Chapter 163: Diligence and Frugality in Managing the Household

"What?"

Hearing this, Xiang Kui raised her head in a daze, looking at Ruan Mianmian with a blank expression, as if she could not quite grasp the meaning of her words.

Ruan Mianmian let out a sigh and continued, "Don't you realize yet that you've been set up? And the methods used were utterly vicious!"

"Set up?"

Actually, when Xiang Kui had replayed the whole incident in her mind later on, she had a similar feeling, but she found it hard to believe.

She considered herself far from a saint, but she never intentionally made enemies with anyone, did she?

Let alone someone resorting to such tactics to deal with her?

Who on earth could hold such deep animosity toward her?

Ruan Mianmian put an arm around Xiang Kui's shoulders and continued, "I think you should really think this through. This whole thing definitely didn't happen by chance. Think about it: why did that person tell you to wait for them at that specific spot, only to never show up, and then out of nowhere, a bunch of hooligans appeared?"

With the sudden spirit of Sherlock Holmes possessing her, Ruan Mianmian went on, "For all you know, she might have been hiding in the shadows the whole time, admiring her own masterpiece! Just to watch you make a fool of yourself."

"But who would do such a thing? I honestly have no idea who could hate me this much."

Xiang Kui instantly lost her composure, feeling flustered and panicked.

Ruan Mianmian's eyes flickered, and she suddenly asked, "Could it be some kind of love rival? The jealous, envious, and resentful kind?"

Xiang Kui: "..."

"Fine, I was just guessing."

Ruan Mianmian hurriedly retracted her previous remark and asked, "So Chen Ci just ran away from home like that?"

"Yes!"

Xiang Kui said with a grievance-laden tone, "Just like that, he abandoned me!"

Seeing Xiang Kui looking like this, Ruan Mianmian suddenly felt a strange urge to laugh.

In her eyes, Xiang Kui had always been the strong, carefree, tomboyish type. Never did she expect that when faced with matters of the heart, she would instantly turn into this tearful, sobbing mess.

Ruan Mianmian offered comfort, saying, "Actually, as long as you're safe, that's what matters. No matter how angry Chen Ci is, it's only because he cares about you too much. But honestly, you were way too careless."

Xiang Kui pressed her lips together and continued, "I know I was reckless this time, but I didn't think that much of it back then! I just thought she was an adorable little girl who loved Lu Bao just like me, what could possibly go wrong? Besides, after that ordeal, I was scared out of my wits, yet Chen Ci still kept nagging and picking a fight with me, and finally slammed the door and left. He's simply heartless!"

The more Xiang Kui talked, the more aggrieved she felt, and the tears on her face instantly formed continuous streams once again.

"Alright, stop crying. Haven't you eaten anything yet? I'll take you downstairs to get something in your stomach. Even if you want to sulk, don't mistreat yourself."

After that, Ruan Mianmian brought Xiang Kui downstairs. While she was sitting on the sofa eating, Ruan Mianmian seized the opportunity to send a message to Jiang Ce.

Jiang Ce replied quickly, asking: What's wrong?

Ruan Mianmian: Is Chen Ci with you guys?

Jiang Ce: Yeah, crying.

"Pfft—"

Seeing this answer, Ruan Mianmian couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

She immediately replied: Same here.

Jiang Ce was baffled and asked: What do you mean? What are you crying for?

Ruan Mianmian: I mean Xiang Kui is with me.

Jiang Ce: ...... Understood.

Ruan Mianmian had been somewhat nervous about the sudden conflict that had flared up between Xiang Kui and Chen Ci, but now she didn't think much of it anymore.

She sat back down on the sofa, leaned closer to Xiang Kui, and said, "Don't go home tonight. Stay here with me."

Xiang Kui raised her head blankly and asked, "Is that okay? Won't he mind?"

Ruan Mianmian pursed her lips and took matters into her own hands, saying, "He won't, don't worry."

