Chapter 45: Let’s Hurt Each Other’s Feelings

As soon as those words were spoken, Su Qinghu and Erdan exchanged a glance, as if they were perfectly in sync. Somehow… this actually seemed pretty good?

The surprise came so suddenly that Erdan was overjoyed. He darted in front of Chen Bo, grabbed his hand with his little paw, and shook it. “Grandpa, you’re the best~~~”

Suddenly being approached so affectionately by a child, Chen Bo burst out laughing and rubbed Erdan’s head. “Grandpa will come often from now on.”

Erdan nodded vigorously.

He could finally feel the happiness of being doted on by grandparents—what a joy!

Dadan stood behind Qian Yin, his gaze not on Grandpa Chen Bo or his little brother Erdan, but on Su Qinghu.

Su Qinghu sensed his stare and glanced over, meeting his eyes.

As expected!

She didn’t even need to guess—this kid always looked at her with that scrutinizing gaze.

Dadan didn’t shy away from her look, either. Boldly, he let her see exactly what he was thinking.

“Dad.” Su Qinghu flashed Dadan a smile, then quickly turned her head and called out to Chen Bo in the most natural tone, “Dad, Dadan really admires you. He’s always wanted to hear stories about when you were young, but he’s been too shy to ask…”

Dadan’s eyes went wide, his cheeks flushing red as he glared furiously at the culprit, Su Qinghu.

He… he had only reminded Erdan on the way here not to talk to Grandpa and Grandma like he did in the morning, to show respect to the revolutionary elders…

He never said anything about wanting to hear stories!

Su Qinghu grinned. “Don’t be embarrassed. We’re all family. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to hear stories.”

As she spoke, she edged half a step closer to Chen Lie.

Let’s see if he dares glare at her now!

Dadan was really mad, his thin little fists clenched tight. Looking at Su Qinghu, who was grinning smugly, he huffed a little, pursed his lips several times, and finally couldn’t help but jab back, “Are you six years old or something?”

Kids—especially good-looking kids—are pretty cute when they’re angry. Su Qinghu smiled and nodded. “You’re the good-looking one, so you get to decide.”

Dadan’s face instantly turned bright red.

He stammered for a long time but couldn’t get a full sentence out. Chen Bo watched with amusement, completely believing what Su Qinghu had just said.

This kid was a little stubborn, but also quite adorable.

He reached out and gently patted Dadan’s head. “We’ve got your rooms ready at home. Don’t leave tonight. After dinner, whatever you want to hear, I’ll tell you.”

Then he looked up at Qian Yin. “Xiao Qian, can you stay tonight?”

Qian Yin guessed what his father-in-law meant—he wanted him around in case any questions came up about biochemical weapons, so he could add his input.

But, “Dad, I’m afraid I can’t tonight. When we leave later, Yan Yan and I have to pick up Duoduo from our teacher’s house.”

He glanced at Dadan and Erdan, thought for a moment, and offered a compromise. “How about this—if you have any questions, I’ll come by next Sunday evening to answer them?”

Dadan and Erdan were both really smart, and at the perfect age to develop interests and hobbies. Qian Yin had his own little ambition: to plant a seed of scientific curiosity in their hearts.

Chen Bo nodded.

Erdan piped up, “Who’s Duoduo? Is that your child? Are they older or younger than me?”

Qian Yin smiled, a father’s pride in his eyes. “Duoduo is my child. She’s four this year, so she should be younger than you.”

She was also a bright kid, with strong logical thinking and a keen interest in chemistry. Since his workplace wasn’t suitable for children, he sent her to his former chemistry teacher’s house on weekends, where she could do hands-on experiments and see chemical reactions firsthand.

Erdan breathed a sigh of relief. “Then she should call me big brother!”

He finally had a little sibling too, and was suddenly delighted.

Qian Yin just smiled and said nothing.

Chen’s mother—Madam Meng—came over just then to announce that dinner was ready, only to hear Erdan’s last comment. She shook her head helplessly. “Whether you can be a big brother depends on your own abilities.”

Then she turned to Su Qinghu and the others, smiling. “Everyone, come in and wash your hands. Let’s eat.”

Su Qinghu’s heart skipped a beat. Oh no, she’d been so caught up in everything that she’d forgotten about the cucumber salad.

Erdan clearly remembered too, sneaking a guilty glance at Su Qinghu—it was he who’d called her out to look at strawberries, after all…

Though they still hadn’t found any strawberries.

Su Qinghu decided to play it cool. Since her mother-in-law hadn’t mentioned it and just called everyone to eat, that meant the cucumber salad was either already done or not needed.

Madam Meng finished speaking and headed for the living room. Chen Bo took a child in each hand and led them inside, leaving Su Qinghu and Chen Lie trailing behind.

Su Qinghu leaned her head closer to Chen Lie, who obligingly slowed his pace. She whispered, “It’s my first day visiting, and I promised to cook but didn’t. Do you think Mom will get a bad impression of me?”

Chen Lie paused, lowered his head slightly, and said, “Do you think Mom might wonder why you ran out like a gust of wind just now?”

Su Qinghu: “!!!”

She was so dumb. She never should have asked Chen Lie that question, or hoped he’d pick up on her meaning and help her earn some brownie points. Now, not only did she not get any comfort, she just felt even more anxious…

But, “By the way, how do you feel about your son’s little revelation just now?”

Since she was in a bad mood, she might as well drag him down with her.

Chen Lie glanced at her but didn’t respond. Su Qinghu, stubborn as ever, spelled it out, “You know, your son blurted out that your ex-wife said you had a bad temper and weren’t a good person.”

“My temper—” Chen Lie raised his big hand, pressed it quickly down on Su Qinghu’s head, gave it a little push, then let go and strode ahead, leaving the flustered Su Qinghu behind with just one sentence: “That depends on who I’m dealing with.”

Su Qinghu hadn’t expected that move at all. So what if he was tall? Was showing off his height supposed to be fun?

Did he think he could just pat her head whenever he wanted?

Even at dinner, Su Qinghu was still a little indignant. That jerk had better not fall into her hands too soon, or he’d see what it meant to be conquered!

At the dinner table, Erdan was hardly ever idle—praising one dish, then another, and even trying to serve food to Chen Bo and Madam Meng. If Su Qinghu hadn’t stopped him, the two elders would have ended up eating Erdan’s saliva.

“Use these chopsticks.” Su Qinghu, who had only had soup so far, handed over her unused chopsticks.

Erdan didn’t feel awkward at all, happily serving food to everyone. His cheerful mood was infectious, and the meal was lively and harmonious.

Of course, Chen Lie didn’t do what Su Qinghu had hoped for at the dinner table—he didn’t try to win her any points with her mother-in-law.

After dinner, Qian Yin and Chen Yan—who had barely spoken at the table—left together. Su Qinghu, using the excuse that the kids had school tomorrow, didn’t stay either.

When they got home, Zhao Liangyan had already left, leaving a thank-you note behind.

Chen Lie bathed the kids and sent them to bed. As he came out, his steps suddenly halted."