Chapter 38: Overly Sensitive

Children’s emotions come and go in a flash.

A single kiss, a half-hearted explanation, a few words of respect, or a tasty meal is all it takes for a child to bounce back, good as new.

Er Dan was eating happily, his eyes sparkling with laughter. Every now and then, he’d sneak a glance at Su Qinghu, as if just one look at her filled him with celestial energy, making him feel light as air.

Chen Lie was explaining the phrase “War is the art of deception” to him, but when he caught sight of Er Dan’s blissed-out, daydreaming face, he paused mid-sentence.

“Dad?” Er Dan asked, confused. “Why did you stop?”

Chen Lie picked up a piece of chicken and handed it to Su Qinghu, who was sitting beside him, then replied slowly, “I was just thinking, if you eat your brother’s half as well, will your belt still hold up?”

Er Dan blinked. “Dad, my belt is made of cloth.”

It was a belt three fingers wide, made by folding fabric and sewing it into a hollow strip, adorned with a few shiny, ash-gray buttons. Tied around his waist, the ends dangled unevenly, looking quite stylish.

Er Dan really liked it. Ever since it was made, he’d been reluctant to part with it. That’s why, in a fit of anger earlier, he’d immediately thought of giving the belt back to Su Qinghu—to show his displeasure, and to tell himself he didn’t like her anymore.

But now that they’d made up, the belt was once again his most treasured possession.

“Cloth belts don’t break!” Er Dan insisted.

Then he suddenly remembered a kid about his age whose pants split when he squatted down, exposing his butt…

“Mom, if it does break, will you make me another one?” Emboldened by that resounding kiss from earlier, Er Dan looked at Chen Lie as he asked, showing off a little and making sure his dad heard Su Qinghu’s answer.

Chen Lie raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

Da Dan glanced at his little brother, then at Chen Lie, then at Su Qinghu, and sighed.

What is my brother thinking? Does he think a kiss solves everything?

Er Dan sensed their gazes and looked over, puzzled.

What’s with those looks?

Unwilling to back down, he lifted his chin and stared unblinkingly at Su Qinghu, waiting for her to stand up for him.

But Su Qinghu just raised an eyebrow and replied decisively, “No.”

What is he thinking? Sewing a belt isn’t that easy! If she hadn’t been worried he’d end up flashing everyone in public, would she have dusted off her long-unused sewing skills to make him a belt? She didn’t even want to sew her own clothes!

Er Dan was so shocked by her answer that his eyes went wide. He stared at her in disbelief, as if to say, “Are you lying to me? How could you say no?”

Da Dan looked as if to say, “I knew it,” and said nothing, just waiting for his brother to accept reality and let go of the pride and drama that had flared up after Su Qinghu’s kiss.

Chen Lie let out a chuckle.

That laugh was like poking a hornet’s nest—Er Dan’s tears started falling instantly.

Chen Lie: “...”

He couldn’t remember his son ever being this sensitive…

Da Dan: “!!!”

Da Dan was stunned. Was this really his brother? Even when he’d gotten into fights, or when that woman had yelled at or pinched him, he’d never cried—not even red-rimmed eyes.

Most of the time, he was all smiles, sometimes even grinning so much it infuriated others!

But now, seeing his brother’s tears, Da Dan was full of resistance. He didn’t want a little brother who acted all delicate like a girl!

Su Qinghu was speechless. She looked up at the ceiling and sighed, then lowered her head to look at Er Dan’s tear-streaked face. “What are you crying for? Weren’t you watching me the whole time we were shopping at the department store? You even remembered exactly how many times I smiled at people.”

Er Dan kept crying, silently.

He had been watching her, and he did remember how many times she smiled at others—but so what? She wasn’t being nice to him!

“If you noticed all that, didn’t you see what I bought?” Su Qinghu asked.

Er Dan: “...” He hadn’t noticed.

Su Qinghu could see from his tearful eyes that he was clearly saying “I didn’t notice,” as if it was written right on his forehead.

So self-righteous!

She was both annoyed and amused. “I bought you a belt. Didn’t you notice?”

Er Dan’s sobs stopped instantly, and he even hiccupped from stopping so fast.

He looked at Su Qinghu, and she looked back at him—he, incredulous and delighted; she, looking down at him with a mix of pride and exasperation.

“Really?” Er Dan asked.

“Really,” Su Qinghu replied.

Er Dan broke into a grin, scratching his head. “When we were at the department store, you looked better than everyone else. In your new clothes, you looked even better—better than anyone. I only had eyes for you…”

When did she buy the belt? Was it while he was looking at someone else? What does it look like? What color is it? How much did it cost? Was it expensive? When would she give it to him?

He had a million questions, but pretended to be reserved and didn’t ask, just grinned foolishly at Su Qinghu.

Da Dan couldn’t stand it and turned away.

So dumb!

Er Dan was really acting dumb!

Chen Lie chuckled and ruffled Da Dan’s hair. “Your mom bought one for you too.”

Da Dan turned to look at Su Qinghu, then at Chen Lie. “But I already have one.”

He’d seen Chen Lie and Su Qinghu pick up belts at the store, but they hadn’t asked for sizes. He’d thought the two belts were gifts for their grandparents…

“It’s time for a new one,” Chen Lie said, patting his shoulder.

Da Dan fell silent. “But Dad, we spent a lot of money today…”

What about the future? Living in the city, you can’t get by without money or ration coupons.

Chen Lie said, “That’s not something you need to worry about. Our family has money.”

Er Dan perked up again. “Brother, did you forget? Grandpa and Grandma gave us money—and coupons too.”

Su Qinghu glanced at Chen Lie but said nothing.

Special circumstances call for special measures. This man didn’t have much money on hand for now, so it was understandable to take some from his parents.

But—

She leaned closer to Chen Lie and spoke quietly, so only the two of them could hear: “When we have money, we should pay your parents back. If they refuse, we can give them extra on holidays.”

Her voice was soft, but Chen Lie heard her clearly. He could even feel the breath of her words.

The fine hairs on his ears stood up, and even the hairs on his arms tingled.

He swallowed awkwardly and nodded. “Okay.”

After she finished, Su Qinghu returned to her seat. “I bought you both new clothes today too. I just didn’t want you to get them dirty, so I thought you could change after we watch the movie.”

She found it odd—these two kids had followed them around the department store, but their attention had been so peculiar.

One only watched her face, counting how many times she smiled. The other absentmindedly watched everything around them, but was always keeping track of how much money she spent…"