The Passerby Female Supporting Character – Chapter 29
by Little PandaGoing Out to Play
Looking at Song Linlin with such genuine emotion, and comparing her current expression with the one before, Chi Qianning couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Amused, she looked at the person in front of her and said:
“You really are a fool.”
Chi Qianning raised one hand, her cool palm pressing against the back of Song Linlin’s hand. Her fingers slipped between the gaps of Song Linlin’s fingers and cheek, then wrapped around them, holding them gently.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, though not in a dangerous way. Holding Song Linlin’s hand, their skin touching, Chi Qianning could feel the warmth radiating from the other’s palm through her own. Without much intimidation, she said, “Don’t pinch.”
Being held by a cold, slender hand, Song Linlin suddenly realized that she had boldly reached out earlier and pinched Chi Qianning’s cheek. Yet, Chi Qianning didn’t seem angry.
She loosened the hand pressed against Chi Qianning’s cheek, but one of her hands was still wrapped in the other’s palm. Chi Qianning’s fingers held hers loosely — not much force, but just enough that Song Linlin couldn’t easily pull free.
Song Linlin looked at Chi Qianning, her eyes signaling for her to let go. Chi Qianning, however, lowered her gaze, her eyes fixated on their intertwined hands as she carefully admired Song Linlin’s fingers.
Song Linlin’s fingers weren’t particularly slender. Chi Qianning’s fingertip, adorned with long nails, slid over the pads of Song Linlin’s fingers. The sensation was smooth and rounded, without a single callus. As her fingers trailed downwards, they met the soft skin, delicate to the touch. When Chi Qianning’s fingertip grazed the fine whorls of Song Linlin’s fingerprints, she couldn’t resist giving them a gentle squeeze.
Because she neither trained diligently nor did any hard labor, Song Linlin’s hands were fair and tender — a pair of hands clearly unaccustomed to rough work. Even Chi Qianning’s light grip was enough to keep her from pulling away.
Interlocking their fingers, Chi Qianning finally grew bored of playing with Song Linlin’s hand. Looking up once more, she said, “Song Linlin, you should train more. Your strength is far too weak.”
Song Linlin glanced at their entwined fingers. Chi Qianning’s hand was slender and bony, cool to the touch, her long nails gliding across Song Linlin’s skin, leaving a ticklish sensation behind. The metallic ring around Chi Qianning’s middle finger pressed against Song Linlin’s skin, feeling uncomfortably hard. Yet, despite Chi Qianning’s seemingly light hold, Song Linlin still couldn’t pull her hand free.
“Oh… maybe later,” Song Linlin whispered softly, nodding in agreement. Whether she’d actually train or not was another matter entirely — after all, she lacked the motivation to cultivate seriously.
After all, there was no imminent danger waiting for her ahead, so she might as well just go with the flow. Being a salted fish in the sect didn’t matter at all.
Chi Qianning loosened her grip, releasing Song Linlin’s fingers one by one. Her palm withdrew from between the gaps of Song Linlin’s fingers, finally letting go of her completely.
Song Linlin also pulled her hand back. Having had her fingers played with, she didn’t think too much about it, and from then on, their interaction remained quite harmonious.
It wasn’t until Wu shi1 that Song Linlin, who had been lying on the bed, put away the borrowed book. She turned her head to look at Chi Qianning, who was sitting nearby, and habitually asked, “I’m going to eat. Do you want to come?”
Based on previous experience, Chi Qianning would most likely refuse—an outcome that pleased Song Linlin the most. After all, even meals here had to be exchanged for contribution points.
Song Linlin was practically broke. Although she had just received a reward for completing her training mission in the mortal world, it clearly wouldn’t last long. The fewer people eating, the better.
Under Song Linlin’s expectant gaze, Chi Qianning slowly shook her head, looking disinterested. “Not going.”
“Great!”
Song Linlin immediately agreed, standing up and slipping on her shoes. Just before stepping out the door, she didn’t forget to call back to Chi Qianning, “Then I’m off to eat! I’ll be back soon. In the afternoon, I’ll take you out to find something to do so you won’t be stuck at home all day, bored.”
Chi Qianning nodded, not rejecting the offer.
After leaving, Song Linlin headed straight for the sect’s eatery. The food sold there was diverse, and most dishes had unique effects—far superior to ordinary mortal food.
The more beneficial the food, the more expensive it was. For example, meatballs made from certain demonic beasts could gradually enhance a person’s physique and strength when consumed regularly. The rarer the ingredient, the higher the price. Not that Song Linlin could afford any of it.
Of course, the sect allowed disciples to cook for themselves, but that required gathering ingredients, starting a fire, and preparing the meal. For most disciples busy with cultivation, it was too much of a hassle and a waste of time. The dishes at the eatery not only tasted great but also aided in cultivation, so the majority chose to eat there.
As Song Linlin walked through the eatery, she was utterly shocked by the prices of some limited-quantity dishes, realizing that her entire fortune wasn’t even enough to buy a single plate.
She quietly picked something cheap, then sat alone in a corner, watching as a few disciples who looked wealthy from head to toe went to buy those outrageously expensive limited-edition dishes.
Although the sect required everyone to dress the same, that didn’t stop the rich from flaunting their wealth with the latest limited-edition treasured swords. In the sect, aside from using contribution points for transactions, one could also use the hard currency of this world—spirit stones2.
Silently watching those seemingly ordinary yet suffocatingly expensive items, Song Linlin suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
These things are so pricey… wouldn’t I make a fortune if I brought back some ingredients myself?
She remembered that the Affairs Hall3 had missions to collect ingredients for the eatery. The rarer the ingredient, the higher the contribution points awarded. Plus, these missions were long-term, with no time limit—once you gathered enough, you could submit them anytime.
The more Song Linlin thought about it, the more tempted she became. It was just collecting some ingredients. Couldn’t she just pick the less dangerous ones?
And the rewards were really generous!
Since she’d already decided to find something to do in the afternoon and hadn’t settled on anything yet, why not go gather ingredients for the eatery?
Chi Qianning probably wouldn’t mind, right?
…She probably wouldn’t.
Song Linlin fretted for a moment, but then a new thought struck her—going out to gather ingredients was basically the same as going out to play. The only difference was that she’d bring back some spoils of war along the way.
“Mm! She definitely won’t mind!”
With that settled, Song Linlin quickened her eating pace, swiftly finishing the food in front of her before dashing back to their residence.
“Chi Qianning! Let’s go out and have some fun this afternoon!” Song Linlin leaned close to Chi Qianning, her face brimming with anticipation.
Chi Qianning was leisurely reclining on a soft couch in the living room, passing the time with some casual books Song Linlin had borrowed. Seeing Song Linlin suddenly pop up in front of her, Chi Qianning lazily lifted her gaze. Her eyes met Song Linlin’s, which were filled with excitement and eagerness, as if she couldn’t wait another second.
She put down the book in her hand and spoke calmly, “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know yet. I haven’t decided.” Song Linlin shook her head honestly.
She needed to go to the Affairs Hall later to pick out a task before she could figure out exactly what they’d be doing.
Chi Qianning continued asking, “Where are we going?”
“Uh… not sure about that either.”
Song Linlin had to decide on a task first before she could determine where to go and what to do.
This time, Chi Qianning fell silent. She looked at Song Linlin, finding her more and more unreliable the longer she stared. She was the one who suggested going out to have fun, yet when asked about the specifics, she knew absolutely nothing.
Sensing Chi Qianning’s speechlessness, Song Linlin shamelessly grabbed onto her arm, hugging it tightly and swaying back and forth while pleading, “Come on, just go with me~”
“It’d be so boring if I went alone! Keep me company, please~ Pretty please~”
With her arm forcibly clung to and Song Linlin’s sweet, clingy voice sounding right beside her, Chi Qianning couldn’t help but click her tongue in annoyance.
“Let go of my hand first.” Chi Qianning glanced at her sideways, clearly resisting.
Song Linlin blinked, looking as if she wouldn’t let go unless Chi Qianning agreed. “Then will you go?”
“…”
Chi Qianning stared at her quietly for two seconds before finally sighing. “Fine. I’ll go.”
“Yay!”
She let go of Chi Qianning, looking eager and ready to go, clearly unable to wait any longer. Her mind was already imagining a bright future as she immediately added, “Then let’s head out!”
“Aren’t you going to rest for a bit first?”
Chi Qianning eyed her suspiciously for a couple of seconds. After spending the past few days together, she’d grown familiar with Song Linlin’s routines. Song Linlin was extremely fond of slacking off — normally, after eating, she’d definitely flop onto her bed.
Seeing her this enthusiastic now was rare… and suspicious.
“No need!”
Song Linlin was already on her feet, looking as if she’d been injected with chicken blood, brimming with fighting spirit. She said with conviction, “I feel full of energy right now. It’s the perfect time to head out. Let’s hurry!”
After all, it was already midday. There was only one afternoon left, so she needed to pick a task as soon as possible to leave enough time for gathering. If they didn’t have enough time and couldn’t collect enough materials, then the whole afternoon would be wasted, and she’d have to make another trip the next day. That’d be way too troublesome.
“Come on, let’s go!”
Watching Chi Qianning get up at her usual leisurely pace, Song Linlin urged her on, “Look, we’ve been lying around in bed every day — isn’t that way too lazy? We should get out and stretch our legs!”
Chi Qianning couldn’t help rolling her eyes at her. Wasn’t Song Linlin the one who refused to move every day? Now she was flipping the script, acting all self-righteous.
Grabbing Chi Qianning’s arm, Song Linlin pulled her out the door and headed straight for the Affairs Hall, her destination clear. She didn’t even glance at anything else along the way.
Anyway, no one else should be able to see Chi Qianning, so Song Linlin wasn’t worried about taking her outside. As for why she was dragging her along — Song Linlin just found her walking pace way too slow. Since she was in a hurry, she figured she might as well take matters into her own hands.
“Where exactly are you taking me?”
Chi Qianning glanced around at their surroundings. From the quiet residential area they started in, they’d gradually entered busier and more crowded places. No matter how she looked at it, this didn’t seem like a place you’d go to have fun.
“We’re here!”
Song Linlin stopped in her tracks, staring at the building before her. The large plaque above the entrance had the words “Affairs Hall” written in bold, flamboyant calligraphy.
Inside were many elders and deacons from Xuanyun Sect. To be safe, Song Linlin decided not to bring Chi Qianning in with her, just in case someone noticed something off about her presence.
She dragged Chi Qianning into a nearby corner before finally letting go of her hand. After glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention to them, she whispered, “Wait here for me. I’ll be right back!”
With that, Song Linlin turned and headed toward the main entrance. Midway, she even spun around to add, “Don’t wander off! Stay right here and wait for me!”
Chi Qianning wasn’t blind. Naturally, she noticed what kind of place this was and felt a little puzzled. A few guesses crossed her mind, but before she could ask, Song Linlin had already dashed inside, leaving her no choice but to wait outside for her return.
She didn’t have to wait long. Soon enough, Song Linlin came bounding out, practically skipping with excitement. Her mood seemed fantastic as she beamed at Chi Qianning and said, “Let’s go catch some fish!”
At that moment, Chi Qianning finally understood. She didn’t even know how to describe her feelings — a mix of exasperation and amusement. She let out a laugh, shaking her head.
“Song Linlin, when you said we were going out to have fun, you meant dragging me along to do a mission with you?”
The author has something to say:
Going out with the wife means taking the wife to work!
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