“Then, in the future, will we return?” Xiang Caiping held Su Qingsang’s gaze. Even though she had only stayed in this place for less than two months, she was already feeling a little reluctant to leave.
She felt comfortable living in Lin City, with only her daughter and son-in-law, and no other strangers. If they were to go to Rong City, where Huo Jinyao had a big family, it would be different. When that time came, would Su Qingsang be able to handle all the interpersonal relationships and issues related to that?
How would she adjust to living with her mother-in-law after getting used to living with just her husband?
“Mother, we will definitely have to come back.”
Su Qingsang still had some things to pack, and she also had to hand over her work in the hospital.
Most importantly, if she were to work in Rong City’s hospital, she still needed a recommendation letter from her current workplace.
She could ask Huo Jinyao for help, but she wanted to depend on herself more. She believed that she had the capability.
After having dinner, she chatted with Xiang Caiping for a while. Their conversation revolved around where they would be living after going to Rong City and how they would settle down. Su Qingsang had it all planned out.
She was also afraid that Xiang Caiping would be uncomfortable, so she told her that she would still live with her after their relocation.
This pacified Xiang Caiping and dispelled her worries. It did not mean that living with her mother-in-law would be the best arrangement. She did not look down on her daughter, but she was apprehensive.
The truth was that, in terms of status, Su Qingsang’s background could not be compared to Huo Jinyao’s. She was therefore afraid of her daughter being at a disadvantage.
The extent to which Xiang Caiping worried for and cared for her made Su Qingsang feel very touched. After comforting her mother for an extended amount of time, she finally got her to feel less worried and more assured.
Moreover, Huo Jinyao was going to be with them. Huo Jinyao had also guaranteed that he would never allow Su Qingsang to incur any grievances.
With his guarantee, Xiang Caiping had no choice but to trust him, even if she was not fully assured. The trio chatted amicably for quite a while before they could get Xiang Caiping to dispel all her apprehensions.
Once they were back in their room, Huo Jinyao’s demeanor changed. He held Su Qingsang in his gaze, his eyes reflecting a sense of knowing, as if he was exposing her silently.
“What’s up with you?” Su Qingsang felt increasingly uncomfortable with the way he was scrutinizing her. “Why are you looking at me in this manner?”
Huo Jinyao narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at her. “Tell me.”
“Tell you what?” Su Qingsang blinked. She refused to believe that Huo Jinyao was capable of guessing what she was hiding.
“Someone from the Su Family had looked for trouble with you?” Huo Jinyao hit the bullseye with his words.
Su Qingsang could barely hold her laughter in. “What nonsense! There was no such thing.”
“No?” Huo Jinyao raised his eyebrows. “Previously, when I wanted you to go to Rong City, you weren’t half as enthusiastic as now.”
“I… I was just thinking about how the new year is nearing and how I have reunited with my mother.”
“Who was it?” Huo Jinyao was thinking about some of the members of the Su Family. “Your father? Li Qianxue? Or was it Su Peizhen?”
“You are over-thinking things. I really didn’t have any confrontational encounter with any of them.”
“Su Peizhen got the short end of the stick in Japan, so she wouldn’t try to look for trouble with you again. Su Chenghui had been here before the previous time, and moreover, he would not resort to finding faults with you. It must have been Li Qianxue.”
Huo Jinyao took a step forward and planted his feet firmly closer to Su Qingsang. The depth in his eyes was penetrating and he held her Su Qingsang directly in his stare. “Did Li Qianxue confront you?”
Su Qingsang was a little exasperated. It was unnerving to have such an extremely intelligent husband. “Why does it matter? Regardless of what she might say, I still plan to go to Rong City.”
“It was her, then.” Huo Jinyao had already gotten the answer he was after. He looked Su Qingsang over once. “Did she get physical?”
“No, she did not.” Su Qingsang was in a hurry to deny it. “She really didn’t. Why would a person with a reputation like hers assault me?”
