Picked Up a White Cut Black Wife - Chapter 25

Back in the break room, Shen Zhao released Shen Qiao, took off her coat, and saw the other woman sitting indignantly to one side, glaring at her.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Zhao asked, opening her lunchbox. “I didn’t even want to know, but you insisted on telling me. Why are you making such a fuss now?”

Shen Qiao huffed and slumped onto the table, her face radiating displeasure.

In contrast, the little figure in the lunchbox beamed brightly. Shen Zhao’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Alright, I want to know now. Tell me.”

Shen Qiao perked up instantly, her eyes sparkling. “Hmph, since you asked so nicely, I’ll mercifully tell you.”

Shen Zhao ate slowly and deliberately, nodding noncommittally.

“Ahem.” Shen Qiao cleared her throat and mimicked, “Brother Wang said, ‘After all these years, this is the first time I’ve seen Engineer Shen care so much about someone.'”

“Sister Xiaoqin said, ‘Even though Engineer Shen’s heart is made of ice, if you warm it up enough, it’ll eventually melt.'”

“And Sister Xiaoxiao said, ‘Seeing Xiao Zhao with such a smart, virtuous, generous, beautiful, and understanding… partner makes me feel so relieved!'”

“Shen Qiao, you made all that up, didn’t you?” Shen Zhao said, her tone accusatory, but a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes.

“Nonsense! If you don’t believe me, go ask them yourself.”

Shen Zhao raised an eyebrow, silently eating her meal without a word. That would be like walking straight into a trap, she thought.

Just then, a message arrived on her phone: the library had opened, and she could start working in the next few days.

I almost forgot about that.

Shen Zhao bit her lip and glanced at the restless figure beside her, who was leaning against her shoulder, playing with her hair. Finally, I can send her away, she thought.

Yet she didn’t feel relieved, nor particularly happy.

How strange.

Forcing herself to ignore the feeling, Shen Zhao called out, “Shen Qiao.”

“What is it, Wife?”

Shen Zhao said calmly, “You need to go to work. I’ve sent you the address. Pack your things when we get back, and you can start tomorrow…”

Before she could finish, Shen Qiao nuzzled into her arms. “Does that mean I have to leave my Wife?”

“What else? You think I’m going with you?” Shen Zhao snapped, her voice tinged with irritation.

“Waaah, my Wife is so mean!”

“Stop whining. Get up and go pack.”

“No,” Shen Qiao clung to her arm. “I don’t want to leave my Wife.”

Shen Zhao shot her a sidelong glance but didn’t move. “Have you forgotten what you said before?”

“I don’t want to work. I just want to be my Wife’s little maid.”

“Cough, cough, cough, cough—” Shen Zhao choked, caught off guard. “What did you say? A… a nanny?”

Shen Qiao patted her back to help her catch her breath, nodding. “Mm-hmm. If you don’t like that, I can be your little maid. I’ll serve you wholeheartedly, not just with daily tasks, but also…”

This is getting more outrageous by the minute!

“Wait!” Shen Zhao interrupted, her tone serious. “Shen Qiao, do you know what you’re suggesting?”

“What?”

“It’s called being a freeloader!” Shen Zhao took her hand, adopting a grave expression. “What did we agree on before? What’s the purpose of working?”

Shen Qiao’s memory slowly resurfaced. “To support my wife?”

“Exactly! You need to work and earn money to support your wife. Otherwise, you’re just freeloading.”

Shen Qiao huffed, unfazed. “If freeloading is what it is, then so be it.”

“……” Shen Zhao was stunned by her audacity, her heart clenching. “People will talk if you freeload.”

“Let them talk,” Shen Qiao retorted, tilting her head and snorting. “They’re just jealous I have such good fortune. I won’t waste my time arguing with them!”

Shen Zhao bit her lip, speechless. She had never encountered someone so unapologetically accepting of freeloading. She didn’t know how to respond.

