After Transmigrating As The Mother Of The Pitiful Female Supporting Character in a Campus Novel - Chapter 18.1

Xia Shibai felt she hadn’t said anything wrong, but after she finished praising her, Dr. Qin’s approachable aura vanished. Her beautiful “peach blossom” eyes narrowed slightly, and she turned and left.

Xia Shibai replayed her words in her mind repeatedly, but she still couldn’t figure out where the problem lay.

Seeing the boss return, Shao Qing promptly declined the dual invitations of Qin Zhijin and Xia Shibai. She hopped in her car and sped off, not staying a single second longer. Eating with the boss would give her indigestion.

Initially, Qin Zhijin had planned to make a toasted bread salad with a cup of sweet milk for a simple dinner with Gu Mingyi. Who would have known that a casual gift of pastries would end up at Xia Shibai’s house? While eating earlier that afternoon, Xia Yaozhou had praised Qin Zhijin’s cooking with a mouthful of food. The little one had sighed and said, “The food Mommy orders is very tasty too, but I’m getting a little tired of it.”

Before Qin Zhijin could even offer an opening, Gu Mingyi and Xia Yaozhou were already clutching their pastries, staring up with round, bright eyes as pitiful as puppies.

Qin Zhijin thought that cooking for one was the same as cooking for two—or four—so she nodded in agreement. Seeing the two little ones so happy, she didn’t think it was a big deal.

By evening, Gu Mingyi followed her usual habit of taking out her picture books to read on the sofa. Xia Yaozhou watched Ultraman for a bit, then looked at her playmate, bit her lip, turned off the TV, and huddled next to Gu Mingyi to look with her.

However, once she got close, Yaozhou became “word-dizzy.” Although it was a picture book, it depicted beautiful nebulae with Chinese characters and Pinyin (phonetic guides) around them. Yaozhou understood neither the text nor the images, yet she didn’t want to reveal her “illiteracy” in front of Gu Mingyi. She gritted her teeth and sat there stiffly, waiting for her mother and Auntie Qin in the kitchen to rescue her from this “sea of fire.”

To Yaozhou’s disappointment, Xia Shibai and Qin Zhijin—the ones she placed her high hopes on—remained in the kitchen.

Song Ling’s mother had helped decorate this villa, and she preferred traditional Chinese style. The furniture was rosewood, a “Harmony Brings Wealth” calligraphy piece hung in the living room, and a screen carved with birds and flowers separated the living and dining areas to prevent “wealth from leaking out” according to a feng shui master. Naturally, the kitchen was a closed design with a gas stove.

The spacious kitchen easily accommodated two adults. However, Qin Zhijin felt cramped. This feeling of restriction came from Xia Shibai, who was standing beside her helping to wash things. The thoughts that had surfaced earlier broke through again, making Qin Zhijin grip her spatula tightly, terrified that she might drop it and make a fool of herself.

Fortunately, the kitchen was hot from the stove. Qin Zhijin’s face remained cold, so her reddened ears didn’t catch Xia Shibai’s attention.

Xia Shibai couldn’t cook and had an innate admiration for those who could. Moreover, Qin Zhijin’s movements were exceptionally practiced; she clearly knew her way around a pan.

“I didn’t expect Dr. Qin to be so amazing at cooking too!”

“Mhm. These are quite simple. If you wanted to learn, you’d likely pick it up in no time.”

“I tried learning, but I have no talent for it,” Xia Shibai waved a hand. “Cooking is one of those things—some like it, some don’t. It’s all personal preference.”

Qin Zhijin gave a light “Mhm” and added casually, “If you can’t do it, as long as the other person can, it’s fine. And if neither can, hiring a cook isn’t difficult these days.”

“If I were looking for a partner, whether they could cook or not, I’d still hire a professional. It’s not a mandatory daily quest you must complete. It’s just a meal; with money, who worries about starving to death?”

Xia Shibai saw Qin Zhijin reaching for the sauce and handed it over. Their fingers touched; she felt the dampness on the doctor’s fingertips from the washing water that hadn’t dried yet.

In an instant, Qin Zhijin pulled her hand back with the bowl. The prepared sauce hit the beef, and as the heat intensified, small bubbles formed, sending a savory aroma rising from the pot. The roar of the range hood plunged their conversation into silence.

Once the beef was ready, she strained the buckwheat noodles from another pot, tossed them in the beef broth, and plated them with boiled vegetables.

Xia Shibai quickly carried the dinner out. She clapped her hands to get Yaozhou and Gu Mingyi to wash up. “Wash your hands and sit down; dinner is ready.”

