Chapter 5: Cook What?
Source: https://www.gongzicp.com/novel-1711067.html
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Yi Xianqi stiffly pulled Ma Gu’er’s hand away. She kept a tight face and ran back to the room. Right before she closed the door, she said, “The master bedroom is clean. You sleep there tonight.”
“So early and you want to sleep in a different room from mom?”
Ma Gu’er lay back on the sofa with a smile. The only answer she got was the bang of the door.
She didn’t mind. The sky wasn’t dark yet, and the night life had just started. She had no clothes and no bag here, and it was inconvenient to go out and play. She could only settle for the next best thing and look for someone to chat with. Sadly, Zhou Yun had to join the crew today, and she didn’t know if she had time for her to bother her.
She flipped through her contacts again and again, and it finally stopped on ‘Xiao Wan Paparazzi’. A plan rose in her heart, and she called at once.
“Gu, do you have any dirt to sell?”
Xiao Wan was happy like a pug the moment she got Ma Gu’er’s call. This sister was usually busy. When she looked for her, it was always big dirt. And it’s a hit right every time.
“Do you dare to take dirt on Director Yi?”
Yi Anran was chasing a little flower lately. And she chased her loudly and fiercely. People in the circle with sharp ears all heard about it. Xiao Wan mixed around the paparazzi circle, so she knew too.
“Sister, it’s your family matter. It’s not needed, right? It’s not proper. And Director Yi has the Yi family behind her. If I leak it, I still have to report it. If they approve or not is another thing. And even if we step back ten thousand steps, I still can’t send it out. It’ll get bought for sure.”
Xiao Wan said it clearly. If someone paid, she’d turn around and sell it.
“I’m not that dumb.” Ma Gu’er turned up the TV volume and said, “Director Yi’s adopted daughter came back. Do you have a sure date for the welcome dinner?”
“I haven’t heard.” Xiao Wan said, “Director Yi is busy lately. During the new movie promotion, she can’t fit it in. The earliest is after a week. When the new movie heat cools down, they’ll set it... Your dirt isn’t about her, right?”
“It’s not really dirt. It’s just an article about the Yi family’s adopted daughter being strong and starting her own work outside. This article praises her. If you take it, what can the Yi family do to you? I’ll give you the place. You squat and take photos. During the welcome dinner, send it with the other media. Your page gets a big headline. It’s sure to be exclusive.”
For a job that kissed up to the Yi family, Xiao Wan was happy to the sky. “Aiyo, sister, thank you. I was worried I had no topic. You came at the right time. I’ll send the deposit later. If there’s anything next time, I’ll look for you again!”
Making money wasn’t simple.
Ma Gu’er stood up and changed shoes. After working hard to earn money, she should go find a spa and relax.
Life in Jin District No.1 was more boring than she thought. She thought there would be an earth-shattering “hot love period”. She didn’t expect a wooden block. It was even more dead in bed than the seven-year itch. Ma Gu’er even doubted Yi Xianqi was a straight woman.
This person went to work every day before she opened her eyes. The private investigator’s reports were nothing but what time she left home, what breakfast she bought, and how she reached Dongcheng’s business district after ten subway stops. She stayed in a building with dozens of companies all day. Sometimes she went out with coworkers to run business. Before going home, she’d visit the food market. She always bought cheap seasonal vegetables. In the end, she would enter the most expensive building in Fujing, and she looked out of place.
“Hearing this, she’s quite hardworking. She’s not the same kind of person as you. This kind of good young lady should dislike you... You should change your approach. Why not share some hardship with her?”
“Forget hardship.”
Ma Gu’er put down her juice. She switched to the other foot when the nail tech signaled. “... I do need another way. She runs faster than a rabbit every time. At first it was fun. Later it got annoying... She’s not that woman’s real daughter. She’s nothing like her mom, who accepts everyone.”
Zhou Yun didn’t speak for a moment in the earphones. She hissed and sucked air and panted for a long time. Ma Gu’er clicked her tongue. “If you can’t eat spicy, then order something else. It’s been years. You haven’t improved at all.”
Zhou Yun drank water and blew air on the other end. After a while she finally recovered. “What can I do? I get anxious when I film. When I’m anxious, I want spicy food. You taught me this. Don’t talk... After so many years, only this method works. When the spicy shocks my brain, I can’t think.”
“You can’t handle pressure. They’re just anti-fans. Hire a water army to wash them away.”
Zhou Yun: “Then they’ll say I bought a water army.”
“So what? Is hiring a water army illegal?” Ma Gu’er wiggled the foot she’d just finished her nails on. “But I’m telling you, who cares. If one day no anti-fans are attacking you, you’ll realize you miss them.”
“I don’t have your big heart...” Zhou Yun paused, said, “Going to the scene now,” and quickly hung up.
Ma Gu’er took off her earphones and grabbed her phone. It was almost Yi Xianqi’s off-work time. She waved her hand, signaling the nail tech to step out. She slipped on her house slippers, came out in her loungewear, and left in loungewear.
Stepping out the gate, cold air hit her. She tightened her clothes. Before she could take a step, a shawl dropped onto her shoulders. Ma Gu’er glanced at the label below.
CC Limited Edition, twenty thousand, a bit pricey.
