Chapter 16: Saving Face

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Saving FaceA night passed without word, and Cheng Su thought she’d be unable to sleep with a "stranger" beside her, but that wasn’t the case; she fell asleep and when she awoke, the sky was already light.

Touching the space next to her, she found it cool and couldn’t help sitting up.

Had he risen so early? Or had he already left?

Cheng Su’s brows furrowed slightly, feeling somewhat melancholy for some reason.

It was strange; she wasn’t familiar with Qi Taiguo, even though they were legally husband and wife. To her, he was still a stranger. Yet, she had managed to sleep peacefully through the night.

Could it be because it’s someone else’s body with her memories inherited?

As Cheng Su pondered wildly, she heard voices outside the room, seemingly Mother Qi and Qi Taiguo. Her heart jolted, and she hurriedly got dressed.

Stepping outside, indeed it was the two of them, Qi Taiguo wearing only a pair of shorts, his upper body bare, bringing up a bucket of cold water from the well and dousing himself with it.

Mother Qi was nagging at him, saying something about the well water being icy cold and how it wasn’t good to drench himself with cold water so early in the morning, and so on.

Qi Taiguo said he was used to it, that he had done the same after training in the military. It seemed he had gone for training early in the morning!

Seeing Cheng Su appear, Qi Taiguo looked at her unfavorably and huffed.

Mother Qi also saw her daughter-in-law and hurriedly said, "Go quickly and make breakfast. Taiguo has to eat and then return to the military. You can go back to your family later today for the home visit!"

That’s right, today was Cheng Su’s day to return home, three days after her marriage.

It was rather pitiable; married to a military man, even her return home had to be done alone.

A trace of sadness flitted across Cheng Su’s face.

Qi Taiguo said, "I’ll leave in the afternoon, no need for breakfast. Get ready, and let’s head back to your home!"

Cheng Su was startled and looked toward Qi Taiguo.

Mother Qi was also surprised and said, "Didn’t you say you had to go back early this morning? Will it be okay if you’re late?"

"It’s fine, I have a three-day leave anyway. It’s okay if I go back later," Qi Taiguo replied indifferently. "Mom, you should prepare the gifts for the return visit too. She doesn’t understand any of this, so it’s to avoid any issues with proper conduct."

Mother Qi felt slighted, but she knew her son was right. Even the old man had mentioned in private the night before that the gifts for the daughter-in-law’s return visit should be well-prepared, to avoid criticism.

Now that the two families were linked by marriage, no matter how reluctant she felt inside, she had to ensure things looked good on the surface. Otherwise, it would make them the laugh of the town, suggesting the Qi family lacked manners and that even Taiguo’s reputation wouldn’t be favorable.

Since it concerned the reputation of her family and her son, Mother Qi naturally wouldn’t refuse and so went to get things ready.

Cheng Suxin felt content; this man did have some redeeming qualities.

"Don’t get too pleased," Qi Taiguo snorted. "Accompanying the wife on her return visit is a matter of protocol. I just don’t want others to look down on the Qi family or on me, Qi Taiguo."

In fact, as a soldier, if there was any urgent mission, forget the return visit, he’d have to skip even the wedding ceremony and prioritize the country.

So if he truly didn’t accompany Cheng Su on her return visit, they could have made an excuse for it.

But just now, upon seeing the fleeting sadness on Cheng Su’s face, he impulsively said he would accompany her back.

How he regretted it, what was he thinking this early morning? Just last night, she was on guard as if she saw a lecher!

Qi Taiguo, annoyed, picked up the bucket and threw it harshly back into the well, drawing another bucket of water to drench himself, as if only by doing so could he conceal the barely visible irritation.

Cheng Su said with a smile, "I’m quite happy, thank you," valuing her face.

Qi Taiguo was taken aback as he watched her return inside, feeling an unexpected slight easing in his heart. The corners of his mouth twitched up, but as soon as he noticed his own reaction, he huffed again.