novelraw Chapter 867: Doubts
Chapter 867: Doubts
The more pitiful Xu Ke appeared, the more maternal love the woman felt toward him. In the end, she almost wished she could smack her husband on the mouth to make him swallow back all the outrageous things he had just said.
"Don’t mind him. I believe in you. In our family, I call the shots. If I say I trust you, then I trust you, and no one can doubt you. Besides, maybe it’s fate that something happened to me today and you were sent to protect me. Unlike some people, when you need them, they are nowhere to be found. Instead of dealing with the wrongdoer, they keep questioning their wife’s benefactor." While saying this, the woman gave the old drunkard a fierce look, making him lower his head guiltily and rub his nose.
"You’re such a big young man; you can’t possibly have a small appetite. Just having a little taste won’t fill you up, right? Just eat boldly. This whole table of food is made for you. Eat however you like, eat as much as you want. Auntie has got you covered," the woman said confidently as she reached out to stroke Xu Ke’s head, while glancing meaningfully at the old drunkard.
"But..." Xu Ke cautiously glanced at the old drunkard, then bit his lip, his face showing hesitation.
"I told you to eat, so eat. There’s no ’but’. Whether others acknowledge it or not, I acknowledge that you are my benefactor. If anyone says anything unrelated to this, I’ll throw them out," the woman said, staring intently at her husband, causing him a tingling sensation on his scalp. He forced a placating smile at his wife.
The old drunkard always complied with his wife’s demands, but his attitude towards others was far less accommodating. When his wife wasn’t looking, he fixed his gaze on Xu Ke with an expression as if he had nails in his eyes, glaring viciously at him.
He didn’t believe in such coincidences. All coincidences are calculated, but since his wife wants to protect Xu Ke, he has no choice but to swallow this bitter pill. But this matter won’t be over so easily; he will keep a close watch on Xu Ke. He can’t believe there won’t be even the slightest trace of evidence. If he finds any leverage, he will overturn the image of Xu Ke in his wife’s mind.
And claiming this is all accidental? Bah!
Looking at Xu Ke’s pretentious acting, it’s obvious he’s no good. Who would believe it’s a coincidence? Even if he manages to cleverly deceive his wife into believing this was an accident now, there will come a day he exposes his true face. That day won’t come late.
No matter how many voodoo dolls the old drunkard wished he had for Xu Ke, in front of his wife, he had to bow his head. "I was overthinking things just now, don’t take my words to heart. Just take it as if I was talking nonsense and forget about it. Try these dishes; they’re my wife’s specialties. Usually, even when I beg my wife to make them, she won’t, so today I’m benefiting from your presence." The old drunkard said with a wrinkled smile.
"You know you’re benefiting from this child’s presence, yet you still have doubts about him. You truly deserve a beating," the woman said, reaching out to smack the old drunkard on the back, the loud sound hurt just hearing it. Xu Ke’s mouth lifted subtly in a fleeting smile, but it quickly disappeared, unnoticed by the two in the room.
"Auntie, don’t hit Uncle anymore. This isn’t his fault, and if you hit Uncle and something happens to him, won’t you be the one feeling distressed?" Xu Ke interjected after hearing two slaps, prompting the woman to strike the old drunkard a few more times before she stopped.
"Look at young Xu, so much more sensible than you, even though he’s so much younger. Look at yourself, rebelling at your age. Aren’t you ashamed?" the woman scolded.
Xu Ke maintained an innocent expression as he watched the scene unfold, secretly enjoying it in his heart.
As the old drunkard endured the battering from his wife, he inwardly cursed Xu Ke, surprised at how skillfully Xu Ke could pretend and coax others. He appeared innocent like a little white rabbit, but underneath his snowy exterior, he was rotten to the core. Yet his wife fell for it, convinced Xu Ke was kind and innocent, making the old drunkard want to spit blood.
When the old drunkard returned to eating, his back burned with pain. He didn’t even need to look to know it must have bruised, or else it wouldn’t hurt so much, while the mastermind ate happily, which made the old drunkard even more displeased.
"What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong? Why are you glaring at me like that?" Xu Ke, seeming intimidated by the old drunkard’s stare, even stopped nibbling on the chicken wing he had picked up, and looked at the old drunkard with a pitiful face.
As soon as the old drunkard heard Xu Ke speaking to him in a whiny tone, he knew it wasn’t good. Sure enough, he immediately felt his wife’s knives flying toward him without even needing to look.
"Little Xu is my lifesaver and a good kid. Stop suspecting this and that. I’m telling you, if you keep being sarcastic with Little Xu, you can forget about eating this meal today and go drink outside instead." The woman twisted the old drunkard’s ear, making him grimace, begging for mercy non-stop with words until Xu Ke also pleaded on his behalf, leading the woman to finally let go.
"Look at young Xu, then look at yourself. Little Xu is so young, whereas you’re this old, yet still bickering with a kid. Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?" the woman complained, glaring at the man.
"It’s my fault. I promise I won’t do it again. Please don’t be mad at me anymore," said the old drunkard, putting on a flattering face to coax his wife in front of Xu Ke. He finally managed to placate his wife, only to turn back and see Xu Ke’s amused look and smiling face, causing his facial expression to stiffen.
At the same time, he looked at Xu Ke with undisguised wariness and fierceness.
Xu Ke’s smile grew even broader under the man’s gaze, making the man feel furious, yet unable to act against Xu Ke because of his wife.
This meal continued amidst everyone’s hidden agendas, creating a seemingly harmonious atmosphere. The woman didn’t notice anything unusual, so her smile remained genuinely sincere.