My Villainess Is Definitely Not a Black Lotus - Chapter 26

Fu Jianxu’s cheeks burned crimson, whether from the steamy heat or embarrassment. A cold draft seeped through the door crack, sending shivers across her skin. She bit her lip, hesitating for a long moment, before finally succumbing to the chill and calling out softly, Xiaoyu…

Silence answered from beyond the door.

Clutching the damp towel, she pressed the warm cloth against her icy skin and called out again, raising her voice this time. Finally, she heard Ji Xiaoyu’s response.

I… I, Ji Xiaoyu mumbled, her voice muffled against the door, forgot to bring a change of clothes…

Ji Xiaoyu’s footsteps faded into the distance before returning. As a gentle knock sounded on the wooden door, Fu Jianxu extended a luminous white arm through the crack, droplets of water sliding down her skin.

Ji Xiaoyu should have simply handed over the clothes, but her gaze was irresistibly drawn to the water droplets, tracing their path from the faintly veined forearm to the slender wrist and finally to the slightly curled fingertips, tinged a delicate pink from the cold.

A mischievous thought crossed her mind. After all the times this woman had scolded and even struck her, a little payback couldn’t hurt, right? So she deliberately delayed handing over the clothes, watching the hand flutter helplessly in the air, its fingertips growing even pinker with each futile grasp.

Sister Jianxu, here you go, Ji Xiaoyu finally said, her voice laced with amusement as she placed the neatly folded clothes into the waiting hand.

As soon as the clothes were in her hands, Fu Jianxu hastily withdrew her arm, using the back of her now-icy hand to cool her flushed cheeks, managing to lower her facial temperature somewhat.

She unfolded the garments and glanced down an inner robe, a padded coat, and even… undergarments. The young girl had brought her everything. The heat that had just subsided returned to her face, accompanied by an inexplicable warmth rising in her heart.

After changing, she pushed open the door and unexpectedly met Ji Xiaoyu’s smiling eyes. The hazy moonlight cast a silvery glow on the girl’s hair. Fu Jianxu froze, clearly not expecting the young girl to still be waiting outside for her.

Ji Xiaoyu was equally surprised to see the woman emerge so disheveled. Her breath caught in her throat—Fu Jianxu’s damp hair still dripped water, a suspicious blush painted her cheeks, and un-dried water droplets clung to her neck. Her outer robe hung loosely over her shoulders, revealing half of her snow-white collarbone.

The night wind swept through the courtyard, yet Ji Xiaoyu’s slender frame shielded Fu Jianxu from most of the chill.

Though the temperature had dropped, Fu Jianxu’s face remained inexplicably flushed.

The next morning, shortly after 7 AM, Chen Zhen’s steamed bun stall still had a small line of three or five customers when Zhou Daya and Hao Hong rushed over in a flurry of activity.

You two are here so early? Chen Zhen asked in surprise, deftly wrapping two meat buns in oiled paper and handing them to a customer before looking up.

Zhou Daya laughed heartily, rubbing her frostbitten hands together. Might as well come help out early! We’re just sitting around at home anyway.

Hao Hong nodded in agreement behind her. Both women were restless by nature otherwise, they wouldn’t be so eager to find work even in the dead of winter.

The bosses haven’t arrived yet, Chen Zhen pointed to the empty food stall.

Perfect! Zhou Daya rolled up her sleeves without hesitation. Let’s get the kitchen cleaned up first! Hao Hong immediately followed suit, trailing after her into the back kitchen.

When Fu Jianxu and her group arrived at the shop with today’s ingredients, they were stunned by the sight before them. The kitchen was immaculate pots, pans, and utensils were neatly arranged, the stove gleamed, and even the most stubborn grease stains had vanished without a trace.

Sharing a breakfast stall with Chen Zhen had always been problematic. After the morning market closed, there was rarely time to clean the kitchen properly, forcing them to prepare lunch ingredients in the dining area. Yet today, these two new helpers had resolved the issue before dawn.

Good heavens… Fu Jianxu gasped, her jaw dropping. They’re incredibly efficient!

Chen Zhen, who had just finished packing up her stall, wiped her hands awkwardly on her apron. I feel terrible making you work so hard…

Sister Zhenzhen, don’t be silly! Zhou Daya waved her hand dismissively. This is our job now!

Chen Zhen turned to Fu Jianxu, hesitating, How about this? I’ll contribute to these two sisters’ wages too. Otherwise, I’ll feel guilty.

Fu Jianxu didn’t react immediately, instinctively glancing at Ji Xiaoyu. Ji Xiaoyu understood and said gently, We appreciate your kindness, Sister Chen. But since we’re all working together, helping each other is only natural. How about this? When we close early in the future and have leftover steamed buns, we’ll share some with Sister Zhou and Sister Hao for breakfast.

Zhou Daya and Hao Hong repeatedly declined, but they couldn’t resist Chen Zhen’s renewed enthusiasm. In the end, each of them was handed two steaming meat buns. Feeling embarrassed, they sat in a corner, devouring them in large bites.

With these two extra hands, the atmosphere in the shop immediately lightened. Zhou Daya, familiar with the routine, took her place beside Fu Jianxu, and the two worked together seamlessly to prepare the ingredients. Hao Hong took over Ji Xiaoyu’s dishwashing duties.

Although the workload remained substantial, with five people sharing the burden, it no longer felt as suffocating as before.

