’Jie Jingchen was the man her body’s previous owner had chosen. They had only been together for half a month—what kind of feelings could possibly develop in just half a month? She had to admit, she coveted his handso looks for now. But if he ever crossed a line, she was fully prepared to end this marriage.’
’But... if they did divorce, where would she go from there?’
Qin i reined in her thoughts and looked at Jie Jingshan. "Did he say where he was going?"
"No." Jie Jingshan shook her head.
Qin i fell silent and went back to eating her rice. Noticing the change in her mood, Mrs. Xie picked up a pork rib and placed it in her bowl. "Xiao i, don’t worry. Jing Si knows what he’s doing."
Qin i paused, her chopsticks hovering over her bowl. She stared at the extra pork rib on her rice, her eyes flickering. ’Did my mother-in-law see right through ?’
Qin i said nothing, simply gnawing on the rib. The food the family’s second aunt had made was delicious and exactly to her liking, yet at this mont, she could barely taste it.
Qin i’s brow furrowed. ’Jie Jingchen can affect my appetite. That’s not a good sign.’
To prove that Jie Jingchen had no hold over her, Qin i forced down three bowls of rice. She only stopped when she physically couldn’t eat another bite.
"Dad, Mom, I’m full. You two take your ti." Qin i set down her bowl and chopsticks. Under their astonished gazes, she got up and walked out of the main hall.
"Old Jie, is the girl all right?" Mrs. Xie asked Mr. Xie, her voice laced with worry.
"Did the two of them have a fight?" Mr. Xie asked, turning to Jie Jingshan.
Though only fourteen, Jie Jingshan understood more than she let on. She set down her utensils, chose her words carefully, and then said succinctly, "Fourth Sister-in-law was trying to seduce Fourth Brother, but the second aunt walked in and stopped them."
Mr. and Mrs. Xie were dumbfounded. So, it was a case of unfulfilled desire.
"AHEM, AHEM." Mr. Xie’s face flushed red with embarrassnt, and he let out a few awkward coughs.
Mrs. Xie recovered as well and put on a stern face to lecture Jie Jingshan. "Jing Qi, you’re still young... ahem. Next ti, don’t go eavesdropping on your fourth brother and sister-in-law."
"I wasn’t eavesdropping," Jie Jingshan pouted.
Given Jie Jingshan’s age, Mrs. Xie didn’t press the topic. Instead, she changed the subject. "Where did your fourth brother go?"
"I don’t know." Jie Jingshan shook her head. "He just told not to wait for him for dinner. He didn’t say where he was going."
"You didn’t ask?" Mrs. Xie’s eyes narrowed. She knew her own daughter quite well.
"I did ask, but he wouldn’t say." Jie Jingshan spread her hands and shrugged.
"That’s enough. Stop worrying," Mr. Xie said, putting so food into his wife’s bowl. "Jing Si isn’t a three-year-old. What does it matter where he went?" They’d been so busy watching Qin i eat, they’d hardly touched their own food.
Mrs. Xie shot her husband a look. ’Was I worried about where Jing Si went? I was worried about the young couple fighting.’
"Oh, right. Hong Ying called," Mr. Xie said. "She’s coming back and asked to send soone to pick her up." He then asked, "Where’s Jing Wu?"
Mrs. Xie said nothing. She set down her chopsticks, her appetite suddenly gone.
"Yan Qiu, when Jing Wu gets back, tell him to drive and pick up Hong Ying," Mr. Xie said to his wife.
"You can tell him yourself. Jing Qi, I’ll take you back to your room." Mrs. Xie stood up and began to push Jie Jingshan’s wheelchair. Mr. Xie put down his utensils and helped lift Jie Jingshan, wheelchair and all, over the threshold.
"This threshold is too inconvenient," Mr. Xie grumbled. "We need to get it removed."
Ever since Jing Qi had beco disabled, she hadn’t joined the family for als in the main hall. Now that she was finally willing to, the threshold was proving to be a real obstacle.
Mrs. Xie remained silent, pushing Jie Jingshan away.
Jie Jingshan kept her head down, so no one saw the shadow that flickered in her eyes.
Qin i had overeaten, and her stomach felt uncomfortably stuffed. She decided to go for a walk to aid her digestion.
"Xiao i, heading out?" Mrs. Xie asked.
"Yes, I ate too much and wanted to walk it off." Qin i paused for a mont before adding, "Mom, would you like to join ?"
"Yes, let’s walk together." Mrs. Xie looked down at Jie Jingshan in her wheelchair. "Jing Qi, do you want to co?"
"I don’t want to. I’m sleepy and I want to go to bed," Jie Jingshan replied sullenly.
Qin i looked at the gloomy expression on Jing Qi’s face, completely bewildered. ’What’s going on? Did sothing happen after I left the room?’
"Xiao i, wait for . I’ll just take Jing Qi back to her room." Since Jie Jingshan’s back was turned to her, Mrs. Xie didn’t see the expression on her face.
Qin i nodded and waited for Mrs. Xie.
When Mrs. Xie returned, she closed the door, walked over to Qin i, and affectionately linked arms with her as they left the house.
Neighbors they passed greeted the pair warmly. So even offered polite invitations to co in and sit, which Mrs. Xie gracefully declined. Everyone in the neighborhood knew about Qin i’s "miscarriage" and that she was still in her confinent period. Due to the associated taboos, their invitations were rely a courtesy, not a genuine request.
"Xiao i," Mrs. Xie said suddenly, "your father ntioned that Zhang Hongying is coming back."
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