“Fall for appearances?” Jiang Xiaobai snickered and continued, “It looks like you taught your son well. You’ve met such a worthy person, but you don’t know how to treat her right. What are you thinking? Your son was able to marry a good woman despite having no charms, capabilities, and not even being able to put down money for the house. Is that what they call just a pretty face?”
Xiao Su, who was silent the whole time, slowly began to frown. When Jiang Xiaobai leaned in closer earlier, he almost wanted to stop her. But then the conversation between the two people started to heat up. Since that lady scrutinized the scar on my face and probed about it, it seems like Jiang Xiaobai has become unfriendly. He suddenly felt his heart twitch and he looked down at her. Is she… defending me? Because of the scar?
He felt puzzled as he looked at her. Even though they seemed to be quite close now, they were only pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend at the moment. So, even if he was being judged by someone else, she could have just ignored it, and he would not have minded either. But, she defended him and this managed to move his stone-cold heart. Who knew that other than being shameless, she is also kind-hearted?
Acting upon his thoughts, he grasped her shoulder and stared at her intently. “A pretty face?” He smiled. “Are there still men who rely on women to survive these days?’
Jiang Xiaobai was slightly taken aback when he grasped her shoulder. But she quickly reacted when he spoke and nodded with a cheerful smile on her face. “Of course. You’ve just been so busy working that you don’t know much about this society we live in. There are tons of househusbands out there who rely on their wives for their livelihoods, but take their wives for granted at the same time. Not only that, but they also depend on their parents, have a bad temper, and even like to hit their wives for no apparent reason.” After she finished speaking, she snuggled herself in his embrace pitifully and looked at him with her puppy eyes. “My dear, you won’t be like those men, right?”
Since we already started this act, we might as well do it properly. Xiao Su smiled then lowered his head to meet her eyes. “Certainly not. You have to trust your own judgments.”
The moment their eyes met, Jiang Xiaobai felt like her heart had stopped and she became slightly flustered. She quickly recovered and nodded with a smile. “Of course. I’m not blind. I don’t want those mama boys who hit their wives while depending on their wives for income!”
They were bouncing off each other as though Madam Xu was not there at all. Madam Xu got so furious that she was speechless. She clenched her jaw as she glared at the both of them. The rest of the people in the elevator just stared at one another as they watched that scene play out. The neighbors there all knew each other, so they naturally huddled together after seeing Jiang Xiaobai and Xiao Su being lovey-dovey with each other.
“Xiaobai is right. Househusbands who hit their wives are the worst. They don’t make any money but still abuse their wives. Anyone who marries a man like that is so unfortunate.”
“Xiaobai. Your boyfriend seems pretty decent. He’s tall, slender, and looks like a good person too. What does he do?”
“Xiaobai, Xiaobai. I can’t believe you have a boyfriend now. When did you start dating? You’ve always been by yourself, so we thought you’d never date anyone at this point.”
As they were trying to feed their curiosity, the elevator arrived at Jiang Xiaobai’s floor. She quickly dragged Xiao Su out with her and let out a small laugh. “Well, I’ve reached home now. We’ll talk next time.”
Madam Xu got off with them. Because of what happened in the elevator, though, Madam Xu looked at them with an unhappy look then stormed off into her own home. Once she was gone, Jiang Xiaobai was going to let go of Xiao Su’s arm, but quickly grasped onto it again as she remembered something. “We have to go in now. Are you ready?”
That was the first time Xiao Su had been so close to a woman. He was not too used to it, but he already made her a promise so he just had to bear with it. “Mm,” he replied in a deep tone.
She looked at him carefully. Upon seeing the scar on his face, she was about to say something but decided not to in the end. Never mind. Mother probably isn’t as malicious as Madam Xu to pick on other people’s scars. I don’t think I have to say anything beforehand.
With that, she moved forward to press the doorbell. Shortly after, the door opened. Mrs. Jiang stood there and looked at the both of them warily. Jiang Xiaobai smiled sweetly and called, “Mom!”
However, Mrs. Jiang did not look at her. She kept her gaze fixed on Xiao Su and observed him. Xiao Su was indifferent as he greeted her, “Hello, Madam.”
She continued to observe him then squinted. “Are you Xiaobai’s boyfriend?”
He nodded. Without any haste, he handed over the gift that was in his hands. “A small gift to commemorate our first meeting.”
Mrs. Jiang did not receive the gift as she kept staring at him. When she saw the scar on his face, her lips moved slightly but she did not say anything. Jiang Xiaobai feared that Mrs. Jiang would say something, so she quickly took the gift in Xiao Su’s hands and said, “Mom, why are you being like this? Weren’t you the one who always pestered me to bring a boyfriend home? Now that he’s here, can you be a bit nicer and not this strict?”
Mrs. Jiang glared at Jiang Xiaobai. “How am I to know that you didn’t just pick this man off the streets to bring him here today? Did you guys discuss this beforehand?”
“Mom, if you keep saying that, I might end up losing a boyfriend.”
At that, Mrs. Jiang stepped aside and said impatiently, “Come in.”
“Let’s go.” Jiang Xiaobai hurriedly pulled Xiao Su’s hand inside with an extremely nervous look on her face.
Once they entered the living room and sat down, Mrs. Jiang did not start up a conversation and just looked at Jiang Xiaobai. “Cut up some fruits in the kitchen to serve.”
Cut up some fruits? Jiang Xiaobai blinked a few times. “Cut some fruits now? I don’t think it’s a good time.”
“What are you rambling about? If I tell you to go, then just go.”
I don’t want to leave. I know Mom is purposely trying to get rid of me to test Xiao Su out or say something to him. Jiang Xiaobai did not want to go. She feared that Xiao Su would let the cat out of the bag if she was not there. Even though he was earnest earlier, he wouldn’t fool an elder for my sake. What if he isn’t able to hold it in once I leave?
Jiang Xiaobai shook her head firmly. “I don’t want to eat fruits.”
Mrs. Jiang was furious. She slapped the back of her daughter’s head and hurled, “I want to eat it, okay? Are you not going?”
Jiang Xiaobai was left speechless, while Xiao Su smiled. “You should go, Xiaobai.”
