"I'm at work, so it's inconvenient. Thank you."
The waiter swallowed hard, suppressed his craving, pushed away her overly attentive manner, and turned to leave.
Ji Xia smiled as she watched her retreating figure and closed the door.
He downed half a can of beer in one gulp, then suddenly smiled and raised his eyebrows.
In this era, not everyone just goes through the motions at work; there are also some conscientious and responsible employees.
She woke up early the next morning and saw the pale blue curtain in the sky slowly receding, and a relaxed smile appeared on her face.
At 8:40, Ji Xia and Chen Jing arrived at the teahouse, but Su Yujing had not yet arrived.
Ji Xia shook her head at Chen Jing: "You go ahead and do your own thing. I'll wait for her myself."
Chen Jing looked annoyed: "It's not like I don't know her. Can't I have tea with you guys?"
Ji Xia couldn't help but chuckle: "Can't we girls have a private chat? With a guy like you joining in, it makes it harder for her to say what she wants to say."
What secrets could she possibly have?
Chen Jing looked incredulous, but Ji Xia insisted that he leave.
Last night, she recalled that Su Yujing seemed to have a faint melancholy between her brows, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
After her persistence, Chen Jing finally gave up and agreed to pick her up at noon before reluctantly leaving.
Ji Xia requested a private room, ordered a pot of chrysanthemum tea and three or four snacks, and then waited quietly.
At five minutes to nine, the waiter led in the elegant and stylish Su Yujing.
When she saw Ji Xia waiting alone in the private room, her face lit up with joy: "I'm sorry I'm late."
"It's not late, I just arrived too."
Ji Xia pulled out a chair for her and asked her to sit down. She then handed her a menu: "I ordered three or four desserts. Would you like to add something else?"
"Just grab something to eat, and order more if you're still hungry."
Su Yujing gracefully sat down in her seat, clutching her handbag. She glanced at Ji Xia's flawless face and couldn't help but feel a hint of envy.
"You look great, you seem to be doing well."
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just finished my exam yesterday, so I feel much more relaxed. How about you?"
Su Yujing smiled faintly: "I'm fine, I'm married."
Congratulations!
Ji Xia subtly praised her, but Su Yujing couldn't help but sigh softly.
She glanced at Ji Xia discreetly. Although she was wearing a loose-fitting white shirt that didn't emphasize her waistline, with the hem casually tucked into her waistband, making her waist look slender, it actually made her appear particularly pure and beautiful.
Moreover, perhaps because I was in a good mood and took good care of my skin, my skin looked fair and delicate up close, with no visible pores.
Su Yujing felt a pang of envy and couldn't help but sigh softly, "I really envy you. It's so good not to be married; you're carefree."
Ji Xia raised an eyebrow and looked at her face in surprise: "Why do you say that? Isn't it bad to be married? I see you are dressed fashionably and have exquisite makeup. I can tell you are doing well."
Upon hearing this, Su Yujing couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth, picked up her teacup, and took a small sip.
She was feeling a bit down, but considering that Ji Xia and she didn't have much interaction in their social circles, she really wanted to talk to someone about it.
After hesitating for a long time, she whispered, "If only things were as good as you imagine, you would have no idea what suffering we people have in our hearts."
Ji Xia was surprised. Last year, her boyfriend was said to be quite good. How come she's so depressed after only a few months of marriage?
With a quick glance, she said softly, "Tell me about it. Maybe I'll understand."
Su Yujing hesitated for a moment: "I've realized that marriage doesn't seem to be a good thing after all?"
"It's a matter of opinion. Before and after marriage, the status changes and the responsibilities are different. What's bothering you lately?"
Su Yujing's lips moved slightly, but then she heard a soft knock on the door and immediately shut her mouth.
A waitress brought them their snacks and placed them in front of them one by one.
Crystal-clear shrimp dumplings, tender white rice cakes, custard buns, braised chicken feet, and bok choy with oyster sauce.
Ji Xia placed the shrimp dumplings in front of her: "Have something to eat, and we can chat slowly."
The two leisurely enjoyed their tea and snacks. After a while, Su Yujing asked, "Do you think this year's college entrance exam was difficult?"
Ji Xia thought for a moment: "I don't know what others think, but I think it's easy. Getting into university shouldn't be difficult."
Su Yujing looked at her in surprise. So confident? It seems she must have done very well on the exam.
However, she thought of Ji Xia's abilities. It seemed that she could do anything very well, such as design. Although she hadn't gone to university yet, she could still draw amazing clothes just by teaching herself design.
This kind of person is definitely different from her aunt.
Su Yujing sighed and said, "You're really amazing. I wish my aunt was as sensible as you. She doesn't like to study and always complains during exams, saying that this year's college entrance exam questions are super difficult."
"Is she bothering you?"
Ji Xia used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of chicken foot for her and casually said, "Actually, although your sister-in-law is also family, she is, after all, your mother-in-law's child. If she is willing to listen, then you can give her some advice. If she is not willing to listen, why bother so much? Anyway, whether she does well or not is her business, and you won't benefit from it."
"If only it were as easy as you make it sound."
Su Yujing shook her head and smiled bitterly: "My mother-in-law doesn't care. She just leaves her here with me. She keeps saying she's lost weight and asking me to cook her something nice to eat. When she cries that studying is too tiring, she complains to me..."
Ji Xia listened quietly, slowly kneading a lava bun as she listened to her troubles.
The newlyweds were doing well at first. The couple lived in an apartment provided by their workplace, enjoying their time together.
But not long after, the mother-in-law used the excuse that her sister-in-law was taking the college entrance exam and wanted to be closer to the school to move into the young couple's house.
The arrival of a younger sister-in-law has brought trouble.
She complains when the food isn't to her liking; she complains when her clothes aren't washed promptly; she complains when her husband and sister-in-law see them being affectionate and she feels her brother doesn't care about her anymore.
Ji Xia raised an eyebrow: "Not to her liking? You're not a chef, what's so strange about that? Take her to a restaurant, eat well every day. As for laundry, find an older woman who wants to supplement her income to come and collect her clothes every day for laundry. Why do you need to bother with that?"
Su Yujing smiled bitterly upon hearing this: "Her brother gives all his salary to his mother, saying that the old lady should help save it. I asked her several times, and in the few months since we got married, she has only given me sixty yuan in total. Is that all the money she can use to eat out every day? Dream on!"
Hearing that the money was handed over to her mother-in-law for management, Ji Xia couldn't help but lower her head, recalling Lin Haodong's biological mother from her previous life.
It seems that all mothers-in-law are the same, whether in the city or the countryside; they seem to be natural enemies with their daughters-in-law.
Although Su Yujing's mother-in-law didn't live with her, she specially sent her meddlesome sister-in-law over, and her methods were even more cunning.
Thinking of this, she suddenly remembered a question: "By the way, I haven't asked you yet? Doesn't your family arrange a job for you? How come you have so much free time to cook and do laundry for your sister-in-law?"
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