Chapter 69

Well, it seems that things are indeed more fragrant when you fight for them.

Although Fang Lingying didn’t admit to having such a mindset, she was still a bit curious. So, after adjusting the seat in the car, she waved to Liu Changyuan and skillfully started driving.

Not long after, she felt, "Not bad, this car. It looks quite ordinary, but it drives very steadily and powerfully." Her Jeep Wrangler had a hard suspension, a cool appearance, and outstanding off-road capabilities, but it lacked comfort and driving pleasure, a clear difference.

Bake sat comfortably in the passenger seat, acting like a boss: "Let's go to Xinhua Mall first, then to the Third Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Do you want to drive? We can take turns."

Fang Lingying, who was still a member of the appearance club, shook her head: "It looks as silly as you, I won't drive. Besides, I rarely drive anyway. Is Xinhua Mall still open for business? I remember it was there when I was in elementary school."

Bake nodded: "The first large private mall in the city. You only read the classics, so you naturally go to the new joint-venture malls. Ordinary people still go to these old malls more often."

Fang Lingying was unhappy: "What do you mean by that?"

Bake explained: "It's fashionable, really. Your demeanor doesn’t seem like someone who goes to the market every day."

Fang Lingying huffed: "I can still cook a few dishes." Then, as if remembering something: "By the way, Old Yang called me this afternoon and asked about you indirectly. What did you do to raise his suspicions?"

Bake was annoyed by such prying: "What could I have done? When I arrived at the scene with Xiao Zhou, I acted immediately. Wasn’t the first aid correct? Would slow actions save lives? Emergency rescue, no urgency, no rescue. He’s just being professionally suspicious."

Fang Lingying heard his frustration and laughed heartily: "You deserve it! Always being so secretive."

Bake looked down on her: "I just think he’s wasting taxpayers' money. If he had the time, he should catch criminals instead of wasting it on a small citizen like me."

Fang Lingying laughed even harder, slapping the steering wheel: "Good! Small citizen, explain the origin of this car to me. I haven’t driven many cars, but this one must cost at least 200,000 to 300,000. I see a new prayer sachet hanging on the rearview mirror. Did Xiao Zhou hang it, or your two sisters? The car is so clean, it must be yours. It’s different from the smell of cigarettes in that BMW last time."

What kind of person is this, studying skulls every day is one thing, but just sitting in the car and looking around, she can find such details. Bake gave a thumbs up: "You really live up to your professional status!"

Fang Lingying immediately felt she had the upper hand: "See! See! You’re always like this, ever since I picked you up. You always change the subject with a light touch, right? I used to think you were honest! Now I know you’re full of mischief!"

Bake felt quite wronged.

Thus, they chatted and bickered, not at all bored, and it felt very默契 (in sync).

Fang Lingying was surprised that she hadn’t noticed before how talkative this black guy could be.

Bake felt that his recent psychological therapy had been effective, but he wasn’t sure whether to attribute it to the murders or the interior decoration research.

Bake had picked up Aunt Du in the afternoon, so it wasn’t hard to find her. Fang Lingying was as leisurely as if she were shopping: "Hmm, I haven’t been to this mall since middle school. There are still quite a few people here... " When she saw Zhou Xiaoli’s mother with Bake, she was momentarily speechless, whispering: "Really? She looks so young. How old is Xiao Zhou? What are you doing? You’re really an old bull eating young grass, aren’t you? You’re not obsessed with your sisters, are you?"

Ms. Fang was quite trendy, even knowing about "sister complex." Bake was sweating: "Actions speak louder than words. You’ll see later. I won’t argue with you now."

Fang Lingying had the urge to pull his ear: "Oh! You’ve got some guts. When you first came back, you were so timid around me, now you dare to call yourself '老子' (old man)."

Bake now felt that girls from Yuzhou were really fiery. He waved to Aunt Du, who was still in her sales uniform, and she smiled back, noticing the familiar girl beside him.

They didn’t wait long. At 10:30 PM, when the mall started playing the saxophone version of "Going Home," Aunt Du, who had taken a leave of absence from her colleagues, came out with her small bag and a plastic bag containing a dress: "Xiao Ba, you’ve been waiting long..." Her eyes still smiling at Fang Lingying.

Bake quickly introduced: "My friend, Fang Lingying, from the Art Academy..." Fang Lingying was waiting to hear if he would say "Ph.D." or "teacher," but Bake stopped, thinking it would create a distance, so he swallowed it.

Aunt Du said, "An art student..."

Fang Lingying was polite: "I work in the legal system. I heard about Xiao Zhou’s situation and asked Bake to bring me to visit." She waved the small gift bag she had bought at the mall, a hair clip, not very expensive, but she had bought it hastily after asking if Zhou Xiaoli had long hair.

Bake felt this driver was too talkative: "Let’s go, let’s go... I still need to pick up my mom." He opened the car door and invited them in.

