Zhu Yaya forcibly suppressed the urge to curse the system: "Aren't I just supposed to be an onlooker? Why do I also have to play the role of an aunty who provokes Xu Chun? And why have the words disappeared from the book 'The Domineering Him, The Pure Love' you showed me before?"
The system dodged the main issue: "Because right now, at the milk tea shop where Xu Chun is, besides Murong Beichen, you are the only other customer. Also, this aunty has no name in the original text."
Zhu Yaya: ...
The system thoughtfully added: "Do you remember your fourth task?"
Hearing this, Zhu Yaya remembered. The fourth task required her to imitate a conversation between two girls, and she was even caught by Yan Heng that time!
If it weren't for that nutcase Murong Beichen and all his ridiculous operations, she wouldn't have had to play this aunty role.
Yan Heng was also in this milk tea shop. She could already imagine his reaction when she showed up dressed as an aunty.
Moreover, having spent so many days at the "Once in a Lifetime" milk tea shop lately, and because of Yan Heng, the staff there knew her by now.
They would all see Yaya's aunty getup this afternoon. It was going to be a massive social disaster! It wouldn't be so awkward if nobody knew her!
To prepare for this afternoon's task, Zhu Yaya bid farewell to Yan Heng early and headed home first.
Taking advantage of Zhao Jing's absence, Yaya sneaked into her parents' bedroom and rummaged through Zhao Jing's wardrobe for clothes. Finally, she found a rose-red floral-patterned cotton-padded jacket and, feeling around the bottom of the wardrobe, pulled out a gaudy, multi-colored silk scarf.
Looking at the scarf, Yaya thought it certainly matched Murong Beichen's taste.
Yaya put on the rose-red jacket and tied the colorful scarf around her neck. To enhance the visual effect, she also applied some lipstick Zhao Jing had bought and put on a red-and-black checkered beret that Zhao Jing used specifically for traveling.
As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and the saddle makes the horse.
No matter how petite and cute Zhu Yaya was, after this makeover, her overall appearance took a nosedive. Fortunately, her fair skin saved her a few points.
Looking at her aunty reflection in the mirror, Yaya felt a pang of sorrow and inwardly wailed, almost not wanting to go to the milk tea shop to complete the task.
Girls love beauty, especially those who already have someone they admire; they pay even more attention to their outward appearance. No one wants to look bad in front of the person they like.
A woman adorns herself for the one who appreciates her.
Zhu Yaya was no exception. She absolutely did not want Yan Heng to see her looking this silly and frumpy.
Thinking this, Yaya also put on Zhao Jing's sunglasses and cotton mask.
Looking at her fully-armed self in the mirror, Yaya sighed. This way, Yan Heng and the folks at the milk tea shop shouldn't recognize her, right? Later, when eating the watermelon, she'd find another way to prevent anyone from seeing her face.
Yaya dawdled until almost two o'clock before leaving. Who would have thought that shortly after stepping out, just as she turned to lock the door, she ran into Zhu Jianjun, who was rushing home to retrieve some documents.
Zhu Jianjun, hiding not far behind Yaya, eyed the suspicious-looking stranger at his doorstep with suspicion.
That outfit, that hat...
It looked exactly like what his wife had! But the figure didn't match hers.
Could this be a thief! Taking advantage of an empty house to steal from them, even wearing his wife's clothes to avoid surveillance!
Zhu Jianjun took a big step forward, locked the suspicious woman's hands behind her back, and shouted angrily, "Don't move!"
Yaya, who had just finished locking the door: ???
That voice sounded like...
Her dad!
Zhu Jianjun still hadn't realized the woman he'd apprehended was his daughter. He freed one hand, snatched the hat off Yaya's head, and used it to whack her head forcefully. "Well, well! Stealing right at a police officer's home! You're quite bold, huh! Even stealing my wife's clothes and wearing her hat!"
With her hands locked, Yaya spoke up weakly, "Dad."
Because of the cotton mask, her voice sounded muffled.
Hearing this, Zhu Jianjun whacked Yaya's head with the hat again, furious. "You thief! To beg for mercy, you'd just call anyone 'Dad'! Have you no backbone! If your parents—"
Hearing Zhu Jianjun was about to launch into a lecture, Yaya hurriedly interrupted him. "Dad, it's me! It's Yaya."
"Still trying to trick me? My precious daughter doesn't look anything like you. Fine, I'll just rip off your mask and see."
Zhu Jianjun tossed the hat aside, removed Yaya's mask, and upon seeing her face, exclaimed in surprise, "Yabao! It's you!"
He immediately released his grip on Yaya's hands. Not knowing it was her, he had used considerable force.
Freed, Yaya rubbed her wrists where they had been restrained.
Zhu Jianjun handed the removed mask back to Yaya and picked up the hat from the ground. "Do your hands hurt a lot? I'm sorry, Yabao. Dad didn't know it was you. Hey, why are you dressed like this? These are your mom's clothes, right? I thought a thief had broken in!"
Yaya put the mask and hat back on properly. She adjusted the hat and started talking nonsense: "Dad, you just don't get it. This is fashion."
Zhu Jianjun scratched the back of his head, looking simple and honest. "Really? Why don't I see other girls your age on the street dressed like this?"
"If I dressed like them, it wouldn't showcase my unique taste." Fully armed again, Yaya twirled in front of Zhu Jianjun and asked, "Dad, if you see me dressed like this, would you still recognize me?"
Zhu Jianjun looked her up and down carefully. "I might not recognize you right away; I didn't just now. But, hmm, if I look closely, I could probably guess."
Yaya didn't quite believe him. "No way, you could still recognize this mess? If you can tell by looking closely, then why didn't you recognize me just now?"
"Well, I thought you were out. And I never imagined our Yabao, all grown up, would still sneak to wear adult clothes." Zhu Jianjun's face was full of teasing.
Yaya hmphed. She had crossed over last October; he made it sound like she'd been here since childhood. She retorted, "I never snuck to wear adult clothes when I was little!"
Zhu Jianjun was amused. "How could you not have? I remember back then, Yabao, you... wait, back then, you... you seemed to have snuck into your mom's floral dress, no, maybe it was a red dress, or maybe not... Ouch, why can't I remember..."
Yaya took out her phone to check the time. Because of Zhu Jianjun's interruption, she was running short on time. The system wanted her at the "Once in a Lifetime" milk tea shop by 2:30 PM today!
So, Yaya didn't indulge Zhu Jianjun's trip down memory lane anymore. She bid him a hurried goodbye and rushed out.
Zhu Jianjun stood at his doorstep, watching Zhu Yaya's retreating figure and shook his head. Even at her age now, she still acted like a child.
