Li Chuchu stared into his face for a while. Then she suddenly leaned closer and said, "Shen Yanshan, don't tell me you've been thinking something inappropriate?"
"What do you think I've been thinking?"
"Is it because you believe those rumors that I'm involved with some high - ranking government officials and have become someone's mistress?"
Each word from Li Chuchu's mouth felt like a stab in Shen Yanshan's heart.
Shen Yanshan looked extremely aggrieved. In his whole life, he had never been so accommodating and pathetic.
"Or do you think..."
He leaned forward and suddenly hugged Li Chuchu tightly.
"I don't think anything. Stop talking," he said, his voice pleading and even trembling imperceptibly. "Don't say another word."
Li Chuchu wrapped her arms around Shen Yanshan. Listening to the irregular heartbeat from his chest and feeling the intense uneasiness emanating from his very core, she thought, "Mr. Shen is such a lovestruck fool, sensitive to the extreme and too timid to speak his mind."
Li Chuchu sighed. "No, of course not. What would I gain from that? His old age? Becoming a step - mother? I naturally like young and good - looking guys..." with good physical conditions.
She was being brazen but also guilt - free. He, however, had been so quick to believe the rumors.
Thankfully, her words seemed to have an effect.
Li Chuchu explained, "That rumor is completely baseless. It probably came from Mu Wan's ex - boyfriend."
Shen Yanshan frowned. "What's his name? What does he do?"
He was determined to find out who had slandered his wife and made him so worried. He, Shen Yanshan, would condescend to teach this person a lesson on how to speak properly.
"His name is Yu Xiuyuan. He's a retired soldier. His family used to be on good terms with Mu Wan's family. I met him once at a dinner. He's not a nice person, and I suspect he has a violent tendency. I provoked him a bit during the dinner. Maybe that's why he holds a grudge against me."
Well,
being as sarcastic and nosy as she was, it was easy for her to make enemies.
Noticing Shen Yanshan's expression, she quickly added, "But you don't need to go and cause trouble for him. I've already come up with a way to solve this."
If she didn't say this, this dangerous man in society might just stir up trouble.
When Shen Yanshan heard the first half of the sentence, he thought Li Chuchu was defending this person. It didn't seem like her style. But when he heard the second half... Sure enough, he knew his wife too well.
He secretly made up his mind: if this person who spread rumors about his wife wasn't dealt with, Shen Yanshan himself might develop a violent tendency. He couldn't help but ask further, hoping to see if there was anything he could do to help. "What's your plan?"
Li Chuchu put a finger to her lips and shushed him, her face showing a secret excitement. "It's a secret."
Shen Yanshan fell silent.
Great, another secret he wasn't allowed to know.
"Okay. I had that old bed in the room dragged to the junk yard and sold. Go in and take a look," Shen Yanshan said casually.
Li Chuchu wondered what was there to see. The bed was sold, so what?
When she turned around, she saw that in the room that had been empty for a long time, there was now an antique - looking wooden dressing table with an oval mirror on it.
It was actually a dressing table!
She remembered that Shen Yanshan had mentioned something about this when she was half - asleep a few days ago. Since she had gotten used to dressing in front of a mirror after coming here, she never thought that Shen Yanshan would actually remember to get her a dressing table.
Li Chuchu gently stroked the wooden frame of the mirror and exclaimed in admiration, "It's so beautiful! The flower carvings are so delicate. Where did you buy it? I didn't expect you to have such good taste."
At this moment, Shen Yanshan put on an air of nonchalance and said, "I heard that girls like to have a dressing room or a dressing table at home. I thought that old wardrobe in the outer room couldn't hold all your clothes. Since this room was empty anyway, I might as well get you a dressing table and build a few more cabinets for your clothes."
His tone was indifferent, but the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, and he was practically wagging his invisible tail.
Li Chuchu hugged him excitedly. "Oh my god, you're so sweet! How did you know I was worried about having no place to put my clothes?"
It was a small thing, but the thought behind it was precious.
Shen Yanshan was flattered and stood there for a long time, unable to say a word.
Li Chuchu was so fond of the dressing table that she decided to be magnanimous and not hold a grudge against Shen Yanshan for misunderstanding her.
These days were cold, so Li Chuchu decided to buy a copper hot - pot, some bok choy, crown daisies, beef, and mutton to cook hot - pot at home.
It was delicious and didn't get cold easily.
As the soup in the hot - pot bubbled and the steam rose in the room,
this small and narrow room became the epitome of happiness.
It was the season for eating mutton.
Halfway through the meal, Li Chuchu noticed that Shen Yanshan still seemed absent - minded. She suddenly asked, "Do you really have a way to deal with that Yu Xiuyuan?"
Li Chuchu didn't expect him to still be thinking about this. "Don't worry. When have I ever been soft - hearted towards others?"
Shen Yanshan thought this was true.
He ate silently for a while and then asked, "Can I go and watch when the time comes?"
If he couldn't see this person's downfall, he would feel unhappy. And if he went, he could also help his wife.
Family members were allowed to attend the get - together.
Li Chuchu nodded. "Sure. You can go if you want. I'll let you know when the time comes."
Shen Yanshan's tense expression finally relaxed. He eagerly picked up some food for Li Chuchu. "That's good. Eat. Have more."
Li Chuchu couldn't help but laugh.
He was really like a puppy whose emotions were all over his face.
...
The get - together of the Lotus Steel Factory had invited many people.
Li Chuchu was backstage and saw Yu Xiuyuan sitting in the front row in his well - tailored military uniform. Unlike other retired soldiers, he was wearing a big red flower on his chest. He looked heroic and full of energy.
As a representative of the outstanding retired soldiers, Yu Xiuyuan was going to give a speech on stage later.
Mu Wan tugged at Li Chuchu's sleeve. "Yu Xiuyuan's parents are here too. Their family attaches great importance to this event. I wonder what their expressions will be later."
Li Chuchu just smiled but said nothing.
On the stage,
Yu Xiuyuan had never been so excited in his life. It was as if there were a dozen cotton pads under his butt, and he felt like he was floating.
He never thought he would be so glorious after retiring.
He could almost feel the admiring and approving looks from all around him. This feeling made him feel like he was on cloud nine.
Retired soldiers had more job - hunting advantages than ordinary workers.
Just thinking that after tonight, he would get a decent job at the Lotus Steel Factory, gain the favor of the factory director, and even have a bright future, his heart was filled with excitement.
He clenched his fists tightly,
but his heart still raced out of control.
However, the moment he saw that the host was Li Chuchu, Yu Xiuyuan's heart skipped a beat.