Chapter 190

Page Forty-Six: Ling Shaojie’s Thankful Hotpot

After leaving Xia Lu’s base, Ling Shaojie rarely treated us to a meal.

“What a surprise, the miserly old bird has finally plucked its feathers?”

In response to my teasing words, she merely smiled and said, “Miserly? Do you really think I’m that stingy?”

“Such a generous Senior Shaojie, when will you settle my two thousand yuan for the portrait rights? Just so we’re clear, I already feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick.”

“Hmm, let’s discuss that later. I need to settle the print fees first. Once I receive the remaining payment for the school magazine, I’ll give you the money immediately.”

See, she’s already starting to make excuses.

We were at a hotpot restaurant along the pedestrian street, having just ordered and waiting for our food. However, Ling Shaojie didn’t even show us the menu; she ordered everything herself.

“Hey, you’re not just picking vegetables, right?” Naturally, I felt dissatisfied.

“How could you think so little of me? Don’t you trust me at all?”

The server brought over a steaming pot of beef tallow broth, the gradually boiling red liquid warming our hearts from within. As beef rolls, fish balls, and other ingredients arrived, the atmosphere heated up. Indeed, hotpot is the perfect winter comfort food for the masses.

“It’s thanks to both of you… Ah, your sister isn’t joining us for dinner?”

— “Oh, she still has some conscience.” —

I replied, “It’s fine, she can still feel it through me.”

“Eh, do you share tastes telepathically?”

It’s not just about taste; we’re practically one mind. The first batch of beef was handled by Cherry Sauce, but Ling Shaojie took it away.

“Hey! That’s ours!”

“‘Ours’?”

Oops, I let it slip.

“Cough, cough. But Senior, your words earlier were quite surprising. I never thought you’d say something like that. You must have been moved, right?”

Ling Shaojie responded, “No, seemingly emotional actions can sometimes be driven by rational considerations… Oh, it’s hot!”

She has a sensitive tongue; even the beef in the bowl burned her mouth.

Lin Hua also asked, “I don’t understand this either. On one hand, you say you don’t trust Ling Xiaoye, but on the other, you allow her free rein. Aren’t you afraid she’ll spill our plans to Lin Yuhuang? This cheap sister of yours feels just as untrustworthy as you.”

“Mm, am I really that untrustworthy? It hurts to hear you say that, Xiao Hua. But haven’t I told you? If knowing the truth is the ultimate goal, even if she ruins my current plan, it’s fine. Treat her as a safeguard after things go awry.”

“So you still trust her?”

Ling Shaojie denied with a shake of her chopsticks.

“No, this trust comes with a gamble. It’s Lù Zǐ’s suggestion. Didn’t she say in class that if the return on trust is significant enough, it’s worth a gamble? The reward is worth betting on Ling Xiaoye’s trust.”

Eating the spicy duck blood tofu, Lin Hua sighed, “You’re taking a big risk like that.”

“There is indeed risk, but not gambling means losing too. I couldn’t stop her from spilling the beans anyway. Might as well be open about it and see if it makes her feel something.”

“Kǎi-Chan, what do you think about this? Do you think Lin Ziyè will investigate Lin Yuhuang secretly?”

I was still blowing on the beef when Lin Hua threw the question back at me.

“I think she will. Despite her carefree and laid-back nature, she’s actually very similar to Senior Shaojie. Both are people of strong action. After getting that ring, she immediately went to work as a maid at her store, doing whatever came to mind. Even Xia Lu, the irritable younger sister, couldn’t handle her.”

Acting recklessly yet maintaining high intelligence, and handling situations with finesse, she doesn’t have the same flaws as those spoiled playboys. Such a person is truly hard to deal with from any angle.

Mm, just like Ling Shaojie.

Regarding this, she commented, “She likes maids, so she wears maid outfits? What a peculiar sister.”

“That’s not it.”

I corrected her.

“Your maid sister doesn’t like maids themselves, but rather maid outfits. Her reason for becoming a girl is to wear her beloved maid outfit.”

“You mean she likes the outfit itself?”

“Exactly.”

“… Xia Lu’s situation is quite pitiful.”

Ling Shaojie squinted and made a “WTF” face, clearly surprised by Lin Ziyè’s preferences.

Cherry Sauce then took over, saying, “There’s more to this story. Perhaps you should hear it.”

Then, Cherry Sauce told a somewhat eerie tale.

When Lin Ziyè was young and hadn’t met Xia Lu, she had once encountered a maid who suddenly disappeared one day, leaving behind a warm maid outfit.

But when Lin Ziyè took the outfit to tell Lin Yuhuang, she was told that no maid had ever worked there. By then, Ling Ximí had already passed away in an accident.

Lin Hua, eating the beef I had given her, sighed, “Ah, such a thing happened?”

“Yes, because of this, Lin Ziyè became obsessed with maid outfits.”

Cherry Sauce wiped the satay sauce from Lin Hua’s mouth, a small gesture making her blush. I felt a bit hot too and pulled my hand away, saying, “And this became the reason for her collaboration and investigation into Lin Yuhuang.”

Ling Shaojie fell into a thoughtful silence before looking up and asking, “From what Lingmeng said, could the disappearing maid be our mother?”

Cherry Sauce replied, “That’s just my guess, lacking concrete evidence.”

Ling Shaojie murmured, “If that’s true, why hasn’t she come to see me even once?”

——————–

Winter hotpot is delicious, but the latter part of the meal was conducted in a relatively somber atmosphere. Ling Shaojie often giggled while prying into others’ secrets, but when it came to herself, she couldn’t laugh.

Ling Shaojie planned to take the bus, while I and Lin Hua decided to walk back to the village. So we parted ways at the bus stop near the pedestrian street. At this farewell moment, she sincerely thanked me.

“Lingmeng, I’m really grateful for today.”

“Let’s skip the pleasantries. After all, I have something to ask of you too. Please pay extra attention to the investigation of the mysterious girl A.”

“Even if you want me to pay extra attention, without new leads from Queen, I can’t start the investigation…”

Since Old Lady learned to avoid cameras, Queen hasn’t had any new updates.

Just then, AJ called.