Qin Lihua bit her lip, keeping silent.
Cai Jun wiped the corner of his mouth, “After the Spring Festival, then.”
He couldn’t clearly say when it began.
He had just told a lie; before the Spring Festival, he did indeed have a good impression of Sun Lanlan, and he knew what Sun Bingnan intended. When his parents brought up his marriage during the festival, he went to the Sun Family, thinking that if their parents had no objections, he’d let his own parents send a matchmaker to propose.
Who knew that before he could break this layer of paper window, he met Qin Lihua.
She was different from the other women he had met before; Qin Lihua was both beautiful and passionate.
He and Sun Lanlan had worked together for half a year; they could laugh and chat, but there was never a moment that made his heart pound.
But being with Qin Lihua, seeing her admiring, worshipful glances always left him exceptionally satisfied.
Especially that time in the cinema, when they watched “Lushan Love” together, at the moment when the female lead went to kiss the male lead, Qin Lihua also kissed him.
At that moment, Cai Jun felt like an arrow had pierced his heart.
In the days that followed, whenever they had time, they would meet up, and Cai Jun found himself increasingly unable to extricate himself.
He felt guilty, several times thinking of coming clean to Sun Lanlan.
But after all, that paper window between them was never pierced; if he actively approached her, it felt like he’d unduly ruin the reputation of the girl.
It would be better for them to simply remain colleagues.
Lin Chuxia felt like she had seen enough of the world to judge people accurately, yet this happened right under her nose.
She looked again at Qin Lihua, “Do your parents know?”
“Auntie…”
Qin Lihua called out and then silently lowered her head.
What else did Lin Chuxia not understand? She sighed.
“Cai Jun, I’m giving you a day off tomorrow, these days go back and have the matchmaker propose, although now it’s free love, a girl’s reputation is worth more than anything, what you two did today was crossing the line.”
A lone man and a lone woman in a male dormitory, and so late at night, wouldn’t outsiders start spreading rumors?
“Yes, Mr. Lin, I understand.”
“Mhm, go back then.”
Cai Jun hesitated for a moment, “Mr. Lin, could I… change to another dorm?”
Lin Chuxia looked up, “Why? Are you afraid Third Brother Sun will hit you again? Go back, Third Brother Sun isn’t that kind of person. If he wanted to vent, he would’ve done so earlier.”
Only then did Cai Jun leave the office.
Now, in the office, only Qin Lihua and Lin Chuxia were left. Qin Lihua became even more nervous, “Auntie, I’ll also go back now.”
“Wait a moment, I’ll go back with you.”
It was so late, and Qin Lihua was working under her, so she had to take responsibility for her safety.
Lin Chuxia went to Sun Lanlan’s dormitory first.
Sun Lanlan smiled nonchalantly upon seeing her, “Was it a bit exciting tonight? Seeing Cai Jun like that, it really relieved the tension from before; otherwise, I would be too disgusted by Liu Dahui to sleep. Now it’s good, two negatives make a positive. Looking at Cai Jun like this, I’ll be able to sleep well tonight. You can go back, I don’t need your company, you being here would disturb my sleep instead.”
“Alright, no need to act tough with me, we sisters may not have much, but my shoulder is still here for you to lean on,” Lin Chuxia patted her own shoulder.
Sun Lanlan pushed her, “I would never be sad over that kind of person.”
She sighed heavily, her voice much calmer.
“Xiaxia, I actually feel quite lucky. Before, when my family mentioned Liu Dahui, it was you who stopped me from meeting him. I’ve noticed these past few days, Liu Dahui really isn’t someone to marry. How should I put it, even without tonight’s incident, I could tell he was somewhat extreme.”
Tonight’s events further confirmed her view.
Such people are mostly chauvinists, not allowing others to contradict their ideas, and if you defy them, the consequences are either hitting or scolding.
There are plenty of such men in the village; I’ve seen them beat their wives, almost to death.
Just thinking about that kind of life sends chills down Sun Lanlan’s back.
“And then there’s Cai Jun. It’s true I had some feelings for him, mostly from working together for a long time, and I didn’t find it disagreeable to be with him. But then… that just goes to show, he feels just so-so towards me. If that’s the case, better to just let him go.”
Especially after seeing the relationship between Lin Chuxia and Qin Yang, she’s grown even more skeptical about that kind of tepid love.
To love someone is to have eyes and heart only for that person, not to think this one is alright, and when another beckons, to feel the next one isn’t bad either.
Lin Chuxia sounded a bit resentful, “I was going to comfort you, but you’ve already come to terms with it yourself. Don’t I even get a chance to help?”
Sun Lanlan was somewhat smug, “Well, I’m a manager now. If I can’t stand a little bit of trouble, how can I manage the shop properly? Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.”
Sun Lanlan knew that Qin Lihua was still outside, so she hurried Lin Chuxia to get home.
To make sure she was safe walking at night, she asked her Third Brother to escort her.
Sun Bingnan was still angry; after Cai Jun came back, he ignored him and didn’t get physical again.
Cai Jun felt guilty, packed some things, and left for his hometown overnight.
Having him send Lin Chuxia was fine, but seeing Qin Lihua, he felt somewhat irked, although he could prioritize and agreed to go get the bicycle.
Su Wensong had been in the yard all along, watching as everyone went their separate ways peacefully. He glanced one more time at Sun Lanlan’s dormitory before he too left the courtyard.
A night full of shocks just passed like that.
The next morning as soon as work started, Lin Chuxia first stopped by the Bun Shop at the train station.
Seeing Sun Lanlan looking like usual, without the haggardness of sleep deprivation, she felt somewhat relieved.
“Is Third Brother at the Bun Shop today?”
It had already been arranged for her to report to the Xiyang Food Factory today, but with Cai Jun gone for a couple of days, it was suitable for Sun Bingnan to be here.
Sun Lanlan gave Lin Chuxia a glance, “What’s with all of you, treating me like I’m malleable clay, I’ve already said I’m fine, be at ease.”
For a man who is barely in the picture, Sun Lanlan felt she could let it go.
Lin Chuxia stroked her chin, pondering over the matter, “Although my sister is generous, what Cai Jun did was quite disgraceful, and we shouldn’t let it slide. Think about it, should I fire him, or do you want to dismiss him directly? You’re the manager, you have the authority.”
Sun Lanlan set down what she was working on and paused for a moment, “Honestly, Xiaxia, I did have that thought at the time, but after one night, it didn’t seem necessary. The more I do it, the more it looks like I care about him, making it more embarrassing for myself. Do I actually care about him? I think I care more about money, and I’ve come to realize that making money is more important than men.”
“Well said!”
Lin Chuxia gave her a thumbs up, increasingly finding Sun Lanlan to be more enlightened than her.
How did such an astute and clear-headed Sun Lanlan end up being driven to suicide by Liu Dahui in her last life?
Fortunately, in this life, it’s absolutely impossible with Liu Dahui.
Even so, Lin Chuxia didn’t intend to let Cai Jun continue working at the Bun Shop at the train station, and that afternoon, she found Su Wensong and transferred two employees from the food factory to take over the jobs of Cai Jun and Sun Bingnan.