MQSP - Chapter 23
Chapter 23
When Baiye got home, Xia Xiaozi was preparing dinner.
"Auntie, I'm back a little late today. Let me help you." She washed her hands and went straight to the kitchen, completely ignoring a certain someone sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed, looking unhappy and waiting to be noticed.
Lin Yuqing was quite annoyed. She looked back at the kitchen doorway. Didn't she see me? Am I that unnoticeable? Or does she only have eyes for her idol!
As she thought this, Lin Yuqing recalled what happened on set today. Baiye had actually said those words in front of so many people, and with her gaze fixed ardently on Ji Ming! If she hadn't misunderstood, wasn't Baiye indirectly expressing her love for Ji Ming? Not minding gender, or even age…
But I mind!
How old is this little brat to be falling in love? And with a woman, no less! Impossible! I won't allow it!
The more Lin Yuqing thought about it, the more furious she became. She stood up and went straight into the kitchen. Seeing Baiye washing vegetables, she walked up without a word and grabbed her wrist. Just as she was about to drag her away, she thought better of it. What if she was wrong? What if Baiye had just said it casually?
"Eh, Auntie Lin? What's wrong?" Baiye was very confused, looking at Auntie Lin gripping her hand.
Lin Yuqing hesitated for a moment, let go of her hand, and instead grabbed Xia Xiaozi's ear. "This has nothing to do with you. Make your dinner." She shot Baiye an irritated glance, then dragged Xia Xiaozi back to the bedroom, completely ignoring Xia Xiaozi's wails and howls the entire time.
"Ouch, ouch, Qing Jie, what are you doing? Let's talk this out properly!!" Xia Xiaozi covered Lin Yuqing's hand to stop the assault. How has the Eagle Claw technique, unseen for so many years, made a comeback!!!
"Let me ask you, you and Xiao Ye are thick as thieves, right? So do you know if she likes anyone?"
"Huh?" Xia Xiaozi was completely baffled. "What do you mean, 'likes anyone'…"
"Do you remember what she said at lunch today? She said she believes love is free and shouldn't be limited by gender or age." Lin Yuqing's expression was serious.
"Xiao Ye likes… women!?" A flash of inspiration struck Xia Xiaozi. Her eyes widened as she stared at Lin Yuqing, recalling how the little one's eyes would light up whenever she mentioned her Auntie Lin. "Not limited by gender and… age??" Xia Xiaozi found it a bit incredible, but it didn't seem impossible. Could it be…
A bold idea popped into Xia Xiaozi's mind. A very bold one.
"What did you think of?"
"Could it be… Xiao Ye… likes…" The word "you" hadn't yet left her lips.
"Is it Ji Ming?" Lin Yuqing asked hurriedly.
"What?" Xia Xiaozi froze. She had been so agitated just now that she'd broken out in a cold sweat. Hearing that name, she suddenly wasn't agitated anymore.
"Ji Ming??"
"Yes. When she said that today, she was looking at Ji Ming the whole time."
"Huh? That happened?" For some reason, Xia Xiaozi suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. She tugged at her collar to air out her sweat. Lin Yuqing had nearly scared her to death just now! Now that she realized things weren't as serious as she'd thought, she couldn't help but start being cheeky again.
"See? I always tell you to care about her more, but you're always so fierce with her. Well, now someone cares about her more than you do, so of course she's going to be with someone else."
Lin Yuqing's eyes narrowed. This woman could still laugh!? Fine, I'll give you something to laugh about!
Quicker than words could tell, Lin Yuqing's hand shot out like lightning and grabbed Xia Xiaozi's other ear. "New debts and old, we'll settle them all today." With that, she gave it a full twist.
…
"Ah—"
Baiye was in the kitchen cooking when she suddenly heard a blood-curdling scream. It startled her so much she shivered, nearly dropping a plate. Her heart was pounding.
She hurried upstairs to Lin Yuqing's room. Hearing her aunt's intermittent wails from inside, accompanied by all sorts of apologies and pleas for mercy, Baiye started to panic. No, she was very panicked… What on earth was Auntie Lin doing to her aunt…
"Lin… Auntie Lin?" Baiye knocked on the door and pressed down on the handle, wanting to push her way in.
"This has nothing to do with you. Go back to your room and stay there," Lin Yuqing snapped coldly.
"But…"
Lin Yuqing had barely finished speaking when the door was yanked open and Xia Xiaozi ran out in a sorry state. Before Baiye could get a good look at her, she first noticed her pair of protruding ears, which were red and practically glowing…
"Oh my god, how did they get pulled like that…" She had heard that Auntie Lin used to love pulling people's ears when she got angry. She'd turned her aunt into Big Ear Tutu…
"Quick, quick, help me check, were my ears pulled off!!!" Xia Xiaozi's grimacing face made Baiye unable to hold back a laugh.
"No, no, they're right here, perfectly fine. They're just a little red. I'll go get some ice for you to put on them. Wouldn't it be better if you just behaved and didn't make Auntie Lin angry?" Baiye's tone sounded very awkward to Xia Xiaozi. Hey, I'm the elder here! Besides, isn't this all because of you!!
"Stop worrying about her for now. Come here," Lin Yuqing ordered Baiye.
"Me?" Baiye was stunned. She looked at her aunt's miserable state and subconsciously covered her own ears. I didn't do anything, did I…
"Auntie…" Baiye tried to hide behind Xia Xiaozi. This small action made Lin Yuqing very displeased, and she glared.
