Chapter 69: Can I Speak?

Wu Zhiming arrived at Song Siqing's house, carrying large bags of groceries. Seeing a man of his status bringing in groceries like a typical househusband momentarily transported Song Siqing back to her childhood. 

Back then, her father often went out to buy groceries while her mother waited at home. He always took a long time, and later, she learned from her mother that it was because he was secretly seeing a woman who sold vegetables.

"What did you buy?" Yao Jing asked in surprise as she walked up to Wu Zhiming, taking the bags from him.

"I bought potatoes, eggplants, cabbage—one pound of each," Wu Zhiming replied.

Yao Jing sighed and covered her forehead, saying, "We're just three people. We can't eat all of this. Half a pound of cabbage is enough. For meat, half a pound is fine too, and tenderloin would have been better. Why did you buy this huge piece of fatty meat? Two potatoes are enough for a plate of shredded potatoes, and one eggplant is plenty for a small dish of braised eggplant. You bought way too much."

Wu Zhiming scratched his head awkwardly and said, "It just feels wrong not to buy a full pound."

"Do all men shop like this, buying a bag of everything?" Yao Jing asked.

"I wouldn't know," Wu Zhiming shook his head and said. "I'll cook. You should stay with Song Siqing."

"You're going to cook?" Yao Jing looked at him in surprise.

"Trust me. I'm not bad at it," Wu Zhiming said, glancing at Song Siqing before heading into the kitchen.

Yao Jing returned to the living room and sat next to Song Siqing.

"I'm really envious of you," Song Siqing said.

"There's nothing to be envious of," Yao Jing shook her head. "You don't know what it's like to live as a couple for four years without any feelings for each other. Maybe things have gotten better recently, but... those four years were something I'd rather not remember."

Song Siqing sighed. She didn't know what Yao Jing's four years of marriage had been like, but living with someone you don't have feelings for must have been truly despairing.

"Did you ask him that question?" Song Siqing suddenly asked. If Yao Jing hadn't, she would advise her against asking.

"I did," Yao Jing nodded.

"You did?" Song Siqing's eyes widened slightly. "And how did he respond?"

"He said he would save his mother first, then... he would die with me," Yao Jing said.

Song Siqing was stunned. She hadn't expected such an answer from Wu Zhiming to that question.

"Zhou Wenwei just messaged me. He only just found out that he's going to be a father. He and He Shuhui have reconciled, and Shuhui went to the hospital for a check-up. Everything is fine," Wu Zhiming's voice came from the kitchen.

Hearing this, Song Siqing breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness!" Yao Jing said.

"I'll message Shuhui and apologize to her," Song Siqing said.

"Call her. You were indeed in the wrong, and when you make a mistake, you should be sincere in your apology," Yao Jing advised.

"Call her?" Song Siqing hesitated for a moment before picking up her phone and heading to her room.

Yao Jing got up and walked toward the kitchen.

Just as she reached the doorway, there was a loud sizzling sound, and a burst of flame shot up from the pan.

Wu Zhiming stood there, holding the pan, staring dumbfounded at the fire.

Yao Jing couldn't help but laugh as she walked up and put a lid on the pan.

"When stir-frying vegetables, you have to be careful about the oil temperature. And generally, you cook the vegetables last because they cook quickly. Let me take over. You should go out," Yao Jing said.

Wu Zhiming smiled awkwardly and said, "I've watched a lot of cooking shows. I thought I'd become a master chef."

"Cooking isn't that simple," Yao Jing shook her head and put on an apron.

Wu Zhiming turned and left the kitchen.

In the living room, Song Siqing was nowhere to be seen.

Wu Zhiming picked up the remote and turned on the TV.

A news report was playing about someone being scammed out of thousands of dollars at a hair salon. After flipping through a few channels and finding nothing interesting, he gave up on watching TV and picked up his phone.

At that moment, Song Siqing returned to the living room after finishing her call.

"Jingjing, Shuhui forgave me!" Song Siqing cried out, wiping away her tears with excitement.

"It's good she forgave you. In the future, avoid doing things like this. Seriously, not just for others, but for your own sake," Yao Jing said.

"I understand," Song Siqing nodded, then sat down on the sofa opposite Wu Zhiming, looking at him.

Wu Zhiming looked back at her.

"Even though I don't really like you, I have to admit you're a pretty decent guy," Song Siqing said.

Wu Zhiming nodded and was about to speak.

"Don't get too excited," Song Siqing said seriously. "Jingjing is my best friend. I can tell she's accepted you, but that doesn't mean she likes you. So, I hope you continue to treat her with respect!"

Wu Zhiming opened his mouth, trying to speak.

"Let me finish," Song Siqing continued. "You must treat Jingjing well, very, very well. You can't let her suffer even a bit, and you mustn't get involved with other women. No cheating or having affairs. They say men become bad when they get rich. Now that you're very wealthy, you mustn't go down that path."

