(Er= Second)

Gu Jiaojiao didn’t realize that Su Shuoci was deliberately feigning exhaustion after the acupuncture session. She thought he genuinely needed rest, so as she packed up the silver needles, she said, “Second Brother, you go ahead first. Shuoci still needs to sleep for a while.”

Su Shuoci covered himself with a towel blanket and pretended to sleep, though his heart was bubbling with sweetness and a hint of guilt.

His fairy-like wife was truly innocent, not as cunning as ordinary people. She didn’t even pick up on the hidden meaning behind his clumsy excuse.

His parents and in-laws were probably misunderstanding the situation.

Sigh! He’d have to stick close to his wife in the future to make sure no one took advantage of her.

Feeling guilty, Su Shuoci didn’t dare entertain any other thoughts. Perhaps it was the relief from the acupuncture, but he soon fell into a genuine sleep.

Gu Jiaojiao, having worked up a sweat during the acupuncture session, went to take a shower. When she returned, she found the man already fast asleep.

This further dispelled any suspicion of his motives. She lay down beside him as usual.

Sheng Xinglian hadn’t returned home for lunch these past two days. Instead, she had been meeting Song Zijin in the small woods behind the school.

Song Zijin, who hadn’t seen Gu Jiaojiao recently, once again viewed his “Lian’er” through a romanticized lens.

The previous hint of disdain had vanished, especially since they had recently crossed a forbidden line. Song Zijin, having just tasted the forbidden fruit, was now craving more.

“Xingxing~ I’ll buy you a bowl of cold skin noodles and bring it to the school gate this afternoon.”

“Thank you, Brother Zijin~ I’ll head to class now~”

“Lian’er~ Why haven’t you been coming home for lunch lately?” Sheng Shiwen asked unhappily.

In his anger, Sheng Shiwen forgot that his sister had forbidden them from calling her “Lian’er,” insisting on “Xingxing” instead.

“Second Brother~ I’ve been feeling down and didn’t want to come home for lunch. Brother Zijin treated me instead~”

“Shiwen, I was the one who invited Lian’er to lunch. Would you prefer I invite her for dinner instead?”

Sheng Shiwen: …

Lunch was a relatively safe affair, conducted in broad daylight. Dinner, however, could lead to other things.

“Then come home early after school. I’ll buy you cold skin noodles this afternoon. Don’t eat from someone else.”

“Second Brother, Brother Zijing isn’t just ‘someone else’~” Sheng Xinglian said, her words directed at Sheng Shiwen but her eyes, filled with allure, locked onto Song Zijing.

Her gaze seemed to say: Brother Zijin, I’m already yours~

“Shiwen, go to work. Lian’er isn’t in the mood to see you right now.”

Song Zijin looked provocatively at Sheng Shiwen, then gently stroked Sheng Xinglian’s head. She responded like a docile kitten, a sight that infuriated Sheng Shiwen and made him want to lash out at Gu Jiaojiao.

Gu Jiaojiao, unaware of all this, was in the middle of a pleasant dream. In it, she had become a revered figure in the field of traditional Chinese medicine at a young age.

Su Shuoci had intended to pretend to sleep but ended up genuinely dozing off for two hours. When he woke up, he saw his wife smiling in her sleep, which lifted his spirits even more.

He turned to kiss her as usual, but she opened her eyes just in time.

“You’re awake?” Gu Jiaojiao saw the man looking at her sheepishly and assumed he was embarrassed because she had slept too long.

Checking the time, she realized it was already past three. “You could have woken me up. There’s no need to feel embarrassed.”

Su Shuoci: …

I got caught trying to kiss you. How could I not feel embarrassed?!

But there would be plenty of opportunities in the future, so he didn’t explain.

After freshening up, the couple stepped out to find Grandpa Gu and Elder Brother Gu reading in the yard, while Mother Gu was picking beans.

Gu Jiaojiao was delighted. Compliant patients were a joy. Stubborn ones who insisted on working despite their condition were a headache.

