Chapter 247

Chapter 247: 240: Seduction and Self-Mutilation Strategy All in One Wave (First Update) Chapter 247: 240: Seduction and Self-

Mutilation Strategy All in One Wave (First Update) Wen Changling got off work at half-past five.

The past couple of days had been quite cold, with a spell of rain in the morning that turned into ice on the road, so Wen Changling didn’t drive herself. The driver tuned into the car radio, and as a song came to an end, the presenter reminded the listeners to keep warm in the cold.

While waiting for the traffic light, the driver wiped the condensation off the windshield, “It’s really cold today, looks like it’s going to snow.”

The weather forecast also mentioned snow around New Year’s Day.

“This year February had an extra day, so the cold has come early,” said the driver as he turned to ask, “Miss, you live on Hanlin Street, right?”

“I live on Lotus Pond Street.”

“Then why are you getting off at Wulixing Avenue?”

As they neared the drop-off point, Wen Changling adjusted her scarf, “The alley is too narrow to turn around in.”

The road on Lotus Pond Street was narrow, just wide enough for two cars to pass each other. It was fine when there were no oncoming cars, but if there were, it really tested the driver’s skills.

Wen Changling had experienced such a situation before when a driver had scraped the side of his car against a wall while turning around.

“It’s just a matter of backing up a few times,” the driver was confident in his parking skills, but then added, “It shouldn’t be jammed, right?”

“Sometimes it is.”

Alright, the driver gave up the idea of driving in.

“You’ll have to walk a bit if you get off at Wulixing Avenue and it’s too cold. I’ll drive around to the back of your street where the road is wider. I won’t charge you for the extra fare.”

Wen Changling thanked him.

When she got out, she still paid the extra fare.

After dinner, Wen Changling tutored Sister Tao’s younger son, Aimin, for an hour. When she was returning to Granny Zhu’s House, she ran into Qian Zhouzhou, who was pulling in the shop’s sign.

Qian Zhouzhou was very surprised to see Wen Changling, “Xiao Wen, you’re back?”

“Mhm.”

It was now past seven.

Qian Zhouzhou’s question sounded odd, and Wen Changling looked at her, puzzled.

She explained quickly, “Do big companies usually require overtime?”

“I don’t work overtime.”

“That’s nice.”

Qian Zhouzhou moved the standing sign inside the shop.

Once the neighbor’s gate closed, Qian Zhouzhou made a phone call, “Boss, Miss Wen is back.”

The next afternoon, there was a sleet storm and by evening, the roads were frozen. Due to the extreme cold, the street vendors had all packed up early.

Granny Zhu called out to Wen Changling from the kitchen.

“Changling, go buy me two pears, snow pears.”

“Alright.”

Wen Changling took her phone and left the house.

There were customers in Sister Tao’s fruit shop, and she was busy. Wen Changling told her what she needed and then waited to the side. Aiguo and Aimin were playing outside, their faces red from the cold.

Sister Tao called the two boys in, “Come inside, it’s too cold out there.”

Aimin shouted excitedly, “Mom, it’s snowing!”

Wen Changling looked outside.

It was snowing.

The meteorological bureau had predicted that there would be a once-in-a-century snowfall around New Year’s Day. With only two days left until New Year, the capital finally saw snowflakes, the city’s first this year.

Next to the fruit shop’s neighbor was a pharmacy.

“Oh, it’s snowing.”

Hearing a familiar voice, Wen Changling looked over.

Gu Yihuan was wearing a fluorescent pink down jacket, the most conspicuous presence on the entire street, “I heard making a wish on the first snow is very effective.”

Beside him was Song Sanfang, wearing a deep blue color.

“Who told you that?”

“One of your ex-girlfriends.”

Song Sanfang: “...”

He did have a few ex-girlfriends who had added Gu Yihuan just to check up on him.

“Is it effective?” Song Sanfang asked.

“Your ex-girlfriend posted on her Moments about wanting a bag during a snowy day, and you gave her one the next day.”

