My Roommate Lover - Chapter 10 - Time for a Feast

Ever stolen anything? Nope. Ever stolen a woman? Well, yes.

What would it feel like to be caught red-handed with someone else’s wife? Jia Simiao hadn’t experienced it, but he was starting to get the idea. How could he have known Zhang Xixi would suddenly wake up? She didn’t say a word, just stared at him, making his scalp tingle with unease.

Jia Simiao whispered, “Uh… Xixi, shall we eat?”

Zhang Xixi continued to stare, silent as ever.

“I… I admit, I had a fleeting inappropriate thought, but I swear I didn’t do anything to you. I can swear on a light bulb-if it goes out, so do I.”

Suddenly, Zhang Xixi stood up, still silent, not even blinking, her gaze fixed on him.

What more could she want? Sure, Jia Simiao admitted he had a moment of weakness, but he hadn’t actually done anything. Thinking isn’t a crime, right? He coughed awkwardly, smiling sheepishly, “Xixi, if you have something to say, just say it. Please don’t look at me like that.”

With a thud, Zhang Xixi collapsed back onto the bed, eyes shut, softly snoring.

Jia Simiao was stunned, frozen for a good few seconds before he finally realized. As a doctor, renowned in traditional Chinese medical science as Ghost Hand, he could see it-Zhang Xixi had a condition, somnambulism.

This condition could be harmless or terrifying.

He recalled a news story about a woman who woke up to find her husband brutally murdered, his head hacked to pieces. Terrified, she called the police. When they arrived, they found no signs of forced entry, and the murder weapon was a kitchen knife. Her fingerprints were on the handle.

She had killed her husband.

The police arrested her on suspicion of murder, but she protested her innocence. During the investigation, neighbors and family testified that the couple was loving, never even argued, and she had no motive.

So what happened?

A psychologist discovered she had dreamt of cutting a watermelon with a kitchen knife. In reality, she was sleepwalking, mistaking her husband’s head for a watermelon.

How chilling is that? Looking at Zhang Xixi, Jia Simiao wondered how severe her condition was. If he tried to treat her, she wouldn’t believe she was ill. If he told Shen Jun’ao and Tang Ziyu, would they believe him? They’d probably ask, “How do you know Xixi sleepwalks? Were you sleeping with her?”

Jia Simiao took a deep breath, deciding to talk to Shen Jun’ao and Tang Ziyu when the opportunity arose, his conscience clear.

Zhang Xixi remained in her position, but Jia Simiao’s earlier thoughts had vanished. Dare to kiss her? Who knew if she’d suddenly open her eyes again, scaring him half to death. He leaned over, gently calling her name until she finally woke up.

“Are you hungry? Come eat something.”

Sitting up, Zhang Xixi asked, “Did I fall asleep? Did you take advantage of me while I was out?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“With your brains, could I fool you?”

“True.”

Zhang Xixi jumped off the bed, washed her face, and boasted, “There’s only one person I admire in this world-my sister. It’s a pity she’s always busy with the company or talking about some man. I don’t get it, what’s so great about him?”

Jia Simiao chuckled over his wonton, “From the way you talk, you’re an heiress, huh? Seeing you, I can imagine how smart your sister is. If she talks about him, he must be quite exceptional.”

“So what if I’m an heiress? I left home to prove to my family that I’m capable, that I can become a big boss.”

“Of course, of course. Boss Zhang, hurry up and eat. We have money to make.”

“Eat, eat.”

The mention of making money energized Zhang Xixi, and she devoured her wonton faster than Jia Simiao. Then she urged him to hurry up, not to waste time. It was their first day selling chilled watermelon, and if they did well, they could save up for a shop and start selling cold drinks.

They pushed the freezer to the flower shop’s entrance, greeted Fatty He, and plugged the extension cord into the shop’s power, stretching it over six meters to the freezer by the flowerbed. It couldn’t be too close to the shop, disrupting business, nor too far, spilling into the street. The spot was just right.

They spent over a hundred yuan on a large sunshade umbrella, set it up, and placed a glass case with pre-cut watermelon on the freezer. These were samples to lure passersby. With two plastic stools, this was their entire setup.

Despite appearances, it cost over five hundred yuan, plus the three hundred fifty rent, leaving Zhang Xixi’s wallet nearly empty. She was anxious; if they didn’t sell, they’d be left with nothing but the northwest wind to drink.

