BXBX NOVEL Chapter 418: The Fussy Madwoman
Chapter 418: Chapter 418: The Fussy Madwoman
However, Lin Ruoxi was as indifferent as if she was chewing wax.
She remembered a novel she had read, where the heroine, a female PhD, married an army officer. The cultural differences between them were vast, and she always felt her husband was unbearably vulgar, yet she couldn\'t bear to leave him. Until the end of the novel, the PhD never divorced her husband, but she couldn\'t understand what made her tolerate such a "vulgar" man.
Back then, Lin Ruoxi thought the female PhD was contradictory—how could she despise her husband\'s vulgarity yet refuse to divorce him? Now, she understood that the intricacies of relationships between men and women were indeed beyond her own understanding.
Watching the man sitting next to her, shirtless, his body glistening with sweat as if he\'d been working in the fields, finishing off greasy sausages with his hands, and wiping his mouth with his arm instead of using a napkin, Lin Ruoxi sighed softly. She handed Yang Chen a stack of napkins, "Don\'t use your hands, it\'s dirty."
Yang Chen grinned, showing his teeth, "I used to eat like this back in the day when we didn\'t even have bowls, let alone napkins. I just wiped my mouth unconsciously with my hands."
Taking the napkin, Yang Chen vaguely wiped his lips.
Lin Ruoxi was curious about Yang Chen\'s past, though she only knew bits and pieces and didn\'t want to ask him directly. She felt that if there was something she needed to know, Yang Chen would tell her. After all, he usually talked a lot.
He didn\'t mention it, probably because he felt there was no need for her to know.
Suddenly, Lin Ruoxi nodded and smiled softly, her beautiful face exuding a charming appeal. Yet, bizarrely, she was holding a half-eaten grilled chicken wing, which might look odd to others.
Unfortunately, no one else noticed.
After finishing lunch, some waitstaff, who seemed ready to pounce, came out and cleaned up all the trash.
Lin Ruoxi frowned and said to one of the staff, "Tell your manager not to have people follow us around; it feels like we\'re being watched, and it\'s uncomfortable."
The staff member went silent, bowing deeply, "Please forgive us, President. We are not spying, we just wanted to serve you, as it\'s rare for you to visit."
Lin Ruoxi waved them off, asking them to leave quickly. She always managed to maintain a bit of authority in front of her subordinates.
"Ruoxi is so imposing," Anxin whispered.
Yang Chen looked at her teasingly, "You think the same?"
"Of course," Anxin replied seriously, though the laughter in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
After the meal, Yang Chen put on his jacket. He actually enjoyed the sensation of being shirtless in the chilly air, reminiscent of his days doing missions in Siberia. Back then, he would cover his body with dark, chaotic lines to blend into the dark forests, avoiding wild animals and lying in wait to strike decisively.
Those times seemed like yesterday, but now, he was a white-collar worker in the city, living a life filled with domestic trivialities. Yang Chen didn\'t find it monotonous; on the contrary, it made his heart fuller.
Of course, it would be perfect if his wife got along better with his lovers.
The four of them strolled leisurely along the lake shore, the chilly wind brushing through their hair, bringing with it the smell of earth and dried leaves. Huilin\'s face remained lit with a smile as she shared with Anxin and Lin Ruoxi her memories of visiting Mount Emei. The three women chatted incessantly, like a lively play in motion.
It seemed that taking Huilin out for a walk was indeed a good decision.
Not far away was a small resting area intended for the resort\'s guests to take a break. The shops there sold steaming tea eggs, dried tofu, and various drinks. However, since most people were still having their lunch, the area was deserted except for an old man in a cotton vest who kept watch over the shop.
Outside the shop, a game stall caught the attention of the three women. It featured a tiered platform filled with cartoon plush toys. Customers could try to knock the toys off the platform by throwing small plastic balls. This kind of game is commonly seen in amusement parks, but Lin Ruoxi, Huilin, and Anxin had rarely encountered it and were immediately intrigued.
