You're my wife, don't doubt it!

"I'm back." Xiao Yao shook his backpack off his back and sniffed.

"Welcome back." As if they had rehearsed it, Shen Jie and Shen Tianyun turned their heads together and called out in unison.

Chapter 86 A Day in the Life of Heroic Mother Shen Jie

2023-07-31

"Ugh, what's this?!" During the meal, Shen Jie pinched the bundle of socks between two fingers, as if she were holding a dead rat by the tail, and then swung it back at Xiao Yao's stomach: "I don't want to wear this!"

"What are you doing—" Xiao Yao said, a little annoyed.

"What did you buy? It doesn't even have packaging. It's obviously a cheap, unbranded product," Shen Jie said irritably. "Tianyun, what are you doing?"

Xiao Yao turned his head and saw that Shen Tianyun had taken the bundle of flesh-colored stockings at some point and was pulling one out and putting it on her foot: "If you're not wearing them, I'll wear them—oh my, they look pretty."

"Beautiful?" Shen Jie asked incredulously.

"It's quite comfortable," Shen Tianyun said after putting on one sock. She even pulled the sock up a bit, then used two fingers to lift the sock over her foot, rubbed it a couple of times, and then let go with a snap. "The quality is good."

Through the sheer stockings, Xiao Yao could see that Shen Tianyun's index toe was the longest, just like Shen Jie's. Her nails were painted with bright red nail polish.

"Mom, what's with that look?" Shen Tianyun noticed Shen Jie's gaze and curled her lip dismissively, "It's fashionable now!" (Note: In Shanghai dialect, "fashionable" means "popular")

"It's okay now?" Shen Jie repeated.

“Yes, this is called retro style, the new trend of 2034.” Shen Tianyun said proudly, “Xiao Yao has such good taste!”

"Damn it," Xiao Yao slammed his hand on the table, "I absolutely love 2034."

"You can't wear these cheap clothes from street vendors, especially such close-fitting garments. I'll buy you some later—"

"By the way, Shen Tianyun, why are you wearing nail polish? Don't students in sports schools have to abide by the 'Middle School Students' Code of Conduct'?"

Shen Jie and Xiao Yao spoke at the same time.

“Speak one by one, one by one,” Shen Tianyun covered her ears, “If we all speak at once, who am I supposed to listen to?”

“I mean, your nail polish—” Xiao Yao began.

"Ugh, you two are so annoying! I'm done eating, I'm going to go square dancing." Shen Tianyun opened the cupboard door and jumped into the mirror.

Xiao Yao watched helplessly as the cute little foot encased in stockings disappeared from the mirror.

"Hey, honey," Xiao Yao said, "Shall we go square dancing too?"

"What? Is Auntie's dancing that good?" Shen Jie said irritably, "Don't you need to study for your exams?"

"Hey, I'm sure, I'm sure," Xiao Yao said.

"You're so calm, so calm. I'll see what you do then—"

"Ugh, you're so annoying," Xiao Yao complained. "Hey, let me ask you something, you actually know Yu Luying's cousin?"

“Ah,” Shen Jie paused for a moment, then said sullenly, “We’re not very close, we’re just acquaintances.”

While clearing away the dishes, Xiao Yao watched as Shen Jie, resting her chin on her hand, began to explain: "The Yu family is also a family business. They have had some business dealings with our group, but not many."

“Okay,” Xiao Yao said.

“I met Yu Yage at a business cocktail party, I think it was during junior high... elementary school... yes, during junior high preparatory class,” Shen Jie said.

"What is the preparatory class?" Xiao Yao asked.

"A preparatory class is just a preparatory class!" Shen Jie said, bewildered.

"?"

"Junior high preparatory class, then junior high 7, junior high 8, junior high 9."

"Junior high schools in Shanghai are four years long?" Xiao Yao was surprised.

“Yeah.” Shen Jie replied matter-of-factly.

"So you guys usually start high school a year later than us?" Xiao Yao said.

"Oh no, no," Shen Jie slapped the table and said, "I remember now, you had six years of elementary school, right?"

"correct."

"Ours is five years, so it adds up to nine years."

“That’s weird,” Xiao Yao said.

"You've been in Shanghai for almost a year now, how come you're still..." Shen Jie complained.

"Still acting like a country bumpkin," Xiao Yao laughed.

The two looked at each other and laughed together.

“No, I just feel,” Shen Jie said, “that you never seem to observe your surroundings or life, as if you live in your own world.”

"Now that you mention it, it does seem a little true," Xiao Yao admitted.

"So, you're so good at reading the room, that's why people in your class treat you like that—what's wrong, are you unhappy? Then I won't say anything more." Shen Jie stuck out her tongue lightly.

“No,” Xiao Yao said calmly, pulling up a chair and sitting down in front of Shen Jie. “I know you’re right. Thank you for not disliking me like this. Please teach me more in the future.”