"She's calling you, hurry up and go. Your Auntie here can't even protect herself right now." Xia Xiaozi very magnanimously sold Xiao Ye out.
Baiye entered the room. The moment the door closed, her heart trembled. "Auntie Lin…" She stood by the door, not daring to move, and watched Lin Yuqing cautiously.
Lin Yuqing frowned and beckoned to her. "Come closer. I don't bite."
Baiye took the opportunity to observe Auntie Lin's expression. It didn't seem that terrifying, so she dared to walk over.
"Xiao Ye, you're still young. You can't fall in love this early, and you especially can't like a woman. Do you understand?"
"Ah?" Baiye's heart jolted. Auntie Lin knows I like her!?
"Auntie Lin, I… I…"
"Besides, what's so great about Ji Ming? You'll meet many more outstanding people in the future. You can take your time and choose then."
"…Huh?" Baiye felt like her brain wasn't working properly.
"Auntie Lin, Ji Jiejie and I…"
"I'm not saying she's a bad person, but anyway…" Lin Yuqing didn't know how to phrase it. "You're still young. No dating."
Baiye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Auntie Lin, I'm already nineteen~"
"What's wrong with nineteen? Wait until you're my age to talk about it!" Lin Yuqing glared, and the younger girl immediately fell silent.
"…" By the time I'm your age… how old will you be…
"Also, from now on, you are not to be thick as thieves with Xia Xiaozi, and you are definitely not to team up with her against me. Do you hear me?" Lin Yuqing's face was grim, showing just how serious this issue was.
Baiye kind of wanted to laugh.
"No laughing. Did you hear me? If there's a next time, you'll see how I deal with you."
Hearing this, Baiye immediately clapped both hands over her ears.
But she saw Auntie Lin give a light chuckle. "That's for dealing with Xia Xiaozi. For you, I have to use methods for punishing children."
Baiye was baffled. "What methods for punishing children??"
"Like what I do to Xiao Bao…"
…
When Baiye came out of Lin Yuqing's bedroom, Xia Xiaozi was just returning to her own room with ice from the kitchen. Seeing the little one's bright red ears, she flew into a rage. "She's too inhuman! She actually laid a hand on you??" Xia Xiaozi quickly reached out to rub the little one's ears.
"Uh, Auntie, you've misunderstood. Auntie Lin didn't pull my ears…"
"Don't kid me. Then how are your ears even redder than mine? Eh? That's not right, why is your face red too? What did she do to you?"
"Nothing… Aiya, just stop asking…" Baiye stomped her foot in frustration and turned to go back to her room.
In her room, Lin Yuqing couldn't help but chuckle to herself. So the little one blushes even when she doesn't have a fever. And she's even cuter when she blushes, hahaha!
Lin Yuqing looked down at her book, but she couldn't read a single word. Her mind was filled with the image of the little one's face flushing red after she'd said those three words. From the looks of it, she must be very afraid of being punished like that. She'd finally found a way to handle her.
Lin Yuqing was laughing heartily when she suddenly realized she was laughing. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so genuinely from the heart.
Having such a cute kid around… wasn't so bad after all.
At dinner that evening, Lin Yuqing was in high spirits. Her appetite was great, and she ate with gusto. Baiye kept stealing glances at her, occasionally blushing. Xia Xiaozi remained silent the entire time, not daring to make a peep.
"Auntie."
"Ahem."
The moment Baiye called out, Lin Yuqing gave a light cough.
Baiye didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She looked at Lin Yuqing. "I wanted to ask if Auntie's ears were feeling better…" Good heavens, what's gotten into Auntie Lin… Why is she acting so strange!
"Mm," Lin Yuqing nodded, saying nothing more.
Xia Xiaozi looked at her cautiously. "Am… I allowed to answer??"
"She can still talk back to me. Does she look like anything's wrong with her?" Lin Yuqing answered for her.
"Yep, I'm fine, it doesn't hurt at all!" Xia Xiaozi secretly glanced at Lin Yuqing. She habitually picked up some food with her chopsticks to put in Baiye's bowl, but her hand froze mid-air. She turned her head to look at Lin Yuqing. "May I?" she asked, seeking permission.
Lin Yuqing shot her a sideways glance. Taking it too far!
"Right, I heard from Xiao Zi that you have a weak stomach. What's that about?" Lin Yuqing frowned, remembering the last time Xiao Ye was sick. When she had asked Xia Xiaozi what medicine to give her, Xia Xiaozi had blurted out that Baiye had a sensitive stomach and couldn't be given just any medicine.
"Uh, I…" Baiye got nervous, and her hand trembled noticeably. Lin Yuqing saw it and chuckled inwardly. Did I scare this one? Still, she's even cuter when she's scared!!
"Have you not been eating properly at school?" Lin Yuqing deliberately put on a stern face, set down her chopsticks, and sat up straight.
Seeing her like this, Baiye panicked even more. "Auntie Lin… I-I-I was wrong! I promise I'll eat properly and take good care of myself from now on. Please don't be angry!"
Xia Xiaozi was dumbfounded. This kid's apologies were so practiced, they flowed even more smoothly than her own! What on earth did the boss do to scare her this badly?
Lin Yuqing suppressed her laughter, thinking she was truly brilliant.
"Mm, just be more careful. Tell me if you don't feel well."
"Okay, I will!"
"Let's eat. Get some food for yourself, eat more."
"Okay!"
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