Love Apartment: Yifei is my junior aunt

Chapter 76 Lemon and Ginger, Spicy and Sour for Your Teeth

"You're crying so horribly, come over and have a drink with me right away, remember to use the front door."

Just as Ziqiao was feeling down, Nanfeng called him to 3603 via WeChat.

At 4:30 a.m., 3603 was not as brightly lit as usual. The large chandelier at the top of the living room was asleep silently, with only a few small lights on the ceiling and display lights surrounding various musical instruments emitting a candle-like glow.

However, the convergence of countless rays of light, even if it cannot completely illuminate the entire living room, already makes people feel bright and warm.

Nanfeng leaned back on the sofa with her eyes closed.

The old-fashioned record player in the entryway guards the flowing melodies and accumulated memories. As the record slowly spins, a slight creaking sound is occasionally mixed in with the melodious tune. It may not be perfect, but it has a captivating sense of reality.

Unfortunately, the guest now is Ziqiao, and this wild boar obviously cannot appreciate the fine chaff that Nanfeng specially prepared for him.

But that's okay. Light and music aren't some unfathomable knowledge, but rather an omnipresent atmosphere and feeling.

Even if Ziqiao can't understand it, he can still feel it.

"Did you grow these ears just so you could eavesdrop on other people's conversations all day long?"

Ziqiao sat down on the other side of the sofa and muttered unhappily.

Although he had just suffered what was probably the biggest blow of his life, Zi Qiao was clearly not the kind of person who was willing to show vulnerability in front of others. Even if he had to pretend, he would pretend to be carefree.

In the world of martial arts, one is often not in control of one's own destiny; it's either you eat others or they eat you. Never reveal your weaknesses to even the most trusted person—this is the survival rule Zi Qiao has upheld for over a decade.

Nanfeng opened her eyes and glanced at Lu Ziqiao, who was pretending to be carefree: "I didn't go out of my way to eavesdrop. It's just that Qingfeng is my messenger, and they will deliver everything I want to hear to my ears."

His voice is gentle, magnetic, and full of poetry. It sounds like a caring older brother, making you lower your guard and unconsciously want to open up.

Both being patients, judging solely from the sound of their voices, Nanfeng's recovery is far better than Ziqiao's.

"Your little poem is quite poetic." Ziqiao was clearly unmoved by Nanfeng's charm. "Didn't we say we'd have a drink? Where's the wine?"

Nanfeng got up and went to the kitchen, bringing back a large bowl of steaming ginger soup.

"What could possibly give you the illusion that I have alcohol here?"

"Today's not a drinking party, it's a ginger soup party."

"Ginger soup dinner?" Zi Qiao was completely dumbfounded. "Sometimes even I can't understand your thought process."

"It's getting cold, what's wrong with drinking some ginger soup to warm up? Especially since you just wiped your body with a cold towel, are you really planning to stay sick like this if you don't drink some ginger soup to get rid of the cold?"

Ziqiao waved his hand in refusal: "But a pure ginger soup is too dry, it's not interesting."

"Besides, I have a cold caused by wind and cold, so I can drink ginger soup to dispel the cold and cure the illness. But if you have a cold caused by wind and heat, won't drinking ginger soup make your condition worse?"

Nanfeng pointed helplessly to the large pot of ginger soup: "So Yumo bought so much ginger at the supermarket and made such a big pot of ginger soup. I don't know whether to drink it or throw it away. After thinking about it carefully, I might as well feed it to the dog instead of throwing it away."

Even in his current state, Ziqiao still had a gossipy streak. He curiously leaned closer to Nanfeng and asked, "Are you and Yumo...?"

Nanfeng sneered, "You haven't even had a sip of ginger soup, and you're trying to trick me into talking?"

"But a simple ginger soup game is too dry and boring. How about... a tense and exciting game of Ludo?"

Nanfeng thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, you drink ginger soup, and I'll drink hot lemon water. Whoever loses has to punish themselves with three big bowls."

Ziqiao gave a thumbs up: "That's impressive. I'll go get the Flying Chess right now."

