After He Yuan finished speaking, his pitch-black eyes stared fixedly at Ji Shuyu.
Under his gaze, no matter how angry Ji Shuyu felt, she couldn’t bring herself to vent.
Who could resist such puppy-dog eyes?
After only a brief pause, Ji Shuyu headed upstairs.
He Yuan quickly followed her.
“Honey, the cafeteria made crayfish today. Look, I brought some specially for you.”
He trailed behind Ji Shuyu ingratiatingly, smiling as he held out the container in his hand.
One advantage of living by the sea was the endless supply of seafood.
Ji Shuyu didn’t respond. She opened the door, and He Yuan followed her inside.
“Honey…”
“He Yuan, I heard there’s a girl in the cultural troupe who’s been quite attentive to you lately.”
He Yuan froze for a moment before immediately explaining, “Who told you that? There’s no such thing!”
Ji Shuyu continued changing her shoes without stopping. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man set the thermal container on the table and come over to support her.
“Oh? Really?”
She turned around, leaning against the entryway cabinet with her arms crossed, and looked at him.
“Then Lin Feifei from the cultural troupe—I didn’t just make her up, did I?”
As soon as the name was mentioned, He Yuan scratched his head, looking confused, as if searching his memory for that person.
Lin Feifei? It sounded somewhat familiar, but not that familiar.
As if remembering something, He Yuan spoke up.
“There might be someone like that, but I have nothing to do with her!”
“Honey, I don’t even remember who that person is. Who’s been talking behind my back?”
He was clearly anxious, worried that Ji Shuyu might misunderstand.
Especially since he was already in her bad books.
If another misunderstanding were to arise, he wouldn’t be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
“I know.”
Seeing him like this, Ji Shuyu knew there was nothing to the rumors. She walked to the table and opened the thermal container.
Inside, bright red crayfish were piled high, and the broth was filled with countless Sichuan peppercorns—it was the spicy flavor she had casually mentioned liking before.
Having been here for so long, she had almost forgotten what this flavor tasted like, and it was driving her crazy.
She picked up one and began shelling it, her fingertips quickly turning red.
“Sister-in-law Chunhua specifically came back to tell me that girl keeps visiting your office and even gave you performance tickets.”
Hearing this, He Yuan finally understood.
Zhao Chunhua, the wife of Battalion Commander Li, was a real gossip.
But this time, the gossip was actually true.
That Lin Feifei really had given him tickets.
But he wasn’t the only one who received them.
He Yuan waved his hands anxiously, the brass buttons on his uniform swaying with the movement.
“I didn’t accept those tickets at all. Every time she came to deliver documents, I had the guard stop her at the door. Last week, she said she needed to confirm the rehearsal venue with me, but I sent the clerk to handle it. And besides, I wasn’t the only one who received performance tickets…”
He watched as Ji Shuyu slowly sucked the broth from her fingertips, his voice softening unconsciously.
“Honey, don’t believe those rumors. You’re the only one in my heart.”
Ji Shuyu raised an eyebrow slightly and gestured for him to sit down.
Of course, she believed He Yuan wouldn’t cheat.
A person’s first instinct is usually accurate, especially for someone like her, who worked in scientific research.
He Yuan’s character just wasn’t like that.
Ji Shuyu placed the shelled crayfish meat by his lips, watching as he instinctively opened his mouth to take it before she said slowly,
“I believe you, but I don’t trust others to know their place.”
Her tone was leisurely, as if she were discussing the weather.
He knew all too well what that tone of Ji Shuyu’s meant.
Beneath the gentleness lay a sharpness that brooked no argument.
“We’re off duty tomorrow. I’d like to treat my comrades to a meal and introduce you to everyone.”
Introducing her to the people around him would make things official.
He Yuan hadn’t done it before because he was afraid Ji Shuyu wouldn’t like his friends.
But now, he felt it was necessary.
Seeing how understanding he was, Ji Shuyu didn’t say anything more.
She looked at the man before her—his sharp brows, bright eyes, and stern features.
In modern times, he would definitely be a fresh face in the entertainment industry.
His looks perfectly aligned with popular taste, the kind that would surely debut and become famous.
No wonder others had their eyes on him—the “flower” at home was just too enticing.
“Alright, then decide on the time and place and let me know.”
Ji Shuyu wiped her hands, closed the thermal container, and left the remaining crayfish for He Ming.
Kids loved this kind of food the most.
He Yuan nodded in agreement. After chatting with Ji Shuyu for a while, he left.
Before leaving, he mentioned that his elder brother, He Jiang, had taken Li Cuihua to get a divorce, but Li Cuihua refused and had already hidden away at her parents’ home to avoid the situation.
The Li family had taken turns trying to persuade He Jiang, and he, alone, couldn’t hold his ground, so he had to return for the time being.
However, it seemed He Jiang was determined to get a divorce this time, and no amount of persuasion would change his mind.
He had finally seen things clearly: if he stayed with Li Cuihwa, he would never have peace in this lifetime.
Ji Shuyu didn’t say much about it. After all, this was ultimately the He family’s internal matter.
It wasn’t her place to comment.
If He Jiang wanted a divorce, it was his way of taking responsibility for himself.
Staying with Li Cuihua would only mean mutual torment.
Meanwhile, at the Li household, a crisp slapping sound rang out. Li Cuihua’s father, furious, exclaimed, “Didn’t I tell you to go back and live peacefully with him?”
“Look at you—you managed to make even that good-for-nothing He Jiang ask for a divorce!”
Li Cuihua’s head snapped to the side from the slap, five red finger marks instantly blooming on her cheek. She covered her face, staring at her father in disbelief.
“Dad! You hit me?”
“Not only will I hit you, I’ll beat you to death, you disgraceful thing!”
Her father was so angry his chest heaved violently, as if he wanted to slap her again.
“Without the He family, who would want you? Instead of clinging to the He family properly, you cause trouble every day. I’ll teach you to make trouble, I’ll teach you!”
As he spoke, Li Cuihua’s father grabbed a broom from nearby, ready to strike.
Li Cuihua’s mother alone couldn’t restrain him, and her elder and younger sisters-in-law, standing to the side, were unwilling to intervene.
In the past, Li Cuihua had bullied them—now she was getting her comeuppance.
“Dad! Instead of lecturing me here, why not go find He Jiang and convince him not to divorce me!”
Li Cuihua dodged as she spoke.
She knew perfectly well that without He Jiang, she was nothing.
No matter how incapable He Jiang was, his brothers were accomplished.
One was a soldier, another was an intellectual, and the two younger brothers-in-law had immeasurably promising futures.
If she divorced He Jiang, where else could she find conditions as good as his family’s?
Hearing this, her father paused for a moment, then stopped what he was doing.
“Dear, I think our Cuihua has a point. She’s been with the He family for so many years and even gave them a healthy grandson. They can’t just kick our Cuihua to the curb like this.”
After saying this, Li Cuihua’s mother pulled her husband aside and said, “We need to go to the He family. Cuihua and He Jiang absolutely cannot get divorced.”
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