Especially eye-catching was a large, fluffy white polar bear toy placed at the highest point on the platform, which was quite a spectacle.
Anxin was somewhat indifferent, but Lin Ruoxi and Huilin, both of whom had preserved a child-like innocence, were particularly captivated. Lin Ruoxi, in particular, had a history of fixating on stuffed toys, which had once led Yang Chen to eat eighty-eight dumplings in a challenge. Now, seeing the large toy bear, Lin Ruoxi\'s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Knowing that Lin Ruoxi was too shy to suggest playing the game herself, Yang Chen feigned casual interest and suggested, "That game looks quite fun. Since we\'re just wandering around, why don\'t we go and play?"
A hint of joy passed through Lin Ruoxi\'s eyes, although she kept a straight face and responded, "I don\'t mind. Huilin, would you like to play?"
Huilin nodded vigorously, and so the group approached the old man running the game. Yang Chen asked, "Old man, how much does the game cost?"
The old man pointed to a small wooden board beside him, where the prices were written in brush script with cinnabar ink: "Five yuan for two tries, ten yuan for five tries."
"Let\'s get thirty yuan worth, then. That will give each of you five balls," Yang Chen said, pulling out a fifty-yuan note from his pocket. He only carried a small amount of cash on him.
The old man, who seemed a bit cold, trembled as he took the money and gave Yang Chen twenty yuan in change. He then handed out three small plastic baskets to Lin Ruoxi and the others.
"Stand outside this table and throw. Whether you hit the target or not depends on your luck," the old man advised kindly. "I suggest aiming for the smaller ones. The big ones might look good, but it\'s hard to knock them off the platform."
The plastic balls were hollow, so most of their force dissipated upon being thrown. Lightweight and easily swayed by the wind, hitting the target from even a short distance proved challenging.
Huilin was the first to stand behind the table. Though she was not skilled in throwing hidden weapons, her aim and strength were nonetheless impressive. With a swift throw, she knocked down a small teddy bear from the middle of the platform.
The old man clapped his hands in surprise, "Young lady, your aim is quite good!"
Huilin smiled sweetly, waiting for the old man to hand her the teddy bear she had knocked down. She continued to throw three more balls but missed with each one. However, with her last, the fifth ball, Huilin managed to knock down a white little pony. The old man picked it up and handed it to Huilin as well.
Yang Chen, noticing something, leaned in to quietly ask Huilin, "Why didn\'t you aim for the big polar bear? With a little more force, you could easily knock it down."
Feeling Yang Chen\'s warm breath near her ear, Huilin blushed and glanced cautiously at Lin Ruoxi to see if she was watching. Seeing that she wasn\'t, Huilin whispered, "I think my sister likes the bear more than I do, and besides, it\'s cold, and the old man is doing business here. It wouldn\'t be fair since I know martial arts—that would be cheating."
Yang Chen gave a knowing look, nodding with a smile, and playfully tugged at Huilin\'s ponytail, "Always the soft hearted one, aren\'t you?"
Though it was a casual gesture, Huilin felt her heart flutter; to her, it was a very affectionate act.
However, Yang Chen didn\'t dwell on the moment, as his attention shifted to Anxin, who was the next one to try her luck. Unlike Huilin, Anxin didn\'t have the same precision or strength. After her initial five attempts failed to knock down any toys, she pouted and said to the old man, "Can I have five more balls?" She then took out a ten-yuan note from her wallet.
The old man happily accepted the money and handed over another five balls to Anxin. This time, Anxin\'s perseverance paid off, and on her fourth throw, she knocked down one of the smallest Sunny Dolls. Satisfied with finally winning something, she decided not to continue.
"Go for it, Sister Ruoxi," Anxin encouraged Lin Ruoxi cheerfully as she stepped aside.
Lin Ruoxi nodded absentmindedly in response, focusing entirely on the task at hand. She took a deep breath, seemingly nervous, and stepped up to the table, her eyes fixed on the large polar bear toy perched at the top.
