Even now, he was still holding a grudge over what happened back then.
Feng Cuier's face turned pale, and she clutched the hem of her clothes tightly.
That damned bastard Qi Bao'er.
Her resentment toward Bao'er deepened, but she didn't dare show it in front of Qi Tushen.
So, Feng Cuier's tears fell on cue, and she put on a look of guilt: "Tushen, I'm sorry. I know… what happened back then was my fault. Do you still refuse to forgive me even now?"
"Bao'er is my bottom line. When you nearly abandoned her back then, whatever bond we had was already severed."
Qi Tushen said coldly.
He only felt disgust at her hypocritical act.
Feng Cuier sobbed: "Tushen, can you really be so heartless? I… I was scared back then. I was afraid that if you married me while bringing Bao'er along, you'd always be thinking about her mother. I loved you too much. I… I admit I was jealous of that woman. I… waaaah."
As she spoke, she covered her face and burst into tears.
"Bao'er is very important to me, and so is her mother. I can never forget her in this lifetime. Since you can't accept them, then there's nothing more to say between us."
Qi Tushen was utterly ruthless, giving her not even a sliver of hope to hold onto.
His words made Feng Cuier turn from shame to anger.
Her body trembled slightly, and her lips parted: "You… have you ever loved me? When you were with me, were you still thinking about Bao'er's mother?"
"Yes!"
He answered without hesitation.
It shattered Feng Cuier.
She clenched her fist and tried to pound on him, but Qi Tushen grabbed her wrist firmly. Impatience crept into his brow: "Feng Cuier, what exactly do you want? What right do you have to question me now?"
"…Qi Tushen. I just want to ask you, have you ever loved me?"
Feng Cuier forced the words out through gritted teeth, her voice hoarse.
"…Never."
Qi Tushen's gaze flickered slightly. He turned his face away mercilessly and pushed her aside.
Her body went limp. Feng Cuier collapsed onto the ground with a thud, her whole body trembling as she wailed loudly.
She never expected that after pining for him all these years, this was the answer she'd get.
"Bao'er, is that Feng Cuier?"
Chu Jiaojiao, whose gossip fire was burning bright, poked her head out to look and asked.
Qi Bao'er poked her little head out from beside her and nodded repeatedly: "That's right! She's that bad woman! Every time I see her in the village, she looks like she wants to eat me alive! It's terrifying! I run away the moment I see her."
"So it's her!"
Chu Jiaojiao nodded thoughtfully, recalling that Feng Cuier was the woman who had inexplicably glared at her at the market.
No wonder!
She really was jealous of her!
Watching Qi Tushen's cold, resolute attitude and Feng Cuier's hysterical crying, Chu Jiaojiao clicked her tongue twice.
What a tale of love and hate!
It would make a great story in a novel!
"Hahaha!!"
Feng Cuier suddenly threw her head back and laughed like she'd gone mad. Her laughter carried tears that rolled down her fair cheeks, and a self-deprecating smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Fine! Very well! Qi Tushen! I stayed unmarried all these years for you, and this is how heartless you are to me!"
A trace of hatred flashed through her eyes, and her gaze suddenly swept toward Chu Jiaojiao inside the house.
Her stare was as if laced with poison.
It made one's skin crawl with goosebumps.
A chill ran down her spine.
Chu Jiaojiao averted her gaze, slammed the door shut with a bang, her little heart pounding wildly.
Oh my god!
Why was she glaring at her?!
Women!
This jealousy thing is terrifying!
"Enough talk! Get lost!"
He turned a blind eye to her resentment, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"We've been done with each other for years now. Marry whoever you want—I've never stopped you."
Feng Cuier bit her lip hard, hatred surging through her.
Qi Tushen!
Just you wait!
Now that he had another woman, he turned his back on her without mercy.
Then she wouldn't let him have it easy either.
Feng Cuier viciously wiped away her tears, picked herself up off the ground, and left with a heart full of resentment.
Qi Tushen returned to the house with a grim face, his aura heavy and low.
Seeing Chu Jiaojiao and Qi Bao'er sitting obediently at the table, he walked over, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of water, and downed it in one gulp.
Taking a deep breath, Qi Tushen composed his expression and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Let's eat lunch!"
"Okay! Daddy, I'll get the rice!"
Qi Bao'er said obediently and went to help.
In the kitchen, Qi Tushen ladled out a bowl of chicken soup for Chu Jiaojiao and set it in front of her: "Little wife, drink more. Nourish your body. There's more in the pot if it's not enough."
"Uh! Thanks!"
It was clear his mood had been ruined by Feng Cuier, so Chu Jiaojiao didn't dare provoke him. She took the bowl without saying a word.
"You and Bao'er eat first. I'm not hungry. I'll go sit outside for a bit."
With that, Qi Tushen turned and walked out, sitting on the doorstep, lost in thought.
Qi Bao'er came out with the rice and asked, "What about Daddy?"
"Tsk. He says he doesn't care about Feng Cuier, but I can tell he still has some feelings for her," Chu Jiaojiao said softly.
It seemed he really had been deeply hurt back then.
"Sister, let's eat! Let's not talk about this anymore!"
Afraid that bringing up the topic might anger Qi Tushen if he overheard, Qi Bao'er didn't dare say more.
Chu Jiaojiao sipped her chicken soup while watching Qi Tushen sitting by the door in a daze, and sighed.
Tsk.
Who would've thought this rustic mountain man was such a devoted lover!
Since he couldn't let go of other women so easily, he might as well let her go sooner rather than later!
Feng Cuier cried all the way home, then went on another rampage of smashing things.
Seeing this, Liu Guihua was scared half to death: "Oh my. My little ancestor, please stop losing your mind! It's not worth it over a man!"
She didn't need to be told—it was obvious she was upset over that bastard Qi Tushen again.
"Wah wah wah! Mother! I refuse to accept this!"
Feng Cuier hugged Liu Guihua and sobbed, "He has another woman now, and he's so heartless toward me! Mother! I hate it! I hate him so much! He actually said he never loved me!"
"My foolish daughter, men are all bastards who love the new and tire of the old. Besides, when he cut ties with you back then over that burden of a child, I could already see he wasn't worth entrusting your life to."
Liu Guihua comforted her, "You're not young anymore now. It's time to move on. I'll scout out some fine young men in the village for you. Don't keep hanging yourself on one crooked tree. If you wait any longer to marry, you really won't find a good man."
"Wah wah wah! I don't want to!"
Feng Cuier was full of resentment. "Mother! Since Qi Tushen won't let me have peace, I won't let him have peace either!"
"…Cuier, what are you planning to do? This old bones of mine can't take any more of your antics."
Liu Guihua was truly afraid of her.
Feng Cuier said nothing, but a fierce glint flashed through her beautiful eyes.
Qi Tushen!
If I can't have you!
No one else will get you either!