Chapter 147

Page Three: Ling Shàojié’s House?

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Disclaimer!

I am Ning Yīng, the favorite “Cherry Sauce” of everyone!

This account will be recorded from my perspective!

…Uh, cough!

Although I want to leave a good impression, that kind of cute tone doesn’t suit me very well. It’s somewhat unbearable.

Generally speaking, I’m still a rather serious person.

It’s just that when facing Xiǎo Kǎi, I can’t help but have thoughts of bullying her. Perhaps deep down, I harbor some feelings of jealousy towards her.

Huh?

Why isn’t this written as an interlude?

Because only the perspectives of “others” would use that format.

But clearly, I don’t belong to that category.

[How worried I am, can Cherry Sauce handle Ling Shàojié alone? Will she be kidnapped?]

I had just gotten downstairs when she started worrying…

I can hear Xiǎo Kǎi’s thoughts like this.

But most of the time, I won’t reply with telepathy.

This is to foster her independence, since in her future days as a deity, I won’t be around.

Even if our personalities successfully merge, it’ll only be a new personality, and the independent me will no longer exist.

Adjusting my scarf, I left through the back door of the office building. This leads directly into the community, where it’s just a few steps to the building where Ling Shàojié lives.

However, according to Léi Shān, this might just be a ruse.

This is an older high-rise community, each building having over ten floors. Taking the elevator up to the seventh floor, this level has four households, one of which is Ling Shàojié’s rented house.

I split off a part of my scarf to form thin lines for reconnaissance, probing through the gap under the door.

Naturally, no one was there.

The furniture inside was somewhat old but complete, everything in place, and free of dust, suggesting someone maintains it. However, it lacked a sense of life, not looking like someone lives there often. It seems this place is just a decoy.

Renting an empty house to mislead, yet it’s not actually used for living. So, her true residence must hide some important secrets.

Our mission is to uncover her background and find something incriminating, which requires locating her real hiding place.

“Ding-dong—”

Knowing no one was there, I pressed the doorbell anyway.

This is necessary to lure Ling Shàojié out.

Based on my understanding, she likely set up hidden cameras at the entrance or in the elevator.

However, even if hidden, I can find them through extended touch lines, searching corners invisible to others… Ah, found it.

Surprisingly simple, this peephole itself is a camera.

Only it has a black lens, making it undetectable from outside.

But I pretended not to notice, peering through the peephole as if unaware.

Of course, nothing could be seen, since the peephole was blocked by the camera.

This is all part of the act.

To make her think I’m here alone for investigation, I won’t call her directly. She must discover me herself.

When exactly she’ll notice… I can only wait.

I don’t wish for Xiǎo Kǎi to get too involved with people like Ling Shàojié. Regardless of how much help she can offer, it will eventually become troublesome.

But to find the mysterious girl Mysterious Girl A, who might be our mother, Xiǎo Kǎi has become obsessed. Even adopting radical strategies unlike her usual self.

She not only dragged Ling Shàojié into this but also prompted the school reporter and hacker Queen… another dubious informant, to collaborate.

Perhaps they could truly help, but as enemies, they’re a headache-inducing combination.

Pacing back and forth at the door, I decided to pick the lock directly. Just as I was creating a universal key with black material, Ling Shàojié finally called.

…She discovered this place then?

Fortunately, she lost her cool first. Otherwise, entering this fake residence would have been pointless.

Answering the call, she asked, “Língmèng, where are you now?”

“At home, what’s up?”

“Really? Why does your voice echo at home?”

“The walls are bare, quite spacious.”

“How can you say that… Are you currently ‘sister’ side?”

“We’re inseparable, so it doesn’t matter who.”

“Alright, then why is Little Língmèng at my doorstep?”

“…”

Seeing me “anxiously” looking around, Ling Shàojié laughed, “Stop looking, I installed a network camera. But you really aren’t careful… Could it be you want to catch me off guard?”

“How could that be? I just wanted to visit you, senior.”

She sighed on the other end, “Visit means breaking in? That’s breaking and entering!”

“You’ve done that plenty of times, haven’t you?”

“No, just trespassing… *snort*.”

Perhaps amused by her own words, Ling Shàojié let out a pig-like sound.

Regaining composure, she continued, “Forget it, come down. Queen has new clues. I just got back from investigating. Can’t invite you in for tea, but I can offer a drink.”