Wu Zhiming sighed.

"There's no cat that doesn't sneak a taste of fish. If you ever do cheat in the future, I hope you can hide it forever. I don't want Jingjing to be hurt. Sometimes, being kept in the dark for a lifetime is better than knowing the painful truth," Song Siqing said.

"Can I speak now?" Wu Zhiming asked.

"Go ahead. As Jingjing's best friend, I suppose you've passed my test for now. Say whatever you want," Song Siqing replied.

"Your skirt… it's a bit short," Wu Zhiming said.

Song Siqing froze for a moment and looked down.

Seeing her reflection, Song Siqing's face instantly turned red. She had worn a tight-fitting office skirt to work today, which hugged her thighs. At home with Yao Jing, she hadn't thought much about it. When Wu Zhiming arrived, she had forgotten to adjust her posture. Sitting across from Wu Zhiming now, from his vantage point, everything that should and shouldn't be seen was on display.

Song Siqing quickly closed her legs and turned her body.

"Why didn't you say something sooner!" Song Siqing exclaimed, flustered.

"I wanted to, but you didn't give me a chance," Wu Zhiming said helplessly.

"I… I…" Song Siqing's face turned bright red. Although she was outgoing and knew how to tease men, this was the first time she had been seen like this by a man.

"You… you didn't see anything, right?" Song Siqing asked.

"I saw everything," Wu Zhiming replied.

Song Siqing was stunned. Normally, shouldn't Wu Zhiming have said he didn't see anything?

"If I said I didn't see anything, it would be a lie. How could I not see? Your legs were so wide apart, and your skirt is so short," Wu Zhiming shrugged.

"You!!" Song Siqing was furious. Even if Wu Zhiming denied seeing anything, she wouldn't believe him, but at least she could comfort herself. Instead, he bluntly admitted to seeing everything. Was he mocking her or flirting with her?

"I take back what I said earlier. You haven't passed my test, and you never will!" Song Siqing gritted her teeth.

Wu Zhiming sneered, as if dating Yao Jing required Song Siqing's approval.

Seeing Wu Zhiming's dismissive look made Song Siqing even angrier, but there was nothing she could do.

"Dinner's ready!" Yao Jing called out, carrying several dishes from the kitchen.

"Are we eating in the living room?" Wu Zhiming asked.

"Yes. Siqing doesn't have a dining table; we always eat in the living room. Could you get the utensils, and Siqing, where are you going?" Yao Jing asked, seeing Song Siqing head toward her room.

"I'm changing into pants," Song Siqing said, entering her room and closing the door.

"Changing into pants? Why now?" Yao Jing was puzzled.

"Maybe she's cold in the skirt," Wu Zhiming suggested.

Yao Jing was a bit confused but didn't ask further.

The meal was set up, just simple homemade dishes. 

Song Siqing ate in silence, saying very little. 

Yao Jing assumed that Song Siqing was still affected by what had happened earlier and didn't press her.

Halfway through the meal, Song Siqing suddenly spoke, "Jingjing, I want to take a break. I don't want to work for a while."

"Okay," Yao Jing nodded.

"I want to travel. Will you come with me?" Song Siqing asked.

"Travel? I don't have the time," Yao Jing shook her head.

"It's been a long time since we've traveled together. Remember before you got married? We went on trips every six months. But it's been four years now, and we haven't gone anywhere. And you didn't have a honeymoon with Zhiming, right? How about you two go together? You can have your honeymoon, and I can take a break. How does that sound?" Song Siqing suggested.

A honeymoon?

Yao Jing felt a twinge in her heart. When she and Wu Zhiming got married, they had only held a simple banquet—no wedding photos, no honeymoon, nothing.

She hadn't felt the lack of these things before, but now that Song Siqing brought it up, it seemed these things might indeed be necessary, especially since they weren't planning on divorcing and were trying to accept each other more.

Yao Jing glanced at Wu Zhiming and saw that he was looking at her too.

"What honeymoon? That's just something young people do. It's frivolous and unnecessary. There's so much work left to do," Wu Zhiming said.

Wu Zhiming's words made Yao Jing frown.

After a brief silence, Yao Jing said, "Yes, I'm old."

"I didn't mean you're old. I just think that sort of thing isn't for us," Wu Zhiming quickly explained.

"Yeah… it's for young people. It's not for someone like me who's already married," Yao Jing nodded, taking a bite of plain rice without any side dishes, chewing mechanically.

"That's not what I meant… Hey, how about we find a place to go for a few days?" Wu Zhiming suggested.

"We'll see," Yao Jing said, putting down her chopsticks and walking away.

Watching Yao Jing leave, Song Siqing couldn't help but say to Wu Zhiming, "Nice move!"

Wu Zhiming smiled slightly, "Not really."