Chapter 566: Blocking Su Ping

Chapter 566: Going After Su Ping

After Ji Qingqing left, Su Jianjun walked into the alley.

Who lived here?

After that last fright, he hadn’t been the same in certain aspects—he could only perform when drunk and foggy-headed, but once his mind cleared even slightly, he lost all strength.

Ji Qingqing, however, was in her prime, craving intimacy. In the beginning, she’d constantly pestered him, but after he made excuses to avoid her many times, she seemed to get the hint and gradually cooled off.

Su Jianjun had seen her leave the house neatly dressed and come back in a good mood on multiple occasions.

That’s how men were—the more useless they felt, the more they feared their wives might stray.

With a cold expression, Su Jianjun’s eyes glinted with spite as he strode deeper into the alley.

It was an old, worn-out alley, its bluestone pavement worn smooth from years of footsteps and rain.

Occasionally, passersby hurried past. But no matter how hard he looked, he found nothing.

By the time he returned home, Ji Qingqing was already cooking, apron on, humming a little tune.

Su Jianjun’s face darkened further. He’d just hit her, yet here she was singing—so happy, probably after seeing some man.

"Where were you just now?"

"Ah! You nearly gave me a heart attack! What’s wrong with you, creeping up on me like that? Are you insane?!" Ji Qingqing jumped at the sudden voice behind her, nearly dropping the bowl of eggs she was beating.

"I asked where you were just now."

Ji Qingqing tensed, a flicker of panic flashing in her eyes. "What do you mean? I was at the market getting groceries."

Su Jianjun scowled. "I came home and waited ages for you. Does this household not need managing? All you do is waste money and gad about like some floozy."

Ji Qingqing eyed him suspiciously, her unease slowly easing.

"You have the nerve to criticize me... You... Never mind, I don’t have the energy for you."

"Hurry up and cook. I only took half a day off—I still have to work this afternoon!" Su Jianjun barked impatiently.

Ji Qingqing remained silent, her face cold as she stirred the eggs in the bowl. But when Su Jianjun turned away, his eyes burned with cold disgust.

They were a couple who shared a bed—Ji Qingqing knew him, and he knew her. His probing question had made her panic.

Why was she panicked? Because she had something to hide.

Suppressing his anger, Su Jianjun’s gaze turned calculating.

It just so happened he also wanted to reconcile with Wang Xiaocui. Once he settled things with her, he’d settle things with this damn woman.

"Here, Lei’er, eat up."

Ji Qingqing picked up the scrambled eggs from the dish and placed them in Su Lei’s bowl. "Pay attention to your teachers at school, understand? Study hard so you can go to college someday."

"I can’t rely on anyone else in this life—you’re all I’ve got now." She deliberately shot a glance at Su Jianjun, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You’re growing, so eat more. Studying burns a lot of energy."

Su Jianjun watched as Ji Qingqing lifted the dish from the table, shoveling every last bit of scrambled eggs into Su Lei’s bowl.

As he listened to her pointed remarks, his heart churned even more.

When did Ji Qingqing and that man get together? She just brought back white flour and eggs from there, and there was quite a lot.

From how Ji Qingqing acted, it probably wasn't the first time.

Was this guy really so generous that he was willing to support their whole family?

Su Jianjun's gaze studied Su Lei's face. Su Lei didn't resemble Su Ping.

Su Ping had big eyes with double eyelids, taking after his grandpa Wang Kaifu and mom Wang Xiaocui's sturdy frame. He had that simple, honest look, and when he smiled, his wide grin could brighten anyone's mood.

Su Lei, though well-fed and strong, lacked Su Ping's simple, honest demeanor. Instead, even at a young age, he had this gloomy air about him, rarely speaking or smiling. When Su Jianjun and Ji Qingqing fought, he would just stand there watching, cold-blooded.

And then there was that incident with... Lin Zhaodi...

Was this kid really his?

No, he had to get to the bottom of this. Su Jiao wasn't his, and if Su Lei wasn't either, then he'd practically worked his real kid to death while raising someone else's?

In the afternoon, Su Jianjun went to work like usual. After dinner, he went out again, knowing Su Ping worked at Good Luck Restaurant and wouldn't get off until evening.

He planned to ambush Su Ping.

Too nervous to hang around near the restaurant entrance, he crouched at the mouth of the alley across the street, watching the kitchen door.

After 8 p.m., the restaurant had fewer customers. Cheng Kang, the chef, could handle things by himself, so he let Su Ping leave.

Su Ping wasn't one for formalities. As soon as his master said so, he cheerfully replied, "Aye!" and tossed his apron aside to leave.

Cheng Kang didn't mind and even reminded him, "Be careful on your bike. Stay where it's well-lit, don't ride too fast. Slow down in dark spots so you don't fall."

Su Ping widened his clear eyes and said earnestly, "I'll remember, Master."

"Alright, hurry home now."

After three years with this straightforward apprentice, Cheng Kang had grown quite fond of him. He knew Wang Xiaocui had also opened a shop in the same business. Not long ago, when his father-in-law visited, he'd joked, "Does Wang Xiaocui need another cook?"

Su Ping said she did and was currently looking for someone.

Eldest Master Cai asked why he didn't go help Wang Xiaocui—after all, it was his own family's shop.

Su Ping shook his head. "No, I gave my word. I promised Master I'd stay with him, so I will. I can't lie. I'll follow Master forever. He teaches me cooking and puts up with me being slow. An An says we must be grateful. Unless Master sends me away, I won't leave. If he doesn't drive me out, I'm staying."

This made Cheng Kang's heart swell.

Truth be told, he'd initially taken Su Ping on mostly out of respect for his father-in-law and Mr. Luo. But as Mr. Luo had said, he'd really lucked out.

Honest, diligent, obedient, hardworking—Su Ping did whatever he was told and was utterly loyal.

When Su Ping pushed his bike out from the kitchen, Su Jianjun snapped to attention and stood.

He brushed off his pants and hurried forward a few steps, knowing Su Ping would pass by that alley on his way back to the eastern district.

Su Ping didn't notice Su Jianjun and kept pedaling.

Su Jianjun raised his hand. "Su Ping! Ping Ping~"

Su Ping hit the brakes, confused, before turning his head.

Su Jianjun stood not far away, waving his hand, "Over here, Ping, here. Dad wants to talk to you~"

Su Ping saw him, his eyes widening in surprise.

Su Jianjun???

Coming after him this late at night?

An An had said that Su Jianjun and Ji Qingqing were bad news. If they sought him out alone, it was to scheme against An An and Mom through him—or even harm him. So he had to go around!