The Return and a Lingering Unease

She had changed into a white loungewear set, her hair casually gathered into a bun, giving her an exceptionally gentle appearance.

A sudden jolt went through Xiang Qing, her movements freezing on the spot.

She could only pull the door fully open, forcing a strained smile onto her face.

“Yes, I was just heading out to run some errands.”

“When will you be back then? Would you like me to prepare dinner for you?” Shen Lanzhi inquired, already stepping toward Xiang Qing’s doorway.

Within the cramped confines of the corridor, Xiang Qing suddenly felt a suffocating pressure.

“No, thank you, Lanzhi-jie. I might be staying out for a few days.”

Shen Lanzhi’s expression instantly shifted, and she took a step forward, effectively blocking Xiang Qing’s path.

“Staying out for a few days? Why? Did I say something to upset you?”

“No, no, nothing like that. I just have some personal matters to attend to, and I’ll be back soon.” Xiang Qing attempted to maneuver around her, only to find her path completely obstructed.

“Qingqing, please don’t leave, alright?”

Shen Lanzhi’s voice trembled as she reached out and clasped Xiang Qing’s arm.

“I’m truly so lonely when I’m by myself at home. Won’t you stay with me?”

Xiang Qing’s arm grew numb from the grip, and though she pulled forcefully, she couldn’t free herself.

“Lanzhi-jie, I truly have an urgent matter…”

Gritting her teeth, she wasted no more words.

With a sudden jerk, she tore her hand from Shen Lanzhi’s grasp, squeezed sideways through the narrow gap between Shen Lanzhi and the wall, and bolted for the stairwell door without a backward glance.

Behind her, Shen Lanzhi’s tearful cries echoed, but Xiang Qing dared not look back.

She shoved open the heavy iron door and fled, as if escaping for her life.

However, Xiang Qing didn’t run far before she came to an abrupt halt.

Gasping for breath, she leaned against the community wall, her heart pounding erratically.

‘This isn’t right,’ she mused. ‘Shen Lanzhi is so frail, with her poor health, needing to drink all that traditional medicine daily, and her low blood sugar. What if something happens to her if I just leave?’

‘Besides, I already promised to look after her for a few days. What kind of person runs away now?’

A sudden wave of guilt washed over Xiang Qing as she recalled the moment she had shaken off Shen Lanzhi.

‘She’s such a delicate person; how could I have been so rough with her?’

“What kind of person am I… acting like this?” Xiang Qing muttered to herself, then turned and began walking back.

Before she even reached the entrance, she heard faint, muffled sobs.

Shen Lanzhi was still standing at Xiang Qing’s doorway, leaning against the doorframe, one hand covering her face, her shoulders trembling with each sob.

Xiang Qing’s heart instantly constricted.

“Lanzhi-jie…”

Shen Lanzhi abruptly lifted her head, her eyes rimmed with red, tears still clinging to her cheeks.

Upon seeing Xiang Qing’s return, she paused, startled.

“I… I didn’t mean to shove you away earlier,” Xiang Qing began, dragging her suitcase toward Shen Lanzhi, a blush of embarrassment creeping onto her face. “I just…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Lanzhi lunged forward and embraced her tightly.

“Qingqing, you’ve come back…”

Shen Lanzhi’s voice was laced with tears, yet also tinged with surprise. “I truly thought you were going to abandon me.”

Xiang Qing felt a slight discomfort from the embrace, but she didn’t push Shen Lanzhi away, merely patting her back gently.

“No, no, of course I wouldn’t abandon you.”

Shen Lanzhi released her, breaking into a tearful smile.

Though tears still glistened on her face, her smile was exceptionally sweet.

“It was my fault. I shouldn’t have stopped you when you wanted to leave.”

Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she continued, “As an older sister, I should be supporting you, not acting so selfishly…”

“Don’t say that!” Xiang Qing quickly interjected. “It’s my fault. I promised to look after you; how could I just up and leave?”

Turning, she headed toward her own apartment. “I’ll put my things away. I won’t go anywhere else these next few days; I’ll just stay here with you.”

“Really?” Shen Lanzhi followed behind her, her voice laced with cautious delight.

“Of course it’s real,” Xiang Qing affirmed, tossing her backpack into the bedroom before turning to face Shen Lanzhi. “I always keep my word.”

Shen Lanzhi smiled, a truly heartfelt smile that seemed to illuminate her entire being.

Her smile was utterly infectious, her eyes curving into crescents, the corners of her lips rising to just the right degree.

Watching her smile, Xiang Qing’s mood inexplicably brightened as well.

“Let’s go to your place,” Xiang Qing offered readily. “What would you like for lunch? I’ll cook.”

“Anything is fine, as long as you’re here.” Shen Lanzhi took Xiang Qing’s hand, their fingers intertwining. “Qingqing, thank you.”

As Shen Lanzhi led her next door, Xiang Qing felt an indescribable sensation stirring within her.

It was a warmth, yet tinged with a subtle unease.

