Why Suffer for This Distress (GL) - Chapter 12

Su Xiyan stared at the plane ticket, her brows furrowing bit by bit. Who did she offend? She was dragged to a bar, forced to drink all night, threw up repeatedly, and now she had to be dragged back to Beijing to “apologize with thorns” [a Chinese idiom meaning to beg forgiveness]? He Jingmo was also silent on the side. Although they hadn’t interacted much, He Jingmo had already grasped President Xiao’s personality from her few sentences. This kind of person, who means what she says, would absolutely not allow anyone to say “no” to a decision she had made. This trip to Beijing was set for Su Xiyan.

If Su Xiyan had argued logically, Xiao Moyan might have been stubbornly justified, but seeing her press her lips and frown silently now actually aroused Xiao Moyan’s pity. She was clearly aware that she was in the wrong on this matter. Xiao Moyan thought about it; it truly wasn’t very decent to break up a young couple just to explain her own “extramarital” problem.

“How about this,” Xiao Moyan looked at Su Xiyan, “I’ll have my secretary book another ticket in a moment. Teacher He can come with us.”

“No.” Su Xiyan shook her head. “She’s very busy; she doesn’t have the time at all.”

“Busy?” Xiao Moyan raised an eyebrow, looking at Su Xiyan with a half-smile. “How busy can an elementary school teacher be?” She knew Su Xiyan was lying.

“…” Su Xiyan was momentarily choked. She felt like she had shot herself in the foot. He Jingmo glanced at Su Xiyan but didn’t speak.

Xiao Moyan squinted at the two of them, her eyes full of calculation. After a moment, she nodded and sighed. “Fine, I won’t force anyone. You’re right, President Su, when we get to Beijing, we have to go to the nightclubs for a few more drinks anyway. Bringing Teacher He would be somewhat inconvenient.”

Su Xiyan frowned, glaring at Xiao Moyan, and said crossly, “You’re asking me to go back with you to apologize? You dare to mess around right under your wife’s nose?” This President Xiao had no character! Her wife was so pitiful to be stuck with someone like this! Xiao Moyan rolled her eyes at the sky. This idiot! She wants to find a wife like this? If the two of them were together, Su Xiyan would still be alone even if Xiao Moyan had a harem full of wives!

He Jingmo, however, understood Xiao Moyan’s meaning on the side. She looked at her, slightly narrowing her eyes. Xiao Moyan sensed this, smiled seductively, turned her head, and looked at He Jingmo. Are you really that confident to let her take Su Xiyan away?

The two silently stared at each other, engaging in a battle of wits for three hundred rounds with their eyes. This was making Su Xiyan extremely anxious. This President Xiao wouldn’t be interested in Jingmo too, would she?

“You guys…”

“Fine.”

Before Su Xiyan could speak, He Jingmo nodded first. She looked at Xiao Moyan calmly and nodded. “As President Xiao suggests.”

“Jingmo, you—” Su Xiyan looked at He Jingmo in surprise. He Jingmo turned her head and smiled faintly at her. “It’s alright. I’ll just change my classes.” Although she was smiling, He Jingmo was sighing deeply in her heart. At this time, she couldn’t leave Su Xiyan alone. Having guarded her for so many years, having waited for so many years, she wouldn’t allow any accidents to happen.

President Xiao was very efficient. Early the next morning, a private car took the two of them to the airport.

Su Xiyan held her luggage in one hand and grumbled discontentedly, “It’s like being treated as a prisoner. Are they afraid the two of us will run away? Sigh, I need to go pray to the Bodhisattva tomorrow. Why did I encounter such a monster?”

“It’s alright.” He Jingmo looked at Su Xiyan with affection. Su Xiyan was still not very happy. It was fine if she suffered alone, but what kind of thing was it to drag He Jingmo along? He Jingmo saw her subtle worries and curved her lips into a smile.

“Hello, beauties! Let’s go!”

Xiao Moyan walked in wearing large sunglasses and very casual clothes, her face full of smiles, looking energetic. This made Su Xiyan somewhat jealous and resentful. They were both human, so why did this woman never seem tired?

“I won’t disturb the two of you. My seat is in the back. Do whatever you like; don’t be shy.”

When boarding the plane, Xiao Moyan thoughtfully dropped this ambiguous sentence and left. Su Xiyan blushed intensely at the suggestive words. She stood still, looking awkwardly at He Jingmo. He Jingmo shook her head, sighed, and took her hand. “Let’s go.”