Watching Ziqiao's departing figure, Nanfeng thought for a moment, then ran to the refrigerator, took out lemon juice, poured it into the ginger soup, and stirred it well.

Soaking lemons and ginger together in water can dispel wind and cold, relieve stomach cold, and stimulate appetite. It has only benefits and no drawbacks for the human body.

As for the taste... don't worry about those details.

Anyway, it's not like I'm the one drinking it.

……

"I'm not playing anymore, I'm not playing anymore." Ziqiao stuck out his tongue and looked at Nanfeng with a resentful expression.

He wasn't having much luck today; he just couldn't get a six no matter what he tried. Every time he finally managed to get a six and a plane would take off, it would be pushed back down by a plane from the south.

He played five or six rounds in total, but he didn't win a single one.

If it were just losing at Ludo, that would be fine. After all, luck is unpredictable, and Ziqiao isn't the kind of person who can't accept defeat.

But who in their right mind would put lemon juice into ginger soup?

It's the same kind of 100% freshly squeezed lemon juice that's been refrigerated, with nothing added at all.

You could at least add some honey for me.

Ziqiao's tongue is now numb from the spiciness of the ginger soup, and he's losing some teeth from the sourness of the lemon.

"Just tell me, what normal person would put lemon juice in ginger soup?" Ziqiao strongly protested against Nanfeng's cheating behavior.

Nanfeng honestly replied, "I'm not normal, I'm sick."

"Don't give me that. You just have a cold, you're not mentally ill." Ziqiao ignored Nanfeng's sweet talk. "You poured lemon juice into my ginger soup, why don't you just put ginger slices in your lemonade?"

Nanfeng had anticipated Ziqiao's protest. He pointed to his hot lemonade: "Who doesn't know that I, Nanfeng, am the fairest of all? Who said I didn't add ginger slices?"

Ziqiao stared at the direction Nanfeng was pointing for a long time before finally finding a shred of ginger thinner than a hair in the hot lemon water.

If he weren't likely to lose to Nanfeng, he really would have wanted to swear.

"Okay, so now you can eat lemons, but I can't eat ginger. Let's just say it's a token gesture to show that it's fair."

"Where is this fair?"

"The world is inherently fair; it's just that some people are born to be more fair than others."

What's the point of justice that's unjust, or fairness that's unfair?

Nanfeng countered, "Then do countless relationships devoid of emotion have any meaning?"

Upon hearing this, Ziqiao's face darkened, and he gave a strange look. So, you were waiting for me here all along.

"What do you know..." Ziqiao was about to explain when Nanfeng interrupted him.

"A bet's a bet. You'll have to finish those three big bowls of ginger soup you just lost before you talk."

Ziqiao grumbled and drank down three large bowls of ginger soup mixed with lemon juice, leaving almost nothing in the entire pot.

But to be honest, after drinking bowl after bowl of steaming hot ginger soup, while it wasn't exactly a miracle cure, Ziqiao did feel much better.

"What's the point of feelings without feelings?" Ziqiao gave a mocking smile, seemingly implying that Nanfeng's idea was too naive.

"The way you're talking makes it sound like there really is such a thing as unbreakable love that lasts until death."

"No?"

"Yes." Ziqiao nodded first, then shook his head: "But this thing is like buying lottery tickets, the winning rate is really, really low, and nine out of ten winners are actors."

"We all know that getting rich by buying lottery tickets is a very unreliable thing, but if you put it another way, people are willing to look for a sincere relationship in the vast sea of ​​people."

"Trying to find your true love among billions of men and women worldwide is less likely than winning the lottery. And even if I were lucky enough to have that kind of luck, wouldn't it be better to use it to win the lottery?"

Ziqiao stretched lazily, looking as if he were the only one pure amidst a world of filth: "Instead of searching and searching in the vast sea of ​​people, it's better to be like me, a dragon wagging its tail, galloping on horseback. Even if I don't find happiness, I'll still find joy."

Nanfeng nodded silently, drinking water without saying a word.

