After Being Scummed – Chapter 27
by Little PandaLetβs play together!
In the blink of an eye, it was New Yearβs Eve. Yin Bai gave big red envelopes to the few employees who were with her and had Zhang Yu arrange for them to be sent home for the New Year.
Zhang Yu now lived locally. She stayed with Yin Bai at the villa until the twenty-ninth and also went home on the morning of New Yearβs Eve. Without Zhang Yu, the villa felt empty, and Yin Bai didnβt really feel like getting up. She planned to stay in bed until around noon and then, when it was about time, pay a visit.
But before she could even fully wake up from dozing off againβ1, Zuo Jingyouβs call came in. Yin Bai was still half-asleep. When she answered the phone, her voice wasnβt very clear: βHello?β
Zuo Jingyou on the other end of the line sounded a little surprised. She chuckled softly, βYouβre not up yet?β
It was already nine or ten in the morning, but Zuo Jingyouβs voice was like a nightingale singing with the morning dew, extremely pleasant and captivating.
Yin Bai rolled over, still having no desire to get up. She mumbled indistinctly, βNope. Your family wouldnβt be having dinner at this hour, right?β
Zuo Jingyou laughed, βHow could that be? Itβs just time for breakfast. By the way, did you have someone send over the ingredients from Zhenxiu Fangβ2?β
Yin Bai hummed in agreement, her voice incredibly soft, βMm-hmm, I canβt just freeload a meal, right?β She yawned, saying very sleepily, βI didnβt mean to order any specific dishes. Just cook whatever you want with the ingredients I sent. If you donβt want to, you can give them to someone else.β
Zuo Jingyou sighed softly, βYouβve spent too much.β She paused, then asked, βBy the way, I also just received a jade screen with a βwhite snow and red plum blossomsβ design. That wasnβt from you too, was it?β
Yin Bai buried her head under the covers, her voice muffled, βYeah. I bought it a few years ago and thought it would suit your homeβs decor style. Just consider it a gift for your momβ¦β
Zuo Jingyou really didnβt know what to say; returning it didnβt seem appropriate. She paused, then said with a sense of helplessness, βThatβs very thoughtful of youβ¦β Iβll have to find a suitable decorative item for Yin Bai and give her a return gift someday, she thought.
βItβs nothing. You invited me for New Yearβs Eve dinner, after all.β
Yin Bai really wasnβt fully awake; each sentence she spoke was softer than the last. Listening to her, Zuo Jingyou felt as if a little kitten was licking her ear, meowing incessantly, making her feel inexplicably ticklish.
Zuo Jingyou switched the phone to her other ear and said with a smile, βWell then, let me treat you to breakfast too. Do you eat tangyuanβ3?β
Speaking of food, Yin Bai paused for a moment, a bit dazed, and subconsciously asked, βAre they good?β
Zuo Jingyou chuckled softly, βTheyβre delicious. Do you want sweet or savory ones?β
Sweet? Savory?
These two flavors ran through Yin Baiβs mind, clearing up most of her muddled consciousness. She grabbed her phone, poked her head out from under the covers, and hurriedly asked, βSavory? Why are there savory tangyuan? Thatβs not right! What kind of weirdβ4 flavor is that?β
Her agitated emotions came through clearly over the phone. Zuo Jingyou even spared a thought, This time she might have been startled awake. Hugging her arms, Zuo Jingyou gently explained, βYes, there are. My mom and I both eat savory ones. The children have the local taste, so they prefer sweet ones.β
βWell, Iβll beβ5!β Yin Bai took a light breath and asked curiously, βWhat kind of filling do the savory ones have?β
Zuo Jingyou paused, then told Yin Bai, βItβs a meat filling, with a bit of chili, but itβs not very spicy.β
Yin Bai exclaimed, βYou guys really can put chili in anything! Just as expected from a Yuncheng girl! A little chili pepper!β
Zuo Jingyouβs lips curved into a smile, and she lowered her gaze, asking softly, βSo, do you want to eat some tangyuan? If you do, Iβll pack them in an insulated container and have the kids bring them over to you.β
βOf course!β Yin Bai rolled over onto her stomach, lying on the bed with her eyes half-closed, and said, βFree delivery, why wouldnβt I eat it!β
She said it with such convictionβ6. The smile on Zuo Jingyouβs face deepened. βSo, do you want sweet or savory?β
βSweet!β Yin Bai said clearly. She paused, then after a moment, added in a low voice, βAnd one savory one to try.β
Zuo Jingyou said, βOkay.β Shortly after, she had the children knock on Yin Baiβs door, carrying half a box of tangyuan.
Since it was the children who came over, Yin Bai didnβt bother changing out of her pajamas. She just combed her hair and went out to greet her little friends, and then had a little [of the tangyuan] with them.
