“Meng Ci’an’s younger sister? The one with the pretty face but an empty head who always targets you?” Song Xi’s eyes lit up.
“Enough. Meng Ci’an is not an ordinary person. Keep your hands to yourself. We are in a critical period and it is not wise to cause trouble.” He Qing frowned slightly as a warning.
“Ah I know I know. I am just curious and want to meet her.” Song Xi waved his hand.
“If you really want to meet her, tomorrow at her engagement banquet with Jiang Wenyan you can come with me.” Lin Siqing raised the corner of her eyes.
“Sure. Maybe I can help you get some satisfaction Boss.” Song Xi grinned mischievously.
“Enough. She is just a little girl. Do not go too far.” Lin Siqing thought of the way she had hugged her the other night and rubbed against her.
Song Xi and He Qing exchanged a glance. Both of them were puzzled. Previously when their Boss mentioned Meng Ci’an’s younger sister it was always with a look of dislike. Why did she react so differently now?
Song Xi was about to ask when the door of the private room was pushed open and a waiter led someone in.
Lin Siqing’s gaze followed the long legs and slowly lifted to the face of the person. She froze.
The person she was negotiating with from the underground organization was actually Meng Ci’an.
Meng Ci’an did not expect to see Lin Siqing either. A flash of confusion crossed his eyes before it disappeared. “Miss Lin, what a coincidence. Are you ‘Red Butterfly’?”
Lin Siqing silently signaled Song Xi with her eyes.
Song Xi understood and put his arm around Lin Siqing’s shoulder. “You know Siqing? She is my friend. We had an appointment today so I brought her along.”
Hearing this, Meng Ci’an’s eyes darkened slightly and his gaze fixed on Lin Siqing.
After a moment, he snorted. “Miss Lin certainly has a wide circle of friends.”
Lin Siqing smiled slightly. “I am still far behind Young Master Meng.”
The evening’s cooperation went very smoothly. Song Xi kept teasing Lin Siqing in front of Meng Ci’an.
Meng Ci’an occasionally mocked Lin Siqing with cold remarks.
In the end the two sides still reached an agreement.
Before leaving, Meng Ci’an gave Lin Siqing a deep glance and then left without looking back.
After Meng Ci’an left, Lin Siqing quickly shook off Song Xi’s hand and lightly patted her shoulder in annoyance. “I asked you to cooperate with me not to take advantage of me.”
Song Xi quickly raised his hands. “Boss, you asked me to cooperate. Everyone in City A knows my role. Being by your side there is only one role I can play.”
Lin Siqing stood. “Since the initial cooperation is complete, the rest is up to you. I just returned to the Lin family. There are many demons in the family. My identity cannot be exposed.”
“Got it. Go be your young lady. ‘Red Butterfly’ has us covered.” Song Xi waved his hand casually.
Meng Ci’an remained in a sullen mood and stared silently out the window all the way home.
Meng Shining had been playing games all night. She checked the time. It was past midnight. She was hungry.
She searched the room. Since the original owner was dieting, there was nothing to eat except water.
After hesitating, Meng Shining decided she could not sleep without a late night snack.
She sneaked downstairs without waking anyone and reached the kitchen.
She rummaged in the fridge and found several chicken drumsticks. She also grabbed some instant noodles from the cupboard. It was too late to eat too much. She decided to marinate the chicken, coat it with breadcrumbs, fry it in the air fryer and then cook the instant noodles. It would be delicious.
In her original world she often cooked late at night using whatever ingredients were available.
She marinated the chicken drumsticks with cooking wine and ginger to remove the odor, and added soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, cumin, and pepper for twenty minutes.
While marinating the chicken she fried an egg for herself and washed some vegetables. She planned to cook the instant noodles after the chicken was almost done.
Meng Shining hummed a tune while happily preparing her food.
“What are you doing?”
Meng Shining had just taken the chicken from the air fryer to flip it when she heard Meng Ci’an’s cold voice.
She looked back. Meng Ci’an was standing at the kitchen door, watching her.
Meng Shining smiled slightly. “Brother, you are back? I was hungry so I made something to eat. Why are you home so late?”
Meng Ci’an looked at her with suspicion. His younger sister had been pampered since childhood. How could she cook even if she was hungry at midnight? She would usually wake a chef to make food for her.
Moreover she always cared about her figure. How could she eat like this in the middle of the night?
“Since when do you know how to cook?” Meng Ci’an asked.
Meng Shining stiffened. She almost forgot that the original owner was a young lady of high status.
“I often hide in my room to cook. You just never knew.” She made an excuse. Her room had a small kitchen that the original owner never used.
Meng Ci’an said nothing. The aroma of the chicken made him a little hungry.
He turned to go back to his room but Meng Shining called out. “Brother, you probably have not eaten yet. I made a lot and cannot finish it alone. Eat some with me.”
Hearing this, Meng Ci’an turned and looked at her. “Fine.”
“Go sit first. I will cook the noodles. It will be quick.” Meng Shining was not really worried about finishing it alone. She just wanted to distract him with food so he would not ask more questions.
Soon Meng Shining brought the chicken to the table and served two bowls of instant noodles. Not knowing Meng Ci’an would return suddenly, she split the fried egg in half, putting one half in each bowl.
Meng Ci’an looked at the egg on the noodles. “Can we not afford eggs in this family? Two people sharing one egg.”
Meng Shining bit into a chicken drumstick with a crisp sound. She closed her eyes in delight. “How was I supposed to know you would come back suddenly? I only fried my own egg. You can eat it or leave it.”
Meng Ci’an picked up the egg and bit into it. “I did not say I would not eat it.”
“Brother, try this chicken. I made it. It tastes really good.” Meng Shining pushed the plate toward him like showing a treasure.
Meng Ci’an picked up a drumstick and took a bite. The breadcrumb coating was crispy, the chicken tender and juicy, and the seasoning was perfect. Not too salty and not too bland.
After finishing, Meng Ci’an looked at Meng Shining, who was leaning back in her chair full and burping, and commented mercilessly. “Looks like you have been sneaking food at night quite often.”
Meng Shining yawned. “Sneaking food? I am eating openly and honestly.”