As soon as those words left her mouth, Qiu Chengyue shot her a sharp look.
His eyes were as piercing as knives.
But Shen Shuyue wasn’t afraid of him.
Sitting down on the sofa, she continued, “You really do have a handsome face.”
“Your little childhood sweetheart likes you, and Aunt Zhang likes you too.”
“I’d guess Zhao Pandi probably likes you as well.”
“But they only dare to like you secretly. None of them have the guts to say it out loud.”
“I’m different…”
As she said that, Shen Shuyue looked into Qiu Chengyue’s eyes, her gaze becoming even more seductive.
Qiu Chengyue said, “Stop talking.”
Whenever she spoke, his eyes couldn’t help drifting toward her rosy, moist lips.
His throat grew dry as well.
He had the sudden urge to rush over and bite those lips a few times.
Unfortunately, Shen Shuyue was the kind of woman who simply refused to behave.
The more Qiu Chengyue told her not to speak, the more she wanted to talk.
“Why won’t you let me talk?”
“Me? When I take a man I like, I usually prefer to do something practical.”
With that, Shen Shuyue gave him a pointed look.
Qiu Chengyue: “…”
If he kept listening to Shen Shuyue talk, he was afraid he might do something he couldn’t control.
He glanced at her again before carrying the food he’d brought back from the clinic over to the dining table. He sat down and started eating.
Shen Shuyue had been about to tease him some more, but when she turned around and saw Qiu Chengyue sitting there eating, her heart skipped a beat.
Wait a minute…
That food was what she’d left over at the clinic.
Qiu Chengyue was actually eating it?
“Qiu Chengyue…”
“Are you out of money?”
Shen Shuyue finally showed a little conscience.
She was actually starting to worry about Qiu Chengyue.
Qiu Chengyue: “?”
Shen Shuyue pointed at the lunchbox in front of him.
“That rice is what I didn’t finish.”
“Why are you eating it? Are you so short of money that you can’t afford a meal?”
Last time, Qiu Chengyue had given her his entire allowance.
Shen Shuyue figured he must have run out of money.
Otherwise, why would he be eating her leftovers?
Qiu Chengyue was so exasperated that he actually laughed.
It was the first time Shen Shuyue had ever seen him smile, and she was a little surprised.
He looked rather gentle when he smiled.
Much better than when he had that stern expression on his face.
“I’m not so poor that I can’t afford a meal.”
It was only after a while that Qiu Chengyue finally spoke.
Shen Shuyue: “…”
If he had money, why was he eating her leftovers?
Qiu Chengyue didn’t bother explaining any further.
He ate very quickly.
The food he’d brought back from the clinic was soon gone.
He didn’t drink the chicken soup. Instead, he took it into the kitchen and reheated it, saving it for Shen Shuyue to drink that evening.
He had just finished cleaning up when someone knocked on the door.
It was several women from the family compound.
Zhao Pandi and Aunt Zhang were among them.
Each of them was carrying something, apparently coming to check on Shen Shuyue.
“Hello, Battalion Commander Qiu.”
“Battalion Commander Qiu, have you eaten?”
“Well, we’re here to see Comrade Shen Shuyue. We heard she was injured, so we brought some things over.”
“Comrade Shen Shuyue, are you feeling better?”
“That injury on your leg looks pretty serious. When will it heal?”
“How did this happen? It really makes our hearts ache to see you like this.”
Shen Shuyue: “…”
Once the women came inside, they chattered away nonstop.
Qiu Chengyue ignored them, and Shen Shuyue did the same.
The women looked around Shen Shuyue’s home.
All the furniture was top quality.
The sofa, electric fan, dining table, coffee table…
These were all things they didn’t have in their own homes.
So furniture could actually be this beautiful.
A home could be decorated this beautifully too.
Looking at all those expensive things, the women’s faces were filled with curiosity and envy.
Everything was so nice.
Really nice stuff.
Finally, one of the women said, “Well, Comrade Shen Shuyue, actually, there’s something we wanted to ask you about. The supplies you donated to the army… would some of them be distributed among the families in the compound?”
“Prices outside have been rising incredibly fast lately. But that’s not even the main issue. The main problem is that the pork and chicken sold outside don’t feel safe to eat.”
“We sisters who have lived here in the family compound for years don’t really have much income. If we could get a share of the food too—things like chicken, duck, fish, and meat—it would really help us through this difficult time.”
These were words Zhao Pandi and Aunt Zhang had taught this particular woman to say.
She had never had a direct conflict with Shen Shuyue.
But normally, she didn’t like Shen Shuyue very much.
All the women in the compound had more or less similar circumstances. What they ate and wore was roughly the same.
Only Shen Shuyue came from a wealthy family and always had the best food and the nicest things.
They had grown accustomed to living hard lives. Naturally, seeing another woman living so comfortably made them jealous.
This time, they had come to Shen Shuyue because they simply couldn’t wait any longer.
They’d heard that the soldiers’ meals were especially good, with chicken, duck, fish, and meat.
There had even been seafood for lunch.
If they didn’t come now and all the supplies Shen Shuyue had donated were eaten up, the women in the family compound would have no chance of getting any of those good things.
Shen Shuyue found the whole thing amusing.
“Give them to the families here? I never said I was going to distribute them among the family compound.”
“The soldiers who went to the front lines for earthquake relief risked their lives to keep ordinary people safe. They finally made it back, so I donated some good food to the army so they could eat well and recover their strength. And you want to compete with them for it?”
“There are so many people in the army. Those supplies aren’t even enough for them to eat more than a few meals.”
“You have food and drink here in the family compound, yet you’re still not satisfied? Now you want to covet their rations too?”
The women: “…”
This…
The soldiers who had gone out for the rescue missions were simply doing their duty. Even if Shen Shuyue hadn’t donated those supplies, their superiors would have prepared food for them.
They weren’t going to starve.
From their perspective, the supplies Shen Shuyue donated to the army were completely unnecessary.
But none of the women dared to say that out loud.
Qiu Chengyue was right there.
If they said something like that, they’d only be asking for trouble.
Qiu Chengyue remained silent, but after Shen Shuyue finished speaking, he turned to look at her.
There was a trace of surprise in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Shen Shuyue continued.
“You all live here with your families without having to pay rent or utilities, and every month you receive a regular allowance.”
“Those soldiers in the army came here from far away, leaving their hometowns behind. They have no parents, siblings, relatives, or friends here. They’re all alone.”
“You’re living such comfortable lives and you’re still not satisfied? You even want to snatch someone else’s food. Don’t you have any shame?”
Zhao Pandi couldn’t help speaking up.
“They’re all alone? We’re alone too!”
“Things outside are so expensive, and we don’t even know if the food is safe. If we weren’t struggling, would we have come to ask you?”
Shen Shuyue shot Zhao Pandi a sideways glance and immediately fired back.
“You’re alone? Your husband and child are right here with you. How are you alone?”
“If you don’t want to stay in this family compound, you can go back to your hometown and stay with your parents. Can they go back home?”