NOVPUB
Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Mosquito Number Two
After changing her clothes, Tong Yao tied her hair into a bun; the weather was hot, and it felt like a furnace outside at noon. Tying her hair up made her feel cooler and was more convenient for work.
There was a rhythmic knocking at the door. Tong Yao responded with a crisp voice, "Come in."
Hearing this, Si Chen pushed open the door and entered. Tong Yao quickly grabbed her toiletry items and headed out. They had been doing this for a while now, coordinating with each other to give each other enough space to change clothes. They got along rather well and were quite ideal roommates.
Busy thinking about going out earlier, Tong Yao washed up quickly and returned to the room. She had her mind on the milk tea business, and forgot for a moment to knock before opening the room door. Pushing open the door with a squeak, she was greeted by a view of Si Chen’s robust back. Tong Yao was momentarily taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise.
Hearing the sound, Si Chen turned around, seeming also surprised. Then he turned his back to her again, calmly pulled a shirt from the bed to put on as Tong Yao watched, his movements unhurried, as if he was not startled at all. He behaved as cool as if he had participated in the Second World War.
Tong Yao was still somewhat puzzled, her eyes filled with the sight of Si Chen’s sturdy arms, and a brief glimpse of his eight-pack abs. She didn’t expect him to look skinny when he’s dressed, but muscular when he’s undressed. What a stunning body!
Too bad he was already taken.
The feeling was like getting the grand prize in a blind box, then realizing that the prize was meant for someone else, causing her mood to immediately plummet.
"I just got some clothes from my student days. They didn’t fit too well, so I had to change again." After dressing, Si Chen turned around and explained why he hadn’t finished changing earlier.
Tong Yao’s face turned red uncontrollably, cursing herself for being sentimental. She had seen men wearing large flowered shorts at the beach in her previous life, and seen more than enough photos of topless male movie stars. Now, she was blushing just seeing Si Chen shirtless. It must be the reaction of the original owner’s body, not her personal thoughts.
"It’s okay." Tong Yao pretended to be calm and said nonchalantly, "I’ve seen lots of men shirtless before."
"You’ve seen a lot?" Si Chen raised his eyebrows, his dark eyes looking at her as if pondering something.
Tong Yao, "..."
Oops, she’d let loose her tongue.
She glanced at the clock on the wall, suddenly exclaimed, "It’s after six! I need to get to work."
Leaving her words behind, she put down her toiletries and prepared to walk out the door, a touch of amusement flashed in Si Chen’s eyes, he didn’t tease her, "I’m on duty tonight and will not be home. Make sure to lock the door."
Tong Yao paused at the door, turned back and asked, "You won’t be home tonight?"
"Yes." Si Chen nodded, and restated, "I’m on duty today."
Just about to remind her to stay safe since she’s alone at home tonight, he saw her nod and said, "Alright then! I’m off to work!"
Seeing the unmistakable excitement in Tong Yao’s eyes, the words stuck in Si Chen’s throat and he said nothing in the end.
Like the previous day, He Fang and Niuniu were already waiting at the gate early. Straight after Tong Yao arrived, the three of them went directly to the school to set up their stall. Thanks to the previous day’s experience, the pair worked smoothly together. The milkman arrived earlier than expected. Like yesterday, Tong Yao gave him a cup of milk tea, which he initially refused to take until He Fang persuaded him.
In the cool summer, students usually preferred soda. But ever since they started offering Tong Yao’s milk tea, the students’ taste changed in a flash; drinking milk tea even became a trend at school. Tong Yao’s business boomed; the queue outside her stall was long every recess, keeping her and He Fang constantly busy.
Niuniu was well-behaved, content to play quietly as long as she had milk tea to drink, without causing any fuss.
Time always flies when you’re busy. It was only a little past four in the afternoon when all of the fifteen jugs of fresh milk were sold out. Looking at the full metal box of coins, He Fang exclaimed, "Sis, I never knew money could be made this easily. You earn more in one day than both my brother and sister-in-law make in a month."
She usually haggled for a few cents over some vegetables, but now seeing Tong Yao make so much money just selling some fresh milk, she realized it’s not that money is hard to earn, but that she just haven’t found the right method.
They made about sixty to seventy yuan that day, Tong Yao was in a good mood and didn’t think too much about He Fang’s statement. "Sis Fang, you work pretty hard too. The milk tea business is doing well, I’ll increase your wage by five yuan at the end of the month."
Upon hearing about a five yuan increase, He Fang was in high spirits. This time she didn’t reject it as she had previously. Tong Yao earned money easily, making tens of yuan in one day. An extra five yuan was just a drop in the bucket to her.
With that mindset, He Fang accepted it happily and without guilt.
As before, Tong Yao didn’t linger at He Fang’s gate. After greeting her, she headed back to the housing estate. There wasn’t much food at home since she hadn’t gone grocery shopping, and she was wondering if she should go eat at the canteen when someone knocked at the door.
As she opened the door, she saw Li Nuanchun standing outside with a bag. He chuckled without waiting for her to speak, "Miss, Doctor Si asked me to buy some vegetables for you."
"Oh, alright, thank you.", she grabbed the bag from his hand, and suddenly remembered the money, "How much did it cost? I’ll give you the money right away."
"Doctor Si’s already paid for it. Let me know if there’s anything you want to eat, I’ll buy it for you tomorrow."
Seeing Li Nuanchun’s smiling face, as if it was stretching up to his ears, Ting Yao felt a chill go down her spine. She thought he was being overly enthusiastic. Saying goodbye to Li Nuanchun and closing the door, she heard a mosquito buzzing over her head.
[Si Chen gave her an extra two cents]
Tong Yao: No wonder Li Nuanchun was so enthusiastic, I thought the sun had risen from the west.
An extra two cents to save her the trouble of running errands wasn’t so bad.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, Tong Yao noticed something off. She looked up and realized what was wrong. It wasn’t the Mosquito Number 1 flying around her anymore.
The Mosquito Number 1 had been buzzing around her for the past few days, and she’d become familiar with its buzz.
"Where is Mosquito Number 1?"
It was a chatterbox, very chatty but clever, she quite liked it being her carrier.
[It’s died] The mosquito’s voice suddenly had a sobbing sound,[Before it died, it asked me to be your carrier]
"..."Tong Tong Yao felt a little moved, she hadn’t thought Mosquito Number 1 would be so responsible. Considering its dedication, she decided to investigate its cause of death. "Was it killed while sucking blood?"
[It died of old age, we only live for eight days]
Tong Yao: "..."
She always thought mosquitoes were annoying and could spread germs. But hearing this she kind of felt sorry for them, not that she’d become all sympathetic because of it.
"Dying of old age means it enjoyed a full life, you’ll pass the messages from now on, I’ll call you Mosquito Number 2!"
