Chapter 35: The Midnight Pizza Dispute

“A… Aunt?”

Yaqi was still recovering from being pinned down. Liu Ya, seizing the moment, shoved the bag of chips into her arms, pushed her away, and ran over to Aunt Zhao.

“Aunt! Yaqi stole my snack!”

“What? No, I didn’t!”

“Yes, you did!”

“Liu Ya, you…!”

“Hmph!”

Liu Ya stuck out her tongue and made a face at her, then turned away with a huff. Yaqi realized she had been outmaneuvered and quickly ran to Aunt Zhao to explain.

“No, Auntie! This is…”

“What do you mean no? Look, you ate it all!”

Liu Ya shook the empty bag in front of Aunt Zhao.

“It was Liu Ya who ate them! And you didn’t even leave me one… That’s too much!”

“Wha… what’s too much? You’re the one who ate them!”

“I…!”

“Alright, alright…”

Aunt Zhao stopped the frame-up. Yaqi hung her head in grievance, while Liu Ya smugly pressed closer to Aunt Zhao, as if to prove her innocence.

But Aunt Zhao just smiled, placed her hands on Liu Ya’s shoulders, and moved her next to Yaqi.

“Huh?”

Liu Ya was about to speak in surprise, but Aunt Zhao pressed her index finger to her lips, still smiling. As Liu Ya looked on in confusion, Aunt Zhao raised her hand and lightly tapped her on the head.

“Ow~”

Liu Ya rubbed her head, pouting reluctantly. Aunt Zhao straightened up, sighed with a wry smile, and said,

“Liu Ya, trying to pull one over on me? Do you think I’m a child?”

“Wha… what do you mean…”

Liu Ya looked away evasively, whistling softly. But since she couldn’t actually whistle, it just sounded like air escaping a balloon.

“I said I have to be fair, so I won’t help you bully Yaqi!”

“Hmph… Who’s bullying? She started it… pulling my clothes, pushing me to the ground…”

Liu Ya lowered her head, covered her chest with her hand, and let out a couple of fake sobs. She looked like a poor, bullied girl, pitiful enough to tug at anyone’s heartstrings.

“Wha… what? That’s because you were messing with me first! I was just defending myself!”

“I wasn’t! You started it!”

“No way! It was you…”

The two started bickering again. Aunt Zhao watched them with a pleased smile.

After all, this used to happen every few days. They’d argue over nothing, then awkwardly make up, and then go back to squabbling as if nothing had happened.

They went back and forth, and for a moment, it felt like time had rewound a few years. Aunt Zhao wanted to enjoy the show, but it was late, and she couldn’t let them keep arguing. So she stepped in to stop them.

“Alright, alright. That’s enough.”

“Aunt! You have to take my side!”

“Hmph! Playing pitiful won’t work.”

“Okay, stop fighting…”

“I hereby declare: Yaqi and Liu Ya are equally guilty!”

“Huh?”

“Why? It was Yaqi…”

Aunt Zhao didn’t let her finish. She took the empty bag from Yaqi and shook it in front of Liu Ya.

“Liu Ya, you opened this bag of chips, didn’t you? I bought it for you on Monday. How could Yaqi have known about it?”

“Uh…”

Caught in her scheme, Liu Ya was speechless. She hung her head silently. Seeing Liu Ya at a loss, Yaqi couldn’t help but snicker.

“Don’t laugh, Yaqi. You were the one who went to the kitchen looking for food, right?”

“Huh? How did you know, Aunt? Nobody was in the living room.”

“Because your stomach was growling just now, haha.”

“Aww…”

Yaqi shyly covered her stomach with her hands. Seeing them both subdued, Aunt Zhao smiled and asked seriously,

“What, didn’t you get enough dinner?”

“Mm.” They both nodded.

“I thought so. When you two came out, you looked like you hadn’t had enough.”

“I know Liu Ya’s appetite. That amount definitely wasn’t enough. Yaqi, I remember you used to have a good appetite too. I bet you’re still hungry, right?”

“Mm. Uncle Liu chose a great restaurant! But… the portions were a bit small…”

Yaqi said quietly, a bit embarrassed. Liu Ya chimed in with a complaint.

“Right! It was expensive, but the food was so little. Is that what authentic Western food is like?”

“Well… I don’t know much about that either. But let’s not talk about that now. You’re still hungry, right? Let me go see what I can make for you.”

Aunt Zhao went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, looked inside, then glanced at the vegetable basket. She put her hands on her hips, looking a bit troubled, and hummed softly.