Huh?

She caught my “crime” and still wants to treat me to a drink…

Maybe she thinks what I did isn’t a big deal.

After all, this person has issues with crime.

I sought instructions from headquarters.

—”Ling Shàojié said she wants to take me for coffee, should I accept her invitation?”—

[This fake residence doesn’t let you in, so it’s even less likely she’d take you home. Come back first, we’ll think of another plan.]

—”But she mentioned news about Mysterious Girl A.”—

[Hmm? Then why ask? Go hear what she has to say.]

It seems not only can we bait Ling Shàojié, but using information, she can easily bait Xiǎo Kǎi too.

“Understood, I’ll come down now.”

Just as I stepped out of the residential building, I saw Ling Shàojié standing at the community gate, waving at me.

She wore her school uniform, with the standard camera around her neck, clearly not having returned home.

Following her, we exited the community.

“Come, senior will take you for coffee!”

Ling Shàojié said, leaning close, her short hair brushing against my face… Though she looks shorter, holding my shoulder makes it somewhat difficult for her.

“Língmèng, I’ve been investigating for you after school, and you run to my place like this?”

She poked my chest, questioning, “Don’t you feel guilty? Doesn’t your conscience hurt?”

Though it’s true, I don’t feel I did anything wrong. After all, her past actions were worse.

I retorted, “My conscience hurts… If you genuinely meant well.”

“Don’t you trust me, Língmèng? *Sniff sniff* (fake crying)”

She acted as if she was crying, I countered, “Then, did you do anything to earn my trust? (coldly)”

Ling Shàojié ignored my words, saying, “Considering the school magazine earned me a lot of money, I won’t hold today’s matters against you. Remember to thank me.”

Avoiding unfavorable topics, she’s thick-skinned.

Ling Shàojié chose a small, privately-run café. There’s only one room, and to make space upstairs, there’s a staircase leading down. The decor is plain, just as she described, a nondescript café, though the coffee smells nice… perhaps worth hoping for.

“Here we are, don’t say unnecessary things inside.”

She warned, opening the door.

Inside, three young couples sat, exuding a sticky atmosphere of love.

Behind the counter, a middle-aged woman wearing a square headscarf looked over and greeted Ling Shàojié.

“Oh, Jié’er is back?”

Huh? Back?

Wait!

“Does senior live here?”

I didn’t expect to actually follow her to her residence!

Ling Shàojié didn’t answer my question, instead patting my back, introducing me, “Aunt Lín, this is my sophomore classmate. I want to treat her to coffee, I’ll come back later to help!”

“You’re already late enough today, closing soon!”

Aunt Lín complained, then crossed her arms, sighing, “But it’s rare, you’ve never brought classmates here before… Forget it, no business anyway, go upstairs and play, come down later for coffee.”

“Thanks, Aunt Lín!”

She’s a laid-back person.

Looks like she’s the café owner, though there are no other staff.

Aunt Lín is in her early forties, having experienced many storms. Her makeup couldn’t hide the traces of time, but from her appearance, she’s a formidable person, just her presence commands respect.

Noticing my gaze, she suddenly asked, “Girl, did Jié’er catch you with any evidence?”

Huh? How could she tell?

Before I could be surprised, Ling Shàojié patted my shoulder, “Aunt, you’re joking! Língmèng and I are friends!”

Her cheerful tone betrayed nervousness.

“Oh? Is that so?”

I glanced at Ling Shàojié, replying, “Yes, I’ve received a lot of help from senior at school.”

For now, I played along.

But now I know who she fears.

“That’s good, Jié’er acts without restraint, not considering others’ feelings. I worry she’ll offend people.”

Absolutely right!

This Aunt Lín knows Ling Shàojié well.

“Aunt, don’t say that, how can I bring classmates next time?”

Ling Shàojié pushed me toward the stairs to the second floor of the café.

The second floor of the café isn’t large, about two-thirds the size of the ground floor, with a height of only two meters, somewhat oppressive.

On the rack at the stairwell, there were bags of rice, flour, seasonings, and other café supplies. The living area behind was even smaller.

“This is…”

Though I guessed, I still confirmed with Ling Shàojié.

“Didn’t you want to come to my house?”

She sat on the sofa, spreading her hands.

“This is my house.”