The Shadow Queen and Her Little Bodyguard (GL) - Chapter 21

Xiao Tao had just finished packing her luggage when Yi Lanyin’s bedroom door swung open from the inside. Yu Jing emerged, holding her phone, and asked, Xiao Tao-senpai, do you have any dietary restrictions? Or anything you’d like to eat? I’ll show off my cooking skills for lunch.

Xiao Tao’s eyes widened. Really? She looked genuinely thrilled, scurrying over to Yu Jing and grabbing her arm, her eyes sparkling. You can cook? Oh my god! This happiness came so suddenly!

Yi Lanyin coughed softly from inside the room. Xiao Tao immediately straightened up, crossed her arms, and completely changed her tone. Knowing how to cook isn’t anything special. Just buy whatever you want, but get plenty of meat so I can properly evaluate your culinary skills.

Yu Jing understood. She peeked her head into the room. Teacher Yi, do you like meat too?

Not particularly, Yi Lanyin replied lazily, still sprawled on the beanbag chair with a magazine covering her face. Her long legs were casually crossed on the grass-green carpet, the bright red toenails—still bare—glaringly vibrant. I’m dieting. Just make whatever you two like.

Xiao Tao gently tugged at Yu Jing’s sleeve, whispering near the door, Sister Yi loves sweets and lean meat, but she’s too embarrassed to say so.

Xiao Tao! Yi Lanyin suddenly called out from inside the room before the door could close completely, startling Xiao Tao. She pointed at the room, patted Yu Jing’s shoulder, and said, Remember sweets, lean meat. I’ll go in first. With that, she slipped through the door like a fish darting into water.

What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Xiao Tao put on a flattering expression and slid to Yi Lanyin’s side. Sister Yi, Little Sister Yu can actually cook! That grumpy girl can actually cook!

Yi Lanyin lifted her gaze from the magazine, first glancing at the tightly closed door before tossing the magazine aside with a sigh of relief. She grabbed Xiao Tao’s hand and said earnestly, I have a friend…

Ah, Xiao Tao raised an eyebrow. A friend.

Mm-hmm, Yi Lanyin nodded solemnly. She used to take care of a young man. When he grew up, he left her.

Ah, Xiao Tao continued with a smile, just a pretty boy, then.

Not exactly, Yi Lanyin waved her hand dismissively. That’s not the point. My friend accidentally changed clothes in front of this young man earlier. When he asked about it, she panicked and blurted out that it was an employee perk. Yi Lanyin straightened up, frowning slightly as she asked Xiao Tao, Doesn’t that sound a bit inappropriate?

Ah, Xiao Tao raised an eyebrow. And then, just by coincidence, this young man later became your friend’s subordinate.

Yi Lanyin blinked. Really? Is that how it happened?

Didn’t you just say it yourself, Sister Yi? ‘Employee perk.’ Xiao Tao pursed her lips, trying to look serious. Let me summarize Your friend used to financially support this young man—not exactly a gigolo, but someone who needed money. After years of separation, when they reunited, your friend forgot they weren’t still in that kind of relationship.

Xiao Tao! Yi Lanyin slumped dejectedly, grabbing the ends of her hair on either side of her face and crossing them in front of her, leaving only the tip of her nose sticking out. Don’t overthink it. It’s really not me.

Xiao Tao’s features began to contort, desperately trying to suppress her laughter. Unable to contain herself, her face twisted into a series of bizarre, irregular expressions. Only when she was certain she could speak without laughing did she say, I didn’t say it was you. Isn’t it your friend?

Mmm-hmm, Yi Lanyin hummed, her hair still obscuring her face. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Even her voice seemed to sink with her mood.

Xiao Tao knelt before Yi Lanyin, watching her mess up her hair. Leaning forward slightly, she reached out to tidy it. Then may I ask why that young man left your friend midway?

Yi Lanyin suddenly looked up, her luminous blue eyes darting around, their rims glistening as if wet in the bright sunlight. She finally ventured, Maybe… he fell for someone else. Her face was a picture of confusion.

