Becoming the Cannon Fodder Wife of Crazy and Powerful Official - Chapter 15

Shen Qingqi tilted his head slightly, leaving Xin Yueying with only a view of his back. Though she couldn’t see his expression from this angle, she could tell his gaze was fixed on Meng Ruxin.

“Brother Shen! Do you know how important this day is for us? Brother Shen, it seems you’ve finally taken my words to heart. Brother Shen, I’m so happy…”

Shen Qingqi suddenly asked, “Have you always been missing a front tooth?”

“Pfft—” Xin Yueying couldn’t hold back, spraying peanuts all over Huo Qi’s face.

Huo Qi glared at her angrily, clearly wanting to retaliate but distracted by something more pressing. He wiped his face roughly and leaned forward to examine Meng Ruxin.

Meng Ruxin froze on the spot, rendered speechless.

Huo Qi added helpfully, “Yeah, your veil puffs out weirdly when you talk. Sounds like you’re whistling. Did you lose a tooth? Maybe you should get a fake one?”

Shen Qingqi turned to Huo Qi, his tone matter-of-fact, “A fake tooth? Like Li Gold-Tooth used to have? Those big golden ones?” He took a sip of wine and continued casually to Xin Yueying, “Li Gold-Tooth was one of my cavalrymen. His whole mouth was gold teeth. Every time we won a battle and he distinguished himself, I’d reward him with a gold nugget. Then he’d melt it down and—”

“Brother Shen!” Meng Ruxin stood up abruptly.

Only then did Shen Qingqi seem to remember her presence. He gestured to an empty seat, “You came at the perfect time. Join us for dinner.”

Meng Ruxin stared at Shen Qingqi as if seeing a stranger, “How can you casually share our past with outsiders?!”

“Outsiders?” Shen Qingqi looked puzzled, then turned to Xin Yueying, “Wife, have you had some misunderstanding with Ruxin? Ah, that explains why she didn’t come for treatment today.”

His beautiful eyes gleamed under the bright moonlight as he gazed at Xin Yueying.

She understood he was doing this deliberately for Meng Ruxin’s benefit – since they’d already disposed of Meng Ruxin’s good friend in a pit, it was better to preemptively claim no one had come for treatment today.

But of all the ways he could have handled this, he chose this particular approach. It seemed intentionally designed to remind Meng Ruxin not to overstep her boundaries.

Meng Ruxin looked at Shen Qingqi with disbelief. Lowering her lashes, she bit her lower lip with her remaining front tooth and said stiffly, “There’s no misunderstanding between us.”

Xin Yueying countered, “No misunderstanding? Then was it a ghost who pointed at my nose a few days ago and threatened me?”

Shen Qingqi’s expression darkened instantly, “She warned you? Why wasn’t I informed?”

Xin Yueying set down her chopsticks and tugged at Shen Qingqi’s sleeve with exaggerated distress, “She terrified me! She said, ‘Do you really think Brother Shen would ever fancy someone like you? You petty commoner, with your calculating nature ingrained in your very bones, always weighing gains and losses, never satisfied. A shrew like you is beneath contempt.'”

Having delivered this dramatic recount, Xin Yueying turned to Meng Ruxin with a triumphant smirk, her eyebrows arched challengingly as if saying, “Go ahead, hit me if you dare.”

Shen Qingqi’s face visibly frosted over. He leaned back in his chair, not even bothering to look at Meng Ruxin. “Did you truly say these words?”

Meng Ruxin lifted her chin defiantly. “Yes.”

Well, at least hypocrites had the decency to own their actions.

Meng Ruxin turned pleading eyes to Shen Qingqi, “I only cautioned her out of concern for your wellbeing—”

“Cautioned?” Shen Qingqi threw back his head and laughed, a chilling sound that made the hairs on Xin Yueying’s neck stand up. His gaze finally settled on Meng Ruxin with razor-sharp intensity, “Do you truly believe I’ve become so crippled that I need your protection now?”

Even Huo Qi couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Miss Ruxin,” he interjected sternly, “the Second Master is finally in good spirits tonight. Must you ruin it?”

Xin Yueying mentally high-fived Huo Qi: Attaboy! For that, I won’t make you drink Shen Qingqi’s foot-washing water tonight.

“Apologize to your sister-in-law,” Shen Qingqi commanded icily.

Well, well—Xin Yueying nearly choked on her own saliva. She’d been abruptly promoted to “sister-in-law” status? This sudden elevation left her momentarily dizzy.

“Sister-in-law,” Meng Ruxin forced through gritted teeth, her hands clenched so tightly in her sleeves her knuckles turned white, “please forgive my thoughtless words.”

Xin Yueying grinned wolfishly, “No harm done. Youthful exuberance—perfectly understandable.”

Meng Ruxin took a steadying breath before changing tactics,”Brother Shen… has Lan’er visited today?”

“Lan’er?” Shen Qingqi repeated the name as if hearing it for the first time, turning to Huo Qi with feigned confusion. “Who’s that?”

Huo Qi played along flawlessly, his bull-like eyes wide with innocence, “Never heard of her.” He turned to Xin Yueying, “Did you see anyone come by?”

“Not a soul,” Xin Yueying chirped, blinking innocently at Meng Ruxin.

Meng Ruxin paled, “But… but I specifically sent her here to treat your leg! I went to her house—she’s missing! How could she not have come?”

Xin Yueying tsked,”How reckless of you—sending her alone through these unfamiliar mountain paths teeming with wolves and tigers!”

“I always came alone before!” Meng Ruxin protested.

Huo Qi dropped the bombshell, “Because I secretly followed you home every single time to ensure your safety.”

Meng Ruxin staggered back as if struck, “Then Lan’er must be—! We have to find her!”

Shen Qingqi waved a dismissive hand, “Huo Qi, accompany her in the search.”

Huo Qi stared longingly at the untouched feast—after weeks of bland porridge, this spread of glistening braised pork and crispy-skinned fish was torture to leave behind. And all to search for a corpse they knew wouldn’t be found. His Adam’s apple bobbed with a resentful gulp.

Xin Yueying played the considerate hostess, “Go on, Huo Qi. I’ll set aside your portion.” She fetched a clean plate from the kitchen with exaggerated helpfulness.

With great reluctance, Huo Qi trudged after the distraught Meng Ruxin into the night.

Left alone, Shen Qingqi and Xin Yueying continued their meal with practiced nonchalance. Between bites, Shen Qingqi suddenly mused, “Was Meng Ruxin always missing that front tooth?”

Xin Yueying nearly choked on her rice. Seriously? This man couldn’t remember how many teeth his supposed “white moonlight” had?

“I wouldn’t know,” she muttered, carefully portioning out Huo Qi’s share.

Then—

“Shen Yueying.”

Her chopsticks froze mid-air. That name—her real name—had slipped out during her earlier altercation with Bai Lan’er. A dangerous mistake.

The cicadas outside seemed to hold their breath in the sudden silence.