Volume One, Chapter 12: Brother Ting'an, I'm Afraid

From the day she was reborn, her sleep became extraordinarily light, her senses sharpened to an intense degree.

By now, she was fully awake. The sound of footsteps came from the balcony.

Su Li remained still, quietly listening to the faint steps, a slight smile playing on her lips.

When passion stirs between a man and a woman, it’s hard to suppress.

“Brother Ting’an…” Zhao Xinran’s voice was soft and intoxicating.

“I’m scared!”

That voice came from the kitchen.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Su Li didn’t need to look to know what those two were up to in the kitchen.

She simply lay there calmly, feigning ignorance.

“Tomorrow, buy some sleeping pills. I’ll give them to her at night from now on.”

Su Li had no particular emotion at first, but when she heard Shao Ting’an say that, she could only sneer coldly.

The man she had loved for so many years was willing to drug her just to cheat.

It seemed that in her previous life, Zhao Xinran’s poisoning her was likely inspired by Shao Ting’an.

“I’ve remembered.” Zhao Xinran’s voice was breathless, barely holding back excitement. “Brother Ting’an, I’m so hot.”

“Brother Ting’an, I…”

The inexperienced girl’s anxious yet hopeful voice, soft and tender like a kitten’s, teased the heart.

“Hold me, calm down,” Shao Ting’an’s voice was husky, strained. “Su Li might wake up.”

Lying on the bed, Su Li listened as her husband and another woman struggled to suppress their desires.

She thought to herself, let’s see how many more days you can hold back.

Then, Su Li slowly turned over and muttered loudly in her sleep, “Ting’an…”

Startled, Shao Ting’an and Zhao Xinran shuddered, as if a cold bucket of water had been poured over their heated bodies.

They quickly separated; Shao Ting’an motioned for Zhao Xinran to stay put and quietly slipped out.

Zhao Xinran stood in the kitchen, no longer hearing Su Li’s voice, and tiptoed back to the small room next to the kitchen.

Originally a storage room, Su Li had converted it into a small bedroom with a single bed to make Zhao Xinran more comfortable.

Shao Ting’an glanced at Zhao Xinran, who quickly turned and returned to her room.

He quietly approached the bedroom door, watching Su Li lying still on the bed, and stepped closer.

---

Su Li seemed startled by his approach and suddenly turned over. “Ting’an? Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Oh, I heard you call me, so I came to check on you.”

Shao Ting’an’s anxious heart finally eased; it was clear she had just woken.

“Did I call you?” Su Li frowned, then suddenly her eyes welled with tears. “Maybe I called you out loud in my dream.”

Shao Ting’an sat gently beside her. “You had a dream?”

“Yeah, I dreamed of the time in Dayu Village, when you were swept away by the flood. I stood on the shore, calling and searching for you, but I couldn’t find you.”

That memory still terrified Su Li, causing her to occasionally relive the despair and fear.

Shao Ting’an had been washed miles away, and despite her calling for help, no news came. She sat by the shore for two days without food or drink, convinced she would never see him again.

Yet, he had returned on his own, standing nearby and smiling at her.

That time, Shao Ting’an was unharmed, but Su Li fainted from worry and exhaustion when she saw him.

Shao Ting’an’s heart tightened; he never doubted her love for him.

Hearing her recount this story felt like an invisible slap to his face, filling him with regret for betraying such a good wife.

Under the moonlight, Su Li watched as a flicker of remorse crossed his face and smiled bitterly to herself.

Thinking back, she truly had been foolish in her previous life—Zhao Xinran living right under her nose, using her and stealing her man.

Foolish, pathetic, idiotic!

“All in the past. I’m fine now,” Shao Ting’an stroked her head, his voice softer. “Go to sleep; it’s late.”

The moment Shao Ting’an touched her, Su Li skillfully dodged, turned over, and lay down.

“Sorry to wake you. You should rest after a long day.”

Shao Ting’an looked at her with deep and gentle eyes. “Mm.”

Su Li lay with her back to him, a single tear escaping from the corner of her eye. After all these years, their relationship had come to this.

She didn’t want to become so wicked, but she couldn’t resist the pleasure that wickedness brought.

She even thought that if it meant they would suffer harsher retribution, she wouldn’t hesitate to become even worse.

Drowsy and muddled, Su Li finally fell asleep.

---

The next morning, Zhao Xinran had already prepared breakfast.

Seeing Su Li get up, she hurried to help squeeze toothpaste for her.

“Teacher Su, are you and Brother Ting’an upset? Why did he sleep on the balcony?”

Su Li smiled. “My health isn’t good. Your Brother Ting’an snores when he sleeps; he didn’t want to disturb me.”

Zhao Xinran lowered her eyes. “Brother Ting’an really treats you well.”

“That’s right. You’re at the age to find someone. I don’t oppose you dating, but if a woman marries the wrong man, she suffers a lifetime. So keep your eyes open—you should marry a good man like Brother Ting’an.”

Su Li beamed with pride.

Just then, Shao Ting’an returned, pushing open the door. Seeing Su Li’s gentle smile, he said, “You’re awake. Just in time—I brought your favorite Wang’s buns.”

Su Li’s proud smile softened with a touch of shyness.

She raised an eyebrow at Zhao Xinran, then linked her arm with Shao Ting’an’s. “Am I right?”

Zhao Xinran bit her lip lightly, a smile playing on her lips. “Yes, if you marry, it should be to someone like Brother Ting’an.”

Shao Ting’an looked between the two of them, puzzled, then shyly smiled. “What are you two talking about? Hurry and eat.”

“Mm. Ting’an, I arranged to go to the department store with Li Mo. I’ll buy your mother some clothes and bring them to her in the afternoon.”

Su Li said this and bent down to wash her face.

Zhao Xinran looked at Shao Ting’an quietly before lowering her head.

Her heart ached. Su Li could openly flaunt and enjoy his care, but she…

Shao Ting’an gave her a look, his warm smile soothing the jealousy in Zhao Xinran’s heart.

“Alright. I’m not going out today. I’ll stay home and wait for you.”

“Great. Xinran, do you want to come shopping with me?”

“Oh, no, I want to go to the Xinhua Bookstore to find a book.”

Zhao Xinran’s refusal was expected by Su Li. “That’s fine. The exam is Monday. You should study well.”

Zhao Xinran obediently nodded.

The meal was eaten with different thoughts in mind. Shao Ting’an clearly felt guilty—otherwise, why would he go buy Wang’s buns so early?

When Su Li went downstairs, a few gossiping neighbors and sisters-in-law were gathered around the well, washing things.

“Oh, Section Chief Shao really loves his wife, going out early to buy Wang’s buns.”

“Look at you, practically drooling.”

“Right? Wang’s buns have thin skin and lots of meat—who wouldn’t want some?”

“But I often see Section Chief Shao escorting Teacher Su’s student at night. Teacher Su must really trust him.”

One after another, their chatter revolved around Su Li and Shao Ting’an.

“Don’t talk nonsense. That girl’s family owes Teacher Su and Section Chief Shao a favor. They’re just being kind to her.”

Aunt Zhang explained from the side. Though she was talkative, she could tell right from wrong and never spoke ill of Su Li.

“You should tell Teacher Su to be careful—thieves from within are the hardest to guard against.”