Chapter 39: Hubby's Home!
After staying at her parents' home for two days, Su He went back to the village.
When she left, she took her mom's whole box of embroidery with her.
She took a bus back to the village. As soon as she got off and entered from the village entrance, people were already greeting her.
"You're Ting Hua's wife, right? Ting Hua is back—he just returned not long ago. Your mother-in-law has been looking everywhere for you," a sharp-eyed auntie recognized Su He.
Su He was thunderstruck—Fu Tinghua was back? She had been planning to slowly earn money so she could confidently bring up divorce later, but he had returned already?
"Mom, did she say Daddy's back?" Zai Zai asked excitedly.
"Yes, your daddy is back," the auntie replied.
The moment the two kids heard this, they dropped Su He's hands and ran toward their grandmother's house.
Thankfully, Su He had swapped the box for a bag—otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to keep up with the kids while carrying a heavy box.
"Hey, slow down!" Su He called after them as she chased.
Soon, they reached the Fu family's doorstep. At that moment, her sister-in-law, He Fangfang, was chopping firewood outside the house. When she saw the three of them, she beamed, "Su He, where have you been? Ting Hua is back!"
Before Su He could even respond, the two kids eagerly rushed into the Fu house, shouting, "Daddy! Daddy!"
Su He gave He Fangfang a sheepish grin and quickly followed them inside.
The moment she stepped into the Fu household, Su He was captivated by the scene before her.
A tall, strikingly handsome man sat quietly on a low stool in the living room. The stool was so short that his legs were folded awkwardly, making him appear even taller and more imposing.
Hearing the sound of someone entering, he slowly turned his head, his piercing eyes locking onto the doorway—just as Su He walked in.
When Su He got a clear look at him, she was floored.
She had to admit—the original Su He had great taste. Just based on Fu Tinghua's looks alone, it wasn't hard to understand why she had resorted to drugging him to get him.
His face was coldly beautiful, the kind that'd turn heads even today. With features like his, he could've been a celebrity.
Coupled with his cool, detached vibe, he seemed even more extraordinary.
If not for knowing his background beforehand, no one would believe he came from a rural upbringing. Instead, he looked more like a fallen aristocrat.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
While Su He was still marveling, the two kids had already rushed past her into the living room, each grabbing a leg.
Fu Tinghua withdrew his gaze from Su He and lifted both children into his arms. "Look at you two—taller and chubbier!"
"Daddy, Niu Niu missed you," Niu Niu said immediately.
"Zai Zai missed you too!" Zai Zai jumped in, competitive as ever.
"Daddy missed you both too, so he came back early," Fu Tinghua replied, his eyes warming at his kids.
"Will Daddy leave again?" Zai Zai asked, his eyes pleading.
"No, from now on, Daddy will stay and work at the local hospital," Fu Tinghua said, messing up Zai Zai's hair.
"Wow, that's awesome! Now both Mom and Dad will be with us, and our family will never be apart again!" Niu Niu exclaimed excitedly, then turned to Su He and said, "Mom, Dad says he's not leaving anymore."
At this, Fu Tinghua's gaze also shifted to Su He, making her feel uneasy.
"Heh, glad you're staying. The border is dangerous too," Su He answered awkwardly.
Wu Yanhua, who had been sitting quietly, finally jumped in.
"Ting Hua isn't leaving anymore, so the two of you should make it work from now on. Ting Hua, you too—don't get so caught up in work that you neglect your family," Wu Yanhua said.
This time, it was Fu Tinghua's turn to be surprised. His mother was actually speaking up for Su He? The sun really rose from the west today.
"Yep, okay, I understand," Fu Tinghua replied.
"Since your family is reunited, I'll go help the wives in the kitchen prepare lunch," Wu Yanhua said before heading out the door.
Seeing this, Su He oddly didn't want her to go.
"Don't make me be alone with him—it's too awkward!"
Mainly because Fu Tinghua's face was just too handsome. Even though she didn't like him, facing such a good-looking man who was also her husband on paper made her nervous no matter what.
Compared to Su He's tension, Fu Tinghua appeared cool as a cucumber.
Looking at Su He, who had clearly lost a lot of weight, he asked, "Are you alright?"
Su He blinked in surprise. "I'm fine," she replied.
"You've lost a lot of weight," Fu Tinghua remarked calmly.
"Haha, I'd gotten too heavy before, and it wasn't good for my health, so I've been working on losing weight," Su He said awkwardly.
"Yeah, guess so," Fu Tinghua responded.
After this exchange, the two ran out of things to say.
In the past, it had always been Su He hanging on Fu Tinghua's every word, finding topics to chatter about. Now that she wasn't initiating conversation, there was just silence between them.
"Why did you move back to the countryside? You never wanted to return before?" Fu Tinghua asked with a frown.
Su He was startled. "You came back from the border but didn't go to the city first?"
"Mm, I was passing through, so I thought I'd stop to see my parents first. Who knew they'd say you were all in the village?"
"I—things changed, so I moved back," Su He said vaguely.
Mostly, she felt she needed to find the right time to explain everything to Fu Tinghua properly.
"So you're staying in the old house now?"
"Yes."
"The living conditions there are pretty rough," Fu Tinghua said, his brow furrowing.
"Haha, it's home. After cleaning it up, it's livable," Su He replied with a smile.
Suddenly, Fu Tinghua studied her, his eyes probing, until Su He fidgeted uncomfortably.
After what felt like forever, he finally said, "You've changed."
Before Su He could respond, Zai Zai spoke up first.
"I like my new mom better than the old one."
Those words made Su He's blood run cold.
Though it was midsummer, her back was drenched in cold sweat.
"Oh?" Fu Tinghua looked at Su He with a knowing look.
"Hehe, people change. I was too immature before," Su He said with a forced laugh.
"Dad, don't be mad at Mom," Niu Niu chimed in, sensing the tension.
"Dad isn't being mad at Mom," Fu Tinghua reassured, patting his daughter's head with a forced smile.
After that, Fu Tinghua and Su He didn't exchange many more words, as news of Fu Tinghua's return had Fu Dajun and the others hurrying home from work early.
The family gathered around Fu Tinghua, fussing over him with questions and concern, leaving Su He, his own wife, feeling like an outsider.
"Ting Hua, your wife has become much more sensible lately. She takes good care of the kids and treats the family well," Fu Dajun couldn't help but praise Su He when the conversation lulled.
"Oh? Is that so?" Fu Tinghua turned his gaze to Su He, who wanted the ground to swallow her up right then.