Chapter 15: My Word Is the Rule
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Taking advantage of the full signal bars, Qiu Yiyao quickly opened her contacts, found her best friend's number, and pressed the call button without hesitation. Watching the words "Calling" appear on the screen, a nervous flutter stirred in her heart, fearing this hard-won signal might suddenly drop. Sure enough, just seconds later, the call was cut off, and a small cross appeared on the signal bar.
“What the hell?” Qiu Yiyao nearly threw her phone in frustration.
Since returning to Yueli Town, her life seemed completely severed from before. Except for her father, everyone around was a stranger—strange faces, strange surroundings, strange atmosphere.
Her phone had no signal. She took it in for repairs, but both the phone and the SIM card were fine.
At first, Qiu Yiyao considered changing her number, but thinking of returning to the city after summer vacation, and noticing how silent her classmates’ group chats and close friends had become despite her sending messages, she felt disheartened and gave up on the idea.
…
At dinner, Bai Peiyu rarely arrived right on time.
Upon seeing the boiled chicken on the table and about to say something, Qiu Shengming warmly picked up a chicken leg, dipped it in sauce, and placed it in his bowl: “Xiao Bai, eat more to nourish your body. You’ve been getting thinner lately.”
To be fair, Qiu Shengming gave the other chicken leg to Qiu Yiyao.
“No need, you eat it. I have meat in my noodles,” Qiu Yiyao frowned, took the chicken leg back and placed it in Qiu Shengming’s bowl, then lowered her head to eat her noodles.
“This kid, chicken legs are for you young folks. What would an old man like me eat?” Qiu Shengming was about to take the chicken leg back when Bai Peiyu reached out his chopsticks, grabbed it, and put it in his own bowl: “If you all don’t eat it, I will.”
He ate it with relish as if it were a delicacy from heaven.
“Just knew you liked it, so I made it especially,” Qiu Shengming said, his face showing contentment.
“Mm, delicious,” Bai Peiyu mumbled with his mouth full.
Watching the two of them, Qiu Yiyao suddenly felt like a third wheel.
She picked up her noodle bowl and quickly slipped to the sofa to turn on the TV.
Qiu Shengming just about to call her back stopped when Bai Peiyu gave him a look.
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On the TV, an idol drama starring Qiu Yiyao’s favorite male celebrity was playing.
Seeing that handsome face, her worries instantly melted away.
Though she had seen it more than once, she watched with great interest, not touching her food, occasionally letting out hearty laughter.
Bai Peiyu whispered, “Such a fangirl, eyes glazed over at the sight of a handsome guy.”
Noticing Bai Peiyu’s bowl was almost empty, Qiu Shengming put down his chopsticks and looked at Qiu Yiyao, who was focused on the screen. He quietly said, “Xiao Bai, I need to talk to you.”
At his words, Bai Peiyu’s expression turned serious. He put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and the two went upstairs one after the other.
Qiu Yiyao, engrossed in the show, noticed a man in a white shirt standing at the doorway, peering inside as if searching for someone.
Hearing the noise, she turned and eyed the man warily. “Who are you looking for?”
The man smiled and said, “I’m looking for Uncle Qiu.”
Qiu Yiyao assumed he was one of Qiu Shengming’s acquaintances and pointed toward the dining table. “There, he’s eating.”
She eagerly turned back, but no one was there.
Seeing the untouched tableware, she guessed they must have gone somewhere to talk.
She placed her bowl on the coffee table. “Wait here, I’ll go call him.”
But the man hurriedly stopped her. “It’s nothing urgent. Since he’s busy, I’ll come back later.”
The smile on his face never faded. His eyes darted greedily and creepily over Qiu Yiyao as he said he was leaving, but his feet didn’t move.
Qiu Yiyao, expecting something important, now seeing the man’s lecherous look, simply sat back down to eat her noodles.
She hated sleazy men like this most and disliked talking to them.
The man stood silently by the door, neither speaking nor leaving.
Though she stared at the TV, Qiu Yiyao kept sneaking glances at him from the corner of her eye, cursing inwardly.
At that moment, a pleasant female voice came from outside the door: “Oh, whose young man is this? Standing at the door and not coming in?”
It was Li Zhen, carrying a basket of vegetables and fruits, followed by Congcong.
She looked surprised at the man at the door. “Aren’t you Xiao from the town hospital?”
Xiao Yi turned to Li Zhen, chuckling awkwardly. “I came to see Uncle Qiu about something but he’s busy.”
His eyes shamelessly lingered on Li Zhen with greed and lechery.
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Li Zhen disliked being ogled like that but was smart enough to diffuse the awkwardness.
She grabbed Congcong and pointed inside. “Congcong, didn’t you say you wanted to play with Sister Yiyao? Go on then.”
Congcong clapped happily and ran inside.
“Xiao, since Old Qiu is busy, why don’t you go back for now? If it’s urgent, you can call,” Li Zhen smiled and followed Congcong inside, not forgetting to explain to Qiu Yiyao, “Yiyao, I’m in a hurry to cook. Please look after Congcong for me.”
Qiu Yiyao nodded quickly. “Don’t worry.”
Li Zhen passed through the living room and returned to her own house through the back door.
Xiao Yi remained standing at the door, staring blankly in the direction Li Zhen had left.
Qiu Yiyao inwardly despised him: Such a filthy man, eyes lighting up whenever he sees a woman, and he’s a doctor too—unbelievable.
Congcong eyed the chicken in Qiu Yiyao’s bowl and drooled. Judging by the time, she must be hungry.
Qiu Yiyao walked to the table and took a chicken wing from the bowl, handing it to Congcong. “Here, eat.”
When she looked back, Xiao Yi had already left without her noticing.
“Finally gone. His eyes were practically popping out,” Qiu Yiyao teased Congcong. “Little one, you must never be like that when you grow up.”
Congcong, busy nibbling the chicken wing, looked up at her as if vaguely understanding.
Unbeknownst to them, Xiao Yi had quietly slipped into Li Zhen’s house.
Li Zhen was busy in the kitchen when she heard the door creak. Thinking it was Congcong returning, she didn’t look back but called out, “Sweetie, don’t rush. Play with your toys first; dinner will be ready soon.”
Just then, a large hand wrapped around her waist from behind, and rapid breathing whispered in her ear.
Sensing the unfamiliar scent, Li Zhen guessed who it was.
She tightened her grip on the kitchen knife. “Xiao Yi, I’m older than you, and everyone in this town is related somehow. Even if you don’t call me sister, you should at least say sister-in-law. Disrespecting your sister-in-law goes against the town’s customs.”
Xiao Yi, realizing she knew it was him, chuckled and his hands grew more unruly as he groped her. “What customs? My uncle is the town mayor, so my word is the law.”