Chapter 237: We Are Being Followed

Xiang Ri wasn't new to grocery shopping; he had done it before, though those days belonged to a version of himself that lived in poverty, scraping by with extreme frugality. Back then, every coin counted, and every purchase was carefully weighed. After becoming a leader, such mundane tasks had long been delegated to others. Yet today, he was revisiting those bygone struggles, and a strange sense of nostalgia stirred within him. 

For An Xin, however, this was her first venture into a bustling wet market. The pungent blend of fishiness and fresh produce overwhelmed her senses, prompting her to wrinkle her nose and exclaim in dismay, "It smells awful here!" 

Xiang Ri, accustomed to the unique odor of such places, merely smirked at her discomfort. "You wanted to come along, didn't you? Don't blame me now," he said with an air of schadenfreude. 

"Of course I'll blame you!" she retorted, shooting him a glare before retaliating with a pinch to his arm. 

"Ouch! Wife, could you go a little easier on me? That hurts!" Xiang Ri grimaced, though his tone was laced with humor. 

"Good! Let it hurt!" she huffed, but her grip softened nonetheless. 

Sensing her tender-hearted nature beneath the fiery exterior, Xiang Ri couldn't help but feel a wave of affection. As he gazed at her delicate features, a thought crossed his mind: life had been unexpectedly kind to him, blessing him with not one, but several devoted and beautiful women. Perhaps this was fate's way of compensating for the betrayals he had endured in the past. 

Noticing his prolonged silence and intense stare, An Xin grew self-conscious. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, her tone tinged with curiosity. 

Snapping out of his reverie, Xiang Ri chuckled. "I was just thinking... You actually look quite lovely with short hair. Maybe you should keep it this way." 

He meant it sincerely. Her current hairstyle complemented her tailored suit, lending her an air of sophistication. Long hair, on the other hand, might seem out of place and diminish her unique charm. 

"Really?" she said, startled, reaching out to touch his forehead as if checking for a fever. "Aren't you the one who used to say you preferred girls with long hair? Why the sudden change?" 

An Xin vividly recalled that during her confession, Xiang Ri had specifically mentioned his preference for long-haired women. His unexpected shift puzzled her, but the compliment warmed her heart nonetheless, and her smile deepened. 

Taking her hand gently in his, Xiang Ri said, "I think long hair suits some women, but for you, short hair feels just right. It's... refreshing and uniquely you." 

Blushing at his earnest words, An Xin felt a surge of joy but couldn't resist teasing him. "Are you saying I look bad with long hair?" 

The pointed glare she leveled at him hinted at imminent trouble, should he answer poorly. 

"Of course not!" Xiang Ri broke out in a cold sweat. Women truly were unfathomable creatures. Quickly changing the subject, he said, "Wife, there's something I don't quite understand. Why are you so intent on learning how to cook? Wouldn't it be nicer to just relax at home, watch TV, and let me take care of the cooking for you?" 

"I refuse!" she snapped, withdrawing her hand. "Sitting around waiting to be served every day is so boring. Look at Qingqing and Chuchu—they can both cook, but I can't. It's so embarrassing!" 

Her expression suddenly turned fierce. "Why are you even bringing this up? Are you saying you don't want to teach me? Fine, I'll teach myself! Hmph!" With that, she stormed off. 

"I'll teach you! I'll definitely teach you!" Xiang Ri hurried after her, finally understanding her determination. Her pride wouldn't allow her to lag behind Qingqing and Shi Qing, driving her to perfect her culinary skills at any cost. 

"Stay away from me!" she barked, still fuming. 

Grinning shamelessly, Xiang Ri slipped an arm around her waist. "Wife, I'll teach you, alright? I'll make sure you become a top-tier chef..." 

An Xin cut him off sharply. "Stop pretending! That's not what I want to hear. Tell me—do you really think I look bad with long hair?" 

"No, no, of course not." Xiang Ri sighed inwardly. How had they circled back to this? Quickly shifting gears, he said, "An Xin, what I truly love is the you standing before me—not some idealized version of you. I don't want you to change anything about yourself for my sake. I fell for you just as you are: straightforward, bold, and unafraid to speak your mind. That's what makes you so special."

"Do you truly believe that?" Anxin's lips curled into a smile, her brows radiating joy, entirely overlooking the brief pause Xiang Ri took before uttering the word "straightforward." "Don't all men prefer gentle, demure women?" 

"Only some twisted ones," Xiang Ri replied with a scoff, his tone carrying a mix of disdain and amusement. "Those men treat women like soulless puppets, obedient tools. Your husband? He's on another level... or rather, they couldn't even hope to compare to me! I'd never want my women to be confined or stripped of their individuality. Authenticity is priceless—ah!" 