The two girls followed curiously. Seeing Aunt Zhao hesitate, Yaqi was about to say she was fine with anything. But Liu Ya noticed a half-made pizza crust in the fridge and swallowed.

“Aunt, don’t bother. I can just have some snacks.”

“Nonsense! How can I let you eat snacks when I’m home?”

Even as she said that, Aunt Zhao crossed her arms and scanned the kitchen, looking troubled.

“But… there’s not much left in the house… There’s a bowl of rice, some leftover beef, and some green peppers. Hmm…”

“Oh! Aunt, how about fried…”

“Let’s make pizza!”

“Huh?”

Before Yaqi could finish, Liu Ya stepped in front of her, eyes shining at Aunt Zhao. Her expression was pure craving.

“Pizza, huh? That could work. I think I saw a pizza crust in there.”

“Then…!”

“But won’t it be too heavy to digest so late?”

“No, it won’t!”

“Hah, you’ll get fat, Liu Ya.”

“Gulp…”

Liu Ya faltered at that, hesitated for a moment, but gritted her teeth and decided to leave that problem for future her.

“I don’t care!”

“Haha! Okay, okay. What about you, Yaqi? What do you want?”

“Me?”

At this, Liu Ya crossed her arms and looked at her with a slight tilt of her head. Though she said nothing, her eyes left no room for refusal.

“Uh…”

Yaqi understood what Liu Ya wanted. She too wanted to indulge a bit late at night, but she felt bad for troubling Aunt Zhao.

Liu Ya grew impatient waiting for an answer and blurted out,

“Aunt, Yaqi said she wants pizza too!”

“Oh? Really, Yaqi?”

While speaking, Liu Ya had quietly moved next to Yaqi and stood in front of her.

“Huh? I… Ah!”

Before she could finish, Liu Ya’s right hand, hidden behind her back, shot out and pinched her thigh.

“You want some, right, Yaqi?”

“I… Ouch!”

Liu Ya turned her head and grinned slyly at her, squeezing harder.

“Right?”

“I… I want some too…”

“Right?”

Satisfied with the answer, Liu Ya let go, turned back, and beamed at Aunt Zhao. Yaqi, full of grievance, bent over to rub her red thigh.

Aunt Zhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She shook her head helplessly, deciding to indulge Liu Ya’s wish.

“Alright! Since Yaqi wants it too, I can’t say no!”

“Mm!”

“Ugh… I…”

Aunt Zhao smiled and went into the kitchen to start working.

Seeing Aunt Zhao busy, the two girls had nothing to do. They went to get their phones and sat at the dining table, playing while waiting for food.

“Liu Ya, why are you so mean now…”

Yaqi stared at her phone, pretending to complain casually. But Liu Ya knew she was aimed at her. She put down her phone, leaned back in her chair, and looked at her with a slight tilt of her head, projecting an air of a queen.

“Mean? What did I do?”

“Hmph!”

Yaqi decided to lay her cards on the table. She pouted and gave her a resentful look.

“You know! Why did you pinch me? That’s outright blackmail!”

“Wha… blackmail? That sounds so bad…”

“Hmph! Isn’t it?”

Liu Ya spread her hands and shook her head helplessly.

“It’s called gratitude, you know?”

“Huh?”

Yaqi tilted her head in confusion. Liu Ya explained calmly.

“Look! I helped you with your homework, used my authority to get us seated together, and got you into the student council…”

“I’ve done so much for you! The least you can do is give something back, right?”

“Now’s your chance to be useful. If not now, when?”

Liu Ya chuckled smugly. Yaqi stared at her with sharp, intent eyes.

“Half of what you said… you forced on me!”

“Who cares! Have I ever done anything to hurt you? They were all good things, weren’t they?”

“Well… I guess…”

“So, what are you complaining about?”

Yaqi had planned to turn the tables, but now she was the one caught off guard. Her lips pouted in grievance. Though unwilling, she couldn’t deny the truth. She could only silently endure the lingering pain on her thigh.

“Ugh… Fine, fine…”

“Hmph. Glad you understand.”

“You… Next time, don’t pinch me! It hurts…”

“Then next time, be more perceptive, and I won’t pinch you.”

“Hmph…”

Yaqi sighed helplessly, leaned back in her chair, and massaged her thigh.

This round was undoubtedly Liu Ya’s complete victory! And Yaqi had given in, so pizza was coming! Liu Ya happily swung her feet, smiling as she looked toward the kitchen where Aunt Zhao was busy.

Soon, the aroma of cooking wafted through the house.

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