Chen's mother pursed her lips, feeling both jealous and resentful, and muttered:
"What incredible luck!"
That being said, the Chen family of three became noticeably more well-behaved in the following period.
Director Chen barely managed to maintain his composure, and Chen's mother also toned down her arrogance, only gently coaxing Jiaojiao, who was still sullen after changing her clothes.
The second half of the birthday party ended in an atmosphere that appeared relaxed on the surface but was actually filled with hidden agendas.
Fortunately, it was just a child's birthday party, and Zhuo Guangming and the other children had a lot of fun.
As dusk settled, the guests took their leave in twos and threes.
The families in the city lived close by, greeting each other and chatting and laughing until they disappeared at the alley entrance.
At the entrance of the Zhuo family's house, only Zhou Qiqi, pushing her bicycle, and Zhouzhou remained.
Zhuo's father and mother, along with Zhuo Guangming, saw him off.
Zhuo's mother held Zhou Qiqi's hand, her face full of apology and gratitude:
"Qiqi, today was really... I'm so sorry you and Zhouzhou had to suffer. Be careful on the road, it's getting dark, ride slowly."
Father Zhuo nodded and added, "Yes, there are many potholes on the road, so watch your step carefully."
Zhuo Guangming waved goodbye to Zhouzhou with reluctance, saying, "Goodbye, Zhouzhou! Come visit again next time!"
Zhou Qiqi smiled and replied, "Sister Zhuo, Brother Zhuo, it's alright, you should go back now. See you at Guangming!"
She was about to get into the car.
Just then, the sound of an engine came from afar, and a gleaming Shanghai-brand sedan slowly drove up and came to a steady stop next to Zhou Qiqi's bicycle.
The car was parked at the entrance of the alley. It could have driven straight away, but Director Chen spotted Zhou Qiqi pushing a bicycle at a glance, so he immediately turned the car around and drove over.
"Comrade Zhou, you haven't left yet?"
The rear window rolled down, revealing Chen's mother's face with a slightly forced smile. Director Chen sat in the driver's seat, his expression still somewhat unnatural.
Chen's mother's voice sounded particularly clear in the quiet evening, carrying a tone of feigned concern.
“Look, it’s already completely dark. Riding a bicycle back to the countryside, the road is not easy to travel! It’s far and bumpy, and it would be terrible if the child fell and got hurt.”
As she spoke, her eyes glanced at the old bicycle, and her tone was filled with an undisguised sense of superiority, as if she were afraid others wouldn't notice that she was riding in a car.
Director Chen cleared his throat and continued:
"Yes, Comrade Zhou, don't be so polite. This car the company provided me is spacious! You can squeeze in if you want. Could I give you a ride along the way?"
He patted the steering wheel, the soft metallic sound emphasizing that "cars" and "bicycles" were not even in the same league.
Zhou Qiqi frowned slightly, her tone calm yet resolute:
"Thank you for your kindness, Director Chen and Mrs. Chen, but there's really no need to trouble yourself. I'm used to riding a bike, so it'll be fine if I go slowly."
"Oh dear, Comrade Zhou, what kind of talk is that?"
Chen's mother immediately raised her voice, forcing a smile, but her tone turned harsh.
"Are you still upset about that little misunderstanding from earlier? It's just kids playing around, it's all in the past now! We were just trying to be nice and offer you a ride, and you refused, which makes you seem a bit... petty, doesn't it?"
She pronounced the words "petty" very clearly, glancing at the Zhuo family as if to say, "Look how ungrateful she is."
This family is really shameless; they think they haven't been reprimanded enough.
The smile on Zhou Qiqi's face faded instantly, and she was about to open her mouth to retort.
Sudden--
A blinding beam of light cleaved through the thick darkness of the night like a sharp sword, accompanied by the deep, powerful roar of an engine.
A tall, imposing military green jeep, like a silent steel behemoth, came to a steady stop in front of the Shanghai sedan.
Its rugged lines, wide body, and conspicuous military license plate instantly made the small cars next to it pale in comparison.
The driver's side door of the jeep opened, and a young soldier in a crisp military uniform jumped out and quickly opened the rear door.
Immediately afterwards, a tall figure in military uniform with gleaming epaulets stepped out.
His face was stern, his posture upright like a pine tree, and he exuded a chilling aura of someone who had been through many battles.
His sharp gaze swept over the people at the door, and when he saw Zhou Qiqi and Zhouzhou, his cold, hard lines softened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
"Qiqi".
Shen Huaichuan strode up to Zhou Qiqi, his voice deep and steady, carrying a reassuring strength.
"I just finished a meeting in the city and thought you should be done by now, so I came to pick you up on my way home."
His gaze lingered on Zhou Qiqi's face for a moment, making sure she was alright, before turning to Zhuo's mother and father, who looked shocked.
He nodded slightly, his tone polite yet carrying the aloofness characteristic of soldiers.
"Hello, excuse me, I am Zhou Qiqi's lover, Shen Huaichuan."
Zhuo's mother snapped out of her shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. She looked at the military rank on Shen Huaichuan's shoulder, then at Zhou Qiqi, and stammered as she spoke:
"Oh...oh my! This...this is...Qiqi, is this your lover? Comrade Shen...Comrade Shen? I really didn't expect this! Please...please come in and have a seat?"
She genuinely didn't know that Zhou Qiqi's husband was a soldier, and judging by his demeanor, he was definitely not an ordinary soldier.
"No, thank you. It's getting late, the child should rest."
Shen Huaichuan politely declined, giving Qin Lei a meaningful look.
Qin Lei immediately understood and, without saying a word, walked over to Zhou Qiqi's bicycle.
His movements were swift and decisive. He grabbed the frame of the vehicle with one hand and supported the rear wheel with the other. With a light lift, the heavy bicycle was steadily hoisted onto his shoulder. He strode to the trunk of the jeep and easily stuffed it inside. His movements were fluid and efficient, revealing the competence of a soldier.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com