Hearing Ji Meiling’s arrogant and overbearing voice, Ji Shuyu’s entire body stiffened.
How did they return so quickly? Didn’t they just go out a short while ago?
Outside, Ji Meiling’s footsteps were approaching the master bedroom.
“Playing dead, are you? Let me tell you, don’t think you can just stay home acting like an ancestor because you’re carrying a child. Get out here and cook now!”
Ji Meiling’s voice grew closer; she seemed to be heading to her room to look for her.
If she were discovered breaking into the master bedroom with tools trying to pick the lock, given Lin Xiumei and Ji Meiling’s temperaments, they would absolutely raise hell.
Those two were just looking for a handle against her.
Without further hesitation, Ji Shuyu pulled open the door of the solid wood wardrobe and slipped inside.
Ji Meiling and Lin Xiumei were both outside right now. Going out now would be like walking right into a trap.
The best plan was to stay here and wait for a moment when they weren’t paying attention to slip out.
However, one thing worried Ji Shuyu greatly.
The lock on the outside door had been picked by her. If they noticed the lock had been tampered with when they entered, they would definitely find out.
Thinking of this, Ji Shuyu opened the Points Mall again.
After scanning the Daily Goods section, her eyes landed on an item in the far corner.
“Universal Repair Glue?”
This thing actually cost 10 points per unit.
But it was reusable—one bottle could be used for at least five repairs.
So, Ji Shuyu didn’t hesitate and exchanged points for the bottle of Universal Repair Glue.
The most convenient part was that she didn’t even need to go out and apply it to the lock. She just clicked ‘Use,’ and the lock automatically reverted to its original, unpicked state.
With that done, Ji Shuyu finally let out a sigh of relief.
The smell inside the wardrobe was unpleasant—a mix of mothballs and the cheap perfume Lin Xiumei wore.
Ji Shuyu felt her stomach churning, on the verge of vomiting.
Later, she would exchange all of Lin Xiumei’s perfumes for points. They were utterly disgusting.
She hid behind several overcoats, using them to conceal her figure.
The solid wood wardrobe doors fit tightly, preventing Ji Shuyu from clearly seeing the situation outside, but also providing her with a sense of security.
Before long, Ji Meiling, having failed to find Ji Shuyu outside, came over cursing.
“What are you shouting about? I just got home and heard you yelling,” Lin Xiumei’s voice came from another direction.
Ji Meiling snorted coldly. “You went through the trouble of withdrawing money for her, and she, on the other hand, has no idea where she’s run off to play again. She didn’t even make food; I’m starving.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiumei didn’t say much else and walked upstairs.
“What could she possibly be doing? Lately, don’t cause any trouble for me. After she signs the rural assignment consent form, you can say whatever you want.”
“But if you piss her off now and she refuses to sign in a fit of anger, then you can go to the countryside yourself.”
Upon hearing Lin Xiumei’s words, Ji Meiling sullenly fell silent.
Lin Xiumei walked over, first checked the lock on the master bedroom door, and seeing it was undisturbed, took out her key and opened the door.
“I’m not going to the countryside.”
The conditions in the countryside were so harsh; she absolutely wouldn’t go.
She was still waiting to get a job at the state-owned department store.
Going to the countryside was something for Ji Shuyu to do.
“If you don’t want to go, then behave yourself. What’s the big deal about putting up with it for a couple of days? After she’s gone, you can do whatever you want.”
Lin Xiumei walked in and sat down on the bed.
She picked up the face cream on the dresser, rubbed it on her hands, and then frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
Ji Meiling noticed something was off with Lin Xiumei and stepped forward to ask.
“I feel like someone’s been in this room.”
“How is that possible? The lock is perfectly fine. Did they climb in through the window?”
As she said this, Ji Meiling walked over and pulled the window open.
Before Lin Xiumei left, the windows had been locked.
Even so, Lin Xiumei still felt something was amiss. She opened the drawers and looked inside.
Nothing was missing.
Fortunately, after taking the pearl earrings and silver ring, Ji Shuyu had replaced the layer of gauze.
Lin Xiumei bent down to check the third drawer, finding it untouched and the combination lock intact, before she finally relaxed.
“Oh, right, Mom, I ran into Uncle Kang on the street today. He asked me when I’d be free to have a meal with him.”
Ji Meiling’s eyes gleamed with greed as she looked at the skincare products Lin Xiumei had placed on the dresser.
Once she started working at the state-owned department store, she could afford such nice things too.
But as soon as Ji Meiling finished speaking, Lin Xiumei grabbed her.
“Haven’t I told you not to mention your Uncle Kang in this house?”
Seeing the look on Lin Xiumei’s face, Ji Meiling was taken aback, as if frightened.
“I… I understand.”
She had never seen Lin Xiumei scold her so harshly before.
Lin Xiumei quickly realized she had scared Ji Meiling.
But Ji Meiling had been spoiled by her. She dared to say anything without thinking, and Lin Xiumei needed to scare her to make her remember.
“Go outside. I bought some walnut cookies.”
With these words from Lin Xiumei, Ji Meiling’s earlier unhappiness instantly vanished.
After Ji Meiling left, Lin Xiumei paced around the room, her gaze finally settling on the solid wood wardrobe.
She walked toward it—her intuition couldn’t be wrong; she felt sure someone was hiding inside.
Inside the wardrobe, Ji Shuyu’s heart pounded in her throat, and she even began searching the Points Mall for something she could use.
But as a pauper, she couldn’t afford anything in the Points Mall.
Besides, the mall couldn’t perform magic and teleport her out.
Just as Lin Xiumei reached out to open the wardrobe, Ji Guodong’s voice echoed from downstairs.
“Dad, you’re back!”
Ji Meiling called out cheerfully. Hearing this, Lin Xiumei withdrew her hand.
It seemed she needed to deal with the things in the wardrobe sooner rather than later. She had originally planned to keep them for future use, but now they felt like a ticking time bomb.
Lin Xiumei closed the door again and went out. The three of them chatted together, and Ji Shuyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seizing the moment while they were in the main room talking, she quickly slipped out and returned to her own room.
Although she hadn’t managed to open the third drawer,
Ji Shuyu felt that Lin Xiumei’s reaction when Ji Meiling mentioned “Uncle Kang” was far too unusual.
She racked her memory, trying to recall any mention of this “Uncle Kang” in the book’s content, but found nothing.
Yet Lin Xiumei’s attitude made Ji Shuyu suspicious.
This Uncle Kang must be a very important figure.
It seemed she needed to find some time to go out and investigate; perhaps she would make some interesting discoveries.
Downstairs, the family of three ate their meal together, completely forgetting about Ji Shuyu.
But with the Points Mall, Ji Shuyu lacked nothing, not even food. In fact, she ate even better than they did.
She needed to think carefully about what to do next.
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