Aunt Du, who had been recalling Bake’s name, apologized: "I really delayed Xiao Ba. Your mom is very kind. I’ve already taken a few days off, and the hospital gave me a certificate, otherwise, it would be hard to take leave." Mall clerks work in shifts, and if one is absent, someone else has to cover, so taking leave casually often means losing the job.

The car had already started. Bake spoke honestly: "Actually, Xiao Zhou’s injury, as long as there’s no brain concussion, is just a superficial wound. The internal sedative just needs a stomach wash and rest. No need to be too worried. It’s mainly about staying in the hospital longer to avoid complications from excessive self-defense. You should continue working and not worry too much."

Aunt Du agreed repeatedly, and Fang Lingying, while driving, glanced at Bake, feeling he had become much more lively recently!

Sure enough, when the three of them arrived at the hospital and entered the ward, Fang Lingying saw Zhou Xiaoli with a bandaged head and compared her to her mother, feeling they looked more like sisters.

Perhaps because the dark-skinned girl looked older, while her mother, being lighter, reduced the age gap, it wasn’t at all like Fang Lingying had imagined, a Lolicon. She quickly exchanged a look with Bake.

Ms. Liu had been chatting with Zhou Xiaoli all night, and Zhou Xiaoli, feeling inspired, had been more spirited. So when she saw Fang Lingying walk in, she was a bit surprised.

Fang Lingying, with her teaching presence, was appropriately enthusiastic. After Bake introduced her, she handed over the gift, acting like a leader on an inspection: "I heard from Bake about the incident and had to come and see. We are all in this together. I have friends in the media. Do you want me to have them report on this? Women are no less brave than men, fearless in danger..."

The female police officer, who was mainly there to protect rather than monitor, frowned but didn’t speak. Fang Lingying turned to her with a smile: "I’m from the city police forensic center. Captain Yang from the district criminal investigation team told me the case has been classified."

The female police officer, hearing she was an insider, smiled and nodded.

Isn’t this girl a teacher at the Art Academy? Ms. Liu, holding her son’s hand, was full of doubt, but when she looked again, she couldn’t help but compare the two girls. Xiao Fang... well, she’s lighter and has a good background, but Xiao Zhou clearly fits better...

As a mother, she always wanted the best for her son.

Bake wanted to slap Fang Lingying’s butt. He had never seen this girl so smooth and adaptable. Everyone has their own script: "Xiao Zhou, rest well these few days. Tomorrow I’ll tell your colleagues at the company. When you have time, think about it. If you’re interested, we can open a car wash together, no need to go to work anymore."

Zhou Xiaoli, who had been eloquent about the car wash industry and thoughtful when Bake first proposed it, looked a bit listless, her face darkened by the white bandage, and she frowned but nodded: "Yes, I know. I’ll think about it. Thank you, Sister Fang. People fear fame, and pigs fear fat. I’m just a small citizen, I just want to live a peaceful life. No need to trouble you."

Bake remembered how fierce this girl could be, especially since he hadn’t noticed where she kept the fruit knife. Feeling the tension, he decided to leave: "Alright, Teacher Fang is here to visit the injured. Rest well. Call me if anything happens. I’ll take my mom home first."

Ms. Liu, wanting to see the gossip, had to stand on her son’s side and pretended to be tired: "Xiao Li, rest well. I’ll bring you some soup tomorrow..." In the uncertainty of who would be the future daughter-in-law, the tone of this sentence was a matter of life and death for a primary school teacher!

Fang Lingying also said goodbye, but as soon as the three of them left, Zhou Xiaoli pulled her mother to whisper, making the female police officer on the bed very curious!

Of course, Fang Lingying also had to deal with Ms. Liu’s curiosity. As soon as they got in the car, she sat in the back and asked non-stop, especially praising the girl driving. Bake, in the passenger seat, felt goosebumps all over, smiling awkwardly: "Mom, do you usually talk this much? I’ve never heard you praise me so much?"

Ms. Liu was sincere: "The way this girl drives is very impressive. Come to our house for dinner when you have time. Xiao Ming said you’re at the Art Academy, not far away, right?"

Fang Lingying, for some reason, laughed at the name "Xiao Ming," still laughing and looking at Bake, but she held the steering wheel steady. Bake didn’t want to disturb the driver: "Oh, you’re tired, why don’t you rest? Our home is tiny, not even enough to turn around, why invite guests?"

Ms. Liu had a revelation: "Didn’t you just buy a house today? What a beautiful style of decoration, Xiao Zhou said..." Oh, at this moment, the mother realized she had let something slip. What if this was a plan between her son and Xiao Li?

Fang Lingying gave Bake a heavy look, the meaning in her eyes clear: "You’re hiding a lot, aren’t you?"

Bake really wanted to buy his mom a mask!

Page break for AD

Page break for AD end