Xiao Tao froze in shock. Yu Jing? Yu Jing dared to two-time Sister Yi—a woman as beautiful as a flower, as wealthy as Croesus?

This is outrageous!

And after Xiao Tao had personally taught her how to win Sister Yi’s heart!

Xiao Tao was filled with regret. She stood up and paced around Yi Lanyin’s room several times before finally storming out, her eyes blazing as she glared at Yu Jing’s stiff back, busy in the kitchen.

The person at the kitchen sink turned around. The dark gray island concealed her lower body, leaving only her forehead visible, where wisps of hair, still too short to stay back, drooped over her eyes. Her shirt sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing a prominent blue vein on her forearm—the kind novice nurses loved to practice injections on.

Xiao Tao shook her head, banishing thoughts of medical professionals from her mind.

That young face, usually scowling at everyone, suddenly turned toward her, a wide grin spreading across it. Xiao Tao-senpai, she chirped.

Ah! Help me! Xiao Tao suddenly understood how female beauty could lead men astray. This moody kid, who usually glared at everyone and was as stubborn and arrogant as a hard rock in a toilet, would suddenly turn sweet and call her elder sister when she looked at her. How could anyone resist being charmed?

Xiao Tao composed herself and strode into the kitchen. Contrary to her chaotic expectations, Yu Jing was multitasking like a pro—chopping vegetables, heating the pan, and tidying the stove, all with practiced efficiency.

Hungry? Yu Jing tossed the pre-chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic into the freshly heated oil without a second thought. It’ll be ready in half an hour, tops.

Xiao Tao, who had come to find fault, inexplicably ended up pulling out an apron from the deepest recesses of the cabinet and personally handing it to Yu Jing.

Ah, no rush, Xiao Tao said, pressing her lips together. She decided to give Yu Jing a chance to explain. Um, I have a friend…

After tying the apron around her waist, Yu Jing continued stirring the ingredients in the wok with a spatula, a smile playing on her lips as she waited for Xiao Tao to continue.

What are you laughing at? Xiao Tao demanded, indignant. She was still a condemned person, yet Yu Jing dared to mock Judge Tao Tao, the paragon of justice!

Senior Xiao Tao, you can just say what’s on your mind. Who doesn’t know what ‘I have a friend’ means these days? Yu Jing turned to face Xiao Tao, who stood two meters away. Relationship trouble? You’ve come to the wrong person, Senior. I’m completely clueless about romance.

Tsk, Xiao Tao clicked her tongue, pondering for a moment. As Yu Jing began plating the food, she suddenly asked, What do you think would make a kept man suddenly leave his sugar daddy?

Yu Jing’s hands were steady as she set down the empty pot. She wiped her hands with a kitchen towel from the gas stove.

Don’t get me wrong, Xiao Tao said, you know how our industry is—full of scandalous stories about people hooking up with rich patrons and fighting over resources. I’m just curious would the kept party ever主动 leave and pay the patron?

Xiao Tao’s question was a direct challenge to Yu Jing. Yu Jing glanced calmly at Yi Lanyin’s bedroom door before tossing the used towel into the trash can by her feet. She placed the freshly plated dish on the island counter in front of Xiao Tao. It depends on the situation. Maybe the kept man is fiercely independent. He might think that after leaving his patron and making a name for himself, he could finally have an equal relationship with her.

Xiao Tao understood perfectly. She picked up the dish from the counter and, before leaving, remarked pointedly, I thought maybe the kept man had fallen for someone else.

Yu Jing lowered her head, grabbed another towel, and wiped a grease stain from the stovetop. When Xiao Tao returned from the dining table, Yu Jing looked up and asked bluntly, Did Teacher Yi say that?

Xiao Tao leaned against the island counter, her upper body slightly tilted forward. She turned the candlestick at the edge of the counter, finally answering vaguely, Even Teacher Yi can’t figure everything out on her own.

For the rest of the time, Yu Jing focused on cooking while Xiao Tao helped carry the dishes to the nearby dining table.

Once the rice was cooked, Yu Jing washed her hands and knocked on Yi Lanyin’s door to call her for dinner. Xiao Tao watched her go without intervening.

