Chapter 137: That Stupid Rival Really Deserves a Beating, I Want to Punish Him Hard
Negotiation is always an art.
And now, with summer vacation coming up, it was a renter’s market. The graduating senior was in a rush to go back home, so she didn’t really have much choice.
She could wait a few more days to see if someone else would take the room, but each day cost her 50 to 100 yuan in living expenses. The longer she waited, the more money she would lose.
Lin Yibai didn’t feel bad about trying to get the best deal. She said directly, “Judging by your appearance, senior, you probably already found a job back home, right?”
This was exactly why she had asked where the senior was from earlier. New graduate, from another province, with a job lined up. Everything pointed to the fact that the senior was in a hurry.
So again, she had no other option.
Just as Lin Yibai turned to leave and told her to think about it, the senior finally gave in and said, “Alright, 1,100 yuan it is. But I have one condition.”
Lin Yibai smiled slightly. “Go ahead.”
The senior sighed and said, “It’s about the deposit. I rented this place for 1,400 yuan per month, and the landlord asked for three months’ deposit. So you’ll need to give me the full original deposit.”
Lin Yibai paused, then finally agreed.
“Okay, that’s fair.”
The two of them went to a print shop outside the school. After explaining what they needed, the shop owner quickly printed a rental agreement. It was clear this kind of business was common during summer and winter breaks, the owner was very experienced.
They signed, put fingerprints on it, and took ID photos.
Then Lin Yibai paid the graduating senior using WeChat. 4,200 yuan for the deposit plus 1,100 yuan for the first month’s rent.
She had felt rich not long ago, but now she felt completely broke.
Holding the keys, she returned to her new rental apartment. The senior had only taken her important clothes and left most of the things behind.
Lin Yibai rolled up the old mats and bedding and threw them away. She went out to buy her own new set.
The kitchen and bathroom stuff she kept and decided to continue using. Then she began deep cleaning the whole place.
Ring ring~
A video call from her stupid rival.
Xia Changyu looked a little anxious and said, “Baiyi, where are you? You didn’t check in with the company chat group today. Everyone’s waiting for your work assignments. Hurry!”
But through the video call, he saw the girl quietly cleaning while wearing an apron. She looked so gentle and graceful that he instantly went silent.
So beautiful. So wifely!
Lin Yibai slammed the mop on the ground and said, “I’m going to be busy these next few days. It’s also close to final exams, so I probably won’t have much time for company stuff.”
Xia Changyu said, “Got it, got it, I understand!”
A question mark popped up in Lin Yibai’s mind. “You... understand what, exactly?”
Xia Changyu said, “I understand how hard you're working. You’re the perfect housewife!”
Lin Yibai rolled her eyes. “Get lost.”
Xia Changyu grinned and said, “Alright then, I’ll get lost right away.”
Damn it, was her stupid rival getting more and more clueless?
Like someone whose brain got polluted by love?
And as the source of that ‘pollution’... oh.
So it’s my fault? Then… I guess it’s fine!
Lin Yibai glanced at her transformation meter. She still had a while before she could turn back into a boy.
She had already made a plan for the next little while. Once she turned back into a boy, she would get through her final exams first. After that, her dormmates would all head back to their hometowns, and it would be the perfect time for her to move into the new apartment.
As for the summer vacation? She planned to find a stable, long-term part-time job.
Actually, she could go work for that stupid rival, but considering their current... unusual relationship, Lin Yibai thought it might be better to keep some distance.
But before that, Lin Yibai squinted at the small kitchen.
After a while, she said, “I don’t really want to admit it, but the truth is, Xia Changyu has been taking care of me a lot. So this time, it’s not about anything else. I just want to cook him a nice meal.”
Was it time to show off her ‘perfect housewife’ side?
Lin Yibai insisted she was just giving it a try. Don’t forget, her grandma used to be a chef in a state-owned company’s cafeteria!
Maybe she couldn't cook super fancy dishes like in a 3-star Michelin restaurant, but when it came to regular home-style meals, she was really good. After all, wasn’t it normal for boys to know how to cook?
She didn’t know how many girls still knew how to cook nowadays, but the boys? Their cooking skills were definitely not bad.
By the time she looked at the clock, it was already afternoon. At the market, she only managed to get a piece of pork belly that wasn’t very high quality. The only good thing was, it didn’t smell bad yet!
