Chapter 7: He’s Watching Her

After leaving the deli, Da Dan and Er Dan were still in disbelief. Two whole jin of meat—she just bought it, just like that?

Watching Su Qinghu walk ahead of them, the two boys exchanged glances and squeezed the oil-paper parcels in their hands.

The heavy feel, the lingering aroma of meat…

Oh my god, this is really happening!

They swallowed hard, saliva flooding their mouths. The way they looked at Su Qinghu had completely changed—so this is what you get when you’re shameless! You really can score some benefits!

Su Qinghu had no idea that her “leveraging” had turned into “shamelessness” in the eyes of these two little rascals. If she knew, she’d probably cough up blood in frustration.

Da Dan and Er Dan were still gazing at Su Qinghu with admiration, even wanting to run up and grab her hand, tell her to forget about being their dad’s wife, and become sworn siblings with them instead!

But then they remembered Chen Lie’s calm, all-seeing eyes, and both of them shuddered, quickly squashing that rebellious thought.

Walking ahead, Su Qinghu felt a bit embarrassed. Borrowing meat coupons today was basically strong-arming someone…

But, given Sister Chang’s current job, she really could save a lot of meat coupons, so Su Qinghu could only take advantage of this slightly plump sheep.

She glanced at seven-year-old Er Dan and shook her head. Forget it, when she returns the meat coupons, she’ll give Sister Chang an extra two yuan as interest. These two kids were just too skinny—she had no choice but to use desperate measures.

Two yuan could buy a full jin of pork belly—more than enough as a sincere apology.

“Gulp!”

The sound of someone swallowing snapped Su Qinghu out of her thoughts. She looked at the two boys, a bit puzzled. “Your family can afford a housekeeper, so how come—” you’re still so desperate for meat?

She really couldn’t figure it out.

The original owner’s memories didn’t feel like memories at all—more like a dying person reviewing their life. A lot of things just weren’t there, especially after the point where she took the medicine. After that, it was all a blur, with only snippets of other people’s voices.

As for Chen Lie, she actually didn’t know much about him.

Er Dan hurried to answer her question, tilting up his sun-browned face with a grin. “That auntie is just there to fool my dad.”

Su Qinghu frowned. “What do you mean?”

“There used to be an auntie who came every day to do chores. But once we got older and could do things ourselves, that woman wouldn’t let the auntie stay at the house all day.”

Er Dan’s mouth ran on, “After that, the auntie only came when my dad was home. However many days my dad was around, that’s how many days she worked. That woman paid her by the day.”

Su Qinghu: “…”

“Money and coupons are all in that woman’s hands. If she’s in a good mood, we get some meat. If not, it’s pickles and steamed buns with plain water.” Er Dan finished, winked at Su Qinghu, and grinned. “She sneaks off to eat at foreigner restaurants. We’ve all seen it.”

Su Qinghu crossed her arms. “I don’t believe you two are the type to just swallow your anger!”

You’ve got dirt on her—why not tattle to Chen Lie?

These two weren’t as innocent as they looked.

“My dad’s job is really dangerous. If things aren’t stable at home, that’s bad!” Er Dan said, waving his hand like a little adult. “That woman said if we didn’t behave, she’d cheat on my dad and then tell him she sold us off, so he’d lose focus and have an accident at work and die.”

Su Qinghu fell silent.

Seeing she didn’t stop him, Er Dan went on, “If my dad died, she’d really sell us. If he didn’t die but got badly hurt, she’d still be in charge at home, do whatever she wanted. If he wasn’t hurt, she said she had ways to make him believe her anyway.”

Da Dan didn’t stop Er Dan from talking. He just watched Su Qinghu, wanting to see her reaction.

Su Qinghu turned to look at him, her beautiful eyes tilting up at the corners. “What do you want to say?”

“If you ever cheat on my dad, I’ll kill you,” Da Dan said flatly, his tone steady as a rock. “If you try to sell us, as long as I’m alive, I’ll come back from anywhere and kill you.”

Su Qinghu was speechless. These brats only know how to threaten her, huh?

If she remembered right, didn’t Chen Lie’s ex-wife run off abroad with a pile of money?

These two didn’t seem all that resentful!

As if reading her mind, Da Dan looked steadily at her. “That woman only got together with that man after the divorce.”

And then they went abroad right away.

Er Dan nodded firmly. “That woman wouldn’t dare be with someone else before divorcing. My brother’s amazing—he knows everything.”

All these years, that woman threatened them, but they threatened her right back.

What Er Dan called “threatening,” Da Dan took seriously—he just never told his little brother.

If that woman ever cheated on their dad, he’d make sure to ruin her reputation before killing her.

Su Qinghu knew that Da Dan had inherited his parents’ brains—he was sharp as a tack. If he wanted to do something, he’d get it done. His only weakness was his adoptive father, Chen Lie. As long as no one touched Chen Lie, he was harmless.

Being sentimental was good, but if only he had a better sense of right and wrong.

“So what if your dad, Chen Lie, cheats on me?” Su Qinghu asked seriously. “Can I cheat on him then?”

Before Da Dan could answer, Er Dan exploded, looking like he wanted to bite her.

Su Qinghu: “…”

What is wrong with these kids?

Da Dan pressed his lips together. “Shut up!”

Er Dan quickly clamped his mouth shut, lowering his head under Da Dan’s cold stare.

“My dad would never cheat,” Da Dan said firmly.

Su Qinghu: “What if he did?”

“There is no ‘what if.’” Da Dan’s little face was stubborn and resolute. “Don’t ask again.”

Su Qinghu grew even more curious. Could it be that Chen Lie’s ex-wife said something inappropriate in front of the kids?

Like, maybe… Chen Lie couldn’t do it?

She raised an eyebrow, and the two boys instantly tensed up, bristling unconsciously. Su Qinghu couldn’t help but smile.

Did she guess right?

“Stop thinking about it!” Er Dan had never believed people’s eyes could talk, but Su Qinghu’s could—she seemed to have figured it out!

Da Dan frowned at Er Dan, wondering if he was an idiot. He explained, “My dad is devoted to his country and family. He never lets anything distract him.”

Su Qinghu almost wanted to applaud.

These two boys had just demonstrated the difference between low and high emotional intelligence.

Low EQ: “My dad can’t do it, so he won’t cheat.”

High EQ: “My dad is devoted to his country and family, never distracted by anything else. You figure out the rest.”

Su Qinghu smiled, not bothering to explain. She grabbed each of them by the back of the head and steered them toward home.

“Never mind your dad for now. What matters to me is you two.” Su Qinghu’s eyes curved as she smiled. “All I want in life is to live with dignity. If someone gives me that, everything else is negotiable!”

Da Dan was dazzled by her smile. “Can you stay by my dad’s side and take care of him, too?”"