MQSP - Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Lin Yuqing was practically dragged to the kitchen by the elders. A group of them stood by with their arms crossed, supervising her as she washed and chopped vegetables.
"Cut the meat smaller, it'll cook faster."
"Wash the bamboo skewers well and disinfect them. Don't give us food poisoning. Using the toilet here is such a hassle."
"More vegetables, I like vegetables. Have you and Xiao Ye… you know… already?"
Lin Yuqing was already annoyed, and this sudden question made her freeze. Hey, isn't that a bit of a sudden topic change?
She looked back and saw Su Yu staring at her, her eyes practically glowing with curiosity. The words "I'm curious" were all but written on her face.
"Elder Su, isn't that a bit outside your purview?" Lin Yuqing shot her a half-smiling glance. Old lecher.
"What kind of attitude is that? Is that how you speak to an elder?" Su Yu was indignant. She remembered that time at Lin Yuqing's house when Lin Yuqing had carried Xiao Ye back to the bedroom. She had thought she was in for a good show and had pressed her ear to the door for twenty minutes, only to hear the two of them murmuring softly inside. None of the sounds she'd been expecting ever came. It was a real letdown.
After that, Lin Yuqing had taken Xiao Ye away, and she'd had no more drama to watch. Now, she had finally found her chance.
"You wouldn't be that much of a beast, would you?" Lu Qing finally caught on. But even as she said it, she thought, with a Xiao Ye that tempting… if she didn't do anything… that would make her a beast.
"Calling her a beast? You're giving her too much credit," Xue Yuexian sneered.
Lin Yuqing chuckled to herself. She glanced back; they all had different expressions, but most were clearly envious. Su Yu, for instance, was practically drooling.
"Hey, are those the expressions elders should be making? Where did you learn emotional control?" Hmph, a bunch of old spinsters. Lacking the nourishment of love, are we? Go on and be envious!
"Isn't it perfectly natural for me to do what should be done with my lover? Since you're all elders, shouldn't you be gratified that our private life is so harmonious?" Lin Yuqing was smiling brightly, deliberately provoking these bastards.
The women exchanged a look, a shared sense of frustration stuck in their throats.
Just as Lin Yuqing was enjoying herself, her brow furrowed. She thought of Xinran. She had promised to spend New Year's with her, but at this moment of reunion, Xinran was still alone on the mountain.
Meanwhile, with Xiao Ye, Fang Yi's attention was completely captivated by the kitten. She picked it up and wouldn't let go. Jiang Boyan wasn't as interested in teasing Lin Yuqing, so the two of them sat with Xiao Ye on the edge of the bed, listening to the little one recount her interesting experiences over the past few months. They listened with great delight.
"From the sound of it, you really like it here and don't want to go back?" Jiang Boyan was a little worried, seeing the genuine smile on the little one's face.
"Mmm…" Baiye was a bit conflicted. It was true, she was carefree and very happy here, and she was with Auntie Lin.
"I have no problem with you coming out here for a vacation, but if you're planning to settle down here, I have a few things to say. Don't forget, besides Auntie Lin, you have this whole group of aunties who care about you. You have your mother, Xia Nan. Besides, how old are you? This kind of quiet life isn't suitable for someone your age."
"Mm, I know, I just…"
"You're just having so much fun you've forgotten all about home, right? Meow~" Fang Yi chimed in with a smile.
"Mhm, hehe~"
A word to the wise is enough. Jiang Boyan had made her point and didn't press the matter further.
"You just mentioned a Flower Auntie, who lives alone on the mountaintop cultivating orchids?"
"Yes, we were planning to spend New Year's with her. Ah! I forgot, Flower Auntie is still up there all by herself!" Baiye exclaimed, quickly getting up. Just as she spoke, Lin Yuqing came in.
"Auntie Lin, Flower…"
Lin Yuqing raised a hand. "I'll go check on her. We don't have enough stools anyway, so I'll go borrow a few."
"Okay, then I'll…"
"You stay here and keep them company." Lin Yuqing then pulled Xiao Ye aside. "Don't tell them too much about the Flower Witch. She doesn't like to be disturbed."
"Okay, I understand," Baiye nodded quickly.
Lin Yuqing slipped away from the group and walked quickly up the mountain. It was a bit overcast today, and the sky was darkening early, making it difficult to see the path.
"Flower Witch?" Seeing that a bonfire had also been lit in the yard, Lin Yuqing called out from a distance.
The Flower Witch heard her and turned, seeming to glance behind Lin Yuqing.
"Xiao Ye didn't come. Um… Fang Yi, Lu Qing, and Jiang Boyan are all here. Do you want to go over and see them?"
Hearing those names, the Flower Witch clearly froze. She shook her head, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes. Are they here to see Xiao Ye? Then Xiao Ye won't be able to come, will she.
Her heart full of anticipation was now empty, and the disappointment on her face was impossible to hide. Seeing it made Lin Yuqing's heart ache.
"Um, that's the rocking chair Xiao Ye wanted. It's finished. You can take it back with you." She gestured vaguely at the completed rocking chair beside her.
Xiao Ye had told her she wanted to learn how to make a rocking chair so she and Auntie Lin could lie in it and watch the stars together. The one the little one had made wasn't very sturdy, so the Flower Witch had worked day and night to make a new one for her—a two-seater, big enough for both of them.