Sitting on a stool, watching people pass, she muttered, “Jia-Ge, do you think… we’ll sell anything?”

Jia Simiao replied, “Have you got your wallet ready?”

Zhang Xixi beamed, patting her waist pouch, “I’m ready. If we fill it today, we’ll treat Jun’ao and Ziyu to dinner.”

“Evening sales are the busiest. Can you bear to leave?”

“No way.”

They exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

Zhang Xixi didn’t care about being ladylike, shouting, “Watermelon, chilled watermelon, sweet and juicy!”

The street wasn’t crowded, but the heat drew people to buy a slice or two. At just two yuan a slice, sweet, juicy, and refreshingly cold, it was a treat that cooled you to the core.

Zhang Xixi handled sales, Jia Simiao cut the watermelon, working in perfect harmony.

From nine in the morning until noon, they sold over twenty watermelons. Each watermelon, cut into eight slices, sold for two yuan a slice, netting them sixteen yuan. With Li Ergou’s low price, a five-kilo watermelon cost them four yuan, meaning they earned twelve yuan per watermelon.

Some customers bought whole watermelons at one yuan per five hundred grams, netting them six yuan each. Less profit, but less hassle-no cutting required.

It wasn’t Zhang Xixi’s belly that was full, but her wallet, now bulging with several hundred yuan.

Just then, school let out, and students poured out. With more people, Zhang Xixi shouted even louder, drawing a crowd.

Tang Ziyu and her dorm mates came out, planning to stroll during lunch break. The heat was oppressive, and hearing the calls, they were drawn to the chilled watermelon. They crowded around, calling, “Give us a few slices.”

“Sure thing.”

Zhang Xixi responded, looking up to meet Tang Ziyu’s eyes.

Tang Ziyu exclaimed, “Xixi, what are you doing here?”

Zhang Xixi was proud, “Why not? As long as it makes money. Are you and your friends here for watermelon? It’s on me.”

Tang Ziyu was a bit stunned until Zhang Xixi handed them the chilled watermelon.

A girl asked, “Ziyu, who is she to you?”

Most would distance themselves from a street vendor like Zhang Xixi, but not Tang Ziyu. Proudly, she said, “My best friend.”

“And the handsome guy next to her, is he her boyfriend?”

Jia Simiao chuckled, finally someone recognized his charm. He didn’t care if he was Xixi’s boyfriend; it was the “handsome guy” part that mattered. Shen Jun’ao, Zhang Xixi, and Tang Ziyu often teased him, but deep down, they were just jealous they couldn’t find a boyfriend as handsome as him.

Jia Simiao said, “Since you’re Ziyu’s friends, eat as much as you like.”

“Eat as much as you like?” Zhang Xixi shot Jia Simiao several looks. She was the major investor here, and in a board meeting, she’d be the major shareholder. He, having contributed a mere hundred yuan, was acting all generous. It should be her line. But she wasn’t stingy, smiling as she handed more watermelon to Tang Ziyu and her friends.

Taking advantage of someone’s hospitality, Tang Ziyu was fine, but her friends felt a bit guilty. They didn’t pay much, but eating for free felt wrong. With nothing else to do, they decided to help out.

Jia Simiao whispered, “No need to help. Just pretend you’re shopping, eating watermelon loudly, and call out a bit.”

Winking at Tang Ziyu, she caught on, loudly praising, “Wow, this watermelon is so sweet, fragrant, and thin-skinned. It’s so refreshing!”

Another girl chimed in, “Delicious, delicious, I want another slice.”

The power of beauty was undeniable. With so many people passing by, they stopped to buy a slice or two. Busy, very busy, so much so that Jia Simiao and Zhang Xixi had no time to eat. After school resumed, and Tang Ziyu and her friends returned, the crowd finally thinned.

Jia Simiao made several trips, finally sitting down with bean jelly, asking, “Xixi, how much do you think we sold?”

Zhang Xixi sat on a stool, holding her bean jelly, feet propped on the flowerbed, excitedly asking, “How much?”

Jia Simiao smiled, “I think we’ll really have to treat Jun’ao and Ziyu tonight. With only ten watermelons left, we’ll sell out soon.”

“Really?” Zhang Xixi exclaimed, “I’ll call Jun’ao and Ziyu now… or maybe I’ll text Ziyu, see what they want to eat. It’s been a while since we had a feast.”