When Sang Xiao was playing with the dog in the yard, Kuang Xun was right beside her, probably worried she would be bullied by the dog. Seeing Kuang Xun reminded Sang Xiao of Chengcheng, who liked to keep a cold, “birthday bun” face. Perhaps because she had spent a long time with Kuang Qingshang, Sang Xiao felt that while Kuang Qingshang was abnormal and distant, she was still not as aloof as Kuang Xun.
Kuang Qingshang emerged after talking with Feng Shu about who knows what, looking much more relaxed, while Feng Shu’s eyes were slightly red.
Seeing this, Kuang Xun walked over to Feng Shu’s side and looked at Kuang Qingshang, asking with a worried tone, “Sis?”
Huh? Sang Xiao was also perplexed. Had Kuang Qingshang been scolded by her mom? And her mom was then brought to tears because she was too mischievous? Otherwise, why would Kuang Xun care about Kuang Qingshang first instead of Feng Shu?
This kind of thing often happened in the kindergarten. If a child was too naughty, and their mother was a first-time mom with a fragile emotional state, it was easy for them to be driven to tears.
Kuang Qingshang gently shook her head, “I’m fine. After I leave tomorrow, Xiao Xun, please come and see Grandpa and Mom more often for me…”
Feng Shu interrupted, displeased, “I’m your mom, and I’m perfectly fine right now.”
Kuang Qingshang instantly looked helpless, “Understood. Then I’ll have to trouble Mom to look after Sang Xiao.”
Sang Xiao felt awkward, just about to say that she didn’t need much looking after, when Feng Shu had already agreed, “Don’t worry. Xiao Xiao is in my hands. Just make sure you can take good care of yourself.”
After returning from Grandpa’s house, Kuang Qingshang no longer immersed herself in the gym. Instead, she watched anime with Sang Xiao—specifically, a children’s anime that grade-schoolers would find childish but adults would find just right.
The term “adults” here specifically referred to Sang Xiao.
Because Kuang Qingshang’s face next to her was completely expressionless, Sang Xiao had no idea whether she liked watching it or not.
Even if she didn’t like it, Sang Xiao wouldn’t change it! Sang Xiao needed to understand some child psychology for her job, and she personally enjoyed these heartwarming shows, watching the whole thing with great relish.
Kuang Qingshang sat bolt upright the entire time. Sang Xiao thought it looked quite tiring, but seeing that Kuang Qingshang was willing, she didn’t question it. Afterward, the two went to bed separately.
When Sang Xiao woke up the next day, Kuang Qingshang’s gesture of goodwill was very clear. After Sang Xiao finished breakfast, Kuang Qingshang looked at her quietly, “I’ll take you to work later.”
Sang Xiao was momentarily stunned. It seemed there was no reason to refuse. “Okay.”
Kuang Qingshang drove very steadily. The road had few vehicles, and they arrived at the kindergarten smoothly. Before getting out of the car, Sang Xiao politely asked, “What time are you leaving?”
“Ten o’clock. I’ll text you when I leave,” Kuang Qingshang said very naturally.
“Alright.” Sang Xiao didn’t refuse. It was just a text message, but Kuang Qingshang didn’t really need to.
Before, she had always left without a sound, but given their relationship, maybe it was necessary after all. Isn’t it normal for a married couple to update each other on their plans?
Based on the fact that they were a married couple, everything seemed logical. Sang Xiao didn’t overthink it, only feeling that their relationship had quietly grown a little closer.
Kuang Qingshang didn’t linger after dropping off Sang Xiao. Sang Xiao adjusted her mental state and started her day’s work.
During the afternoon nap, Chengcheng was surprisingly quiet the whole time. When a child is quiet, they are usually up to something. Sang Xiao was uneasy, thinking she had hidden something good under the quilt. But when she lifted the quilt, she saw the little girl’s face was flushed red.
Sang Xiao immediately worked with Teacher Kang to rush Chengcheng to the infirmary, and then contacted her mother. Fortunately, the situation was not serious. After Sang Xiao handled everything, she finally had a moment of leisure, and Kuang Qingshang had already sent her a message much earlier.
I’m on the plane. I’ll call you again tonight.
Sang Xiao saw that the message had been sent three hours ago, and she was probably already at her destination by now. She replied, “Sorry, one of the children got sick today, and I haven’t had a chance to reply.”
Kuang Qingshang instantly replied, “Is the situation serious?”
If she encountered difficult and unreasonable parents, they might blindly blame Sang Xiao for the problem.
“It’s alright. It might be because the weather has gotten cooler these past two days, and the child’s immunity is poor. It’s been dealt with, and I’ve also contacted her mother.”
“This child is usually quite naughty, but very cute. And her mother is a very nice person, a very gentle person. She kept thanking me on the phone and was very worried. Unfortunately, she’s too busy to rush over in time, but thankfully the child is fine now.”
Encountering such cooperative and reasonable parents was extremely important to her; at least it avoided many unnecessary problems.
