Fake kindness

From the astonishment in her mother’s eyes, Mu Qingxi saw disbelief. She felt like laughing—what was so hard to believe? She’d been taking these pills for three years, and her mother was only just finding out. What should she even say? She burst out laughing inwardly.

She poured a pill into her palm, placed it in her mouth, and washed it down with the bottled water beside her pillow. She didn’t say a word as her mother continued to watch her from the side of the bed.

Shen Yali’s gaze was clouded as she looked at Mu Qingxi lying on the bed with her eyes closed. Trying to contain her shock, she said, “When did you start taking this medicine? Who bought it for you? Tomorrow, I’m taking you to the hospital for a checkup.”

Without opening her eyes, Mu Qingxi replied, “I don’t have a heart problem. What’s the point of a checkup? It’s not like I’m dying.”

Her mother went on nagging by the bed. Mu Qingxi lay there with her eyes closed, feeling as if words were fluttering endlessly around her ears—worse than the nagging monk from “A Chinese Odyssey.” Inwardly, she cried out, “Sun Wukong, I really feel for you!” She suddenly opened her eyes and yelled at Shen Yali, “No need for your fake concern. Where were you before? I’m going to sleep. Please leave.”

Her mother’s final expression of shock gave her immense satisfaction, lifting her spirits. Soon after, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep, dreamless until morning. The medicine really worked—why force herself to suffer when she could just rely on it?

The next day at school, when Qin Yu saw her, he exaggeratedly waved his “chicken claws” and said, “Mumu, what were you up to last night? You’ve leveled up to national treasure status with those panda eyes!”

“Weiyu, don’t get cocky. Come on, I’m in a good mood today—I’ll treat you to something nice.” Mu Qingxi shot him a look. So what if she had dark circles? They didn’t diminish her charm one bit.

Qin Yu, standing before the door, asked, “Mumu, do you think the two of us can fit through this door at the same time?”

“Weiyu, are you calling me fat?” Mu Qingxi narrowed her eyes at him. If he dared say yes, she’d make him pay.

“Well…ah, no, no.” Qin Yu was staring at the door and hadn’t heard her. When he absentmindedly uttered “yes,” he suddenly realized and hastily tried to appease her, “Mumu, impossible! You’re really slim. If this lousy door can’t fit us both, it must be because I’m the fat one.”

“Weiyu, what you mean is that I’m very slim, but it just doesn’t show, right? Class is about to start. Are you coming or not? If not, I won’t treat you, and you’ll never get another chance.” With that, Mu Qingxi strode out the classroom door.

“Wow, Mumu, you’re so talkative today! Usually, I do all the talking. You’ve said so much, I’m not used to it.”

“I’m not mute—why wouldn’t I talk?”

In the school convenience store, Mu Qingxi spotted Xi Haifei. He was chatting with a few boys, but when he saw her walk in, he came over and asked what she wanted to buy.

“I’m treating Weiyu,” she replied silently, wondering where that guy had gone the moment they entered.

Xi Haifei held out his hand, looking at Mu Qingxi. “Here—you never said what flavor you like, so I got one of each. Take your time. If it’s too much, pick your favorites or give the rest away.”

She stared at him in surprise. Just then, Qin Yu’s cheerful voice finally rang out: “Mumu, all set! I grabbed a bag of banana crisps and some chips. Aren’t I thoughtful?” Then, turning to Xi Haifei and eyeing the Alpenliebe lollipops in his hand with excitement, he said, “Ah, Xi Haifei, you really know how to please the right people—befriending a small fry like me to reel in the big fish, Mumu! You’re a quick learner, not bad!”

Mu Qingxi looked at Qin Yu’s sly grin and nearly rolled her eyes—if he wanted candy that badly, he could just say so instead of dragging her into it. Ignoring both of them, she headed for the checkout. When she turned to call Qin Yu, she caught him winking at Xi Haifei, and her expression darkened.

She called out irritably, “Weiyu, bring the snacks. Let’s go.”