“What? Are you worried about me?”
Fang Chenxi’s tone was teasing, but she felt happy inside because of Jiang Ling’s reaction.
Fang Chenxi was always like this, losing her seriousness after just two sentences.
Jiang Ling sighed.
She had grown used to it.
Just as she was about to say it was nothing and hang up, Fang Chenxi spoke again.
“So, where did you disappear to for those thirty minutes just now?”
Jiang Ling stammered, making an excuse.
“I was taking a shower. Why are you being so nosy?”
Fang Chenxi didn’t believe her, suspecting Jiang Ling had most likely gone to find Lu Yuyao.
However, she knew Jiang Ling wouldn’t admit it no matter how much she asked, so she dropped it.
“Do you want to play a game? I’ll carry you.”
Fang Chenxi was in a good mood today and wanted to listen to Jiang Ling’s voice a little longer.
Jiang Ling thought about it.
After returning from the Wooden House that afternoon, she had already found time to finish her writing tasks.
She didn’t have anything else to do, so she readily agreed.
Hearing Fang Chenxi offer to carry her, Jiang Ling tilted her head with a hint of pride.
“Don’t bother. Your Jungler is so trash, yet you have the nerve to say you’ll carry me.”
Fang Chenxi actually had a trick up her sleeve.
On her ‘Boss Xi’ account, her identity was that of a top-tier Jungler King.
On this alt account, she deliberately played poorly.
Otherwise, it would be over if Jiang Ling noticed the similarities between her and ‘Boss Xi.’
Therefore, when picking heroes, she always chose ones she hadn’t played much before.
Jiang Ling, on the other hand, surprised her.
When she first played with Jiang Ling on her alt, she thought Jiang Ling would stop playing support.
However, after several matches of watching Jiang Ling play support Yuumi, top lane Yuumi, and mid lane Yuumi, Fang Chenxi fell silent.
She realized that when Jiang Ling said she could only play Yuumi, she wasn’t just acting cute to deceive her.
Fortunately, they were playing unranked matches, and the opponents weren’t very strong.
Even if Jiang Ling picked such bizarre roles, they could still win with enough effort.
Fang Chenxi could clearly sense that, unlike when she played as ‘Boss Xi,’ Jiang Ling spoke more boldly and without restraint.
Compared to being paid for a service, Fang Chenxi seemed to prefer playing with this version of Jiang Ling.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t play for much longer.
Jiang Ling rubbed her eyes and accidentally tapped her ultimate.
Immediately afterward, she stole Fang Chenxi’s Red Buff.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling quickly apologized.
“Sorry, I pressed the wrong button.”
Fang Chenxi wasn’t angry.
She only asked softly, “Are you sleepy?”
“A little.”
Fang Chenxi really wanted to play longer and even instinctively reached to transfer money over.
Realizing she wasn’t currently in her Boss Xi persona, she could only nod silently.
“Then let’s log off after this match. We’ll play again when you have time.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Ling’s voice trailed off as drowsiness washed over her, sounding soft and lazy.
It made Fang Chenxi’s heart tremble, nearly causing her to drop her phone.
To end the game as quickly as possible, Fang Chenxi stopped holding back.
After decisively securing a Penta-kill in the mid lane, the enemy surrendered.
Jiang Ling, unable to hold out any longer, said goodnight first.
Before hanging up, she muttered, “You’re quite the thief, taking a Penta-kill like that.”
Fang Chenxi burst into laughter.
***
It was another sunny day.
As the weather grew colder, warm, sunny days like this became increasingly rare.
After lunch, Dong Hui moved a lounge chair out to sunbathe in the courtyard.
Lu Yuyao and Jiang Ling came downstairs and approached her.
Lu Yuyao said, “Grandma, we’re going out to play.”
“Why are you still carrying that tablet?”
Dong Hui squinted her eyes, vaguely seeing the square object in Lu Yuyao’s arms.
She remembered her granddaughter calling it a tablet computer.
“Um… to take photos. My phone is out of battery and is charging inside for a bit.”
Lu Yuyao’s eyes darted around as she made up a random excuse.
