Chapter 350: Chapter 350: Minimal Damage, Maximum Insult
The research institute was huge, with recreation areas and lounges that were all common spaces.
Everyone who worked at the institute, even the cooks and janitors, had to have a politically impeccable background to be qualified for the job.
They rarely left the institute’s gates all year round, much like the system in the military.
This was especially true once you entered a research lab, where freedom was even more restricted. Su Shuochi was already having second thoughts.
But he kept his thoughts to himself. He wanted to go home and discuss it with his wife before making a decision.
He hadn’t realized being a researcher was so tough. If Su Shuochi hadn’t met Gu Jiaojiao, he might not have minded a work environment like this.
"Director Xiao, thank you for showing me around all morning. I’d like to go home for lunch now."
"Comrade Su, why don’t you have lunch here?" ’It must be inconvenient for you, being in a wheelchair,’ Xiao Zhenyu thought, but couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.
"Thank you, but my wife has already made lunch at home." As Su Shuochi spoke, his eyes softened, and a gentle smile spread across his face.
Xiao Zhenyu: ... ’His wife must be wonderful!’
"Comrade Su, your file says you still hold a military rank. Most men who have served in the army are outgoing, sincere, and warm."
Xiao Zhenyu asked probingly, slightly regretting that he hadn’t read Su Shuochi’s file more carefully.
Su Shuochi replied casually, "Am I not outgoing, sincere, and warm enough for you?"
In reality, he hadn’t always been like this. Even before his injury, he wasn’t a man of many words.
"Comrade Su, you are indeed outgoing. I also spent many years in the military."
What Xiao Zhenyu didn’t say was that there were also many aloof and cold personalities in the army.
Those aloof types usually ended up climbing to high positions, like his third brother, Xiao Yue, the Mu Ziquan he knew, and the Su Shuochi he had just met.
When he first met Su Shuochi, he too had a cold and distant air about him, as if keeping everyone at arm’s length. It was only when he spoke of his wife that he seemed to glow with a gentle light.
Though their personalities were cold, they were good-hearted and considerate of their comrades’ feelings.
Before his injury, Mu Ziquan was merely cold on the outside, his demeanor frosty, but he was emotionally stable.
It was said that after his injury, he became completely inscrutable and would often fly into rages, as if he were a man without feelings.
Because of the relationship between their two families, Xiao Zhenyu had once visited Mu Ziquan after his injury. He had been so utterly dejected.
He had been especially shocked by the look in Mu Ziquan’s eyes. It was like a sharp knife, brutally churning inside his old heart.
It had left him trembling all over, and he couldn’t shake the feeling for a long time.
Xiao Zhenyu looked at Su Shuochi, who was also in a wheelchair, and marveled at how unexpectedly sunny and talkative he was.
Especially when he talked about his wife, he was all smiles—not at all reserved or subtle about it. He probably wished the whole world knew how much he loved his wife.
At that moment, Xiao Zhenyu found himself very curious. What kind of woman could make a man in a wheelchair so confident and motivated?
If only Mu Ziquan could also meet such a soulmate, would he be able to escape his suffering?
His daughter had been infatuated with Mu Ziquan for years. Before his injury, there had been some hope, but ever since, he had kept Yanzi at a great distance...
Su Shuochi was still lost in happy thoughts, wondering if he should buy groceries on the way home to cook for their guests.
He glanced at his watch. His wife would surely take vegetables from her space to cook, so he paid no mind to Xiao Zhenyu’s scrutiny.
"Let’s call it a day for now. I’m going home to eat."
"Comrade Su, would you like to come into the lab and meet everyone?" Xiao Zhenyu said, trying to get Su Shuochi to stay.
He was afraid Su Shuochi would leave and never return, though he didn’t know where this strange feeling came from.
"No, maybe next time. We have guests at home today, and I want to have a meal with them. Tomorrow is my wife’s first day of school, and I have to take her."
"Alright then, Comrade Su. But you must come tomorrow after you take your wife to school."
Su Shuochi: ... ’I don’t even know if I’ll come back.’
He would rather return to the army than work at the research institute, but he wouldn’t tell Xiao Zhenyu that.
"We’ll see about tomorrow. I’m leaving now."
"Let me see you out." Xiao Zhenyu was truly reluctant to let such a talent go.
"Dad, who are you pushing?" Xiao Jiyan was a recent graduate who had been assigned a clerical job at the institute through connections.
She had seen her father pushing a wheelchair from a distance and thought it was Ziquan, the man who was always on her mind.
When she ran closer, she saw it wasn’t him. But she was already standing near her father, so she greeted them disappointedly.
"Yanzi, you’re just in time. This is Comrade Su. Could you do Dad a favor and take him home?"
Xiao Zhenyu said excitedly, thinking, ’This is perfect! If Yanzi can use this chance to get to know Comrade Su’s wife and pick up some tips, that would be wonderful!’
"Comrade Su, do you need me to take you home?" Xiao Jiyan asked flatly, not understanding why her father was so excited.
’My dad isn’t trying to set me up with someone, is he? But I don’t want to get involved with any other men.’
"I don’t need an escort. Thank you for the kind offer, Director Xiao. Just seeing me to the main gate is fine. My friend is waiting for me outside."
In truth, Su Shuochi wasn’t sure if Geng Haoyi would still be waiting for him.
But he really didn’t want to get too close to another woman. It might cause his wife to misunderstand.
"Yanzi, Comrade Su’s situation is similar to Ziquan’s. He was also injured during a mission. His wife has had a huge influence on him, so Dad wanted you to get to know her."
"Thanks, Dad, but he doesn’t seem to want me near him. Ziquan doesn’t want to see me either!"
Xiao Zhenyu and his daughter were whispering to each other, thinking Su Shuochi couldn’t hear them.
In fact, Su Shuochi heard every word clearly. His hearing had become superhuman after drinking from the Spiritual Spring.
’So, this woman likes Mu Ziquan. In that case, maybe I should let her take me home. It’s a perfect chance for her to see him.’
"Comrade Xiao, you want to see Mu Ziquan? He and his grandfather happen to be at my house today. Why don’t you come over for a meal too?"
"Ah, Ziquan is at your house?" Xiao Jiyan exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes."
"You liar! My Ziquan hasn’t left the Mu Family’s home in two years."
"What do I gain by lying to you? I’m already married, and my wife is prettier than you. If you don’t want to go, fine."
Xiao Jiyan: ...
The man’s words weren’t exactly hurtful, but they were incredibly insulting. She said nothing, just stared at him in silence.
’This man is very handsome; he has every right to be arrogant. He’s not the least bit inferior to my Ziquan.’
’His attitude toward her was a bit cold, but the sincerity he exuded was undeniable.’
"Who said I’m not going? I was just worried your wife would get jealous if she saw you bringing a strange woman home."
"You... aren’t enough to make her jealous," Su Shuochi said, deadpan. Even a fool could see he was serious.
Xiao Jiyan’s beautiful eyes widened. She wanted to turn and walk away, but now she was starting to believe that her Ziquan really was at his house.
’Is it possible? Ziquan hasn’t stepped out of his house in two years!’
