[System: A bug has occurred in the program. Restarting system… System reboot failed…]
Qin Junlan had no idea how long she had been unconscious. When she finally regained awareness, she realized her nose was intact. However, Bai Lansheng had been knocked to the ground and was now supporting both their weight with her slender wrists, barely holding herself up.
Qin Junlan quickly got up and reached out to help Bai Lansheng, but Bai Lansheng rejected her.
With a cold expression, Bai Lansheng stood up and subtly rubbed her lower back with one hand.
Junlan’s brain was only just starting to function again. Feeling a bit foggy, she asked, “Didn’t you fall on your butt?”
Bai Lansheng froze for a moment, then shot a sharp glare at Junlan.
Realizing she had said the wrong thing, Junlan snapped out of it. She began brushing off Bai Lansheng’s clothes, carefully patting away the mushroom debris. Her tone softened, carrying a rare hint of apology.
“I’ll clean it up for you.”
As Junlan tried to think of a way to explain what had just happened, Binbin came running over, cutting through the tense atmosphere.
“Boss, sister-in-law, are you both okay?” His eyes darted back and forth between them.
Behind him, more people were casting curious glances in their direction.
Junlan looked around and then turned back to Binbin. “I’m fine. Go back.”
Binbin replied hesitantly, “Okay…” But it clearly did not look fine to him. Sister-in-law’s expression was terrible.
After responding to Binbin, Junlan asked the system silently in her mind,
What just happened? I did not do anything inappropriate, did I?
The system remained silent.
Junlan frowned slightly and called out to Binbin, who was about to leave.
“What did you see just now?”
Binbin answered honestly, “I saw you pounce on sister-in-law and cling to her. You would not let go. It looked like you were flirting with her in public.”
After speaking, he glanced at Bai Lansheng’s icy face and thought to himself that his boss had really set him up. Why make him say that out loud?
Feeling Bai Lansheng’s gaze, Binbin quickly looked away.
Junlan, however, was completely unaware and kept asking, “How long did I hold her?”
Binbin answered uncertainly, “Not long… maybe less than a minute?”
Junlan touched the back of her neck, which still felt cold. She had only lost consciousness for a short moment, but the lingering pain was very real.
“Call Dahai over. I have something to discuss with him.”
When Dahai arrived, Junlan got straight to the point. “I know a way to prevent the Liuli mushrooms from rotting. Get someone to try it out. If it works, you will be the one to negotiate with Boss Lü. However the deal turns out, I will not interfere.”
She was giving Dahai full control. How much profit he could secure would depend entirely on his own ability.
Dahai’s eyes lit up for a second, then he regained his composure and nodded firmly. “You can count on me. I’ve got this.”
They lowered their voices to prevent others from overhearing.
Their hushed conversation had a calming effect. Bai Lansheng could not help but yawn. Ever since she was reborn, she had been waking and sleeping early. Her internal clock had already adapted.
Junlan glanced at her and said, “Let me know when everything is settled. Thank you for your hard work.”
After they left, Binbin leaned close to Dahai, still chewing on something. “What did Boss say?”
Dahai pinched his cheek. “Wipe your mouth when you eat.”
Binbin grinned. “There was half a meat bun left. I didn’t want to waste it.”
Dahai shook his head. “You never learn.” But his tone was not really scolding.
Binbin repeated, “So what did Boss say?”
Dahai took a deep breath, trying to stay serious, but the smile on his face gave him away.
“She told us something that could mean we get to eat meat buns every day. No, real meat every day.”
Iron Tiger had tried to recruit them many times, but they always refused.
In the Tiger Roar Gang, the only way to rise was to follow in Iron Tiger’s footsteps. But Iron Tiger would never allow anyone beneath him to surpass him, so he kept suppressing the lower ranks.
Now, things were different. Dahai saw a brand new path forward.
Qin Junlan parked the car in front of a small motel. Bai Lansheng saw the flashing neon lights above the door, suggestive and gaudy, and absolutely refused to get out of the car.
Junlan ended up carrying her inside. At the front desk, she said, “One room, please.”
The receptionist looked at Bai Lansheng, whose feet were off the ground as Junlan supported her by the rear. Then he looked at Junlan, who was impatiently tapping the counter.
“We have a couple’s suite,” the receptionist offered.
Junlan felt a headache coming on. As Bai Lansheng tugged at her hair, she complained, “Stop pulling my hair. You’re going to yank it all out.”
After calming her down, Junlan turned back to the receptionist and said, “Not a couple’s suite. A double room.”
Junlan carried Bai Lansheng into the room and dropped her onto one of the twin beds.
The soft mattress bounced Lansheng up and down. Her heart felt just as unsettled. First she had been tackled in the warehouse, and now they had booked a room. Was Junlan planning to lose control?
Junlan casually began unbuttoning her shirt. The buttons were a bit tight, and her expression grew slightly irritated.
To Bai Lansheng, this looked like impatience. Like she could not wait any longer.
Gripping the bedsheets, Lansheng could not hold back and finally spoke. “What are you trying to do?”
Junlan raised an eyebrow. “Now that we have a chance, I’m going to take a shower.” Her voice faded as she walked into the bathroom.
The sound of running water echoed through the door. Lansheng’s nervousness did not fade. The bathroom wall was made of semi-transparent glass, and it barely hid the silhouette behind it.
She sat stiffly on the bed. The room’s entrance was right next to the bathroom, but she did not even dare look in that direction.
Finally, the water stopped and the bathroom door opened. She stood up abruptly.
Junlan walked out, drying her hair with a towel. “Your turn.”
Bai Lansheng’s face turned red, then pale.
Junlan looked up. “What’s wrong?”
Lansheng pressed her lips together.
Junlan asked again, “Hmm?”
