Meanwhile, back at the Lin family residence:

“Come on, you old hag, just swallow it,” Fang Xiaoyi kept one hand over her patient’s mouth and the other on her throat, so she could tell if the medication went down. 

The pills she was forcing the Elder Madame to take were a Western medicine, a simple over-the-counter decongestant.  The Elder Madame didn’t need a decongestant; the reason the homecare worker was making her take them was because of a side effect the pills had.  They caused drowsiness, making them a non-narcotic sleeping pill.  They were not recommended for use by the elderly because of other side effects, but Fang Xiaoyi didn’t care.  If she could get the Elder Madame to take them, then the old lady would sleep quietly for six to eight hours and not screech or wave her arms around and cause her any trouble. 

“There!” Fang Xiaoyi felt the elder’s neck muscles relax and contract.  “Good girl! Now go to sleep like a nice vegetable and let me be.”    She collected her jacket and purse and left the sickroom. 

The moment she heard the door close, the Elder Madame turned her head to the side and let the pills she had concealed under her tongue slide out of her mouth.  It was an instinctive gesture, as if she were a cat spitting out medicine once the veterinarian lets go.

However, Fang Xiaoyi had no clue and proceeded on her way to the kitchen.  There were actually two kitchens—the fancy one for the owner’s use when cooking for themselves or guests, and the pantry kitchen, for use by the aunties.   When Lin Jiaying’s mother had been alive and before the Elder Madame had her second stroke, the pantry kitchen was rarely used, but Ren Minglan was not interested in domestic duties and Lin Jiaying was still in school and spent most of her time studying.  That was when they hired Auntie Sun.

Auntie Sun was a good cook and loved to prove it.  She loved it so much, in fact, that when the family was out, she often invited her husband, her son and her daughter to stop in and have lunch. Sometimes her children brought their friends, like today. (Without the knowledge or consent of Ren Minglan or anyone else in the Lin Family.)   

This really was a dream job for Auntie Sun and her family.  This villa had a home theater with a Wi-Fi Bluetooth projector, a family room with a huge screen TV and the latest gaming consoles, luxurious bathrooms and towels with high end skin care products—and employers who were gone all day, most days.  Lin Jialing gave her a  monthly reloading prepaid card for grocery shopping and hardly ever made any fuss over the receipts.

Auntie Sun and Fang Xiaoyi had an unspoken deal.  Fang Xiaoyi did not tell their employers about the Sun family stopping by for meals and entertainment, and Auntie Sun did not tell their employers about Fang Xiaoyi stepping out for several hours a day.

Auntie Sun was reminding her children and their two friends about the rules.  “When you use the gaming system, put the previous game back in the console before you go, and when you borrow things from Lin Jiaying’s closet or use her makeup, always put everything back exactly where it was.  How many times have I told you that?  Lazy little sl*t’s been asking nosy questions.  Use your phones and take pictures before you mess around if you can’t remember.  Don’t screw this up for us!”

Auntie Sun’s daughter made a disgusted face and snorted.  “Right, Brother.  Remember where her used underwear was in the hamper so you can put it back where you found it.”

“Shut up!” Her brother shoved her off the stool.  Their father snorted.

“What are you talking about?” asked their mother, not comprehending.  Then she noticed Fang Xiaoyi. 

“Ah, Miss Fang! Going out for a walk?” she asked.

“Yes,” the home healthcare worker replied. 

“Enjoy yourself,” Auntie Sun waved her out. 

Fang Xiaoyi went down to the children’s bedroom level and out through the door in the playroom.  Taking the path to the right, she went to the house next door, where the husband worked from home and the wife did not.  She stopped to unbutton her top by another button, then undid another button before she rang the doorbell.   

At school, Lin Jiaying stopped in a stairwell and wiped her eyes, then took out her phone and blacklisted Shi Nuan.  After a moment, she blacklisted Nuan’s mother as well.  She didn’t want to black out Aunt Ye Ruolan, she truly didn’t, but there was no way she could stay as close with the mother when she was no longer friends with the daughter.

But—she couldn’t just cut off Aunt Ye Ruolan without a word.  She quickly typed up a message.  I’m sorry, Aunt, but Nuan Nuan and I aren’t friends anymore.  I am very grateful for all the warmth and care you’ve given me all these years.  Her eyes started to sting again as she wrote.   You have always been my other mother.  I’m sorry.  Goodbye. 

She sent it, wiped her eyes again.   Her phone buzzed.  She looked at it, wondering how Aunt Ye had replied so quickly and why the blacklist had let the message through, only to see this message was from Mo Mufan.  I did it, the message read. At least, I tried coming out to my parents last night. 

What happened?  She replied.

I said a friend in America had told me about coming out to his parents and they said they already knew and it was okay with them.  Dad threw a fit and said that was just what he’d expect of Americans.  Said if any kid of his was homosexual he’d cut him out of the family and never look back. 

I can’t have that happen to me.  I can’t give up my inheritance and being head of the company just for something I never even wanted to be in the first place!

That’s rough, Lin Jiaying wrote in return. What about your mom? 

While she wrote, he had already sent her another message.  You’re still going to Xixi Wetland Park today, right? Can we meet by the Qiuxue Hut?