Qin Hongying gracefully lifted the lid and sniffed the delicate fragrance of the ginseng soup. Making small talk, she complimented Aunt Zhou.
"Since you've been making ginseng soup for me every day, I've been able to fall asleep much more easily. It's all thanks to you."
Aunt Zhou trembled slightly upon hearing the compliment and bowed her head respectfully. "It's all my duty."
Qin Hongying gently stirred the ginseng soup with a spoon, brought it to her lips, and blew on it to cool. Seeing Aunt Zhou still standing there, she frowned slightly.
"Do you have something else to say?"
"Madam, I do have something to discuss with you."
Aunt Zhou hesitated as she walked up to Qin Hongying and came up with a random excuse.
"My daughter's good friend is a huge fan of yours. They revere you as their role model. Even the inspiring pictures carved on their desks are about you.
"They were so envious of my daughter when they found out she worked as a caregiver in your house. They even wanted to come and see you. My daughter thought you were kind - hearted and agreed to their request without asking you first."
While telling this story, Aunt Zhou flattered Qin Hongying. Her words implied that if Qin Hongying didn't agree, she would be seen as unkind.
Hailu coughed lightly upon hearing this.
Although she didn't like having strangers around the house, if they were Qin Hongying's fans, it would be a different matter.
"Of course they can come to see me. I'm not that petty."
As Qin Hongying said this, she wiped the mucus from the facial mask off her face and took a big sip of the ginseng soup.
"Can they stay here? Staying with their idol would be the most amazing thing they could ever brag about in their lives."
Seeing that Qin Hongying was willing, Aunt Zhou pressed her luck.
Qin Hongying's smile faded a bit when she heard they wanted to stay.
She was an idol, not the owner of a hostel. There were several hotels on this island. Why did they have to stay at her place?
Moreover, Xu Qingqing and Lu Chuanbai were also staying there. Not only would she feel uncomfortable, but it would also make Xu Qingqing and Lu Chuanbai feel awkward.
"This..."
Qin Hongying let out a soft tsk, feeling like she was being taken advantage of.
Aunt Zhou had served Qin Hongying for a long time and could tell what she was thinking just from a glance. She immediately realized that Qin Hongying was reluctant.
Aunt Zhou then pretended to be generous and considerate for Qin Hongying.
"I think it's not appropriate either. I'll ask my daughter to call them and tell them not to come. They'll just be a bother to you."
After saying that, Aunt Zhou turned to leave.
Hearing Aunt Zhou's words, which were subtly mocking her for being stingy, Qin Hongying straightened up and called Aunt Zhou back, waving her hand in compromise.
"Fine. Since they're my fans, let them stay."
Hearing this, Aunt Zhou's smile immediately brightened. She stood beside Qin Hongying, massaging her shoulders and back.
"I knew you were magnanimous, Madam. Those kids will surely not be disappointed when they see you."
Qin Hongying closed her eyes and swayed slightly as Aunt Zhou massaged her. Her voice was filled with emotion and joy.
"I never thought an old woman like me would have fans. It'll be nice to have them here. At least it'll liven things up."
After serving Qin Hongying, Aunt Zhou went downstairs and served dinner. To ensure her daughter could bring her friends in, Aunt Zhou sincerely apologized to Xu Qingqing.
"I'm really sorry just now. I thought Yiyi's injury was minor. I didn't expect it to be so serious..."
Xu Qingqing was eating the low - oil and salt - free meal. Her mouth felt tasteless, and she missed the dumplings she had for lunch.
"The person you should apologize to is not me." Xu Qingqing replied indifferently.
No matter how minor an injury was, it would be painful for a little kid like Xu Yiyi.
She couldn't forgive Aunt Zhou on Xu Yiyi's behalf.
Aunt Zhou was rebuffed by Xu Qingqing but still went over to Xu Yiyi.
"Yiyi, I'm sorry. Grandma Zhou was really busy just now and didn't have time to take care of you. Grandma Zhou is apologizing to you. Have an orange."
As she said this, Aunt Zhou brought a plate of sliced oranges in front of Xu Yiyi, hoping to win her over with the fruit.
Oranges were the cheapest fruit on Penglang Island. Xu Yiyi squinted her eyes and snorted, deliberately being picky as she looked at Aunt Zhou.
"I don't like oranges. I want to eat mangosteens."
At lunchtime, when she was looking for tea, she opened the fridge and saw a big bag of mangosteens.
When Aunt Zhou went upstairs just now, Xu Yiyi went into the kitchen again to look for tea and found that the bag of mangosteens was gone.
Qin Hongying and the others didn't have time to eat fruit. The only one with time to eat fruit was Zhou Qianqian, who claimed to be doing her homework.
Xu Yiyi reasonably suspected that Zhou Qianqian had eaten all the mangosteens.
Aunt Zhou was taken aback by Xu Yiyi's request and didn't know what to say.
Because the bag of mangosteens had indeed been made into a fruit platter and eaten by Zhou Qianqian.
"Mangosteens... There aren't any left in the fridge. Grandma Zhou will buy some for you tomorrow, okay..."
Aunt Zhou stammered as she explained.
Xu Yiyi looked like she had expected this. She snorted and picked up her chopsticks to continue eating. "It's okay if there aren't any."
Aunt Zhou forced a smile and reluctantly retreated to the kitchen.
Xu Yiyi was as smart as a whip and not as easy to deceive as Qin Hongying.
Although Qin Hongying was a strong - willed career woman, she was rather weak in dealing with people in daily life, unless her beliefs were violated.
She hoped that her daughter could receive her classmates smoothly tomorrow.
Before going to bed at night, Xu Qingqing finally had some free time to tinker with the hairpin she had found.
She used a lighter to slowly melt the paint on the hairpin and then used small tweezers to pick it off.
She didn't have any professional equipment with her, so she could only do a simple treatment first to see what the hairpin really looked like.
Xu Yiyi, who should have been sleeping in her room, dragged her woolly elephant doll and knocked on Xu Qingqing's door.
Lu Chuanbai, who was lying on his side reading a book, got up to open the door. Seeing the little cutie who was even shorter than the woolly elephant doll, he reached out and picked her up.
"Yiyi, why aren't you asleep so late?"
Lu Chuanbai rocked Xu Yiyi in his arms, but Xu Yiyi seriously patted Lu Chuanbai's cheek with her small hand. Her voice was childish but extremely serious.
"Dad, don't treat me like a little kid. I have something important to tell you!"
Lu Chuanbai couldn't help but laugh and put Xu Yiyi on the ground as she wished.
"You're just in kindergarten. Should I treat you like an old gentleman instead of a little kid?"
"Mr. Yiyi, what do you want to tell Mom and Dad?"
Lu Chuanbai imitated the deep voice of an old gentleman to tease Xu Yiyi.
Xu Yiyi snorted and told Xu Qingqing and Lu Chuanbai what she had discovered.
"Dad, Grandma Zhou gave all the expensive fruit in the fridge to her daughter."
Hearing this, Lu Chuanbai squinted his phoenix - like eyes slightly. He had thought Aunt Zhou was acting a bit strange at dinner, but he didn't expect this to be the reason.