Chapter 21: Let’s Have a Chat

Is Su Qinghu the kind of person who’s easily taken advantage of?

Definitely not!

Otherwise, when Zhang Dongsheng tried to flirt with her, she wouldn’t have turned the tables and teased him right back.

When Chen Lie told her that Zhang Dongsheng had been locked up and would be eating prison food for ten days or so, plus getting fined, she just laughed. “I thought you were a block of wood, but turns out you’ve got a bit of life in you.”

“???” Chen Lie looked at her, a little confused.

He clearly didn’t get what she meant.

As Su Qinghu walked toward the kitchen, she turned her head slightly and said to Chen Lie, “I mean, you’re kind of attractive.”

She’d thought the spring breeze was clueless about romance, but now it seemed spring kept coming back, full of life.

This man wasn’t the one she remembered from the original story, nor was he what she’d seen from her god’s-eye view of the original.

Chen Lie was someone worth discovering, worth exploring.

As for Chen Lie, Su Qinghu’s sudden “you’re kind of attractive” almost made him trip over his own feet.

Su Qinghu didn’t notice any of this. As soon as she entered the kitchen, she spotted a pot on the coal stove, white steam billowing from it.

“Chen Lie, you’re a real treasure!”

Looking at the buns and steamed bread on the counter, Su Qinghu suddenly realized something was off.

Not only had this man made breakfast, he’d even cleaned up the yard and the kitchen!

Chen Lie was so directly and sweetly praised that his ears turned red.

This was the first time in his life he’d ever been in this kind of situation. It felt strange, but there was also a kind of unspeakable joy.

“I wake up on time every day. I went for a run, saw I still had time, so I started breakfast, swept the yard, and cleaned the kitchen while I was at it.”

He’d done these things before, but being singled out and praised like this was a first. Chen Lie was actually a little nervous, like the first time he went on a secret mission.

“You get up really early,” Su Qinghu said, smiling at him. “I didn’t even notice.”

He was so thoughtful, always considering others.

She seemed to have discovered something new. She looked at Chen Lie, staring until he got so embarrassed he could barely stand it, then finally said, “Chen Lie, have I ever told you you’re very handsome?”

Chen Lie nearly choked. This girl… the way she talked… was always so unexpected!

He quickly changed the subject. “When we got our marriage certificate, I told you my parents were on their way to the sanatorium.”

Su Qinghu nodded. “Mm, you did. I remember.”

The way she said it almost made Chen Lie forget what he wanted to say.

It was such a simple sentence, but with her tone and her face, there was an indescribable… feeling to it.

Su Qinghu didn’t care what he was thinking. She touched her forehead and said, “Let’s go outside to talk. It’s too hot in the kitchen.”

Chen Lie’s gaze fell on the spot where her hand had been. Her fair forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat, a few stray hairs sticking to it, not pure black but soft and cute.

He followed her out of the kitchen. The two of them stood under the eaves. Su Qinghu said, “Alright, go ahead. What were you about to say?”

Chen Lie: “…Thank you for being understanding and letting them get the care they need. I contacted them when I got back yesterday. If nothing comes up, they should be back today.”

Su Qinghu: …

Suddenly she was nervous. Was she about to meet her in-laws?

“My father seems strict and serious, but he’s actually a reasonable man with principles.”

“My mother…” Chen Lie paused, choosing his words carefully under her expectant gaze, “My mother is very clear about who she likes and dislikes. If she likes someone, she really likes them. If she doesn’t, she won’t even bother with pleasantries.”

Su Qinghu listened, a little distracted. So Chen Lie’s father was more rational, and his mother more emotional?

Rational people are good, but sometimes a bit stubborn. A touch of emotion might be better.

The two of them had been together most of their lives—maybe they balanced each other out?

Seeing her lost in thought, Chen Lie said, “You don’t have to worry. Just be yourself, act naturally. It’s not hard to get along with them.”

Su Qinghu: …

She glanced at him, a little skeptical.

Given this man’s status and contributions, if he’d wanted to apply for his own house and just live next door to his parents in the compound, it probably wouldn’t have been a problem. But the reality was, his ex-wife hadn’t lived with his parents.

Chen Lie said, “Not living with my parents was her own idea.”

“Why?” Su Qinghu asked casually, the words slipping out.

Chen Lie looked into her clear eyes and was momentarily speechless.

After a while, he finally said, “She said she couldn’t get used to that environment, and didn’t want to be woken up by the bugle on weekend mornings.”

Su Qinghu: “That sounds like a reasonable explanation.”

She said “sounds like” instead of being certain, because of the times they were in.

In this era, being able to live in a compound—especially one with status—was something to brag about. Unless someone was really clueless, no one would turn down the chance to move in.

These compounds were like little societies, with everything you could want—kindergarten, shops, barber, bathhouse, all convenient. Sometimes you’d even find things here you couldn’t get outside.

Chen Lie’s ex-wife hadn’t even bothered to take care of the kids. Why would she give up such a convenient place and choose to live elsewhere?

There were probably only two reasons: either there was something or someone outside that attracted her, or she felt guilty and couldn’t face Chen Lie’s parents.

“Where do you want to live? Have you thought about it?” Chen Lie asked.

Su Qinghu said, “I’m fine living here. I like walking around the neighborhood and seeing how other people live. But if your parents don’t mind me, I could stay over on weekends sometimes.”

She smiled. “Your parents’ place probably requires signing in and out. If I’m coming and going all the time, it might not look good.”

People might start calling her a loafer…

Chen Lie nodded. “Whatever you want.”

So he was respecting her wishes and letting her do as she pleased?

“By the way, when your parents come back, are they going home first or coming straight here? If they’re coming here, should I prepare anything? If they’re going home, should I bring a gift when I visit?”

Chen Lie said, “I told them to go home first, and then I’ll go see them.”

Su Qinghu raised an eyebrow. “You want to take the heat on your own?”

“It’s not really heat,” Chen Lie chuckled. “You just wait at home.”

“Isn’t it a bit unfair to let you go alone?” Su Qinghu teased.

It was so obvious that Chen Lie laughed. “So how do you want to be fair?”"