Shen Jie looked at Xiao Yao suspiciously: "But I think you've been much better lately—you've definitely made progress."

"Yes, that's good." Xiao Yao said casually, "So, let's continue talking about Yu Yage?"

"There's not much to say. Oh, right, Yu Yage gives off a somewhat...mysterious vibe," Shen Jie recalled.

"Mystical? Is she Catholic?" Xiao Yao said.

“The entire Yu family is,” Shen Jie said. “Actually, when I first met Yu Luying, I should have thought that she might be a member of the Yu family—her surname is Yu, and she is religious, but I just don’t know why, I just didn’t think of it at all.”

“That’s normal,” Xiao Yao thought for a moment and said, “Everyone has blind spots in their thinking, and besides, you’re not familiar with Yu Yage. It’s just that people in high society all know each other, right?”

"Oh, what's with all this talk about upper and lower society..."

"You mean being superstitious, like Yu Luying?" Xiao Yao asked.

“No way, Yu Luying is very worldly and normal,” Shen Jie shook her head and said, “Yu Yage is completely different. I think she’s closer to… a nun?”

"That...it does have a certain feel to it," Xiao Yao recalled.

“Ah, I remember now,” Shen Jie said, slapping her forehead. “She also practices karate. I’ve run into her a few times at the dojo before. She’s very strong. I’m no match for her.”

"More skilled than you? Is karate one of your young ladies' family's ancestral skills?"

"Just because he's tall, even Tyson can't beat someone tall, right?" A hint of annoyance flashed across Shen Jie's face.

“If you can’t beat them, you can bite their ears—it’s okay. Look at Tianyun’s face, it’s all thanks to me. I’ll be in charge of improving your family’s genes from now on,” Xiao Yao said with a smile.

"Hiss—" Shen Jie glared at him: "I was just praising you for your improved emotional intelligence lately."

"Oh, it was just a joke..." Xiao Yao was a little embarrassed.

Fortunately, Shen Jie didn't really care, and continued to recall: "But after that, I rarely saw her at the dojo. She probably went to train at another place."

“Hey,” Xiao Yao suddenly thought of something, “you said the Yu family is very rich, right?”

"Hmm, it's alright." Shen Jie tilted her head back.

"Then how come Yu Luying's family is living in such a... tight situation? They live in that kind of dilapidated house, and their family background is very ordinary in every aspect."

"How would I know?" Shen Jie said, "People in Shanghai live their own lives, like small families, unlike northerners who live in large extended families—don't you have any particularly wealthy relatives?"

“Hmm, that makes sense,” Xiao Yao nodded and said, “That’s one of the things I really dislike about you people from Shanghai: coldness in human relationships.”

“We’re from Shanghai,” Shen Jie emphasized the first two words, “and where are you from?”

"I--"

“Your ID card and household registration are here, your parents were born and raised here, and you speak fluent Shanghai dialect just like the locals—if you define yourself as an outsider, how can you blame others for making you feel out of place?” Shen Jie leaned forward slightly: “Sometimes, isn’t it possible that we choose to make ourselves feel out of place?”

"..." Xiao Yao remained silent.

Shen Jie reached out and touched Xiao Yao's arm.

“It’s nothing,” Xiao Yao smiled. “By the way, it seems she and her wealthy nun sister don’t get along very well.”

Shen Jie shrugged, as if to say, "How would I know?"

“We’ve gone off on a tangent,” Xiao Yao stood up and said, “Actually, I’m just worried that if Yu Yage recognizes you, and her family has connections with your father—”

“I thought about this during the day,” Shen Jie sighed softly. “First of all, our two families don’t have as close a relationship as you think. Secondly, even if she sold me out, my dad and Zhang Zhengkai would only confirm that you and I are together; they still wouldn’t know where you live.”

“Yu Luying knows where I live, so she shouldn’t betray me—us,” Xiao Yao said. “But just to be on the safe side, I’ll remind her again.”

“Yes,” Shen Jie nodded, “Also, continue to do a good job of counter-surveillance. Anyway, we’ll be on vacation in a few days.”

"Um……"

"And your three good friends—"

“I know, I know,” Xiao Yao waved his hand and said, “I was just thinking, if I were your father and knew you were at my house, I would probably go to St. Francis’ school to ask for this home address.”

A shadow fell over Shen Jie's heart: "Even if it's...my father, the school can't just disclose students' personal information like that, can it?"

"Logically, that's how it should be, but you're a minor. What if your dad calls the police? He can have the police contact the school. No, the police should have my address directly, right?"

"My head hurts," Shen Jie said, clutching her head in her hands. "Should we try to find a short-term rental?"

"Emmmmmm" Renting a place on my own is a bit beyond my capabilities: "I'll look into it."