Qin Qing, although very much displeased with Lang Erping’s groveling at the moment, still tightly closed her mouth in silence, because a husband is the guiding principle for a wife.
Sister Xue glanced at Lang Erping with a mockingly polite smile and said, "You’re quite obedient."
"Fine, since someone here isn’t happy with my visit, I won’t come again."
"Oh, and I’ll cancel that announcement for you in three days, while I’m at it."
Lang Erping quickly tried to salvage the situation, but Sister Xue, flinging the door open, walked straight out without giving anyone a chance to speak.
Qin Qing was also infuriated, "Marquis, look at her, someone who works for others acting so tough... If it had been before..."
Lang Erping, weary, said, "Qingqing, I am no longer the Marquis, and you are no longer the Marchioness... Besides, people in this world no longer have the sense of superiority and inferiority that existed before."
"You need to get used to it...."
"Moreover, Sister Xue is not the small fry you think she is; she has a rather special relationship with the company’s boss. You’ve offended her..."
Lang Erping spoke of getting accustomed while he himself found it extremely difficult to adapt.
In the past, aside from a few at the very top, it was always others who fawned over him, but now he had to humble himself before many.
And his lady wife was only adding to the chaos.
Qin Qing wasn’t completely ignorant of assessing the situation and acting accordingly, yet many of her actions were still instinctual...
"I understand, I’ll be more careful next time."
Despite both being celebrities with high fame, in truth, their popularity only peaked during their early years of debuting. By the time this Marquis couple had taken over, their renown had already plummeted like falling off a cliff.
Their glory in the eyes of the public was one matter, but those within the circle were well aware that Lang Erping and Qin Qing, these two superstar giants, had long since started to fade.
Moreover, the original owners of their bodies were quite accustomed to a life of luxury.
Being stars, they earned a lot, but they spent even more, scarcely leaving any cash on hand.
Although they might be fading stars, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse, and their prospects were still far better than those of the average second- or third-tier minor celebrities.
After all, as long as they were willing to appear at more banquets, dances, or take on more engagements and advertisements, they could still make more than enough money to get by.
But Qin Qing, too proud, naturally disdained standing on stage for people’s amusement.
Lang Erping was more practical when it came to such affairs, but he too was not very enthusiastic about them.
As a result, they were soon facing the embarrassing situation of being penniless.
However, at such a time, his wife had managed to offend Sister Xue.
He had hoped to ask Sister Xue to introduce more opportunities for them, but now the chance to even ask was gone.
Lang Erping sighed, unable to bring himself to blame his wife.
If possible, he didn’t wish for his wife to be out in public at all.
Everything is great about this new world, except for some not so great things.
It’s that women are no longer content with staying at home, supporting their husbands and teaching their children but have instead come up with something called gender equality, putting them out there alongside men, which is just chaos to the natural order.
Although Lang Erping thought this way, he was wise enough never to show it.
But at that moment, he didn’t have time to think about these issues; his mind was entirely preoccupied by the image of Qingqing.
It turns out Qingqing, just like them, had also come to this world.
That was just wonderful....
It was just that one hurried glance that day, and before he had a chance to speak to her, he was pulled away by Sister Xue, leaving him unable to find her now even if he wanted to.
Lang Erping furrowed his brows with some distress, unable to muster a smile.
Qin Qing, having shared a bed with her husband for decades, understood him deeply—perhaps even more than Lang Erping understood himself.
With just a frown from Lang Erping, she could discern what was on his mind.
If not for her deep understanding of her own husband in her past life, how could she have secured the position of Marchioness under the covetous gaze of countless other women, ensuring that she was the only woman of status by the Marquis’ side? She had maintained his respect for decades, and no one could shake her position, not even the child born by that woman.
Thinking of that woman, all that was left for Qin Qing was scorn.
She really didn’t understand men, not even her own partner. That’s why she ended up in such a state, not leaving anything good for her own children or parents either.
Love or lack thereof all depended on the Marquis.
With this thought, Qin Qing’s complexion gradually turned grim, and a flash of jealousy zipped through her eyes.
But that light dispelled too quickly, and before Lang Erping could see it clearly, it dissipated into nothing.
Assuming the guise of an "understanding flower," Qin Qing considerately poured Lang Erping a cup of his favorite tea, following his preferred tea-drinking habit.
Indeed, this gesture garnered a hint of apology from Lang Erping.
After carefully choosing her words, Qin Qing asked gently yet with a touch of lament, "Did you... find sister?"
Lang Erping’s hand holding the tea cup paused, silent for a long while before he let out a bitter smile, shaking his head and then nodding.
Qin Qing asked, "Does sister blame me?"
"It was wrong of me to appear, to have taken her place, and also taken up fifty years of your time, Marquis."
"...That’s enough, now that sister has returned, it’s time for me to step back..."
Before Qin Qing could finish her words, she was enveloped in a heartachingly tender hug from Lang Erping, "Don’t say such things again in the future."
"You are also my wife, rightfully wedded... and have shared a bed with me for decades... Qingqing will understand."
"...You too are my wife... You and she both hold places in my heart, neither more significant than the other. Both of you are equally important to me."
Qin Qing’s eyes sparkled faintly as she let out a long sigh, "Marquis..."
That call softened Lang Erping’s heart completely.
Su Li was unaware that two old acquaintances were pondering how to find her, as she was currently being carefully and lovingly taken care of by her adoptive parents.
Mom Su was holding a nourishing soup, while Su Gaoshi was fanning the bowl vigorously with a palm-leaf fan.
"My good girl, you’re up. Don’t you want to sleep a bit more? The soup is still too hot."
Mom Su also chimed in: "Wait a moment, let your daddy cool the soup down... Don’t rush; you’ll be able to drink it soon."
These parents... so adorable...
Su Li muttered silently in her heart.
Indeed, it is only the children who are on parents’ minds; there are no parents who are constantly on their children’s minds.
It has always been about the parents’ ceaseless giving to the next generation, going round and round, never stopping, with very few children reciprocating in kind.
It’s not that these children are ungrateful, but it seems to be a natural human inclination, seldom taking into account the thoughts and circumstances of the previous generation.
Take the original owner, for instance. Her parents in this world had doted on her enough, yet she still chose to leave.
She hadn’t even considered whether the one who took over her body would treat her lifetime’s parents kindly.
With the soup cooled, Su Li graciously drank two bowls, much to the delight of the two adults, who beamed with toothy grins, overwhelmed with joy.