“She didn’t hit you?” Huo Jinyao refused to believe what he was hearing. “No, but why would she look you up out of the blue? The incident in Japan could not be swept under the carpet now that your mother is back. However, your father would not resort to telling Li Qianxue about it. If she wanted to look for someone to answer for the incident, she would look for your mother. Why would she bother you?”
Su Qingsang was starting to feel a headache creeping up on her. “Huo Jinyao, you do not have to be so smart about things.”
Huo Jinyao narrowed his eyes. “If you refuse to tell me, I will ask Mother directly.”
“Don’t. Fine, I’ll tell you the truth.” Su Qingsang described the incident briefly and avoided saying anything that would provoke him. She did not mention Li Qianxue’s attempt to hit her.
She only revealed that Li Qianxue had indeed come to find faults with her, but the hospital was crowded and she had promised Li Qianxue that she would relocate to Rong City in the near future.
“So that’s all there is to it. Look, I have already decided to go to Rong City. Didn’t we agree on that before? We were discussing this earlier.”
Su Qingsang held Huo Jinyao’s hand in hers while she was speaking. “Don’t you get mad now. She did not do anything to me. As for taking my mother along to Rong City, even if she did not talk about it, I would do that anyway. After all, if my mother were to remain in Lin City, she might risk the chance of running into my father and his family.”
Huo Jinyao did not get angry. He saw the guilt in her face. “You have not finished talking. Why did Li Qianxue look for you?”
Su Qingsang’s eyes began to wander randomly about. She refused to look at Huo Jinyao. She now felt that she did not want to tell Huo Jinyao of the confrontational encounter with Su Peizhen in Japan.
“Who knows? Perhaps she had gotten wind of news that my mother is back.”
“Dear,” Huo Jinyao gave her palm a squeeze, and it was quite a hard squeeze. “Do you know that you are a really bad liar?”
“Really?” Su Qingsang blinked. “In that case, it must be obvious that I’m not lying.”
Huo Jinyao stared at her and loosened his grip. ” I somehow feel that it’s still better for me to ask Mother about it, and I’ll casually mention how Li Qianxue paid you a visit. I guess your mother is unaware of that?”
Su Qingsang was defeated. She hurriedly grabbed his hand. “Honestly, it wasn’t anything important.”
She briefly told him about the confrontation in Japan. “Actually, I was not even hurt, and I did not lose out. It was just impulsivity on my mother’s part that made her give Su Peizhen a slap on her face.”
Huo Jinyao’s expression darkened a little, and he looked into Su Qingsang’s eyes for a long while without saying a single word.
Su Qingsang begged him, “Don’t be like this. There really wasn’t any big issue. She already got a slap after all.”
Huo Jinyao still did not say anything. Su Qingsang got increasingly exasperated.
“Look at how she has been treated since young. Who would dare lay a finger on her? My mother had already settled the score for me, and I did not suffer any grievances from Auntie. Let’s just forget about this, okay?”
Huo Jinyao looked at her demeanor and understood what she meant. It was better not to fan the fire. However, unlike her, he was not willing to let the matter rest like that.
He held her hand and his voice was very soft. “Dear, I hope that you will understand one thing: you are my wife; you are Huo Jinyao’s wife. If someone bullies you, it equates to bullying me. If you encounter such a thing next time, you don’t have to care who the other party is. You have to return the blow directly.”
“Huo Jinyao…” How could she be such a violent person?
“If you could not fight back, it is alright. Come back and tell me about it.”
Su Qingsang gazed at the serious expression in his eyes and listened to the overbearing undertone in his words. She did not know whether to laugh or to cry; she felt like doing both.
“By saying this, are you instigating me to engage in a brawl or scuffle in public?”
“Not exactly.” Huo Jinyao put his hand on her waist. “I actually meant to tell you that when you encounter people with no sense of civility, don’t be courteous to them, don’t be afraid of them, and most importantly, don’t allow them to step all over you.”
As Huo Jinyao’s wife, there was no need for her to suffer grievances anymore.
