527. The Stupid Chen Yao
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As Lin Nan left Zheng Qian’s graduate dorm, her mood was a bit complicated.
On one hand, she was dreading the preparation for Zongzi ingredients tomorrow, which made her head hurt just thinking about it. On the other hand, after several days, she hadn’t spotted any otherworldly visitors.
Did they go back?
She didn’t dare to check in on Li Na’s yard anymore, terrified that she’d get met with a blade for her curiosity.
Now that her life wasn’t impacting her as much as she’d anticipated, she let out a sigh of relief.
“You’ve been looking a bit down lately,” Chen Yao observed cautiously, analyzing the expressions on Lin Nan’s face. “Did something happen at home?”
“Not really,” Lin Nan shook her head.
“Then what? Can’t afford something you want?” Chen Yao slapped his chest generously. “Just name it. Think of it as your Dragon Boat Festival gift from me!”
Seeing his enthusiastic display, Lin Nan couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve already saved up more than three thousand yuan from my living expenses and tutoring. I can buy whatever I want myself.”
Their daily expenses weren’t high; Lin Nan received two thousand from her mother each month, and her future mother-in-law sometimes sent her red envelopes filled with cash. Coupled with her tutoring income, which added a few hundred each week, she had enough to get by without resorting to expensive things.
But since she mentioned a gift for the Dragon Boat Festival…
Lin Nan contemplated what kind of gift to give Chen Yao.
It shouldn’t be too expensive; he would just insist on returning it, especially since he knew Lin Nan’s family situation.
Finding something cheap that suited his taste was a must.
“How about I buy you a bottle of perfume?” Chen Yao suggested tentatively. “I hear lots of girls love perfume and lipsticks.”
“Not a fan.”
The last lipstick Chen Yao gifted had barely been touched; while it did enhance her looks a bit, there was no need to wear lipstick just for wandering around school.
She’d enjoyed it at first, but soon the lipstick had ended up collecting dust in her cabinet.
As for perfume… Lin Nan had never encountered a particularly good one. Back when she used to squeeze into crowded buses for school, she was often hit by cheap fragrances that made her gag. Not a great impression, to say the least!
The two trudged out of the school back gate and onto the bustling back street.
Lin Nan glanced around but didn’t see any new snack stalls to her disappointment, letting out a regretful sigh.
She’d tried nearly every snack on this street, and the ones she liked had become boring.
“After dinner, I want to hit the basketball court at school,” Chen Yao wrapped his arm around Lin Nan’s slim waist, seeking her approval. “Dong An invited me earlier; I feel like I should exercise more, or I’m going to get fat too fast hanging out with you.”
Lin Nan frowned. “What do you mean you’re getting fat too fast with me? I don’t see any weight gain; it’s you who can’t control your cravings!”
“Right, right, you’re totally right.”
Seeing him own up without hesitation made Lin Nan grin. “If you’re playing ball, you need to be back by ten. Otherwise, the school will lock up, and you’ll have to climb walls to get out.”
“Got it.” Chen Yao nodded, then asked, “Are you going back for the Dragon Boat Festival? My mom said she wants to bring you home for it.”
Lin Nan almost blurted out a “yes” before she remembered the otherworldly visitors. Her head shook furiously. “Nope, not going back. I don’t feel like making the trip home; it takes hours, and I’d rather just stay home and catch up on sleep.”
Just as she finished speaking, her phone vibrated. Looking down, she saw it was a call from her grandfather.
Pushing open the ground floor door of her rental apartment and heading up the stairs, she answered the phone.
“Hey, Lin Nan?” Her grandfather’s stern yet booming voice came through.
Though her grandfather had been increasingly nice to her lately, that seriousness still made Lin Nan feel a bit intimidated.
“Grandpa, what’s up?” she replied cautiously, pulling out her keys to hand to Chen Yao beside her.
As Chen Yao entered the apartment, Lin Nan lingered outside in the corridor, pacing back and forth while continuing her conversation.
“Going back for the Dragon Boat Festival? I have something going on at school…” Lin Nan skillfully fabricated a lie. “You know about the pandemic at the beginning of the year; they gave us too many days off, so there’s no break for the Dragon Boat Festival.”
Hearing this excuse, her grandfather started grumbling, and Lin Nan wasn’t shy about joining in, “Yeah, those teachers at school have something wrong with them!”
Especially Zheng Qian, who had been targeting her wherever he could lately.
“Uh-huh, don’t bother sending Zongzi; we’re making them in class. Even if I manage to get some, I won’t be able to finish them all.”
“Phone for Chen Yao?”
Lin Nan had no clue what her grandfather and Chen Yao could chat about; maybe he was just checking up on her?
As she stepped into the apartment, she pushed open her bedroom door, handing the phone to Chen Yao, who was enjoying the air conditioning inside, before heading to the bathroom to wash her face and hands.
Every time she came back, it felt like the dust outside clung to her, and she couldn’t feel comfortable until she washed her face.
However, just as the towel was getting wet, she was stunned to hear Chen Yao candidly responding to her grandfather on the other end, “The Dragon Boat Festival break is three days, from Wednesday to Friday. What’s up?”
Lin Nan whipped around, glaring daggers at Chen Yao.
He hadn’t been around when she spoke with her grandfather earlier, and now he was giving her an innocent blink while looking completely clueless about what he had said wrong.
“Your grandpa wants to talk to you,” Chen Yao stood up, handing the phone back to Lin Nan.
With a face full of disbelief, she took the phone, and, unsurprisingly, her grandfather’s frustrated voice came through, “I need to see you on Wednesday! You think you can come up with excuses to avoid returning for the holiday?”
I’m just looking out for you!
Before she could explain, the call got disconnected. Lin Nan stood there in shock, then continued glaring at Chen Yao.
Chen Yao scratched his head, “What happened?”
“Why did you have to say there’s a break?!”
“I… it is a break.” Chen Yao suddenly realized he probably said something wrong to her grandfather, his face stiffening as he felt a bit guilty. “So you didn’t tell him there’s a break?”
Lin Nan cursed in her heart, hastily drying her face with a towel, complaining, “Didn’t I just say I didn’t want to go back? You should’ve been more attentive!”
How was I supposed to know you’d trick Grandpa with that approach?
Just a little warning when the phone was handed to me would’ve sufficed!
Chen Yao muttered complaints in his head too but wore a reassuring expression. “It’s fine. It’s normal to visit your grandpa for the Dragon Boat Festival, right?”
Except she was worried some assassin from the other world might follow her back…
Lin Nan certainly thought about going home for the holiday, catching up with her future mother-in-law and her own grandfather to strengthen their bond.
But now, hearing her grandfather’s angry tone, she figured he wouldn’t accept any more excuses.
Luckily, Li Na had taught her some supposedly very helpful magic.
