Chapter 2: The "Irritable" Wife Knows How to Show Affection (2)

“Lu-la-la, lu-la-la, lu-la-lu-la-lie...”

Humming a disjointed tune while scrubbing the grime from her body, Su Qiruo finally felt a sense of good cheer and prepared to properly plan her future.

Living in such a dilapidated house was certainly not an option. She had to find a way to earn some silver, build a big house, and drive a nice car... No, ride a fine horse, and then roam the world, living a life of ease and happiness.

Thinking of the quiet life ahead, free from the rat race and strife, Su Qiruo couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

In her past life, she had worked like a dog, and even when she finally managed to steal a moment of leisure, she was filled with guilt.

Now, she no longer had to compete with others at every turn, nor did she have to live in a noisy, bustling city, struggling desperately for a meager salary every day.

“The scenery here is quite nice; it’s suitable for recuperation.”

Cleaned up, Su Qiruo let her hair hang down her back and casually wrung out the sour, smelly clothes she had taken off earlier.

Although she wanted to throw these clothes as far away as possible, Su Qiruo knew reality wouldn't allow it.

She was currently so poor she was practically eating dirt, and she still had a little husband to support. How could she be as extravagant as she was in her past life?

Thinking of that pitiful little husband, Su Qiruo’s beautiful brows suddenly furrowed.

She hadn't included Yun Zimu in the future she had just planned. In this era where women held the power, if he were left without her, how would Yun Zimu survive?

If he didn't mind, she wouldn't actually mind supporting him as well.

Carrying the washed clothes and letting her wet hair hang loose, she returned to what was called a home. The first thing that met her eyes was her little husband kneeling pitifully in the courtyard, his thin frame shivering under the sunlight, looking utterly wretched.

Su Qiruo was not hard-hearted, nor was she the type who didn't know how to cherish the delicate. Seeing this scene, she tossed the wet clothes onto the drying line and went to help Yun Zimu up.

“Ah...”

Seeing the unfamiliar woman before him, Yun Zimu let out a cry of alarm, his small face turning pale with fright.

He immediately shrank back a few steps, looking at Su Qiruo with a wary expression.

“I... my wife has gone out and will be back soon. You must leave quickly, and I... I will pretend I never saw you.”

Yun Zimu tried his best to finish the sentence, but his whole body was shaking like a sieve.

Su Qiruo was stunned, then she finally understood.

So, this little guy had never seen her clean, which was why he didn't recognize who she was.

Seeing him acting like a small dog trying to put on a brave front, he was actually quite adorable.

Su Qiruo couldn't help but laugh softly, then she leaned over to pull the stiffened Yun Zimu up from the ground, even brushing the dirt off his patched trousers.

“Ugh...”

Yun Zimu winced and shrank back from the pain, and combined with his fear of the stranger, he began to tremble even more violently.

“Zimu, don't be afraid. It’s me, Su Qiruo.”

Su Qiruo tried to control her voice, calling out the unfamiliar name, “Zimu.”

The name Zimu implied a learned gentleman; she imagined Yun Zimu’s biological father must have hoped his son would be more educated than him and live a better life.

Yet, she hadn't expected that a youth in the prime of his life would have already suffered so many hardships.

“Wife...”

Yun Zimu raised his reddened eyes to look at Su Qiruo. There was doubt and confusion in them, but more than that, there was reliance.

Su Qiruo, who had never been looked at with such eyes, felt an inexplicable sense of protectiveness ignite in her heart. Or perhaps... bringing along such a little tag-along wouldn't hinder her from roaming the world freely and at ease.

“It’s me.”

Su Qiruo nodded, not forgetting to grab the hair hanging behind her to reveal her entire face.

Yun Zimu stared at her for a long time, seemingly still unable to believe that the handsome woman before him was the slovenly woman who had bought him and then wantonly bullied and abused him.

“Zimu, I’m sorry! It was my fault before; I shouldn't have hit you whenever I drank. I swear, it will never happen again.”

Although the past transgressions had nothing to do with her, she still had to take the blame for the original owner—who else was to blame for her being the detestable Su Qiruo now?

Yun Zimu shook his head in a panic; he dared not accept his wife’s apology.

Moreover, his wife had suddenly changed her temperament; he wondered what she was plotting now.

Yun Zimu didn't believe a person could change so suddenly, so naturally, he didn't believe Su Qiruo’s vow that she wouldn't hit him again.

Su Qiruo’s gaze fell on Yun Zimu’s feet, which were clad in straw sandals. There were clear bruises on his fair, tender feet. Thinking back to how she had accidentally touched his knee and he had cried out in pain, it must have been that brute who had injured him last night.

Seeing that Yun Zimu was still on guard against her, Su Qiruo was no longer in a hurry to express her attitude of having turned over a new leaf.

Words were useless for such things; it would depend on how she acted in the future.

If Yun Zimu truly could not forgive the harm the original owner had caused him, Su Qiruo was willing to find him a good home so he could live a stable and peaceful life.

“Wife, let’s eat!”

Thinking of the thin porridge already cooked in the pot, Yun Zimu spoke softly to Su Qiruo.

Su Qiruo watched as Yun Zimu limped into the kitchen, and a moment later, he emerged with a chipped porcelain bowl.

“Why is there only one bowl of porridge?”

Su Qiruo asked with a frown. Could this household be so poor that they were down to sharing a single bowl of porridge?

And what could barely be called porridge was actually just a bowl of boiling water with a few grains of brown rice floating in it.

“Wife, I... I...”

As soon as Yun Zimu grew nervous, he started to kneel again, but fortunately, Su Qiruo was quick-witted and caught him.

“I’m not blaming you, I just mean, how are the two of us supposed to eat one bowl of porridge?”

Su Qiruo explained patiently. This child was truly too timid; she was afraid that every word she spoke would startle him.

Perhaps he had been beaten and scolded so much that he was terrified; Su Qiruo could understand his trembling and caution in her presence.

Yun Zimu blinked his eyes in confusion, then whispered an explanation: “This is your porridge, Wife, not for both of us.”

“This is mine? Then what are you eating?”

Su Qiruo was extremely curious. She was already eating so meagerly; was this child supposed to eat grass?

Based on Su Qiruo’s understanding of Yun Zimu, he would never dare to hide food, nor would he do such a thing.

“I...”

Yun Zimu only managed to say “I,” then lowered his eyes and said nothing more.

How was he supposed to say it?

Tell her he was waiting to eat her leftovers?

Su Qiruo suddenly stood up and strode toward the kitchen.

A flash of disappointment crossed Yun Zimu’s eyes, and then, enduring the pain, he trotted after her.

“Wife, I didn't steal any food, really!”

The little one’s explanation made Su Qiruo stop in her tracks. Had her actions just now caused him to misunderstand again?