“The wind outside is strong. Let's walk together? I live in Jin District too.”
The woman seemed to have just finished her facial. Her skin glowed, her complexion was perfect, and her gentle smile was warmer than spring breeze. In the past, Ma Gu’er would have liked this kind of gentle older sister. But after Yi Anran’s lesson, she now found this type only fake and pretentious.
Dislike or not, giving the other person a chance to show herself didn’t cost anything.
So Ma Gu’er gave a slightly shy but graceful smile and agreed to walk together.
“I noticed you a few days ago. I should say, just standing there, you attract a lot of attention. You’re really beautiful.” The woman praised without holding back, her tone with restrained expectation. “Though it’s a bit forward, I still want to ask, can we exchange contacts? Maybe meet for a facial massage…”
Ma Gu’er let out a soft “ah,” looking surprised and flattered. Her wind-flushed eyes blinked toward the woman. Then she said apologetically, “Sorry, I’m just staying here temporarily. My sister… I probably won’t be here long. This card is hers too… Later… I might not have a chance to meet you again.”
The woman paused, then asked, “You’re not coming here anymore? Where will you go?”
Ma Gu’er casually picked a persona and made something up: “Back to my own home. I don’t usually go to high-end places like this. My sister said I should learn to enjoy myself, so I…”
Seeming to think too much about family matters was bad, Ma Gu’er forced a smile and sighed, changing the topic. “…Work is just a bit troublesome.”
It was indeed inconvenient. From her own house to the villa gate took more than ten minutes by car, and the road out was often congested. Living at the “company” would have been much easier, able to watch the “boss’s” preferences anytime and adjust her strategy plan.
“Actually...”
The woman looked at Ma Gu’er’s face with some hesitation. She was about to try inviting her when a young woman walked up fast from the front and stopped before them. Her scarf and hat covered her head, and only a pair of clear black-and-white eyes stared at the pretty woman beside Ma Gu’er.
“Why aren’t you at home?” Yi Xianqi said. Then she glanced at the woman. “Changed target?”
Her tone was calm, like she was stating the most normal thing.
Ma Gu’er curled her lips and didn’t look at Yi Xianqi. She spoke to the woman instead, “My sister. She just came back from abroad. She speaks a bit direct. Don’t mind her.”
The woman understood quickly and said kindly, “Kids these days have strong personalities. I understand... We can talk next time. I live on the tenth floor of the building behind. You’re welcome to visit anytime.”
After Ma Gu’er said goodbye, her face darkened at once. She didn’t look at Yi Xianqi even for one second and walked fast toward the gate.
In the elevator, neither of them spoke.
Reaching the top floor, Yi Xianqi opened the door. Ma Gu’er hung the shawl on the entry cabinet. “Why did you come back so early today?”
“The investment talk went well.” Yi Xianqi finished and asked, “Who is she?”
“A friend I just met.”
Ma Gu’er poured herself hot water, wet her lips, and turned her head to look at the vegetables Yi Xianqi bought. Since the investment was done, she had money now. Even the beef looked nice. Ma Gu’er hooked her lips, turned back, and leaned on the table’s edge.
Source: https://www.gongzicp.com/novel-1711067.html
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
When Yi Xianqi came over to take the vegetables, Ma Gu’er lifted her cup and pressed it lightly onto the back of her hand. She asked back, “Mom can’t have her own friends? She can only have you?”
Ma Gu’er enjoyed playing this childish role-play because even if Yi Xianqi didn’t get into it, she couldn’t help being influenced a little. Too lazy to argue was as good as consenting… It didn’t matter anyway. Many things worked like this, subtly shaping over time.
Yi Xianqi kept her eyes down. The warmth of the cup on her hand burned faintly. She spoke lightly, warning, “Do whatever you want, just don’t bring people home. It's disgusting.”
The two were silent for a moment.
It was the first time Yi Xianqi had gotten angry.
Ma Gu’er tapped her cup on the table, hot water splashing onto both their hands. She took the initiative, frowning, “Is that how you think of me?”
Yi Xianqi didn’t speak at first. Under Ma Gu’er’s gaze, she explained, “I’m not. I was just reminding you.”
“Is that so?” Ma Gu’er’s tone was mocking, but she deliberately changed the topic. “It’s your mind thinking those things… that’s why you feel me standing with someone else is to seduce her… Who’s disgusting, me or you?”
“You don’t… think about those things every night… can’t sleep, right…”
Ma Gu’er leaned slightly forward, close under Yi Xianqi’s eyes. Her half-lidded gaze was ambiguous. “Have you thought about it? Haven’t thought about it… How could you find me sleeping with someone else disgusting? What do you imagine me to be?”
Yi Xianqi’s eyelashes trembled slightly. “I’ll go cook.”
“Cook what?”
Ma Gu’er lifted her hand, pressing it to Yi Xianqi’s chest to feel her heartbeat. Whether mocking or teasing, she laughed breathily, “You’re already naughty enough.”
Their hearts suddenly raced. They were so close that even an inch forward could spark something.
Ma Gu’er didn’t move forward.
When Yi Xianqi made a move, Ma Gu’er suddenly stepped back, leaving the danger zone. She smiled innocently and patted Yi Xianqi’s chest. “Darling daughter, go cook. Mom’s hungry.”
