Chapter 41: You Aren't Quitting Just Because You Won, Are You?

Chen Linye trotted down the stairs and headed straight for the dining room. He had intended to boil some water for instant noodles, as it was his duty as the tour guide to arrange meals for everyone.

However, upon entering the dining room, he saw Xu Shujian placing a large, rectangular iron tray onto the table.

"Shujian! You... did you order takeout again?"

Xu Shujian turned his head and smiled. "I made it myself. What do you think?"

"Impressive. Is this the fish you all caught this morning?"

"That’s right. Go ahead and call the others to eat."

Chen Linye smiled with a hint of awkwardness. "You’ve really made me feel bad. We seem to have over thirty yuan left; I’ll give it to you later, and we can count it toward the days when it's your turn to manage the household."

"It’s a small matter."

Chen Linye turned to head back upstairs, but after a few steps, he returned, deliberately leaning in closer to Xu Shujian.

"Shujian, do you get the feeling that my wife is angry?"

"Did you have an argument?"

"No. At noon, I really did sense she was unhappy, but after Teacher Zhuo Hui asked us who was more dependent on the other, she seemed to soften up, and we were chatting and laughing afterward. I didn’t say much later on. After that session ended, I asked her if she was okay, and she said it was fine. I felt like it was alright, too—the whole point of that segment was to uncover issues. If I say nothing, that’s not good, right? If she feels there’s a problem, I think it’s better to just talk about it. But then she won’t talk. Later, I tried to find her a few times, but she ignored me and even told me not to enter the women’s dormitory."

Xu Shujian checked the rice in the cooker and asked, "Is that how you usually are? She doesn't speak, so you don't ask?"

Chen Linye shook his head. "Sometimes we talk, sometimes we don't. But I do ask. I don't see why there should be any reason to be angry over a small thing. When she says she isn't angry, I really can't detect it, or perhaps I just don't understand it."

"Then don't overthink it. If she says she isn't angry, just take her at her word. If she tries to give you a hard time later, just ask her: 'Didn't you say everything was fine?' Why would she bring it up again later?"

Chen Linye frowned. Is that really okay?

Yu Hui and Zhang Qidong hadn't told him that. The three of them had been in the large bedroom earlier, and while the others were napping, those two kept saying that they hadn't been considerate enough toward their wives, adding that if his wife was angry, he shouldn't just act like nothing was wrong.

Zhang Qidong had lectured him, saying that a man should never let his wife stay angry; regardless of who is right or wrong, he should just apologize and admit fault first, then reason with her once she’s calmed down.

Chen Linye felt he couldn't judge who was right or wrong. His dilemma was whether he had truly angered his wife. But that segment was meant to honestly bring up issues—if she got angry when he spoke up, it proved there was an issue, and if there was an issue, it had to be solved. Apologizing seemed wrong, and playing dumb seemed even worse.

Chen Linye fell into deep thought, realizing he still couldn't resolve the situation. Taking a deep breath, he added, "Shujian, your wife seems angry too. Later, when I went to look for my wife, they said that when President Song entered the room, her expression was off. They asked her what was wrong, but she wouldn't say, just pulled the covers over her head to sleep and told me to keep my voice down."

Xu Shujian looked at Chen Linye. Song Yue is angry? Are you sure?

If she’s angry, then that’s to be expected.

"It’s fine, I have it handled. Go call them to eat."

"Right!"

Ten minutes later, everyone arrived at the dining room one after another and were surprised to see the fish on the table.

After sitting down, Zhang Qidong raised his glass, asking everyone to toast Xu Shujian with water instead of wine to thank him for the dinner.

After some brief pleasantries, they began to eat.

Xu Shujian observed everyone while he ate. The eight of them were seated across from one another. To his left was Song Yue, who kept her head down, eating in small bites. Xu Shujian thought this was perfectly fine; facing Song Yue, he certainly wouldn't take the initiative to do anything.

To his right was Yu Hui. Yu Hui was clearly at peace with himself and was eating naturally. He perhaps didn't care as much about whether Huang Lingling wanted a divorce. Zhuo Hui had spoken a lot from Huang Lingling's perspective, criticizing Yu Hui; if Yu Hui still cared, he wouldn't be eating so calmly.

Huang Lingling also seemed to have found her own peace; she was likely more afraid of Yu Hui showing her affection, as that would bring moral pressure—after all, he was still her husband, and if Yu Hui's attitude softened, she would be conflicted.

Pan Yun and Chen Linye had a lower air pressure between them. Chen Linye glanced at Pan Yun from time to time, as if pondering how to coax his wife.

Zhang Qidong was also observing everyone. He and Xu Shujian made eye contact several times, and whenever they did, Zhang Qidong would compliment his cooking.

Xu Shujian was a bit wary. What is he up to?

Lin Xiaoxian seemed to have been coaxed back to a good mood. She was serving food to others; knowing Huang Lingling wasn't particularly interested in the fish, she used serving chopsticks to give her potatoes, and told Pan Yun to eat more.

"I couldn't tell, President Song. Your husband cooks so well."

Lin Xiaoxian praised Song Yue again.

Before Song Yue could react, Zhang Qidong leaned toward Lin Xiaoxian. "I can cook too, believe it or not."

Lin Xiaoxian replied, "When have you ever cooked?"

Zhang Qidong smiled. "See, you have the same problem as President Song—you've overlooked me, haven't you? Did you think I don't cook for myself when I'm alone?"

Lin Xiaoxian rolled her eyes but said nothing more.

Yu Hui looked up. "In that case, let President Zhang try cooking tomorrow at noon."

Zhang Qidong shook his head. "I won't. Cooking is so exhausting. I know how to do it, but I don't do it."

Yu Hui smiled. "Then you have ill intentions. Sister Xiaoxian is trying to ease the tension between President Song and Brother Xu, but you, on the other hand, just emphasized again that President Song ignored my Brother Xu. I suggest you go work at the divorce window of the Civil Affairs Bureau."

At that remark, a burst of laughter erupted. Zhang Qidong immediately shook his head. "Don't misinterpret me. I was just reminding President Song to pay more attention to Shujian."

Yu Hui didn't take the bait. "I think the person you should pay the most attention to is Sister Xiaoxian. Every time she thinks there's a problem, you trick her into thinking there isn't, using all those 'I'm thinking on the second level while you're on the first' arguments. That's not an attitude for solving problems."

Having spent a few days together and built some rapport, Zhang Qidong didn't get angry. He smiled and pointed at Yu Hui, asking him to point out exactly what problems he had with Xiaoxian.

Then, the two of them began a back-and-forth exchange.

Song Yue looked up at Zhang Qidong and Yu Hui, ignoring them. She leaned toward Xu Shujian and whispered, "I don't accept this. Let's go again after we finish eating."

Xu Shujian was pondering the change in Zhang Qidong's attitude toward him and didn't react immediately. "What?"

Song Yue’s voice dropped a bit. "I said let’s play the afternoon game again tonight. I’ll definitely be able to react in time this time."

Xu Shujian was surprised. "You're that sore of a loser?"

"You wouldn't just stop playing now that you've won, would you?"

Xu Shujian rubbed his hands together. "Are you sure? I'm terrifyingly strong right now. Don't blame me for not being gentle later."

Song Yue lowered her head, feeling her face inexplicably begin to burn. "You better be! I’ll definitely win it back!"