After finishing breakfast, the two children urged Yin Bai to change her clothes. They said Zuo Jingyou was preparing to cook and wanted Yin Bai to go over and play with them.
Yin Bai figured she was just idle at home anyway, so she might as well go play with the children somewhere else. She clapped her hands and happily agreed to the childrenβs request, βOkay, you guys wait a bit. Iβll change my clothes and go over with you.β
The two children said in unison, βOkay-dokey!β
Yin Bai went to her walk-in closet. From a pile of new spring arrivals, she picked out an off-white lace blouse, paired it with coffee-colored striped suit trousers, and finally, added a coat of a similar color. Wearing Martin bootsβ7, she grabbed her new cane and went out with her little friends.
Of course, before leaving, she didnβt forget to bring the giftsβ8 she had prepared earlier. And so, laden with bags big and small, she paid her visit.
Zuo Jingyou hadnβt expected the children to actually get her up. When she saw Yin Bai arriving with a pile of gifts, she was very surprised. βDidnβt you already send gifts over this morning? Why are you bringing so many more things?β
This was far too much!
Leaning on her cane, Yin Bai handed the things in her hand to Zuo Jingyou while saying, βI heard from Zhang Yu that you canβt visit empty-handed during the New Year. So I brought gifts for your mom, your older sister, and you. Itβs just a small token, nothing much.β
After speaking, Yin Bai pointed to the two children beside her. βAs for my friends here, they already came to my place yesterday and picked up their gifts in advance, so you donβt need to worry about them.β
Zuo Jingyou couldnβt help but laugh as she invited Yin Bai in. βYou really areβ¦ too much. Itβs just New Yearβs Eve dinner.β Carrying the gifts, Zuo Jingyou took out a brand new pair of indoor slippers and handed them to Yin Bai. βIβll have to trouble you to change your shoes today.β
Yin Bai readily agreed, βOf course.β
Yin Bai and the children changed into indoor slippers in the entryway. She stood up with her cane and looked at Zuo Jingyou with a smile. βOf course, it has to be a bit grand! You invited me to spend New Yearβs with you, hey.β
Wenwen, who was beside them, finished changing her shoes. She eagerly tugged at Yin Baiβs belt, pulling her forward. βHurry, hurry, weβre doing a puzzle today! Tongtong and I have been playing for ages and still havenβt finished it!β
Tongtong held Yin Baiβs hand as if supporting her. βThatβs because Sister is too clumsy, she canβt even tell them apart!β
Yin Bai was pulled along by them, slowly moving forward with her cane. As she walked, she said helplessly, βAlright, alright, weβll play! But friends, can you please not pull me? Youβre about to pull me over!β
She was a little limper; she couldnβt walk fast!
Hearing her say this, the two children slowed their pace. As if compromising, they said, βOkay, okay, weβll wait for you, weβll wait for you!β
Zuo Jingyou, carrying the items, walked slowly behind the three of them. She watched Yin Bai, leaning on her cane, limping as she tried hard to keep up with the childrenβs pace.
The distance from the entryway to the sofa wasnβt very far. Even though Yin Bai was tall and had long legs, it took her quite a bit of effort to walk over.
Zuo Jingyouβs gaze shifted downwards, landing on Yin Baiβs legs. Her left leg was fine, but her right leg seemed as if it were tied to a heavy lead ball. With every step, her left foot moved first, and then her right leg slowly followed. Her steps were small, but each one was taken with determination.
If she hadnβt witnessed such a scene, even Zuo Jingyou would find it hard to believe that Yin Bai was disabled. But seriously, even if someone has a physical disability, it doesnβt really mean anything, does it?
Does the awkwardness brought about by a physical disability have to be called undignified? Does it diminish the brilliance of a personβs soul?
Not necessarily.
As Zuo Jingyou thought this, she saw Yin Bai finally sit down on the sofa with her cane. She saw Yin Bai let out a long breath, turn her head to look at the two children, and say with a grin, βAlright, take out your puzzle, letβs play!β
βOkay-dokey!β
The children cheered, took out the scattered puzzle pieces, and started playing with Yin Bai.
Zuo Jingyou stood at the edge of the sofa, watching the three of them enjoying themselves together harmoniously. She unconsciously curved her lips into a smile.
She thought to herself, For someone as good as Yin Bai, if one were to only look at her appearance and pity her because of her disability, that would be far too presumptuous.β9
Itβs better not to pay too much attention to such things.