Yu Jing turned the doorknob and entered. Yi Lanyin was just waking up on the beanbag chair, her eyes still drowsy.

Is dinner ready? she asked groggily, looking over.

Yu Jing sat on the vanity stool near the beanbag chair, her head bowed, not answering.

Yi Lanyin rubbed her eyes, sat up, and stretched her stiff neck. Why aren’t you saying anything? Her voice was hoarse, still clouded with the disorientation of waking up. I don’t know how I fell asleep. Maybe the sun felt too good on my skin.

Yu Jing stood up again, fetched a bottle of water from the living room, twisted the cap off, and held it to Yi Lanyin’s lips. I’ve been short on money lately, she said, her expression unwavering despite Yi Lanyin’s stunned look. Do you think we could… restart our old arrangement?

Yi Lanyin was grateful for her professional acting training. She took the mineral water bottle, still hovering steadily near her lips, tilted her head back, took a sip, and then tightened the cap. How much do you need? she asked Yu Jing.

Yu Jing hesitated. If she named too small an amount, Yi Lanyin might simply wave her hand and offer to lend her the money outright. If she asked for too much, Yi Lanyin might worry. Finally, she held up three fingers, leaving Yi Lanyin to fill in the blank.

Three million? Yi Lanyin asked.

Three million over ten years, okay? It’s for the mortgage. Otherwise, paying it off over thirty years would mean paying so much more in interest, Yu Jing replied, following her lead.

You bought a house? Yi Lanyin didn’t directly answer Yu Jing’s question. Clutching the water bottle, she stood up. It smells pretty good. I didn’t know you had this talent. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have been showing off my amateur skills in front of you earlier.

I learned it on the fly in the military, Yu Jing said, following her. After someone blew up the hotel kitchen.

Yi Lanyin stopped and turned to look back at Yu Jing. The reason this little brat was such a brat was precisely because she always carried that pure sincerity, while simultaneously doing things that were so heartlessly cruel.

I’ll lend you three million yuan, interest-free. Pay me back whenever you can. As for that matter, don’t ever mention it again.

With that, she turned and walked toward the dining table, leaving Yu Jing standing alone in the sunlit room.

The courage Yu Jing had just mustered drained away through the crack in her heart. Yi Lanyin no longer needed her—not even as a secret, underground lover.

She dragged herself out of the room, but the moment she picked up her chopsticks, nausea churned in her stomach.

Yi Lanyin and Xiao Tao ate in silence. No one noticed Yu Jing clutching her stomach under the table, mechanically bringing empty chopsticks to her mouth.

Only when Xiao Tao put down her chopsticks could Yu Jing end this torturous charade. She stood up from the table, Yi Lanyin’s gaze slowly following her movement. In her coldest, most detached voice, Yi Lanyin said, Xiao Tao, please put the used dishes in the dishwasher. Yu Jing, come with me.

Okay, sure, Xiao Tao said, effortlessly rising despite being stuffed. She quickly cleared the table and secretly poked Yu Jing’s arm, who was still frozen in place. You’re done for. She’s really angry this time.

Yi Lan stood by the door, arms crossed and a cold expression on her face, waiting for Yu Jing. When Yu Jing finally shuffled over, Yi Lan gently pushed her shoulder with one hand while closing the door with the other.

Are you a child? Who are you trying to punish by not eating?

Yu Jing shook her head, still reeling from the earlier rejection. Seeing Yi Lan look at her like a stranger only deepened her hurt.

She bit her lower lip, refusing to speak. Yi Lan sighed and reached out to pinch Yu Jing’s gaunt cheek. I said I’d lend it to you, not that you wouldn’t have to pay it back. Do you think I don’t respect you?

No, Yu Jing mumbled, clutching her stomach. She blinked twice, tears welling up in her eyes.

Yi Lan instinctively leaned in to kiss her—kissing her closed eyelids, kissing the salty tears on her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around Yu Jing’s neck and gently patted her back. Did you run into something you can’t handle? It’s okay, I’m here for you.