Let's Do Some Questions - Chapter 31

No one understood the child she had raised herself better than Song Qinglan. She had worked hard to spoil her, making her delicate, soft, lawless, and arrogant, watching her grow into a naive and sweet girl under her protection.

She watched Song Man grow into the person she is now, just as she wished. Even though she was now a tall and slender young woman, with a group of followers she could order around, in Song Qinglan’s eyes, Song Man was still just an immature child who only knew how to bare her fangs and claws.

Before, she had sensed Song Man’s dissatisfaction and resistance towards her, but she hadn’t paid much attention, thinking it was just a phase of teenage rebellion, a desire for independence, coolness, and freedom.

She knew that if the string was held too tightly, the kite might not fly or even fall. So she appropriately loosened the string, allowing the kite to go further. But she hadn’t expected the kite to keep trying to break into a wider area, unwilling to return to her hand.

But it didn’t matter, she understood that child. Like a dessert, even if the outside was hard and crispy, the inside was soft and sweet once bitten into.

But she had never known Song Man could be so considerate of others.

Song Man had been pampered into a princess by her and the family. She gave Song Man the power to be reckless and willful without restraint. Besides her parents, when had Song Man ever lowered her head to do something like this for someone else?

Song Qinglan couldn’t remember when Song Man stopped serving her food. Occasionally, she would be thoughtful towards her parents, as filial piety didn’t need to be displayed constantly. But who was this person who suddenly appeared, possessing such ability to make Song Man treat her so well?

Chu Fengqiu noticed Song Qinglan’s scrutinizing gaze and, under that gaze, picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and placed it in Song Man’s bowl.

She specifically chose the sweet and sour fish, knowing Song Man would definitely love it.

Song Man took it as Chu Fengqiu returning the favor. Since it was her favorite dish anyway, she happily ate it, not even glancing at Song Qinglan beside her.

“Manman, your sister came back from work so tired to eat, why aren’t you serving her food?”

Xu Qinglang saw Song Man neglecting Song Qinglan and quickly spoke up, giving Song Man a look.

Song Man reluctantly used the serving chopsticks to put a piece of food in Song Qinglan’s bowl, hoping eating would shut Song Qinglan up, and then focused on eating furiously herself.

“Eat slower, don’t choke. We’re not in a hurry.”

Song Qinglan also put a piece of sweet and sour fish in Song Man’s bowl, telling Song Man to slow down her eating speed, and then slowly chewed the food Song Man had given her.

Song Man looked at the piece of fish in her bowl. Although she really wanted to throw it away, her parents would definitely scold her. She glanced at Chu Fengqiu next to her and smiled, picking up that piece of fish and putting it in Chu Fengqiu’s bowl.

“Chu Fengqiu, my grades improved this time all thanks to your help. Come on, eat more fish, it’s good for your brain.”

【Help me out, sister! I know you don’t like overly sweet things, but please save me!】

Chu Fengqiu received Song Man’s look and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Because she was a guest eating with this family, there were serving chopsticks and personal chopsticks on the table.

Song Qinglan had used the serving chopsticks to give Song Man that piece of fish, and Song Man used her personal chopsticks to give it to her. Chu Fengqiu didn’t mind Song Man’s saliva, but she’d rather not have anyone else’s.

As she put that piece of fish in her mouth, Chu Fengqiu felt a gaze as substantial as a physical object fall upon her, as if trying to pierce through her.

Song Qinglan was genuinely a little angry, looking at Chu Fengqiu sitting there with displeasure, but she hid it well. There was no outward sign, only Chu Fengqiu, who was being watched, could feel it.

Chu Fengqiu looked up and smiled calmly at Song Qinglan.

Song Qinglan tightened her grip on her chopsticks, her brow furrowing unconsciously.

“Manman, don’t give food from your bowl to others next time, it’s impolite, okay?”

Song Qinglan said softly, like a good older sister teaching her younger sibling.

Song Man nodded perfunctorily, thinking, Not listening, not listening, the turtle is chanting scriptures.

Song Man finished this meal at double speed, didn’t ask for a second bowl, said she was short on time, stood up, and wiped her mouth with a tissue.

Chu Fengqiu swallowed her last bite the moment Song Man put down her chopsticks, said ‘Goodbye Uncle and Auntie’ to Xu Qinglang and Song Zici, grabbed a tissue, and followed Song Man’s steps.

“Why are these two children in such a hurry? But that Chu family child is really good. She can actually make our Manman motivated.”

Song Zici watched the two children run out like a gust of wind, saying with a helpless smile.

“Yes, Fengqiu was also first in her class this time. She’s a very hardworking child, and her personality is especially good. Manman loves playing with her.”

Xu Qinglang echoed with a smile.

Song Qinglan listened to their words, picked up the dish Song Man liked, put it in her mouth, and frowned at the sweet and greasy taste. She ate a few mouthfuls of rice to swallow it down.

“Mom, my grades are also good, why didn’t you let me tutor Manman?”

Song Qinglan asked seemingly casually.

“If I let you, she’d probably just whine and beg, and you’d let her play.”

The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

“Who told me I have no resistance to her begging?”

Song Qinglan’s eyes were full of helplessness.

“Qinglan, you really spoil your sister too much.”

Xu Qinglang said, and Song Qinglan raised an eyebrow noncommittally.

Song Man, who had run out, was already in the car. Chu Fengqiu also got in and closed the door.

“I ate so fast I feel a bit choked. Chu Fengqiu, are you full?”

