“No, first explain clearly what feels off to you?”
“Well, you used to care so much about your figure before. But now, you eat so much for lunch and drink high-calorie milk tea in the afternoon. You…”
“Hey, it’s fine.”
Su Lingyu breathed a sigh of relief.
She thought Qiao Feifei had discovered she was an imposter!
“How is it fine? This kind of binge eating is wrong, don’t you know…”
“My period is coming.”
“…Huh?”
Qiao Feifei was caught off guard by Su Lingyu’s sudden change of topic.
“Because my period is coming, I’ve been craving sweets lately to soothe my hormones.”
“Oh, I see.”
You should’ve said so earlier, making me worry for nothing.
“But I’ve noticed you’re the one acting a bit strange.”
This caring attitude doesn’t really match the behavior of a villainous female supporting character.
“What’s strange about me?”
Su Lingyu naturally wouldn’t mention anything about female leads or antagonists, only hinting indirectly: “Don’t you think there might be some psychological issue with you spending all your energy scheming against Xia Bai?”
“Hmph, you wouldn’t understand.”
Qiao Feifei pursed her lips and turned her head away.
Su Lingyu: “…”
How wouldn’t I understand?
It’s just that you like Fu Yuchen too!
Never mind that from now on Fu Yuchen will only have eyes for the female lead, even without her, given your blood relationship, it would be impossible both morally and legally!
Wake up! Lu Xiaokui… oh no, Qiao Feifei!
7:00 PM.
Fu Yuchen finished reviewing the last document and rubbed his tired brow.
Looking sideways through the glass wall, he saw many technicians still working while eating instant noodles, their keyboards clacking away.
The smell was actually quite appetizing.
Could this stuff really be that delicious?
“President Fu.”
Team Leader Qin, who had been checking if his instant noodles were ready, turned and saw Fu Yuchen standing nearby, quickly standing up.
“Hmm.”
Fu Yuchen nodded, looking at the computer screen: “How late are you planning to work?”
“We’ll leave after finishing this section of code, it won’t take long.”
“Alright, everyone has been working hard on the new game development recently. Once the game launches, I’ll give everyone time off and bonuses.”
“It’s no trouble, President Fu.”
“Thank you, President Fu,” the employees chuckled happily.
Compared to other companies with their 9-to-9 grind culture, Kappa Technology offered excellent benefits and had very humane company policies.
That’s why they often volunteered for overtime, wanting to complete their tasks sooner.
Now with the promise of time off and bonuses from the boss, everyone’s fatigue seemed to lift immediately.
Meanwhile, on the bus.
Hearing the female voice announcement that Jiaoxin Village had been reached, Xia Bai squeezed through the crowd toward the rear door.
After finally pushing her way off the bus, she walked down one street, crossed two alleys, and arrived at a rental apartment.
Before she could take out her keys, a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties carrying a water basin came out from inside.
“You’re later than usual today.”
Zhou Cuifen moved aside when she saw her.
“Yeah, rush hour traffic was pretty bad.”
Xia Bai also sidled into the room, putting down her bag and packages: “How’s sister doing today?”
“She just had another episode. I was about to get water to clean her up!”
“I’ll take care of it.”
Xia Bai took off her coat, rolled up her sleeves, and took the basin from Zhou Cuifen’s hands.
After fetching water and carrying it to the bathroom, she found Xia Hong standing inside—a thin, frail woman with an oval face and delicate features, though her eyes had a noticeable squint.
When Xia Hong saw Xia Bai, she visibly brightened, calling out indistinctly:
“Oww… sis… s-sister…”
“Hurry up and squat down. I need to wash you.”
“Oww…”
“Haven’t I taught you many times? You have to use the toilet properly and learn to wipe yourself. Why can’t you remember?”
Xia Bai tested the water temperature in the basin, soaked a towel, and handed it to Xia Hong as she spoke, her tone tinged with helplessness.
“Oww~”
Scolded, Xia Hong hunched her shoulders, wearing an innocent expression.
This only deepened Xia Bai’s frustration. When would her sister—who had the intellect of a young child—ever learn to be more independent and considerate?
Outside, Zhou Cuifen, who was about to start preparing dinner, noticed a bag on the table and called into the bathroom:
“What did you bring back today?”
“Leftovers from lunch.”
“Why are you bringing home leftover lunch?”
Zhou Cuifen opened the bag and saw an elaborate meal, now cold but still neatly arranged. She hurried to the bathroom door.
“Do you eat this well every day at the company?”
“No, a colleague gave it to me…”
“Do you have any idea what your sister and I eat for lunch at home? There’s not a bit of meat! Meanwhile, you’re feasting at work—how much did this cost?”
“Mom, I told you, it was given to me by a colleague. I didn’t buy it!”
Realizing her earlier explanation had gone unheard, Xia Bai raised her voice impatiently.
“Really? Someone gave it to you?” Zhou Cuifen asked, half-convinced.
“Yes!”
“A male colleague?”
“A female colleague!”
“Is she close to you? You—”
“Enough, Mom. It’s just a meal. Do you have to make such a big deal out of it?”
Xia Bai glanced at the lunchbox in her mother’s hand, suddenly regretting having brought it home just because she couldn’t bear to waste it at noon.
“A big deal? Of course it is! I’ve worked tirelessly to raise you, poured my heart into nurturing you, sent you to school and university. If you dare neglect me and your sister in the future, I’ll—I’ll—”
“Alright, I know. You’ve said this many times. Can you please just start cooking?”
“You’d better remember what you promised—”
“I know, I know.”
Xia Bai cut her off again, anxious to avoid another long lecture.
Sometimes, she understood her mother—a woman who had divorced early, without a son. Though she had two daughters, one was disabled, so she had pinned all her hopes and future on Xia Bai.
Yet, at times, hearing her mother repeat those words over and over again was exhausting. The pressure felt overwhelming.
“Oww, sis… s-sister… no oww~”
Xia Hong put down the towel, took Xia Bai’s hand, and patted it gently.
“I’m not crying. Why would I be crying? Dry yourself and put your pants on!”
Xia Bai stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on her pants, and walked out of the bathroom.
“Oww… bad… bad sis oww~”
Left alone in the bathroom, Xia Hong muttered a few complaints but still obediently did as she was told.
Another day of commuting to work.
Su Lingyu lazily yawned while wondering in her heart: what would happen if she didn’t follow the plot from the book?