TNSFC – Chapter 51

Que Yining returned to the old residence at 3:50 AM. As soon as she arrived, she sent a message to Gu Shanxue. She parked her car a little further away, not wanting the engine noise to wake up the houseful of relatives.

She originally thought everyone was asleep. As she passed through the corridor, she saw someone standing there.

The old residence was an old house; the corridor was a covered walkway surrounding a central courtyard.

There were no lights on in the house; the only light source was the moonlight. When Que Yining first entered and saw a figure, she was startled for a moment.

When she got closer, she realized it was Que Chuling standing there.

Que Chuling was wearing a jacket, leaning against the railing of the covered walkway, smoking.

When she saw Que Yining, she tilted her head slightly. Smoke drifted from her mouth and nose, blurring the crimson glow between her fingers.

In the moonlight, her expression was very cold, her short hair somewhat messy. Even though it was winter, her jacket wasn’t properly worn, hanging loosely open, revealing the scratches and hickeys on her neck.

Seeing Que Yining, she glanced at her coldly.

Que Yining met her gaze, indifferent to her look. Before she could be sure if Que Chuling was involved in those matters, Que Chuling was just an insignificant person in her eyes.

As Que Yining was about to pass by, Que Chuling called out to her.

“What is it?”

Que Yining turned to look at Que Chuling, waiting for her to continue.

“Where were you out gallivanting so late at night?”

The cigarette in Que Chuling’s hand was almost burnt to the end. She threw it on the ground, crushed it out with her foot, and looked at Que Yining’s face.

“None of your business.”

Que Yining turned her back again, intending to go back into the house.

“You weren’t desperately throwing yourself at someone only to be kicked out, were you? I heard you gave up?”

Que Chuling’s faint voice drifted from behind, tinged with sarcastic amusement.

Que Yining now understood why the original owner disliked this Second Sister. Even if her intentions were good, such a venomous tongue wouldn’t make her very likable.

Que Yining turned around and responded with a forced smile, “It seems you’re really keeping tabs on me.”

“Well, you’re a celebrity in our circle. Even if I didn’t want to inquire, I couldn’t help but overhear a thing or two. But when did you finally get the water out of your head and realize you shouldn’t be chasing after someone like a lapdog?”

Que Chuling looked at her, her words merciless.

But she wasn’t smiling as she said it. Her expression was complex and hard to read, carrying a hint of pity.

“I told you long ago…” Que Chuling started to say something, then abruptly changed the subject. “I heard you’ve been wanting to get into business lately, thinking of starting one?”

“What are you trying to say? Can you just get to the point?”

Que Yining spoke bluntly, but she focused intently, not missing any of Que Chuling’s expressions.

She still didn’t know the nature of Que Chuling’s relationship with Que Linyang. What was undeniable was that both Que Chuling and Que Linyang worked in the Que family business, and neither held insignificant power.

“I’m just curious. If you want to experience life, why don’t you let your good Big Brother arrange a position for you in the company?”

Que Chuling asked while pulling her jacket tighter. The emphasis in her words made Que Yining find them intriguing.

Que Yining: “No need. It’s not like I have to rely on Big Brother for everything. This is my business; what does it have to do with him?”

Que Chuling: “Nothing to do with him? I thought, in your eyes, everything about you always had something to do with him.”

“He’s not my dad. My business is my business.”

Que Yining feigned a frown, showing a hint of displeasure at Que Chuling’s words.

Que Chuling raised an eyebrow. “Has the little tag-along grown up?”

She chuckled softly, as if to herself, “I really hope you’ve truly grown up, become a bit smarter.”

Que Yining’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean?”

“Whatever you think it means, it means. Go back to sleep.”

Que Chuling shrugged, suddenly looking tired. Her eyes showed a hint of weariness, her earlier animation gone, replaced by her usual cold demeanor. She waved Que Yining away.

Que Yining thought, She definitely knows something.

But Que Yining couldn’t just ask directly. Que Chuling was not Que Zixi.

Que Chuling gave her a contradictory impression: an extremely complex and capricious person. In some ways, she resembled Que Yining, but Que Yining was certain they weren’t the same kind of person. She could sense a subtle decadence about Que Chuling, like someone mired in a swamp, unable to escape and giving in to despair.

Que Yining didn’t just go back. Since the other party had cornered her with questions, how could she just walk away without digging something out of Que Chuling to return the favor for the earlier feeling? That wouldn’t be Que Yining.

“I was planning to go straight to sleep when I got back, but you stopped me. Now I’m not sleepy. Why are you out smoking at this hour? Is one of your lovers among this group of relatives?”

Que Yining leaned against a pillar with her arms crossed, inquiring of Que Chuling. Her expression wasn’t gossipy but carried a hint of playful mockery, exactly like Que Chuling’s attitude just moments before.

Que Yining was just taking a wild guess. After all, the moonlight wasn’t very bright. Although she could see the marks on Que Chuling, it didn’t mean they had appeared tonight; perhaps it was yesterday, or even the day before.

“With such a vivid imagination, you should put it to use elsewhere.”

Que Chuling fumbled in her pocket, pulled out another cigarette, and put it between her lips.

“Alright, then…” Que Yining’s lips curved up. “Are you very close with Older Sister-in-law?”

“Not close.”

Que Chuling exhaled a puff of smoke and looked up at the night sky.

