Su Tingran knew that Sheng Mumu had returned to Jing City. Without waiting for her to make plans, she took the initiative to go to Yueji Flower Shop to visit her.
The afternoon sunshine shone through the glass walls of the flower shop, scattering circles of colorful halos on the milky white tabletop.
There were two teacups filled with rose tea on the table, and next to them were the cranberry cookies that Sheng Mumu had made by hand that morning.
Su Tingran took a bite of a cookie and leaned on her arm, saying:
"The ladies in the WeChat group know that you went on a trip to Shen City, and they're all guessing - isn't it to have a belated honeymoon with Qi Chief? They praise Qi Chief for doting on his wife. At the busiest time of the year for listed groups to release their mid-year financial reports, Qi Chief is willing to go on vacation with you."
"Ahem." Sheng Mumu nearly choked on her tea, "It's not a honeymoon! It's an employee benefit trip, I'd be silly not to go."
Su Tingran didn't believe her excuse at all. She gave her a reproachful glance, "Why are you shy with me?"
Sheng Mumu smiled helplessly and took a sip of tea without explaining further.
Su Tingran said, "Oh yes, thank you for the gift you brought me, I really like it."
Sheng Mumu put down her teacup and smiled, "I thought it really suited you too."
Su Tingran had the air and temperament of a young lady from a good family. When Sheng Mumu saw that greenish-blue cheongsam in the store, she immediately felt it would be perfect for her, so she bought it as a gift.
As if recalling something, a hint of sorrow appeared on Su Tingran's face. Her lips moved a few times before she said slowly:
"Actually, I used to really like wearing cheongsams, but since I married my husband, I hardly ever wear them."
Sheng Mumu was puzzled: "Why don't you wear them?"
"They're too figure-hugging. He...doesn't like me wearing stuff like that." Su Tingran's shoulders sagged a little, but the sad mood didn't linger on her face for long. Her eyes became bright again, "But the one you gave me, I will definitely wear it, don't worry."
"Of course you should wear what you like, don't care what men think." Sheng Mumu was a little indignant on her behalf, "Don't judge a beauty, a beauty can wear whatever she wants."
Su Tingran was amused by her righteous indignation. She nodded, "Yes, you're right."
Since becoming good friends with Sheng Mumu, Su Tingran felt that she had become much more open-minded.
Previously, her heart had always revolved around her family and her husband.
Now, she was putting more thoughts into herself.
She felt that this was good now, that this was right.
"Sister Sheng, I've emailed you this month's online sales report."
A clear voice suddenly came over.
Sheng Mumu looked over at the sound.
Cheng Zhuo was smiling at them with a bright and clean grin.
Sheng Mumu smiled and nodded, "Great, thanks for your hard work."
Cheng Zhuo rubbed the back of his head. His smile revealed two very shallow dimples. He said, "Just doing my job."
After the brief exchange ended, as soon as Sheng Mumu turned her head back, she saw Su Tingran winking meaningfully at her.
"Mumu, do you know that the aunties in the villa area are all praising how handsome the new store manager you hired is."
"Of course, I wouldn't have hired him if he wasn't good-looking," Sheng Mumu said a little smugly, stirring the flower tea with a small silver spoon, making crisp clinking sounds against the cup.
Not only was Cheng Zhuo easy on the eyes, but his work ability was also outstanding.
When she was away from Jing City these past few days, the flower shop's online and offline business had been great, everything handled orderly and efficiently.
She was currently considering how much more of a raise to give Cheng Zhuo.
Su Tingran paused for a moment. "But there are also quite a lot of rumors."
Sheng Mumu looked up, stopping the stirring motion of her little spoon. "What rumors?"
Su Tingran glanced left and right to make sure no one else was around before hesitating briefly and deciding to speak plainly:
"Nothing more than the usual nonsense."
"Saying that you're still young and couldn't resist temptation, having just married into a wealthy family... "
Su Tingran was very tactful with her wording, but Sheng Mumu could imagine what those people were gossiping about behind her back.
Among the people spreading these words were some upper-class young ladies who admired Qi Mo.
Since they couldn't have him themselves, they wanted to slander her.
Su Tingran was firmly on Sheng Mumu's side. When she heard others discussing this, she would sternly stop them and tell them not to talk nonsense.
But while you can shut people's mouths, you can't control what they think.
There was no shortage of malice among wealthy social circles.
In some wealthy families, husbands and wives each did their own thing, turning a blind eye to each other's affairs.
In other wealthy families, the wife overpowered the husband, and it was an open secret that the wife kept toyboys on the side.
Sheng Mumu didn't have a powerful natal family backing her up, so naturally she became an object of private ridicule for others.
Among the people spreading these words were some upper-class young ladies who had admired Qi Mo.
Since they couldn't have him themselves, they wanted to slander her.
Su Tingran was firmly on Sheng Mumu's side. "A clear conscience laughs at false accusations. Although we haven't known each other long, I understand what kind of person you are. You wouldn't even think of keeping a toyboy."
"Besides, what other man could compare to your Qi Chief?" She smiled meaningfully at Sheng Mumu, "Qi Chief is in his prime. He wouldn't let you have the energy to think of anyone else, right?"
Sheng Mumu: "............Pfft, cough cough."
This time she really choked on the water.
Her face flushed red as she coughed.
Tingran was undoubtedly a woman who had been married for years. She was indeed...very daring with her words.
Do all married women speak so boldly?
With just one sentence, it made people think of naughty things.
The imagery came along with it.
She suddenly pictured Qi Mo's broad shoulders and taut, smooth muscle lines.
And the adam's apple that hit her aesthetic spot the most.
Tsk, thinking about it carefully, he did look pretty sexy and bewitching.
He looked like he had great stamina.
Sheng Mumu suddenly felt parched and poured herself another cup of rose tea.
She drank it all in one go.
As if wanting to flush all the yellow waste material out of her mind.
Su Tingran just smiled without speaking as she watched Sheng Mumu's fair face turn bright red all over.
...
That night after the flower shop closed, Sheng Mumu and Cheng Zhuo came out together.
Cheng Zhuo took out his keys to lock the door while Sheng Mumu waited to the side.
Recalling her chat with Su Tingran that afternoon, she couldn't help discreetly looking him over.
Cheng Zhuo wore casual suits that looked a bit more youthful in terms of cut and style compared to the kind Qi Mo wore, though the quality was far inferior.
He was in profile to her. His short hair was neat and clean-cut, and his handsome features radiated a hint of vitality.
Just like his name, he was like fire.
If she hadn't seen Cheng Zhuo's resume and known he was only twenty-seven, she would have guessed he was a fresh college graduate just based on looks alone.
As Sheng Mumu thought this, she recalled Su Tingran's well-meaning reminder:
"Just because you don't have any intentions, doesn't mean others don't. You have to be more careful not to be deceived."
"Nowadays there are many good-looking men who specifically target wealthy wives, just to swindle money."
"These kinds of people often have good backgrounds themselves, sweet-talkers who are best at cajoling others."
...
As she pondered this, Cheng Zhuo had already finished locking the door and walked over, jingling the keys at her.
"Sister Sheng, are you hungry? Want to grab a late night snack together?"
