Why Suffer for This Distress (GL) - Chapter 3
As if she had received an electric shock, Su Xiyan immediately withdrew her leg. Her face flushed crimson, and she looked at He Jingmo in surprise. She actually touched it, just like that? So impolite?
“What do you want to say?” He Jingmo leaned back on the sofa lazily, closing her eyes slightly.
After a long time, Su Xiyan spoke weakly from the side, “How can you touch my leg and then act like I only touched a radish?”
“…”
He Jingmo opened her eyes, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Su Xiyan, “Oh? Then how should I act? CEO Su, you were the one who seduced me first, okay?”
Su Xiyan picked up the hairdryer and continued blowing her hair, surprisingly not fighting back. He Jingmo, however, looked at Su Xiyan with some confusion. With her personality, how could she compromise just like that? Could it be that becoming CEO Su had really softened her temper?
The humming sound, accompanied by the fragrant scent, had a hypnotic effect. He Jingmo lay on the sofa, her consciousness gradually blurring.
“By the way, how was the feel of my leg? Slippery?”
“…”
He Jingmo suddenly opened her eyes, staring at Su Xiyan, her face as cold as an iceberg. Su Xiyan tossed her hair, looking unconcerned, “What’s wrong? I was just asking for your post-touching feelings.”
“Asking me? Heh, haven’t your little girlfriends told you?”
He Jingmo sneered, the lines on her face becoming even more rigid. Su Xiyan rolled her eyes at her, grumbling, “Why do you always ruin my reputation? When did I ever have a girlfriend? The person you saw that day was a friend, okay?”
“A friend pinching your butt? Heh, you make quite the friends.”
“Why are you so inexplicable!” Su Xiyan’s face became cold, and she looked at He Jingmo angrily, “Whether or not I have a girlfriend is none of your business! Do you really think you’re here to be a busybody for my brother? You still haven’t changed that strange personality after all these years! You’re a university lecturer like this? I seriously doubt how you torture the flowers of our motherland.”
He Jingmo raised an eyebrow, looking at her, “I’m telling you, Su Xiyan, I don’t care how you were before, but while I’m staying here, you can’t bring women home.”
“What do you take me for?! Bringing women home, am I a madam?” Su Xiyan also got angry. What was this woman doing? Talking as if she were so morally corrupt. He Jingmo scoffed lightly, not speaking. Angered by He Jingmo’s indifferent and contemptuous attitude, Su Xiyan’s almond eyes widened, and she fiercely fought back, “No wonder you’re so old and don’t even have a boyfriend. With your personality, who would dare to marry you?”
“I don’t need your concern.”
He Jingmo looked at her mockingly, “You can’t argue with me, so you bring up the boyfriend topic? CEO Su, can’t you come up with something new?”
“He Jingmo!” Su Xiyan was flushed red with anger, “Are you here to take care of me? I think you’re here to pick a fight! Go, go, go, get out! I don’t need you here.”
“What do you mean?” He Jingmo looked at Su Xiyan with a cold face, her tone low, as if she were truly angry. She had taught for a whole day, rushed home, and then dragged her exhausted body to buy groceries and cook, just so Su Xiyan’s dilapidated stomach could feel better. But what did the other person do? Came back half-drunk, and as soon as she was back, she started provoking, seeking trouble, and showing off her legs. In the end, the blame was dumped on her head again? Everything was her fault now?
Getting up, He Jingmo grabbed the bag on the table and headed out. This time, Su Xiyan was dumbfounded, sitting on the sofa watching her, unsure whether to stay or go, until the door was heavily slammed shut. Only then did she lick her lips and mutter to herself in confusion, “Why is she so quick to anger today? We used to fight like this before. Is it menopause…”
The first day of their cohabitation ended in a huge fight. Su Nan, hearing the news in Bali, held his phone, tears streaming down his face, “Wife, my sister and your sister—these two sisters have started fighting again.”
Su Xiyan clearly hadn’t anticipated that He Jingmo was truly a woman of her word; when told to leave, she really didn’t come back.
Three days later, Su Xiyan was getting restless, a fiery anxiety building up inside her. She knew she was in the wrong, but people always needed to save face; she couldn’t just bow her head like that. How could she hold her own later? But it couldn’t go on like this. On the fourth day, after finishing work, Su Xiyan drove herself to the university. She parked her car nearby, put on sunglasses, got out, and stealthily looked around. Coming like this… was it a bit embarrassing?
“What are you doing?”
The gate guard, an elderly man wearing a red armband, came out, looking at Su Xiyan alertly. He had seen this woman since early morning. She drove a flashy red BMW and dressed flashily herself. A black tight-fitting dress, ten-centimeter high heels, long hair draped over her shoulders, and a visible cleavage—it made the old man frown. This was a campus; where did this glamorous, flashy vixen come from?
