Elder Sister had returned, so the store had an extra pair of hands. Cheng Su didn’t stay long and took her study materials back home.
As she opened the door, Cheng Su saw a military duffel bag on the floor and paused, then a burst of joy followed.
From the bathroom, the sound of running water could be heard.
Cheng Su hung up her purse and walked to the bathroom door. She knocked and asked, "Taiguo, is that you?"
The bathroom door opened, and Qi Taiguo emerged with his head covered in foam, giving her a smile, "Yes, it’s me. You’re back?"
Cheng Su smiled too, "Mhm, you came back pretty quickly. You finish up; I’m going out to buy some ingredients to cook."
"Okay, don’t fuss too much, just a simple fish dish will do!"
Cheng Su went back to get her keys, and behind her came Qi Taiguo’s voice.
Cheng Su’s heart couldn’t help but feel uplifted.
A simple meal, a cozy chat between the couple while dining, was very heartwarming.
After eating and cleaning up together, and then getting ready for bed, they finally sat down on the sofa to talk.
Cheng Su rested her head on his thigh, saying, "I thought you wouldn’t be back for another couple of days. How did it go? The mission was a success?"
Qi Taiguo was stroking her hair. Hearing this question, his hand hesitated, "It went well enough, no significant losses."
Cheng Su tilted her head up slightly, "Any hitches?"
"There was a bit of a mess, but no one got hurt." Qi Taiguo chuckled and changed the subject, "What about you, where did you go? I thought I’d see you when I got back. Didn’t you say you were going to hole up with your books?"
Cheng Su sighed.
"What’s wrong?"
"You hadn’t been gone for two days when Elder Sister’s Baobao ran a high fever. Elder Sister rushed back to take care of her, leaving the store unattended, so I went to look after it for a few days. Elder Sister only got back today!" Cheng Su explained.
Qi Taiguo frowned, "Is Baobao fully recovered?"
"She must be, or else she wouldn’t have come back!" Cheng Su stated, "These past days, Elder Sister must have been exhausted with worry. She looked so distressed."
"What about Zhang Jisheng?" Qi Taiguo’s face darkened, "Didn’t he go back?"
"After Elder Sister went back, he didn’t." Cheng Su’s voice carried a hint of displeasure when she mentioned Zhang Jisheng, "He’s not the caring type. Elder Sister really drew the short straw marrying into the Zhang family."
She spoke with discontent, and Qi Taiguo picked up on it immediately, raising an eyebrow to ask, "Did he upset you?"
Cheng Su sat up straight and said, "You don’t know him; I think he’s taking my store for his own. He invited his work buddies over for food and drinks. If I hadn’t been there, he probably wouldn’t have paid!"
"Really? He wouldn’t dare to do such a thing, would he?" Qi Taiguo’s impression of Zhang Jisheng was that he was very timid and cowardly.
Cheng Su scoffed, "Dare? He might not have the nerve in front of you and me, but in front of Elder Sister or others, that’s another story! You have no idea, he..."
Cheng Su stopped mid-sentence, hesitating.
Qi Taiguo had a temper. If she told him that Zhang Jisheng, influenced by the nightlife, might have gotten some bad ideas, would Taiguo fly off the handle and give him a beating?
Moreover, whether Zhang Jisheng had solicited prostitutes was uncertain. If she said something and it turned out to be false, accusing her of causing trouble, what then?
But not saying it also made her uncomfortable. They were a couple, after all; how stifling would it be if they couldn’t even talk about such things?
"What’s the matter? Why stop talking halfway?" Qi Taiguo asked, a trace of suspicion in his eyes.
Cheng Su chuckled awkwardly, to tell or not to tell?