It was lunchtime.
Li Weiyu held Chen An’s shoulder as he was about to exit the elevator, "Do you think Auntie’s anger has subsided?"
Chen An directly dragged his cousin out of the elevator, "Are you stupid? Hurry up and follow Sister Lili."
"Right, right, right."
Li Weiyu stopped holding his elder cousin and quickly followed behind Sister Lili and her husband.
In the living room, the atmosphere had returned to normal. Li Weili saw Chen Fu and smiled, "Little Brother Fu is here for the first time. Stay with Auntie and Uncle for a few more days and take the chance to see all of Jingdu."
Looking at his cousin, who was like a strong woman, even though her smile hadn't changed, Chen Fu felt a world of difference compared to when he was in Kushan.
Her demeanor, aura, and makeup made him acutely aware of the distance between them. Thinking about his cousin managing a company, his inferiority complex surged wave after wave:
"Yes, I have a month of free time."
Li Min nodded, "Auntie feels restricted at home and also wants to stay a bit longer. You and your aunt can stay with peace of mind. Grandma isn't going back this time; she'll come home with us for the New Year."
Chen Fu nodded, "I'll follow my parents' arrangements."
Han Lushi merely nodded at Chen Fu before going to the bathroom to wash his hands and then to hold his daughter.
The moment Li Weiyu entered, he scanned the living room. Seeing that his aunt was not there, he pulled his younger cousin over to his elder cousin.
"Did Auntie hit you? Auntie has been so scary these past two days. I've never seen her like this. Even Mother and Little Aunt aren't talking to her, only Grandma can say a few words to her."
Chen Fu knew his mother was angry, but he didn't realize it could affect everyone. After she beat him, she should be alright now, right?
Seeing his elder brother remain silent, Chen An shook off his younger cousin and went to his sister-in-law’s side, saying,
"Sister-in-law, Si Ji’s hundred-day banquet is on Sunday. Tomorrow, I'll have my girlfriend take you out. She used to work in a clothing store."
"Not only buy a formal dress, but also buy more everyday clothes. You earn money but don't dress yourself up, and then my elder brother’s eyes might wander elsewhere?"
"Women, don't just live for men and children; live for yourselves too."
Lin Hua’er hadn't expected her brother-in-law to give her such advice, "Saturday is too late. Little Auntie said we're going to Beisheng province after breakfast on Saturday."
Chen An scratched his head, "Then I'll ask her to take time off."
"No need." Lin Hua’er shook her head, "If she takes time off, she won't get her full attendance bonus, right? Don't make people do something they're unwilling to do."
"I'll ask Little Auntie to take me shopping. Your elder brother needs to buy clothes too."
"Alright then." Chen An couldn't really ask Hou Xiaojie to take time off for this reason, "Remember to buy more. Don't always dress like an old lady."
"Mm. Thank you."
...
After lunch, Han Lushi called Chen Fu outside.
More than half an hour later, Chen Fu returned with a pale face, followed by Han Lushi, who had a calm expression.
Han Lushi glanced at his sleeping daughter, then went downstairs to the company.
Tian Jing gestured to Chen Fu, who was sitting in the living room, "Go back to your room and rest."
Chen Fu stood up, bowed to Tian Jing, and walked out the door.
Tian Jing sighed softly, wondering what Lushi had said to him, and hoping he would learn his lesson.
...
The next day, Li Min, Chen Suozhu, Ouyang Meihua, and Li Liguo took Lin Hua’er and Chen Fu out for an outing.
They left Ji Nian and Ji Yang behind. Tian Jing and her mother-in-law, along with the three children, were more than capable of handling the cooking.
By Friday, Tian Jing, who had been idle for a few days, accompanied Lin Hua’er and Chen Fu to buy clothes.
In the formal wear store, Lin Hua’er was torn between indecision. She found everything the sales assistant recommended beautiful.
Tian Jing advised her to choose lighter colors, as her skin tone was a bit dark and not suitable for dark or bright colors.