“Grandpa Zhang, it’s me, Xiyan.” Su Xiyan took off her sunglasses, looking at Grandpa Zhang with a slight excitement. Grandpa Zhang stared at her, a little stunned, “Xiyan?”
“Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. How are you? Do you still love candy? Have all your teeth fallen out?” After saying this, Su Xiyan bent over and laughed to herself, completely without restraint. Grandpa Zhang, who had been fierce moments ago, blushed, his eyes sparkling, “Girl, how did you become so—”
“I became prettier, right?” Seeing Grandpa Zhang’s hesitation, Su Xiyan answered for him. Grandpa Zhang coughed and didn’t speak. In fact, he wanted to say ‘how did you become so improper?’
“Did you come to see Jingmo? Alas, you’re such a girl, why didn’t you come back to the school for so long?”
“I didn’t come to see her, hehe. Who would look for her for no reason? I’m just missing the flowers and trees of the school. Alright, Grandpa, you go eat your candy, I’ll go take a walk around the academic building myself.” Su Xiyan waved him off. Grandpa Zhang smiled helplessly. This child’s flamboyant and straightforward personality hadn’t changed at all.
Perhaps seeing a familiar face relaxed Su Xiyan’s nerves. Her steps were no longer so awkward. Holding her sunglasses in one hand, she held her head high and strode with a confident pace. The students who had just finished class all turned to look at her. Su Xiyan waved dismissively, feeling very happy inside. How about that, kids? Isn’t your Xuejie (older female student/alumna) beautiful?
While Su Xiyan was preening, He Jingmo, sitting in the office, stood by the window, silently looking out.
“Jingmo, what are you looking at?” A tall beautiful woman beside her walked over, curiously following her gaze outside.
“Xiyan?”
He Jingmo turned around and sighed, “Yes. Besides her, who else parks with the rear wheel always on the curb?”
“Heh, look how happy she is, her mouth is grinning up to her ears.”
“Yuhan…” He Jingmo looked gloomily at the woman in front of her. She and the equally beautiful Xiao Yuhan had graduated from the same school, but one year apart. Of course, this did not affect Su Xiyan’s reputation at all. Su Xiyan was a popular figure in college, always doing her own thing, and her favorite activity was singing folk songs by the small river on campus at night to train her voice. Over time, the young couples who used to have romantic dates by the river all dispersed. For this, the school even gave her the title of “Outstanding Administrator” back then.
“…But, Jingmo, why is she going to the academic building? Isn’t class over now? Did she really graduate from here?”
Xiao Yuhan watched the person outside, suppressing a laugh. He Jingmo couldn’t watch anymore. She shook her head and walked out, “I’m going to see her, so she doesn’t frighten the students.”
“Heh, you two.” Xiao Yuhan smiled. These two happy-go-lucky enemies, still sparring at this age, it’s truly remarkable.
After reaching downstairs and seeing Su Xiyan chatting up a male student to gather information, He Jingmo truly felt she had overestimated her memory.
“Are you an idiot? Don’t you know class is over now?”
Su Xiyan ignored her, smiling and waving to the young student, “Bye-bye, little handsome guy. The person I was looking for is here.”
The boy looked at He Jingmo with a slight panic, “Director He.” He only called out once before scurrying away, as if he had seen a thief. Only then did Su Xiyan turn her head, grinning at He Jingmo, “Why are you shouting? Don’t you know how many classes I used to take? If this were college, I’d be taking a nap right now!”
“…And you think you’re right?” Su Xiyan gave He Jingmo a headache. While the two were at a deadlock, Xiao Yuhan walked out and smiled at Su Xiyan, “Xiyan, you’re here. You’ve gotten even prettier.”
“See? Same people, how can the standard be so different.” With this sentence, Su Xiyan’s ego soared. Of course, she didn’t forget to return the compliment, “Yuhan, you’re not bad either. You’ve grown even more shapely.”
“…”
Xiao Yuhan fell silent, rolling her eyes at Su Xiyan, “Your mouth! I have things to do, I’ll go first, you two chat.”
Only after staring until Xiao Yuhan’s back disappeared did Su Xiyan turn back to He Jingmo with a sense of lingering enjoyment, “Sigh, the wife who endures becomes the mother! Yuhan also has such a carefree day. Look how radiant she is, nourished by love.”
“You know too much. What are you doing at the school?” He Jingmo still didn’t give Su Xiyan a friendly look. She hadn’t forgotten who had viciously chased her away that night. She had stood downstairs for a full half hour, and Su Xiyan hadn’t even come out. This matter absolutely could not be let go!
“I came back to see the lovely flowers of the school.” Su Xiyan chuckled awkwardly, a little embarrassed.
He Jingmo glanced at her, “Is that so? Then you can leave after you’ve seen them.” After saying that, she turned to walk away. Su Xiyan quickly stepped forward and grabbed her, “Don’t go! Why such a big temper? I have something serious to talk to you about.”