Since getting married, since Cheng Su and Qi Taiguo became a couple, this was the first time she slept with her back turned to Qi Taiguo; it was also the first fight they had. And all this squabble, merely because she returned home late and hadn’t cooked dinner for him.
Was it really her fault?
To be gentle and domestic, to support her husband and teach her children, not needing to earn much, just to manage household chores well, to handle all social relationships, to provide her husband and children with a warm meal—is that woman’s fate? Is that the wife Qi Taiguo expected her to be?
Cheng Su suddenly felt unsure. Having lived two lives, she had never thought about relying on a man; she always believed that no matter how capable men were, women should always have their own careers, even if it only earned enough for buying flowers to wear.
But what about Qi Taiguo?
Cheng Su lay there, her hand under her head, her back turned to Qi Taiguo without moving an inch, her eyes wide open. As her thoughts wandered, tears began to form in her eyes.
She had been truly exhausted these past few days. The new company had just started up, and they were short-staffed, so she had to be hands-on. Relaxation was still a distant thought, not to mention the restaurant she also couldn’t abandon. Juggling both was overwhelming, and if it weren’t for Ning Ge’s assistance, she would have collapsed by now.
Qi Taiguo knew about it; he had seen it all. So why was he suddenly being so unsympathetic?
Feeling wronged, Cheng Su sniffled.
Qi Taiguo, whose back was also turned to her, was not asleep either. His mind was a battleground of conflicting thoughts—one part chastising her for bringing this upon herself because he had known from the start she was a troublemaker.
While another part argued that a woman should properly manage the household affairs quietly, and that was the duty of a wife.
"Then why did you agree in the first place? You supported it, so you should have anticipated this day."
"But I didn’t expect that I wouldn’t even have a hot meal to eat!"
Qi Taiguo felt incredibly irritable hearing Cheng Su sniffle, and he couldn’t help but be taken aback. Was she crying?
He hesitated for a moment, then turned his head slightly, only to see her still with her back to him. He pursed his lips and laid down on his side.
Another sniffle came, and Qi Taiguo tentatively reached out to put his hand on Cheng Su’s waist, only for Cheng Su to reach out and throw his hand off.
Qi Taiguo pursed his lips.
He had already softened his stance, hadn’t he?
"I’m not trying to blame you, but business is important, and so is home. I come home, and there’s not even a meal for me to eat. How is that acceptable?" Qi Taiguo said from behind her, "Back when you just ran a restaurant, I could always have a warm meal. These days, when have you ever cooked?"
"Before I married you, were you growing on northwest wind?" Cheng Su said sarcastically.
Qi Taiguo felt stung by her words, his face darkening.
"Do you really have to argue with me like this?" His voice grew louder; he was the one who had apologized first. Couldn’t she just take the hint and back down?
Why did a woman have to be so strong-willed?
Couldn’t she be like others, gentle and yielding?
"Am I arguing with you?" Cheng Su snapped on the light and sat up in bed, looking at him, "Am I not telling the truth? Don’t you know why I’ve been coming home so late? It’s because the company just opened. Do you think I want to stay out? You don’t understand me and blame me for not taking care of you? Qi Taiguo, do you think I’m your nanny?"
Qi Taiguo sat up, saying, "You know that’s not what I mean!"
"Let’s just drop it, you know what you mean. You want a nanny for a wife. I’m sorry, but I really can’t fulfill that role!" Cheng Su got out of bed and pulled the blanket off him, "I’m going to sleep in the guest room!"
Bang, she slammed the bedroom door shut, leaving Qi Taiguo gaping.
Had she just left him?