You are so good, it’s easy to be deceived

Inside the Book House, no one was aware of the earlier conversation.

Ming Shuyan sat at her usual spot, not touching her iPad, staring blankly at the distant bookshelf.

Qian Duoduo, with a rare free moment, wandered to Ming Shuzhen’s area. “Hey, look.”

She nodded toward Ming Shuyan. “Rare sight—Boss spacing out.”

“Boss isn’t a god. Even mortals need to zone out, give the brain a break,” Ming Shuzhen muttered softly.

“True,” Qian Duoduo stood beside her, “but it’s *Boss*! I thought she was an invincible storm, sweeping all before her. Didn’t expect her to have low moments.”

Ming Shuzhen glanced over. “Not low, just thinking.”

Noticing Qian Duoduo’s black lipstick, like she’d eaten charcoal, she said, “Duoduo, where do you get these lipsticks? Each one’s so unique.”

“Right?” Qian Duoduo beamed, her focus shifting to her lipstick. “I’ve got a knack for finding them.”

A local with family property, Qian Duoduo spent her salary on food, drinks, and lipsticks.

She owned many luxury brand gift sets, often with odd colors alongside the main shades.

But Qian Duoduo loved these quirky hues, pulling them off effortlessly.

“Lipstick’s about making you shine. Guess what’s special about mine, besides the color?” She leaned closer to Ming Shuzhen.

“What?”

“Smell it.” Qian Duoduo gestured for her to come closer.

Ming Shuzhen leaned in, eyeing the black lips, and sniffed. “Toasted bun?”

“Burnt bun, haha!” Qian Duoduo grinned, showing white teeth. “Finally, someone asked about my lipstick!”

“…” Ming Shuzhen blinked, watching her black lips part to reveal gleaming teeth.

“Wait, I’ll grab my other lipsticks.” Qian Duoduo dashed to her area, returning with her bag.

“Here, this one’s for you—brand new.”

“Hm?” Ming Shuzhen eyed the sealed tube. “No need, really.”

“It’s edible, has a scent. Try it.”

“Uh, no thanks.” Ming Shuzhen hesitated, shy about accepting gifts and wary of looking like a burnt bun herself.

“Take it.” Qian Duoduo’s chubby face lit up with a cute smile, eager to share her world.

Under her expectant gaze, Ming Shuzhen relented, tearing off the seal.

“Here’s a mirror.” Qian Duoduo was well-equipped.

The lipstick looked red but turned green on Ming Shuzhen’s lips—subtle, not garish, but still startling.

She finished applying, tasting it. “Sweet.”

Not cloying or artificial, it was light, pleasant.

“Like a sweet little cake,” Ming Shuzhen sniffed the tube.

“Right?” Qian Duoduo’s thick eyelids curved like crescents, her under-eye bags puffing charmingly.

“Mm.” Ming Shuzhen studied her reflection. “Is it too much? I’ve never worn anything but red.”

“You’re wearing it now,” Qian Duoduo said casually, guiding her. “Imagine eating a grass cake.”

“Like Lazy Sheep’s grassland cake,” Ming Shuzhen said, thinking of her badge’s cartoon sheep.

“Yes! That vibe—fresh, green, carefree.”

Qian Duoduo piled on adjectives, but Ming Shuzhen felt none of it.

She nodded woodenly. “Smells nice, anyway.”

They’d slacked off a bit, only now remembering work.

Qian Duoduo returned to her area, leaving Ming Shuzhen to savor her “grass cake.”

Moments later, Ming Shuyan approached, missing their earlier chat.

“Pillow?” she called softly.

“Hm?” Ming Shuzhen forgot her green lips. Turning, she saw Ming Shuyan’s fleeting surprise and remembered.

She pursed her lips, mumbling, “Uh…”

Ming Shuyan paused, her gaze lingering on the lips, guessing Qian Duoduo’s influence—only she had such bizarre colors.

“Want to plant those tulips we bought outside?” Ming Shuyan suggested. “Green looks nice. No need to hide it.”

“Oh…” Ming Shuzhen, embarrassed, nodded. “Okay.”

They’d bought a few tulip bulbs. Each took one.