This actually confused Ziqiao.

If Nanfeng really started arguing with him, Ziqiao wouldn't be afraid. After all, you have your reasons, and I have my twisted logic. If we really started talking, it's hard to say who would win.

But if Nanfeng remained silent, Ziqiao worried that this wicked boy was secretly plotting something.

"Don't you want to argue with me?" Ziqiao finally couldn't hold back and asked first.

Nanfeng said lazily, "Among your many ex-girlfriends, surely some of them genuinely liked you, right? They showed you what true love is through their actions, but it didn't change your behavior or thoughts. I can't possibly expect to convince you with just words, can I?"

"If I really had that ability, I would open a scumbag reformation center. I could make countless amounts of money every day just by talking. And that would be a great deed, doing good deeds and accumulating merit."

"Who knows, maybe in my next life God will grant me both parents, a healthy and long life, and a long and healthy life."

Nanfeng patted Ziqiao on the shoulder: "Besides, you're about to move out, what's the point of me saying anything more? It'll just make you annoyed for no reason."

Ziqiao looked surprised, then pointed to himself in confusion: "I... I'm moving out soon?"

"yes."

"Who's moving out soon?"

"You."

"I'm moving out soon, how come I didn't know?"

"I'm also curious why you didn't know," Nanfeng said with a surprised look. "Weren't you moving out soon?"

"Of course not!" Ziqiao felt Nanfeng's words were illogical, and he loudly protested, "I'm living here perfectly well, why would I move away?"

That's strange.

Nanfeng looked unsure: "Let me help you sort out the current situation."

"First of all, your reputation in the Love Apartment area is already tarnished. Even if these rumors come and go quickly, you will still have to endure at least a few months of gossip and cold treatment from others."

"It's unlikely you'll make friends with anyone other than us now, let alone pick up girls near the apartment."

"So, now you and Mika only have one day left in your fake relationship. After paying this month's rent, you won't be able to enjoy the half-price rent and free utilities next month, so continuing to rent this apartment won't save you any money."

"Not to mention that your address has been exposed on posts all over the internet, and your ex-girlfriend, whom you betrayed, could come knocking on your door at any time."

"At that time, dealing with them will not only be tricky, but you will also have to worry about some radical girls causing you real harm."

"Finally, everyone on the floor isn't exactly friendly towards you right now, not to mention Chen Meijia, who lives in the same suite and wants to never speak to you again."

"Judging from the way she scolded you today, don't tell me that you two had nothing more than a fake relationship while renting an apartment."

Nanfeng clapped his hands and smiled at Ziqiao, who looked bewildered, saying, "So I really can't understand why you might be pointed at and talked about for a long time to come."

"I can't run away with girls, I can't save money, my ex-girlfriend might come knocking on my door anytime, anywhere, and I don't get along well with my roommates either."

"The environment of Love Apartment is already this bad for you. With your personality of running away at the first sign of trouble, you haven't even thought about changing places to start over and continue your carefree life of riding a dragon and galloping on horseback."

"Ziqiao, you've been hiding your whole life, running away your whole life. Why is it that this time you'd rather stay sick than think about moving away?"

Ziqiao seemed to have realized something.

Yeah, even though the situation is this bad, I haven't thought about moving away.

And even after Nanfeng pointed it out... I still didn't want to leave.

Here it comes! The reason I'm updating so early today is because it's Pigeon's mom's lunar birthday!

Pigeon deliberately got up at four o'clock today to write, but even though she got up, her hands weren't up yet, and her fingers were too clumsy to type until now.

I was always away from home during college and couldn't come back to celebrate my parents' birthdays.

I'm planning to sneak out this afternoon to buy a cake for my mom's birthday tonight. Even though my royalties won't arrive until next month, I guess it's like I'm using my own money to celebrate her birthday.

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone. Without your support and encouragement, this book would not be where it is today.

Happy birthday to my mom, and happy birthday to all the parents out there!

Your friend, Sweet Potato Pigeon, is extremely grateful.

(End of this chapter)