“Yes.”

Chu Fengqiu nodded.

“Okay, good. I was worried I rushed out too fast and you didn’t eat enough. Ah, only ten minutes left.”

Song Man pulled Chu Fengqiu’s hand to look at her watch, urging the driver to hurry.

It was the first time Chu Fengqiu had seen Song Man so eager for class. Coupled with her behavior at the dinner table, she could conclude that Song Man’s relationship with her sister was indeed not good, but Song Man’s family didn’t seem to think so, and Song Man’s sister also acted very caring towards Song Man.

Chu Fengqiu was a little curious but still didn’t ask.

Chu Fengqiu deeply understood the principle of knowing one’s limits and never crossing boundaries, lest she hear things she shouldn’t or ask things she shouldn’t, causing unnecessary trouble and annoyance.

Song Man quietly relaxed her body. She had never appreciated Chu Fengqiu’s quiet nature so much.

If she had really asked, Song Man wouldn’t know how to explain.

In others’ eyes, Song Qinglan spoiled her so much, a typical sister complex. If she told others Song Qinglan disliked her, probably no one would believe it.

The driver uncle was very efficient, getting Song Man and Chu Fengqiu to the classroom just in time.

During evening self-study, Song Man obediently copied her wrong answers as Chu Fengqiu had told her. As she copied, she suddenly thought of something.

The difficult problem she had sent to Ah Q and Lingnan before seemed to have not been replied to yet.

Song Man was an impatient person. When she thought of something, she had to do it immediately within the allowed scope.

She took out her phone and checked WeChat. Lingnan hadn’t replied. She was worried about the other person’s condition, so she asked, ‘Are you okay?’.

Lingnan still didn’t reply. Song Man exited WeChat and went to the Question Bank app. Ah Q hadn’t replied either. She sent a question mark.

After sending, Song Man stuffed her phone into the drawer, glanced at Chu Fengqiu who was writing problems, and pretended nothing happened, continuing to copy her wrong answers.

Tonight, she was a soulless copy-paste machine.

Chu Fengqiu saw her little actions but still pretended to be blind, not looking away.

After school, Song Man and Chu Fengqiu were picked up by the driver and went home.

As Song Man was about to rush back to her room, she saw movement from Song Qinglan’s door. Song Qinglan was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her.

“You’re back?”

“Yeah.”

Before Song Qinglan could say anything else, Song Man darted back into her room, closing the door with a bang.

Song Qinglan’s expression froze as she met the gaze of Chu Fengqiu, who was a few steps behind Song Man.

Chu Fengqiu walked to Song Man’s door and knocked three times.

Song Man, who had just closed her door, remembered she had left someone outside. She immediately opened the door, pulled Chu Fengqiu in, and closed the door again.

Chu Fengqiu was pulled in before she could make any expression, forced to press tightly against Song Man, feeling something soft and very elastic bump against her chest and be pressed hard against her.

By the time she registered the sensation, she had already been pushed away by Song Man.

Song Man was completely unaware of the physical attack she had just launched, fanning herself with her hand.

“I almost forgot you outside. Let me catch my breath first.”

Song Man gulped down some water. After drinking, she realized she was a little hungry.

She rubbed her stomach. She had been too rushed this afternoon and hadn’t eaten enough.

“I’m a little hungry. Chu Fengqiu, are you hungry?”

“A little.”

Chu Fengqiu wasn’t actually hungry, but she wouldn’t say so, because she probably guessed what Song Man wanted to do.

“Then let’s go out. I’ll treat you to a late-night snack.”

Song Man sent messages to Ailan and Deng Wei, then walked to the drawer beside her bed, looked at a few keys, and finally chose one.

“Chu Fengqiu, can you ride a motorcycle?”

“No.”

Chu Fengqiu, the “Goddess” who couldn’t even ride a regular motorcycle, shook her head.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Song Man opened her door and glanced outside. Song Qinglan wasn’t in the hallway anymore. She beckoned, telling Chu Fengqiu to close the door, and the two walked towards the entrance.

Song Man went to the garage and started her beloved bike, stroking it affectionately.

She was so hesitant. Her motorcycle wasn’t supposed to carry passengers.

Last time she lent it out, the person didn’t follow her instructions, so she scolded them, and when it came back, she washed her beloved bike inside and out.

But now… Song Man looked at Chu Fengqiu waiting there, still conflicted.

Maybe she should just let Chu Fengqiu take a taxi?

But this was a villa area, there were no taxis in sight, and it wasn’t early anymore… Song Man thought, maybe she should call the driver.

Song Man ran to find the driver, but Housekeeper Liu told her the driver had a family emergency today and had already gone home.

“If it’s inconvenient, then I won’t go.”

Chu Fengqiu saw Song Man bustling about, and now standing in the garage looking at the bike with a troubled expression, and spoke up.

“No way.”

Song Man immediately refused.

Chu Fengqiu was her sister (friend), how could she bail on her?

Now there seemed to be only one way. Song Man looked at her beloved bike.

Only one light was on in the garage, the space half-lit and half-dark.

Chu Fengqiu saw the motorcycle’s headlight turn on, like the eyes of a fierce beast.

The young woman had a slender waist and long legs, and the posture of straddling the bike was cool.

“Chu Fengqiu, get on.”

Song Man patted the back seat and threw Chu Fengqiu a helmet as she approached.

For Song Man, her beloved bike was like her wife, but since they were sisters (friends), what was wrong with a “3P”?

Thinking this, Song Man felt relieved.