After Being Scummed – Chapter 13
by Little PandaThis is a small token of my appreciation1
As Zhang Yu watched in astonishment, Yin Bai took the phone, cleared her throat, and softened her tone, speaking to the child on the other end: “What do you want me for? Are your injuries healed? Discharged from the hospital?”
On the phone screen, Tongtong2 looked up, her eyes crinkling with a smile: “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm… All healed… Fairy Sister, thank you for sending me the storybooks. I came today to thank you!”
Yin Bai smiled slightly. “You’re welcome.”
Tongtong said with a beaming smile, “Fairy Sister, we brought you a gift. Can you let me in?”
Yin Bai’s lips curved into a smile, and she said, quite pleased with herself, “Sure you can, for the sake of the gift.”
Tongtong was immediately overjoyed. “Thank you, Fairy Sister!”
Yin Bai replied, “You’re welcome. I’ll wait for you on the first floor then, and open the door to let you in.”
Tongtong said okay, so Yin Bai hung up the phone and pressed the door release button. She casually tossed the phone to Zhang Yu and said cheerfully, “Let’s go, accompany me downstairs for a bit.”
Zhang Yu fumbled to catch the phone, her heart pounding, and said with great curiosity, “Fairy Sister… BOSS, where did you find this kid? How can she be such a sweet-talker!”
Yin Bai, leaning on her cane, glanced back at her, her expression quite smug3. “I told you, she’s the kid from next door. What do you think? I lured her over with a few storybooks. Pretty good with the flattery4, right?”
“From next door?” Zhang Yu put away the phone and hurried to her side, asking doubtfully, “The one who flew that little paper plane onto your balcony before, almost hitting you on the head?”
Yin Bai shook her head. “No, it’s her younger cousin.”
Zhang Yu was stunned. “She has a younger cousin?”
Yin Bai nodded, heading downstairs with a tap-tap-tap of her cane. “Mhm, a younger maternal cousin… or maybe paternal. Anyway, much cuter than that scowling little brat.”
Yin Bai, leaning on her cane, quickened her pace as much as possible, limping her way downstairs. As she emerged from the lobby, Yin Bai, still on her cane, saw from afar two figures, one large and one small, standing at the main gate.
The small one was Tongtong; the large one was naturally Zuo Jingyou.
Zuo Jingyou wore a camisole-style navy blue polka-dot long dress, her long hair slightly pinned up. She stood gracefully tall and slim5 under the arcade of Yin Bai’s main gate, holding a gift box, waiting quietly and elegantly for the villa’s owner to appear.
Tongtong, wearing a matching child-sized version of the long dress, had her hair in a bun. She carried a small bag in one hand and held onto the silk ribbon hanging from her mother’s waist with the other, eagerly peering into the villa.
When Yin Bai’s figure appeared, leaning on her cane, Tongtong’s eyes instantly lit up. She let go of the ribbon at Zuo Jingyou’s waist and waved cheerfully at Yin Bai. “Fairy Sister, here, here!”
A smile touched Yin Bai’s face too. “Ah, I see you. Stop waving, you’re right at my doorstep!”
Yin Bai, leaning on her cane, quickened her pace towards the child.
Zhang Yu, who was beside Yin Bai, hurried to keep up. When she saw the woman standing next to the child, her heart skipped a beat.
Wait, Zuo Jingyou?
The Zuo Jingyou who just announced her divorce a few days ago, causing a huge stir online? The Zuo Jingyou who won Double Golden Best Actress6 at such a young age? The Zuo Jingyou who was Xiao Nian’s arch-nemesis?
So, her BOSS’s little kid friend was actually Zuo Jingyou’s daughter? And Zuo Jingyou actually lived next door to her BOSS?
How had she never noticed before!
While Zhang Yu was in a turmoil of thoughts, Yin Bai had already walked out the door and arrived in front of Tongtong. Leaning on her cane, Yin Bai bent down to look at the little girl from next door, coughed lightly, and softened her tone slightly. “What, all better now? What did you come looking for me for?”
Ah, could she be here to play with me?
Tongtong looked up, gazing happily at Yin Bai, and said in a soft, delicate voice, “Mhm, I’m all better. Thank you for your concern, Fairy Sister.”
Tongtong held up the books she was carrying and smiled sweetly at Yin Bai. “Thank you for the books, Fairy Sister. I came today to return them to you. The books are all very interesting, I liked them a lot.”
Yin Bai reached out and gestured for her to keep them. “No need, they’re a gift for you. I have tons of books. You can take them back.”
Tongtong looked at her, a little hesitant. “But…”
Tongtong bit her lip with her delicate teeth and looked up at Zuo Jingyou beside her, her eyes pleading for help.
Zuo Jingyou looked down at Tongtong, then reached out to pat her head, saying with a smile, “Since Fairy Sister said they’re a gift for you, then you should accept them.”
Hearing this “Fairy Sister,” Yin Bai couldn’t help but look up at Zuo Jingyou, her feelings quite complicated.
Hey, hey, hey, that’s what the kids and I call each other. Don’t you, an adult, feel embarrassed saying it?
