Chapter 40: Chapter 40: An Awkward Man is Jealous

Su Tang and Lin Qian finished their conversation on the back hill and headed back.

Seeing Su Tang bring Lin Qian back with her, Zhang Cui frowned.

“What did you bring her here for?”

Hearing Zhang Cui’s words, Lin Qian took a step back, a wronged expression appearing on her pretty face.

Su Tang reached out, patted her on the shoulder, and stepped forward to explain to Zhang Cui.

“Sister-in-law, Lin Qian has something to say to you. Please, just hear her out first. Don’t get upset.”

At Su Tang’s words, Zhang Cui’s face remained cold, but at least she didn’t get any angrier.

’I’d like to see what she has to say for herself.’

Gently nudged forward by Su Tang, Lin Qian shuffled a small half-step forward. Her head was bowed low, and her voice was quiet.

“Sister-in-law Zhang Cui… I… I really didn’t do it on purpose. I just saw Mai Sui craving those plums, smacking her little lips, and I wasn’t thinking…”

The more she spoke, the more frantic she became. Tears welled up in her eyes again, and the fingers covering her cheek trembled slightly.

“I know I almost hurt Mai Sui. You hitting me… I deserved it. I just… I feel terrible, and I wanted to apologize to you.”

Zhang Cui held the now-quiet Mai Sui, her expression still tense, but the murderous look in her eyes had faded considerably.

She looked at Lin Qian’s badly swollen face and red eyes, then glanced down at her daughter in her arms. Her anger had subsided, but an uncomfortable feeling still lingered.

She huffed, turning her face away. “Hmph, talk is cheap!” she said harshly. “Not on purpose? Does ’not on purpose’ make what Mai Sui went through okay? Is your head just for show? Don’t you have any common sense about kids?”

The words were harsh, but it was a definite improvement from her earlier screaming and threats.

The other women nearby also chimed in to mediate. “Cui’er, Lin Qian has apologized. Look at her face… She was scared half to death, too.”

“Exactly, it’s a blessing the child is okay. Mai Sui got a scare, too. You should take her home and give her some water to calm her nerves.”

Lin Qian sniffled, not daring to lift her head. She just stood there like a schoolchild waiting to be scolded.

Zhang Cui sighed heavily again. Cradling Mai Sui, she turned and started walking toward her house. After a few steps, without looking back, she threw out, “Alright, alright, what are you all standing around for? Go on about your business.”

Lin Qian’s shoulders slumped, and tears fell again, this time tinged with a sense of being wronged.

Su Tang comforted her, “Go home and put a cold compress on your face.”

After that incident, Lin Qian truly learned her lesson.

She never again dared to take matters into her own hands regarding another family’s child and their food. She also became much quieter.

She was sincerely grateful to Su Tang.

Over time, the two of them actually grew close.

Whenever Lin Qian had free time, she would come find Su Tang to sit and chat.

She discovered that Su Tang was completely different from what she had originally heard from Zheng Jinxin.

Su Tang was straightforward and down-to-earth, knew a lot about many things, and was especially good at comforting people.

In Su Tang’s presence, Lin Qian’s prideful streak unconsciously receded, and she even began to rely on her a little.

The people in the family compound were a little surprised to see the two of them getting closer and closer.

Who would have thought that Su Tang and Lin Qian would end up getting along?

But with Su Tang acting as a bridge, Zhang Cui came to realize that Lin Qian wasn’t a bad person and wasn’t so hostile toward her anymore.

When Lu Xiao found out about this, he didn’t say anything.

He just felt a little uncomfortable, a stifling feeling in his chest.

Su Tang thought Lu Xiao was annoyed by Lin Qian, so she made a point of explaining the situation to him.

She said that Lin Qian no longer had those kinds of feelings for him. It would have been better if she hadn’t explained. The explanation just made Lu Xiao feel a pang of jealousy.

Everyone said Lin Qian liked him, yet his own wife didn’t feel the least bit threatened.

’Doesn’t that mean she doesn’t care? That she doesn’t hold me in her heart?’

On the surface, Lu Xiao showed nothing. But Su Tang had been living under the same roof with him for so long; how could she not sense the subtle changes in him that others missed?

Besides, the man made no effort to hide his inner sulkiness.

This was especially true as Lin Qian started visiting Su Tang more frequently.

Whenever Lin Qian came over and Lu Xiao was home, his presence would become overwhelmingly strong.

He would either be in the yard, huffing and puffing as he polished his bicycle until it gleamed, scrubbing the chain so hard it looked like it might spark.

Or he would sit inside by the door, holding a book or a newspaper, without turning a single page for what felt like an eternity.

His eyes would constantly dart toward the little table where the two women were chatting.

If Su Tang happened to look up and meet his gaze, he would instantly snatch his eyes away as if he’d been burned.

He’d pretend to be completely engrossed in the page, his back straighter than a soldier standing at attention.

Su Tang found it hilarious but didn’t let it show on her face.

One time, Lin Qian was talking about how the performance troupe might be disbanded. Everyone was feeling lost, and her mood was a bit low.

Just as Su Tang was about to comfort her, a dull THUD came from the yard.

Startled, the two of them hurried out to see what happened.

They saw Lu Xiao organizing the storage shed. A worn wooden crate had been “accidentally” knocked over by him.

Its contents were scattered all over the ground, and Lu Xiao was squatting there, cleaning them up.

Lin Qian felt a bit awkward. Even she could sense it. “Sister Su Tang, am I interrupting you two?”

Suppressing a laugh, Su Tang called out, “Lu Xiao, are you okay? Need any help?”

Lu Xiao didn’t even look up, his voice muffled. “No, you two go on and talk. I’m just tidying up. It’s too messy here.”

He squatted there like a big, abandoned puppy, exuding an air of misery.

After Lin Qian left, Su Tang walked into the storage shed. Looking at the scene, which was now even messier than before he’d started “organizing,” she finally couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Lu Xiao looked up at her, his glare a mixture of fierceness and the helplessness of being seen through. “What are you laughing at? Is she gone?”

Su Tang walked over and squatted beside him, casually picking up an old wrench that had fallen out. Her tone was teasing.

“This crate has been sitting here for over half a year without being touched. What made you decide to tidy it up today?”

“Every time Lin Qian comes over when you’re home, you’re suddenly busy. How could she possibly have the nerve to stay?”

After saying this, Su Tang leaned closer and asked, “I’m starting to think you’re doing this on purpose. Do you not like Lin Qian coming over?”

Her teasing made the tips of Lu Xiao’s ears burn. He snatched the wrench from her hand and shoved it back into the crate.

“It’s not safe to leave things lying around.”

Su Tang drew out a long “Ohhh,” her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

“So, next time Lin Qian visits, should we find another place to chat? To keep from disturbing your work.”

Her gaze made Lu Xiao feel completely flustered. He shot to his feet, the movement a bit too abrupt.

“Su Tang, I think you’re making fun of me. That’s not nice.”

His deadpan expression, however, revealed a stubborn earnestness.

He felt like he had become a different person, all sour with jealousy inside but unable to say it out loud.

And she was just enjoying the show, finding his predicament amusing.

With that, he strode into the house, his back radiating awkwardness.

Leaving Su Tang where she was, watching his stiff, almost uncoordinated gait, laughing so hard her shoulders shook.

’This man… why is he so… cute when he’s jealous?’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep