Chapter 11: Best friends help each other and fight against the troublemakers
The wound on her fingertip still ached, the white bandage constantly reminding Su Wanqing of the brief yet heart-wrenching contact they had last night. The focused look on Huo Tingxiao's face and the warmth of his fingertips as he bandaged her wound were like a pebble dropped into an icy lake, sending subtle but lasting ripples through her heart, leaving her feeling uneasy all day.
She forced herself to stop thinking about it, shifting her attention elsewhere. The injured puppy was still a source of worry for her. Taking advantage of the early morning hours when there were fewer people around, she went to the utility shed again, changed its medicine, and added water and food. The puppy regained some energy, rubbing against her palm and whimpering coquettishly.
How to properly dispose of it became a problem. Leaving it in the shed wasn't a long-term solution, and with the cooler weather, it would be easily discovered. Bring it home? Thinking of Huo Tingxiao's cold gaze and the word "get rid of it," she immediately dismissed the idea.
As she was hesitating, her phone rang. The name that popped up on the screen instantly brightened her gloomy mood—it was her childhood best friend, Xia Xiaoran.
"Qingqing! How is it? Is the chief's wife having a great time? Have you been frostbitten by your icy chief?" As soon as the phone was connected, Xia Xiaoran's energetic and teasing voice came over, full of familiar warmth and vitality.
Hearing her friend's voice, Su Wanqing's tense heartstrings involuntarily relaxed a little, and a genuine smile appeared on the corner of her lips: "Don't mention it, it's hard to explain."
"What's wrong? Are you being wronged?" Xia Xiaoran immediately heard the strangeness in her tone and her voice became serious. "Did you get mad at those people from the Huo family? Or did that icy face bully you?"
Su Wanqing walked to a secluded area in the yard, lowered her voice, and briefly recounted her encounter with the puppy yesterday and Huo Tingxiao's reaction, skipping the part about her injury and his bandaging.
"Oh my god! He can't even tolerate such a cute puppy? Is he still human? His heart must be made of iron!" Xia Xiaoran was immediately filled with righteous indignation, "Then where did you put it now? You can't just leave it outside forever, right?"
"It's in the utility shed in the corner of the yard, but I'm worried..."
"Don't worry about it! Wait, I'll find a way for you!" Xia Xiaoran interrupted her hurriedly, "There's a very reliable pet hospital near our company, and there's also a stray animal rescue station that we work with. I'll find someone to help you get it out, treat its illness first, and then find a reliable adopter!"
Su Wanqing felt warm in her heart: "Xiao Ran, this is too much trouble for you. The entrance and exit management of the compound is very strict..."
"No matter how strict the rules are, how can it be difficult for me, Xia Xiaoran? Don't worry, I have a classmate who works at the neighborhood office in your area. It won't be a problem for him to get a temporary entry and exit permit. Leave it to me!" Xia Xiaoran patted his chest and promised, then lowered his voice, "But Qingqing, your life is too frustrating. You have to stand up! Don't let others bully you!"
As she was speaking, Su Wanqing caught sight of Assistant Chen's car slowly approaching. It must be to pick her up for another event organized by the Women's Federation of the compound today—a hand-knitting exchange. She quickly said into the phone, "Xiao Ran, I'm busy now. I'll leave the puppy matter to you. We'll contact you later for details."
"OK! Contact me on WeChat anytime! Remember, don't try to handle anything, I'm here for you!" Xia Xiaoran reminded him before hanging up the phone.
With her bestie's promise, Su Wanqing felt relieved for a moment, and her mood lightened considerably. She composed herself and walked towards the parked car.
The hand-knitting exchange event was held in the rest home's activity room. Most of the attendees were wives of middle-aged and older military officers, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than the previous calligraphy and painting salon. Everyone chatted about family matters while spinning yarn.
Lin Weiwei was there, too. She was wearing a soft apricot cashmere dress and sat among the ladies, smiling sweetly, her fingers deftly circling a small coaster. She looked gentle and approachable.
Seeing Su Wanqing come in, Lin Weiwei looked up and gave her an impeccable smile: "Sister Su is here, come and sit down. We were just talking about you, everyone praised you for being so calm and sensible despite your young age."
Su Wanqing smiled faintly and sat down opposite her: "Miss Lin, you are too kind. The seniors are really amazing. I still have a lot to learn."
The activity began, and everyone went about their work. A woman named Zhao, who seemed to be close to Lin Weiwei, smiled casually and said, "Weiwei is really clever and skillful. These coasters are so exquisitely crocheted. I remember when Tingxiao's mother was still around, she loved crocheting these, too. Her skills were truly exceptional. Weiwei must have learned a lot from her, right?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the chatter in the activity room suddenly quieted down considerably. Several ladies glanced vaguely at Su Wanqing.
