Picked Up a White Cut Black Wife - Chapter 24

The next morning, Shen Qiao had regained her usual energy, trailing behind Shen Zhao and chattering incessantly, clinging to her like a vine.

Before leaving, Shen Zhao reiterated, “You don’t need to bring me lunch anymore. I’ll eat at the cafeteria from now on, okay?”

No response.

She turned to see Shen Qiao holding up her nightgown, sniffing it, then looking up with a smile. “It smells just like Wife!”

“Shen Qiao, you…” Shen Zhao looked away, her expression slightly flustered. “We use the same shampoo and body wash. Of course they smell the same.”

“No, they don’t!” Shen Qiao darted forward, gently tugging on Shen Zhao’s collar. She stood on tiptoe, her nose brushing against Shen Zhao’s neck. “Wife smells so good.”

Shen Zhao’s breath caught in her throat, her pupils dilated, and she froze in place.

“Wife?” Shen Qiao didn’t release her, maintaining her position as she stared up, her gaze shifting slightly.

“Ahem, I’m going to work now.” Shen Zhao lowered her head, adjusting her collar to hide her embarrassment. “Did you hear what I said earlier?”

“No,” Shen Qiao refused without hesitation.

“It’s freezing outside. If your stomach starts hurting again, I won’t take care of you.”

“I’m already better.”

Shen Zhao felt things were getting tricky. She frowned and said, “It’s more convenient for me to eat in the cafeteria.”

Shen Qiao: “Then I’ll bring you lunch. What’s inconvenient about that?”

“It wouldn’t look good if others saw us,” Shen Zhao said through gritted teeth. The scene from yesterday flashed through her mind again—a memory she never wanted to relive.

Hearing this, Shen Qiao’s lips quivered. “Am I really that embarrassing? Waaah, does my wife think I’m a disgrace?”

“You know you…”

“Waaah… My wife really does think I’m a disgrace… Waaah, what did I do wrong? Waaah…”

The incessant wailing made Shen Zhao’s ears ring. She desperately wanted to grab Shen Qiao and throw her out. “Stop crying! Shen Qiao!”

Shen Qiao immediately stopped sobbing, her teary eyes fixed on Shen Zhao, making her feel guilty.

Shen Zhao: “Alright, alright, you’re not embarrassing.”

“Mm, I knew it!” Shen Qiao instantly wiped away her tears, happily took Shen Zhao’s hand, and shook it. “Then I’ll still bring you lunch, Wife.”

Shen Zhao sighed inwardly, her face expressionless. “You can bring it, but if anyone asks, tell them you’re my younger sister, understand? And don’t call me ‘Wife’ in public.”

At those words, Shen Qiao immediately grew wary.

Why does this scenario feel so familiar? she thought. There was a video I saw recently where a female “sea king” was simultaneously stringing along multiple girlfriends!

Could my wife be seeing someone else?

“Then what should I call you?” Shen Qiao asked, her mind racing but her expression carefully neutral.

“Call me ‘Sister.'”

“Oh~” Shen Qiao recalled a novel she’d read a few days earlier, a subtle expression flickering across her face before she readily accepted the term. “Alright, Sister.”

How could this not be considered a term of endearment?

Seeing her so obedient, Shen Zhao relaxed slightly.

At noon, as it was time to leave work, a faint sense of unease flashed through Shen Zhao’s mind. But with her work still unfinished, she suppressed the feeling, silently praying that Shen Qiao wouldn’t cause any more trouble.

Before she could even finish the thought, someone poked their head in from the doorway. “Xiao Zhao, your little… ahem, your cousin’s sister is here again to bring you lunch.”

Shen Zhao startled, about to reply when the person continued, “You keep working. I’ll bring her in. It’s too cold outside; she’ll freeze if she stays out there.”

“No need, I—” Before Shen Zhao could finish, the person had already hurried away.

Driven by her obsessive-compulsive tendencies, Shen Zhao hated interrupting her work. She forced down her anxiety and continued repairing the artifact.