When Lin Hua’er came out after trying on a dress and paired with high heels, she walked with a graceful sway, looking like a completely different person from before.
Chen Fu stared intently, thinking that a dress and a pair of shoes could make such a transformation?
Tian Jing nodded, "Not bad. You should be confident like this. Try another one."
Lin Hua’er picked up another dress and went into the fitting room.
Because this dress had a cinched waist, she could only walk in small steps, making Lin Hua’er appear like a noble and elegant mature woman.
Tian Jing clapped her hands, "Good, good, let's choose this one."
Chen Fu was completely mesmerized. Was this his wife? The wife he once disdained for being unkempt and having gained a lot of weight?
Looking in the mirror, Lin Hua’er was also stunned. Could she be this beautiful?
Tian Jing took out her bank card and asked the sales assistant to swipe it. Lin Hua’er hurriedly stopped her, "Little Auntie, I'll pay for it myself."
"It's fine." Tian Jing told the sales assistant to continue swiping the card, "I'll pay for the formal dress. We'll go to another store later to buy everyday dresses, and you can pay for those."
The sales assistant invited Tian Jing to enter the password. Chen Fu walked to Lin Hua’er's side, "Hua’er, you look so beautiful."
Lin Hua’er frowned and took two steps away from him, "Chen Fu, when Mother’s anger subsides, I will ask her to allow us to live separately. I find you disgusting."
Chen Fu froze, then refused, "Hua’er, let’s both calm down. If we live separately, the villagers will gossip, and it won't be good for the three children."
Seeing that Tian Jing had returned with the receipt, Lin Hua’er had to end the conversation, "Then let's calm down for a while and talk about it later."
After saying that, she went back to the fitting room to change out of the formal dress.
Once she put on her own clothes, she transformed back into an ordinary person.
The sales assistant packed the dress and shoes and brought them over.
Chen Fu quickly reached out to take them, "Let me carry them for you."
Tian Jing glanced at the attentive Chen Fu and led the way out of the formal wear store. In the past few days, Chen Fu had been trying hard to mend the rift between himself and Lin Hua’er.
The rift caused by a third party was not so easy to mend.
In the menswear store, Chen Fu changed into a short-sleeved shirt and suit pants, which also improved his appearance. However, Tian Jing did not see any spark in Lin Hua’er's eyes.
Her heart had grown cold.
Tian Jing also paid for Chen Fu’s formal suit. After buying the formal wear, they proceeded to buy everyday dresses suitable for Lin Hua’er.
The clothes in the department store’s boutiques enhanced one's aura. Every outfit Lin Hua’er tried on looked good.
Chen Fu insisted on buying them all, and ignoring Lin Hua’er's indecisiveness, he directly took out his bank card to pay.
Seeing that Lin Hua’er was reluctant, Tian Jing whispered, "Since he's offering his money, why don't you accept it? Are you planning to hand over all the money he has?"
Lin Hua’er shook her head, "I only control the money after we return home."
Tian Jing persuaded her, "Then why are you still foolishly trying to refuse?"
"Since his heart has returned to you, and you don't want a divorce, then during this cooling-off period, let him know how difficult it is to pursue you again, and you can also experience the new feeling of being pursued again."
"If you get moved, your family might still have a beautiful future. Even if you're not moved, you can mock him severely in return."
"He's giving you gifts, why refuse them? Isn't it better to save your own money? Isn't it better to use your own money to buy things for the children?"
Lin Hua’er was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "What Little Auntie said makes sense. I am his wife, and accepting his gifts is nothing to be ashamed of."
"Accepting gifts is one thing, and whether or not to forgive is another."
Tian Jing smiled and nodded, "That's right. Men, they only cherish things after they've lost them. Since you can't completely separate, let the future be decided by time."
Chen Fu walked over with the receipt and bags, "Let's go to another store."
Lin Hua’er nodded.
Chen Fu's face lit up with joy.
Tian Jing shook her head and sighed inwardly: Fool!