Chapter 35

The kitchen in the bookstore wasn’t particularly spacious. With two people standing inside, it wasn’t exactly crowded, but it was certainly less comfortable than having just one person.

Fortunately, Tang Xiaoyu didn’t need Ming Jiao’s help with much—just washing the vegetables and fruits for the evening meal. She had already witnessed the destructive power of a kitchen disaster firsthand. The bookstore was a good place, and she wanted to live there for a few more years.

Ming Jiao quickly washed the vegetables and fruits as instructed by Tang Xiaoyu. After finishing, she looked at her empty hands and felt the urge to help more, yet she had no idea where to start. Still, she felt too awkward to simply go out and wait without contributing.

“What are you planning to make? Dumplings?” she asked, watching Tang Xiaoyu knead the dough with some store-bought filling set aside.

Tang Xiaoyu nodded lightly. “I’m making some dumplings and wontons.”

If it weren’t for the time-consuming process of preparing different fillings from scratch, she would have preferred to make everything herself.

Even so, Ming Jiao felt touched. She’s so busy, yet she still cares about whether I’m eating properly and if the food is healthy. She’s really kind.

System: You’ve already given her your heart and soul. How are you going to repay her this time? Maybe make her a dress too?

I’m being serious here, Ming Jiao retorted inwardly, crossing her arms as she admired Tang Xiaoyu’s slender, upright figure even while busy. Do you think, since she’s so good to me, our relationship might eventually progress further?

The System was surprised. Progress further? How much further could it go? After a moment’s thought, it ventured the most reasonable guess: So, Host, you want to become sworn sisters with the protagonist?

Then it reconsidered. But you’re already nominally sisters.

The term “nominally” was used because when Ming Jiao was kicked out of the Ming family, her household registration had been removed. However, this hadn’t been publicly announced.

Aunt probably didn’t know yet, or she would have been even more aggressive.

Your thinking is too rigid, Ming Jiao said earnestly. Besides familial bonds, there’s also friendship between people. I mean, maybe one day Tang Xiaoyu and I can become friends.

Then she could call her by her name openly.

After chatting idly with the System for a while, Ming Jiao noticed that Tang Xiaoyu had finished kneading the dough.

Watching Tang Xiaoyu’s fair, slender fingers deftly pinch off evenly sized dough pieces, Ming Jiao tentatively suggested, “How about I help you wrap them? Ahem, I’ll give it a try.”

Tang Xiaoyu recalled the aftermath of letting Ming Jiao help back at the Rose Garden and shook her head silently but firmly. “You can wait outside.”

“But you rarely come back, and I’d like to keep you company and talk,” Ming Jiao said, unable to resist picking up a small piece of dough from the board. She curiously kneaded and played with it in her hands.

She knew perfectly well that Tang Xiaoyu had returned today specifically to prepare these ready-to-eat meals for her, worried that she’d order takeout every day as if it were poison.

For the next week or so, starting tomorrow or the day after, Tang Xiaoyu probably wouldn’t be back at the bookstore.

As she spoke, Ming Jiao focused on kneading the dough, not noticing that Tang Xiaoyu had paused her movements. “Yesterday, when Little Black Cat… I mean, the finch, was here, I didn’t get a chance to ask you. Did you run into any danger or trouble during your investigation?”

“If anything happens, don’t push yourself—ask your friend for help.” As she spoke, a faint sense of loss stirred within her. It seemed that beyond the opposing identities of the real and fake heiress standing between them, the divide between ability users and ordinary people made her and Tang Xiaoyu feel like they belonged to two different worlds.

Ming Jiao only realized the kitchen had grown quiet after she finished speaking. She instinctively looked up and found Tang Xiaoyu watching her with those jet-black eyes.

At some point, Tang Xiaoyu had stopped looking at her with that scrutinizing, guarded gaze. Now, there was only occasional curiosity, as if Ming Jiao were some perplexing puzzle.

But more often than not, Ming Jiao couldn’t fully decipher her expressions or understand what she was thinking.

People who rarely showed their emotions were always hard to read.

Ming Jiao realized she didn’t necessarily need to understand what Tang Xiaoyu was thinking. She just wanted Tang Xiaoyu to keep looking at her.

Like now, having those dark gem-like eyes fixed on her—whether in joy or anger—was more than enough.

As long as she was the focus.

Tang Xiaoyu soon turned away, her thick, dark lashes lowering slightly as she focused on the dough on the cutting board. “I know. You don’t need to worry about my safety.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that restless pale hand reaching for another ball of dough. The complexity in her heart was suddenly replaced by amusement, and she turned back around, abandoning her previously settled stance.

Meeting Tang Xiaoyu’s gaze, Ming Jiao said innocently, “I want to make two little figures. One ball of dough isn’t enough.”

A mix of helplessness and disdain flickered across Tang Xiaoyu’s jade-like face. “Even kindergarteners are probably more mature than you.”

The System couldn’t bear to watch either. 【Host, you’re so childish.】

【You don’t get it. This is what you call experiencing life. I want to try everything I’ve never done before,】 Ming Jiao retorted.

When it came to twisting logic, the System felt no one could out-argue its host. At least, it had no comeback for now.

Tang Xiaoyu certainly wasn’t going to bicker with Ming Jiao either. She turned back and continued with her tasks.

