NOVPUB
Chapter 172: Chapter 172: The Secret of Si Boyi
Si Xiaohui, with her mind full of food, didn’t think too much and urged Si Boyi to hurry back and cook. "It’s already noon, I’m so hungry that my stomach has started sticking to my back, let’s go cook!" These days living in the rental house and her meals there had certainly brought down her standard of living. Without her sister-in-law around, Si Boyi had been reluctant to buy meat, making her feel even poorer than the renovation workers.
The workers’ midday meals were always provided by the students at the nearby school, as arranged by her sister-in-law. These meals, rich in oil and meat, were far more substantial than her own simple fare.
"Oh, okay!"
Si Boyi, feeling slightly guilty, glanced at Tong Yao and stealthily tucked a small cloth bag from the corner of the room into his pocket, taking care to hide it securely. Si Xiaohui happened to see this and her curiosity was piqued.
"Big brother, what’s that you’ve got?"
"It’s nothing." Si Boyi said, lovingly hugging the object and not allowing Si Xiaohui to see it.
"What’s so special about it! You won’t even let me see it." The tighter Si Boyi kept it hidden, the more curious Si Xiaohui became, insisting on seeing what was in it.
In response to this, Tong Yao had a feeling something was off and didn’t leave with them, instead casually offering an excuse, "You guys go ahead and cook, I’ll check on the renovations and come over after."
Not suspecting anything, Si Boyi quickly answered and hurried back to the rental house, with Si Xiaohui following close behind, still nagging that she wanted to see what was in the package. As soon as they were out of sight, Tong Yao started asking the renovation workers for details.
"Mr. Liu, while I was gone, was there anyone who came looking for my younger brother?" The man Tong Yao referred to as Mr. Liu, whose real name was Liu Yu, was the one who first came over to assess the renovation.
Liu Yu was a straightforward and amiable man who did his work diligently without any trickery, and Tong Yao held a good impression of him.
Liu Yu had indeed overheard Si Boyi’s conversation earlier. If he were to tell the truth now, it would mean revealing Si Boyi’s secrets. However, he certainly didn’t want to lie. With Tong Yao being Si Boyi’s sister-in-law, he presumed she could be trusted, and so he relayed honestly, "There was indeed a young lady who came by. In her twenties, looks average with dark skin. Seems she is rather close to your brother, almost like his girlfriend."
Initially Tong Yao had only speculated that Si Boyi might be interested in someone, but she didn’t expect the relationship to have developed so far. With Liu Yu claiming their relationship looked intimate, it must mean they were extremely affectionate with each other; otherwise Liu Yu wouldn’t carelessly assume such a thing.
Getting a girlfriend should be a happy occasion. Why would Si Boyi hide such a thing?
Tong Yao felt something fishy about the whole situation, "Does that girl have any distinctive features?"
Upon pondering, Liu Yu recalled, "Oh right, your brother seems to call her Lijuan."
"Lijuan?" Tong Yao was stunned. Zhang Lijuan was involved with Si Boyi?
This was big news indeed; not long after openly expressing interest in the elder brother, she already got together with the younger one? What an odd woman she was.
Si Boyi was a naturally shy man and incapable of actively pursuing a girl. It was clear that Zhang Lijuan was the one who had initiated it. Combined with the situation where Zhang Lijuan came to the city specifically to see Si Boyi, Tong Yao had an idea of what might be going on. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝘤𝘰𝑚
"Thank you, Mr. Liu. Regarding what I asked earlier, could I trouble you not to mention that to my brother?"
"Alright."
Liu Yu nodded. He was naturally a reserved man, not inclined to indulge in idle gossip. If Tong Yao hadn’t asked, he wouldn’t have mentioned anything about it.
Indeed, Liu Yu was also curious, given that a younger brother finding a girlfriend should usually be a cause for celebration. There should be no need to hide it from his sister-in-law and younger sister. Yet Si Boyi seemed to be terrified of anyone finding out, not daring to show even the gifts from his girlfriend. It was all so peculiar.
"Sister-in-law, my brother’s changed. He’s started keeping secrets. I have no idea what precious item is in that cloth bag he brought back. He has been keeping it so mysteriously and didn’t let me see." Si Xiaohui rushed to Tattletale on Si Boyi upon Tong Yao’s return. He had never been like this before, making her feel like an outsider.
Si Boyi, who was busy cooking in the kitchen, heard Si Xiaohui’s words and dared not to raise his head out of guilt. He was afraid Tong Yao would ask him to reveal the contents of the bag. However, Tong Yao just glanced at the kitchen and casually said, "If he doesn’t want you to see it, then don’t look."
The thought of the woman who had chased her husband becoming her sister-in-law was irksome to imagine even for a moment, Tong Yao didn’t like it one bit. The dynamics of it all were so chaotic. However, since this was Si Boyi’s personal matter, she didn’t feel it was her place to intervene. She decided to wait for Si Chen’s return to discuss it.
Having heard Tong Yao’s words, Si Xiaohui finally stopped pestering. Si Boyi’s face was burning hot. For some reason, he felt that Tong Yao’s gaze seemed to see right through him, which made him uneasy. There was even a moment where he wanted to confess everything, but then thought better of it.
This concerned Lijuan’s reputation. What if they didn’t end up together, and their names got out? He, being a man, wouldn’t mind, but what about Lijuan?
Indecisively, Si Boyi ultimately remained silent.
Even though Tong Yao pretended not to know anything about it, deep inside, she felt as grossed out as if she’d swallowed a fly. Just the thought of having to encounter Zhang Lijuan as Si Boyi’s partner during family gatherings made her feel uncomfortable. Her appetite for lunch was completely gone even before she was halfway done with her meal.
"I’m full, I’ll head back first. I won’t be coming over in the afternoon either. If anything comes up, just come find me at the staff quarters."
"Take care, sister-in-law." Si Xiaohui casually responded without looking up from her meal and continued eating.
Meanwhile, Si Boyi walked Tong Yao to the door. He didn’t eat much at lunch as he was preoccupied with his own thoughts. Seeing Tong Yao leave, he let out a sigh of relief, grateful that Tong Yao wasn’t as nosy as Si Xiaohui.
Upon returning to the staff quarters and while climbing the stairs, Tong Yao ran into Yu Shiya and Si Jun descending from the building. Love really did brighten up a woman. Yu Shiya’s eyes sparkled with happiness. It was clear she was truly happy with Si Jun, and her joy wasn’t forced or superficial.
Si Jun’s eyes were also fixed only on Yu Shiya, as if she was the only person in the world that mattered to him. They were engrossed in their conversation, and didn’t notice Tong Yao until they nearly ran into her. The smile on Yu Shiya’s face froze momentarily. She glanced at Tong Yao before moving past her without offering a greeting.
Seeing Yu Shiya’s reaction, Si Jun awkwardly greeted Tong Yao, "Are you going out?"
"Yes!" Tong Yao beckoned Si Jun, and whispered, "Dr. Yu has gone ahead, you should hurry up and catch up with her!"
Si Jun smiled and then quickly descended the stairs. He caught up to Yu Shiya after taking a few brisk strides. Noticing her upset, he asked concernedly, "What happened? Why the sudden change in mood?"
"Who’s in a bad mood?" Yu Shiya huffed, denying it.
She didn’t like seeing Tong Yao. Something about her smile seemed salt to Yu Shiya’s wounds, almost like a display of triumph. That feeling was far more uncomfortable than having a stone pressed against her chest.
Since childhood, she had been the model child in her family and among friends, the crush of her classmates, a brilliant planet shining brightly. But then Tong Yao had come into their lives and overshadowed her glow.