Qin Zhijin took out the warm milk she had heated earlier and poured it into two cups. As she poured, Xia Shibai’s earlier words echoed in her mind.

Wait… did that mean Xia Shibai isn’t married at all?

But if she’s not married, where did Xia Yaozhou come from?

Could she be divorced?

Qin Zhijin quickly dismissed that thought. Xia Shibai wasn’t a “love-brain” like Song Ling. Even if she had been married, the husband’s family would likely be of equal status. If that were the case, Yaozhou would never have been neglected by a nanny. Nor would the father likely let Xia Shibai keep full custody without a fight.

Soon, Qin Zhijin thought of another possibility. Many only daughters in her social circle didn’t want to suffer the hardships of marriage, so they paid to select a sperm donor and raised the child as an heir. This seemed to fit Xia Shibai’s personality.

Lost in thought, Qin Zhijin’s wrist was suddenly grabbed. She looked up in a panic to see Xia Shibai, who had re-entered the kitchen. The milk was overflowing from the cup; if Xia Shibai hadn’t steadied her hand, it would have spilled all over her slippers and the floor.

“Are you okay?” Xia Shibai took the milk from her and set it aside, using a cloth to wipe the mess. “If you’re too tired, don’t force it. You finally have a long vacation; you should rest. We were too abrupt today.”

Qin Zhijin shook her head, feeling strangely guilty. “No, it has nothing to do with you. I just spaced out.”

“Do you drink red wine? When I went to the supermarket today, I had enough points to exchange for a bottle.” Seeing the milk was mostly gone, Qin Zhijin pivoted the suggestion. “Otherwise, it’ll just sit here. I wanted champagne, but they only had red wine.”

Xia Shibai didn’t refuse. “Sure.”

So, the two little ones had beef buckwheat noodles with warm milk, while the adults had red wine. All four were quiet during the meal, focused on their bowls. After eating and drinking her fill, Qin Zhijin realized she might have had a bit too much.

The heat rose to her face. She could smell the faint scent of wine on herself and sat still, afraid that if she tried to walk, she’d fall over. Red wine doesn’t feel like much while drinking, but if you’re eating while focused on the glass, it’s easy to lose track.

Seeing Qin Zhijin sitting motionless, Xia Shibai thought she was still unwell. She sent Gu Mingyi and Yaozhou off to play while she tidied the kitchen. When she came out, Qin Zhijin was still sitting upright at the table, perfectly still.

Puzzled, Xia Shibai dried her hands and walked over to ask if she needed to go to the hospital. As she got closer, she realized the usually stoic Dr. Qin was flushed deep red.

Her unpainted face had a light glow, her breathing had slowed, and her lips were slightly parted. Hearing a noise, Qin Zhijin turned her head. Her eyes were watery from the alcohol—her “peach blossom” eyes looked like petals soaked in dew.

Xia Shibai felt a wave of nervousness under that gaze. She hadn’t been joking at the fence; she really thought Qin Zhijin’s eyes were beautiful, and they were even more stunning up close. Novels always talked about heroines with eyes that could ruin a man’s life with one glance. Xia Shibai used to scoff, but now she found herself staring, feeling it was only natural to fall in.

“Drunk?”

“Mhm.” Qin Zhijin nodded slowly, then immediately rested her cheek in her palm. Her head felt too heavy; a single nod made her dizzy. Her voice trailed off, “Headache…”

“Looking at the way you were drinking earlier, I thought you were a heavyweight.” If she’d known, Xia Shibai would have kept the bottle far away. But it was hard to blame her; Qin Zhijin’s lack of expression made it impossible to tell if she could handle her liquor.

Xia Shibai reached out to support her. “Just go up and sleep. We’ll talk about everything tomorrow. I’ll watch Xiao Yi finish her bath and get to bed, and I’ll check the water and electricity before I leave, okay?”

“Okay.” Qin Zhijin nodded. In her current state, she couldn’t do anything anyway. Wine really messes things up.

The two little ones on the sofa poked their heads up. Gu Mingyi asked worriedly, “Is Auntie Qin okay?”

“She’s a bit unwell. I’m going to help her upstairs, then I’ll come back to find your pajamas and help you with your bath. You two sit here quietly and watch TV.”

“Okay,” Yaozhou nodded, patting her chest. “Don’t worry, Mommy! Mission accepted! I’ll look after Xiao Yi!” She then gave Gu Mingyi’s clothes a little tug.

Gu Mingyi, her “wolf tail” haircut bobbing, pursed her lips and watched Xia Shibai support Qin Zhijin. Being a wary child, she slid off the sofa, put on her slippers, and followed the adults.

