Chapter 264: A Day Tour Of The Reservoir (2/2)

”Bingxin-meimei, what brings you here?” Dali started his usual act of fawning over her. “Come, have a seat!”

Bingxin picked up a soup dumpling and tasted it. ”Not bad,” she remarked. “And here I thought you were both forced to suffer hardship in a small hick town.”

”What brings you here?” I asked.

”Have you forgotten it’s a public holiday?” she laughed. “It’s Labor Day, silly! I took a few days off but everywhere else is crowded with tourists so I decided to come visit you.”

”What are you doing here?” I reproached. “Don’t you know this place is filled with men? I bet even the insects here are all male! Coming here is like entering a wolf’s den for a girl like you!”

”Aren't you around to protect me?” Bingxin said dismissively as she swallowed another soup dumpling.

She wiped her hands and took out a box of Dove chocolates and a container of beef jerky from her bag. These were snacks she and Xiaotao had prepared to cheer me up. It seemed that the two had agreed life here for me must be so miserable that I had to go without meat.

Then, she handed Dali and I two thick envelopes–our bonus for solving the mechanical torture case.

Bingxin expressed her interest in visiting the factory and she wouldn’t take no for an answer so I brought her for a tour of the factory.

”The environment here is better than I expected!” she exclaimed.

”It’s all automated and our internship isn’t that much of a challenge,” I explained. “I think I might just continue working here in the future. After all, doing manual work in the day makes for a good night’s sleep!”

Bingxin spat her tongue at me. ”As if I’d believe that! I’m 100% sure that’s not what you think!”

”Look at my face. Don't I resemble an assembly line worker?” I joked.

Bingxin pointed at Wang Dali. ”I think he looks more like one!” she blurted. “With this face of yours, I bet quite a few people would believe me if I told them you were a highly intelligent criminal!”

Dali clutched his chest in an exaggerated enactment of a brokenhearted man. ”Why’d you have to go and compare us? In fact, I look pretty good if I weren’t standing next to him!”

”My bad! I’ll treat you to grilled fish for lunch!” she patted Dali comfortingly.

Dali was so delighted he grinned from ear to ear like a big Cheshire Cat. But I knew Bingxin’s invitation was simply naive and devoid of implicit suggestions so I interjected, ”Don’t we have a group activity at noon?”

Bingxin's eyes lit up as she asked me what group activities we had planned.

”We’re going to pick up soap! So you better not go!” I warned.

”You’re lying!” she pursed her lips. “Anyway, I insist on going and there’s nothing you can do to stop me!”

There really was no stopping a persistent Bingxin so I gave up trying. When it was time to gather with the others, the three of us walking together drew quips from a few of our friends. ”Song Yang, you even brought your wife!”

My cheeks colored from embarrassment. ”Stop blabbering nonsense,” I said. “She’s my little sister.”

Fortunately, Bingxin was very cooperative. ”Hello everyone!” greeted Bingxin with a cute curtsy. “I’m Song Yang's little sister. My name is Sun Bingxin. It’s nice to meet you all!”

”Aren’t you biological siblings?” someone asked. Why don’t you share the same surname?”

”Oh, we picked him off the streets,” responded Bingxin.

I was suddenly overcome with the urge to curse.

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