A trace of a smile finally appeared on Xiang Kui's face, and she nodded, saying, "Thank you, Mianmian."

"Why are you being so polite? It just so happens we're planning a BBQ in the courtyard tonight, and another friend is coming back from Lanshi. It'll be lively with a lot of people."

Xiang Kui nodded again. She really didn't want to go back right now, lest Chen Ci still wasn't there, leaving her alone in the room to feel scared and heartbroken.

By the afternoon, Xiang Kui's emotions had calmed down a lot. Although she still felt uneasy inside, after listening to Ruan Mianmian's comforting words, she was no longer on the verge of tears at every turn.

Even when A-Kuan and the others brought back the ingredients, Xiang Kui joined Ruan Mianmian in skewering the food.

"Put your gloves on! Don't let the juices get all over your hands."

Ruan Mianmian kept moving her hands while issuing a reminder to Xiang Kui.

Xiang Kui paused her movements, then lifted her eyes to glance at her, asking, "Seriously? Are you already finding me annoying?"

"Look at you, what kind of person are you?"

Ruan Mianmian held up her fingertips, which were covered in barbecue seasoning, and said, "I'm speaking from experience. If you don't wear gloves, you can just wait to have fishy-smelling hands all day."

Xiang Kui instantly understood what Ruan Mianmian meant and hurriedly offered an apologetic smile, saying:

"So that's how it is. Fine, fine, fine, I'll pay attention."

Ruan Mianmian deliberately shot her a sideways glance, a smile blooming on her face in an instant.

At that moment, A-Kuan wandered over from somewhere and said to Xiang Kui:

"Big Sister Xiang Kui, you should come play here more often when you have time. We don't have any girls here, and our Brother Ruan gets bored out of his mind all day long."

"Tsk tsk!"

Xiang Kui gave Ruan Mianmian a meaningful look and continued with a smile, "I can tell now, you, Ruan Mianmian, are the absolute darling of the crowd here in Starfish Bay!"

"Of course!"

Ruan Mianmian unceremoniously prepared to pat A-Kuan on the shoulder, but suddenly remembering that her hands were covered in marinade, she stopped herself just in time.

Unexpectedly, A-Kuan moved even faster than her, jumping straight back and putting a generous distance between them.

Ruan Mianmian's hand froze mid-air.

A-Kuan offered a silly, sheepish grin toward Ruan Mianmian.

Xiang Kui eagerly watched the spectacle unfold and said to Ruan Mianmian, "Tell me a joke: you are the darling of Starfish Bay. Hahahaha."

Ruan Mianmian: "..."

"Stop laughing, your back molars are going to show."

Ruan Mianmian glanced sideways at Xiang Kui, then looked at A-Kuan with a gaze so chilly that it made A-Kuan's legs shake uncontrollably.

"Uhm, Brother Ruan, I think the time is about right. I'm heading to the airport to pick someone up, so I'll get going first."

With those words, A-Kuan greased his heels and made a direct escape.

Ruan Mianmian squatted silently on the spot and suddenly sighed, "Why do we have to work so hard? With so many lackones here in Starfish Bay, why are the two of us the ones doing all this grunt work?"

"Who knows? Maybe we're just naturally good, hardworking, and thrifty women deep down in our bones?"

Xiang Kui said thoughtfully.

Ruan Mianmian forced a slight smile and continued, "Yeah, good, hardworking, and thrifty women who've been abandoned."

"...... Get lost!"

The time leading up to dinner passed quietly amidst their exchange of sarcastic remarks back and forth.

"Are these enough?"

Xiang Kui straightened her back, looking at the three large trays of skewered ingredients in front of her with a slightly dazed expression.

Ruan Mianmian nodded, "Are the two of us being a bit too sensible? We just finished all these chores like that?"

"Makes sense. I'm ready to clock out."

Ruan Mianmian nodded again: "Retreat?"

Finished speaking, the two of them began untying their aprons in near-perfect synchronization.