The Passerby Female Supporting Character – Chapter 85
by Little PandaExtra IF-Line – Modern Arc
Insomnia
After putting down the clothes, Song Linlin covered her face and quickly ran out of the bathroom as if fleeing for her life. Then, she grabbed the mop from the master bedroom and left. When she passed by Chi Qianning on the way, Song Linlin was terribly embarrassed and didn’t dare to look at Chi Qianning’s expression at all.
Running all the way to the living room, Song Linlin quickly hid in an empty room she had already mopped. Hiding here, she couldn’t see the situation in the master bedroom at all. Song Linlin leaned her back against the wall and quickly took a few deep breaths to calm herself down a bit.
Her face was bright red now. The moment she thought about what a foolish thing she had just done, she couldn’t control her embarrassment.
Oh my god, I was actually holding Chi Qianning’sโฆ
How am I supposed to face her after this?!
Song Linlin covered her burning face, but her mind stubbornly kept replaying what had just happened. Just being caught holding someone else’s clothes was embarrassing enough, but it turned out there was even underwear among them!
I’m like one of those perverts who steal other people’s clothesโฆ
If she were given another chance, Song Linlin definitely wouldn’t enter the bathroom again!
Inside the master bedroom, Chi Qianning saw Song Linlin’s face turn completely red as she fled the bathroom in a panic and then suddenly disappeared from the master bedroom. Now, she was all alone in there.
Looking at the pile of clothes in the sink, especially the black bra on top, Chi Qianning also felt a wave of embarrassment. This was particularly true for the moment the bra fell to the floor and, as if by some awkward coincidence, landed right at Song Linlin’s feet. At that instant, Chi Qianning’s scalp practically tingled with embarrassment.
Her previous housekeepers always cleaned the house in the morning, and nothing this embarrassing had ever happened. Chi Qianning had simply finished her shower and discovered that the lingerie soap in the master bathroom was used up, so she had stepped out for a moment to find a new bar.
But as soon as she approached the bathroom, she saw Song Linlin turning around, holding the two sets of clothes Chi Qianning had changed out of.
Walking into the bathroom, Chi Qianning unwrapped the new soap. Embarrassment aside, what needed washing still had to be washed. After hand-washing the delicates, she personally put the rest of the clothes into the washing machine.
Chi Qianning set the washing machine cycle and started back to the master bedroom. It was only when she passed through the living room that she realized she hadn’t seen Song Linlin. That girl had vanished after running out of the master bedroom.
Meanwhile, Song Linlin was repeatedly mopping a patch of floor she had already gone over three times. She didn’t dare face Chi Qianning and was even more reluctant to go into the living room.
Especially when Song Linlin heard Chi Qianning’s footsteps passing through the living room, it startled her. Song Linlin, who had been spacing out, immediately sprang into action, vigorously mopping the floor to avoid Chi Qianning suspecting she was deliberately hiding instead of working hard.
When Chi Qianning reached the living room, she deliberately scanned the area but indeed saw no sign of Song Linlin. She couldn’t have run back to school, could she? she wondered.
She then specifically walked towards the entrance area and saw Song Linlin’s shoes still there. If Song Linlin had left, she wouldn’t have run off without her shoes.
In that case, it seemed Song Linlin must be in one of the other rooms. Chi Qianning looked around again and keenly noticed that the door to a guest room was slightly ajar, with light spilling out from inside.
Hearing the footsteps drawing nearer, Song Linlin hurriedly mopped with even more effort, pretending she hadn’t noticed anyone approaching and not daring to turn her head at all.
When Chi Qianning reached the guest room doorway, she glanced inside and, sure enough, saw Song Linlin diligently mopping the floor.
Chi Qianning felt much better by now, not dwelling on the incident like Song Linlin. Looking at the floor, which had been mopped until it shone, and though a trace of embarrassment still lingered, she took the initiative to clear her throat lightly and said:
“This area should be clean by now, right? Go clean the master bedroom.”
