Chapter 3 The Wife in Poor Circumstances (3)

When Chen Jin's words had fallen, Su Li gazed downward with a mocking look beneath her dense lashes.

Only the person opposite her was completely oblivious, still rambling on.

"Xiao Li, don't be stubborn," he continued. "Your parents wouldn't agree if they knew."

"The education of children is so important nowadays, and you're a mother..."

It seemed like last time, when he had joined with her parents to advise her to find a relaxed job, Chen Jin was just as sincere, his every word seemingly out of consideration for her.

And the time before last, getting married right after graduation, and the time even before that, when filling out the college entrance exam applications...

Human hearts, truly selfish to the core.

Su Li curled her lips in boredom and directly cut off Chen Jin, "I'll talk to my parents about it myself."

Chen Jin still had a lot to say, but interrupted by Su Li, it got stuck in his throat, causing discomfort.

This was the second time today that he was flabbergasted on the spot.

Looking at the indifferent Su Li before him, Chen Jin belatedly realized how stranger the person in front of him was.

It was as if she had peeled off her soft outer layer, exposing a hard shell that was excruciatingly uncomfortable.

Su Li had eaten until she was about seventy percent full before putting down her chopsticks, while Chen Jin was still lost in his thoughts, not snapping back to reality.

"I'm finished eating," Su Li said quietly, seating herself and saying no more after that line.

"Oh, oh... then let's go home," he replied.

Chen Jin's expression was not very pleased, and the wrinkles between his brows looked as if they could kill a fly at this moment.

Su Li pretended not to see, gracefully turning around and walking ahead.

Seeing this, Chen Jin's face turned even colder.

Until the two of them returned home together, Chen Jin did not say another word to Su Li the entire way.

A somber and oppressive atmosphere spread between them.

If it had been the Su Li of the past, she probably wouldn't have been able to stand it and would have given in to Chen Jin repeatedly.

Whenever they had disagreements before, Chen Jin always used this tactic, and Su Li couldn't win against him.

But this time...

Su Li seemed completely unaware of the strange atmosphere between them, and cheerfully fiddled with her round fingertips for a while.

Her hands were exceptionally well-formed, like fine white jade that made people want to hold them in the palm of their hand and carefully play with them.

The only flaw was that they were not delicate enough.

Su Li thought, maybe she should go for a hand treatment tomorrow, and also have her nails done.

Such exquisite beautification was something the old Su Li had never tried.

Her parents always felt that their daughter was too striking in appearance, and since she was young, they tried to suppress her, fearing negative comments from others.

As a result, the original Su Li was truly obedient and would always follow her elder's wishes, even seemingly skipping the rebellious phase of youth entirely.

-----

The next day, early in the morning while Su Li was still lost in slumber, the ringing of the cell phone by her bed was relentless, like a life-demanding pager that wouldn't stop for a moment.

Su Li lazily stretched and then glanced at the phone screen without much interest.

It was a call from Mrs. Su...

"Su Li, this morning Ah Jin called your dad, and your father-in-law had breakfast with your dad early in the morning... Your dad wants you to come back home quickly."

Mrs. Su's voice was neither hurried nor slow, but the clear annoyance in her tone was all too evident.

Xiao Li was driving with the speakerphone on, her cellphone casually placed on the dressing table while she leisurely styled her hair into a fetching look.

Not the least bit affected by Mrs. Su's mood.

"Mom, I have things to do today, so I won't be coming over..." she said, and without waiting for a response from the other end of the line, she promptly hung up the phone.

The Chen family, a family of three, certainly had some achievements. They were expert in using the Su parents to pressure her.

Sadly, that person was gone, and the Su Li who cared about them had long since left.

Who really cares anymore, who can truly control someone else's life?

Su Li didn't take her mother's words to heart and continued to go on with her plans for the day as previously scheduled.

Mrs. Su, having her call coldly dropped by her daughter for the first time, took a while to respond.

Holding her phone, still in the pose of being on a call, until the dial tone in her ear incessantly reminded her of the fact that her daughter appeared to be somewhat impatient with her.

Mrs. Su suddenly felt a full twinge of grievance.

The child was too inconsiderate of her parents.

If Su Li had known, she would have probably remarked with a sigh: Talk about being spoiled.

Those who are doted on always act with impunity, unable to bear even the slightest grievance.

The old Su Li was extremely filial, always accommodating her parents' wishes, always fearful of causing them any discomfort.

"When Su Li comes back, we must have a serious talk... You have no idea, today when our in-law indirectly mentioned our girl, I just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide..."

"You say her, with a comfortable life she won't settle down, always thinking about the outside world, neglecting the child? Neglecting her husband? Does she have any awareness as a mother, as a wife at all..."

Mr. Su, holding his cup of tea, still carried an air of indignant displeasure, "Lucky that her husband is so tolerant..."

"...Su Li said she's not coming back today..." Mrs. Su's words cut through Mr. Su's unceasing complaints about Su Li.

"Not coming back?" Mr. Su found it hard to believe what his wife just said, as Su Li had never defied them in her life.

"The child isn't planning to come for pickup either?" The next moment, Mr. Su exploded in anger, neck bulging and face red, shouting: "The child isn't planning to come for pickup either?"

"How can we face the family across from us now..."

"All thanks to your well-taught daughter..."

Just the thought of the Chen parents' faces next door, those insincerely smiling visages, infuriated Mr. Su so much that he turned his anger towards Mrs. Su.

It was truly incomprehensible.

Mrs. Su silently bore it, but she blamed Su Li for all the troubles in her heart.

Su Li's resignation went very smoothly; after all, it was just a clerical position. Easily replaced, anyone could take over.

As soon as she left the company, Chen Jin's call followed closely.

All around probing in the conversation, "You should be going to pick up Doudou and Yaya from home now..."

Su Li had no patience for beating around the bush and directly said, "I haven't gone yet, I'm busy with something today..."

"You're not working overtime today, right? After work, pick Doudou and Yaya up on your way home. The two kids have been complaining to me that you spend too little time with them."

"Alright, I'm busy now, we can talk about this when I get home."

Su Li didn't wait for Chen Jin to say more and hung up the phone.

When Chen Jin tried to call back, the line was always busy.