“The pond at the edge of the village is pretty. We’re going there to take a few pictures.”
The elderly woman didn’t understand such things and simply assumed the two girls were being vain.
She nodded, told them to be careful, and then asked, “What do you want to eat for dinner? Your Grandma Jiang and I are going to the supermarket after we finish burning incense. We’re running low on ingredients.”
“I want shrimp!”
“Haha, Grandma knows you like shrimp.”
Dong Hui shook her head with a smile and then asked Jiang Ling, “What about you, Ling? Is there anything special you want to eat?”
Jiang Ling gave her usual response.
“Anything is fine. I’ll eat whatever Yu Yao eats.”
“Alright, go on and play then.”
“We’re off.”
Lu Yuyao held the tablet tight against her chest and took the initiative to grab Jiang Ling’s hand.
Jiang Ling looked surprised but followed her obediently.
Dong Hui watched their intimate interaction with a beaming smile, feeling an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
“I’m saying, can’t you draw at home?”
Jiang Ling said, feeling a bit speechless.
She didn’t know what Lu Yuyao was thinking, suddenly saying she wanted to go to the Wooden House to draw.
Jiang Ling had naturally disagreed.
‘If we draw such private things in a public place and get caught, wouldn’t both our reputations be ruined?’
“A change of scenery brings a change of mood. Staying inside all the time limits my inspiration,” Lu Yuyao explained, her fingers gesturing in the air.
Jiang Ling felt she was already starting to look like an art teacher.
Regarding the Wooden House, after saying goodbye to Xiao Tongqi and Xiao Tao yesterday, Xiao Tao had learned they were staying in the village for a few days and gave them a key.
They had been overwhelmed by the gesture and didn’t dare to take it at first, but they eventually accepted it after Xiao Tongqi and Xiao Tao insisted.
It was likely for the sake of Lu Yuyao’s grandfather.
Otherwise, Jiang Ling couldn’t imagine why Xiao Tao would feel comfortable giving them the key.
“You can come here to sit, drink tea, and look at the lotuses whenever you’re bored. It’s very pleasant,” Xiao Tongqi had said.
She seemed to have enjoyed it many times, her face full of contentment as she spoke.
“But as for rowing the boat, wait until I’m around,” Xiao Tongqi added with a giggle.
Before leaving, she didn’t forget to invite them to her home.
However, it was late, so they declined.
Xiao Tongqi didn’t mind.
She simply mentioned her house was on the road across from the pond, about eight or nine hundred meters away after a turn, and told them to visit when they were free.
Jiang Ling and Lu Yuyao agreed.
If things were different, Lu Yuyao wouldn’t have dared to go there so openly to draw.
But Xiao Tongqi had mentioned yesterday that her family was going out to handle some business today, so naturally, no one would be coming to the Wooden House.
“Don’t you think sipping tea, viewing the scenery, and drawing is a very interesting way to live?”
Lu Yuyao’s eyes sparkled.
She seemed to yearn for the pleasant lifestyle she described.
Even her inspiration for drawing Setu felt like it was skyrocketing!
Jiang Ling remained expressionless.
If anyone else heard her talk so grandiosely, they might think Lu Yuyao was quite refined.
If Jiang Ling didn’t know what she was actually drawing, she might have thought so too.
***
Upon arriving at the Wooden House, Jiang Ling used the key to unlock the door.
As she pushed it open, she felt a sense of novelty.
Yesterday, they were ‘thieves’ who got caught red-handed, but today, they were the temporary masters of the house.
Thanks to Ji Qingyan, Jiang Ling now felt the need to brew a pot of tea whenever she went somewhere, provided the conditions allowed it.
The taste of the slightly bitter tea always calmed her mind.
‘It’s as if Ji Qingyan herself is sitting right next to me.’
The description felt a bit strange.
But that was always the feeling Ji Qingyan gave her.
Just by sitting there and doing nothing, Jiang Ling felt the world go quiet, as if time had slowed down.
Ji Qingyan possessed a special kind of magic.
A slight smile played on Jiang Ling’s lips.
Then, urged on by Lu Yuyao, she began moving the chairs out of the house.