****

By midday, Xiang Qing had rolled up her sleeves and was bustling about in Shen Lanzhi’s kitchen.

The kitchen was roughly the same size as her own, a standard feature of these older one-bedroom apartments, though Shen Lanzhi’s was noticeably tidier than hers.

Spice jars were meticulously arranged on the shelf, pots and pans gleamed spotlessly, and not a single grease stain marred the kitchen tiles.

Xiang Qing picked up a chef’s knife and began chopping vegetables.

The knife danced deftly in her hands, slicing potatoes into threads as fine as hair and green peppers into perfectly uniform pieces.

She heated the wok, added oil, and watched as wisps of smoke curled upwards.

The moment the vegetables hit the hot pan, they sizzled with a crisp crackle.

As someone who had lived alone for many years, cooking was among the first skills Xiang Qing mastered.

Not for any grand reason, simply out of necessity born from poverty.

Takeout was prohibitively expensive, costing twenty to thirty yuan per meal, which quickly added up to over a thousand yuan a month just for food.

Her initial live-streaming income was already unstable; it simply couldn’t sustain such an expense.

Thus, she gritted her teeth and taught herself to cook, progressing from initially boiling rice into porridge and stir-frying vegetables into charred messes, to gradually discovering the nuances of culinary art.

Once she could reliably fill her stomach, she began to experiment with flavors.

After all, eating plain cabbage and noodles every day would drive anyone to madness.

By pushing herself relentlessly, she gradually honed her cooking skills.

Next door, sounds of hammering and clattering echoed from Xiang Qing’s own room.

The hired workers were busy repairing the window that Gu Wei had shattered.

Shen Lanzhi approached them, carrying a tray laden with bottled water and bread.

“You’ve all been working hard, masters. Please, have some water and take a short break.”

Her voice was so exquisitely gentle it seemed to drip with kindness, and her considerate demeanor prompted the workers to repeatedly wave their hands in refusal.

“No need, no need, this bit of work is no trouble at all.”

“Exactly, young lady, you’re far too kind.”

“Good girls like you are a rare sight these days.”

The workers accepted the water and bread without ceremony, all while continuing to speak.

In the kitchen, Xiang Qing listened to the sounds from next door, her spatula pausing mid-stir.

For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Lanzhi’s words just now had been somewhat deliberate.

That particular brand of gentleness, that solicitousness, felt almost as if it were a performance staged specifically for her.

The moment this thought surfaced, Xiang Qing was startled by her own introspection.

‘How could I possibly think such things about Shen Lanzhi?’

‘She’s clearly being genuinely kind; how can I interpret her actions with such a dark mindset?’

Xiang Qing shook her head, resuming her stir-frying.

Yet, the sense of incongruity persisted, like something lodged in her throat that she could neither swallow nor spit out.

‘Never mind,’ she decided. ‘I won’t dwell on it.’

She plated the last dish and was about to turn off the stove when Shen Lanzhi entered the kitchen.

“Oh, it smells wonderful!” Shen Lanzhi exclaimed, moving closer to Xiang Qing and sniffing appreciatively. “Qingqing, your cooking truly is excellent.”

Xiang Qing stepped aside, “I just threw together a few dishes. See if they suit your taste.”

“They’re definitely to my taste,” Shen Lanzhi replied with a smile. “I love everything you cook.”

During their meal, Xiang Qing felt a prickle of unease from Shen Lanzhi’s intense gaze.

The scrutiny was simply too focused.

Xiang Qing kept her head down, picking at her rice, yet even in her periphery, she could feel Shen Lanzhi’s eyes fixed on her face.

“Could you… perhaps not stare at me while I eat?” Xiang Qing finally looked up, unable to bear it any longer.

Shen Lanzhi chuckled, then picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs and placed it in Xiang Qing’s bowl. “Your cooking is simply too delicious; I can’t help but want to watch your expressions as you eat.”

No sooner had she spoken than another helping of shredded potato with green peppers appeared.

Xiang Qing hadn’t even swallowed the ribs when a chicken drumstick was added to her bowl.

“That’s enough, really, I can serve myself,” Xiang Qing quickly waved her hands, her bowl already overflowing with food.

Ignoring her, Shen Lanzhi continued to pile food onto her plate. “You’re too thin, you need to eat more.”

Xiang Qing sat stiffly, each mouthful feeling awkward and forced.

This sensation of being overly doted upon made her profoundly uncomfortable, a persistent feeling that something was amiss.

After dinner, Shen Lanzhi began brewing traditional Chinese medicine in the kitchen.

Xiang Qing stood beside her, assisting by handing over items, as the bitter scent of the herbs permeated the air.

“Qingqing,” Shen Lanzhi casually asked, stirring the herbal concoction, “You were in such a hurry this morning; what exactly was so important?”

“I was going to the hotel for my live stream,” Xiang Qing replied, taking the empty bowl Shen Lanzhi offered. “That’s my job; it’s how I earn a living.”