Before he could finish, a sudden pinch from Anxin made him yelp. "Honey, why are you pinching me again?" 

"Pinching? I'm being merciful!" Her eyes blazed with indignation. "Let me ask you this: just how many women do you want? You talk about 'them'? Listen carefully—apart from Qingqing, Chuchu, and me, you're forbidden from laying a finger on anyone else. Otherwise, I'll squeeze you to death!" 

"Yes, yes," Xiang Ri nodded hurriedly, his mind racing for an escape. His eyes darted, and he hastily added, "Darling, we're here to buy groceries. Look around—everyone's watching us." 

"Ah!" Anxin let out a small cry, suddenly aware of the countless eyes fixed upon them in the bustling market. Embarrassed, she pushed him away, the thought of embracing a man so publicly making her squirm. 

Xiang Ri, too, felt a pang of discomfort. Affection was one thing, but doing so under the gaze of so many onlookers felt intrusive. He quickly steered Anxin away to a quieter corner, inadvertently stopping at a butcher's stall. 

The butcher, a bald man in his forties, beamed at the sight of potential customers. "You've come to the right place! This is the freshest beef, slaughtered just this morning. If it's not fresh, it's free!" 

"Let me take a look," Xiang Ri said, glancing at the meat. Though he knew the butcher was likely boasting, the beef's appearance didn't seem questionable. Just as he turned to consult Anxin, he realized his hand was empty. Looking back, he saw her standing a few steps away, pinching her nose with visible disdain. 

Her reaction was no surprise. The fishy scent of raw meat mixed with the earthy aroma of fresh vegetables was an acquired taste—one she clearly had not acquired. 

"Anxin, do you want beef?" Xiang Ri asked. 

"Whatever you like. I'll go with your choice," she replied nasally, her voice muffled as she kept her nose pinched. 

With her approval, Xiang Ri turned back to the butcher. "How much for the beef?" 

"Forty-two yuan per pound," the butcher said, his eyes glinting with greed. 

"That cheap?" Before Xiang Ri could respond, Anxin exclaimed in surprise. "At the restaurants, even the cheapest steak costs hundreds, sometimes thousands! And here it's only forty-two yuan per pound? Incredible!" 

Her astonishment was understandable, given her limited exposure to such markets. She frequented upscale establishments where imported, premium-grade beef came at exorbitant prices—a stark contrast to the unprocessed meat sold here. 

The butcher, however, regretted his pricing. He had pegged them as easy targets, especially the man's inexperienced companion, who screamed "novice" from the moment she pinched her nose. If only he'd quoted higher! Forcing a smile, he said, "Of course, it's a bargain! I'm the most honest vendor in this market—fair prices for all!" 

Xiang Ri snorted inwardly. Honest? Fair? Did this butcher think him a fool? Without a word, he grabbed Anxin's hand and walked away. 

"Hey, don't go! Wait!" The butcher called after them, panicking. 

Xiang Ri turned back, his voice laced with mockery. "Forty-two yuan for beef that's worth no more than thirty? Very honest of you, indeed." He smirked and resumed walking. 

It wasn't about saving a few yuan; it was the butcher's smug expression that irked him. If the man thought he'd gained the upper hand, Xiang Ri had no intention of letting him enjoy the satisfaction. 

"Wait! Fine! Thirty yuan—deal!" The butcher's voice trailed behind them. 

Anxin looked puzzled. "Xiang Ri, why didn't we buy it? The butcher lowered the price." 

She paused, a realization dawning on her. "Ah, I get it! That beef must've been fake, right? Otherwise, why would it be so cheap?" 

"Anxin!" Xiang Ri was exasperated, unable to hide his frustration. 

"What?" she asked, blinking innocently. 

"Do you even know what bargaining means?" 

"Of course I do! It's when you negotiate the price lower than the seller's initial offer, right?" 

"Then why did you say it was cheap?" 

"Because it was cheap!" 

Xiang Ri sighed, utterly defeated. He thought back to his past when eating a single serving of meat required weeks of scrimping and saving. Such struggles were unfathomable to someone born with a silver spoon. 

"Forget it," he muttered, steering her toward the vegetable stalls. "At least buying vegetables shouldn't be this complicated." 

But just as he reached out to guide her, his eyes sharpened. In an instant, his casual tug became a protective embrace, pulling Anxin firmly into his arms. 

"Let go of me!" Anxin blushed deeply, mortified by his sudden display of affection. The market was bustling, and being so intimately held in public was unbearably embarrassing. 

"Don't move," Xiang Ri whispered near her ear. "We're being followed."