Zhang Hu walked forward, and the panicked Wang Chen felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest.
The matter of the child was driving Zhang Hu mad.
If he were to discover the undressed Li Qian hiding under Wang Chen's quilt, he might have gone mad right then and there!
"Hu!"
In his urgency, Wang Chen suddenly yelled out.
His yell was so sudden that it startled Zhang Hu.
He turned around and glared at Wang Chen, "What are you yelling for? You trying to scare someone to death?"
Wang Chen stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Hu, "Hu, I think it's better if you go back first. After all, sister-in-law doesn't know about this, and if you bring me with you directly, she will surely feel embarrassed. It might be better for you to go back and talk to her first."
Zhang Hu thought about it, and it did seem to make sense.
He eyed Wang Chen, then glanced over at the bed.
His curiosity about who was under the quilt was itching like a cat scratching at his heart.
"It won't be too late to leave after I've had a look, right?" Zhang Hu said with a cheeky smile.
Seeing that his words had not persuaded Zhang Hu, Wang Chen quickly blocked his path, "Don't look, Hu, you should head back quickly."
"You're blocking me like this, kid. There wouldn't happen to be a woman hiding under there without a stitch on, would there?"
Uh…
Hearing this, Wang Chen's face turned red.
However, seeing his reaction, Zhang Hu decided not to inquire further.
"It looks like you've picked up some bad habits out there; you just got back and already got a woman."
"I…"
"Alright, I'm going back first; you hurry up and get things sorted out." Zhang Hu patted his shoulder and whispered, "Our conversation from just now better not be heard by the woman under the quilt."
Wang Chen grinned, "Don't worry about it, Hu."
Zhang Hu threw another glance towards the quilt before striding out of the room.
Wang Chen followed him to the door, not turning around until Zhang Hu's figure had completely disappeared into the orchard.
At that moment, Li Qian also crawled out from under the quilt.
Her cheeks were red, whether from being covered up or from the conversation that had just taken place; they were as flushed as overripe apples, looking as if they were about to drip with moisture.
After a while, she lifted her beautiful eyes to look at Wang Chen at the doorway.
The two exchanged a brief gaze but quickly looked away.
Words from Zhang Hu earlier had left them both unsure of what to talk about.
Wang Chen felt awkward, while Li Qian was bashful.
After a while, Wang Chen scratched his head, "Sister-in-law, you should head back too. Otherwise, Hu might get suspicious."
Blushing, Li Qian nodded, "Okay, I'll go back first, we can't let Hu Zi get suspicious."
Li Qian didn't give Wang Chen the chance to continue; she put on her coat and ran outside.
…
Ten or so minutes later.
Feeling extremely uneasy, Wang Chen approached the entrance to Zhang Hu's home.
"Hu and sister-in-law have been kind to me; I can't watch them go insane over the child, nor can I see their parents fall ill. This is me repaying their kindness, not just doing 'that' with sister-in-law."
He found himself a reason in front of the door and then knocked on it.
Zhang Hu seemed to have been waiting just inside, for as soon as Wang Chen knocked, the door was pulled open by Zhang Hu.
He yanked him into the house, "If you didn't show up soon, I was about to go out with a rope to tie you up."
"Don't listen to Hu Zi's nonsense, come in and have some food," Li Qian said as she walked over.
Earlier in the orchard, Li Qian was wearing a floral shirt and coarse cloth pants.
But now, she only had on a white tank top, with her smooth legs exposed to the air. Wang Chen took a stunned look and then sat down at the table with the couple.
Two small dishes and two bottles of white liquor.
Zhang Hu filled a cup for Wang Chen, "Here, it's been a long time since we brothers have had a drink together, let's have one."
Wang Chen didn't hesitate, taking up his cup and drinking it down, unsure if he was drinking courage into a coward's heart or just wanting to have a drink and chat with Zhang Hu.
As soon as he put down his cup, Zhang Hu filled it again.
"Here, let's have another one!"
"You should at least let Chenzi have a bite to eat first, who drinks like this right away?" Li Qian gave him a look.
Zhang Hu flashed his big yellow teeth, "Isn't it easier to get things done after drinking more?"
At these words, Wang Chen, slightly numbed by the alcohol, suddenly froze, and a blush spread across Li Qian's face, adding a different kind of charm to her beautiful visage.
Unable to withstand Zhang Hu's encouragement, Wang Chen drank three cups in a row with him.
When Zhang Hu saw that Wang Chen was becoming more talkative, he thought it must be about time.
He gave Li Qian a look, and she went into the bedroom.
A moment later, Zhang Hu patted Wang Chen's shoulder, "Little brother, go on in."
Wang Chen was somewhat dazed, but not truly drunk, so he of course knew what Zhang Hu meant.
He looked towards the direction of the bedroom, then at Zhang Hu's piercing gaze, and awkwardly said, "Bro... I really feel like I can't do this kind of thing!"
Zhang Hu, as if he had expected this response, first pushed him into the bedroom, and then said, "I've drunk too much; I'm going to go out for a walk to clear my head."
Having said that, Zhang Hu went straight out of the room and even closed the front door behind him.
The house suddenly became quiet.
So quiet that Li Qian and Wang Chen could hear each other's breathing and heartbeats.
After a while, Li Qian, who had been pretending to sleep, opened her eyes.
She didn't speak, but gently patted the spot next to her with her delicate hand.
Wang Chen paused slightly, "Sister-in-law, I…"
Li Qian smiled lightly, "I told you before, just think of me as some other woman you like."
Wang Chen's face turned to an awkward expression.
At that moment, Li Qian stood up and took his hand.
But just as she was about to pull Wang Chen down, the front door was knocked on…