This was a posture of avoiding the question. Que Yining had been staring at her and was sure she hadn’t misread her subtle actions. When Que Yining asked the question, Que Chuling’s motion of lighting the cigarette had paused for a moment before she immediately gave a negative answer.

Que Yining: “Not close? I thought so. Older Sister-in-law knows I dislike you, so how could she be close to you?”

Que Chuling sneered, “You think everyone is like you?”

The faint sound of a phone vibrating came through the air. Que Chuling took out her phone, frowned, clicked her tongue softly, and impatiently crushed out the newly lit cigarette in her hand. She brushed past Que Yining and left.

Que Yining had already gained something. She lifted her leg and followed.

As she went up the stairs, she realized Que Chuling’s last words had a strange flavor. She had initially thought Que Chuling meant ‘not everyone dislikes her as much as you do,’ but if applied to the subject of her own question, the answer became rather interesting.

Que Yining entered her room and closed the door.

She took her pajamas to the bathroom, removed her makeup, washed her hair, and showered, not finishing until five in the morning. Then she sent a goodnight message to Gu Shanxue.

【Lady Gu】: Good night.

【Que Yining】: You’re not asleep yet?

Que Yining saw the nickname she had given Gu Shanxue and really wanted to laugh. She always liked changing Gu Shanxue’s nickname. The reason for changing it to “Lady” was because when they were eating hot pot earlier, Gu Shanxue’s table manners were exceptionally refined, truly the epitome of high society, making Que Yining feel inadequate in comparison.

Originally, she wanted to express that the other person was ladylike, but for some reason, when combined with Gu Shanxue’s demeanor and applied to Gu Shanxue herself, Que Yining found it particularly amusing.

【Lady Gu】: Not yet.

【Que Yining】: Is it because of the hot pot I treated you to? Are you still full?

【Lady Gu】: Mm.

But whether that was truly the reason, only Gu Shanxue knew.

【Que Yining】: I ate more than you, and I don’t feel that full. This must be why I’m fatter than you!

Que Yining sent a cute crying cat emoji and patted her stomach.

Que Yining was sure she weighed more than Gu Shanxue. Gu Shanxue looked like a very slender and tall girl. Que Yining wasn’t fat either, even on the thinner side, but with her chest and butt, even without excess fat on her waist, she wasn’t light.

【Lady Gu】: You’re not fat.

【Que Yining】: But I even have a little tummy.

Of course, Que Yining didn’t have a little tummy. If she did, she definitely wouldn’t send a photo.

She lifted her pajamas, found an angle, and took a picture of her stomach. Of course, she very calculatingly let a little bit of what was above it into the shot, not revealing too much, keeping it moderate.

In the photo, Que Yining’s stomach was a bit distended, but it wasn’t fat; it was purely because she had just eaten too much and hadn’t digested it yet.

【Lady Gu】: You’re just full. You’re thin.

Que Yining beamed with delight. Women just love being complimented by others, and it’s even more delightful when it comes from their crush.

【Lady Gu】: Rest soon.

【Que Yining】: Okay, you too.

After saying goodnight to each other, Que Yining put her phone aside and drifted off to sleep.

At seven in the morning, the servants at the old residence were already busy.

Today was the first day of the Lunar New Year. People visiting relatives and friends would come to offer New Year greetings.

The people who had played mahjong until past one AM and then dispersed were woken up and sat down at a table for breakfast at eight o’clock.

“Where’s Yining? Why isn’t she down yet? I’ll go call her.”

You Lanqing sat next to her husband. Seeing that her youngest daughter hadn’t arrived yet, she was about to get up and wake Que Yining.

Que Chuling snorted lightly, “Mom, don’t go. With her love for sleep and morning grumpiness, if you wake her, she’ll get angry. Don’t spoil the atmosphere.”

You Lanqing gave her a reproachful look and said, “You, you’re already so old and still can’t get along with your younger sister. If Ningning heard that, she’d throw a tantrum at you again.”

Although she said that, she didn’t actually go to wake Que Yining.

Que Yining had stayed up late and didn’t wake up until two in the afternoon.

When she woke up, only a few servants were cleaning the old residence. Seeing Que Yining awake, they asked if she wanted them to prepare some food for her.

Que Yining nodded and looked around. “Where is everyone?”

A stark contrast to yesterday’s bustling crowd, the old residence was now empty.

“Mister and Madam went visiting. Eldest Young Master and the others accompanied them. Everyone else has left.”

“Alright, make the food light.”

Que Yining stretched lazily and went back to her room to do her makeup.

After finishing her makeup, she ate while sending red envelopes in the company group chat on her phone.

Yesterday, Papa Que and Mama Que had both given Que Yining New Year’s money. Their reputation as doting parents was well-deserved; each gave her one million. And her Big Brother Que Linyang, who also doted on his younger sister, gave her five hundred thousand.

Que Yining didn’t touch Que Linyang’s money. She transferred it to a previously opened bank card that had no money in it, planning to settle accounts later.

Yesterday, she had intended to sound out Que Linyang, but he received a phone call, and she couldn’t find another opportunity afterward. However, she could try again later.

Just as Que Yining finished eating, the large family that had gone visiting returned.

“Dad, where’s my brother?”

Que Yining looked around and then turned to ask Papa Que.

“Your brother had something to attend to, so he left early.”

Hou Manni smiled at Que Yining and answered her question.

Que Yining frowned inwardly. Her Older Sister-in-law, who was usually gentle and pleasant, had an indescribably gloomy expression for a fleeting moment when she smiled just now.

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