“You all go ahead and eat,” he said, his voice void of any discernible emotion.
“Fourth brother…” Her voice was tinged with concern.
He flashed a distant smile to assure her, “I’m not hungry yet, I’ll eat later when I am.”
She didn’t say anything more.
Li Rong’er entered the kitchen, and seeing Su Qingyue and Xiao Yuchuan at the dining table, timidly said, “I’ve come to get some food…”
Su Qingyue was somewhat satisfied that she had prepared dinner for five, and responded with a slight acknowledgment.
Li Rong’er quickly scooped a large bowl of rice and took half of each of the two dishes from the dining table, then hurriedly carried them away on a tray.
Xiao Yuchuan frowned at the half-remaining food on the table and looked at Su Qingyue with distress, “Wife, this isn’t enough food, I’ll stir-fry another dish.”
“There’s no need, this will suffice,” she stopped him, “There’s no need to make a fuss.”
He said, “Li Rong’er that woman is quite manipulative, not really suitable for second brother. But since second brother brought her home, I’d rather not prevent them from being together. Although you don’t harbor romantic feelings for second brother, just the fact that he used your money to bring home a woman, that’s ungrateful. Whatever consequences there are, he can bear them on his own.”
“I didn’t expect third brother’s views to be the same as mine,” she murmured, lips slightly pursed.
Originally she knew Li Rong’er was playing her schemes in the Fang Mansion, manipulating second brother with ‘favors’; she could have revealed it all.
Since second brother had taken the liberty of bringing a woman home without anyone’s approval, she let it be.
After dinner, Xiao Yuchuan searched the yard and not finding Mangy, asked, “Wife, where has Mangy gone?”
“It’s gone hunting in the mountain forest,” Su Qingyue said. “After all, it’s a wolf; once it’s back in the wild, it’s normal for it not to want to return for a day or two. Let it be.”
“If you would have left this afternoon, wouldn’t it be unable to find you when it returns?”
“I’ll go up the mountain to find it,” she replied.
Xiao Yuchuan, thinking if he hadn’t awakened by noon today he might have never seen his wife again, pulled her palely into his embrace, “Wife, you scared me today. Please, don’t ever leave me again, alright?” Although she had already agreed before, he was still afraid she might leave.
“As long as you have not wronged me, I will not go,” her voice was emotionless.
“I won’t, absolutely won’t!” Eager to swear by heaven, she stopped him, “It’s enough to just do it, no need for oaths.”
He just held her tightly.
She allowed him to hug her, without struggling.
Glancing to the side, she saw Xiao Qinghe’s pained gaze directed their way.
Su Qingyue gave a slight curl of her lip corner, not looking away.
Fourth brother had rejected her several times, telling her in person that she should be with Xiao Yuchuan.
Even if his selflessness was for her sake, since it was his wish, there was no need for her to avoid him.
In the future, when she was with Xiao Yuchuan, Qinghe was his blood brother; avoiding him for a lifetime was impossible. It was better not to dodge the issue.
“Oh, the moment I step in, I see such a loving couple embracing,” a mature and seductive female voice came from the doorway.
There stood Liu Haitang just outside the courtyard door.
She was dressed in purple brocade clothes, with her hair combed up in a neat bun at the top of her head, while most of her long hair spilled down her back. Her face was heavily made-up, clearly having taken care with her appearance, and her wrist was adorned with a vegetable basket containing a piece of pork and two plates of pastries.
Xiao Yuchuan raised an eyebrow, “Liu Haitang, you still dare to come to my house?”