The atmosphere at Fortune Gate was far from harmonious instead, it was oppressively tense.

The sharp-tongued and long-faced apprentices stood beside Xie Guilin, barely daring to breathe. The sharp-tongued apprentice, in particular, was on edge. After failing to secure Manager Xie’s Mala Tang the previous day and enduring a harsh scolding, he had rushed out early this morning to buy it. Now, the steaming bowl sat before Xie Guilin.

Two crude earthenware bowls sat before Xie Guilin one filled with Mala Tang, the other with Hot and Sour Vermicelli. He frowned in distaste. Bring our Qing porcelain bowls, he ordered.

Once the apprentices had carefully transferred the food into the delicate bowls, Xie Guilin picked up his chopsticks. He first tasted the Mala Tang, the savory, fragrant, and spicy flavors exploding on his tongue, causing him to narrow his eyes involuntarily. The seasoning blend was indeed masterful—no wonder it attracted so many customers. He ate half a bowl without betraying any emotion before turning to the Hot and Sour Vermicelli.

He lifted a translucent strand of vermicelli, the glistening noodle trembling slightly between his chopsticks. It slid smoothly into his mouth, its texture both slippery and chewy, the sour and spicy flavors perfectly balanced. Xie Guilin was secretly astonished.

Nothing special, he declared, setting down his chopsticks with a blank expression. This kind of street food is hardly fit for refined tastes! Yet inwardly, he was already scheming how to claim this culinary marvel for himself.

Today, they sold out of all their ingredients early again. With Zhou Daya and Hao Hong’s help, Ji Xiaoyu had barely finished balancing the accounts when she noticed the shop had already been cleaned spotless.

We’re done so early today, Zhou Daya said, rubbing her hands together, a little embarrassed. It’s even shorter than our shifts at the docks. I feel guilty taking such high wages.

Hao Hong nodded vigorously in agreement.

Fu Jianxu smiled and cooked several bowls of Hot and Sour Vermicelli. The group gathered around a table, Fu Jianxu and Ji Xiaoyu sitting side-by-side, slurping noodles together.

Zhou Daya clearly had a soft spot for sour and spicy flavors. She had always loved Fu Jianxu’s pickled fish back at the docks, and now she was devouring the Hot and Sour Vermicelli, sweating profusely but refusing to put down her chopsticks.

Sister, how do you make this sour so flavorful? Zhou Daya praised between bites. I’ve tried making it at home, but no matter how much vinegar I use, I can’t get it to taste like this.

Fu Jianxu, remembering the fish Zhou Daya had made at the docks, suddenly paled slightly. Sister Zhou, she said tactfully, I’ll prepare some seasoning packets for you to take home when I have time. You work so hard… you really shouldn’t bother cooking yourself.

Hao Hong, another victim of Zhou Daya’s culinary skills, nearly spat out her noodles at this remark. She choked on her laughter, coughing uncontrollably but unable to stop chuckling.

Zhou Daya, well aware of her cooking abilities, scratched her head and grinned sheepishly. Then I’ll just wait for your seasoning packets, Sister!

On the way home, Fu Jianxu still felt uneasy about the fish Zhou Daya had made earlier. She muttered a few complaints to Ji Xiaoyu, who laughed until her eyes crinkled into crescents.

Staring at Ji Xiaoyu’s radiant smile, Fu Jianxu awkwardly turned away. Now that the adolescent girl was getting enough nutrition, she seemed to change every day. Her pale face had grown plump and smooth, her cheeks no longer sunken, and she had shot up in height—once barely reaching Fu Jianxu’s chin, she now stood nearly level with it.

Despite her recent busyness, Ji Xiaoyu hadn’t gained any weight, but her complexion glowed brighter each day, making her increasingly beautiful.

Back home, Fu Jianxu resignedly dragged herself to the washbasin, drew water, and began scrubbing the clothes she’d changed out of the previous day. As her hands worked mechanically, her mind drifted into idle thoughts Xiaoyu, Xiaoyu, like a light rain. Jianxu, Jianxu, seeing the sunlight! When the rain stops, the dark clouds drift away, and the sun comes out, you can see the sunlight! This bizarre train of thought made her chuckle inexplicably.

Why was she named Fu Jianxu? Because her mother’s surname was Fu, so she also took the Fu surname. Since her father didn’t share that surname, he saw her as a disgrace in his life, foolishly believing she was unaware of his feelings.

She chuckled again. As for why Jianxu? Her mother had painstakingly chosen the name, hoping she would be as cheerful as a little sun, radiating warmth and light.

But despite her mother’s strict upbringing, she had grown into the timid person she was today. She let out another self-deprecating laugh.

And what about Xiaoyu? Why was Xiaoyu named Xiaoyu?

There’s no special reason. It was drizzling the day I was born, so my dad just called me Xiaoyu, Ji Xiaoyu replied softly, her hands pausing as she tied bundles of dry firewood. She lowered her gaze.

Fu Jianxu suddenly realized she had blurted out her thoughts again. She froze awkwardly, biting her lip in frustration—she had said something she shouldn’t have.

Watching Ji Xiaoyu deliver the words with such detached calm, Fu Jianxu felt a pang of sympathy. Her mind raced, desperately searching for a way to make amends for her careless words.

Spinning, spinning… Her eyes lit up. She had it!

She set down the half-washed clothes, dried her hands, and sidled up to Ji Xiaoyu, her eyes sparkling. Xiaoyu…