Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Shen Xiubai and I made excellent research partners.

Philosophy and history overlap in many ways, so during our “reading time,” we would occasionally get into academic discussions.

Once, while we were talking about the I Ching, I slowly stroked the cat in my arms and asked him, “Haven’t you always believed that a gentleman should be broad-minded enough to carry all things? Why are you so harsh on Xia Dai, of all people?”

He was silent for two seconds. A trace of mockery appeared on his face.

“Cheng Feng is out there running himself ragged to support their family, yet as his wife, she doesn’t consider her husband’s dignity in the way she behaves. I’m not saying women are the root of all disaster, but history has taught us countless times that some of them certainly are.”

I couldn’t help finding it a little funny.

Cheng Feng had been Shen Xiubai’s college roommate. Back then, because the two of them were close, they had deliberately bought homes in the same place.

A year ago, Cheng Feng got married back in his hometown and brought Xia Dai here to live. Not long after the wedding, Cheng Feng was assigned to Malaysia for two years, leaving his wife alone in an empty home.

Although I felt Shen Xiubai was exaggerating a bit, he was indeed stubborn in certain ways.

After that incident, Xia Dai became extremely polite and distant in front of Shen Xiubai. She was no longer as warm as she was with other people. With her lowered eyes and submissive manner, she somehow gave off an inexplicably aggrieved air.

Whenever Shen Xiubai mentioned her again, his eyes were filled with even more dislike.

On my birthday, the three of us went out to eat and celebrate. Just as we were leaving, Xia Dai happened to open her door as well.

First, she warmly called me “Sister An,” then patted Dian Dian on the head. But when her gaze shifted to Shen Xiubai, she addressed him politely as “Teacher Shen,” assuming a posture that clearly drew a line between men and women.

Shen Xiubai gave a slight nod and looked coldly at the elevator display.

Inside the elevator, Xia Dai stood in the right-hand corner.

Shen Xiubai stood in the middle, while Dian Dian and I were on the other side.

The doors had just closed and the elevator begun its descent when it suddenly lurched, then plunged downward at high speed.

A massive feeling of weightlessness hit me all at once. I didn’t even have time to scream before instinctively pulling Dian Dian tightly into my arms.

Fortunately, when the elevator reached the first floor, it stopped falling. Still shaken, I turned my head to look.

And froze.

Shen Xiubai was holding Xia Dai tightly in his arms.

Their heads were pressed close together.

He was holding her so tightly.

So tightly it was as if he wanted to press her into his own body.

“Daddy, don’t be scared! It’s okay now!”

Dian Dian’s childish shout made the two people embracing each other lift their heads.

Shen Xiubai’s eyes met mine. His gaze trembled, and he abruptly released his arms.

“Ah! I thought you were standing on this side.”

Shen Xiubai pressed his lips together, his tone full of frustration.

“Hahaha, Daddy is so silly. Mommy and I are over here!”

Beside him, Xia Dai stared blankly at Shen Xiubai, her chest rising and falling. Beneath her shock was a faint, unmistakable excitement.

On the way to the restaurant, Shen Xiubai drove while I sat in the back with Dian Dian.

No one spoke for a long time. The atmosphere was deathly quiet.

Shen Xiubai kept his eyes on the road ahead, then suddenly said in a low voice, “An Zhen, what happened just now was too sudden. I panicked and made a mistake. Don’t-”

I wound the end of the ribbon around one last time and tied it into a bow, then tightened it. Looking up, I asked, “Hm? What?”

Shen Xiubai paused. “What are you two doing?”

Dian Dian said loudly, “Mommy is braiding my hair!”

I patted her round little cheek and said with a smile, “When I hugged her just now, I messed up her braid, so I redid it.”

Shen Xiubai glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his tone hesitant.

“You didn’t say anything this whole time because you were helping Dian Dian with her hair? I thought you-”

I looked out the window.

The neon lights blazed, dazzling and dreamlike.

“I am a little hungry, actually. I heard that restaurant is really popular. We won’t have to wait for a table, will we…”