Chapter 110: Chapter 110

In the end, Su Qinghu still didn’t make it back to her own guesthouse. Instead, she was taken by Chen Lie to the place where he would be staying.

Compared to the place she and Sister Li were staying, this place was a bit more spacious, quieter, and tidier.

Chen Lie left her with a quick, “Go ahead and wash up first,” before heading out himself.

By the time Su Qinghu finished her shower and came out, Chen Lie had already returned.

“I grabbed three bottles of soda downstairs. They’re not cold, but you’ll have to make do,” Chen Lie said, holding out a bottle of orange soda to her—only to be caught off guard in the next instant.

Su Qinghu was toweling her hair, wearing his T-shirt and a pair of his big shorts.

“My clothes were sweaty, so I borrowed yours for now. You don’t mind, do you?” Su Qinghu walked over, stuffed the towel into his hand, and took the soda from him. She took a long drink before letting out a satisfied sigh. “Not that it matters if you mind—my clothes are already in the wash.”

Chen Lie’s gaze swept over her fair calves before he quickly looked away. “You, uh, just wear them.”

With that, he all but fled to the bathroom to shower.

Su Qinghu looked down at her own legs and clicked her tongue twice.

What’s there to see?

The T-shirt was huge, and the shorts looked like knee-length pants—there was nothing at all revealing about her figure...

So innocent!

Chen Lie, this man, was actually so pure!

By the time Su Qinghu finished her soda and finished drying her hair, Chen Lie finally emerged from the bathroom.

Wearing exactly the same outfit as her.

Su Qinghu couldn’t help but laugh, then went to rinse her mouth before returning to the room.

“Ready to rest?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Chen Lie replied, lying down stiffly.

Su Qinghu raised an eyebrow at the sight, her gaze sweeping over his flushed ears. She smiled and lay down on her side.

====

The Capital.

Er Dan and Da Dan had finally gotten Chen Bai and Mrs. Meng’s permission to go home in the morning to pick up some milk.

The two of them didn’t want anyone to escort them—they just ran off on their own.

Chen Bai looked at the now-empty doorway and chuckled. “They didn’t even ask which bus to take. Looks like they already figured it out beforehand.”

“We really haven’t spent much time with the kids. Even though meals and daily life have been fine these past few days, they must be missing home,” Mrs. Meng sighed. “Do you think there’s anything we haven’t done well enough?”

“What could we have done wrong? In a child’s eyes, home is wherever their parents are,” Chen Bai said as he walked toward the sofa. “It’s good for them to go back for a bit. Rather than being anxious all the time, it’s better to let them see home and put their minds at ease.”

Er Dan and Da Dan caught the earliest bus, so there weren’t many people and they got seats.

Er Dan turned around, leaning over the back of the bus seat to look at Da Dan. “Big brother, she’s been gone for several days now, hasn’t she? When is she coming back? Did she say she might be delayed?”

Da Dan replied, “What are you so anxious for? She’ll come back when it’s time. If it’s not time, no matter how anxious you are, she’s not just going to magically appear in front of you.”

“I’m not anxious!” Er Dan put on a face that said, ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’ “I’m just asking.”

Da Dan fell silent.

Er Dan drooped. “We’ll be on break in just over ten days, but we have exams before that. Do you think she’ll be back for the exams?”

Da Dan said, “Why are you so anxious?”

“I’m not anxious!” Er Dan widened his eyes for Da Dan to see. “Look at my face—do I look anxious?”

Da Dan shut up again.

“When is she coming back, anyway? She’s already been gone for days!” Er Dan grumbled.

Da Dan ignored him.

“Bro?” Er Dan was still leaning over the seat back, looking at him. “Do you think we’ll get a surprise when we get home?”

“No, we won’t,” Da Dan said with a straight face. “You’re the one who said we were going home to get milk, but now it seems like you just want to see if she’s back yet…”

Er Dan replied, “It’s all the same—might as well do both at once.”

The two of them chatted all the way from the bus ride to the walk home. Er Dan was still chattering away as they walked from the bus stop.

Da Dan was so annoyed he wanted to find a stinky sock, roll it up, and stuff it in his brother’s mouth.

After getting the milk, Er Dan still didn’t want to leave. He looked at his brother. “Let’s wait a bit longer, okay? Just a little longer, then we’ll go to school.”

Anyway, they’d already agreed with their grandparents that after picking up the milk, they’d go straight to school from here and not go back to their grandparents’ place. After school in the afternoon, they’d go back there.

“Wait a bit? How long is a bit? I don’t have a watch—I can’t tell the time. If we’re late for school, do you think you’ll get away with it?” Da Dan was annoyed. “Did you forget the last time the teacher came for a home visit? Or are you trying to skip school again?”

“Let’s not talk about skipping school, okay? Last time the teacher came, it was because she didn’t know what I was up to, or how I was different from the other kids in the gang. If she knew, she wouldn’t have come.”

Er Dan pouted. “Bro, have you noticed you’ve changed lately?”

“Isn’t it you who’s changed?” Da Dan shot back. “Ever since she came back from the hospital, you’ve gotten all soft—not manly at all!”

“Weak? I am weak!” Er Dan admitted shamelessly. “I don’t even have any meat on my butt!”

Da Dan was about to explode. “What does being weak have to do with having no meat on your butt? Can you stop acting like a little kid?”

“Er Dan is a little kid—I don’t have to act.” Er Dan seemed completely oblivious to Da Dan’s frustration. “I’m skinny, so I’m weak. Makes sense.”

He sighed, looked at his own arm, then his leg, and sighed again. “Look at these skinny arms and legs—so weak.”

Da Dan: “...What are you trying to say?”

After listening to his brother ramble on, Da Dan finally caught on.

“I’m so weak, shouldn’t someone take care of me?” Er Dan hung his head. “The person I want to take care of me is Mom.”

“Su Qinghu, this mom—not any other mom.”

After he finished, Da Dan’s face tightened. “She’ll come back.”

“Come back? Come back for what? Boys, she doesn’t want you anymore!”

Suddenly, a nasty voice rang out, startling both Da Dan and Er Dan. They immediately looked up.

“It’s you!” Da Dan recognized the man and instantly stepped in front of Er Dan. “What do you want? An adult eavesdropping on kids—don’t you have any shame?”

“Why can’t adults eavesdrop on kids? Who says so? Let him come out here so I can see what kind of little brat he is,” Zhang Dongsheng said with a grin. “Don’t bother waiting—she’s not coming back. It’s been so long, how could she?”"