Chapter 2: He Just Wants to Give Her Money to Spend

Su Qinghu smiled and nodded, her voice crisp and sweet: “Mm.”

Such a simple gesture, yet in Zhang Dongsheng’s eyes, she looked both charming and delicate—irresistibly alluring. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he clenched his molars, about to say something harsh, when Su Qinghu suddenly pointed at him with a slender, fair finger that gleamed in the sunlight.

Without thinking, Zhang Dongsheng followed the direction she pointed.

The spot where he’d just been leaning against the hospital’s white wall was now covered in a big patch of chalky dust. But since he was wearing a floral shirt, it didn’t look all that out of place.

“Go home and change your clothes,” Su Qinghu said, waving him off like she was shooing someone away, her smile that of a big sister-in-law. “And let’s just forget about today, but next time we meet, don’t forget to bring a red envelope. After all, the Chen and Zhang families are somewhat connected—it wouldn’t look good if you didn’t bring a gift.”

Zhang Dongsheng’s brows furrowed. Why should he have to give them a gift? Who did Chen Lie think he was, anyway?

If it’s so bad not to give a gift, then why not just divorce Chen Lie? If they got divorced, he wouldn’t have to give anything!

Feeling embarrassed, Zhang Dongsheng was about to retort when suddenly Da Dan and Er Dan came charging over with five or six others, kicking up a cloud of dust that made him snap his mouth shut.

Da Dan skidded to a stop, pointed at Zhang Dongsheng, and declared, “Uncle, Auntie, it’s him! He tried to buy me to be his son. My mom said no, so he wouldn’t let us leave!”

“You? Be my son?” Zhang Dongsheng rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t want a kid like you!”

If Zhang Dongsheng wanted a son, there were plenty of women willing to give him one. Someone else’s kid? Ha, he wouldn’t even spare them a glance!

His look was as disdainful and insulting as could be.

Da Dan bristled like a cat with its tail stepped on, ready to lash out.

Sensing trouble, Su Qinghu quickly stepped forward, placed a firm hand on Da Dan’s head, and smiled at the group that had come to help. “Sorry, there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding.”

She pointed at Zhang Dongsheng. “This is the kids’ uncle. Today’s the first time he’s met them, and they just didn’t see eye to eye…” She paused, giving everyone a moment to fill in the blanks, then sighed and ruffled Da Dan’s hair, smiling helplessly. “The kids just misunderstood.”

Everyone immediately understood what she meant!

What kind of misunderstanding could it be? Clearly, the uncle had said something offhand, maybe joked a bit too much.

Su Qinghu bowed slightly, apologizing, “Sorry to trouble you all.” Then she pulled Da Dan and Er Dan close. “Come on, Zhang Anyan, Gao Haisheng, bow and thank your uncles and aunties.”

Feeling the pressure on their backs, Da Dan and Er Dan obediently bowed a full ninety degrees and thanked everyone.

It wasn’t really a big deal, and besides, faced with such a pretty and polite young woman, who could stay angry?

The five or six people who’d come waved their hands, telling her and the kids not to worry about it.

As Su Qinghu chatted with them, she kept an eye on Zhang Dongsheng, noticing the look on his face that screamed, “I’m about to spill the truth.” She quickly patted Da Dan and Er Dan. “Come on, greet your uncle.”

Da Dan and Er Dan didn’t resist, and cheerfully called out, “Hello, Uncle!”

Afterwards, Er Dan looked up at Zhang Dongsheng with hopeful eyes and asked if he’d brought them a meeting gift.

No way! Why should he? Even if these two weren’t Chen Lie’s biological kids, they were still raised on Chen Lie’s money!

Round it up, and they’re basically Chen Lie’s!

Zhang Dongsheng kept his smile, but his jaw was clenched tight. Then he overheard the older kid “whispering” to his brother that maybe Uncle didn’t have any money, and how they could help him save face. Zhang Dongsheng’s facial muscles twitched.

They’re doing this on purpose!

These two brats were definitely doing it on purpose!

Were they really looking out for him? No, they just wanted to embarrass him in public—and squeeze some money out of him while they were at it!

Tearing his gaze away from the kids, Zhang Dongsheng looked at Su Qinghu, who stood there smiling, saying nothing and making no move to intervene. His eyes narrowed.

So this woman wanted to watch him make a fool of himself!

And those busybodies were all watching him too, some even smirking. Zhang Dongsheng sneered inwardly—if there’s one thing he’s never lacked, it’s women and money!

He straightened up, pulled out a fancy leather wallet, and without even counting, took out all the cash inside, split it in two, and handed it to Da Dan and Er Dan. “Here, take it. This is your uncle’s meeting gift.”

The bills were all crisp, new ten-yuan notes, stacked neatly, as if they’d just come from the bank.

The onlookers were stunned. Even passersby stopped in their tracks, staring at the thick wad of cash—at least a thousand yuan, easy. No one knew quite how to feel.

While they were still earning forty or fifty yuan a month, these people who’d gone into business were already this rich?

But whatever the adults thought, Da Dan and Er Dan were truly shocked. Their plan had just been to take advantage of the crowd and Zhang Dongsheng’s pride to squeeze a yuan each out of him—enough for a bowl of shredded pork noodles at the noodle shop.

Now, not only did they not dare accept, they were actually intimidated.

Da Dan regretted that if there’d just been a few smaller bills mixed in, like a fifty-cent or one-yuan note, he could have politely refused the rest and just taken the small ones—he’d get the money and a reputation for not being greedy.

But now, there was no way he could take it.

Yet not taking it felt awful!

“Uncle, my dad said we can’t take things from strangers unless our mom says it’s okay,” Er Dan said with a smile, hands at his sides.

Zhang Dongsheng nearly laughed out loud. Su Qinghu probably hadn’t expected that the two kids she was protecting were little black sesame dumplings—scheming enough to even trick her.

But he liked it!

He wanted to spend money on Su Qinghu. If he could get her used to living large and chasing material things, all the better.

Sooner or later, she’d divorce Chen Lie!

He put the money back together in one thick stack, and right in front of everyone, reached out to grab Su Qinghu’s hand. “Here, you keep it for the kids!”

The bastard was trying to take advantage of her!

Su Qinghu dodged nimbly. “Alright, alright, enough. Their dad always said you’re a show-off when people are around. I didn’t believe it, but now I’ve seen it for myself.”

Zhang Dongsheng: …Did he just hear a ghost story?

To him, hearing “show-off” coming from Chen Lie’s mouth was almost like being called “darling”…

But would Chen Lie ever call him darling?

Ugh, don’t make him sick! With the way Chen Lie is, not seeing him is fine, but if he did, he’d probably want to kick him twice and spit on him for good measure!"