Song Linlin couldn’t hide anymore. She finally turned her head to look at Chi Qianning, but their eyes met for less than a second before Song Linlin quickly averted her gaze, stared at the floor, and nodded. “O-Okay.”
“Mm.”
The two of them returned to the master bedroom together. Song Linlin put down the mop and began to tidy the dressing table, while Chi Qianning sat at the foot of the bed, watching quietly. She could only see Song Linlin’s back, but through the mirror on the dressing table, she could see Song Linlin’s still somewhat flushed cheeks.
Song Linlin kept her head down, reaching out to put various cosmetics into a storage box. Just being in this room made her feel embarrassed, and that memory started replaying automatically in her mind again.
She began to wonder what expression Chi Qianning had on her face, but turning around now would be too abrupt. Song Linlin’s hands didn’t stop moving; she just tilted her head up ever so slightly and, at the same time, raised her eyes to look at the mirror in front of her.
In the clean surface of the mirror, as Song Linlin raised her eyes, the first thing she saw was her own face. The mirror also reflected Chi Qianning.
Then Song Linlin saw Chi Qianning, who was sitting at the foot of the bed, also staring at the mirror. Their eyes met in the reflection, and Song Linlin’s hands paused.
In the mirror, Chi Qianning was wearing silk pajamas. Even though they were very modest and didn’t reveal any skin, seeing Chi Qianning in them, Song Linlin inexplicably found her sexy.
She didn’t dare to look any longer and quickly lowered her head again, continuing with her task. Chi Qianning watched Song Linlin’s busy movements. She had initially thought of going over to help, but as she watched, she found herself becoming engrossed.
By the time Song Linlin had almost finished mopping, Chi Qianning snapped back to reality, and a thought inexplicably popped into her head:
She’s like a little maid.
Just not in a black and white lace maid outfit.
Chi Qianning felt she shouldn’t be thinking this, but deep down, she couldn’t help but feel the resemblance was uncanny. Song Linlin, for her part, could sense Chi Qianning seemingly staring at her the entire time, but she was too embarrassed to look up and confirm.
When she finally finished cleaning the master bedroom, Song Linlin felt instantly relieved. She could finally go back to school! She put down the mop and went to say goodbye to Chi Qianning, “Teacher Chi, I’m heading back.”
“Mm, go ahead.” Chi Qianning nodded and even gave her a smile.
It was rare for Song Linlin to see Chi Qianning smile, so she couldn’t help but look for a few extra seconds before turning to leave the room, closing the door behind her.
When Song Linlin returned to her dorm, her roommates had already gotten used to her coming back at this time every evening and no longer pried with curious questions. Song Linlin first took a shower, then carried a basin to the balcony to fill it with water, intending to wash her delicates.
Watching the clothes in the basin gradually get soaked, Song Linlin stood there in a daze. Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to when she had walked into the master bathroomโthe pleasant scent of shower gel, and when she picked up those two sets of clothes, the distinctive perfume on the black slip dress.
The faucet was still running. When Song Linlin snapped back to her senses, the basin had long since overflowed, and the sink area was full of spilled water. She quickly turned off the faucet.
She splashed some cold water on her face to clear her head, muttering, “Can’t think about it, can’t think about it! If I keep thinking like this, I’ll really become a pervert!”
After slowly finishing her laundry, Song Linlin lay back on her bed. It wasn’t lights-out time yet. Normally, she would have been relaxing in bed playing on her phone; after all, she’d had a full day of classes and then had to cook for Chi Qianning in the evening. This was her rare moment of freedom.
Song Linlin opened Douyin1, but she was in no mood to watch. With the sad BGM2 from a video playing, she resolved not to think about the clothes incident anymore. However, she then involuntarily started wondering about who Chi Qianning was going to meet, as mentioned during dinner.
It couldn’t really be to meet some romantic interest, could it? Is that why she dressed up so nicely?
No way, right? No way?!
