Chapter 29: Why Won’t You Let Me Play with the Fool?

This was simply the greatest crisis in history.

“Yudong?”

Letting Liuyin stay by Yezhe’s side—how is that any different from raising a ghost at home?

“What?”

Since she couldn’t separate them, at the very least, she had to figure out Liuyin’s feelings toward Yezhe…

“Oi~~”

She must eliminate all rivals!

“I hear you, I hear you! Why do you keep calling me?”

Her thoughts were interrupted by Yezhe. Yudong glared at him, clearly a little annoyed.

“Traffic light.”

“Ah, …let’s go then.”

Thanks to Yezhe’s reminder, Yudong noticed that the green light from a moment ago had already turned yellow.

“How do you even manage to space out while walking… Sigh… You really make people worry.”

“That’s just you being nosy.”

“Yeah, yeah, how old are you already, still zoning out while walking.”

“Ugh… Keep arguing and I’ll pinch you…”

“Alright, let’s go.”

“If I didn’t need you to lead the way, I wouldn’t even be calling you. Liuyin, whatever you do, don’t learn from her.”

“Mm.”

On the Zebra Crossing, Yezhe first intentionally irritated Yudong, then turned his head and smiled at Liuyin. Liuyin replied with a radiant smile of her own.

How annoying…

She and Yezhe had never had such a warm moment together…

Besides—

How many days have these two even known each other!!

Lolicon, right? He’s definitely a lolicon! And that smile just now was so gross… I have to set things right…

……

The two followed Yudong for a while longer.

“So, where are we going now?”

“Heading to my place first.”

“Where do you live?”

“Just follow me.”

“Which way are you going?”

Huh?

“I’m going this way? Where else would I go?”

“This way is… that way?”

Turning around and seeing the mischievous smile on Yezhe’s face, Yudong finally realized something was off.

…

What a brat, messing with her.

“Ask again and I’ll beat you up.”

As soon as she said that, Yezhe quickly dodged backwards, but he couldn’t hide the smirk on his lips.

“What, don’t even know east, south, west, and north?”

“If you don’t want to come, just say so. What’s with all the nitpicking?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to go.”

“I just like teasing fools.”

???

“You…”

With that, Yezhe’s abdomen earned itself a punch.

“Ugh… at least go easy…”

Yezhe bent over, clutching his stomach. He might have been acting a little, but that punch did hurt.

“Some people’s mouths, I swear…”

Rolling her eyes at Yezhe, Yudong picked up her pace.

“Ugh, Older Sister, don’t hit Older Brother…”

Thanks to Yezhe’s antics, while the three of them weren’t exactly laughing and joking, the mood did become more relaxed than before.

As dusk fell, the siblings followed Yudong to their… destination?

“What are we doing here, is the Supermarket your house?”

“Not going to the Restaurant, we’ll just buy some ingredients and cook at home.”

“This? Let me say this up front, I’m too tired to cook anymore. If you buy anything, you’re on your own gnawing on raw veggies.”

“I’m not asking you to cook, I’ll… I’ll do it…”

“Who?”

Hearing this, Yezhe’s fatigue seemed to lessen quite a bit. His sole goal now was to get Yudong out of here.

“Don’t. I’d rather treat you to buffet at the City Center than let you cook.”

Seeing Yezhe’s half-stretched, half-stiff face, Yudong started getting anxious.

“I specifically learned from the Head Chef! It won’t… be like before… Plus, everything in the Supermarket has a name!”

Memories flashed in her mind, and Yudong’s cheeks flushed slightly.

……

“Yu, help me go out back and pick a few sprigs of coriander, it’s just through that door, outside there are a few Foam Boxes your Boss set up.”

“Alright.”

That was Yudong’s first time helping out in the Back Kitchen…

If she could go back to that day, she definitely would’ve refused.

“Yudong, since today isn’t busy, why don’t you go help in the Back Kitchen and get familiar with things?”

“Uh, okay.”

“Alright, then I’ll mop the floor.”

With that, Yudong handed the mop in her hand to Yezhe and walked to the door separating the Front Hall and the kitchen.

