In Cheng Suâs dictionary, there is no such thing as smiling meekly while someone walks all over you. He Xing had always found various things about her disagreeable, and these words nowâif they were meant as a friendly reminder rather than a provocation, sheâd believeâyeah, right!
Cheng Su smiled as she walked toward He Xing, who was originally smiling back since she had stumbled upon a huge piece of gossip early that morning. Qi Taiguo and the new female military doctor had unexpectedly turned up at the courtyard gate early morning. At such an early hour, what could they have been off to do?
Ha ha, Cheng Suâs good days are over!
No sooner had Cheng Su appeared than she couldnât help but to throw cold and hot jeers, "Your husbandâs heart has wandered, change your expression, quick, change it!"
But Cheng Su didnât lose her temper as He Xing had expected. Had she not made herself clear enough? And what was with that creepy smile of hers?
Looking at Cheng Suâs creeping smile growing ever closer, He Xing felt a chill down her spine, and the smile on her lips stiffened!
"Sister-in-law He, youâre out here calling so early in the morning, it seems youâve gained quite a bit lately. Did you eat too much pigâs throat, supplementing form with form? Quite the strong voice youâve got there!"
As soon as Cheng Su opened her mouth, it was all hidden barbs, making He Xingâs face turn liver red.
Before she could retort, Cheng Suâs smile froze, and she stared straight at He Xing, "Sister-in-law He, sometimes itâs better to keep a low profile, to be cautious with what you say and do. Those who are too high-profile might accidentally fall from grace."
"What, what do you mean?" He Xing felt a sudden panic inside.
Cheng Su looked down on her with disdain and said with a smile, "The Zhen Sister clothing store on the cross street downtown got a nice skirt these past few days. The shop owner said the purchase price of that skirtâyou guess how much, Sister-in-law Heâwas a whole ten yuan."
Her face carried a smile, but her eyes never left He Xing, as if saying, "You little thief, Iâve caught you, I know all the good youâve done!"
He Xingâs face turned ashen.
She finally understood why Cheng Suâs smile was so unsettlingâshe had been exposed!
How could this be, how could Cheng Su have just happened to see that skirt?
He Xing gulped nervously and feigned composure: "I donât know what youâre talking about!"
Her hands, hanging by her sides, began to tremble. The arrogance she had a moment ago had vanished, leaving only the pretense of calm. The saying, "A guilty conscience needs no accuser," held true!
"Is it real ignorance or feigned, "Sister-in-law He," like the blind man who knows whatâs in his bowlâheart knows the truth. Cheng Su continued to smile, "If you donât want people to know, you shouldnât have done it!"
Saying so, she stepped even closer, with a voice audible to He Xing, "He Xing, with that ten yuan in your pocket, do you sleep well at night?"
"You..." He Xing stumbled back two steps, looking around to see the neighbors who had been watching with puzzled faces. Their eyes shimmered with curiosity, and her heart fluttered with a greater panic, as she shrieked, "I donât know what youâre talking about!"
Without waiting for a response, she ran off as if fleeing, as if Cheng Su behind her was a ghoulâno, she was a ghoul!
Cheng Su let out a cold snicker.
People crowded around, curious to ask Cheng Su what had happened, what about the skirt.
Cheng Su said, "Itâs nothing, I was just telling Sister-in-law He about the new arrivals at Zhen Sisterâs clothing store, you can all disperse now!"
Everyone looked at each other, obviously disbelieving, their eyes now glinting with the light of gossip. Could it be that skirt of Cheng Suâs, had been stolen by He Xing?
Cheng Su didnât care what others thought and was about to leave when suddenly a womanâs voice stopped her, "Is this Commander Qiâs wife?"