That night, Zhou Jiao could feel her husband’s mind was elsewhere. Even while chatting with the kids after dinner, he would glance at her now and then.
She watched Zhang Guoqing’s back thoughtfully and smiled knowingly.
——This guy sure got the news quickly.
After settling the kids to sleep, Zhou Jiao didn’t hold back once she returned to the room, "Heard about it, huh?"
She got straight to the point, but Zhang Guoqing wasn’t going to be so straightforward. He looked at her familiar face with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, "Heard about what?"
"Haha, just the things at the office. By the way, who did you hear it from?"
Zhang Guoqing gave her a sideways glance, "Take a guess!"
"Shen Zhao! He’s off duty today."
Zhang Guoqing wasn’t surprised at all that she guessed it. There were quite a few at her work who seemed close to him, but when it came to real friendship, except for Shen Zhao, who was involved in a situation with Mr. Wu, the rest were just acquaintances.
Seeing his silent smile, Zhou Jiao understood and playfully punched him, "Looks like I don’t have the slightest bit of freedom, all under your watch."
Zhang Guoqing raised an eyebrow at her words, teasing her while taking off his jacket, "Wife, you’ve got someone else in mind?"
"Oh yeah, that Cao Tianqin is such a fine-looking fellow, always flaunting around the office, I can’t help but have my eyes on him."
Zhang Guoqing was shocked by her words, quickly turned around and almost stumbled, looking at her in surprise, "Are you saying someone actually wants to poach you?"
Zhou Jiao slightly opened her mouth, looking at him in surprise. Dude, you actually believed that?
"Come, tell your husband, who else has had thoughts about you. These punks need to be taught a lesson or they won’t know the power standing before them."
Zhang Guoqing picked up Zhou Jiao and placed her on the bed, squatting in front of her with a smile, enticing her, "Isn’t there someone who often talks to you about work in your office? Or about personal values?"
Zhou Jiao blinked and shook her head.
"At lunch in the cafeteria, isn’t there a male colleague who often sits next to you, trying hard to chat with you? For instance, someone boring you with talk about how his wife isn’t around or how their relationship is troubled..."
Zhou Jiao burst out laughing, fell back on the bed, and punched the blanket. Oh my, if a man really said those things in front of her, she would’ve retorted him away, leaving no chance for such nonsense!
She’s not a naive girl; she knows these tricks well. First, they play pitiful to gain sympathy from the opposite sex, then look for an opportunity to resonate. Isn’t that how those opportunistic affairs start?
Besides, what topics do men and women have to discuss? They’re neither parents nor siblings, who can guarantee things won’t be misinterpreted as moral issues? She doesn’t believe in that ’platonic friend’ nonsense.
Zhang Guoqing lay down beside her, looking at her beaming face, feeling a pang of bitterness in his heart. It seemed someone really wanted to steal her away.
Not that he didn’t trust his wife, but there was always that feeling of his precious treasure being coveted. Just thinking someone entertained that thought made him wish he could destroy them all.
Zhou Jiao finally stopped laughing and whispered, "Has a female colleague been chatting you up lately?"
It’s not that I was afraid of him, but the office is a bit complicated right now. He and another faction were plotting against each other, and I got innocently involved. Another faction wanted to use me to deal with him. How bored would I have to be to meddle in such nonsense?"
Zhang Guoqing secretly sighed. It’s like being in the martial world, often beyond one’s control. Just like him, like his father-in-law, there are always some self-righteous people trying to rope you in, without considering who’s the fool here, why should we let them use us?
Indeed, Zhou Jiao had similar thoughts, she gave a cold laugh, "The funny thing is, they really thought I was easy to manipulate when I stepped back."
Zhang Guoqing played with her slender hand, smiling, "So you couldn’t resist making a move? Doesn’t that just help another group?"
Zhou Jiao squinted her eyes, "It’s not that simple. Apparently, Shen Chao didn’t explain everything to you. Besides Cao Tianqin, another person is also being investigated. I transferred some evidence against Cao Tianqin to his opponent, and handed over his opponent’s crimes back to him. Now they’re like dogs biting dogs; it has nothing to do with me."
"Serves them right! That’s good, at least it doesn’t implicate you. Shen Zhao came to see me today, asking if it was me who acted. Besides mentioning Cao Tianqin’s investigation, he didn’t speak of the other person. Seems he didn’t tell me the whole truth either."
Zhou Jiao smiled noncommittally, "We can’t possibly be completely honest with him either. He’s already decent as is. You know Sister Jin has some distant relation to our family. I helped her quite a bit before, but when she heard I couldn’t go abroad, didn’t she just give some perfunctory comforting words, didn’t dare speak a word about those people in private."
Zhang Guoqing was silent for a moment, then asked, "Have you thought about transferring jobs?"
Zhou Jiao shook her head decisively, "I’m not leaving now. It’s safer in a familiar environment. Let’s wait a bit and decide when it’s over."
Over, huh?
Zhang Guoqing tightly clasped her hand, unable to say more. He still felt too powerless, not even able to let his loved one do as she wishes.

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