Cutting the soles of rain boots to make planters, they stood them on the muddy ground and shoveled soil inside.

“Boss, no work today?” Ming Shuzhen asked, digging.

Spacing out, now planting flowers—this wasn’t her boss’s style.

“Mm, want to relax,” Ming Shuyan said, half-squatting.

“Oh.” Ming Shuzhen found it odd.

“Boss, if you’re not okay, I can go somewhere with you,” she said, placing a bulb in the boot and covering it with soil.

Recalling Ming Shuyan’s past, she figured those experiences would weigh anyone down, sparking indignation.

Ming Shuyan raised a brow, glancing at her. “Who said I’m not okay?”

“Uh.” Ming Shuzhen blinked, sensing trouble in her tone. “I saw you spacing out at the reading table today.”

Her voice softened, hesitant. “You never did that before. Thought you might be upset.”

Ming Shuyan looked at her. No frown, but Ming Shuzhen felt one forming.

“Bit annoyed,” Ming Shuyan admitted, eyes on the green lips, finding her own irritation amusing.

Not about Xu Bao’s contract termination or Liu Wenjing’s predicament—just an inexplicable restlessness.

Ming Shuzhen blinked innocently. “Can I ask why?”

“Not convenient,” Ming Shuyan shot back.

“Oh.” Ming Shuzhen shrank, focusing on her tulip bulb.

Seeing her like a scolded kitten, Ming Shuyan softened, smiling.

Her face relaxed. “Nothing big. Just sometimes everything feels pointless.”

“Oh.” Ming Shuzhen paused her digging. “I get that. I often feel nothing matters.”

“But that’s normal, right? If we’re always hyped, our cells would burn out, running a marathon daily.”

“Hm?” Ming Shuyan caught on. “You comforting me?”

“Not exactly.” Ming Shuzhen, wearing gloves, wiped her forehead with her elbow.

“Just think these feelings are normal. I often feel life’s meaningless. If you really dig into it, nothing matters much—you can’t take it with you.”

“Oh?” Ming Shuyan smiled, teasing. “So enlightened?”

Ming Shuzhen relaxed, seeing her smile, and grinned. “Not really. Just spouting pretty words—lips moving, that’s all.”

“Heh.” Ming Shuyan’s lips curved. “Want to grab a drink?”

“Hm?” Ming Shuzhen blinked. “Where? Any bars around here?”

“Probably not.” The village housed mostly elders over sixty or kids under sixteen—no bars likely.

“We could buy some and drink at the hotel,” Ming Shuyan suggested.

“Mm…” Ming Shuzhen studied her, concluding she wasn’t joking.

“Boss, you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m not,” Ming Shuyan said, no longer mulling life’s meaning—philosophy didn’t score points.

“What?” Ming Shuzhen’s eyes widened.

Ming Shuyan laughed. “You’re too good, too gullible.”

“Ugh.” Ming Shuzhen shuddered. “Goosebumps.”

They watered the boots—tulips planted.

“We won’t see them bloom. Liu can send photos,” Ming Shuzhen said, eyeing the green and yellow boots.

“Mm.” Ming Shuyan nodded ambiguously.

If Xu Bao insisted on ending the contract, she wasn’t sure how to tell the team.

They went inside to grab their things.

Seeing Qian Duoduo and Chen Hao, Ming Shuyan said, “Half-day off. No inspections for now.”

“Hm?” Chen Hao was slow to react, but Qian Duoduo cheered.

“Sweet! Boss, you’re so nice today.”

With little work left, the sudden break thrilled them. They planned to explore the village, then rest early.

Qian Duoduo asked Ming Shuzhen’s plans. Glancing at Ming Shuyan grabbing her iPad and bag, Ming Shuzhen said, “Going back to the hotel with Boss. Want to drink.”

“Oh…” Qian Duoduo nodded. “No wonder Boss gave us a break—she wants to slack off.”

She winked at Ming Shuzhen. “Big wallet, you tired and want to rest? Boss spoils you.”

Ming Shuzhen wanted to clarify it was her boss’s idea but held back, reluctant to expose Ming Shuyan’s vulnerability.

Nodding vaguely, she saw Ming Shuyan return with her bag.