“Mm.” The cool, soft hand in her palm made Su Xiyan’s heart soar. Not bad. I’ll just consider this a trip with Jingmo.

After they were seated and had eaten breakfast, He Jingmo noticed Su Xiyan’s discomfort. Seeing the cold sweat on her forehead, He Jingmo asked worriedly, “Are you airsick?”

“Mm…” Su Xiyan quietly responded, barely audible, and closed her eyes. He Jingmo used her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, called a flight attendant for a blanket and a U-shaped pillow. “Has it always been like this?” He Jingmo covered Su Xiyan with the blanket and asked softly.

“Mm.” Su Xiyan still kept her eyes closed, her expression very pained. This weak appearance cut into He Jingmo’s heart like a knife. It’s always been like this… As far as He Jingmo knew, Su Xiyan had to travel far at least once a month. This meant that when she wasn’t around, Su Xiyan was silently enduring this alone.

Biting her lip, unable to resist the ache and sadness in her heart, He Jingmo reached out, put her arm around Su Xiyan’s shoulder, and gently pulled her toward herself, letting her rest on her shoulder. He Jingmo could feel Su Xiyan’s body stiffen slightly, then soften, completely letting go and leaning on her shoulder.

The small details, though common, made both their hearts feel warm.

Xiao Moyan, sitting in the back, looked at the two of them and smiled knowingly. She took out a camera from her bag and captured the scene.

Not bad. I can threaten that stubborn little President Su and also explain things to my wife. She made a profit on this deal.

Because she was leaning on He Jingmo the entire time, Su Xiyan slept for a while. When they got off the plane, she was much more energetic. She pulled her luggage, walking beside He Jingmo. He Jingmo smiled at her. Su Xiyan noticed her somewhat stiff right arm and asked, startled, “Is it numb?”

“It’s alright.” He Jingmo shook her arm as if nothing was wrong. Su Xiyan stepped forward affectionately and took the luggage from her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me you were uncomfortable?”

He Jingmo just smiled without speaking. She looked at Su Xiyan sleeping on her shoulder. How could she bear to wake her up?

As the two were gazing at each other wordlessly, Xiao Moyan’s enthusiastic voice rang out like she was on stimulants. “Wife! Here! I’m here!”

The two simultaneously turned their heads and looked over in unison. They really wanted to know what kind of divine being could conquer such a troublesome person.

If Xiao Moyan was a ball of blazing fire, the woman before them was ice beneath a cold pond. She walked toward the three of them in a crisp, white long dress. Her body swayed slightly, making the dress flow out. Every gesture was as graceful as the wind caressing a willow. Her snow-white skin was smooth like silk, and her black hair had a naturally undulating curve, hanging down, making one imagine the touch of fingers lightly stroking those strands. Su Xiyan stared unblinkingly at the woman, while He Jingmo looked at her expressionlessly.

“Xiaxia, I missed you so much.” Xiao Moyan threw her luggage aside, regardless of the airport traffic, and rushed forward to embrace her tightly.

“That’s enough.” The woman looked helplessly at the meaty embrace. Finally, Xiao Moyan hugged her affectionately for a while and then let her go. She turned her head, smiling as she looked at the two, and introduced proudly, “See? This is my wife, Xia Lingying.”

Xia Lingying turned her head and smiled at the two. Su Xiyan was a little nervous, unsure how to explain the events of that day. He Jingmo quietly looked at Xia Lingying, a flash of surprise in her eyes. Judging by her appearance, she didn’t seem angry. So, why did President Xiao bring her and Su Xiyan to Beijing—

“Xiao, you’re being naughty again.” Xia Lingying looked at the two and shook her head helplessly. Xiao Moyan pouted and smiled mischievously at the pair. “Didn’t I bring them out to encourage them, seeing that they have the same style as us back then—secretly holding back and being mysterious?”

“What are you talking about?” Su Xiyan frowned. Xia Lingying looked at her and laughed softly. “Did Xiao trick you two into coming by claiming I was angry again?” Su Xiyan choked up, glaring at Xiao Moyan. Tricked? He Jingmo, for some reason, blushed slightly and nodded.

“Haha, Xiaxia, how is it? Look at her little expression. Doesn’t she have the graceful style I had back then?” Xiao Moyan laughed uncontrollably on the side, gazing at her with a doting obsession. Xia Lingying shook her head, looking at the two with a hint of apology. “Don’t mind her.” She glanced at Xiao Moyan, whose mouth was curved up to her ears as she gazed at her with infatuation. Xia Lingying raised her hand to block that ardent gaze and silently mouthed three words: “Menopause.”