Chapter 2The Heatwave and the Grandson's "Masculinity"

Mrs. Liu was still rambling.

"Lily, you're in charge of bringing food for my grandson. Get nutritious stuff—sea cucumber, abalone. How else will he grow strong?"

"And you, Jess. Take my grandson out for sunbathing every afternoon. Bring fruit, too. Cherries are acceptable."

The three of us rolled our eyes in unison.

Mrs. Liu spoke as if these were facts.

She demanded the best. But she never mentioned money.

She was clearly trying to mooch off us. And she acted like we should be grateful.

She wasn't done. She turned her imperious gaze to me.

"As for Chloe, you're responsible for..."

I started coughing violently, cutting her off.

Mrs. Liu looked at me with disgust. "What do you have? Don't pass it to my grandson."

"So unlucky," she muttered.

I shook my head weakly, coughing harder.

"I... cough... I don't know..."

"Cough... but don't worry... cough... I will definitely... help take care of... your grandson... cough cough..."

I made a move to lunge towards Sarah.

Mrs. Liu, terrified for her "grandson," blocked me immediately.

"Stop! Stop! How can a sick person get near my grandson?"

"If you infect him, can you afford the consequences?"

I looked at her innocently. "But... but didn't you just say I should serve your grandson?"

Meaning: You asked for this. Why are you blaming me now?

Mrs. Liu didn't care about logic. She only cared about the baby.

She practically threw herself on the ground, throwing a tantrum.

"I don't care! Move out of this dorm right now!"

"If my grandson catches anything from you, I won't let you off!"

Since she insisted...

I "reluctantly" agreed.

"Okay... okay... cough..."

"I'll... move out as soon as possible..."

Seeing this, my roommates followed suit.

One claimed a headache and fever.

The other said she had chickenpox recently and was still contagious.

Seeing all three of us "useless," Mrs. Liu cursed up a storm.

As she shooed us out, she couldn't help but make snide remarks.

"You girls have no luck."

"My grandson is enduring this heat so he'll be born with masculine energy."

"I wanted you to serve him so you could catch some luck and find a husband."

"Guess you don't deserve that blessing."

Her tone was smug, as if serving her unborn grandson was the highest honor.

We had just spoken to the Resident Director about switching rooms.

Since he approved, we were already packing.

Hearing Mrs. Liu, we rolled our eyes again.

Whatever.

Whoever wants that "blessing" can have it.

We sure as hell don't.