Then she bought a free-range duck from a local farmer.
Before having the duck butchered, Lin Yibai covered the plate with a layer of plastic wrap and poured in some sticky rice she had just bought.
Then she said, “Boss, when you kill it, please make sure the duck blood spreads evenly over the rice.”
The vendor looked surprised. “Sticky rice with duck blood? Wow, young lady, you really know how to eat!”
She planned to cook something she liked, a little reward for herself.
Pickled veggie and duck soup was a great choice. But it had to be made with well-aged pickled vegetables.
After soaking and cleaning them, only a light sour taste remained, along with the deep, rich flavor of the fermented vegetables.
Slow-cook the soup on low heat for an hour and a half, then add in the sticky rice with duck blood. It would be delicious and full of flavor.
She also planned to make braised pork, and a couple of veggie stir-fries.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have any thermal lunch boxes, so she just bought a few takeout containers instead.
Now... she looked like a little wife. Pfft, who’s the wife!
She reminded herself, “I’m a tough, no-nonsense guy, okay? A very manly man!”
Carrying the packed food boxes, she once again walked to the school’s business startup center. She used to think the place felt serious, full of powerful student entrepreneurs.
But now, she was already used to it. She came and went like it was no big deal.
Lin Yibai checked the time again. Then looked at the food she brought, it wasn’t that much.
She scratched her head and muttered, “Maybe I shouldn’t go inside the company after all. If my ‘subordinates’ saw this small amount of food, it wouldn’t even be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth!”
Honestly, if she were officially their boss, it would be perfectly normal to treat them to a meal now and then. It would help build better relationships.
But... this half-boss, half-not status she had now made her hesitate.
She waited a long time. The startup building’s lights were still on. No sign of anyone getting off work yet.
Lin Yibai was really tired of waiting, so she sent a message.
“Still not done with work? Come out, it’s time to eat.”
Ding-dong~
“In a meeting.”
Ding-dong~~
“But if it’s you…”
Ding-dong, ding-dong~~
“Wait for me. I’m coming. Right now.”
In the office, Xia Changyu was in the middle of a meeting when he received those messages. Suddenly, all his big plans, his dreams, his “I will take over the world” attitude, gone in a flash.
Time to go home, boys!
He had sworn he would be a man who conquered the world. Until, his girl sent him a message.
It was like someone said, “Your wife is calling you home for dinner.”
Boom. His cool CEO image shattered.
What CEO? What boss? Wife comes first.
Not long after, Xia Changyu showed up at the building entrance. When Lin Yibai saw him, she quickly pulled him to a quiet corner and made a “shh!” gesture. She looked around, thankfully, no one from the company saw them.
Xia Changyu looked confused and asked, “What are you doing? Why are we sneaking around like this? Are we doing something shady together?”
Tsk.
Lin Yibai lightly bit her lip and shot him a glare. This annoying rival loved joking around too much.
Then, she proudly brought out the dinner she had prepared and said, “You’ve treated me so many times. Today, let me treat you!”
Uh… those are takeout boxes? Is this a treat with fast food?
Xia Changyu didn’t dislike fast food. It’s just, as a guy, he wanted to give this girl the best things. But since this was from Lin Yibai herself, he took a bite anyway.
They found a stone table and sat down.
Xia Changyu promised himself he would just taste a little and then find a reason to take her to a better restaurant afterward.
Sip~
He tried the duck soup and his eyes lit up. It was rich, delicious, and surprisingly good!
The braised pork was fatty but not greasy, and full of flavor. The stir-fried vegetables were fresh and bright.
What kind of fast food place made this? It was amazing!
But no, he told himself, ‘I can’t let her see how good I think it is, or I won’t be able to convince her to go somewhere fancier later!’
So Xia Changyu frowned and gave his “review”.
“Thanks for bringing me dinner. This fast food place’s food isn’t terrible… the taste is okay… But, Baiyi, you should know, fast food is usually oily and spicy. Not very healthy.”
Lin Yibai: “??”
Wait… hold up.
Did you just say it’s not terrible? So… you mean it’s not good?
And what do you mean by “not healthy”? Do you seriously not realize this was all cooked by me, myself?
Oh wait, of course he doesn’t know. But so what!?
Still, how could he dare say her home-cooked meal wasn’t good!?
You! You! You jerk! You really deserve a beating!!
She really wanted to punish him hard!