Chapter 27: Come On, Let’s Be Awkward Together

Su Qinghu heard a knock at the door and went to open it. She glanced at the four people standing outside, narrowed her eyes, stepped aside, and gestured for them to come in.

Chen Lie noticed the change in her expression. Supporting Zhao Liangyan, he said to Su Qinghu, “He’s drunk. I’d like him to sober up at our place before heading home.”

Su Qinghu nodded.

Seeing that she said nothing else, Chen Lie, still holding Zhao Liangyan, didn’t move his feet. “I can take care of him myself. You don’t need to help.”

Su Qinghu nodded again. Thinking something was missing, she added a soft “Mm.”

Chen Lie didn’t know why, but hearing her voice made him feel oddly relieved.

“I’ll take him in, then.”

“Mm.”

Chen Lie helped Zhao Liangyan inside. Su Qinghu quickly blocked the door, leaving the two kids outside.

Da Dan and Er Dan: “???”

The two of them were baffled. What’s going on? Why were they shut out?

“Do you feel like you forgot something before you went out?” Su Qinghu stood with her arms crossed, looking down at them, her tone slow and dangerous.

Her gaze was scrutinizing, her voice full of warning.

Da Dan felt a chill down his spine. He couldn’t figure out what Su Qinghu was getting at, so he didn’t dare answer rashly.

Er Dan shrank back a little and tried, “...Yes?”

When an adult asks, “Do you feel like you forgot something?” you always answer “yes.” It’s like when a grown-up, exasperated, asks, “Did you do something wrong, did you?”—you’d better just say, “I was wrong.” Because at that moment, in a parent’s eyes, you are wrong.

If you argue, you’ll probably get a scolding.

Su Qinghu glanced at Er Dan, then looked at Da Dan and called him out directly. “And you?”

Da Dan: “...We forgot to deliver the flower basket design to Liu Guifang’s house?”

Su Qinghu neither confirmed nor denied, and pointed to Er Dan. “Er Dan, your turn.”

Er Dan, who had just relaxed, suddenly tensed up again. “Huh? Oh! We forgot... forgot...”

It definitely wasn’t about delivering the design to Liu Guifang’s house, because he remembered his new mom had said they could deliver it in the evening, since they’d have more time to explain their requirements clearly.

So what did they forget?!

Er Dan grew anxious and looked up at Su Qinghu. “I don’t know what I did wrong.”

Su Qinghu was speechless. “Then why did you admit fault so quickly?”

“Isn’t that what adults want when they ask like that?” Er Dan looked innocent. “I’ve seen our old neighbors argue, and it’s always like this.”

Whenever those uncles and aunties argued, if the auntie asked a question like that and the uncle argued back, he’d get nagged for a whole day.

Su Qinghu: “...”

What goes on in kids’ heads these days?!

Chen Lie had just settled Zhao Liangyan on a bamboo mat in the side room and came out just in time to hear the exchange between Su Qinghu and Er Dan.

He paused, and just as Er Dan was about to look his way for help, Chen Lie turned and went into the kitchen.

He needed to make some hangover soup for Zhao Liangyan...

Er Dan watched as Chen Lie turned away, and his silent plea for help evaporated into thin air.

What’s the use of having a dad? When it matters most, he still sides with his wife!

Er Dan was so frustrated he wanted to grind his teeth. “I didn’t do anything bad today. I ate breakfast well, moved the coal briquettes well, and even when I was mad, I just squatted by our own door. When I went to the compound with my brother to find Dad, we even got a bunch of ration coupons for our family! I’m such a good kid—why doesn’t anyone care about me?”

The more he spoke, the more pitiful he sounded, his eyes even welling up with tears. “I’m not ugly either. In fact, I’m handsome! Everyone says I look like one of those cool big brothers in the movies!”

Su Qinghu had been feeling a mix of emotions, but when she heard “cool big brother in the movies,” she was instantly reminded of the time Er Dan tried to act all tough, constantly having to hitch up his slipping belt, looking every bit the wannabe street punk—an image that was both hilarious and cringeworthy.

She: “...”

Clearing her throat, Su Qinghu asked, “Tell me the truth—have you ever been to a movie theater? Have you ever watched a cop movie?”

Er Dan looked at Da Dan, then decided to be honest. “No, never.”

Da Dan’s fingers twitched, but he stayed silent and didn’t look up.

Su Qinghu might seem like she was jumping from topic to topic, but she always circled back to the main point. So what should he say later?

“Alright, fun time’s over. Back to the main question. Think carefully about what you forgot earlier, and give me your answer in five minutes.” Su Qinghu’s smile faded. “I don’t want to hear ‘I don’t know’ again.”

Er Dan froze, not used to how quickly she switched topics.

After speaking, Su Qinghu turned and walked away, heading to the kitchen. She glanced at the man working there, still looking tall and steadfast, then glanced a few more times before slowly walking to the kitchen door.

“Comrade Chen Lie, what time is it now?”

On the surface, it was a perfectly proper question, but coming from Su Qinghu’s lips, it had a teasing undertone—though not entirely teasing—like there was a subtle hook in her voice, making people feel awkward and unsure what to do with their hands and feet.

Chen Lie put down his knife, took off his watch, checked the time, and handed it to her. “It’s 10:56 a.m.”

Su Qinghu nodded. “You could’ve just told me. No need to let me check for myself.”

Chen Lie: “...You can use this watch for now. We’ll go buy another one this afternoon.”

Su Qinghu paused, realizing she’d misunderstood completely!

But can a beautiful woman ever show embarrassment?

Absolutely not!

So she reached out her hand. “The strap on your watch isn’t adjustable, right? Will it even fit me?”

Looking at her outstretched hand, Chen Lie paused and looked down at her, but all he saw was her long, straight eyelashes and her delicate, elegant nose.

Of course Su Qinghu knew Chen Lie was looking at her, but she was embarrassed herself, so she decided to drag him into the awkwardness with her.

Now Chen Lie must be feeling awkward too, right?

Chen Lie did hesitate for a moment, but seeing her slender wrist hanging in the air, he quickly unfastened the strap, estimated her wrist size, removed a few links, and reattached it. It fit her perfectly.

Su Qinghu blinked. He removed the links by hand?

Chen Lie said, “I modified this watch, so it’s easy to take apart.”

Su Qinghu turned her wrist, examining the watch. Then she looked up. “You modified it... So it must have more than just an easy-to-remove strap, right?”

Chen Lie nodded and showed her the part he’d removed. “There’s a blade here. It can be used in emergencies.”

Su Qinghu placed a few fingers on his thumb to look at the spot he indicated. When she saw the three or four millimeter-wide blade, she looked up and asked, “How long is it?”

Caught off guard by her gaze, Chen Lie was momentarily stunned, but recovered so quickly that Su Qinghu didn’t notice. He answered, “Three centimeters.”"