“Grandpa, Elder Brother, Mom, you’re all doing so well. I’m really happy.”

“Haha…” Grandpa Gu laughed heartily.

“Jiaojiao, you’re awake. Are you still going to the cold skin noodle stall?” Mother Gu asked cheerfully.

“Yes, Mom. The chicken is already chopped. I’ll slice some ginseng, and you can help us make chicken soup later.”

“Alright.”

Mother Gu didn’t refuse. Her father-in-law and eldest son both needed nourishment, and since it was her daughter’s thoughtful gesture, she accepted it gladly.

After slicing the ginseng and instructing her mother on making the soup, Gu Jiaojiao scooped out half a basin of rice, worried that her mother might skimp on portions and leave everyone hungry.

Once everything was prepared, she headed toward the textile factory gate. At four in the afternoon, the main road of the compound was quiet, with few pedestrians.

Gu Jiaojiao and Su Shuoci walked and chatted happily, their conversation flowing effortlessly, like any couple deeply in love.

Suddenly, a furious shout interrupted their conversation. “Gu Jiaojiao, are you really not sick?”

Gu Jiaojiao was stunned for a moment. The anger in the voice was intense and genuine.

“Sheng Shiwen, you’re the one who’s sick! Why are you cursing me out of nowhere? You were the ones who abandoned me. What are you trying to prove now?”

“That day you jumped into the pond, shouldn’t you have gotten seriously ill? If you’re not sick, did you fake jumping into the pond to gain sympathy?”

Sheng Shiwen’s furious interrogation was fueled by rage, his rationality long gone.

“Sheng Shiwen, have you been jumping into ponds lately? How else did water get into your brain? Who said jumping into a pond means you have to get sick?

I jumped into the pond to save someone, and you think it was for sympathy? Are you out of your mind? If I hadn’t jumped in that day, your mother would have drowned.

Ungrateful jerk! Do you think I’d jump into a pond just for sympathy? How stupid can you be?

You all treated me like dirt. Why would I want your sympathy? Are you trying to kill me now?

Let me tell you this: the sister you once doted on is already dead because of you.

Idiot! Don’t come here and lecture me. Your adopted sister has already been reincarnated.

The person standing in front of you now is Gu Jiaojiao, beautiful and kind-hearted, someone even the King of Hell wouldn’t take.

Take a good look. I’m Gu Jiaojiao, not your adopted sister. If you come at me again with your nonsense, I’ll beat you up.”

Sheng Shiwen: …

Her words made sense. Xingxing had said she faked jumping into the pond for sympathy, but she had indeed jumped in.

Sheng Shiwen, who had come to confront Gu Jiaojiao in a rage, was left speechless.

Remembering how his sister had cried pitifully and refused to come home for lunch for two days, he had wanted to scold Gu Jiaojiao to vent his sister’s anger. He and his younger brother had always done this in the past.

Every time they scolded Gu Jiaojiao, Lian’er would genuinely smile afterward. Deep down, he knew it was unfair to Gu Jiaojiao, but it was their way of making up for what they owed their biological sister.

Sheng Shiwen had sneaked out in the morning to check the cold skin noodle stall but hadn’t seen Gu Jiaojiao. The Su family didn’t know him well, and he wasn’t familiar with the Gu father and son, so he didn’t dare approach them to ask.

When he returned home for lunch and still didn’t see Lian’er, he went to the school gate to look for her. Seeing that she was still upset, he sneaked out again in the afternoon to check the cold skin noodle stall, but Gu Jiaojiao was still nowhere to be found.

After much hesitation, he reluctantly bought a bowl of cold skin noodles. The taste was incredible.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford it, but ever since his biological sister returned home, all his pocket money had gone toward pleasing her.

As he savored the delicious noodles, Sheng Shiwen felt a pang of guilt. He began to worry if Gu Jiaojiao was truly sick.