Seeing this man again, Qiao Qingqing felt a swirl of complicated emotions.
In her previous life, there was a reason she found Lin Chaohai attractive. He was tall and strong, with regular, handsome features and healthy wheat-colored skin. Now he was still young, his skin smooth and wrinkle-free, teeth unstained by tobacco, dressed in a military uniform—a striking figure.
But Qiao Qingqing also realized that once you’ve beaten someone to the ground, leaving them writhing in pain, no matter how much they tidy themselves up afterward, it’s hard to ever truly regard them as a person again.
Right now, that was exactly how she felt about Lin Chaohai.
And in her previous life, she supposed he must have felt the same way toward her.
Seeing her lost in thought, Lin Chaohai thought she was stunned, so he said, “I heard something happened at your home, so I came to check. And just happened to see you here…”
He paused, seeming reluctant. “You shouldn’t wander outside like this. I’ll take you back to school.”
Qiao Qingqing looked at him.
Clearly, he just wanted to bring her back and expected her gratitude, yet he pretended it was merely a courtesy to take her to school. Did he not know she had been expelled?
Still, Qiao Qingqing played along. In a low voice, she said, “I’ve been expelled from school.”
“Then you…” Lin Chaohai hesitated, his gaze assessing her.
She wore a long dress with a green base and red trim. Her black, thick hair was tied with a ribbon. Her skin was fair and smooth, untouched by makeup, but her lips were as red as cherry blossoms and plump.
He had always known she was beautiful, but only today, seeing her fallen from status and vulnerable, like something he could reach out and possess at any moment, stirred something in him. His body warmed slightly, and he murmured, “Have you eaten today? I’ll take you to eat.”
Qiao Qingqing nodded.
They walked a short distance to a nearby state-run restaurant.
On the way, Lin Chaohai was attentive and caring. Qiao Qingqing ignored him, but in his eyes, it was normal for a woman to be silent when upset.
At times like this, a woman needed comfort and support from a man.
Confident, with a faint smile, Lin Chaohai said, “Don’t worry. I’ll help inquire about the situation. But most likely, you’ll be sent for re-education. Several others in similar circumstances have been sent. You need to be mentally prepared.”
He spoke continuously. “Your mother’s political background is serious, your father a typical intellectual, but luckily you attended a factory-run high school—you still have hope.”
They found a table in the restaurant and sat down.
“Anyway,” Lin Chaohai said, “don’t be too upset. People are like iron, meals are like steel—eat first, everything else later. Come on, eat more.”
Qiao Qingqing nodded, pretending to be comforted.
Then she stood at the counter and asked what dishes were available, ordering six dishes and one soup in one go.
Lin Chaohai was stunned.
“Qingqing… can you eat all this?”
Qiao Qingqing blinked innocently. “I usually order like this. Besides, didn’t you just tell me to eat more? What’s wrong?”
Lin Chaohai’s smile looked forced. “Nothing.”
When the dishes arrived, she only took a few bites of each before putting down her chopsticks.
“Why aren’t you eating?” Lin Chaohai asked.
Qiao Qingqing deliberately pouted and said in a sweet voice, “I have no appetite.”
Lin Chaohai’s face tensed, muscles twitching.
He cursed silently—spending so much money on a meal and now claiming no appetite, yet ordering a full table of food. If it weren’t for her family just being arrested, he would suspect she was playing him.
She still acted like a spoiled lady even though they were about to be sent for re-education—no wonder her whole family was being sent away.
But no matter, women could be taught. Once married, he would teach her to obey, to manage a household frugally. He, a grown man, could surely handle his own wife.
With that thought, Lin Chaohai’s expression softened. He gently served her a small bowl of soup. “Even if you have no appetite, eat a little.”
Qiao Qingqing took the bowl and pretended to complain loudly, drawing the attention of other diners.
“It’s so hot! How can I drink this?”
Lin Chaohai gritted his teeth and said after a pause, “Then let it cool for a bit.”
She asked him, “When will you check on the news?”
“Too late today. I’ll ask tomorrow.” Lin Chaohai looked at her. “What about you? Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?”
It was a rhetorical question.
At this time, a single young woman couldn’t stay in a guesthouse without a reference letter and had to rely on relatives or friends. But now, everyone avoided her, her home was locked by the revolutionary committee—it seemed she had nowhere to go.
Of course, she could always rest in her spatial ability, but now she needed to solidify her connection with Lin Chaohai, to eventually involve his family in the relocation.
Qiao Qingqing blinked, her eyes glistening slightly, and shook her head at him.
Lin Chaohai quickly asked, “Then would you like to stay at my house?”
Qiao Qingqing looked hesitant. “If I just stay at your place like this, it would seem improper. My reputation would be ruined. Will you take responsibility?”
Lin Chaohai inwardly laughed at her concern for reputation while about to become a “re-education target” herself—childishly naive.
Yet his face remained stern. “If you stay at my house, you are my wife. We can’t register officially yet, but we can hold a small ceremony in the yard. Let the neighbors see. We’ll be a legitimate couple.”
“Alright, I’ll go back with you.”
They left the state-run restaurant and walked toward Lin Chaohai’s home.
The alley was narrow, with a stinking gutter beneath the stone slabs, but Lin Chaohai felt elated.
He knew the current hardships were temporary. With his military allowance, life was secure. Once retired, he could slowly liquidate the gold bars. Life would be fine. And now, with a beautiful wife in his arms, it felt like she had been delivered to him—he was naturally proud.
But he also remembered Qiao Qingqing’s need to publicly sever ties with her parents and asked, “From what I understand, your parents must have known something would happen. Did they not tell you at all?”
“No,” Qiao Qingqing shook her head.
Lin Chaohai continued, “But they brought both sons along, perhaps they had their reasons. Don’t overthink it.”
“I’m not overthinking,” she said.
“That’s good. Anyway, the most important thing now is to keep you safe. No matter what.” Lin Chaohai began laying the groundwork to persuade her to cut ties with the Qiao family. “If they are sent for re-education, you can stay in the city, send them food and supplies, and keep hope alive. Don’t worry—even if they abandon you, I will protect you.”
Qiao Qingqing, feigning innocence, looked at him. “They wouldn’t abandon me. My mom just wanted to keep me safe, that’s why she gave you the thirty gold bars.”
Lin Chaohai felt like he had been punched in the face, almost speechless.
Rarely did his face flush, but it did, and after a long moment, he stammered, “She… she told you that too? She never wanted me to tell you… how did you find out?”
“She’s my mother. There’s nothing we can’t discuss,” Qiao Qingqing continued, still acting innocent.
Lin Chaohai’s face darkened. His carefully laid plans had been completely disrupted, and he felt a surge of frustration.