When dealing with a steel-straight man, the fastest way is to be direct.
Shen Ran decided to try again.
Imitating the seductive gestures she’d seen on TV, she wrapped a strand of hair around her finger and slowly twirled it.
“Husband, there’s nothing wrong with my eyes.”
Her voice was soft and intimate, almost tingling.
Qin Lie frowned, about to respond—
But Shen Ran suddenly leaned closer.
A sweet fragrance rushed toward him.
Her almond-shaped eyes were right in front of his face, amber pupils shimmering with moisture. The small tear mole at the corner of her eye flickered in and out of sight as her lashes fluttered.
“Don’t you think my eyes are pretty? Look closely.”
The little “hmm?” at the end carried a teasing, coquettish tone.
For some reason, Qin Lie suddenly felt his throat go dry, as if he had swallowed burning cotton.
His gaze was drawn uncontrollably to that tiny tear mole near her eye. He even felt an inexplicable urge to reach out and touch it.
“Meow—”
A stray cat suddenly cried out from somewhere.
Qin Lie snapped back to his senses.
He shoved Shen Ran away and said with obvious disgust,
“Shen Ran, stay away from me. Don’t get so close!”
Shen Ran staggered backward, nearly falling.
“You could’ve just talked! Why did you push me?!”
She was getting annoyed too.
What good was being handsome if he was as stiff as a block of iron?
Forget it.
Qin Lie’s dislike for the original Shen Ran ran deep in his bones. It wouldn’t change overnight.
There was no point embarrassing herself.
Shen Ran turned to go inside the gate, but Qin Lie suddenly stretched out his arm and blocked her path.
His tall figure cast a shadow over her as he spoke coldly:
“Wait. Did you cause trouble again? I heard from your sister that you stole a jade bracelet.”
Shen Ran suddenly laughed.
“So you ran all the way from the army just to question me about that?”
That troublemaker Shen Yunrou—after the matter had already been investigated, she still called the army to complain to Qin Lie.
Since she failed to embarrass Shen Ran herself, she deliberately dragged Qin Lie into it.
Qin Lie frowned.
“You’re still laughing? You made a mistake and you don’t feel the slightest bit of remorse?”
He truly regretted marrying her.
Not only had she turned his life into chaos, but she also caused trouble everywhere she went.
“Why can’t I laugh? Laughing is my freedom.”
Shen Ran’s face finally turned cold.
She wasn’t actually someone who chased looks.
It was just that Qin Lie’s face happened to be exactly her type—and he was her husband—so she couldn’t resist teasing him a little.
Turns out she was foolish.
“Qin Lie, you don’t even know the full story. Someone says a few words and you come running to interrogate me. Don’t you think that’s inappropriate?”
Yes, the original owner had done plenty of bad things before.
But that was before.
She had only transmigrated today and hadn’t caused any trouble.
Why should she be treated like this?
“Hmph. Stop making excuses. Since we got married, when have you ever done anything that didn’t cause trouble?!”
Qin Lie’s expression was icy.
Shen Ran immediately realized explaining would be useless.
So she grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the courtyard.
“If you don’t believe me, then let’s confront Shen Yunrou directly!”
Those tragic misunderstanding plots from romance novels didn’t work on her.
She had a mouth and hands—she refused to suffer even the slightest injustice.
At first Qin Lie didn’t react, but after a few steps he shook her hand off.
“Let go. I can walk myself.”
Shen Ran: …
He really did hate her that much.
Just as they stepped into the courtyard, Shen Yunrou appeared with a gentle smile.
“Brother-in-law, you’re here! It’s been so long since you visited our house. I thought—”
Before she could finish—
Shen Ran rushed forward and smack! smack! slapped her twice across the face.
Two bright red handprints instantly appeared on Shen Yunrou’s fair cheeks.
Holding her face with teary eyes, she asked pitifully,
“Sister, why did you hit me? What did I do wrong?”
The veins on Qin Lie’s forehead throbbed.
“Shen Ran! Why can’t you change your bad habits? You even hit your sister—apologize to her!”
“Apologize? Why should I apologize? Shouldn’t you first ask what she did?”
Shen Ran crossed her arms, her beautiful features now cold.
Qin Lie frowned.
“No matter what she did, that doesn’t justify hitting someone. Apologize now!”
Shen Ran lifted her chin.
“I won’t apologize. What—are you going to hit me?”
Qin Lie clenched his teeth and glared at her. His fists tightened, but he didn’t move.
Shen Ran knew Qin Lie had decent character.
Aside from his harsh words, he had never hit the original Shen Ran.
Shen Yunrou’s eyes flickered before she spoke hypocritically:
“Oh dear, sister, brother-in-law, please don’t argue because of me—”
Smack!
Shen Ran slapped her again.
“Shut up!
Shen Yunrou, you incited your best friend to call the police and accuse me of stealing the jade bracelet today. I haven’t even settled that score with you yet.
And now you called Qin Lie to smear me in front of him. Do you really think I’m easy to bully?”
Shen Yunrou covered her face again.
“Sister… I didn’t…”
“You didn’t?” Shen Ran interrupted coldly.
“If you hadn’t said something, would Qin Lie abandon his training and rush all the way from the army just to question me?”
Qin Lie opened his mouth to speak.
Shen Ran shot him a glare.
“You be quiet and let me finish!”
Qin Lie: …
How had this woman become even more terrifying after not seeing her for a while?
Shen Ran turned back to Shen Yunrou.
“Shen Yunrou, the police already investigated everything today.
Mom admitted she accidentally broke the bracelet and put it in her own room. Everyone saw it.
So why did you call Qin Lie and tell him about it?”
Qin Lie suddenly lifted his head, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
Had he really misunderstood Shen Ran?
Shen Yunrou bit her lip, looking pitiful.
“Sister… I didn’t mean to.
I just missed my husband Ziming and called brother-in-law to ask if he knew when Ziming would return.
And then… I casually mentioned it.”
Shen Ran snorted.
“Shen Yunrou, who do you think believes that?
You and Fu Ziming have been childhood sweethearts for over ten years and married for two. He’s been in the army all this time—don’t you understand how the military works?
When someone goes on a mission, do they tell others the exact time they’ll leave?”
Qin Lie’s gaze darkened.
A flash of panic crossed Shen Yunrou’s eyes.
“I… I just asked roughly… nothing else…”
Damn it. What was wrong with Shen Ran today?
Normally she exploded like a firecracker at the slightest provocation.
Today she was calm and logical.
Usually a little push from her would make Shen Ran fight with Qin Lie until they parted on bad terms.
But today not only were they not fighting—
they had turned their attention toward her.
This couldn’t continue.
“Brother-in-law, I’m really sorry. Maybe I didn’t explain clearly and caused a misunderstanding. The bracelet incident really had nothing to do with sister.”
Shen Yunrou had charming peach-blossom eyes that always looked affectionate.
It was her specialty—an irresistible weapon when dealing with men.
Anyone who saw those eyes usually softened their tone.
Unfortunately—
Qin Lie wasn’t affected.
“Comrade Shen Yunrou, please don’t speak half-truths in the future and cause misunderstandings.
Also, we’re not that close. You should call me Comrade Qin from now on.
And lastly—you apologized to the wrong person.
The one you should apologize to is your sister.”
Shen Yunrou froze.
The smile on her lips stiffened for a moment before she slowly nodded.
“You’re right, Comrade Qin.”
She turned toward Shen Ran, biting her lip.
“Sister… I’m sorry.”
Apologizing to Shen Ran twice in one day and receiving three slaps—
She would remember this humiliation.
One day, she would make Shen Ran repay it with interest.