Grandma Zhou’s understanding made Qin Xiangyi relax a little.
She handed the remote to Grandma Zhou, then gave instructions to Hua Nu and Shaoyao, who had been hanging around watching the show.
Qin Xiangyi: “Keep an eye on this old lady.
If anything happens, let me know right away.”
The two nodded and started wandering nearby, curiously observing everything around them.
This seemed to have become a habit for Shaoyao to follow Hua Nu, but unfortunately, Lord Huang Quan still couldn’t come out and see this colorful world for herself.
Thinking about it, Qin Xiangyi thoughtfully asked a question.
Qin Xiangyi: “Huang Quan, how many flower people do you need before you can come out too?” Huang Quan didn’t answer, but Hua Nu spoke up for her.
Hua Nu: “If nothing unexpected happens, once the flower person in this woman is drawn out, Lord Huang Quan will be able to come out.
So, Flower Master, you have to do your best.”
Qin Xiangyi was a bit surprised.
“That fast?”
Hua Nu: “This old servant senses a powerful flower person in her, worth ten Shaoyao.”
Shaoyao looked a little unhappy hearing that, but didn’t say anything.
She stared at the photos over there, seemingly trying to study the human world.
With that hesitant, slightly aggrieved look in her eyes, she probably got scolded by Hua Nu again when Qin Xiangyi wasn’t paying attention.
Qin Xiangyi tried to ignore that pitiful little expression and decided that no matter what happened today, she’d go to the library tomorrow and buy a pile of books so they could learn about this world’s culture.
Especially about relationships—these flower people were completely clueless, leaving Qin Xiangyi to fumble around on her own.
Thinking about this, Qin Xiangyi’s expression unconsciously grew serious, but as she entered the kitchen and saw Zhou Muning focused and earnest in her cooking, her face relaxed again.
Zhou Muning was chopping vegetables with practiced ease, clearly used to cooking often—every step was orderly and smooth.
As for Qin Xiangyi, she didn’t know what her old self was like, but now she was a kitchen disaster.
Honestly, she couldn’t help Zhou Muning much without exposing her own clumsiness.
But if she did nothing, she’d just be wasting space in the kitchen.
Qin Xiangyi looked around, searching for something she could help with.
Her eyes quickly landed on the apron—Zhou Muning was wearing white today, and no matter how good her cooking was, her clothes could still get stained.
“Ning Ning, let me help you put on the apron.” This was both a way to help and a chance to interact more with Zhou Muning.
Zhou Muning froze for a moment, still not quite used to having Qin Xiangyi in the kitchen.
She forced a smile, wanted to grab the apron herself, but realized her hands were still wet, so she quietly said to Qin Xiangyi, “Sorry to trouble you.”
Qin Xiangyi smiled and moved behind Zhou Muning, carefully tying the apron around her.
Zhou Muning tried hard to act natural, but the more she tried, the more awkward her body language became.
Qin Xiangyi could feel the heat radiating from Zhou Muning, her breath gently stirring Zhou Muning’s hair and brushing against her slender neck.
Zhou Muning started to sweat, but it was already nighttime, so it wasn’t really that hot.
From this reaction, Qin Xiangyi could tell Zhou Muning was really nervous.
They were supposed to be friends, but somehow, it didn’t feel that close.
Qin Xiangyi didn’t think this was a contradiction—lots of friends kept a certain distance.
Some people didn’t like hugging or holding hands, and maybe Zhou Muning was that type.
With that explanation in mind, Qin Xiangyi’s movements became much more natural.
It was just tying an apron, but it felt like it took forever.
When she finished, she looked at Zhou Muning’s loose hair and asked, “Want me to tie your hair up for you?”
Zhou Muning looked surprised, staring at Qin Xiangyi for a few seconds, as if she’d noticed something new about her.
Qin Xiangyi couldn’t be bothered to explain, figuring she could just say it was a change from her month at Baichi Sanatorium and Zhou Muning would buy it.
“Okay, thanks.” So, the curious Zhou Muning agreed, her voice still a little quiet—not sure if she was worried Grandma Zhou outside would hear, or just felt bad for troubling Qin Xiangyi.
Qin Xiangyi hummed in response, then took a hair tie from her pocket and neatly tied up Zhou Muning’s hair.
“All done, you can get back to work now.” Qin Xiangyi was clearly much more skilled at tying hair than at tying aprons.
Zhou Muning still looked confused, not understanding how Qin Xiangyi had suddenly gotten so good at this.
“There was a kid at the sanatorium who was always dirty.
Sometimes I couldn’t stand it, so I’d tie her hair up for her.
After a while, she’d come to me every day for it.
By the time I left, she thought my name was ‘Hair Tie’.” Qin Xiangyi laughed as she explained, and honestly, those were some of the few warm moments at Baichi Sanatorium.
“I see.
So you were okay at the sanatorium?” Zhou Muning asked carefully.
As a local of Haiyang City, she definitely knew the reputation of Baichi Sanatorium.
There were always rumors in the news, so Zhou Muning wasn’t too surprised by Qin Xiangyi’s changes.
“It was fine.” Qin Xiangyi replied, but she was lying.
Baichi Sanatorium was a daily battleground of mental illness, with people breaking down, committing suicide, self-harming, and even killing others.
If Qin Xiangyi hadn’t been focused on using the Flower God Ring to improve her health, she probably would’ve gone crazy in that environment.
But she couldn’t tell Zhou Muning how hard things had been, and she didn’t need to play the victim to get Zhou Muning’s sympathy.
“What do you mean by ‘fine’?” Zhou Muning pressed, letting out a sigh of relief and curious about Qin Xiangyi’s stories from inside.
Qin Xiangyi already had a story prepared.
She started telling a tale about two old friends separated by distance, and Zhou Muning was so moved she nearly cried and almost couldn’t finish cooking.
Qin Xiangyi was helpless, so she forced herself to take over Zhou Muning’s work and said, “Go wash your face.
You look like a little cat right now—I’m worried you’ll cut your hand because you can’t see clearly.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Blushing, Zhou Muning ran off, leaving Qin Xiangyi with the knife.
Qin Xiangyi looked at the knife in her hand, then at the fish in front of her, and suddenly remembered the assassination skills she’d copied from Shaoyao.
“Killing a person should be the same as killing a fish… right?” Qin Xiangyi couldn’t help muttering to herself, then brought the knife down, trying to use the assassination skills on the fish.
However…