“Wife~” Shen Qiao cooed, wrapping her arms around Shen Zhao’s neck and nuzzling her cheek. “Don’t be mad at me. I promise I’ll eat less from now on so I won’t be a burden.”

Shen Zhao glanced at her expressionlessly as she cleared the table. “Go home,” she said. “I need to work.”

“A kiss?” Shen Qiao leaned in, seeking a kiss.

Shen Zhao turned her face away. “You already got one.”

“That doesn’t count.” Shen Qiao straightened Shen Zhao’s face and, catching her off guard, planted a quick kiss on her lips before hopping off the bed. “Wife, I’m off!” she chirped cheerfully.

Shen Zhao frowned in annoyance. This pest is so irritating.

After Shen Qiao left, Shen Zhao replied to the library owner: I’m so sorry, my friend had an urgent matter come up and can’t make it.

As she sent the message, Shen Zhao sighed regretfully, though her heart remained unmoved.

Fine, I’ll tolerate her for two more days. If that woman still refuses to behave, I’ll kick her out and be done with her!

Ironically, her words came true sooner than expected. When Shen Zhao returned home that evening and found Shen Qiao still lounging on her bed, she knew she couldn’t let her stay any longer.

Expecting another drawn-out struggle, Shen Zhao was surprised when Shen Qiao obediently grabbed her blanket and climbed off the bed. “If my wife despises me so much, I’ll just leave,” she said.

Shen Zhao stared at her, a question mark hanging over her head. What’s she up to now?

“I’ll go far away tonight, out of your sight!” Shen Qiao declared, secretly watching Shen Zhao’s expression as she delivered her harsh words.

“Oh, really?” Shen Zhao sat on the bed, watching her with amusement. “Then go.”

Shen Qiao sniffed loudly, clutching her pillow and blanket, and slowly shuffled toward the door without even putting on her shoes.

But her pace was slower than a snail’s. After what felt like an eternity, she still hadn’t reached the bedroom door.

Shen Zhao suppressed a laugh, waiting for her to leave so she could shut the door.

Finally, Shen Qiao reached the doorway, her cheeks puffed out in indignation. Gripping the doorframe, she spoke, her voice a mix of aggrieved and fierce, on the verge of tears: “You’re really not going to stop me!”

“Ha ha ha…” Shen Zhao chuckled softly. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to leave? I didn’t kick you out.”

Shen Qiao sniffed again. “But you’re not even going to try to stop me?”

“Why would I? I’d be thrilled if you left sooner. The sooner you go, the sooner I’m free.”

“Wife, how could you…?” Suddenly, Shen Qiao doubled over, clutching her stomach and crying out in pain. “It hurts so much!”

“Still hurting?” Shen Zhao asked, hurrying over to support her. “I thought you said it was better?”

Shen Qiao leaned into her arms, feigning helplessness. “I don’t know, Wife. My tummy hurts so much.”

“Go lie down. I’ll get you some medicine,” Shen Zhao said, guiding her toward the door. But Shen Qiao refused to move. “Wife, stay with me a little longer.”

Shen Zhao couldn’t help but eye the woman in her arms suspiciously. But Shen Qiao’s face was buried against her chest, making it impossible to read her expression. All she could hear were her pained moans.

Reluctantly, Shen Zhao carried her to the bed and laid her down.

Just as she was about to get up to fetch the medicine, Shen Qiao grabbed her hand. “Wife, I feel a little better now. Can you rub my tummy?”

“It doesn’t hurt anymore?”

Shen Qiao hesitated for a moment, then furrowed her delicate brows and whimpered again. “It still hurts… I want my wife to stay with me.”

Shen Zhao instinctively knew the woman was acting, but she couldn’t bring herself to abandon her. She leaned down and tucked the blanket around her. “Lie down.”

“Wife, stay with me,” Shen Qiao pleaded, clinging to her hand and pressing close with a pitiful look.