Thinking this, Zuo Jingyou looked at the three on the sofa and asked, βYouβre playing games, would you like something to drink? Iβll bring it over in a bit!β
Yin Bai looked up, grinning, and said, βThank you, Teacher Zuo!β
The two little rascalsβ10 followed suit, giggling as they said, βThank you, Teacher Zuo!β
Zuo Jingyou was silent for a moment and didnβt correct the childrenβs form of address. She turned, put the gifts away, prepared a fruit platter and snacks for them, and then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Yin Bai played puzzles with the children for quite a while. They were boisterous and very happy in the living room.
When Ms. Sun Yulan came out of the study, she saw the three of them huddled together, heads touching, picking up puzzle pieces and fitting them together.
Seeing them so lively, Sun Yulan also walked over and stood by the coffee table, watching for a while.
Yin Bai, who was having a lot of fun, suddenly felt a pair of eyes on her. She subconsciously looked up and, unsurprisingly, saw an elegant elderly woman standing beside her, carefully observing her. The woman was wearing a dark green qipao, her graying hairβ11 impeccably styled in a bun, and gold-rimmed glasses.
Yin Bai blinked and called out uncertainly, βHello, Auntie?β Looking at her face, which bore a strong resemblance to Zuo Jingyou, she thought, Although she looks overly serious, judging by her appearance, this must be Zuo Jingyouβs mother.
It was Yin Baiβs first time meeting a friendβs elder, so she couldnβt help but feel a little apprehensive.
Sun Yulan nodded and hummed in acknowledgment. She looked at Yin Bai, then at the two children still searching for puzzle pieces. After hesitating for a moment, she tentatively asked, βIs thisβ¦ fun?β
The old professor was engrossed in her academic pursuits and truly hadnβt played with her granddaughters much or experienced that kind of family joy.
Yin Bai looked at herβher tone was unfamiliar, yet she seemed somewhat eager to try. Yin Bai inexplicably felt that this Auntie might be like her, not very good at interacting with strangers.
She shifted her position, looked up at Sun Yulan, and offered a very gentle smile. βItβs quite interesting. Would you like to join us?β
Sun Yulanβs gaze lightly shifted from Yin Bai and landed back on the puzzle. As if cherishing each word like goldβ12, she uttered five words: βNo need. You play.β
After saying this, Sun Yulan sat down on the sofa next to Yin Bai.
Yin Bai looked at her, then at the children who were still frantically comparing puzzle pieces. She shook her head and went back to playing.
LP: Re-translated on May 25, 2025
Footnotes
- εη¬Όθ§ | huΓlΓ³ngjiΓ o | Literally βreturning to the cage sleepβ; it refers to going back to sleep after waking up, or dozing off again for a short while.
- ηι¦ε | ZhΔnxiΕ« FΔng | Likely a name of a high-end food store or brand, meaning something like βHouse of Delicaciesβ or βTreasured Delicacies Workshopβ.
- ζ±€ε | tΔngyuΓ‘n | Glutinous rice balls, often eaten during the Lantern Festival and other celebrations. They can be sweet or savory.
- ι»ζζη | hΔβΓ n liΓ olΗ | Literally βdark cuisine,β an internet slang term referring to bizarre, unappetizing, or unconventional food combinations or dishes.
- ιΏθ§θ―δΊ | zhΗng jiΓ nshile | An expression meaning βto have learned something newβ or βto have broadened oneβs horizons,β often said with a tone of mild surprise or newfound understanding.
- ζ·ε°ζε£° | zhΓ¬ dΓ¬ yΗu shΔng | Literally βto throw on the ground and make a soundβ; an idiom describing words that are firm, forceful, and resonant, spoken with conviction.
- 马δΈι΄ | MΗdΔ«ng xuΔ | Martin boots, commonly known as Dr. Martens or combat boots.
- δΌ΄ζη€Ό | bΓ nshΗulΗ | A gift given when visiting someone, often a local specialty or a thoughtful present for the host.
- θͺδ½ε€ζ | zΓ¬ zuΓ² duΕ qΓng | Literally βto make oneself sentimental.β It often means to imagine oneself as the object of someoneβs affection when itβs not true, or more broadly, to be overly sentimental, to read too much into things, or to offer unsolicited/unwarranted pity or affection.
- ε°ε±ε© | xiΗo pΓ¬hΓ‘i | A colloquial and often affectionate term for young children, literally βlittle butt child,β similar to βlittle rascal,β βbrat,β or βkid.β
- θ±ε | huΔfΓ | Literally βflower hair,β a poetic term for graying or white hair.
- ζεε¦ι | xΔ« zΓ¬ rΓΊ jΔ«n | Literally βto cherish words like goldβ; an idiom describing someone who is very taciturn or speaks very concisely, using few words.
Isn’t dumpling really savory? i’m confused
Yes! But the ‘children’ rather have the sweet ones
Yes! But the ‘children’ rather have the sweet ones
Isn’t dumpling really savory? i’m confused