Lin Weiwei's face revealed a touch of nostalgia and sadness, and she sighed softly, "Yes, Aunt Qin was the best to me, treating me like her own daughter. It's a pity..." She paused, looking at Su Wanqing tenderly, "But everything is fine now. Brother Tingxiao... Chief Huo is married too, so Aunt Qin's spirit in heaven can be comforted. Sister Su, if you need any help in the future, feel free to ask me. I know some of Aunt Qin's past habits and preferences."
Her words were flawless, expressing her remembrance of her deceased elders and her closeness to the Huo family. She also subtly pointed out that she knew more about the Huo family, especially the past of Huo Tingxiao's late mother, than Su Wanqing, and her attitude was extremely generous and considerate.
Mrs. Zhao immediately responded, "Yes, Wanqing, you've just arrived, so there's a lot you don't understand. It's a good idea to ask Weiwei. She's familiar with the Huo family, and she and Tingxiao grew up together, so she can help you avoid a lot of detours."
With just a few words, Su Wanqing was completely placed in the position of an "outsider" who "needed guidance", while Lin Weiwei was the one who "knew her inside and out" and "had feelings and righteousness".
Su Wanqing's face remained calm, her hands slowly winding the ball of yarn. She raised her gaze to Lin Weiwei, her lips curling into a perfectly defined arc. "Thank you, Miss Lin and Aunt Zhao, for your kindness. However, I believe everyone has their own way of getting along. The commander... doesn't seem to like others interfering too much in his private affairs, and he certainly doesn't like living in the past." Her tone was gentle, yet she deftly shifted the meaning from "suggestion" to "interference," and from "nostalgia" to "indulging in the past," deftly silencing Lin Weiwei's sense of superiority.
She paused, then continued slowly, "As for Mom's habits and preferences," she used the term "Mom" naturally, as if it were a matter of course. "I believe that it's more important to feel and respect them with your heart than to imitate them deliberately. The commander also said that he now values the present and the future more."
She brought up Huo Tingxiao again. Even though he probably hadn't said such words, it was very effective in shutting people up.
Lin Weiwei's smile faltered slightly, and her fingers tightened around the crochet hook. Mrs. Zhao also felt a little embarrassed.
The ladies around exchanged glances, their gazes towards Su Wanqing carrying a more subtle meaning. This new Mrs. Huo, though seemingly young and docile, spoke with a subtle yet subtle tone, making her difficult to grasp.
Su Wanqing stopped looking at them and focused on the yarn in her hands, as if she had just said a few sincere words. She remembered Xia Xiaoran's words "I have to stand up straight" and thought to herself: Xiaoran, look, I am learning.
After the event, Su Wanqing declined the invitation of several ladies to have lunch together and prepared to go home.
As soon as I reached the door of the activity center, I heard Lin Weiwei's gentle voice behind me: "Sister Su, wait a moment."
Su Wanqing stopped and turned around.
Lin Weiwei stepped forward, her face still sporting that flawless, gentle smile. She affectionately took Su Wanqing's arm and lowered her voice, her tone tinged with worry, "Sister Su, there were so many people around just now, and I had something I couldn't say. Don't mind what Aunt Zhao and the others said; they meant well."
She changed the subject, lowering her voice with a hint of mystery, "But... there's something I need to remind you of. Brother Tingxiao... there are some things in his study. They're his mother's belongings. He values them more than his life and won't let anyone touch them. He has a terrible temper. Be careful when you're home from now on. Don't touch anything carelessly and upset him."
After she finished speaking, she gently patted the back of Su Wanqing's hand, with a caring look that said, "I'm telling you this for your own good," and then she turned and left gracefully.
Su Wanqing stood there, looking at Lin Weiwei's receding back, her eyes slightly gloomy.
These words seemed like a reminder, but in reality they were a warning, and even more of a provocation. They were hinting to her that Huo Tingxiao's indifference and bad temper had their reasons, and that Su Wanqing could never get to the core of that. They were also implying that her situation at home was dangerous and unwelcome.
If Su Wanqing had heard these words before yesterday, she might have felt sad.
But now…
She recalled his ruthless attitude towards the puppy in the study last night, and later... the brief moment of concentration when he grabbed her wrist and bent down to bandage her wound.
Lin Weiwei's words didn't seem entirely correct.
At least, beneath that iceberg, there might be something hidden that she doesn't understand and that others don't understand even more.
The real intention of Lin Weiwei's "kind reminder" is probably worth pondering.
Su Wanqing let out a light breath, went over Lin Weiwei's words in her heart, and then slowly filtered out the poison in them.
When the enemy comes, we will fight them; when the water comes, we will block it with earth.
She has a little life to protect and a close friend who cares about her. Now, she has become more calm and can see through the fog.
She will not give up easily in this silent war.
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