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Chapter 118 Observational Skills

“You’ve already revealed enough information during our regular conversations.”

Ye Qing had finished the entire box of chicken wings, while Ai Liang was only just starting to eat her third one.

"In our usual conversations... I don't recall ever mentioning my location or personal information, right?"

Ye Qing's tone was slightly hesitant. Over the past five years, the two had exchanged tens of thousands of chat records, and she wasn't sure if she had let something slip one day.

However, Ye Qing would never casually reveal personal information.

"To verify your identity, you don't necessarily need a specific store name."

Ai Liang put down her chopsticks and began to chant.

"The supermarket layout you complained about, how many bus stops you took to and from work, the time the supermarket spent handling expired food and frozen meat, and your attitude towards other supermarket staff can all serve as clues."

"Of course I can't guess without meeting you, but I've been to the supermarket where you work, so I'll be somewhat familiar with it."

"Even so, you wouldn't expect me to be involved, would you? I was only twelve years old when I started working part-time at the supermarket four years ago!"

Ye Qing could understand what was said earlier, but generally speaking, shouldn't she have suspected the other staff members in the supermarket?

Why would someone like Zhu Lan or Sister Li suspect me?
Especially when the two met again downstairs in the residential building, Ye Qing mentioned that she was an orphan. Would an orphan who was just over ten years old spend all day chatting on her phone?
"At first, I didn't really think of you as Xia Zhi, but when you were buying things with me, your interactions with the other staff were so similar to Xia Zhi's personality."

"Just because of that? Shouldn't you be treating me like a student working part-time during the summer vacation?"

Ye Qing couldn't quite understand this far-fetched reason.

"Of course it's more than that."

Ai Liang paused for a moment and continued, "It's mainly because of your hat that I was able to confirm that you're a long-time employee here."

"In the supermarket, the only people wearing the same white-topped, red-brimmed baseball cap as you are the uncles and aunties and the cashier at the front desk whom you call Sister Li."

Judging from their proficiency in their work, these people are clearly veteran employees.

When I went to the supermarket for the first time yesterday, the cashier, who wasn't very familiar with the machine, was wearing a plain white baseball cap. The cap was probably used to distinguish between long-term and part-time employees.

"So you must have been working at the supermarket for a while now, and the way you talk to other people makes you seem very familiar with them. These two points combined are the main reasons why I suspect you are Xia Zhi."

After finishing her explanation, Ai Liang continued to eat, slowly savoring the honey-glazed chicken wings in her bowl.

Ye Qing was speechless with astonishment.

From that moment on, she had a very simple and intuitive understanding of the so-called geniuses who could read and write at the age of one.

Ye Qing was completely stunned. She said blankly, "I think I told you this two or three years ago. You still remember it?"

"I just have a good memory," Ai Liang said modestly.

"Since you recognized me, why don't you just say so directly!"

Ye Qing said angrily.

"You've been wary of my identity ever since I treated you to dinner. I was worried that if I told you directly, you would think I was a stalker."

Ai Liang looked at Ye Qing, who was coming to interrogate her, and calmly retorted.

Ye Qing then realized that since Ai Liang could notice even these details, had he also noticed her wariness?

Thinking of this, Ye Qing felt a little embarrassed. She began to stammer an explanation: "Um... well... you see, Qianhua City is so chaotic, isn't it only natural to be more vigilant..."

"Girls should be more careful when they're out and about, after all, I'm so cute... hehe☆"

Ye Qing slapped her forehead with her right hand, blinked, and stuck out her tongue, trying to get away with being cute.

Ai Liang nodded gently, then looked at her quietly.

The two stared at each other for thirty seconds.

"I know I'm cute, but I'll get embarrassed if you keep staring at me like that."

Ye Qing smiled slyly and chose to change the subject.

"Speaking of which, A Liang, your online name is really old-fashioned, you just use part of your own name."

A Liang is Ye Qing's online name for Ai Liang.

Although the two had never met before, they had known each other for five years and were classmates of the same age.

Therefore, Ye Qing did not feel uncomfortable when she was with Ai Liang.

Even now, when they address Ai Liang by her full name, neither of them feels any sense of awkwardness.

"I just picked it randomly; I rarely use chat software."

Ai Liang picked up her chopsticks again and started gnawing on the warm chicken wing.

"Actually, at first I thought you were a college student in your twenties or a middle-aged man in your thirties."

Now that everyone has revealed their identities to each other.

Ye Qing stopped hiding it and began to recall their conversations on the chat software.

"After all, the way you choose your words and phrases is so mature, it doesn't sound like a teenager at all."

Ai Liang said without looking up, "Pretty much. In my initial deduction, you were also a single woman or unmarried auntie between the ages of twenty-five and thirty."

Ye Qing feigned displeasure and said, "You're being hurtful with your words. I'm clearly a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl."

Ai Liang finished the last chicken wing and put down her chopsticks: "Who would have thought that a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl would be thinking about daily necessities, electricity bills, and rent every day?"

"That's true."

Ye Qing stroked her chin with one hand, pretending to be deep in thought: "Who told me to live alone... Come to think of it, aren't you the same? I remember you also cook for yourself!"

However, as they were talking, Ye Qing seemed to think of something funny and inexplicably burst out laughing.

"Your reasoning is correct. Actually, I was just mimicking the tone of our supermarket owner when I was chatting with you. By the way, she's twenty-eight years old this year."

…………

"Ah!"

Zhu Lan, who was far away in her apartment, sneezed for no apparent reason. She rubbed her nose and muttered to herself, "Could it be that the air conditioning is set too low?"

As she spoke, Zhu Lan pressed the eco-friendly 26-degree button, then turned over and settled into a different position on the sofa to watch her drama.

…………

On the balcony, Ai Liang and Ye Qing chatted about everyday things like old friends who had known each other for many years.

Ye Qing was the main speaker, and Ai Liang was listening in, occasionally interjecting with a comment.

However, this time the two were chatting face-to-face, without the obstruction of a mobile phone, allowing Ai Liang to observe Ye Qing's emotions more clearly.

This casual chat after dinner brought Ai Liang a long-lost sense of warmth.

When Ai Liang lived alone in that cold house, Ye Qing was his only friend besides the nanny, and the only person who cared about him.

Perhaps it's because Ye Qing's background is very similar to Ai Liang's past life.

In addition, she is very clear about her past and does not look at her background with any strange eyes.

Ai Liang felt very relaxed and comfortable when she was with Ye Qing.

Coming to Chika City is indeed a good choice.

This was the first time in the past few days that Ai Liang had the thought that 'life in Qianhua City might not be so bad.'

But not long after, Ai Liang dismissed the idea as a pipe dream.

Because a troublesome character has come knocking on our door.

(End of this chapter)