"Sister is really serious," Huilin couldn\'t help but comment, watching Lin Ruoxi\'s determined gaze.
An Xin walked over quietly and whispered, "That look isn\'t as if she\'s aiming at the polar bear toy; it\'s like she\'s hunting a polar bear. It\'s getting more and more like a little girl."
At this moment, Lin Ruoxi finally managed to "build up" her fighting spirit. She took out a plastic ball and forcefully threw it at the polar bear toy!
The ball had enough force, but it flew off course.
Lin Ruoxi\'s face immediately turned as red as a ripe apple. Clearly, for her, it was embarrassing to miss in front of her rival, her husband, and her sister.
Lin Ruoxi chose not to look at the expressions of those around her and continued to pick up balls, throwing them forcefully at the polar bear toy.
Unfortunately, after throwing five balls, she didn\'t even graze the edge of the polar bear, let alone knock it off the stand.
Without saying a word, Lin Ruoxi took out a fifty-yuan note from her wallet and handed it to the old man, saying, "I want twenty-five balls."
The old man was overjoyed and immediately handed over twenty-five balls, stuffing the fifty-yuan note into his vest pocket.
Lin Ruoxi, holding a basket full of balls, continued to throw them fiercely at the polar bear. However, no matter how she threw, the balls either flew to the left or to the right, but never hit the polar bear. She didn\'t even graze any of the other small toys.
After throwing all twenty-five balls, Lin Ruoxi\'s face was no longer red but had turned a bit pale. However, her gaze had become so murderous that it was frightening.
"Sir," Lin Ruoxi called out, her voice chilling enough to freeze someone. Despite the already cold weather, the old man felt a sudden drop of ten degrees.
"Little girl, do you still want more?" The old man was somewhat stunned. He had never seen such an unlucky customer; she had thrown thirty balls and didn\'t even knock down the smallest toy.
Lin Ruoxi took out a hundred-yuan note from her wallet and said, "Give me fifty balls."
The old man was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. "Little girl, with the way you\'re throwing, I feel bad for taking your money. How about I just give you a small toy and we call it even? Don\'t be upset, just consider it bad luck."
"No way!"
Lin Ruoxi suddenly spoke harshly, her face cold, causing the old man\'s heart to race.
"I don\'t believe I can\'t knock down even a small toy! Why can everyone else do it, but I can\'t? Sir, don\'t talk to me about giving me one. I don\'t want it. I want to knock it down myself!" Lin Ruoxi pointed at Hui Lin and An Xin in the distance.
Hui Lin and An Xin exchanged puzzled looks.
Yang Chen could only smile bitterly. He had long known about Lin Ruoxi\'s strong personality; otherwise, she wouldn\'t work so hard to prove to the world that she could manage Yu Lei International.
But now, Yang Chen realized he had underestimated Lin Ruoxi\'s competitiveness. She had taken this game of knocking down a toy to a level of seriousness he had never imagined. It seemed she saw An Xin as an imaginary rival and didn\'t want to lose to her in any aspect. Given her determined nature, Lin Ruoxi wouldn\'t give up until she knocked down that beloved polar bear.
The poor old man was intimidated. This young girl\'s gaze was not just about hitting toys; it was more like she wanted to kill!
But since she insisted on paying, the old man couldn\'t say much. He handed Lin Ruoxi two large baskets of fifty balls each, shaking his head with a bitter smile.
Lin Ruoxi took the two baskets of balls and placed them in front of her. She continued throwing at the polar bear, almost like a machine gun, constantly launching colorful plastic balls.
Unfortunately, no matter how she aimed or how hard she threw, the balls just wouldn\'t hit the toys.
"Young girl, don\'t keep aiming at that big bear. It looks big and easy to hit, but it\'s actually farther away. Try hitting the smaller ones; they\'re closer and easier to knock down," the old man advised. He couldn\'t bear to see such a pretty young girl frustrated.
