She wasn’t worried about herself, but mainly about her granddaughter.

Just then, Grandma Lu came over and took Gu Shengsheng’s grandma’s hand. “My dear friend, don’t you worry so much. The younger generation will make their own way.”

“From now on, you can just stick with me. I’ll take you out to have fun, and all this other business won’t affect you much at all.”

“The world out here is so big now. Don’t let yourself be confined to just that one village. Shengsheng will make sure your life keeps getting better and better.”

Hearing Grandma Lu’s words, her grandma only grew more flustered.

It was because, in her mind, Shengsheng had been so utterly defiant and disobedient, yet Mrs. Lu Sr. wasn’t blaming her. In fact, she was supporting her. It was a situation she simply couldn’t wrap her head around.

While there were many things she didn’t understand, some of which were even beyond her wildest imagination.

But her grandma was also a pragmatic woman; she knew to simply let go of things she couldn’t understand.

She sighed. “Mrs. Lu Sr., I know you’re fond of Shengsheng, and that you’re fond of me because of her. Our family is truly overwhelmed by your kindness.”

“That child, Shengsheng… growing up, she never had much help or many kind people in her life. She’s always had to find her own way.”

“Meeting all of you is a sign that her bitter days are finally giving way to sweeter ones.”

Even though Mrs. Lu often told her they should interact as friends, in her grandma’s eyes, the entire Lu Family were their great benefactors.

In contrast, Gu Shengsheng was rather headstrong, doing whatever she pleased. She even divorced Lu Shijing, yet Mrs. Lu never blamed her for it.

According to her grandma’s traditional way of thinking, it would have been perfectly normal for Gu Shengsheng to be shunned and scolded.

So at this moment, her grandma was a bundle of nerves, feeling both anxious and overwhelmingly grateful.

Mrs. Lu Sr. knew it would likely take some time for her to change this mindset.

But that was alright. She understood her friend, a woman of her own age, and she knew that Shengsheng’s grandma hadn’t had an easy life. No one is born knowing everything.

So Grandma Lu sat with her, chatting for a long time and singing Gu Shengsheng’s praises to put her mind at ease.

Gu Shengsheng was deeply touched.

‘This is how it is with elders,’ she thought. ‘I could explain for ages, and she might not hear a single word of it.’

But coming from Grandma Lu, it all sounded perfectly reasonable, and her own grandma was actually taking it to heart.

Just then, Gu Shengsheng was wondering if she should go make dinner. ‘It’s been a while since I was last here,’ she thought, ‘it would be nice for everyone to have a hot meal.’

Suddenly, a loud “CLATTER, CLANG, CRASH” came from the kitchen. Gu Shengsheng sensed something was off. Mrs. Lu Sr. looked exasperated. “That must be Linnin in there.”

“She’s been acting so strangely lately. Out of the blue, she’s taken up cooking and insists on making food for me. Ugh, the thought of it makes me want to gag!” She made a face of utter disgust, as if recalling something horrifically unpalatable.

Gu Shengsheng was curious. “Why the sudden strange behavior? How long has this been going on?”

“Beats me. It just started a few days ago. She’s been in a daze, completely out of it, and yet she insists on messing around with kitchen knives trying to cook.”

Gu Shengsheng walked into the kitchen and was greeted by a scene of utter chaos. Ingredients were strewn across the counters in a complete jumble.

It seemed like every surface was in disarray.

Even Lu Linlin herself hadn’t been spared; there were bits of something in her hair.

When their eyes met, Gu Shengsheng was speechless. “…”

Neither of them knew what to say. The moment hung between them, thick with awkwardness.

Gu Shengsheng asked, “What… are you doing?”

“Sister-in-law… oh, right. You’re not my sister-in-law anymore.”

“It’s fine. You’re used to it, so call me whatever you like.” ‘It’s not like Lu Shijing and I have a future together, and we’ll probably never see each other again anyway,’ she thought.

So Gu Shengsheng really didn’t mind what Lu Linlin called her.

“I want to learn how to cook. I want to change myself. My lifestyle is a mess. I don’t think I can go to nightclubs anymore, and I can’t keep staying out all night just to party.”

Gu Shengsheng paused. “…Well, wanting to change is a good thing.”

“What brought on this sudden epiphany? You don’t strike me as the type. Besides, how can your passions change so drastically in just a few days?”

“…” Lu Linlin didn’t know how to explain to anyone that she had gotten blackout drunk and done something she shouldn’t have.

And with someone she knew very well, at that.

From now on, she’d probably have to walk on eggshells around Jin Ran. In fact, she never wanted to see him again.

After mulling it over for the past two days, she had to admit that, embarrassment aside, the experience itself had actually been… really good.

She even found herself replaying it in her mind quite often.

She blushed at the thought.

Gu Shengsheng was speechless again. ‘…Seriously? What is she blushing for all of a sudden?’

“Be honest with me. What happened to make you act like this?”

“Why the sudden urge to become a ‘good person’?”

Lu Linlin sighed. “I don’t know, it’s just not fun anymore. I’ve had my fill of partying.”

“I mean, I’ve got nothing going for me. I can’t just squander my whole life away, right? Even if I can’t make as much money as you, I should at least try to make my life a little more meaningful!”

“Hmm. That’s true.” ‘Having goals is a good thing, and changing your entire lifestyle is a rare and difficult accomplishment,’ Gu Shengsheng mused.

Although Gu Shengsheng doubted she could change so quickly, she was still supportive of her newfound determination.

Then Gu Shengsheng asked, “So, you want to be a chef? You want to cook?”

“It’s more than just that.”

With that, she pulled out a booklet titled *How to Be a Good Woman*. The cover featured a picture of a vintage-style domestic goddess.

The paper quality looked like it belonged to a pirated book, probably picked up from some random street stall.

Gu Shengsheng had a bad feeling the moment she saw the title.

She wondered, ‘Could the advice in this thing possibly be any good?’

As soon as the question crossed her mind, she opened it to the table of contents.

First Lesson for a Good Woman: Do housework, learn to cook, and make a delicious meal for your family.

Second Lesson for a Good Woman: Learn to cook for your husband and devote your entire life to him and your children.

Third Lesson for a Good Woman: Know your place and behave. If your husband hits you, do not hit back. If he scolds you, do not talk back.

Final Lesson for a Good Woman: Ignore the first three lessons. To hell with men. A queen shines brightest on her own. Do whatever the hell you want.

After reading it, Gu Shengsheng was… well, she was utterly speechless.

This little booklet had a certain ‘periodically unhinged’ aesthetic.

She just wondered if Lu Linlin had made it to the fourth lesson yet.

So Gu Shengsheng flipped to the chapter with the fourth lesson and showed it to Lu Linlin. “You can stop studying this now.”

Lu Linlin stared at it for a long moment, then excitedly grabbed Gu Shengsheng’s hand. “So that’s how it is! I’ve seen the light!”

“To hell with this, I’m done!” she shouted, giving a random kick into the air. “There’s nothing difficult in this world if you just give up!”

“Mm-hmm.” Gu Shengsheng was about to walk away.

But after a moment’s thought, she turned back and said, “That guy seems to have had a big impact on you. You should figure out if you like him. If you do, you could see where things go.”

“…” Lu Linlin frowned.

“Are you telling me… I should try to be friends with benefits with him first?”

“That’s not a bad idea,” she mused. “At least, that’s what I’m thinking right now.”

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