Chapter 225: The Most Feared Thing
When Xie Huaizheng heard Su Zhaozhao’s words, his heart sank.
’So, is the thing I feared most finally going to happen?’
But what was coming, he had to face.
Fortunately, he had always been good at hiding his thoughts. Otherwise, Su Zhaozhao would have probably seen right through him.
"So what did you say to him?" Xie Huaizheng asked Su Zhaozhao, trying his best to keep his tone calm.
"I just told him that I got together with you in the first place because of our arranged betrothal. I went to West State specifically to find you and get married. How else would I have met you? Huai Zheng, I’m truly happy to be with you, to be married to you. Sometimes, I feel like the luckiest person in the world. So please don’t overthink things, okay? There’s really nothing between him and me."
Su Zhaozhao didn’t dwell on the matter. She just wanted to soothe Xie Huaizheng’s temper.
At that moment, she leaned quietly against Xie Huaizheng’s chest, her hand stroking his back in a comforting gesture.
Xie Huaizheng found Su Zhaozhao’s words very reassuring.
"I know, Zhaozhao. I know you like me, not Xu Jiaming. But sometimes, I still can’t help but get jealous."
Xie Huaizheng didn’t know how to describe the thoughts in his heart. It was probably that he loved Su Zhaozhao so much he wished he could claim her entirely for himself.
He was unwilling to share Su Zhaozhao with anyone else. Sometimes, a certain thought would even sprout in his mind.
’I should just lock Su Zhaozhao up at home and not let her meet other men. That way, no other men will fall for her...’
Of course, this was just a thought. He could only think it.
He would always support the things Su Zhaozhao loved. If she wanted to climb higher and go further, he was more than willing to be her stepping stone.
The two of them held each other in comfortable silence. Su Zhaozhao felt that this kind of life was wonderful.
’It would be great if things could stay like this forever.’
She didn’t know when she might transmigrate back to her own world. Before, she had desperately wanted to go back.
But now, she suddenly felt that if she went back and could never see Xie Huaizheng again, she would fall apart.
The next day, Su Zhaozhao got up rather early because she wanted to make breakfast herself.
Ever since she’d left her busy job in the real world, with no phone to play with at night, she couldn’t stay up late anymore.
Now, Su Zhaozhao no longer lazed in bed like she used to.
She had made plans with Li Chunhong the previous night to learn how to make soup dumplings.
That way, she could make them for herself when she went to West State.
Xie Huaizheng was about to get up too, but Su Zhaozhao stopped him. "No, you should rest. It’s a rare vacation for you."
In two days, they would be heading back to West State, and Xie Huaizheng would be busy again.
"It’s already past eight. I used to wake up at five or six, so this is already late enough for me."
Seeing Xie Huaizheng insist, Su Zhaozhao didn’t force him to stay in bed.
The two of them got up together. Su Zhaozhao joined Li Chunhong in the kitchen to make soup dumplings, while Xie Huaizheng kept Xu Yingmin company.
Every morning, Xu Yingmin would wake up and practice tai chi to exercise.
At that moment, he was practicing tai chi in the center of the courtyard.
Seeing Xie Huaizheng, he quickly called out, "Huai Zheng, do you know tai chi?"
Xie Huaizheng nodded. "I do. My grandfather is also very health-conscious."
"Excellent! Come, come, let’s do it together."
Xie Huaizheng didn’t refuse and joined Xu Yingmin in a set of tai chi.
Xu Yingmin watched as Xie Huaizheng performed the movements with perfect form, and he was gratified. "I never would have thought a young person like you could have the patience to learn something like this."
"I’m not that good at it. I just picked some of it up naturally from watching my grandpa practice. Sometimes he’d ask me to join him," Xie Huaizheng said modestly.
He suddenly felt a bit fortunate that he’d learned a few things from the old man back then.
In truth, the old man was just bored and saw him idling around, so he would drag him along for company.
Xie Huaizheng had no choice but to go along with it.
But looking back now, it was never a mistake to learn a little extra.
Xu Yingmin’s gaze toward Xie Huaizheng grew even warmer.
Just then, a shout came from outside the gate. "Sister Zhaozhao! Sister Zhaozhao! Open the gate, Sister Zhaozhao!"
The child’s voice was booming, loud enough to be heard clearly through the main gate.
Xu Yingmin froze. "Who’s that?"
Xie Huaizheng’s expression darkened.
In the kitchen, Su Zhaozhao, who was learning how to fold soup dumplings from Li Chunhong, couldn’t help but frown when she heard the voice from outside.
’It’s Su Yaozu.’
’He’s got some nerve, doesn’t he?’
’Coming all the way here!’
Su Zhaozhao didn’t know who gave him the audacity to show up at their doorstep like this, but since he was being so direct...
"It’s Zhaozhao’s half-brother," Xie Huaizheng said. "Zhaozhao and I ran into him when we were out yesterday."
But he hadn’t expected them to come knocking, not after how mercilessly Su Zhaozhao had shut them down.
It was really... quite strange!
"Her brother?" Xu Yingmin shook his head. "How did he find his way here?"
Even though it was just a child, Xu Yingmin felt no sympathy for him.
’After all, when his parents were tormenting Su Zhaozhao, this child was surely an accomplice.’
Just from the tone of his shouts, one could tell he had an arrogant and domineering personality.
At that moment, Su Zhaozhao walked out of the kitchen. Outside, Su Yaozu was still shouting wildly.
Although the houses on both sides belonged to the Xu Family, there were still plenty of other neighbors around.
The shouting was bound to attract the neighbors to come and gawk. If rumors started spreading, it wouldn’t be good for them.
At this thought, Su Zhaozhao’s brow furrowed tightly.
’Maybe I should just grab this little brat and give him a good beating.’
Seeing Su Zhaozhao heading for the gate, Xie Huaizheng grew worried and couldn’t help but grab her arm. "Should I go instead?"
Xie Huaizheng felt it might be better for him to handle it.
Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but laugh. "It would be awkward for you. Everyone would see a grown man like you laying hands on him and think you were bullying a child. I’m his sister. No one will say a thing about how I deal with him."
She wanted to make it clear to Su Yaozu that he couldn’t count on her. ’He thinks I’m his sister? Does he want to keep trying to guilt-trip me?’
Her relatives on her father’s side were no pushovers. The moment they saw her yesterday, they immediately deduced she had gone to her maternal grandmother’s house.
And today, they’d come here to corner her!
Su Zhaozhao pushed open the gate and saw Su Yaozu standing at their entrance, shouting.
Her two uncles and their families could only stand by the gate as well.
There were also some other neighbors she didn’t recognize...
"Zhaozhao, what’s going on?" Xu Zhenguo asked her.
Su Zhaozhao greeted him before walking toward Su Yaozu.
"Su Yaozu, who are you calling your sister? Are you sure you have the right person?"