Ming Jiao kneaded and shaped the dough in her hands, mimicking the ancient legend of molding figures from clay. After a while, she finally lost interest in the two lumpy, unrecognizable dough people.

She crept stealthily over to Tang Xiaoyu’s side, and upon seeing the thin layer of flour in the white porcelain bowl, mischief began bubbling up inside her.

Thinking Tang Xiaoyu hadn’t noticed—or so she assumed—Ming Jiao dipped her fingers into the flour, then sidled a couple of steps closer. “Nightingale, it looks like you’ve got some flour on your face. Let me wipe it off for you.”

Her tone was so cheerful it was practically soaring.

With that, she raised her flour-dusted fingertips and brushed them against Tang Xiaoyu’s cheek. The softness of the touch sent an inexplicable flutter through her heart, and she quickly withdrew her hand.

Tang Xiaoyu’s butterfly-wing-like lashes trembled slightly. She glanced down at the specks of flour now dusting her shoulder, then lifted her gaze to Ming Jiao.

Her dark eyes were like tranquil stars—calm and unruffled, showing no trace of annoyance.

But Ming Jiao’s courage vanished in an instant. She was like a cat tentatively pawing at a ball of yarn, wondering if it was safe to play with. No—perhaps it was even more complicated than that. A cat playing with yarn wouldn’t fear its owner’s scolding, but she was deeply conflicted.

If Tang Xiaoyu didn’t mind, she’d grow bolder. If Tang Xiaoyu seemed displeased, she’d shrink back.

“Just kidding.” She used her clean hand to gently wipe the small amount of flour from Tang Xiaoyu’s face, suppressing the inexplicable burning sensation in her fingertips as she softly pleaded, “Don’t be mad. I promise I won’t tease you like this again.”

The cool touch of fingers brushing her cheek sent a strange tingling through Tang Xiaoyu. She stood still for a few seconds, certain restless thoughts growing stronger within her.

She decided to cast aside her usual restraint and indulge in what she would normally consider rather silly impulses.

Ming Jiao felt soft fingertips graze both her cheeks in return. She froze in surprise, only realizing what had happened when Tang Xiaoyu had already lightly stepped back several paces away.

The System watched the flurry of white powder in the kitchen and sighed deeply, 【Learning bad habits is so easy. Immaturity is contagious.】

Fortunately, this childish battle didn’t escalate or last long. While flour on clothes was manageable, it was particularly troublesome for long-haired individuals—and both of them had long hair.

Tang Xiaoyu looked at the patches of snowy white scattered across the counter and floor, raising a hand to her forehead in sudden realization at how childish she’d been to play-fight with Ming Jiao using flour.

When her silent gaze swept over, Ming Jiao also looked somewhat guilty. “Ahem, I’ll clean this up.”

Tang Xiaoyu decided that keeping her in the kitchen any longer might mean they wouldn’t have dinner until tomorrow morning, so she promptly ushered her out.

Outside the kitchen.

The System remarked, 【Host, have you noticed?】

Ming Jiao, who was peeking into the kitchen, responded distractedly, 【Noticed what?】

【You become especially childish whenever you’re around the protagonist.】

Like a kindergartener jumping up and down trying to pick a little red flower.

And that was being generous—there was no way she could be considered more mature than that.

【I’ve noticed too,】 Ming Jiao said leisurely. 【You never miss a chance to tease me.】

She stretched lazily. 【Since I haven’t completed today’s training quota yet, I’ll practice a bit before dinner.】

Witnessing the power of demons firsthand had been stressful. Given the chance to grow stronger, who would want to remain a helpless weakling?

·

Half an hour later, dinner was served.

Having delayed their meal with her earlier antics, Ming Jiao was now unusually well-behaved.

She didn’t say anything to provoke Tang Xiaoyu, sitting as quietly as a freshly cut rose arranged in a vase.

Her silence felt strange to Tang Xiaoyu, who glanced at her twice. Seeing her sitting there like an automated eating log, Tang Xiaoyu’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Somehow, without her realizing, time spent with Ming Jiao had begun to feel… pleasant.

“Why so quiet?”

Ming Jiao propped her cheek on one hand and smiled. “I was just thinking about something.”

She recalled her aunt telling her that Xie Chu was getting close to Tang Xiaoyu. She knew Tang Xiaoyu was likely playing along, using her surface identity to allow Xie Chu’s approach.

In this situation, Xie Chu was exposed while she remained hidden, but…

Unfortunately, she couldn’t ask about it directly, so she changed the subject. “I just got some new inspiration—I can add different elements to the design sketches.”

Tang Xiaoyu’s hand, holding chopsticks, paused almost imperceptibly. Her dark eyes focused on the dishes before her. “You’ve taken on new work?”

Ming Jiao smiled lazily. “I’m not famous enough for anyone to commission me.”

Besides, her skills weren’t polished enough yet, so she wasn’t taking on any jobs even if they came along. The studio’s reputation still relied on the other experts to build up—she still had a long way to go in honing her craft.

“I told you before that I asked a friend to help investigate my aunt’s situation, right? They’ve put in a lot of effort and taken risks for me, so I should show my gratitude and repay the favor.”

Hearing the word “aunt,” Tang Xiaoyu’s heart sank abruptly. Yet, within that heaviness, there was an indescribable, subtle emotion quietly mingling in—something obscure that she couldn’t quite articulate when she tried to examine it closely.

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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