Meanwhile,

Shen Qiao arrived at the museum entrance and was about to text Shen Zhao when she noticed someone approaching her. She quietly observed the newcomer, her eyes betraying neither joy nor sorrow.

“Hello, are you here to see Shen Zhao?” the person asked, offering a friendly smile.

Shen Qiao nodded cautiously, maintaining her composure. “And you are?”

“I’m Xiao Zhao’s colleague. She’s still busy, so she asked me to come and fetch you.”

Rival No. 1 eliminated.

Shen Qiao immediately flashed a sweet smile. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Come with me.”

As they walked, both women harbored their own agendas, subtly probing each other with carefully worded questions.

“Xiao Zhao mentioned you’re a distant relative’s younger sister?”

Though reluctant to admit it, Shen Qiao replied, “Yes. By the way, who does my sister usually eat with? A boyfriend?”

The colleague gave her a knowing glance, fully aware of her intentions, and chuckled. “Everyone in the museum knows Shen Zhao is like a thousand-year-old iron tree—it never blooms.”

“Oh.” Shen Qiao smiled contentedly. My wife is mine alone!

As people gradually left the building after work, news spread that Shen Zhao’s girlfriend had arrived. Despite the freezing weather, they rubbed their hands together and rushed outside to catch a glimpse.

Soon, the group guiding Shen Qiao grew from one to two, then three…

Shen Qiao discreetly scanned the crowd, but found no potential rivals.

When Shen Zhao finally emerged, she saw Shen Qiao surrounded by a circle of people, front, back, and sides.

Never a moment’s peace, no matter where I go.

At that moment, Shen Qiao spotted her and waved excitedly, “Sister!”

Shen Zhao forced herself to walk over, while the others tactfully dispersed.

“Wife!” Shen Qiao dashed forward before Shen Zhao could even get close, throwing her arms wide for a hug. “I missed you so much!”

Seeing this, Shen Zhao hastily retreated several steps, burying her head in the sand. “Mind the impression we’re making.”

Shen Qiao ignored her, tugging at her sleeve with a pout. “Wife, even your colleagues are more enthusiastic than you!”

“What did you all talk about?” Shen Zhao sensed trouble; a group like this could only mean trouble.

“Does Wife really want to know?” Shen Qiao’s eyes darted around like a cunning little fox. “We talked about all sorts of things.”

Shen Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly. “What exactly did you discuss?”

“You’d never guess anyway!” Shen Qiao clasped her hands behind her back, winking playfully.

“Shen Qiao!”

After building up the suspense, Shen Qiao leaned in close, her lips brushing Shen Zhao’s ear as she whispered with a mischievous grin, “Wife, do you want to know?”

Shen Zhao tilted her head, casting a casual glance at Shen Qiao. “No.”

“Huh?” Shen Qiao blinked in surprise. Why isn’t she playing along?

Seeing her bewildered expression, Shen Zhao’s lips curved into a faint smile. “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. Let’s go eat.”

“No way!” Shen Qiao grabbed her hand. “Wife, you do want to know! Say you want to know!”

“Alright,” Shen Zhao relented. “Then tell me.”

“Hmm, if you want to know, give me a kiss.” Shen Qiao tapped her cheek.

Without hesitation, Shen Zhao leaned down and pecked her cheek lightly, her expression utterly nonchalant. “Done.”

Now it was Shen Qiao’s turn to be dumbfounded. That was too easy! I should have asked for something else!

“I… I misspoke! I meant a kiss on the lips!” Feeling cheated, Shen Qiao immediately backtracked.

Hearing this, Shen Zhao wasn’t surprised at all. She looked at Shen Qiao with an “I knew it” expression and shrugged. “Is that so? Never mind then.”

“Wife, aren’t you even a little curious?”

“Not at all.” Shen Zhao chuckled and patted Shen Qiao’s head. “Let’s go.”

Unwilling to give up, Shen Qiao trailed after Shen Zhao like a ruffled kitten. Shen Zhao reached back, covered her mouth, and tucked her head into her chest, muffling her protests into muffled whimpers.