Qiao Jiangyue had indeed thought about it for a long time.
She kept wondering why Pei Yanshen’s attitude toward her was different from the one in her dreams.
In her dream, Pei Yanshen had already divorced before she even came to the Northwest.
But now, he was still with Zhong Qing.
She was certain the problem must lie with Zhong Qing.
Pei Yanshen frowned, instinctively about to refuse.
Qiao Jiangyue quickly said earnestly, “I’m a woman—I understand better what women like. Captain Pei, please give me a chance to make up for my mistake.”
Pei Yanshen had never specified who had made Zhong Qing “jealous.” Yu Xingze, confused, looked back and forth between them.
Scratching his head, Yu Xingze chimed in, “Dr. Qiao has a point. I’m a big man—what if Sister-in-law doesn’t like the jewelry I pick?”
“No need,” Pei Yanshen replied without hesitation. “Yu Xingze, you handle it. If it’s not perfect, that’s fine.”
Though he spoke to Yu Xingze, the words were clearly meant for Qiao Jiangyue.
With that, Pei Yanshen left without sparing her another glance.
“I’ll go check the training progress,” Yu Xingze muttered awkwardly, finding an excuse to leave as well.
Qiao Jiangyue was left standing alone, face flushed with humiliation and unwillingness.
Unlike Pei Yanshen, Zhong Qing enjoyed a rare moment of leisure.
Because of her injured foot, Mother Pei took over delivering Xiao An’s lunch, and wouldn’t let Zhong Qing touch any other household chores either.
Zhong Qing moved a stool to the doorway, watered the vegetables, then slipped into her space.
One look, and she was stunned with delight.
In just one day, the radish and cabbage seeds she had planted had already sprouted!
At this rate, they would be ready for harvest in no time.
Compared to the ones planted in the courtyard, which were nowhere near ready, this space was truly a treasure trove.
While Zhong Qing was marveling at the seedlings inside her space, upstairs, Xiao Qiaofang saw her leaning back in a chair with her eyes closed, basking in the sun. She clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“See? I knew she wasn’t serious about growing vegetables. She hogs such a good patch of land, pushes all the work onto her mother-in-law, and enjoys herself instead!”
Lin Wenjuan, who was sewing shoe soles nearby, glanced over and said, “She injured her foot looking for the child yesterday.”
“A tiny injury and she’s acting delicate?” Xiao Qiaofang scoffed. “Who hasn’t had bumps and bruises? Don’t we still fetch water and cook? And that new Dr. Qiao is also from a big city like Beijing—how come she’s not making such a fuss?”
Lin Wenjuan didn’t agree.
She wasn’t particularly fond of Zhong Qing, but after seeing Dr. Qiao yesterday, she felt that woman was calculating—far from simple.
Seeing Lin Wenjuan not joining her complaints, Xiao Qiaofang snorted. “Just wait and see. Zhong Qing won’t grow anything worthwhile!”
Time passed under the sunlight, and soon the noon dismissal bell rang.
Pei Le’an squeezed out of the classroom with the crowd, unusually eager as he waited by the school gate.
He scanned the passing crowd expectantly. But whenever someone noticed him, he would quickly turn away, pretending indifference.
That morning, he had been scolded by Teacher Fang. But he also learned that Zhong Qing had not lied—she had indeed paid all the school fees as promised.
Still, he wouldn’t forgive her that easily!
He stubbornly kept peeking outside.
But the only person he saw approaching with a lunchbox was Grandma Pei.
The small spark of expectation he didn’t even understand himself fizzled instantly. “Grandma,” he greeted dryly.
Grandma Pei, perceptive as ever, teased him deliberately. “Don’t you want Grandma to bring you lunch?”
Pei Le’an shook his head quickly. “Of course not!”
It was better if Grandma came!
He didn’t want to see Zhong Qing at all!
But Zhong Qing had said she wouldn’t leave. She had delivered lunch yesterday—so why not today?
Was she angry because he had clung to Auntie Qiao yesterday?
The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. Even his food tasted bland.
Only then did Grandma Pei explain gently, “Your mother scraped her foot badly while looking for you yesterday. It’s hard for her to walk, so she asked me to bring your lunch.”
Pei Le’an suddenly looked up. Meeting Grandma’s teasing gaze, he muttered, “I wasn’t wondering why she didn’t come… Teacher just said we need to notify our parents—there’s a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow.”
Yes—that was the reason he had been waiting!
Grandma Pei suppressed a smile and didn’t expose him. “Alright, alright. I’ll tell your mother when I get back.”
Pei Le’an instinctively wanted to refuse, but somehow the words wouldn’t come out.
Perhaps… he really did hope Zhong Qing would attend his parent-teacher meeting.
When Zhong Qing heard about it, she agreed immediately.
Grandma Pei hesitated. “But your foot…”
Zhong Qing smiled. “Mom, I know you’re worried about me. But the school isn’t far. It’s no big deal.”
On the day of the meeting, Pei Le’an was distracted all day, subconsciously glancing out the window toward the school gate.
When the final bell rang, his anxiety and anticipation peaked.
The other children gathered around him in the classroom.
“Pei Le’an, is it true your mom is coming to the meeting?”
“We’re really going to see your mom? Is she really as pretty as Cheng Cheng says?”
His disappearance had caused quite a stir.
But what shocked the children even more was that Pei Le’an actually had a mother!
Back in kindergarten, rumors had spread that his mother had abandoned him and run away.
Cheng Cheng had praised endlessly how beautiful Pei Le’an’s mother was, but no one believed him.
When they tried asking Liu Yaozu, who had been in the office with Pei Le’an that day, he dodged the question.
But today was different.
It was a parent-teacher meeting—parents would definitely attend.
They could see her with their own eyes!
“Of course! My mom is the prettiest mom!” Pei Le’an blurted instinctively.
After saying it, he felt a flicker of regret.
Would Zhong Qing really come?
Zhong Qing took this parent-teacher meeting very seriously.
She began preparing early that morning.
Naturally beautiful and always meticulous about her appearance, she had never spared expense on herself. With just a little makeup, she looked stunning.
Considering the occasion, she chose her simplest yet elegant outfit from the wardrobe.
When it was nearly dismissal time, she tidied her hair one last time and prepared to leave early.
But her foot had not fully healed. Even in flat shoes, each step brought a dull ache, making her frown.
She crouched down to adjust herself when a familiar voice sounded from above her.