The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

Once Lin Qingzhi had grasped the basic techniques for gutting fish, Hua Manman handed the entire job over to her.

Hua Manman sauntered over to the cabinet and took out a bag of roasted sunflower seeds.

She sat down behind the stove and began to leisurely crack open the seeds.

After a while, Lin Qingzhi finally sensed that something was wrong.

She put down the kitchen knife, turned to look at Hua Manman, and said resentfully.

"You’re the one who wants grilled fish and fish soup. Why should I be the one to do all the work?"

Hua Manman spat out the sunflower seed shell in her mouth.

"But it’s slow for me to do it all by myself. If you help, we can get it done faster. The sooner we finish cooking, the sooner I can take you back to change your clothes."

Although she didn’t know what Lin Qingzhi was plotting, she could guess with her eyes closed that Lin Qingzhi was definitely up to no good.

That being the case, she didn’t need to be too polite to her.

’We’re both old foxes, so why play innocent?’

Lin Qingzhi complained, "Then you should be helping too. You can’t just make me do everything."

Hua Manman said, "You gut the fish first. I’ll do the rest."

Lin Qingzhi was still very reluctant. Her family wasn’t as wealthy as Hua Manman’s, but they were still well-off. She had never done a day of manual labor in her life. Forget gutting a fish, she could count on one hand the number of times she’d even stepped into a kitchen.

But in order to complete the mission assigned by the Crown Prince, she could only suppress her indignation for now.

She picked up the kitchen knife again, cursing inwardly as she gutted the fish.

’Just you wait! You’ll be crying soon enough!’

Perhaps due to her resentment, Lin Qingzhi brought the knife down a little too hastily and accidentally cut her finger!

She cried out in pain and quickly threw the knife aside.

Hua Manman was startled as well.

She hurriedly stood up, ran over, and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Lin Qingzhi clutched her bleeding finger, her eyes red as she said, "I cut my finger."

Hua Manman quickly asked, "Did any of your blood get on the fish? I really don’t want to eat fish tainted with human blood."

Lin Qingzhi: "..."

’Is that something a fucking human being would say?!’

Lin Qingzhi practically squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.

"No."

Hua Manman was relieved. "Oh, good. That’s good."

Lin Qingzhi took a deep breath, silently telling herself not to stoop to this woman’s level. ’Endure it for now. The mission comes first.’

She asked pitifully, "I’m hurt now and need to get this bandaged up right away. Can you come back with me to treat the wound? Don’t worry, it won’t take too much of your time."

She believed that as long as Hua Manman had even a shred of humanity, she wouldn’t refuse this request.

Sure enough...

Hua Manman nodded in agreement.

"You’re right, that wound does need immediate attention. Otherwise, I won’t have anyone to help me with the work."

Lin Qingzhi: ???

’The only reason you want me to bandage my wound is so I can keep working for you? Do you have any fucking humanity at all?’

Hua Manman looked around, rolled up her sleeves, reached into the stove’s firebox, and pulled out a handful of ash.

Lin Qingzhi was just about to ask what she was doing with that filthy stuff.

Before the words could leave her mouth, Hua Manman grabbed her hand.

The next moment, her injured finger was pressed into the ash.

The wound was instantly covered in the dark gray soot.

After a moment of stunned silence, Lin Qingzhi frantically tried to pull her hand back.

But Hua Manman was far stronger than her.

No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t break free from Hua Manman’s grip.

Lin Qingzhi shrieked, "What are you doing? Let me go!"

Hua Manman soothed, "Don’t move. I heard that ash helps stop bleeding. I’m helping you."

Lin Qingzhi had no intention of using such an unreliable-sounding method to stop the bleeding!

She struggled desperately. "If you don’t let me go, I’m going to scream for help!"

Seeing how strongly she was resisting, Hua Manman had to let go.

Lin Qingzhi hurried to the water vat and washed the dark ash from her hand with clean water.

She wrapped her finger with a handkerchief, which managed to stanch the bleeding.

She suspected Hua Manman was tormenting her on purpose. On any other day, she would have already had it out with her.

But tonight was different.

She was still responsible for the mission the Crown Prince had given her.

She couldn’t have a falling-out with Hua Manman until it was complete.

Just as she was hesitating, wondering how to break the current stalemate, Hua Manman spoke first.

"Does your wound still hurt?"

Lin Qingzhi knew this was a good opportunity to defuse the awkwardness and immediately put on a smile that was both brave and a little fragile.

"Thank you for your concern. It doesn’t really hurt anymore."

Hua Manman smiled back. "Since it doesn’t hurt anymore, you can get back to gutting the fish for me."

Lin Qingzhi thought she had misheard.

Her smile froze as she asked again, "What did you say?"

Hua Manman said matter-of-factly, "Didn’t you say you were going to help me? The fish aren’t done yet. You can’t just give up halfway, can you?"

Lin Qingzhi felt her fists clench.

She desperately wanted to throw a punch and smash this shameless little bitch in front of her into the wall.

She was just doing a favor, but the way Hua Manman said it, it sounded like she owed her!

Lin Qingzhi lifted her handkerchief-wrapped finger and reminded her viciously.

"I’m injured. I can’t work right now."

Hua Manman frowned, displeased.

"It’s just a small cut, not a broken hand. Do you have to be so delicate?"

Lin Qingzhi: "..."

’Hua Manman, fuck you! FUCK YOU!!!’

Seeing her standing there with a sullen face, Hua Manman snorted.

"I knew you were unreliable. Forget it. Just go back and have someone treat your injury. You don’t need to worry about things here anymore."

After saying that, Hua Manman reached out to push Lin Qingzhi away, making a show of shooing her out.

How could Lin Qingzhi be willing to leave just like that?

To lure Hua Manman away, she had already dirtied her dress and even cut her own finger.

She had paid such a price; she had to complete the Crown Prince’s mission no matter what.

She couldn’t let her blood be shed in vain!

Lin Qingzhi took a deep breath. "Fine, I’ll help you gut the fish."

Hearing this, Hua Manman immediately shoved the kitchen knife back into her hand.

"Quick, quick, get back to it!"

Lin Qingzhi: "..."

’If you had just said "please," you wouldn’t be so punchable.’

Hua Manman trotted back to her seat and continued cracking her sunflower seeds.

Lin Qingzhi tried her best to ignore the CRUNCH, CRUNCH sound of the seeds being cracked and carefully continued gutting the fish.

With great difficulty, she finally finished preparing both fish.

She let out a sigh of relief.

But immediately after, she heard that little bitch Hua Manman say, "Now that the fish are done, you can go start the fire."

Lin Qingzhi glared at her. "Didn’t you say I only had to gut the fish?"

Hua Manman said, "Oh, come on. You’ve already finished the fish, so what’s the big deal about starting a fire too? Why are you being so petty?"

Lin Qingzhi’s eyes turned red again.

This time, it wasn’t from pain, but from anger.

AAAAHHH!!!

This little bitch has gone too far!

...