After typing and sending the message, Sang Xiao realized that she had inadvertently chatted a little too much with Kuang Qingshang and felt a bit embarrassed. Mainly, her colleague Teacher Kang was a tall male, so Sang Xiao couldn’t talk to him too much, and she was someone who liked to vent. Unfortunately, she had vented to the wrong person today.
Their chat history was originally very sparse and always strictly factual. This was the first time Sang Xiao had talked to Kuang Qingshang about these “useless things.” Sang Xiao wanted to pretend she had sent it to the wrong person and quickly recall it, but Kuang Qingshang’s reading speed was faster than her recall speed, and she typed even faster.
Kuang Qingshang: “It’s good that it’s not serious. The parents must be very happy to have such a responsible and good teacher like you.”
Sang Xiao: “…”
She hadn’t said these things just to have Kuang Qingshang praise her. She was just doing what she ought to do.
Sang Xiao said, “I have to go now.”
Kuang Qingshang: “Okay, let’s talk tonight.”
Sang Xiao looked at the words “let’s talk tonight” with a great sense of speechlessness. Kuang Qingshang hadn’t been like this before. Why was she suddenly so chatty?
When Sang Xiao went back in the evening, Kuang Qingshang wasn’t home, and she felt a slight sense of unfamiliarity, which was immediately followed by sheer joy: she was free!
Sang Xiao immediately video-called Bian Yan to share the good news.
Bian Yan chuckled, “Look at your low standards.”
Sang Xiao complained, “You don’t know how heavy Kuang Qingshang is! She almost squashed me flat.”
Bian Yan’s eyebrows tightened, “Did you two sleep together?”
Sang Xiao’s face flushed, “Not yet.”
Sang Xiao and Bian Yan were close friends who talked about everything, and Bian Yan was the type of person who worried a lot, especially about Sang Xiao, practically being Sang Xiao’s second mother.
Sang Xiao told Bian Yan about what had happened that day.
Bian Yan was shocked, “Does she have a tendency toward domestic violence?”
“Probably not. She seemed to think I was a bad person at the time, but it was really scary. I just felt her strength was enormous.” Sang Xiao was still scared looking back, but thinking about how Kuang Qingshang later secluded herself in the gym, she felt perhaps it wasn’t so frightening anymore.
Bian Yan pondered, “Do you know about a kidnapping case that happened in Xincheng before?”
Sang Xiao shook her head honestly, “No.”
Although she had lived in Xincheng the longest, Sang Xiao was not a native-born Xincheng person.
Bian Yan said, “Let me put it this way, Kuang Qingshang was apparently kidnapped when she was a child. I don’t know the specifics. I only heard about it when Xu Jia and the others were chatting. I searched online, but I couldn’t find anything. The news was kept very quiet. I only know that several people died at the time, including her father.”
“Ah?” Sang Xiao was completely bewildered.
Bian Yan didn’t know much more; she had only suddenly remembered it. Of course, she hoped Kuang Qingshang was a normal person, and she certainly didn’t desperately wish for Kuang Qingshang to be a psychopath.
Bian Yan: “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Shall we go watch a movie? The latest crime film has a good reputation. I won’t have time to accompany you tomorrow. I have to go out of town for a business trip and probably won’t be back for two months.”
Sang Xiao agreed, but she still had an unreal feeling. Kuang Qingshang had actually been kidnapped. Wasn’t that something that only happened in novels and movies? Coincidentally, the movie they went to see was also about a kidnapping, and the little girl in the movie was almost killed.
Sang Xiao subconsciously substituted Kuang Qingshang as the victim. She wondered what Kuang Qingshang looked like as a child. She felt strange, and this was the first time she was distracted during a good movie.
For dramatic effect, typically, the kidnap victims in movies are ultimately rescued, but in reality, only the person involved knows exactly what happens after a kidnapping.
The night was a little cold. Sang Xiao reminded her, “The weather will gradually get colder, so remember to bring more clothes when you go on your business trip.”
Bian Yan said, “Mhm. I won’t be able to see you for a long time afterward, why don’t you sleep over at my place tonight?”
“Okay.” Sang Xiao went to Bian Yan’s house, completely forgetting that Kuang Qingshang had said they would chat in the evening.
When Kuang Qingshang called, Sang Xiao was flustered. Bian Yan teased, “Anyone would think you’re having an affair with me.”
“…” Sang Xiao clumsily answered the phone.
Kuang Qingshang, hearing her take a while to answer, was a little worried she was interrupting her, “Are you going to sleep now?”
Sang Xiao said, “Not yet, I just had a late-night snack.”
Kuang Qingshang: “What did you eat?”
You can’t eat any of it anyway.
Sang Xiao listed a bunch of dish names.
“Sounds delicious,” Kuang Qingshang changed the subject. “Could you trouble you to go to my room later and help me bring in the clothes from the balcony? I forgot to take them in when I left this morning.”
