Chapter 90
Bargaining was an art, and Zuo Bian was just a beginner. She had done okay against the uncle yesterday, but she had been outwitted by the more experienced aunties today.
After observing how others bargained, Zuo Bian bought all the vegetables she needed. She returned to her small apartment, carrying several bags of groceries, and washed the vegetables before Qin Ai arrived.
Soon, she received a call from Qin Ai. Worried that Qin Ai wouldn’t be able to find her new place, Zuo Bian went downstairs to meet her.
Most of the residents in this area were elderly people. Seeing two beautiful women like Zuo Bian and Qin Ai, they were only slightly surprised, thinking that young girls these days were getting prettier.
“Qin Ai, I’m here.” Zuo Bian waved at Qin Ai as she reached the stairwell.
Qin Ai followed the sound of her voice, a smile appearing on her face as she walked towards Zuo Bian, carrying a bag.
When she reached Zuo Bian, Zuo Bian looked curiously at the bag in Qin Ai’s hand. “Qin Ai, did you bring more vegetables? I already bought some.”
Qin Ai shook the bag. “This isn’t vegetables, it’s wine.”
“Wine? Is it from your wine cellar? That’s too expensive, it’s not appropriate.”
Of course, Zuo Bian didn’t mean that she thought Qin Ai was being extravagant. They were engaged now. She was just trying to maintain her “poor working girl” persona.
How could a poor worker afford expensive wine?
Qin Ai took Zuo Bian’s hand and led her upstairs. “It’s not that expensive, just some ordinary wine.”
Hearing this, Zuo Bian nodded.
The apartment building didn’t have an elevator, and Zuo Bian was on the seventh floor, so they had to climb the stairs.
Walking alone might be boring, but with someone by her side, time seemed to pass faster.
Soon, they reached the seventh floor. Zuo Bian opened the door and took out a pair of slippers.
The slippers weren’t the cheap ones she had bought, but the ones she had brought from home. Zuo Bian was the only one experiencing a poor life, she didn’t mind, but she didn’t want Qin Ai to suffer along with her.
As she handed Qin Ai the slippers, Zuo Bian realized that Qin Ai must have had the same thought.
“It’s a bit small here.” Qin Ai put down her bag and looked around the apartment. “Are you used to living here?”
Zuo Bian smiled. “It’s okay, the bed is just a bit small.”
“Maybe you should play a rich heiress in your next role.” Qin Ai rolled up her sleeves and asked if Zuo Bian had an apron.
“Oh, okay.” Zuo Bian went to find the apron she had bought yesterday. Or rather, it was a free gift from the clothing store because she had bought so many clothes.
She had been so excited about buying so many clothes yesterday that she had just stuffed everything into the bag without looking closely. Now, she realized it was a bright red apron with large floral prints, incredibly tacky.
“It’s a bit too flashy.” Zuo Bian held the apron, unsure whether to put it away or give it to Qin Ai.
Qin Ai didn’t mind the tacky apron. She extended her hand. “Give it to me. Or do you want to put it on for me?”
Zuo Bian unfolded the apron. “Okay, I’ll put it on for you.”
She tied the apron around Qin Ai’s waist. Qin Ai looked good in red, even this bright, saturated red.
“Now that you’re wearing it, the apron looks better.” Zuo Bian said sincerely.
Qin Ai chuckled and entered the kitchen.
Zuo Bian followed her, but the so-called kitchen was so small that there was barely enough space for Qin Ai to move around.
“You should go out first, the food will be ready soon,” Qin Ai said.
Zuo Bian reluctantly left the kitchen, her gaze lingering on Qin Ai.
She knew she wasn’t talented in cooking, and the kitchen was too small for her to be in there with Qin Ai, so she grabbed a stool and sat down outside.
The apartment was so small that there wasn’t even space for a TV or a sofa. Having a small dining table was already a luxury.
Zuo Bian watched Qin Ai’s back. Her movements were swift and efficient, even cracking an egg looked elegant.
Zuo Bian watched with adoration and joy.
It was a pity that her own cooking was disastrous, both in terms of taste and presentation. Otherwise, she would have cooked for Qin Ai.
Time flew by as she watched. Before Zuo Bian realized it, an hour had passed, and Qin Ai had transformed the ingredients she had bought into delicious dishes.
The aroma from the kitchen made Zuo Bian sniff the air. “Qin Ai, the food smells so good! I’m definitely going to have an extra bowl.”
Qin Ai brought out the dishes and placed them on the small table. She smiled without saying anything.
After all the dishes were served, they sat down at the table.
Since the apartment was small, the table was also small and low, not very comfortable for people with long legs like Qin Ai and Zuo Bian. But it was just a meal, they could endure it.
“Here, try it and see if my cooking has deteriorated.” Qin Ai picked up a piece of cola chicken wings and placed it on Zuo Bian’s plate.
