Chapter 7: The Setup

Qin Mian cast a cold glance at Han Qiuyu and said icily,
“Do I need to report to you when I come back? You say she smells bad? What are you, a dog? I don’t smell a thing.”

In fact, there was only a faint fragrance on Li Luo—it was the scent of his usual shampoo.

Han Qiuyu’s face flushed red, then pale. “A f–few days ago, she really did smell.”

“A few days ago? So you admit today you’re just picking a fight?”

Struck speechless, Han Qiuyu covered her face and ran off crying.

Li Luo was secretly delighted, though puzzled. Didn’t the two of them have something going on? Why didn’t he save her any face in public? Could I have misunderstood?

Qin Mian’s gaze followed Han Qiuyu’s retreating figure. He snorted softly, then turned to Li Luo.
“Why are you just standing there? You don’t even know how to defend yourself when someone bullies you. Useless! You’re pretty good at talking back when it’s to me, though.”

Li Luo: “…”

The onlookers, finding no more drama to watch, scattered away.

Qin Mian went inside. The room was spotless, the glass windows gleaming.

On the desk sat a white porcelain vase, holding a few wildflowers she must have picked outside. At least she knows how to enjoy life.

Behind the door, a new ten-centimeter-wide wooden shelf had been fixed to the wall, holding bowls and chopsticks, with a pot hanging to the side.

She built her own rack? After buying that pot, did she still have enough money left from what I gave her? Don’t tell me she’s been reselling goods again.

“How much was the pot? Do you have enough to live on?”

“Five yuan. It’s a good one, so a bit expensive. I still have ten yuan left from the living expenses you gave me. I’ve been dieting—mostly eating vegetables, not much else.”

Qin Mian frowned. “Losing weight at the expense of your health? If you starve yourself to death, I’ll just marry someone else right away.”

Li Luo nearly exploded—not because he threatened to remarry, but because he cursed her. Control my diet? Yes. Starve myself to death? Nonsense!
“Don’t worry! Even if you die first, I’ll still be around. Once I’m slim and pretty, I’ll inherit your assets and sleep in your bed—with another man.”

Qin Mian: “…”

Li Luo stepped forward to unpack his luggage. I eat his food, live in his house—quarreling is one thing, but I should still be tactful.

“I’ll do it myself,” he muttered.

“It’s fine, I’ll help.” She reached into his bag and accidentally pulled out his underclothes. With a yelp, she threw them straight at his head.

Qin Mian: “…”

Li Luo gave a silly laugh to cover her embarrassment. “Heh… you’re busy, you’re busy, I’ll just go buy some groceries.” She practically fled the room.

At the market, she realized she’d left too quickly and forgotten her basket—and she had no money on her. She had to turn back. The door was open, but Qin Mian wasn’t home—probably nearby.

Relieved, she grabbed some coins, slung the basket over her arm, and returned to the market.

Meat required ration coupons, but cooked dishes didn’t.

She bought a piece of pig’s head meat and a handful of green peppers.

Back home, she began preparing dinner.

While she was chopping vegetables, Qin Mian returned.

“I don’t know what you like to eat,” she said. “So I bought two flatbreads, made a cold dish of pig’s head meat, and I’ll stir-fry tiger-skin green peppers. That alright?”

Qin Mian glanced at the cutting board. The meat slices were even and neat. Not bad knife skills. I thought she couldn’t cook.
“What else do you eat besides vegetables?”

Li Luo paused, then answered honestly: “One egg for breakfast. Noodles or bread for lunch. Vegetables again at night. I only cooked today because you came back.”

Qin Mian had no response to that.

Li Luo finished preparing the food and set it on the desk. “Here, you eat. I’ll have my boiled vegetables separately.”

Qin Mian stole glances at her. She was still fat, but undeniably fairer, and easier on the eyes than when he first saw her.

Whenever she looked up, he quickly looked away. She said, “I’m going for a night run later. I might be back very late—can you leave the door unlocked for me?”

“Mm.”

He tasted the pig’s head meat—fat and lean, chewy but not tough, fried to a crisp texture, spicy and appetizing.

The green peppers cut the grease, stir-fried simply, without their usual harsh smell. The flavor was excellent.

She can actually cook—and quite well.

After eating her plain vegetables, Li Luo washed the dishes and went out running.

She ran west, drenched in sweat, then turned back. Entering the courtyard, she sniffed herself carefully—just sweat, no odor.

Good. It’d be too embarrassing if the room smelled bad with someone else inside.

The house was dark when she entered. She quietly grabbed her toiletries and clean clothes, then left again for the bathhouse.

…

During the day, after being humiliated by Qin Mian, Han Qiuyu had become the talk of the courtyard.

Seething with anger and wounded pride, she decided to teach Li Luo a lesson. She secretly followed her, planning to scare her in a secluded spot.

Halfway there, Li Luo sensed someone tailing her. Given her figure and looks, she usually didn’t have to worry about men harassing her—any man who didn’t show disgust was already considered well-mannered. That ruled out perverts.

Her patched clothing made her look poor, so robbery seemed unlikely too.

It must be a woman. And the only woman with a grudge against me is Han Qiuyu.

She lost face today in front of everyone. Of course she’d want revenge.

Feigning nonchalance, Li Luo entered the bathhouse. After washing, she carried out a basin of dirty water.

Walking cautiously through a dim narrow alley, she knew—this was the perfect hiding spot.

If Han Qiuyu wanted to strike, she’d do it here.

Sure enough, when she turned the corner, Han Qiuyu jumped out.

But before she could say a word—Li Luo splashed her with the basin of filthy water.

“Ahhhh—!”

Han Qiuyu’s scream was so loud that neighbors turned on their lights to check.

Li Luo feigned surprise. “Oh! It’s you? I thought someone was trying to ambush me.”

Han Qiuyu touched her dripping face—the water stank.

Cursing, she turned and fled.

Li Luo strolled back at leisure. Qin Mian’s room light was on, and she could already hear Han Qiuyu’s sobs inside.

A crowd had gathered at the doorway.

Li Luo squeezed her way forward. Inside, along with Qin Mian and Han Qiuyu, were her parents.

Qin Mian stood in long pants and a loose white vest, his arms toned and muscular. “You say Li Luo splashed you with dirty water to take revenge? Where’s your evidence?”

“I am the evidence. My clothes are soaked!” Han Qiuyu sobbed.

Earlier, she had run back and found Qin Mian’s door ajar. She had planned to sneak in—when Li Luo returned, she’d catch them together, stir up gossip, and create a scandal. Then surely Li Luo would divorce him.

But as soon as she pushed the door, the light snapped on.

He had immediately demanded to know why she was sneaking into his room in the middle of the night—loud enough to wake the whole courtyard.

With her parents rushing over, she had no choice but to switch her story back to Li Luo splashing her.

Li Luo admitted calmly, “Yes, I splashed you. But it wasn’t intentional. You hid in a dark alley and jumped out at me—I was startled and reacted instinctively.”

Han Qiuyu turned. Li Luo’s large frame filled the doorway. She stepped aside so Qin Mian could see Li Luo, then deliberately puffed out her chest.

Look at her—an enormous, fleshy woman. And me—a slim, pretty girl. Surely he won’t be blind to the difference.

Furious, she shouted, “When did I scare you? I was just passing by! And why were you carrying a basin of water so late at night?”

“I’m losing weight and training my arms. What’s it to you?” Li Luo lifted her chin proudly. She was still fat, but twenty pounds lighter now. Her features were more defined, her rough skin softened from exercise, her lips red, her teeth white. Next to her, Han Qiuyu looked like a scrawny bean sprout.