Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Angrily Confronting Zheng Jinxin

Lu Xiao wouldn’t let it go. Embarrassed, Su Tang glanced around, afraid of waking Zhang Cui.

But Zhang Cui hadn’t slept all night either. She was holding Mai Sui, her eyes wide open.

’I don’t want to disturb the young couple’s private conversation.’

’I’m already staying in their newlywed suite. If I go out now, I’d be so thoughtless.’

“How would I know what you mean?”

Su Tang shot him a look and gave him a push. “Hey, you should go. I have to get to the hospital for work soon.”

’I took half a day off yesterday; I can only imagine how much work has piled up.’

’I’m still an intern. If I don’t perform well, I won’t get a permanent position.’

“Su Tang, don’t avoid the subject. You know what I’m talking about.”

He took a deep breath, his arms tightening around her.

“I won’t force you. I’ll give you time, but I hope you don’t make me wait too long.”

Lu Xiao wasn’t a patient man, and he had even less patience for something that was driving him crazy.

Su Tang’s heart was pounding like a drum, so loudly she was afraid Lu Xiao could hear it.

She bit her lip, not daring to meet Lu Xiao’s intense gaze, and mumbled, “I know, I know. If you don’t go now, I’m really going to be late!”

Only then did Lu Xiao let her go, a resigned smile on his face. Before leaving, he reached out and pinched her cheek.

’He’d been wanting to do that for a long time. Su Tang’s face always seemed as smooth and soft as a peeled egg.’

Su Tang closed the door and leaned against it for a long moment to collect herself. Only then did she remember the food container in her hand.

She opened the lid. Inside was steaming hot rice porridge, pickled vegetables, and a sugar cake wrapped in oil paper.

She picked up the sugar cake and took a small bite. The sweet flavor spread through her mouth, filling her very soul with sweetness.

While Su Tang was wolfing down her breakfast, Zhang Cui, on the bed inside, had heard their entire conversation crystal clear.

When Su Tang had finished and was ready to leave, Zhang Cui finally sat up, pretending she had just woken up.

“Sister, are you and Brother Lu… still sleeping separately?”

’They don’t act like a married couple at all. It’s more like they’re still just dating.’

Hearing Zhang Cui’s question, Su Tang was taken aback but nodded anyway.

“Brother Lu is a rare find, a truly good man. You have to hold on to him.”

’Comparisons are odious.’

Even though Zhang Cui didn’t want to make comparisons, she sometimes couldn’t help but wonder how she had put up with Wang Jianfeng for so many years.

“I understand, sister. I will.”

Su Tang understood what Zhang Cui was implying and nodded gently.

“Oh, by the way, sister, Lu Xiao brought breakfast from the mess hall. I’ve already eaten, but there’s a sugar cake left. You and Mai Sui can share it.”

With that, Su Tang left for work.

A wave of warmth spread through Zhang Cui’s heart, and she didn’t say anything more.

’Many people will flock to you when you’re rich and powerful, but few will be there to lend a hand when you’ve fallen on hard times.’

Zhang Cui would remember the kindness of Su Tang and her husband for the rest of her life.

After leaving the family compound, Lu Xiao went to morning drills.

Seeing the smile on Lu Xiao’s face, Chang Jia tsked several times.

“If you’re sick, go get treated.”

Lu Xiao, thinking he sounded like a buzzing fly, kicked out at him.

“Are you still Lu Xiao? The Lu Xiao I know?”

“My old comrade, I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Chang Jia circled Lu Xiao a few times, then draped an arm over his shoulder.

“So, having a wife is great, huh?”

Lu Xiao slapped Chang Jia’s hand away. “What are you being so snarky about?”

“I’m not being snarky. Who was it that didn’t think much of her when he first met her?”

This wasn’t just Chang Jia spouting nonsense.

Back when Hu Lili was giving Su Tang a hard time at the entrance to the family compound, he had even asked Lu Xiao if he should go help.

Lu Xiao had said there was no need.

But look at him now. Everyone in the entire camp knew how fiercely protective Lu Xiao was.

Ignoring Chang Jia’s teasing, Lu Xiao offered some sincere advice.

“Seriously, you should bring your wife here. It’s not good for you two to be apart so much, with her always in your hometown.”

Chang Jia’s wife was a country woman, but she had once been the eldest daughter of a landlord.

Her family later fell on hard times, and Chang Jia married her.

According to Chang Jia, she was well-read and sensible, with a gentle temperament and a soft-spoken voice. The only “bad” thing was… she had bound feet.

This was the one thing Chang Jia was most reluctant to mention, and it was the reason he didn’t let her come live with him at the base.

She knew Chang Jia didn’t like her bound feet, so she never said much about it.

“It’s not like you don’t know. Back home, no one laughs at her. But if she came here, I’m afraid the gossip alone would be enough to kill her.”

“She’s a good person in every way, but she was a young lady from a wealthy family, after all. She was raised on the Four Books and Five Classics. She cares a lot about her dignity.”

It wasn’t that Chang Jia despised the wife who had been with him through thick and thin; it was that he was afraid she’d be ridiculed if she came here, and it would break her heart.

’As her husband, I have to think about what’s best for her, don’t I?’

“That’s true,” Lu Xiao said. “But being apart so much isn’t a solution either.”

What married couple only sees each other a few times a year? Besides, they were both young. What if something happened?

Chang Jia gave a bitter smile. “I’ll think about it some more.”

After they finished talking, the morning drills also ended.

There was a lot to do at the camp today, and they had to get busy.

Meanwhile, Su Tang had just arrived at the hospital when Zheng Jinxin blocked her at the entrance.

“Su Tang!” Zheng Jinxin’s voice wasn’t loud, but you could sense the hostility from a mile away. “What is the meaning of this? You’d better explain yourself!”

Word of what happened yesterday in the camp mess hall had already spread. Now everyone knew that Wang Jianfeng, a married man, was pursuing her.

Even the hospital administrators had called her in for a talk.

Su Tang didn’t want to talk to Zheng Jinxin and tried to walk past her into the building.

But Zheng Jinxin blocked the hospital entrance, refusing to move, as if she wouldn’t let Su Tang pass until she got an explanation.

“Nurse Zheng, please move. I need to go change and get ready for my shift,” Su Tang said calmly.

Zheng Jinxin sidestepped to block Su Tang again, her chest heaving. She was clearly furious.

“Stop playing dumb! Why did you say those things in the mess hall yesterday? Why did you have to drag me into it when you were helping Zhang Cui?”

“And look what happened! The whole camp is saying I, Zheng Jinxin, am a shameless woman, seducing a married man, Wang Jianfeng! Even the hospital administrators talked to me! Are you satisfied now, Su Tang?”

Hearing this, Su Tang almost laughed out of pure anger.

’The nerve, to twist the truth like that!’

She took a deep breath, suppressing the anger flaring up inside her. “Zheng Jinxin, haven’t you?”

“Lu Xiao is already married. Why don’t you keep your distance? And as for Wang Jianfeng, haven’t you been calmly enjoying his attention?”

A cold sneer touched the corners of Su Tang’s lips as she looked at Zheng Jinxin.

“Do you think everyone else is a fool? That they can’t see you’re just trying to have your cake and eat it too?”

Zheng Jinxin’s face flushed red, as if Su Tang had seen right through her.

“Su Tang! You!”

“Me what? Did I strike a nerve? Oh, I’m so sorry. Please accept my apology. My deepest regrets, how could I ever say such a thing about you?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep