Chapter 691 The Cross Fire Between the Men

s.h.i.+ Peng, who was having fragrant rice in his mouth while picking up and gulping in hot and piping dishes expressed that, twenty years ago, even Comrade Deng (1. Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician who was the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China from 1978 until his retirement in 1989.) said that all cats that catch rats are good regardless of the species.

Childish?

How was this childish? He was happy doing this!

“Yes, very fortunate.” Qiao Dongliang first laughed happily, then at the sight of Zhai Sheng, he was reminded that Zhai Sheng would kidnap his daughter to the Zhai family one day. In fact, Zhai Sheng had been thinking of doing just that all the time. Qiao Dongliang could not bring himself to feel happy at the thought of this.

“Dad, have your meal.” Sensing the strong cross fire between the few old and young men, Qiao Nan pretended to feign ignorance.

She peeped at s.h.i.+ Qing, who had shrunk her neck and moved to one side to have her meal abidingly. Qiao Nan then glared at her. She expected better from s.h.i.+ Qing. Knowing that these few men were not obedient and liked to bicker, why couldn’t she come and help?

s.h.i.+ Qing smiled in embarra.s.sment. Uncle Qiao was her elder; she could not intervene.

Her father was also her elder. She would be thankful if her father were to intervene less in her matters. When was it her turn to take her father in hand?

As for Brother Zhai, she had never poked her nose into his affairs.

Since she could not convince any of these three men, she might as well move aside and finished her meal. That was the most practical thing to do.

Once s.h.i.+ Qing surrendered, Qiao Nan was the only one left who could mediate the atmosphere between the three men.

“Eat.” Qiao Dongliang could choose not to give Zhai Sheng face, but he could not do the same to his daughter.

As he took the bowl of rice from Qiao Nan, Qiao Dongliang deliberately sat beside Qiao Nan to increase the distance between Zhai Sheng and her.

The two had been in a relations.h.i.+p for two years. He could not stop them, and neither could he persuade them not to do so.

Nevertheless, before the Zhai family accepted Nan Nan, he had to hold them back. At the very least, he must not let Nan Nan be taken advantage of by Zhai Sheng.

They were both men. Qiao Dongliang thus understood Zhai Sheng more than Qiao Nan did. One had to dote on his own daughter. He had to protect Nan Nan well.

At the sight of this, Zhai Sheng’s face turned black while s.h.i.+ Peng gloated and smiled.

Zhai Sheng shot a look at s.h.i.+ Peng. He knew well in his heart the evil humor of his master. He thus pretended to remind a certain someone unintentionally. “Qing Qing, I heard that someone is wooing you in the school recently? Your grades are not a problem usually. You have to grab the opportunity in terms of relations.h.i.+p.”

s.h.i.+ Qing was pretty and good in her studies. After getting to know Qiao Nan well, she had also enthusiastically started to blend in with the student life in Ping Cheng High School. Of course, it was impossible that no one would be wooing s.h.i.+ Qing currently.

“…” s.h.i.+ Qing, who had been silently eating her meal and whose name was suddenly called, stared with her pair of innocent eyes. She did not understand why she had been ‘arrowed’.

“Qing Qing?” s.h.i.+ Peng was quite surprised. “Is there such a matter? Someone is wooing you?”

“Is there?” s.h.i.+ Qing straightened her neck and questioned back.

Qiao Nan had a headache. “Anyway, I didn’t hear about it.”

Why was it so difficult to have a meal?

“Eat, eat.” It was just a meal. Qiao Dongliang also sensed that it was going astray.

Furthermore, that was not the initial topic. Qiao Dongliang felt very apologetic to have implicated s.h.i.+ Qing. Hence, he had to temporarily put away his animosity toward Zhai Sheng and eat his meal abidingly.

However, besides Zhai Sheng, everyone felt exhausted after having this meal.

“…” s.h.i.+ Qing held her slightly overfilled tummy, looking sullen. “Qiao Nan, I’m going back first.” She had to think of how to aid her digestion when she was back home. Otherwise, she would feel bloated.

“Walk a few more rounds in the courtyard.” Qiao Nan reminded. Just by the sight of her, Qiao Nan knew that s.h.i.+ Qing must have eaten too much.

“Okay.” s.h.i.+ Qing nodded obediently and then ran out. s.h.i.+ Qing also felt warm due to the weather.

“Nan Nan, you send Zhai Sheng back.” Qiao Dongliang, who was also suffering a little from indigestion, looked listless.

“…” Qiao Nan pouted and looked at Zhai Sheng. Brother Zhai had a happy meal but everyone else suffered.

Qiao Nan had already been considering whether she should prepare some indigestion medicine at home, in case of recurrence of such situations. Everyone’s tummies were upset except for Brother Zhai’s.

Zhai Sheng, who was in a good mood, only pulled Qiao Nan closer to him. He then walked toward the entrance on his own. “Alright, you don’t need to take today’s matter to heart. There’s no major problem.”

“Really?” Qiao Nan was a little doubtful.

Even if there was no one else with them now, Zhai Sheng still cared very much about how others would see Qiao Nan. He was not as daring as when he was alone with her in the house of the Qiao family. The two were walking very closely side-by-side but they did not hold hands. This was in case others would gossip about Qiao Nan if they were to see them. “Officer s.h.i.+ is considered as half my master. You’ve not seen it before, but I’ve always been getting along with him in this way.”

It was not an exaggeration to say that their interactions were similar to a t.i.t-for-tat compet.i.tion.

“…” Qiao Nan could not sort out her thoughts about the problem between Zhai Sheng and s.h.i.+ Peng. As long as Zhai Sheng said that they were behaving normally, she would not question further. “It’s already so late. After you’re back, won’t Chief Zhai and Auntie Miao be angry?”

“They won’t.” Zhai Sheng clenched his fist and placed it beside his lips as he smiled. “Nan Nan, don’t worry so much. There’s still one year. One year later today, our marriage report would have been approved.”

“Fine. You’ll say no problem to whatever I ask you. Brother Zhai, did something good happen? You’re in such a good mood.” Qiao Nan had no other way with Zhai Sheng.

“Yes.”

“What good things?”

“Zhai Hua had a quarrel with her boyfriend.”

“…” Qiao Nan held her head. She was not aware and could not possibly be aware of the good things that Brother Zhai encountered. However, Brother Zhai was definitely not his normal self today. If they were still having dinner, she would certainly have indigestion too.

At the sight of Qiao Nan’s sullen face, Zhai Sheng rubbed her head. He did not explain further. It was not an appropriate time to say it now. “You’re afraid of the hot weather. Go back first.”

“Okay.” In front of Zhai Sheng, Qiao Nan had always been acting according to his orders. It was as if she was a soldier under his wing. “Brother Zhai, drive slowly when you’re on the road home. I’m going back.”

“Okay.” After he saw Qiao Nan enter the main door and close it, Zhai Sheng got into his car and drove off.

When Zhai Sheng arrived home, of course the Zhai family members had not gone to bed. Zhai Hua was especially pulling a long face. She had been enduring her anger as she sat on the chair and stared at the main door resentfully until Zhai Sheng was back.

Once Zhai Sheng arrived home, Miao Jing asked in a concerned manner, “Do you want to take a shower first? Hua Hua, she…” She had been in this position, sitting and staring at the door, for a long time.

She asked Hua Hua what happened but she refused to say anything. Hence, she could only feel worried.