Ye Ling heard a squeaking sound from inside the room, and instantly knew it was the sound of mice. Thinking about Shen Chun being just a girl, she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she placed the lunchbox on the table and began searching inside the room. Finally, crouching cautiously under the bed, she indeed found two fist-sized mice eating rice. Even when Ye Ling lifted the bedsheet, she wasn’t afraid and didn’t run; the mice continued to eat there.
Ye Ling’s gaze fell upon that portion of food, which she had gotten for herself in the cafeteria at noon. When she went to see Shen Chun, she found out she wasn’t there, so she later gave the meal to Shen Chun, going hungry herself all afternoon. But Shen Chun had dumped it for the mice.
Ye Ling was stunned; thinking back to the first time she met Shen Chun, she had always been timid. Looking at the pile of food being eaten by the mice, Ye Ling couldn’t link this to Shen Chun no matter what, but the fact was right before her eyes, making it impossible not to think about it.
The sight of a pile of food and eating mice made Ye Ling feel nauseous. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and picked up the empty lunchbox from the table. Ye Ling walked out, unsure of what opinion Shen Chun had of her. But thinking about it, throughout history, how many little sisters-in-law got along well with their sisters-in-law? Shen Chun perhaps just hid her feelings too well every day, making it hard for Ye Ling to believe Shen Chun would have issues with her. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel•fire.net
Besides, Ye Ling had always been indifferent towards her; it was normal if Shen Chun didn’t like her. Ye Ling had no need to make her like her. When Ye Ling finished making dinner, Shen Bin came back, and Shen Chun was with him. Ye Ling didn’t react, just told both of them to wash their hands for dinner.
At the dinner table, Shen Bin feared his wife might overthink, so he explained, "Today, logistics sent food to the department. I happened to meet Chun’er after work, so we came back together."
Ye Ling smiled at Shen Bin, "That’s good, quite the coincidence."
This smile made Shen Bin feel flattered and delighted, realizing that explaining things to his wife indeed made everything simpler, and he noted it down.
While talking to Shen Bin, Ye Ling glanced at Shen Chun to see her reaction. However, Shen Chun kept her head down, making it impossible to see her expression. Ye Ling simply asked directly, "Chun’er, did you enjoy the lunch today?"
"Yes, it was delicious. Sorry for the trouble, sister-in-law," Shen Chun raised her head with a shy smile.
Seeing this demeanor, Ye Ling would have doubted what she saw herself if she hadn’t witnessed it. Who would believe this person could lie?
Shen Bin asked, "What meal?"
"The meal sister-in-law sent me at noon," Shen Chun said, looking embarrassed. "Logistics had me eat there, but I didn’t dare, afraid of being seen as special, so I troubled sister-in-law to bring me food again."
"Just eat at logistics at noon; all the family members do that," Shen Bin didn’t see it as an issue.
Ye Ling responded with a smile, "That makes sense. I worried Chun’er was not used to it her first day, so I went back. When I heard she hadn’t eaten, I rushed home, just in time to see her asking Gao Tian how you two met, and then I gave my lunch to Chun’er. Gao Tian saw Chun’er being so cautious and laughed saying she’s careful."
Ye Ling beamed at Shen Bin and then observed his slightly stiff expression after her words, feeling a little unsettled. She always thought she was overthinking, but seeing Shen Bin’s reaction and the sibling dynamics, Ye Ling felt it wasn’t just her imagination. There was something she vaguely perceived, yet didn’t dare to guess further; otherwise, why was she so suspicious?
Contemplating this possibility, Ye Ling’s smile faded.
Before Shen Bin could respond, Shen Chun put down her chopsticks, "Brother, I’m full. I’ll go back to sleep now; I have to go to the vegetable field tomorrow."
"Go ahead." Shen Bin glanced at her, as she left without greeting Ye Ling.
After Shen Chun left, the room quieted down.
Ye Ling thought of slamming the chopsticks down to directly ask Shen Bin what was going on, but having been hungry all day, she didn’t want to starve herself. Besides, having only taken a few bites, she didn’t want to waste the food, so she simply bowed her head to eat. Shen Bin watched his wife eating silently, wanting to speak but unsure how to bring it up.
How could he talk about that issue? Even if it was truly nothing, could his wife even understand? He sighed softly inside, not knowing why he couldn’t bury the past even though he was starting a new life. It felt as if an invisible hand was gradually exposing that event.
Shen Bin observed his wife eating in large mouthfuls, knowing that if he dodged the issue again, he would face her temper after the meal. After much thought, he spoke hoarsely, "Chun’er has always taken good care of me since childhood. Although I’m older, she’s more like the elder one."
Ye Ling didn’t know if what he said was true or false, knowing she shouldn’t be unreasonable. Suppressing her displeasure, she looked up and smiled, "Ah, I understand."
And then she resumed eating.
"Wife, are you... mad again?" Shen Bin asked, uncertain.
Ye Ling lifted her head, slowly raised an elegant eyebrow, looked at him, and with a nuanced tone replied, "You didn’t lie, so why would I be angry?"
The subtext was clear — if you’re lying, then I’m indeed angry.
Shen Bin’s stern face broke into a smile, "Wife, has anyone ever said you’re quick-witted?"
Ye Ling was teased into a blush, her anger subsiding by half as she gave him a half-angry, half-jesting glare. "That depends on the person. If they’re honest, I wouldn’t have a chance to be quick-witted. But if they’re not, even my quick wit seems light."
Shen Bin burst into laughter, and seeing his spirited demeanor, Ye Ling couldn’t be bothered to pursue earlier issues. In fact, thinking it through, she realized Shen Bin wasn’t clueless. Whatever he didn’t want to discuss had his reasons and considerations, and she needn’t press for the truth. Perhaps she would regret knowing it all along.
The couple rarely enjoyed such harmonious moments lately. After Ye Ling tidied the table and washed the dishes, she saw Wang Ping heading into Shen Chun’s room. It was only a brief glance before he entered. Returning inside, Ye Ling mentioned her sighting to Shen Bin.
Reflecting on it, Shen Bin replied, "Wang Ping? The wife of Kan Hu?"
Rather surprised, Shen Bin hadn’t interacted with her but could identify her by name.
"With just a few families here, nothing much would happen. Let them visit if they want," Shen Bin pondered before replying.