Chapter 5: The Married Couple

Lin Fengmian's gaze darted between the two of them.

She said brashly, "Is there anything I'm not allowed to hear?"

As she spoke, she nudged Jiang Zhixun with her elbow. "Big Brother Jiang, wouldn't you agree?"

Jiang Zhixun took a step to the side.

His face held no expression, and his tone was very calm.

"There is a distinction between men and women. Mind your influence."

Lin Fengmian clicked her tongue. "When you used to come to our house and eat the food I cooked, why didn't you talk about the distinction between men and women then?"

Jiang Zhixun and Lin Zhidong were friends, and he had indeed come to their house for meals twice before.

A teasing expression appeared on Lin Fengmian's face, but her hands were clenched together nervously.

"Big Brother Jiang, you wouldn't happen to have eyes for this female comrade and are intentionally keeping your distance from me, would you?"

Jiang Zhixun frowned. "Stop guessing blindly."

Lin Fengmian pressed further, "Then why are you suddenly so cold to me? Isn't it because you're afraid this female comrade will misunderstand?"

Jiang Zhixun didn't answer her. He turned his head to ask Shen Qingqing, "What are you talking about?"

Shen Qingqing understood Jiang Zhixun's temperament.

He would never be so close to any female comrade.

Nor would he speak with such familiarity.

Shen Qingqing didn't doubt Jiang Zhixun's character; it was just that they had been apart for three years, and the current her knew nothing at all about his affairs.

Consequently, she didn't understand why this female comrade could speak to Jiang Zhixun in such an intimate tone.

She pursed her lips.

She told herself in her heart that these matters had nothing to do with her.

All she wanted was a piece of divorce paper.

Judging by Jiang Zhixun's behavior, he wouldn't go to a guesthouse with her, nor would he go to a secluded place.

Perhaps he was intentionally keeping his distance, fearing she had truly come to demand a child.

Since he was unwilling to cooperate, she had nothing left to worry about.

In any case, once they were divorced, the news would spread regardless.

By then, she would have already returned to Jing City, and the storms here would no longer be able to affect her.

Wiping away her embarrassment, Shen Qingqing looked at Lin Fengmian, who was standing between them.

She said softly, "Comrade, please give us some space to talk."

Lin Fengmian's temperament was completely different from Shen Qingqing's.

In the residential compound, she had a nickname: Little Chili.

Although she was young, just turned twenty, her temper was by no means small; she was very fierce.

When facing her, even battle-hardened older women would find themselves having to concede.

Lin Fengmian already harbored hostility toward Shen Qingqing, and upon hearing those words, she immediately became displeased.

She crossed her arms and tilted her chin up. "This is the cafeteria, a public place. On what grounds should I leave?"

Shen Qingqing frowned and shifted her gaze to Jiang Zhixun. "Are you sure you want me to say it here, in front of everyone?"

Jiang Zhixun didn't even know what he was thinking; by the time he reacted, he had already sat back in his original seat.

He rubbed the tip of his nose.

He restrained the impulse to stand up and lead her out of the cafeteria.

He looked at Shen Qingqing with practiced composure. "Speak. It's not like it's something shameful."

"Exactly! If you have something to say, just say it here. That way, we can all witness it for you!"

Lin Fengmian hurriedly sat down next to Jiang Zhixun.

A smile hung on her face.

However, Shen Qingqing saw a hint of boasting in her eyes.

A long rectangular table separated them into two camps.

Under the scrutinizing gazes of others, Shen Qingqing felt both ashamed and heartbroken, experiencing a sort of illusion of being interrogated.

She was Jiang Zhixun's wife, yet she didn't even have the opportunity to speak to him alone.

This marriage had long since lost its meaning.

Although Lin Zhidong and the others had sat on the other side, they were constantly keeping an eye on the situation between Jiang Zhixun and Shen Qingqing.

As soon as his younger sister appeared, Lin Zhidong had a bad premonition.

They had only just learned that Jiang Zhixun was married, and judging by Xiaomian's behavior, she probably still knew nothing.

