Qin Yue's Monday was not very happy.
After resting on Sunday, the medicated plaster took effect, and by Monday, she had already recovered. Unfortunately, both her sister and girlfriend had to go to school, and after getting up in the morning, the house felt empty with only herself left.
But soon, she was no longer lonely.
"Yueyue, how are you? How's your health?" Qin Mom walked in carrying a large bag of supplements. "I came to see you."
"….…"
Although it was normal for her mom to come visit, what was with that sentence, and why was she carrying a bag of supplements?
Qin Yue felt it was strange.
Qin Mom didn't find it strange at all; she placed the items on the table and instructed Aunt Zou to make a soup first.
Then she turned to her and said, "Yueyue, how's your health lately? Do you need to rest a bit more?"
"Mom," Qin Yue said speechlessly, "The company is on break recently; I don't have anything important to do."
"Oh, I see, that's good, that's good." Qin Mom seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
But the problem was, didn't you and Dad already know about this? Don't act like you've forgotten.
Then Qin Mom started walking around the room.
"Yueyue, your home is not bad, but it's just a bit lacking in some things," she said, "Like this billiard room, you two sisters don't play, you could totally change it into a gym."
Qin Yue frowned: "A gym? No need."
Bai Ningning was her gym; there was no need to set one up specifically.
"Yes, yes," Qin Mom said, "Xin Xin joined the free fighting club, right? You could make it a taekwondo room for her, with punching bags and all. You can also work out when you have time, it's good for your health."
Qin Yue was confused: "Mom, why are you suddenly telling me all this today?"
"Not suddenly, it's all about caring for your health."
Caring is fine, but can't you care in a less strange way, with all this resting and exercising?
After the tour ended, they returned to the bedroom, and Aunt Zou followed the instructions and brought up a pot of soup.
"Alright, Yueyue, come try this soup," Qin Mom ladled half a bowl and handed it to her, "Come on, drink a few more sips while it's hot, it's good for you."
Qin Yue's eyelids twitched: "What is this…?"
"This is the black-boned chicken I specially brought for you, along with red dates and goji berries. Don't think it's just some farm ingredients; it's very effective," Qin Mom said seriously, "I've figured it out; the reason Ningning is so healthy is that she eats simply, with farm grains and cereals, it's nourishing!"
Qin Yue put down the bowl: "Mom, tell me what's going on. If you don't say, I can't drink it."
"This, sigh," Qin Mom suddenly sighed inexplicably, "Okay, you drink first, and when Xin Xin and Ningning come back in the afternoon, I'll tell you together."
Qin Yue was stunned: "What, does that mean there's something very important that the whole family knows, but I don't?"
"Not really, Xin Xin should know," Qin Mom said, "Ningning doesn't know, but she can probably guess."
Qin Yue felt even more confused, but since the conversation had reached this point, she had no choice but to drink the chicken soup first, then sat with Qin Mom in the living room watching TV, patiently waiting for the afternoon to come.
Monday's class, for Bai Ningning and Qin Xin, it wasn't much; they only had two classes in the afternoon, which was just half a day's worth of lessons. Before five o'clock, the two girls returned home together.
"Xin Xin, Ningning," Qin's mom greeted them immediately, "You're back."
Bai Ningning was slightly taken aback: "Auntie, you're here."
Strange, what day is it today? Why is she here to check on their lives again?
Qin Xin, however, was not surprised at all. Given what had happened, it would be strange if her mom didn't come over quickly.
Qin Yue, having waited for so long, couldn't wait to ask, "Alright, can you tell me now what happened?"
In the living room, there were four people, and only Bai Ningning blinked in confusion.
What? Something happened?
"Yueyue, don't get too excited, stay calm and maintain a good mindset," Qin's mom looked at Qin Xin, "Xin Xin, you explain to your sister."
"Okay, well, it's not really a big deal... although it's not small either," Qin Xin sat down and picked up a goji berry tea, "Yesterday, the three girls from the Su, Lin, and Si families came over; you should know about that, sister."
Qin Yue nodded: "I heard Aunt Zou mention it."
Not to mention she was resting in bed yesterday; even if she wasn't injured, she didn't want to entertain those girls. It would have been just a perfunctory affair, so she didn't care.
Qin Xin said lightly, "Those girls worked at the company for a week and basically didn't see you, so they couldn't report back at home. They wanted to come visit over the weekend but still didn't see you. After going home and being questioned by their elders, they chose to tell the truth."
Qin Yue's heart skipped a beat: "What truth?"
"About you being taken down by Ningning," Qin's mom took a deep breath, "You didn't get up all day."
So, she hurried over early this morning, braving the wind and rain, and even had Aunt Zou bring some black-bone chicken and red dates.
Qin Xin added, "And you got injured, lying down to recuperate all day."
Qin Yue's mouth twitched, and she turned to look at Bai Ningning. Bai Ningning was just looking at her, her eyes full of innocence.
What are you doing? You asked for it; you even trimmed my nails yourself, just short of personally guiding the strength and direction.
You can't blame me, right?
Qin Yue took a few deep breaths, her chest rising and falling violently: "The whole family knows?"
"To be precise," Qin Xin gently corrected, "It's the whole family, plus the Su family, the Lin family, and the Si family—all of them know."
Hiss—
Qin Yue felt a bit of pain in her chest, her head buzzing, and her eyes almost closed.
Qin's mom gave Bai Ningning a strong look, meaning for her to say a few words to comfort her.
Bai Ningning understood Qin's mom's intention, but she really couldn't help it. If you said the big sister's chest hurt, she could help rub it. But if it was about comforting her with words, with her cute little cherry mouth, she really wasn't up to it.
After thinking for a long time, she could only say, "Sister Yue, the method is fine; just come back and do it next time."
Qin Yue didn't even want to talk.
At that moment, Qin's mom said, "Ningning has a point; next time, you can... redeem yourself."
So, she thought of ways early in the morning, trying to help Qin Yue recover according to Bai Ningning's diet, and also wanted her to strengthen her training and so on.
However, given the current performance gap between the two, coming back to win would be a bit difficult. Thinking of this, Qin's mom gave Bai Ningning another look.
But Bai Ningning refused: "No, Auntie, I won't throw a match."
"…...." Qin's mom was so angry she had nothing to say. You don't have to say it out loud if you won't throw a match; can't you see Yueyue's chest rising and falling even more?
Bai Ningning silently said sorry in her heart, but sorry, the older generation of esports players has a zero-tolerance attitude towards match-fixing.