Song Linlin was so startled she bolted upright in bed. This sudden movement immediately caught the attention of her other roommates, who all looked over at her.
“Song Linlin, what’s up? Why’d you suddenly sit up like that?”
Her movement was so abrupt that her phone almost fell off the bed. Luckily, it landed on the edge of her blanket and didn’t actually hit the floor.
Song Linlin saw her other roommates looking at her. However, since this was something Chi Qianning had told her, it counted as personal privacy and wasn’t appropriate to share. So, Song Linlin just shook her head and said,
“It’s nothing. Just doing some exercises. Don’t mind me.”
Her roommates nodded and didn’t press further. Song Linlin lay back down. Soon, it was the official lights-out time. Everyone else was already asleep, but Song Linlin lay there, her eyes wide open. She found herself inexplicably unable to sleep, her mind fixated on that question.
It was Saturday, so Song Linlin didn’t have classes. Usually, she would have stayed up late the previous night playing on her phone and then slept in until noon before finally getting up.
As it turned out, Song Linlin had stayed up lateโshe’d only managed to fall asleep in the dead of night because she was so preoccupied with that question. Yet, she woke up very early in the morning. She headed out first thing, planning to make breakfast for Teacher Chi.
When the main door opened, Chi Qianning, who had clearly just gotten out of bed, looked at Song Linlin standing outside. She raised a hand to cover a yawn. “You’re here so early?”
“It’s past seven,” Song Linlin said, glancing at her phone. She thought it was a perfectly normal time to arrive.
“Come on in.”
Chi Qianning was awake now and didn’t plan on going back to sleep. She returned to the bathroom to wash up, while Song Linlin headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. She prepared two toasted sandwiches and a pot of creamy corn soup.
The toast, coated in an egg batter, was filled with lettuce, slices of ham, tomato, a fried egg, and a slice of cheese. It looked incredibly appetizing. Paired with a bowl of rich corn soup, it was the kind of breakfast that could brighten anyone’s morning.
Chi Qianning sat at the dining table, looking at the breakfast Song Linlin had prepared. She praised, “Your cooking skills have really improved lately.”
“Hehe, well, when you cook a lot, you naturally get better at it,” Song Linlin chuckled, then said expectantly, “Try it!”
Chi Qianning picked up her spoon, first tasting the soup. She nodded. “It’s very good. Nice.”
Song Linlin felt a great sense of satisfaction. The two of them finished breakfast together. By the time Song Linlin had washed the dishes, it was almost nine o’clock. As she walked into the living room, she saw Chi Qianning, bag already on her shoulder, apparently about to head out.
“I’m going out for a bit,” Chi Qianning said to Song Linlin. “Will you be okay here by yourself later?”
But Song Linlin became particularly sensitive to the phrase “going out.” Especially since she’d spent most of the previous night sleepless, wondering who on earth Chi Qianning was going to meet. Now, the truth might be right in front of her!
Previously, Song Linlin would have readily agreed. But now, she brazenly3 asked, “Teacher Chi, can you take me with you?”
Chi Qianning paused, surprised. “You want to go too?”
“Yes!” Song Linlin nodded firmly.
“Hmmโฆ alright then, I’ll take you with me.” Chi Qianning hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed.
Song Linlin couldn’t help but feel secretly delighted. She hadn’t expected Chi Qianning to actually agree! She immediately followed her, and the two of them left the house together. Song Linlin then got into the passenger seat of Chi Qianning’s car.
Along the way, Song Linlin looked at the scenery outside, which seemed increasingly familiar. This was the route to Jingda. Could Teacher Chi be meeting that person near the university? she wondered.
โฆ
“Alright, is it okay if you sit here?” Chi Qianning asked Song Linlin.
Song Linlin forced a smile, though inwardly she felt worse than crying. “Okay, Teacher Chi.”
Heaven knows why there’s a public lecture on a weekend?!
Song Linlin had thought Chi Qianning was going to meet someone important. Instead, she’d been brought along to attend a lectureโฆ
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