Chapter 16 — Leading by Example

Shen Nanru pinched the wrinkled greaseproof paper bag holding the spongy rice cakes, his face full of disgust, as if this wasn’t the much-praised egg cake from the supply and marketing cooperative but some dirty thing.

He hurried out the door to catch up with the Ling couple, wearing a seemingly gentle smile as he handed the cake to Ling Yanhong. “Aunt Ling, you better take these cakes back.”

After saying this, his tone suddenly shifted, and his eyes sharpened. “Auntie, you know my sister is the apple of the Shen family’s eye. If I hear anything that damages her reputation outside, I think Ling Haojun’s team leader position should be reconsidered.”

The couple’s faces immediately turned very unpleasant. They accepted the cake but didn’t dare say a word and quickly left.

At this moment, Shen Nanqing, like a rare animal, was surrounded by her family, all their eyes fixed tightly on her face, as if trying to find a trace of grievance in her expression.

“Dad, Mom, Sister-in-law, if you have something to say, just ask. Don’t just stare at me silently; it’s creepy.”

Su Hua asked, “Are you serious?”

She still found it a bit hard to believe. She’d been married into the Shen family for eight years, and the little sister-in-law was basically someone she’d watched grow up. She knew how much the little sister-in-law cared about Ling Haoxuan and that she could even go against Shen Father for him.

“Oh, people do grow up,” Shen Nanqing affectionately settled the three down and then said, “Actually, there’s a girl in our group whose sister has a relationship similar to mine.”

“Take Ling Yanhong for example, she’s so cruel to Ling Guifen—do you think I won’t be treated like that when I marry in? Besides, Ling Haoxuan is just an unreliable pillow, everything depends on what his mother says. He definitely won’t protect his wife in the future.”

“And Ling Gaoyi—that one is truly bad. He’s the team leader, but he lets Ling Yanhong take all the risks while he hides in the shadows, stirring up trouble. If things go well, he takes the credit; if things go wrong, he shirks responsibility.”

“As the saying goes, ‘Bad bamboo never produces good shoots.’”

Shen Nanqing smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, her tone light and affectionate. “Unlike our family—when trouble comes, Dad always protects Mom behind him. That’s the kind of responsibility a man should have.”

Su Hua thought about it and realized it was true.

Back then, when she and Shen Nanru were just starting to meet and hadn’t confirmed their relationship but liked each other, there was someone else at the factory pursuing her and treating her well, but she had already rejected him. Yet he kept pestering her, saying he couldn’t live without her, which was very annoying.

One time, an old textile machine at the factory short-circuited and caught fire. The workshop was filled with thick smoke, and the fire spread rapidly. Su Hua was trapped near the fire trying to save unfinished fabric.

The guy who had said he couldn’t live without her ran away as soon as the fire started.

The machinery city was close to the textile factory.

When Shen Nanru heard about the fire, he rushed over without hesitation. Seeing Su Hua in danger, he didn’t hesitate to run into the fire and shield her behind him.

When he finally rescued her, the usually image-conscious Shen Nanru was ugly-crying because he hadn’t noticed that his hair and eyebrows had been singed by the fire.

Thinking of this, a sweet smile unconsciously spread across Su Hua’s beautiful fair face, a blush rising as she shyly said, “Your brother is just like that.”

Shen Nanqing winked playfully and gave a mischievous smile, teasing, “Our dad leads by example, so the second brother naturally learned well—they both spoil their wives.”

“You’re such a brat, teasing your sister-in-law,” Shen Nanru stepped forward to ruffle Shen Nanqing’s hair, pretending to be annoyed as he gave her a playful glare.

Seeing this, Shen Father and Shen Yi couldn’t help but smile. Their hands, hanging loosely by their sides, quietly intertwined—one rough and calloused, the other smooth and delicate—but surprisingly well matched.

“Bang!” The Ling family’s door was suddenly kicked open violently.

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Li Haojun was startled by the sudden loud noise, jolting him awake.

He was waiting anxiously in the living room for news. Seeing his father’s face so dark and gloomy it seemed water could be squeezed out of it, he lowered his eyes in disappointment. The shadow of gloom in his eyes was completely hidden, making it impossible to read what he was thinking.

“Boss, you need to go tomorrow and tell him to come back immediately,” Li Gaoyi’s voice was extremely dark and chilling, sending a shiver down one’s spine.

In a remote little grove, tree branches and leaves crisscrossed densely, sunlight barely filtering through, casting mottled shadows on the ground. The surroundings were quiet except for the occasional cicada’s cry.

Xu Ruyan’s eyes were red, her hands instinctively clutching at the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling with sobs: “Others misunderstand me and it’s okay, but how can even you think like that?”

As she spoke, big tears rolled down her cheeks. She sniffled softly, her rain-filled pear-shaped eyes making her look pitiful and fragile.

“I…” Li Haoxuan was at a loss.

He had no resistance to a woman’s tears.

In his experience, women usually reacted by getting angry like his mother, shouting and yelling, or like his sister-in-law, making indirect accusations, or like Shen Nanqing, throwing tantrums.

They rarely cried.

All the doubts in his heart instantly vanished with Xu Ruyan’s tears.

Li Haoxuan stepped forward, raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes, stammering, “Don’t cry anymore. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have doubted you. You’re so kind, how could you do such a thing?”

Xu Ruyan leaned into his embrace, a flash of pride crossing her face before she pretended to sob softly, coquettishly explaining what happened between her and Song Huaiwen that day.

Of course, her retelling was somewhat exaggerated and even included some slander.

“I used to respect him as a brave warrior on the battlefield, but it turned out to be just empty words,” Li Haoxuan said indignantly. “Seeing you fall and ignoring it, and letting others misunderstand you—that’s simply hateful. I’ll definitely report him.”

“Forget it, he’s an important figure, we can’t afford to offend him,” Xu Ruyan stroked his chest gently, her voice soft and sweet. “When… when will you bring me home to your family?”

“Hm?” Li Haoxuan looked down, confused, at the person in his arms.

He had actually wanted to report their relationship a long time ago. Keeping it a secret made him uneasy. Xu Ruyan said she was afraid of hurting Shen Nanqing, so he had refused to reveal their romance.

Xu Ruyan lifted her head, her watery eyes full of expectation as she softly said, “You’re so good to me. I’m afraid someone will take you away. I want to marry you and have children with you.”

After saying this, her cheeks flushed red with shyness as she quickly buried her face in Li Haoxuan’s shoulder.

Li Haoxuan’s shoulders were thin and fragile. The slight touch of his slender frame stirred a faint disappointment in her heart. Unconsciously, she thought of Song Huaiwen’s broad shoulders and narrow waist, the upright figure that seemed capable of bearing all storms.

But she quickly discarded these unrealistic thoughts. Right now, she had to firmly hold on to the man in front of her.

Soon, Li Haoxuan submitted the relationship report.

Zheng Jingwei glanced at the two in front of him, was slightly surprised, said some congratulatory words, and filed the report away.

Li Haoxuan was wondering when the report would be approved when the guard at the door notified him that someone was looking for him.