black sweatpants, and a high ponytail.
Yet she was strikingly beautiful. With such simple attire, she was still the most eye-catching person in the entire room.
So annoying.
The girl reluctantly looked away and whispered, “Qin Qin, why did you bring this fool along again?”
Xiang Qin sighed helplessly. “She’s my neighbor. It’s only right to look after her.”
Lin Yaojia, who heard every word clearly: “”
You could really whisper a little softer, honestly, I don’t mind.
“Having a neighbor like that must be the worst luck in eight lifetimes,” the girl pouted. “Thankfully, you’re as kind as you are beautiful, Qin Qin.”
Xiang Qin patted her hand. “You’re making me blush with all that praise.”
Listening to such a green-tea-like comment, Lin Yaojia could only endure it without retorting. She couldn’t sit still any longer and stood up. Xiang Qin immediately grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”
Lin Yaojia: “Going to the bathroom.”
Xiang Qin let go. “Go ahead, then. Remember to come back.”
Her tone was still condescending, as if dismissing a dog.
Lin Yaojia held back her frustration. As soon as she left the room, she immediately dashed toward the elevator.
Only an idiot would go back!
Once outside the restaurant, Lin Yaojia looked around at the nearby facilities and finally decided to speak to 998: 【Where’s the nearest internet cafe? A small, run-down one, preferably the kind that doesn’t check IDs.】
998 searched for a moment, sent the location to Lin Yaojia, and tentatively asked: 【Why are you looking for an internet cafe?】
【Haven’t you noticed I don’t have a phone?】 Lin Yaojia’s tone was filled with resentment.
998: […]
For someone who spent 24 hours a day surfing the web, having no phone meant having no joy.
After turning several corners, Lin Yaojia finally found the internet cafe with great difficulty.
The internet cafe was on the second floor, and as soon as she entered, she was hit by the strong smell of cigarette smoke.
Men’s laughter echoed from inside.
Lin Yaojia steeled herself and walked in.
The receptionist was a girl with a head full of small, messy braids. She bit on a lollipop, lifted her eyelids, and sized up Lin Yaojia for a few seconds before asking, “Little sister, here to find someone?”
“No, just a computer for an hour.” Leaning against the counter, Lin Yaojia lazily yawned.
The girl paused, still thinking the girl in front of her seemed a bit too well-behaved, so she deliberately assigned her a computer in the corner.
“Six yuan, seat number 29.”
Lin Yaojia fished out a red bill from her pocket. “And a bottle of Wahaha.”
998 was stunned: Where did you get the money?
Lin Yaojia unscrewed the Wahaha, took a sip, and only then answered: Before leaving, while Xiang Qin wasn’t paying attention, I took it from her bag.
Xiang Qin had set her crossbody bag on the back of the chair as soon as she sat down, which just made it convenient for Lin Yaojia.
998 fell silent for a moment: You’re really something.
Lin Yaojia eagerly walked inside to find her seat.
Thanks for the compliment.