When My Older Husband Saw the Comments - Chapter 3

[Did anyone else see her eyes light up after that man in the bamboo hat rescued her?]

[A handsome young man making an entrance like that—who wouldn’t fall for him?]

[A younger man really does suit our girl better!]

[She likes them young, after all. Didn’t she say a man over twenty-five might as well be seventy-five? Our Taoist’s old and worn out where it counts.]

Wen Wuchen’s expression shifted.

“Xiaoling, there’s no need to get involved with strangers.”

“Let’s go.”

Su Qing looked at him. “Are you from the Tianyan Sect? May I ask your surname?”

“I once studied the Tao there. My surname is Wen.”

“Master Wen, everyone starts as strangers before becoming friends. Miss Cui and I were fortunate to meet. You needn’t mind so much.”

I looked thoroughly in agreement.

“He saved my life. We’re only making friends.”

“If you don’t mind, let’s change into dry clothes and have a meal together.”

Wen Wuchen surreptitiously squeezed my hand, reluctant.

“Xiaoling, you were never this warm toward other people.”

Instead of letting him lace his fingers through mine as I used to, I quietly slipped free.

“All the more reason to think we were meant to meet.”

“Didn’t you say we could stay in Quzhou for a couple of days? He saved my life. Wouldn’t it be stingy not even to buy him a meal?”

The hand left hanging in midair curled, then clenched into a fist.

“If you want to invite him, then do.”

The man beside us spoke. “I haven’t asked yet—are you brother and sister? You look quite far apart in age.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

I said yes as Wen Wuchen said no.

His gaze struck me like lightning.

“Xiaoling, we’re a couple!”

I hurriedly waved my hands.

“I misheard.”

“I thought Young Master Su asked whether we were a couple…”

Wen Wuchen missed the evasiveness and guilt I was deliberately showing. He believed my explanation at once, his tense body relaxing a little.

I was still kicking myself when he suddenly realized something was wrong.

His voice sharpened.

“What did you just say his surname was?”

[Seriously? He still hasn’t figured out who the young man in the bamboo hat is?]

[He’s been so afraid of being abandoned this past month that he’s suspicious of everything. Our once serene, elegant Taoist has turned into a brooding, creepy ghost of a man.]

[Would he go mad if he found out who this man really is?]

I looked startled. “Su.”

“Su…”

Wen Wuchen repeated it, his hand trembling around his wooden sword.

A suspicion had occurred to him.

A terrifying suspicion.

Then the man in the hat introduced himself with a smile.

“That’s right. My surname is Su, my name Xiangyun. Do you know me, Master Wen?”

Intent on making things more interesting, I sent out more comments.

[Has our Taoist become so jumpy that anyone named Su must be his younger brother?]

[Well, sorry. Wrong guess.]

Only then did a little color return to Wen Wuchen’s face.

“No,” he said icily.

The atmosphere over the meal was strange.

Wen Wuchen kept watching the space where the comments appeared, then watching me and Young Master Su, his stare fierce enough to burn holes through us.

This Su Xiangyun didn’t even remove his hat to eat.

That made him suspicious.

But the comments said it wasn’t Su Qing.

[He looks awful. Someone should get a physician to prescribe him something. Paranoia’s an illness too.]

[Our girl only likes men named Su. His priority should be going back to the name he had before joining the Tianyan Sect. Ha!]

Over wine, Young Master Su asked me, “Earlier, Miss Cui, you seemed to know the water spirit’s weakness very well. Could you tell me about it?”

Wen Wuchen spoke first, his expression grim.

“The Tianyan Sect captures ghosts and subdues demons. Naturally, we know their weaknesses. This isn’t something we can discuss with you.”

The man’s voice held a smile.

“I don’t believe Master Wen can speak for Miss Cui.”

“And you didn’t seem to understand that nine-headed black serpent as well as she did. It’s obvious she doesn’t belong to a sect, so my request is hardly unreasonable.”

Of course I wasn’t going to tell him.

Without so much as a blink, I made something up.

“I don’t really know anything about it.”

“I read recently that bright light can blind snakes, and then I thought, surely all nine heads can’t control one body. I decided I might as well give it a try. Who knew I’d guess right? Hahaha! I’m pretty impressive, aren’t I?”

He sighed in disappointment.

“I see. Then it seems we still won’t be able to hold the dragon boat race this fifth month.”

Wen Wuchen said nothing beside me, but his eyes moved instinctively to my face.

He looked as though he’d guessed something.

It unsettled me.

Before we parted, Young Master Su called me aside and gave me a piece of mutton-fat jade.

“I can see you have exceptional abilities. You only refused because of Master Wen.”

“The water spirits have driven people from their homes. I beg you to help them.”

“I’ll wait all night at the Riverheart Pavilion. If you’re willing to stay in Quzhou and help subdue the spirits, come and meet me. I’ll have everything arranged.”

That night, I found myself staring at the jade.

I thought of those defenseless townspeople swallowed by the water spirits. Their terrible screams still echoed in my ears.

“Xiaoling, what are you thinking about?”

“You’ve been so distant lately.”

Wen Wuchen put his arms around me from behind, a hint of insecurity in the way he held me.

“Nothing.”

I hid the jade in my palm, meaning to put it away.

But he saw it and took it from my hand.

“Where did this come from?”

“Young Master Su.”

“Throw it away.”

I snatched it back, irritated. “No. How can I just throw away someone’s gift?”

Wen Wuchen’s voice trembled.

“Ever since you met that man named Su, you’ve been a different person.”

“Xiaoling, he’s not some innocent, good-hearted man. Can’t you see? He wants something from you!”

I shook him off and took a step back.

“I know he wants something from me.”

“I’m considering it.”

He swayed, his eyes reddening.

“You’re considering it?”

“You’re going to leave me for that man?”