Before her was a half-old white curtain, the edges still stained with some unidentifiable grease or soup marks.

She gently lifted it with the back of her hand and stepped into a place that was quite new and strange to her.

The space wasn’t big; she could see to the end in one glance.

Not many customers had come in that morning, the stove’s flame was off, pots sat upside down on the shelves; a few unwashed plates lay haphazardly in the sink.

The usual busy scene had completely vanished. But when it was busy, she’d never help out here anyway.

Not only was Yezhe worried, even the Boss wasn’t comfortable with it, so Yudong had always just been put to greeting guests and cleaning.

“Hey, Yu, what brings you here! Just when I needed a hand.”

The voice came from a slightly stout figure. At this hour there should’ve been two helpers, but who knew where they’d gone.

“Here, Yudong, help me wash these vegetables, those two went out to pick up supplies and I’ve got other things to handle.”

“Ah, okay.”

With that, the Head Chef stood up. Yudong sat down in his place and began rubbing her hands in the water.

Thank goodness it’s just washing vegetables. If it was chopping, I’d be useless…

But… even if it was, they wouldn’t let me, right.

“Eh? Is this all gone?”

A ruckus sounded behind Yudong, then the Head Chef’s booming voice rang out.

“Yu, put that down for now and help me pick some coriander outside, just outside that door, there are a few Foam Boxes.”

As he spoke, the Head Chef pointed to an Iron Door behind him.

“Mm.”

Shaking the water off her hands, Yudong got up and opened the Iron Door.

Behind the Iron Door was the kitchen waste storage area, the stench hitting her right in the face.

The moment she opened it, the smell of rotting food almost made Yudong gag.

After steadying herself, she began searching for the Foam Boxes the chef had mentioned.

Growing vegetables in Foam Boxes in a place like this… The Boss really has a weird sense of humor…

“Boxes… ah, here they are.”

Sure enough, there were a few Foam Boxes right against the wall.

Chive, garlic sprout, tomato, coriander…

Eh?

Where’s the coriander?

The first three boxes were full to the brim, but the last one looked deserted, only a few drooping weeds that Yudong couldn’t name hanging there.

“This… should be coriander… right?”

It’s the right length… but the leaves are a little smaller… maybe it’s a new variety?

Since they’re growing this way, maybe it’s possible?

Staring at the plant that sort of resembled coriander in her hand, Yudong hesitated for a while.

Whatever, there are only four boxes, I can’t just pull up chives instead.

……

“This???”

“There are only four boxes outside… Or did I pick the wrong one?”

The look of surprise on the Head Chef’s face was something Yudong truly hadn’t expected.

“Isn’t this Hao Grass?”

“Huh? Hao… grass? What’s that?”

“Nothing, never mind, after you finish washing the vegetables, just go back outside, over here… maybe you’d better…”

The Head Chef forced back a laugh, saying nothing more to Yudong.

This.?

I really don’t get it…

Not until that afternoon, when Yezhe smiled at her—

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, I was just thinking, if a customer realizes halfway through their meal that the coriander is sour, what would they do?”

“Huh?”

“I can’t… hahahaha…”

Only then did Yudong realize he was talking about her.

“Coriander is Hao Grass… I give up…”

“No, you’re not allowed to laugh!”

Her cheeks flushed visibly red, all her earlier confusion turning to embarrassment.

“I couldn’t find the coriander back then… I…”

“Stop laughing!”

“I can’t, let me recover…”

……

“Alright, I won’t say anymore. I’ll buy, I’ll cook, you just don’t get in the way, I’m scared.”

Seeing Yudong’s red face, Yezhe suppressed his laughter.

“No way, weren’t you the one who said you were tired? Besides, I want you to try my—”

“There’ll be plenty of chances, it’s not like I’m never coming again.”

“But—”

“Stop fussing, it’ll be dark soon, if you want to go out next time, just come over whenever.”

“As long as you don’t poison anyone, I’ll eat whatever you make.”

“You!”

Her voice clearly raised, Yudong was getting angry.

“You go ahead and be mad, I’m going inside to buy groceries…”

With that, Yezhe walked into the Supermarket.