“I’m coming with you,” Gu Mingyi said. “I’m worried about Auntie Qin. I need to watch her so I can call my mommy tonight.”

“That’s fine.”

As Gu Mingyi slid off the sofa, Yaozhou didn’t stay behind. She didn’t even bother turning off the cartoons; she followed the trio barefoot. The stairs were a bit steep for her, and she had to huff and puff while clutching the railing, but the taller Gu Mingyi turned back to give her a hand.

The two little ones watched Xia Shibai help Qin Zhijin onto the bed, tuck her in, and set the AC to a comfortable temperature. Once the door closed, the room was plunged into darkness. Qin Zhijin opened her eyes and silently pulled the quilt over her face. When embarrassing things happen, they replay in your head forever like a blooper reel.

Xia Shibai thought she might have to help Gu Mingyi with her bath, but the girl shook her “wolf tail,” took her pajamas and towel from her room, and pointed to the high shelf with the soap and shampoo. “Auntie, help me get the soap and shampoo, and turn on the shower. I can wash myself.”

Xia Shibai raised an eyebrow and followed the instructions. She pointed the showerhead at the tub and let Gu Mingyi test the temperature. “See if this is okay.”

“It’s perfect. Thank you.” Gu Mingyi stood on her tiptoes to put her clothes in the hamper. “Please wait outside, Auntie. I’ll be out soon.”

“No rush. Just don’t get in the tub; I don’t want you slipping. And don’t lock the door—that way if you need anything, I can hear you and come in.”

“Okay. Thank you, Auntie.”

Xia Shibai closed the door and, once back at the sofa, gave Yaozhou’s bottom a light pat. “Why aren’t you wearing slippers? Are you trying to catch a cold?”

“Mommy!” Yaozhou pouted, covering her bottom. “I forgot! You three were walking so fast! If I put on shoes, I’d be left far behind. The living room is dark; I don’t want to be here alone.”

Xia Shibai wiped Yaozhou’s feet clean with wet wipes and made her sit on the edge of the sofa, forbidden from putting her bare feet on the cushions.

“Mommy…” Yaozhou watched the cartoons for a bit, then looked toward the bathroom anxiously. “Will Xiao Yi be okay? Mommy, it’s not safe for her to sleep here alone. Auntie Qin is dizzy and can’t look after her. Can she…”

As soon as she started, Xia Shibai knew where her daughter’s “tail” was wagging. These kids—give them an inch and they’ll take a mile. If she didn’t refuse the first time, there’d be a thousand more. Xia Shibai had figured out how to balance indulging Yaozhou; reasonable requests were a “yes,” but letting Gu Mingyi stay over wasn’t.

“No,” Xia Shibai said. “A child leaving home needs a guardian’s permission. Xiao Yi’s mommy is in the US, so her guardian is Auntie Qin. Auntie Qin isn’t sober, so her permission wouldn’t count anyway. Besides, Xiao Yi is just sleeping in her own room; what could happen?”

Yaozhou was speechless. She tried to find another excuse to discuss the possibility but failed. Even when Gu Mingyi came out with her hair dripping and a towel messily draped over her head, Yaozhou couldn’t think of a better reason. She could only sit cross-legged on the sofa with a pout while Xia Shibai dried Gu Mingyi’s hair.

Gu Mingyi didn’t understand why her friend was angry, but she decided Auntie Xia was very gentle and a “good person,” mentally upgrading Xia Shibai’s status in her mind.

Xia Shibai told Yaozhou to wait for her while she saw Gu Mingyi to her room. Even this small separation made Yaozhou huff in silence.

Once they left Gu Mingyi’s house, Xia Shibai closed the iron gate and carried Yaozhou home. She prepared to help her with her bath, but was rejected. “If Xiao Yi can do it, I can too! Mommy doesn’t need to help.” Yaozhou had washed herself a few times before, but occasionally she left soap in her hair. Xia Shibai had to bring her back for “rework.” Hearing her claim independence again, Xia Shibai just took out two sets of pajamas—fully prepared for another rework session.

Yaozhou dawdled downstairs. Eventually, she got distracted by playing with the water. By the time Xia Shibai finished her own tasks and came down, Yaozhou still wasn’t out. Xia Shibai simply scooped her up, gave her a quick but thorough scrub with a bath ball, washed her hair again, and ignored the girl’s protests as she rinsed her off and carried her upstairs in a thick towel.

By the time she’d dried her hair, changed her, and put her to bed, Xia Shibai’s arms were aching. Remembering the messy bathroom, she decided a nanny was now an absolute priority. Raising a kid is truly… exhausting!