Chapter 92: There Couldn’t Possibly Be Any Plot, Right?

Consort Qin also asked for a Pepsi.

Qin Yun, unwilling to give up, clamored, “Dear sister, buy your brother a beer, won’t you? I want a beer too.”

Qin Hongfei shot him a sidelong glance. “First ask yourself if your hide can withstand Second Aunt’s bamboo cane. If you can, I’ll buy it for you. Do you really think the smell of beer will vanish by the time you get home? Unless Second Aunt is a fool, she’ll sniff it out in a heartbeat.”

A flicker of apprehension flashed in Qin Yun’s eyes. That was indeed a problem.

Of course, he wasn’t afraid of a beating—he was a man, after all.

It was only...

Out of consideration for his parents’ feelings—after all, as a son, he ought to spare them from unnecessary worry. Yes, that was it. Crestfallen, he conceded, “I’ll just have a Pepsi too.”

One beer, three Pepsis.

Qin Hongfei turned to look at Tang Jinnan and Shou.

Tang Jinnan caught her gaze and replied evenly, “None for me.”

Shou said, “I’ll have a beer too.”

Qin Hongfei nodded and glanced at the two of them. “You two come with me. There are too many to carry alone.”

Shou’s expression soured. “You’re getting a little too used to bossing us around, aren’t you?” First the cooking, then the chores, now even fetching drinks—she parceled out every task.

Qin Hongfei looked at him with evident disdain. “You’re a grown man and you complain about carrying a few cans of soda? Spare me.”

Shou regarded her icily.

Qin Hongfei was not intimidated in the least. While they stared each other down, Tang Jinnan stood up, unfazed by their constant bickering. “I’ll go with you.”

Shou grumbled, “It’s not like she doesn’t have hands.”

Tang Jinnan reminded him, “Her hand’s injured.” Though Qin Hongfei hadn’t mentioned it once, as a doctor, Tang Jinnan knew there was no way her injury could endure a whole day of heavy use without pain. This patient of his was remarkably stubborn.

Shou glared at her. “Didn’t notice,” he muttered. Yet, since he was always in step with Tang Xiaojin, and Tang had spoken, he reluctantly got up, hands stuffed into his pockets. He and Qin Hongfei locked eyes for a moment, then simultaneously looked away, as if even a minute more of eye contact was unbearable.

Tang Jinnan was used to it by now. As long as they didn’t come to blows, anything was manageable.

Qin Hongfei led the two out of the restaurant and headed south, first stopping by a mall to buy the drinks, then continuing onward until she slipped into a shop.

Shou was just about to call her directionless, when he saw his friend follow her inside. He swallowed his words and trailed after them.

Tang Jinnan paused in surprise as he entered—it was a bedding shop.

Qin Hongfei was speaking with the shop assistant. Noticing the two had come in, she said casually, “Pick out a quilt and a pillow each for yourselves.” She paused and added, “Cheap ones—I can’t afford the expensive stuff.”

She had only a few hundred yuan, three hundred of which had just been lent to her by the young man earlier.

Tang Jinnan watched as the assistant brought out two new pillows and quilts, somewhat surprised and quickly grasped her intention. She meant to buy them new bedding. The Qin family, though they had space to house them, was destitute—so poor they didn’t even have spare good quilts to offer!

The two of them had been making do with an old cotton duvet. Tang Jinnan, who had a penchant for cleanliness, couldn’t bear to use bedding others had slept in, so he’d simply wrapped himself in his clothes at night. He hadn’t expected Qin Hongfei to notice or care—she was even more attentive than her appearance suggested.

Shou was also taken aback, and a note of wariness crept into his voice. “Why are you being so nice, woman? You’re not up to something, are you?”