However, her little buddy paid no mind to her emotions. After getting her mother’s permission, Tongtong looked up at Yin Bai and said very sincerely, “Then thank you, Fairy Sister! I have a gift for you too!”
As Tongtong spoke, she looked up at Zuo Jingyou and sweetly introduced her, “This is my mama. Mama made me delicious cake. I was discharged from the hospital yesterday, so today Mama made a cake and brought a portion over for Fairy Sister, to thank Fairy Sister for her help.”
Yin Bai said, “Oh,” and looked down at the gift box in Zuo Jingyou’s hand, her heart pounding7 nervously.
This thing, will it actually be good?
She couldn’t help but recall the disastrous cooking8 Xiao Nian used to make on a whim. She vaguely felt that A-list actors in the entertainment industry probably weren’t very good cooks.
But… since the little one had said so much, she should show some appreciation. So Yin Bai put on a polite smile and replied courteously, “Thank you for your kindness!”
Zuo Jingyou, standing to the side, smiled and handed over the gift box. “These are some desserts I made, just a small token of my appreciation. I hope Director Yin will accept them.”
“My little one will probably be troubling Director Yin often from now on.”
Yin Bai accepted the cake and replied with a smile, “Not at all, not at all, we’re neighbors.”
After some polite exchange, Tongtong looked up and said to Yin Bai with a beaming smile, “Fairy Sister, Mama said I’ll be living with Grandma from now on, so I can come over to play with you often.”
Tongtong paused, then asked a little cautiously, “So, can I come over and play with you?”
Yin Bai, having accepted the “bribe,” said very happily, “Of course, you’re welcome anytime. But let’s not play any sports-type games; my legs aren’t too good.”
“Okay, Fairy Sister!”
After the two “kids” had made their arrangements and agreed on a time to play, Tongtong skipped and hopped back next door with Zuo Jingyou.
Yin Bai, holding the cake, watched her little buddy go home with her mother, feeling a bit reluctant to see them go.
Zhang Yu stood to the side, watching Yin Bai lean on her cane, gazing reluctantly at Zuo Jingyou’s departing figure. A thought unexpectedly rose in her mind. Zhang Yu reached out, tugged at the lace cuff of Yin Bai’s shirt, and called out cheekily, “BOSS! BOSS!”
Yin Bai turned her head and glanced at her. “What?”
Zhang Yu leaned close to her ear and asked in a low voice, “You haven’t fallen for Teacher Zuo and are planning to transfer your affections, have you?” Otherwise, why the previous unilateral non-cooperation, and now she’s even gotten friendly with her daughter.
Yin Bai looked her up and down with a disdainful expression. “Is there something wrong with your brain? You see two single women and assume they’re going to have a thing?”9
“Psycho!”10 Yin Bai shoved the cake she was holding into Zhang Yu’s arms and said in an unfriendly tone, “Her daughter is much more interesting than her. Can’t you see her daughter is my new friend?”
“Also, you try this cake first. If it’s good, then call me!”
Yin Bai couldn’t be bothered with her mentally unhinged assistant and, leaning on her cane, tap-tap-tapped her way upstairs.
The author has something to say:
As usual, for those who leave comments in the front row, fifty little buddies will be chosen to receive red envelopes!
Awooo~ Yes, for now, she’s just the little buddy’s mom! But who knows about the future!
LP: Re-translated on May 07, 2025
Footnotes
- Original: 这是我的一点心意 | Zhè shì wǒ de yīdiǎn xīnyì | A common polite phrase when giving a gift, literally “This is my little bit of heart’s intention.”
- 童童 | Tóng Tóng
- Original: 臭屁 | chòupì | Lit. “stinky fart,” colloquially meaning smug, arrogant, or showing off.
- Original: 彩虹屁 | cǎihóngpì | Lit. “rainbow fart,” internet slang for over-the-top or effusive compliments.
- Original: 亭亭玉立 | tíngtíng yùlì | An idiom describing someone, usually a woman or slender plant like bamboo, standing tall, slim, and graceful.
- 双金影后 | shuāng jīn yǐnghòu | A prestigious title indicating an actress who has won two major “Golden” film awards (e.g., Golden Rooster, Golden Horse, etc., though specific awards aren’t named here).
- Original: 心里直打鼓 | xīnli zhí dǎgǔ | Lit. “heart was beating like a drum,” meaning to feel nervous or apprehensive.
- Original: 黑暗料理 | hēi’àn liàolǐ | Lit. “dark cuisine,” internet slang for shockingly bad or bizarrely prepared food.
- Original: 有一腿 | yǒu yī tuǐ | Lit. “to have a leg (with someone),” a colloquial idiom meaning to have an illicit affair or a secret romantic involvement.
- Original: 神经病 | shénjīngbìng | Lit. “neuropathy” or “mental illness,” but often used colloquially as an insult meaning “crazy,” “insane,” “lunatic,” or “psycho.”
zhang yu is sharp eyed…
zhang yu is sharp eyed…
She’s calling herself a kid. Love it.
She’s calling herself a kid. Love it.