Zuo Bian took a bite, her eyes lighting up. “It’s delicious.” It wasn’t flattery or an attempt to please Qin Ai, it was genuinely delicious.
“I’m glad you like it,” Qin Ai said.
Zuo Bian ate with gusto. A rice ball was no match for a warm, home-cooked meal.
After finishing her first bowl, she had another, her heart and taste buds satisfied.
To save money, Zuo Bian had only bought a small amount of groceries, so by the time they were full, there was barely any food left.
“It seems my cooking hasn’t deteriorated, you finished everything.”
Zuo Bian smiled at Qin Ai. “Because it was so delicious, I accidentally finished everything.”
Qin Ai got up to clear the dishes. Zuo Bian immediately stood up. “Let me do it. You cooked, I’ll wash the dishes. It’s only fair.”
Qin Ai sat back down. “Okay, then I’ll leave the dishes to you.”
“Mm.” Zuo Bian was confident in her dishwashing skills. She might not be good at cooking, but she could definitely wash dishes.
She had washed dishes at the restaurant today, and she felt that her skills were impressive.
She hummed a song as she washed the dishes. “Who’s the best dishwasher in town? Come to the Zuo family and find Zuo Bian.”
While Zuo Bian was washing the dishes, Qin Ai poured the wine.
Zuo Bian saw the wine as soon as she came out of the kitchen. Qin Ai looked up. “Want some wine?”
“Yes.” Zuo Bian picked up a glass and downed it in one gulp.
If she knew how expensive this wine was, she probably wouldn’t have been able to swallow it. But Qin Ai, of course, wouldn’t tell her the price, just vaguely saying that it was “ordinary wine.”
“It tastes good.” Zuo Bian smiled at Qin Ai.
Qin Ai poured her another glass.
After finishing her second glass, Zuo Bian realized something. “Qin Ai, why aren’t you drinking?”
Qin Ai casually swirled the wine in her glass. “I’m tired of it. I just brought it for you to try.”
“Oh, okay.” Zuo Bian didn’t notice anything amiss and finished her third glass. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
【That’s enough, Host, you’ll get drunk if you drink any more. By the way, do you remember the “Seduction” chapter in the Green Tea Handbook?】
Zuo Bian’s mind was already a bit fuzzy from the alcohol. It took her a few seconds to remember what was written in that chapter.
The “Seduction” chapter mentioned the “Drunk and Clingy” tactic. Delicate girls couldn’t hold their liquor. Just a few drinks, and they would become soft and cuddly, leaning against the other person.
As long as the drunken antics were within a certain limit, it wouldn’t be annoying, it would be cute. And it would make the other person feel needed and more protective of you.
Zuo Bian remembered and said to 555, ‘Mm, I remember, I’ll try it.’
【Go for it, Host! Remember, you need to be five parts drunk, not more, not less.】
‘Mm-hmm.’ Zuo Bian wasn’t really paying attention to what 555 was saying, she just responded randomly.
The “Drunk and Clingy” tactic required a specific level of drunkenness: flushed cheeks and hazy eyes. You had to maintain your beauty. Throwing up and talking nonsense wouldn’t be cute.
So, the level of drunkenness had to be just right. Getting too drunk would have the opposite effect.
But you couldn’t be completely sober either, that would be too fake. This tactic worked best when it was half-real, half-pretend.
However, Zuo Bian was already six parts drunk. She had completely forgotten about this and, under Qin Ai’s coaxing, drank two more glasses.
The glasses weren’t big, and Qin Ai didn’t pour much, but Zuo Bian had a low tolerance for alcohol. After five glasses, she was completely drunk.
She blinked rapidly, not even realizing she was drunk. She held Qin Ai’s head, telling her to stop swaying.
“I’m not swaying, you’re the one who’s drunk.”
Zuo Bian frowned, staring at Qin Ai intently, as if trying to burn a hole through her.
“Qin Ai, hic, why are there three of you? Am I going to have three wives in the future? Hic.” She burped as she spoke.
Qin Ai gently pulled Zuo Bian’s hand down. “So greedy? You want three wives?”
Zuo Bian suddenly sobered up, her survival instincts kicking in. Her head was spinning, so she leaned against Qin Ai, who caught her.
“Don’t want so many wives… Mm-hmm, one wife is enough… Qin Ai is enough.”
Qin Ai chuckled, amused by Zuo Bian’s words. She kissed her eyes. “You’re so well-behaved, it makes me want to bully you.”
Zuo Bian’s eyelashes fluttered, the blush on her face spreading from her ears to her neck, then to other parts of her body.
“Don’t bully me, okay?” She looked up at Qin Ai, her eyes glistening with moisture.
Qin Ai smiled, her lips parting. Zuo Bian stared at her face, expecting her to say “okay,” but Qin Ai said, “No.”
“Then… I’ll have to strike first!” Zuo Bian pounced on Qin Ai like a tiger.
“Ah—” She let out a short cry. She had pounced too hard and bumped her head.
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