Seeing her sit next to Jiang Zhixun and face Shen Qingqing with a smug posture, Lin Zhidong was dying of embarrassment.

He wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

A couple is talking, why is she interfering!

Neglecting his meal, he ran over in a few quick steps and grabbed Lin Fengmian.

"Your sister-in-law is sick today, and she's taken leave from the art troupe. Hurry back and help her watch the child. I'll be back as soon as I grab the lunch box."

After finishing his mission, Lin Zhidong had gone home for a bit.

Because of her period, his wife's waist ached severely, and she could only lie down at home to rest.

His sister had to take care of the child and do housework; it was very hard work.

To let them both get a break, he had come to the cafeteria to get food to bring home.

He originally intended to eat with them at home, but something came up unexpectedly, and he was called to the leader's office.

This delay had lasted until now.

Lin Fengmian had finally gotten a chance to see Jiang Zhixun, so naturally, she was unwilling to leave.

Her toes hooked tightly around the table leg.

"I came to help you guys with the child, not to be sold to you. Can't I even have a little private time?"

In a public place, Lin Zhidong couldn't forcibly drag her away.

He let out a groan. "You girl, why are you so tactless? Can't you see Comrade Shen and Old Jiang have things to say to each other?"

Lin Fengmian pouted unhappily. "How am I tactless? First, I didn't cover her mouth, and second, I didn't stop her from talking to Big Brother Jiang."

As she spoke, her peripheral vision fell on Shen Qingqing.

The more she looked, the more unpleasant she found her.

She looked delicate and dainty, and her clothes were very fashionable; one look and you could tell she was the type who only knew how to enjoy life.

Her eyes were even red; anyone who didn't know better would think she and Big Brother Jiang were bullying her.

She cursed inwardly, *What a good actress.*

Lin Zhidong's scalp felt numb. If they stayed any longer, Xiaomian would definitely make a fool of herself.

He pulled at her arm again.

He still couldn't move her.

He asked irritably, "A couple is talking, is it your place to stop them?"

Lin Fengmian instinctively wanted to talk back, but she was frozen by those three words: "a couple."

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

The foot hooked around the table lost its strength, and with a gentle pull from Lin Zhidong, she stumbled a step.

Lin Fengmian's mind was a tangled mess.

She murmured to herself, "How could Big Brother Jiang be married? He never mentioned his spouse, and he hasn't come home in three years. How could they be a couple..."

Lin Zhidong became even more embarrassed.

"This is someone else's private matter. Why pry so much?"

He apologized to Shen Qingqing. "Comrade Shen, my sister is just thoughtless and speaks and acts brashly. If she has offended you, please forgive her this once."

Shen Qingqing didn't want to invite more trouble.

Nor did she want to argue over so much.

In any case, once they were divorced, these matters would have nothing to do with her.

She gestured toward Jiang Zhixun with her chin. "It was his failure to make it clear that caused the misunderstanding."

"Is this my fault?"

Shen Qingqing pursed her lips. "Is it not?"

Jiang Zhixun looked at her with a half-smile. "Do I have to have your name, Shen Qingqing, stuck to my forehead wherever I go?"

The mocking tone in his words was something Shen Qingqing, not being foolish, could hear.

Having been humiliated by him several times in a row, Shen Qingqing did not want to suffer this grievance any longer.

"As a married man, isn't it your duty to let others know that you have a family?"

Jiang Zhixun gave a light snort.

It was as if he was being lectured by Shen Qingqing and couldn't find a response.

Or perhaps it was as if he didn't take her words to heart.

No matter how one looked at it, this did not seem like the behavior a normal couple should have.

Jiang Zhixun scanned the surroundings and saw that everyone nearby had their ears pricked, listening to the commotion on their side.

While Shen Qingqing's expression was calm, her eyes were filled with embarrassment.

The irritation in his heart surged and spread once more.

As he stood up, he grabbed Shen Qingqing's wrist. "Come with me."

(End of Chapter)