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nAs Xiao Qin was threatening He Ling to become Niu ShiLi’s girlfriend, her phone suddenly rang.

nXiao Qin took out the phone from her Mickey Mouse bag, but her face turned pale after she saw the caller ID.

n“It’s my mother.”

nXiao Qin shushed me and He Ling as she picked up the phone with a guilty conscience.

n“Hi mom, are you not working overtime today?”

nSince I was right beside Xiao Qin, I could her Auntie Ren’s impatient voice in the phone.

n“Why do you want your own mother to work overtime everyday? Tell me the truth, where are you right now?”

n“I… I’m at a bookstore buying reference books…”

n“Buying reference books? Then why does the surroundings sound so noisy?”

n“That’s because a beautiful female author just came to do a signing, that’s why it’s so noisy…”

n“Why would she come to a small city like Dong Shan City? What’s her name?”

nXiao Qin scratched her head and said: “I’m not sure, I heard others call her Water Celery sensei….”

nIsn’t that your pen name? Are you fantasizing about yourself doing a signing while lying to your mom?

n“Is that right?” It sounded like Auntie Ren didn’t really believe her, “Then can you tell me what the first five people in line look like?”

n“Uh… the first person is a bald headed uncle with a flat nose. He’s wearing a special forces style watch on his left wrist and he has a faint large scar on his right wrist which could be a burn. I think he’s a chef…”

nThat’s because you’re describing the chef who just came in for the night shift! I mean, why would he even ask you for a autograph?

n“As for the second person…” Xiao Qin scanned the restaurant for interesting characters, “It’s a girl with a round face like an apple. She came together with her dad. Her dad seems to be in his thirties, he’s tall and skinny and is wearing a light gray suit…”

nHe Ling suddenly began making fearful gestures to me.

nWhy do you keep pointing to the stairs? Is there a colorful character that Xiao Qin should pay attention to? Xiao Qin is a great liar, so even without your help, she won’t make any mistakes.

nI was frightened stiff as I looked towards the direction where He Ling pointed.

nAuntie Ren was the one walking down the stairs! She tied up her hair into a ponytail as she wore a yellow martial arts uniform like Bruce Lee, with a black vest on the outside. She was holding her phone while angrily walking to our table in large strides.

n“The third person is….” Xiao Qin looked around to find someone to describe and she came face to face with her mom and she froze.

nAuntie Ren looked down at Xiao Qin to my left, “Is the third person someone who has a vicious face, but wanted to try to look like a good person, but ultimately failed… is it Ye Lin?”

nXiao Qin drooped her head down.

n“Hmph, if it wasn’t for Auntie Zhang from the neighborhood committee who heard you destination when you called a cab, I wouldn’t even know where to go to look for you. What are you planning on doing outside by yourself when it’s already 9. What did you plan to do with Ye Lin?”

nThe furious Auntie Ren completely overlooked He Ling who was sitting across from us. He Ling, who had already met Auntie Ren at the dojo, was even more afraid of her than Xiao Qin. She sat still without making a sound hoping Auntie Ren wouldn’t notice her.

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nXiao Qin muttered: “Auntie Zhang is so nosy, I hop her grand kids get internet addiction…”

n“What did you say?” Auntie Ren glared at her and Xiao Qin shut her mouth.

nI felt awkward being stuck between Auntie Ren and Xiao Qin.

nI looked at Auntie Ren and I was afraid she would harm her body and her child from being so angry.

nDoes Auntie Ren still not know that she’s pregnant? She was probably too confident in those morning after pills she took.

nOr does she already know but she’s too afraid to get it verified since she hasn’t prepared herself yet?

n“Auntie Ren, please calm down. Xiao Qin actually came out this late to make you happy.”

n“Make me happy? Do I look happy? The two of you are sitting so close like a pair of lovers…”

nI pointed to He Ling who was across from us, “Auntie Ren, we have another person with us. We were discussing things with the three of us.”

nAuntie Ren who saw He Ling exclaimed in surprise and lost a lot of her anger. Since I wasn’t with Xiao Qin alone, then the chances of us doing something she was worried about dropped.

n“Auntie Ren… hello.”

nHe Ling tried to act as politely as possible.

n“Do I know you?” Auntie Ren asked.

nXiao Qin suddenly said: “She was the one who picked up mom’s necklace.”

nAuntie Ren’s pupils contracted.

n“You… you look like you’re only a student…”

nHe Ling replied confused: “I am a student. Auntie Ren, it’s because you made too big moves, that’s why the necklace fell off. I already fixed the hook for you, so don’t worry…”

nAuntie Ren became embarrassed: “How… how did you know I made big movements?”

n“Um… well it’s because you didn’t try to hide it or cover it up, everyone saw.”

n“You guys… that’s outrageous. Even if it’s to find my necklace, you can’t watch the hotel security tapes, and you shouldn’t be watching it together.”

n“Hotel security tapes?” He Ling blinked in confusion.

nI covered my face.

nAuntie Ren still believes she lost her necklace in the hotel room while she was on top of him! She probably thought He Ling was a student who was working part time at the hotel and looked through the security tapes with the other staff.

nAuntie Ren trembled and shifted her gaze towards Xiao Qin. She wanted to see if her daughter knew about what happened between her and my dad.

nIf that’s the case, she would be ashamed of herself. She was just berating her daughter about staying out so late, but it turns out she pushed down her daughter’s boyfriend in a drunk frenzy.

nAuntie Ren relaxed when Xiao Qin’s expression didn’t change much.

nIn order to clear up the misunderstanding, I explained:

n“Auntie Ren, you lost your necklace at the dojo. He Ling was the one who was competing with me at the time. She’s also the daughter of one of my dad’s friends and you’ve met her before.”

nAuntie Ren finally came to a realization. She glared at me like she was angry I didn’t tell him sooner.

n“So you have the necklace?”

nXiao Qin took out the necklace from her bag and showed it to her mom.

nAuntie Ren breathed out in relief and took the necklace to inspect it, then she wore it on her neck.

n“Auntie Ren.” I continued to explain, “Xiao Qin wasn’t on a date with me, but we were treating He Ling to a meal as thanks.”

nAuntie Ren nodded as she felt a lot better after she got back her necklace that had a special meaning to her.

n“That’s true, but you guys should tell me in advance.”

nXiao Qin chimed in after she saw her mom’s mood had gotten better: “I was worried I would disturb your work.”

nAuntie Ren expressed her thanks to He Ling, but it made He Ling embarrassed in return.

n“Auntie Ren, I didn’t know the necklace was that precious to you. Otherwise, I would have returned it sooner.”

nAuntie Ren sighed after a while, then said to the two girls, especially to Xiao Qin:

n“Girls always have to protect themselves. Having kids is dangerous, understand?”

nXiao Qin and He Ling both nodded vacantly as they had no idea why Auntie Ren suddenly told them that.

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nHey, Auntie Ren, why are you saying that in front of me? Are you saying the two of them will get pregnant simply by sitting next to me? And you’re the one who’s pregnant with my dad’s kid!

nAuntie Ren then said: “Xiao Qin, I drove here, so come home with me now.”

n“Eh.” Xiao Qin was surprised. “Are you not mad at me anymore. Let’s wait until we’re done with the meal, I’m still planning…”

nXiao Qin, who misspoke, covered her mouth but it was too late.

n“That’s why I’m taking you away. Do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking as your mother? We’re going home.”

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