"Haven’t they co back from dinner yet?" Mrs. Xie asked. She had already finished her bath; anything more she said would be pointless.
Jie Jingchen didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, "Mom, have you eaten?"
"Of course." Mrs. Xie gave Jie Jingchen a look and asked, "Is there any bathwater left?"
"No, I only heated enough for Qin i and ," Jie Jingchen answered truthfully. He paused for a mont before adding, "I’ll go heat so for you."
"Don’t bother. I’m just going to wash up and go to bed. I’ll heat it myself," Mrs. Xie replied, declining his offer.
She went to her room to put down her bag before heading to the kitchen to heat so water. She didn’t prepare much, just enough for herself. After a pleasant bath, she felt completely refreshed. She then returned to her room to sleep, as she had to be up early for work the next day.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO...
Before the sky had even begun to lighten, the rooster’s crowing once again echoed from the courtyard.
Qin i didn’t know how anyone else was feeling, but she, for one, was about to have a breakdown.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO...
Qin i pulled the quilt up higher, burrowing deep inside. Jie Jingchen’s expression darkened. He shot an icy glance at the pitch-black window, then lowered his gaze to Qin i, who was curled up beneath the covers.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO...
"AHHHH!" Qin i finally snapped. She threw off the quilt, knelt on the bed, and began to furiously tear at her hair in frustration.
Jie Jingchen sat up and reached for the pull cord to turn on the light. He looked at Qin i, who was sporting a serious case of bedhead.
"That damn rooster! How is anyone supposed to get any sleep?" Qin i roared.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO. The mont the words left her mouth, she was answered by another crow from the rooster.
"Jie Jingchen, it’s taunting ! Go and take care of it," Qin i demanded, her voice full of indignation.
Jie Jingchen didn’t move. He simply looked at the furious Qin i, looking like he wanted to say sothing but then thought better of it.
COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO...
"It’s still going! Does it really think I don’t have a temper? Waking soone from a peaceful sleep is like digging up their ancestors’ graves! If I don’t slaughter that thing, I’ll... I’ll write my na backward!" Qin i shot up in a fury. If Jie Jingchen wouldn’t do as she asked, she would handle it herself.
"Qin i." Jie Jingchen wrapped an arm around her waist, stopping her from jumping off the bed.
It was one thing for Jie Jingchen not to help, but to actually stop her? Qin i’s anger flared. "Jie Jingchen," she demanded coldly, "is that rooster your long-lost relative or sothing?"
"Qin i, you’re not the only one being woken up by that rooster," Jie Jingchen reminded her. Qin i froze, her anger instantly subsiding.
’If I go and slaughter that rooster, everyone will be happy. But why should I be the one to do it? Being a good Samaritan has its limits, especially when it cos to certain people... like Xu Chunyan.’
’Besides, I don’t have to go to work. I can sleep during the day. The sa can’t necessarily be said for the others.’
’Aunt Zhang brought that rooster back from the countryside, and this is only her first day here. I’m curious to see just how long they can all tolerate it.’
’Even if the Jie Family can stand it, what about the neighbors living nearby?’
’If Aunt Zhang doesn’t do sothing about that rooster, she’ll cause a public outrage.’
"Turn off the light," Qin i told Jie Jingchen. She lay back down and pulled the quilt over herself. Listening to the rooster crow, she suddenly found the sound wasn’t quite so grating anymore.
A smile touched the corners of Jie Jingchen’s lips as he pulled the cord, plunging the room into darkness.
All sleepiness gone, Qin i spoke up. "Jie Jingchen, let’s make a bet. Who’s going to be the first one to snap?"
"What are the stakes?" Jie Jingchen asked, his interest piqued.
"Money." Qin i glanced to the side. The room was pitch-black, and while she couldn’t see Jie Jingchen’s face, she could hear the sound of his breathing.
"How much?" ’Just as I thought,’ Jie Jingchen mused. He had a feeling Qin i had a particular fondness for money. If soone ever offered to buy him, he suspected she would sell him off without a shred of hesitation.
"One hundred yuan." A greedy glint appeared in Qin i’s almond-shaped eyes. ’My parents-in-law gave money, and my little sister-in-law gave money, but my own husband, Jie Jingchen, hasn’t given anything.’
’It’s not that Jie Jingchen was stingy; he was always quick to open his wallet when buying her things. But you couldn’t call him generous, either. He didn’t let her manage his salary, he wouldn’t give her his bankbook, and he still wouldn’t give her any cash.’
’What was most infuriating was that he still hadn’t paid her the fee for treating Jing Qi’s leg, just saying he’d owe her for now.’
"Deal," Jie Jingchen agreed readily. He didn’t care about the amount.
Qin i rubbed her hands together eagerly. "So, who do you bet will snap first?"
"Second Sister-in-law," said Jie Jingchen.
"Xu Chunyan?" Qin i was taken aback. That was unexpected. She thought Jie Jingjue was far more likely to snap first. "Why her?"
Jie Jingchen just smiled, not answering her question. Instead, he asked, "Who are you betting on?"
Qin i fell into thought. ’Knowing Jie Jingchen, he wouldn’t bet on Xu Chunyan without a good reason, but for the life of , I can’t figure out why it would be her.’
’Aunt Zhang is Jie Jingwei’s biological aunt. He and Chunyan are tied to her. They can’t undermine anyone, least of all Aunt Zhang.’
"I’ll bet on Jing Wu," said Qin i.
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