Hello, Comrade. I'm Here to Marry You!

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Don’t Move Around

The girl’s eyes sparkled, her gaze reflecting his very image.

She truly didn’t know the meaning of the word "shy."

"Stop talking nonsense." Xie Huaizheng’s thin lips formed a tight line, his gaze fixed on Su Zhaozhao with a sharp edge.

"Just admit you’re shy. I’m not going to laugh at you." Su Zhaozhao couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch Xie Huaizheng’s cheek.

Xie Huaizheng swiftly dodged her hand.

Just then, Wen Xiaoqi and Zhou Chengguo also got into the car.

Xie Huaizheng said, "Don’t fidget. Sit still."

Su Zhaozhao obediently sat still, but she couldn’t help but complain, "You’re so stingy. When you pinched my cheek before, I let you. Now that it’s my turn, you won’t let me."

"That’s because you couldn’t dodge, and I could. It all comes down to skill," Xie Huaizheng scoffed, starting the car.

Su Zhaozhao hadn’t expected Xie Huaizheng to be so childish. But then she remembered he had just returned from a mission and hadn’t even had a proper rest, and now he had to accompany her to do something like this.

’Oh well,’ Su Zhaozhao thought. ’I’ll let him have this one.’

They went to the state-owned restaurant, and Su Zhaozhao was in charge of ordering the food.

She was quite wealthy now. Although the dishes at the state-owned restaurant were rather expensive, it was nothing to Su Zhaozhao.

She ordered the restaurant’s signature dishes: braised pork belly, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, stir-fried mutton with scallions, and a plate of green vegetables.

When Su Zhaozhao finished ordering, Wen Xiaoqi was stunned. She immediately said, "No, no! We’d be fine with just a simple meat and vegetable stir-fry. Zhaozhao, what you ordered is too expensive."

"It’s fine, I have money," Su Zhaozhao said.

’Her hard work these past few days wasn’t for nothing. What’s the point of earning money if you don’t spend it on good food and drinks? That’s what makes it all worthwhile.’

Wen Xiaoqi looked at Su Zhaozhao. "Wow, you really are rich."

Su Zhaozhao nodded. "That’s why it’s important for a woman to have her own money. Look, you can go out and eat whatever you want. How great is that?"

Hearing this, Wen Xiaoqi had a sudden realization.

She watched as the restaurant staff spoke to Su Zhaozhao with great courtesy, asking her when to serve the dishes and when to bring the rice, rather than asking the man beside her.

’Is this what it feels like to have money?’

Xie Huaizheng was also staring at Su Zhaozhao. "It’s only been a few days. How did you get so rich?"

Su Zhaozhao waved her hand dismissively. "I’ve always been rich."

At that, she leaned close to Xie Huaizheng’s ear and whispered, "I took my family’s money when I left home."

Xie Huaizheng’s eyes narrowed. ’This little liar is also a little thief.’

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll turn around and haul you off to the Public Security Bureau?"

Hearing the teasing tone in Xie Huaizheng’s voice, Su Zhaozhao immediately waved her hands. "No way! I took what belongs to my family. How can you call that stealing?"

’She’s quite the sophist.’

Compared to the other two, Wen Xiaoqi and Zhou Chengguo were much quieter.

Wen Xiaoqi looked at Zhou Chengguo, wanting to speak several times, but the words always died on her lips, seemingly held back by fear.

Su Zhaozhao waited for a moment. Seeing that Wen Xiaoqi still hadn’t spoken, she said, "Qiaoqi, if you have something to say to him, just say it."

"I..." Prodded by Su Zhaozhao, Wen Xiaoqi finally spoke. "Why did you stop writing to me? Why won’t you see me?"

"Wen Xiaoqi, I know our families arranged an engagement before, but that’s all in the past now. I’m here, and I’ve already met a girl I like," Zhou Chengguo said.

The color instantly drained from Wen Xiaoqi’s face.

Even though she had long known there would be no happy ending, hearing Zhou Chengguo actually say the words still broke her heart.

Tears quickly welled in her eyes. "Why? You promised me. You promised my parents you would marry me."

"I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped. I didn’t know I would fall for another girl. Qiaoqi, you’re still young, you have so many other choices..." Zhou Chengguo said, his own face pale as he tried to console Wen Xiaoqi.

Su Zhaozhao listened to them, seeing the stubborn resolve in Zhou Chengguo’s eyes.

From the moment she first saw Zhou Chengguo, Su Zhaozhao knew he was a man with his own opinions and ideas.

Once he made a decision, he wouldn’t easily go back on it.

Su Zhaozhao knew Wen Xiaoqi couldn’t win this man’s heart back.

Still, she was determined to let Wen Xiaoqi and Zhou Chengguo talk things through properly.

The food arrived quickly. Su Zhaozhao put a large piece of braised pork belly into Wen Xiaoqi’s bowl. "Qiaoqi, eat up."

Wen Xiaoqi normally loved braised pork belly, but right now, looking at the meat, she had no appetite whatsoever.

She didn’t want to eat or even move.

Su Zhaozhao kept trying to persuade her. "Go on, eat. I paid for it. If you don’t eat, my heart will break over the wasted money."

Wen Xiaoqi heard Su Zhaozhao’s words and, after a moment’s thought, had to agree she had a point.

In the end, she took a bite of the braised pork.

The tender, slow-cooked meat, coated in rich sauce, went into her mouth along with some rice. In that instant, Wen Xiaoqi felt as if she had come back to life.

Her gloomy mood seemed to lessen after having something to eat; the sadness didn’t feel quite so overwhelming anymore.

Seeing Wen Xiaoqi finally eat, Su Zhaozhao relaxed a bit. She then put a piece of meat into Xie Huaizheng’s bowl. "You eat more, too. Look how much weight you’ve lost these past few days."

’It’s true,’ she thought. ’Even though Xie Huaizheng seems so tough, he’s still human. He’s not made of steel.’

There was a hint of exhaustion on his face.

She added some sweet and sour pork tenderloin to his bowl, piling it high.

"Alright, that’s enough. I have my own hands," Xie Huaizheng said, holding up his bowl to stop Su Zhaozhao from adding any more food.

"So shy," Su Zhaozhao said, the corners of her lips curling into a smile.

She didn’t let up on her teasing, even in front of everyone.

Xie Huaizheng’s mouth twitched. ’I’m really curious, just how did the Su Family raise their daughter?’

’How did she become so shameless?’

The next moment, Su Zhaozhao’s gaze fell on Zhou Chengguo. "I won’t serve you, Comrade Zhou Chengguo. Please, feel free to help yourself."

"I know," said Zhou Chengguo.

He looked a little embarrassed.

’I don’t know who this Su Zhaozhao is, but she’s so close with Xie Huaizheng. She must be his girlfriend, right?’

’So how does she know Wen Xiaoqi?’

As the four of them ate together, the atmosphere was at least less tense than it had been.

Su Zhaozhao kept the conversation going, asking Wen Xiaoqi if the food was good, how her last few days had been, and if she was scared being all alone.

Wen Xiaoqi answered all her questions.

Zhou Chengguo listened in silence. He suddenly realized that he knew far less about Wen Xiaoqi than Su Zhaozhao did, even though she had only just met her.

He hadn’t cared enough to ask.

And yet, they had grown up together.

Now, he had to deliberately distance himself from her.

He truly was a terrible person.