Lin Yuqing glanced at it and pursed her lips. "Aren't you going to go see them?"
"I don't know those people. What's there to see? Go on, don't keep her waiting."
"Xinran…"
"Go."
Lin Yuqing knew her temperament and couldn't insist. She nodded and headed back down the mountain.
On the way back, Lin Yuqing felt a deep unease. It was a good thing that everyone had come, but it meant Xinran would be left alone… How was she supposed to spend the New Year all by herself…
"Auntie Lin! Hey, where's Flower Auntie? Oh, my rocking chair! Wait, this isn't the one I made, is it?"
Baiye helped Lin Yuqing place the rocking chair in the yard, asking about the Flower Witch away from the others.
"Is she spending New Year's alone? That must be so lonely."
"There's no helping it. She doesn't like crowds and doesn't want to be disturbed." Lin Yuqing sighed inwardly. It was a truly difficult situation.
Baiye also frowned, seemingly trying to think of a solution that would satisfy everyone.
"Alright, time to eat! Yo, where'd this rocking chair come from? You two really know how to live!"
Seeing the group's high spirits, Lin Yuqing patted Xiao Ye. "Everyone came here for you. Don't neglect them."
"Mhm." Baiye nodded, and the two of them joined the others, getting busy.
The group sat around the bonfire, enjoying the rare tranquility.
"This is the first time I've ever celebrated New Year's like this. It's very meaningful. I have to capture this moment; it'll definitely be useful for filming in the future." Su Yu was off to the side with a camera, taking commemorative photos for everyone from a professional director's perspective.
"It seems there's no good liquor around here. I could only find the local specialty fruit wine. Let's do as the locals do and have some of this."
Fang Yi had rummaged through the kitchen for ages and, between cups and bowls, had barely managed to gather enough for everyone.
Everyone raised their glasses and clinked them together. Lin Yuqing was in a pretty good mood and deigned to take a sip. It was decent—a rich, fragrant wine with a hint of sourness. She pursed her lips, savoring it.
"Is it good?" Baiye blinked, curious.
"It's not bad. A little tart, like the taste of Green Fruit."
"I want to try some too!"
"No, your alcohol tolerance is too low," Lin Yuqing refused flatly. This girl was famously a one-sip-wonder. If she took one sip and fell asleep, Lin Yuqing would be left without an ally to fend off this group.
Seeing the little one pout with a hint of disappointment, the others chimed in to support her. "A little sip won't hurt."
"Yeah, just a taste will be fine."
Seeing the little one eager to try after everyone's encouragement, Lin Yuqing thought for a moment, then took another sip of wine. She wrapped an arm around the little one, lowered her head, and pressed her lips against hers. Her tongue easily parted them and licked the girl's smooth, tender little tongue.
"Hey, hey, hey! What do you think you're doing?!"
The elders were not having it. Publicly teasing their girl like this, right in front of her whole family? Unacceptable!
Lin Yuqing just smiled, looking smug.
"How's the taste?" Lin Yuqing asked with a straight face, her expression clearly saying, I'm asking about the wine, so please don't get any other ideas.
Baiye pursed her lips and shot her a glance. "Shameless old thing…"
"By the way, there's something I need to announce." Lin Yuqing's expression turned serious. Her arm around the little one tightened unconsciously, pulling her closer into her embrace.
"I'm planning to marry Xiao Ye."
Baiye froze, staring at Lin Yuqing with a look of pure adoration. Marriage. What a beautiful word, especially coming from Auntie Lin's lips! It was something to yearn for!
"What? Marriage? Isn't it too soon? Xiao Ye is still so young!"
"Exactly! Xiao Ye, you need to think this over carefully. Remember what your Little Aunt told you? Don't let her get you too easily. If it's too easy, she won't cherish it!" Xue Yuexian said worriedly.
"I also think it's a bit early. What does Xiao Ye think?" said Jiang Boyan.
Fang Yi, who had been petting the cat with one hand and holding a skewer in the other, froze. "Are you sure you want to ask what she thinks?"
She has no backbone…
Sure enough, just as Fang Yi finished speaking, everyone saw the little one nodding furiously.
The elders silently facepalmed.
"…Did you not hear a word I said to you?!" Xue Yuexian looked utterly exasperated. Why would you give in so easily? You're going to get bullied to death in the future!
"Huh? But I want to… mmmph!" Before Baiye could finish, Xue Yuexian clapped a hand over her mouth. "Even if you want to, you can't say it out loud! You have to make her take the initiative, understand?"
Lin Yuqing was completely unconcerned. She pushed Xue Yuexian's hand away. "Will you marry me?" she asked, looking seriously into Xiao Ye's eyes, which were clear, bright, and sparkled like stars.
Their eyes met. For a moment, Baiye was lost in a daze. She was about to nod vigorously when Xue Yuexian cupped her chin, preventing her from nodding.
"Be reserved, Xiao Ye! You have to be reserved!" Xue Yuexian quickly reminded her, her own heart aching with the effort.
"I do!"
"…" Xue Yuexian rolled her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into her head.
"Why are you so impatient, just like your mother! Can't you be a little more like me?"
"Like you in what way? Saying one thing and meaning another?" Lin Yuqing retorted huffily.
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