chapter 2

After years of striving in this city, a few of us friends gather regularly.

Today was one of those days.

When the meal was about to begin, everyone surrounded Xu Sen with praise, calling him young and promising, saying that a deputy director position was just around the corner.

Xu Sen smiled calmly.

In the office, he was known as a “penman,” always valued and respected, carrying an air of aloofness about him.

“Cheng Hu and his wife are coming today too.”

Someone said.

Everyone’s expressions turned a bit awkward.

Cheng Hu was Xu Sen’s fellow townsman. A couple of years ago, he made some money as a contractor, but then developed a gambling addiction, lost all his assets, and was even listed as a dishonest debtor.

Every time he joined a dinner, he’d get himself drunk, cursing the heavens, the earth, and society’s unfairness. Last time, he even got into a fight with an old friend, beating him so badly he was hospitalized for half a month.

“I invited him.”

Xu Sen put down his teacup and spoke in a calm voice.

“After all, we’ve been friends for years. Just because someone’s down and out doesn’t mean they’re no longer a friend.”

Seeing him take a stand, the others couldn’t say much, just smiled awkwardly and nodded.

I frowned slightly.

It wasn’t for any other reason, but because I’m pregnant now, and Cheng Hu smokes heavily, one cigarette after another. Whenever I mention it, he gives me that sarcastic look, as if I’m “looking down on people.”

I wanted to speak to Xu Sen, but saw his gaze fixed on the doorway, as if waiting for something.

“Bang!”

The door was pushed open forcefully.

I flinched.

Cheng Hu walked in, cursing loudly.

“Parking cost me twenty bucks! Damn, why don’t they just rob me!”

He pointed behind him and cursed again, “Ungrateful thing! What kind of woman doesn’t stand by her own man? Only you, damn it, always siding with outsiders!”

Behind him, a woman followed with her head down, faint finger marks visible on her face.

This was Cheng Hu’s wife, Shen Rou.

She had gentle features, kind and virtuous, but unfortunately, fate hadn’t been kind to her-she ended up with a hot-tempered husband like Cheng Hu.

“Quit shouting! Watch yourself!”

Xu Sen suddenly spoke in a deep voice, clearly displeased.

Cheng Hu immediately changed his expression, plastering on a smile.

“Brother, sorry, sorry, my temper got the better of me again. I forgot where I was. I’ll punish myself with three drinks later!”

With that, he swaggered to the table, grabbed his chopsticks, and started eating peanuts, not caring about the person behind him.

Shen Rou stood awkwardly by the door.

She quietly brushed a lock of hair down, clearly trying to cover her face.

Everyone showed sympathy, deliberately averting their eyes to spare her embarrassment.

I sighed and called out,

“Shen Rou, come join us. The food will be served soon.”

She gave me a grateful smile and walked over to sit beside Cheng Hu.

“Thank you, sister-in-law.”

After that, she glanced past me at Xu Sen, and softly said:

“Thank you, Brother Sen.”

Xu Sen’s expression tightened slightly, but he said nothing.

During the meal, Cheng Hu kept cursing, alternating between cigarettes and alcohol, soon turning as red as a cooked shrimp.

Shen Rou peeled shrimp for him, poured his drinks, barely eating herself.

I was about to urge her to eat more.

Xu Sen suddenly reached out with his chopsticks and picked a piece of fish for Brother Tan, who was hosting.

Brother Tan chuckled, “I’m the host today, I should be serving you.”

“It’s all the same,” Xu Sen replied calmly, then stood up and served a shrimp to the person next to him.

He went around the table in order, giving each person a serving of food or a bowl of soup.

Everyone present was pleasantly surprised.

“What’s gotten into Brother Sen today? The sun must be rising in the west!”

“Yeah, we’re not used to this at all.”

“Must be because sister-in-law is pregnant-Brother Sen is in a great mood!”

“Exactly! That explains it!”

I was a bit surprised myself, but hearing everyone say this, I felt it was true.

Xu Sen was reserved and not good at expressing himself.

My pregnancy was a huge joy for him and his whole family.

His parents back home were even more excited than when they heard he passed the civil service exam.

At that moment, I smiled, wanting to tease him a little.

But I saw him lift his eyes slightly, his gaze seemingly unintentionally falling to the front right.

I followed his gaze.

Shen Rou sat with her head down, sipping soup quietly with a spoon.

Through the strands of hair hanging down, her almond-shaped eyes were slightly red.

…

Xu Sen had just served her a bowl of chicken soup.