Chapter 86: Brother Bai, You Truly Understand Women

(Thanks to all the bosses for your monthly tickets and recommendation votes.)

“They’re here.”

“Mm, you’re here too.”

“Heh… Why aren’t you going in?”

“I was waiting for you.”

At the entrance of the courtyard, the voices of Qin Xue and Wang Ying rang out, one light and lively, the other clear and elegant.

Everyone else, including those who knew the situation well like Mama Bai, stood quietly, saying nothing at all.

Only Bai Lingyue looked on in puzzled curiosity, glancing at Qin Xue, then at Wang Ying, whose face was hidden by her tightly wrapped scarf but whose graceful figure was apparent. Questions filled her mind.

What on earth is going on…? Why do I sense a whiff of gunpowder in the air from their seemingly ordinary conversation?

As she stood there, full of confusion and questions, Qin Xue smiled and spoke again:

“Since we’re all here, let’s go inside.”

“Mm, let’s.”

Wang Ying also smiled elegantly, then stepped forward a pace ahead of Qin Xue and gently knocked on the courtyard door.

Click—

Moments later, the door opened. The little cook, Jin’er, froze mid-smile when she saw the crowd at the entrance, her expression growing serious.

Looking at the two women standing ahead, she forced a smile and said, “Heh… Sister Xue, Sister Ying, you’re here! Please, come in.”

With that, she stepped aside to make way.

Qin Xue nodded and smiled at her, then looked to Wang Ying and said, “After you.”

Wang Ying, at that moment, looked back at her as well. “You go first.”

And so, the scene froze again. At the back of the crowd, Wang Ming and Fang Du both felt an ache in their teeth and stomachs at this turn.

“Seriously… I give up! It’s just going through a door, is it really this complicated?” Wang Ming muttered under his breath.

“Sigh…” Fang Du sighed in exasperation. “Has it… already started? At least go inside first!”

“Heh, you youngsters just haven’t experienced enough,” Bai Zhijun chimed in. “The play has already begun. Watch closely.”

“Uh…”

Wang Ming and Fang Du both stared at Bai Zhijun in surprise, then clasped their hands together in playful salute and said in unison,

“What do you mean, please enlighten us, big brother.”

“Mm.” Bai Zhijun basked in their attitude, lit a cigarette, and blew out a smoke ring.

“This scene is a contest between host and guest.”

“Host and guest? What do you mean?” Wang Ming was confused.

Bai Zhijun smiled slyly through the haze. “It’s like this: when you bring a guest to your house, who goes in first—you or the guest?”

“Of course, the guest… Wait!” Wang Ming suddenly understood, looking at the two women at the door as if his jaw might drop. “Are they crazy? Brother Yang hasn’t even shown up yet, what are they fighting for?!”

“You just don’t get it,” Bai Zhijun sighed. “Never underestimate a woman’s heart—especially a beautiful woman’s. It’s as deep as the sea.”

He blew another smoke ring. “Whoever enters first is the guest, whoever enters second is the hostess. They’re fighting for the initiative.”

“I… I can’t even…” Wang Ming was left speechless, while Fang Du’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Bai Zhijun, trying to curry favor.

“Big Brother Bai, you really know women!”

“Er—” Bai Zhijun was caught off guard, then gave a furtive glance at Mama Bai, relieved to see she wasn’t paying attention. He wiped imaginary sweat off his brow. “Just a little, heh… Just a little.”

At that, Fang Du quickly pulled an unopened pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed it over with a sheepish grin. “Big Brother Bai, I don’t smoke, so you take these.”

Bai Zhijun squinted. “If you don’t smoke, why carry cigarettes?”

“Uh…” Fang Du scratched his head, embarrassed. “I really don’t smoke, but the bosses at work do. You know how the workplace is.”

“Mm, smart, you’re improving.” Bai Zhijun smiled at him. “But don’t be so impulsive next time. Keep your cigarettes. They’re too good for me, I’m not used to them. Just tell me what you want.”

Fang Du insisted, stuffing the pack into his hand, then scratched his head and whispered shyly, “Big Brother Bai, can you teach me how to win over Jin’er?”

“Uh…” Bai Zhijun was taken aback, then looked at the earnest longing on Fang Du’s face. “You know Jin’er’s family situation, right?”

“Yes!” Fang Du nodded vigorously. “Because I know, I want to even more—to give her and Xier a home, to stay by their side and care for them all my life!”

Though his voice was soft, his tone was resolute and unwavering.

“That’s enough, as long as you’re sincere,” Bai Zhijun nodded. “Some women, no matter how true your heart, might never return it. But Jin’er is different. So long as you never give up being good to her and to Xier, one day you’ll move her.”

“Mm!”

Fang Du nodded hard, his gaze falling on Tan Jin’er at the door, full of deep affection and tenderness.

But Tan Jin’er, caught up in the situation, didn’t feel Fang Du’s love at all—only a deep sense of helplessness.

Watching the silent standoff between the two women, she could only feel a headache and growing impatience. What on earth are Yang Qing and the others doing? Why aren’t they here yet?

Unable to stand it any longer, she turned away from the silent duel and called back,

“Qiu’er, Xier, come here! Your sister Qin and sister Ying are here!”

Her voice carried into the courtyard, where, inside, a group of little ones were chattering noisily, clinging to Yang Qing and Li Dongning, begging them to teach them to drum on buckets and whistle on leaves. They all suddenly froze.

Yang Qing, too, was taken aback. He’d known Wang Ming and the others would be visiting today, and had invited Qin Xue and her friends, but never expected both groups to arrive together like this.

He felt a headache coming on, but the little ones had no such worries. They shrieked with joy and dashed toward the gate.

“Sister Qin! Sister Ying!”

As she ran over, little Qiu’er saw the two women standing at the front of the gate and called out with delight.

“Hiahiahia… Sister Qin, Xier missed you so much!”

Little Xier followed, her laughter bright, calling out. She didn’t remember Wang Ying that well, but she truly liked Qin Xue.

She liked this beautiful sister who took her to the aquarium to see little penguins, to the zoo to see baby pandas, who bought her toys and gifts.

A child’s heart is that simple: she loves whoever treats her well, pure and untainted.

Little Bai also called out sweetly to Sister Qin, then bounced up to her, raising her little hand and squealing, “Sister, thank you for the children’s watch you gave me!”

“And me, and me, hiahiahia… Sister, thank you too!”

Little Xier hopped up and raised her own wrist, showing off a bright red children’s watch.

“Sister Qin, Xier has your phone number. Can I call you when I miss you?”

“Of course, giggle…”

Qin Xue patted the two little heads with a smile, but her eyes darted ever so briefly to Wang Ying—seeing not a single child by her side, her smile blossomed.

Little Qiu’er, giggle… At this moment, Qiu’er was the undisputed little hostess, going around greeting everyone in turn.

Sister Ke’er, Sister Rou, Sister Yuexi, Brother Fang Du, Brother Wang Ming…

Polite as ever, little Qiu’er wove through the crowd, her face radiant with joy.

At that moment, Yang Qing came over carrying little Dong’er, with Chun and Xia running ahead hand in hand, Li Dongning by his side.

“You’re all here—come on in.”

Standing at the gate, Yang Qing smiled at everyone. In his arms, little Dong’er reached out to Qin Xue with a soft cry.

“Sister—hug—hug hug—”

“Giggle… my little darling.”

Qin Xue’s face glowed with happiness and sweetness as she stepped through the gate, naturally taking little Dong’er from Yang Qing’s arms and planting a loving kiss on her cheek.

At this, Wang Ying sighed softly in her heart.