Lin Ruoxi bit her lip, her eyes determined and resolute. "No, I must hit that big bear!"
By this time, Lin Ruoxi had thrown all fifty balls again. She took out another two hundred yuan from her wallet and told the old man, "Sir, I want one hundred balls!"
The old man was helpless but had no choice. He handed over another hundred balls.
Throwing a hundred balls wasn\'t an easy task. Lin Ruoxi threw a dozen, took a break, and continued throwing. After half an hour, Hui Lin and An Xin were almost in tears, finding the situation unbelievable. Even with their eyes closed, anyone should have hit at least one toy out of over a hundred balls.
When Lin Ruoxi finished throwing the balls and took out four hundred yuan to request two hundred more balls, the old man turned pale.
"Young girl, I\'m begging you. I\'ll give you that big bear and some other toys for free. All these toys together aren\'t worth four hundred yuan!" The old man spoke sincerely, genuinely frightened by Lin Ruoxi. How could there be such a terrifying customer in the world?
"Ruoxi, how about I help you knock it down? Consider it a gift from your husband," Yang Chen stepped forward, trying to persuade Lin Ruoxi. At this rate, it would be dark soon.
Lin Ruoxi looked at Yang Chen coldly, "What, you think I can\'t do it? If An Xin can knock it down, why can\'t I? I won\'t lose."
Yang Chen rubbed his face, at a loss for words. He couldn\'t exactly say, "Actually, you\'ve already lost."
This time, Lin Ruoxi practically snatched the two hundred balls from the old man. The two hundred balls, piled up like a small mountain, filled the small table.
Lin Ruoxi stretched her arms and began again, "balls raining down" continuously.
But life is unpredictable. Just like how some people manage to survive a hail of bullets, even after throwing four or five hundred plastic balls, Lin Ruoxi still hadn\'t hit a single toy.
This time of year, the days weren\'t very long to begin with. By the time Lin Ruoxi had thrown all two hundred balls, the sun was already setting.
Lin Ruoxi\'s face was now dark and stormy, and her beautiful features exuded a frightening aura. Her black eyes seemed to be burning with a fire that could incinerate.
The old man had hunched over and at some point, had quietly retreated into his shop. He was absolutely unwilling to take any more money and just hoped that this young lady would leave as soon as possible.
Yang Chen saw that Hui Lin and An Xin were already standing off to the side, looking dejected, and realized that this couldn\'t go on. He walked up and gently pulled on Lin Ruoxi\'s arm. "Let\'s go. Stop playing. Who gets angry over a game when they\'re out to relax?"
Although Lin Ruoxi was very reluctant, she knew she had gone too far. She puffed her cheeks and glared at the still-standing polar bear for a moment before nodding. "Wait a minute."
To Yang Chen\'s surprise, Lin Ruoxi walked to the shop entrance, placed a ten-yuan note on the table, and said to the old man who dared not look at her, "Sir, I\'m buying ten plastic balls with this ten yuan."
"Huh?"
The old man thought he had misheard, his face turning sorrowful. "Young lady, you still want to throw? I\'m getting old; this could give me a heart attack!"
"No, I\'m taking the balls home to practice. I\'ll come back when I\'m good at it," Lin Ruoxi said seriously. "Please save that big bear for me. I will win it."
This left not only the old man but also Yang Chen, Hui Lin, and An Xin speechless.
An Xin made the sign of the cross on her chest and whispered behind Yang Chen, "Honey, I\'ll definitely behave and be the smaller woman. I don\'t want to compete with such a crazy woman for a man. If she gets so serious about a toy bear, she\'d probably scare me to death if I tried to take her husband."
Yang Chen scolded disapprovingly, "What do you mean by \'crazy woman\'? Don\'t talk nonsense."
An Xin stuck out her tongue and pouted, clearly not thinking she had said anything wrong. She stole a glance at Lin Ruoxi, who was meticulously collecting the plastic balls, and for the first time, there was a genuine hint of fear in her eyes.