Lansheng finally muttered, “You can see through it.”
“See what?” Junlan asked.
“The glass panel. You can see through it,” Bai Lansheng replied.
Junlan glanced at the bathroom partition.
It did not seem that bad. You could not really see anything clearly.
She raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? I already showered in front of you and now you bring it up?”
“I did not look at you!” Bai Lansheng’s eyes were flushed red with embarrassment.
“The more anxious you are to deny it, the more it sounds like the opposite is true.”
“…”
“You got mushroom debris all over yourself earlier. You should take a shower.”
Bai Lansheng’s face clearly showed her reluctance.
Qin Junlan walked over and pulled down the window blinds to cover the glass. “There, that solves it.”
Bai Lansheng froze. She had been too afraid to look this way earlier. So it could be covered like that?
Seeing that she still had not moved, Qin Junlan spoke in a slow, teasing tone. “Or would you rather I help you wash?”
With a sharp movement, Bai Lansheng darted into the bathroom. Qin Junlan chuckled, shaking her head as she picked up the trade show materials they had brought back.
The exhibition had six main categories: service trade, high-end equipment, automotive and manufacturing maintenance, medical devices, food, and agricultural by-products.
Qin Junlan skimmed through the list and focused her attention on service trade and food and agriculture. Both were low-investment, high-return sectors, and currently the two she was most interested in.
She read through the materials several times, even cross-checked information online. She memorized the layout of the venue, but the person in the bathroom still had not come out.
The water had stopped running ten minutes ago. Could it be that Bai Lansheng had not taken a hot shower in so long that she fainted from the steam?
Thinking of Bai Lansheng’s fragile frame, it was not impossible.
Qin Junlan walked to the bathroom door and knocked. “Are you done?”
Bai Lansheng had finished long ago, but she was stuck in her thoughts, unsure if she should come out. When she heard the knock, she shrank back like a startled kitten.
Getting no response, Qin Junlan raised her voice.
“Can you hear me? If you can, step back a little. I’m coming in.”
She twisted the door handle to make a noise, alerting the person inside.
Her intention was simple: if Bai Lansheng was still conscious, she would either open the door herself or Qin Junlan would ask the front desk for a key. But if Bai Lansheng had fainted or was unable to respond, her words would serve as a warning that she was about to break in, so Bai Lansheng would not be accidentally hurt.
Qin Junlan thought she had considered everything. But Bai Lansheng, hearing the sound of the handle turning, became even more nervous and remained silent, which gave Qin Junlan the wrong impression.
Qin Junlan kicked the door.
The first kick was light, giving the person inside time to move. The second kick was much stronger.
Watching the door bend from the impact, Bai Lansheng’s heart raced. If that kick had landed on her, it would have hurt terribly.
The thin door was no defense against the person outside. Hiding in here was pointless. If she upset Qin Junlan, it would only make things worse. Realizing this, Bai Lansheng finally spoke in a muffled voice.
“I heard you. Please stop kicking.”
Hearing her voice, Qin Junlan relaxed. “If you’re done, then come out already. What are you doing in there? Hatching eggs?”
“…”
After a moment, the bathroom door opened slightly, revealing part of Bai Lansheng’s face.
Qin Junlan stepped inside and saw a pair of reddened eyes. She paused, then grabbed a towel and threw it over Bai Lansheng’s head.
“Your hair’s dripping wet. You’re not a child anymore. Do I really have to help you dry your hair?”
Bai Lansheng felt like her head was a ball being pushed and tossed around.
Qin Junlan rubbed her hair roughly at first but then softened her movements. As she looked down at the quiet girl, she casually asked her a few technical terms, asking for help translating them.
Most of Bai Lansheng’s attention was on her head, but she still managed to answer Qin Junlan’s questions.
“So that term is a transliteration? No wonder I couldn’t find it…” Qin Junlan paused. “Alright. Your hair’s dry.”
She picked up a comb and gently brushed the long silver hair, feeling as if she were caring for a delicate porcelain doll.
Under her touch, the long strands smoothed down quickly.
She touched the ends of the hair, thinking how soft it felt.
Through the mirror, Bai Lansheng saw Qin Junlan lifting her hair and for some reason, the gesture felt strangely intimate.
Once she was done, Qin Junlan tucked her into bed. When you’re feeling down, sleep is the best remedy.
Bai Lansheng sank into the soft mattress, looking well-behaved. Qin Junlan murmured without thinking, “I will treat you well.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze. She did not know why she had suddenly said that. It was as if a feeling she could not recall had compelled her.
Looking into those deep blue eyes, Qin Junlan felt a little flustered and quickly covered them with her hand.
The eyelashes blinked softly against her palm. It tickled, and Qin Junlan quietly pulled her hand back.
To save face, she leaned down and kissed Bai Lansheng on the forehead.
“Get some rest. Good night, Bai Lansheng.”
Qin Junlan stood up and left the bedside. She turned off the main light, leaving only the small lamp on the table. Then she took a deep breath and focused. She had finished reading the exhibition materials, but there were still many tasks waiting for her.
Bai Lansheng touched her forehead. Her eyes shifted toward the only source of light in the room. The warm glow outlined a focused profile.
With one bed all to herself and no disturbances, she should have slept well. But in the end, she only fell into a light sleep in the second half of the night. She vaguely remembered that even while she drifted off, the light was still on.
The next morning, she saw signs that the other bed had been slept in. Qin Junlan was already up and about, showing no sign of staying up late the night before.
From then on, Qin Junlan became increasingly busy. Boss Lü had her running between the warehouse and the exhibition hall to help set up their booth. Bai Lansheng became the most idle person around. She was not sure why, but seeing everyone else working while she had nothing to do left her feeling a bit frustrated.