Sang Xiao thought about it; it wasn’t a big deal. She agreed, “I’ll take them in for you when I go back tomorrow.”
Kuang Qingshang asked, “You’re not home?”
Sang Xiao said, “I’m at Bian Yan’s place. Bian Yan is my friend. You probably don’t know her.”
Kuang Qingshang: “Mhm, we’ll have a chance to meet.”
Then, they fell into silence. Sang Xiao’s mind was completely occupied with Kuang Qingshang being kidnapped as a child. Kuang Qingshang on the other end also seemed unsure what to talk about. Eventually, the two of them dryly said, “Get some rest early. Good night.”
After hanging up the phone, Sang Xiao reached out and rubbed her cheek. She felt so nervous whenever she talked to Kuang Qingshang, and she didn’t know why.
Bian Yan asked, “Are you two that close already?”
Sang Xiao spread her hands, “I couldn’t help it.”
Kuang Qingshang called her; she couldn’t just not answer. Plus, she hadn’t given her a hard time, just asked for help bringing in the clothes.
Afterward, Kuang Qingshang would occasionally call like this, but unfortunately, perhaps because there were fewer excuses, the two were mostly silent, silent, and then silent again. Sang Xiao’s daily routine was much simpler: she would come home from work and do a live broadcast, or follow Aunt Li to learn how to make desserts.
Aunt Li was practically omnipotent, not only knowing Chinese cuisine but also various Western pastries. On weekends, Sang Xiao would spend time with Sang Qi and consider letting Sang Qi come to the kindergarten to interact more with other children.
When Kuang Qingshang was at home before, Sang Xiao didn’t have a chance to stream. Sang Xiao went on her podcast, intending to share funny stories about the kindergarten children, but the listeners were more concerned about her post-marriage situation, immediately bombarding her with a string of questions.
How is the host’s relationship going now? In real life, I still can’t imagine two strangers getting together through blind dates or something. Strangers! The thought of kissing or even sleeping with the other person makes me freeze.
Me too. I’d rather stay single.
Unless the other person is extremely beautiful or handsome, but why would someone with such good conditions need a blind date, unless they have a physical defect.
Between the person I love and the person who loves me, I’d rather choose the person I love.
You’re off-topic. It’s a marriage from a blind date; there’s not so much about love or not.
But the host is so obedient; she actually accepted a blind date. I’d rather hold out for the best!
If my parents dared to force me like this, I’d dare to cut ties with them.
Sang Xiao’s eyes flickered. She didn’t have a choice. Looking at everyone’s questions, Sang Xiao answered one by one, “It’s alright, not as scary as I imagined. It’s just living together, and she’s very beautiful, just a little taller than me.”
Kuang Qingshang should be considered the prettiest among tall girls and the tallest among pretty girls. In short, her looks and figure were great, but she wasn’t suited for life in the real world. If she were a character in an anime, Sang Xiao would be shouting in excitement, but unfortunately, she wasn’t.
Just as Sang Xiao finished speaking, she received a gift from “Uncommon Word,” with a full-screen rose effect.
Since “Uncommon Word” had mysteriously disappeared last time, Sang Xiao thought she wouldn’t come back. She immediately said happily, “Thank you, Uncommon Word, for the roses, but please don’t be so extravagant in the future.”
It’s fine. I’ve been busy lately and haven’t had time to listen to your live stream.
“Then make sure to get more rest,” Sang Xiao had a strong impression of “Uncommon Word.” She was always in a hurry, seeming particularly busy.
I will, thank you.
Sang Xiao chatted with the listeners about other things, such as the kindergarten children going to the community to observe fish, only to end up eating them, or a child who wasn’t afraid of small insects and kept them in their pocket for pranks.
Kids are truly terrifying. Some of them even dare to hold those soft, squishy worms in their palms. Ahhh!
Even scarier things happen than that. Last time, I actually saw my little nephew getting ready to dissect a mouse. I don’t know where he got it from.
Don’t say it, I can visualize it.
Everyone started talking messily about the strange children and strange incidents they had encountered.
Children haven’t established correct values yet. Some might be curious, and some might be psychologically abnormal. In any case, if parents find their child’s behavior problematic, they should pay more attention to mental health issues.
The topic strayed further and further, eventually developing into how to identify a psychopath. Sang Xiao also wanted to learn how to identify one, but then “Uncommon Word” suddenly reminded her: “Host, shouldn’t you be going to sleep?”
Sang Xiao looked at the time; it was already ten o’clock. She had to take a shower and go straight to bed. In Sang Xiao’s imagination, “Uncommon Word” was a gentle, considerate, and understanding older sister.
Sang Xiao obediently ended the stream. After taking a shower and getting ready for bed, she received a message from Kuang Qingshang: “Get some rest early. Good night.”
It was a simple greeting, with no extra words, giving Sang Xiao no pressure.
Sang Xiao replied, “Good night.”