Yang Peijun was just a spiteful person. Whether she had ulterior motives or not, he simply disliked her.
Yang Peijun walked over and took the child from Lu Hailing’s hands, continuing mockingly, "Miss Lu seems quite idle, doesn’t she? Wonder if the Dalu Family’s aunt has had her dinner? Is there anyone cooking at home? A girl who slips into someone else’s house right after work—there really aren’t many like you, Miss Lu. You’re quite the special one!"
Lu Hailing’s face flushed red, and she became flustered. Upon closer inspection, one could see the tears forming in her eyes as she hurriedly explained, "It’s nothing like that. Today, a coworker gave me some maltose, and since my mom and I don’t eat it, I brought it over for the aunt. Seeing Lele was fun, I forgot about the time. It’s because her clothes got wet; I asked her to go change, and I held Lele for her in the meantime."
Her words were urgent, and she cast a desperate look in the direction of Shen Yiguang.
Yang Peijun sneered, amidst a yard full of daikon radishes, he said, "Looks like there’s no more vegetables left for cooking today? Nothing else either, just these daikon radishes right now. If you want, take a couple home with you, as a return gift for bringing the maltose. Oh, I almost forgot, I remember each time you bring something over, you always take back something several times more valuable. If you think two daikon radishes aren’t worth your little bag of maltose, then just take two more."
This time, Lu Hailing’s tears really started to fall. She glanced at Shen Yiguang, who was turning to wash his hands, showing no reaction, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
And inside the house, Chen Guizhi didn’t come out for a long while. Who knows what she was doing?
Yang Peijun looked on with sarcasm, lazily watching her. This time, Lu Hailing truly couldn’t stay any longer but still managed to say, "I’m sorry, Brother Yang, Brother Shen, for troubling you. I’ll go home now," and with that, she turned and left.
Yang Peijun watched her retreating figure coldly and snorted before speaking to Shen Yiguang who had just straightened up after washing his hands, "This girl seems crafty; bet she could fool anyone with her seemingly honest appearance. I bet you didn’t know she never comes empty-handed, yet leaves with much more than she brought, as if addicted. She really thinks we’re idiots. Brother-in-law, don’t mind my meddling. After all, my sister’s involved too."
Shen Yiguang walked over, clapped him on the shoulder, and nodded, "It’s good to have you here. My mom suddenly staying here, everyone’s busy and hardly anyone talks, they all know she’s good-natured and easy to talk to, everyone likes being around her. They think of little advantages to make her happy, nothing too big, but often she only sees the good in others and is easily trusted. We, as her children, just have to be more vigilant. Usually, I’m away in the army during the day, so having you here to help watch over things reassures us."
"Speaking of which, what are the two brothers-in-law chatting so happily about?" Chen Guizhi asked cheerfully as she came out in different clothes, looking around she noticed only two of them were left, "Did the Lu family’s daughter go back already?"
"Her mom’s not feeling well, and no one was there to cook, so a neighbor called her back," Yang Peijun replied readily.
Chen Guizhi, having heard during her stay that this prospective daughter-in-law often claims to be indisposed, took it as usual without suspicion, "Poor girl, she hasn’t adjusted to the local conditions yet, really tough on her."
"Exactly, what she needs is good rest. Over time, she’ll adapt. The children should spend more time with her, prepare some nutritious food for her. So, next time the Lu family’s daughter comes over, aunt, maybe encourage her to spend more time with her mom, instead of always coming here," Yang Peijun advised.
"My cousin’s right, it’s good for the Lu family’s daughter to come and keep you company, but she shouldn’t neglect her own mother."
Chen Guizhi agreed with their conversation, nodding continuously, "I’ve been inconsiderate. I should have realized she only has a little time each day to be at home and should spend more time with her mom."
Chen Guizhi then turned to play with her grandson, "Oh my, Lele, who’s holding you now? Is it Daddy?"
Yang Peijun and Shen Yiguang exchanged glances and silently laughed, realizing from another perspective, things could be solved more easily.
Yang PeiMin finally supervised their last rehearsal. Tomorrow, they would perform on stage. After reviewing the details for one last time, they encouraged each other before dispersing, returning to their dorms or going home.
While practicing, time flew by unnoticed. When they left the classroom, it was nearly seven o’clock. Concerned for Yang PeiMin going home alone, her classmates offered to escort her.
Usually, Yang PeiMin rode her bicycle, and looking at the darkening sky, she agreed. In her previous life, she had been stalked, feeling unsafe in the dark, in secluded places, or when alone—she was confident in her looks but not in her fighting skills.
Even if her classmates hadn’t offered, she was about to suggest it.
Just as she stepped out of the school gate, she saw Shen Yiguang, who had come to pick her up.
"How did you get here?" Yang PeiMin exclaimed with joy.
Shen Yiguang approached and draped a light jacket over her shoulders. "If you hadn’t come out soon, I was planning to go in and find you."
"PeiMin’s lover came to pick her up, that’s great. Now we can rest easy."
"You guys better hurry back too. It’s getting dark. Are you taking the bus or walking?"
"Alright, we’re heading off. Thank you, guys. We’ll take the bus."
After saying goodbye to her classmates, the two of them headed to the bus station. It was quiet on the streets at this time. Yang PeiMin walked up to Shen Yiguang and took his arm, "You came back early today? It just so happened my friends wanted to escort me home. You really gave me face."
"Aren’t you ashamed to say that? You didn’t come home so late and worried us all at home. I had come earlier knowing you were rehearsing in the classroom, just didn’t go inside."
"Sorry about tonight; it was our final rehearsal. What’s for dinner tonight? Is there anything I like? Have you eaten yet? Is Lele causing trouble at home?"
"The bus is here, let’s talk more after we get back." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel·fire.net
Yang PeiMin hastily removed her hand from his arm—she had gotten used to this reflex in these times. She looked up to check for the bus, and as she was distracted, Shen Yiguang pulled her hand and got on the bus.
Wow! That was quite a bold move!