Quick Transmigration: The Control Group in Sweet Novels

Qi An carefully searched her memory, then gently shook her head. "No, my sister has never mentioned this person to me."

Lin Huaixu nodded slightly, the barely perceptible disappointment in his eyes fading away. "Yes, go back now. Remember, if anything seems amiss at home, come to the school to find your teacher immediately, understand?"

Qi An nodded heavily and obediently replied, "I understand, Teacher Lin."

Lin Huaixu watched the child's thin figure step into the Qi family's courtyard before turning to leave.

Qi Rongguang is selfish and stubborn. He is currently hiding at home all day, harboring a bellyful of anger with nowhere to vent it. He will never let this go so easily.

However, the Miao people who coveted the house were no pushovers, and they would eventually reap what they sowed.

But Lin Huaixu's mind was filled with Qi An's words.

No one knew where Qi Yang had gone, nor had they mentioned Zhou Shan. Lin Huaixu didn't know where she had gone, whether she was safe, or if she had anyone to help her.

Whenever he thought of this, Lin Huaixu's heart was filled with an unyielding bitterness.

All he can do now is protect the people Qi Yang cares about.

Then wait for her.

...

Qi Yang found a job at a dumpling restaurant in the old alley where the small hotel was located.

The owners are an elderly couple who are honest and kind. They are short of female front-of-house workers. They don't care about education, as long as the workers are hardworking. They will be paid on a trial basis, with a daily wage of forty yuan, which includes meals. This is considered high in those days.

When closing up shop in the evening, the cash is handed over directly, so there's no need to wait until the end of the month for wages, which perfectly solves Qi Yang's financial difficulties.

This was a temporary measure for Qi Yang. She needed a cheap place to stay, a quick-paying job, and some free time to prepare for the exam. This almost met all of Qi Yang's needs.

Every day at the crack of dawn, Qi Yang would get up and help the landlady knead dough, chop meat, and make dumplings one tray after another.

The busiest time for customers is at noon. Qi Yang has to serve dishes, wipe tables, and when she has free time, she has to squat by the sink to wash pairs of porcelain bowls. Fortunately, the weather is not too cold now, and the water doesn't feel cold to the touch.

Making dumplings every morning is Qi Yang's happiest time, unlike at noon when she's so busy she doesn't have time to talk and her feet feel like they're flying.

While the old street was still shrouded in morning mist, the kitchen of the dumpling shop was already lit by dim incandescent lights. The couple who ran the dumpling shop sat beside her, and several people were kneading dumplings around the wooden board. Their hands were busy, but their mouths could finally relax a bit.

Although the couple is old, they still have a youthful mindset.

Qi Yang could always hear gossip about the neighbors from them.

The proprietress also talked about the hotel couple, laughing as she reminisced with Qi Yang about their past: "Speaking of which, they were actually in a relationship where the woman was older than the man. The male owner looked older than his age even when he was a child. When he went out in his teens, people were already calling him 'uncle.' We thought he would look better as he grew up, but who knew that he would look even older as he got older, so people started calling him 'grandpa.'"

Qi Yang chuckled as she listened.

The shop owner chuckled, "Well, don't say that. So what if he looks old? Everyone has their own taste. He still managed to get a wife, didn't he?"

"Of course, it's a good thing Qingqing didn't take after her father." The proprietress said, winking at Qi Yang, "You have no idea how scared Qingqing's mother was when she gave birth to her, fearing that she would give birth to a child who looked just like her father."

Qi Yang couldn't help but lower her head and laugh: "Sister Qingqing always says that she escaped a disaster."

"I told you so."

The soft laughter washed away her fatigue. After seeing off the last table of diners, Qi Yang tidied up the table, chairs, and dishes. A busy day was finally over.

The landlady called her over and handed her the wages in her hand: "Yangyang, this is your wages for today. Count them carefully and keep them safe."

"Thank you, Grandma Liu." Qi Yang quickly thanked her, taking the change with both hands and carefully putting it away.

The proprietress's gaze fell on Qi Yang's palms, her fingertips covered with a thick layer of calluses, clearly the result of years of hard labor.

This girl doesn't look like she was raised in a pampered manner.

She spoke in a gentle tone: "The shop is busy, so don't lock yourself in the room and study after work. The night market outside is very lively. When you're free, go out and stroll around with the girls in the neighborhood. You'll break down if you're always on edge."

Qi Yang felt a warmth in her heart. She knew that Grandma Liu was a kind-hearted person, so she nodded gently and replied, "Yes, I know. I'll go out for a walk when I have time."

Seeing the sensible and reserved young girl in front of her, the proprietress sighed inwardly, thinking that she would steam two extra white flour buns for her the next morning.

Qi Yang had no idea what the landlady was thinking. After receiving her wages, she changed out of her work clothes, picked up her bag, and went for a walk in the market by herself.

Qi Yang specifically sought out a seafood stall, carefully selecting and comparing prices. She planned to buy a live fish to take home. The innkeeper was a very good cook, and Qi Yang had been warmly invited to stay by them several times.

Qi Yang paid the money, picked up the plastic bag containing the fish, and walked along the street towards the hotel.

Halfway there, the lights of a shop across the street were dazzlingly bright.

In stark contrast to the surrounding dimly lit, old, narrow alleys, it is a newly opened decoration shop.

Qi Yang's steps subconsciously stopped, and she involuntarily took a few steps closer to the roadside. Looking through the clean glass window, she saw several novel table lamps displayed in the shop window, and the warm light made the whole shop extremely gentle.

Looking at those lamps, Qi Yang suddenly thought of Lin Huaixu's dormitory.

The dormitory only had old light bulbs on the ceiling, and over time the light became dim.

In my memory, Lin Huaixu always had his head down, grading homework in the dim light, his brows furrowed tightly. Only during the day, with the natural light from the window, could his brows be seen more clearly.

Qi Yang stood still, not moving for a moment, when suddenly a clear and lively female voice came from beside her.

"What are you standing there for?"

Qi Yang snapped out of her daze and turned around to see Qingqing walking quickly toward her. The girl was wearing trendy blue jeans, looking fresh and neat.

As soon as he reached Qi Yang, he familiarly took her arm, glanced at the shop window, and asked with a puzzled look, "What's wrong? Do you want to buy something?"

Qi Yang shook her head, gathering her thoughts, and said gently, "Just looking around. Sister Qingqing, why are you back so early today?"

"I had fewer classes today, so I came back early," Qingqing said, her gaze falling on the plastic bag she was carrying. "Oh, you even bought fish?"

Qi Yang smiled faintly, pursing her lips, "Mm."

Qingqing took it with one hand and linked her arm with the other, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Yangyang still cares about me. Let's go back and have something delicious to eat tonight."

Qi Yang was linked arms with her and they walked side by side toward the alley entrance.