Song Sanfang had no recollection, “I don’t remember that?”

Gu Yihuan looked at Song Sanfang with a “you’re humiliating yourself” gaze, “Because you’re trash.”

Song Sanfang disagreed and returned an eye roll.

Once the snow pears were weighed, Wen Changling took the bag and headed home.

On the way, someone called out behind her, “Hey.”

Wen Changling didn’t respond.

“Wen Changling.”

Wen Changling turned around.

With her lips as red as cherries and skin as bright as glow-in-the-dark powder, Gu Yihuan bore a striking resemblance to a big-

eyed sweet girl who had become famous online, “My fourth brother is sick.”

Wen Changling remained calm and composed.

“He has a fever, thirty-eight degrees.”

Wen Changling was still calm and composed.

“It was so cold yesterday, he waited for you at the intersection for a long time.”

She remained calm and composed.

Glancing at her hearing aid, Gu Yihuan suspected it was broken, “Did you hear me?”

“I heard you.”

Wen Changling’s expression seemed to say, So what?

So, “Are you made of reinforced concrete with steel bars?”

So tough!

Gu Yihuan shoved the medicine bag into Wen Changling’s hands, “These are the medicines I bought for him. If you don’t want to deliver them, just throw them away. Let him burn to death; let him cough to death.”

After dropping the harsh words, he left.

Song Sanfang followed with a puzzled look on his face, “Xiao Huan, aren’t we having hotpot?”

He had been dragged to eat hotpot by Gu Yihuan. Xie Shang was sick, and Gu Yihuan suggested fighting poison with poison.

“Grow a brain,” Gu Yihuan glanced back, wearing an expression that hinted at great accomplishments hidden deep.

Candied snow pear stewed with loquat leaves was a local remedy for clearing the lungs and stopping coughs. Wen Changling didn’t ask Granny Zhu whom she was making it for.

The weather forecast from the meteorological station was inaccurate. The snow was slight, and after two hours, the rooftops still weren’t covered in white. Wen Changling, wrapped in a thick blanket, nestled inside it to check her phone. Despite being wrapped up for a long time, the inside of the blanket was still cold. The falling snow made no sound, and it was very quiet outside. She thought she heard coughing. It must be an illusion, even if the old courtyard was not soundproof, the sound couldn’t travel that far.

She tossed and turned, the coughing intermittently irritating her.

Very annoying.

She got up, dressed, took the medicine, and left her room.

Huahua’s door was already carved out but not yet painted. It was Granny Zhu who had agreed, saying Huahua always jumped the walls; it might as well have its own door. Zhang Xiaoming was skilled, and the arched doorway was delicately crafted.

There was a ladder in the courtyard, which Wen Changling climbed over. Zhang Xiaoming also made a cat house for Huahua, placed in Xie Shang’s yard. The cat glanced at Wen Changling before continuing to sleep peacefully.

Wen Changling knocked on the door.

“Is it Granny? Do you need anything?” Xie Shang’s voice had the nasal quality of a severe cold, “Don’t come in, lest you catch my illness.”

“It’s me.”

Xie Shang was coughing.

Wen Changling placed the medicine bag down, “I left the medicine at your door,” she said. “It wasn’t me who bought it; Gu Yihuan forcefully handed it to me.”

She turned to leave.

Suddenly, the door opened.

“Are you avoiding me?”

“No,” Wen Changling turned back to explain, “I haven’t done anything wrong, why should I avoid you?”

In the frigid weather, Xie Shang was only wearing a very thin top. His frequent coughing made his eyes red and slightly moist, his skin and lips very pale.

Wen Changling thought of a term: morbid aesthetics.

“Then that’s good.”

He turned away, coughing again.

Wen Changling picked up the medicine bag and handed it to him, “Take the medicine. Your constant coughing is keeping me awake.”

“You can hear it?”

“Mhm.”

Xie Shang took the medicine, “Sorry.”

Their fingertips touched, his temperature was very hot.

Instinctively, Wen Changling drew her hand back, “Get some sleep early.”