105. Pressed Against the Corner? Concerned (Ten Thousand Words Update!)

Jing Qingxin couldn't help but cast her gaze upon the elderly lady beside her. What was this old woman up to? There was something in her expression and the way she looked that made Jing Qingxin feel uneasy, almost as if she were being disliked.

Gao Shen’s eyes narrowed slightly, his voice strong and resolute: “She is my wife.”

As soon as the words left his lips, Jing Qingxin noticed the elderly lady’s mouth twitch just a little, and a hint of regret flashed across her face.

Regret? Was she disappointed to learn that Jing Qingxin was Gao Shen’s wife? Jing Qingxin found herself both amused and exasperated—did this old lady fancy Gao Shen? Was she trying to probe for details, perhaps hoping to match him with her own granddaughter?

Madam, isn’t it rather inappropriate to flirt in front of someone’s partner? Since when had her own presence become so insignificant?

Jing Qingxin remained silent, then glanced sidelong at Gao Shen, letting the meaning in her eyes linger for him to ponder.

In truth, it was no wonder the elderly lady had misunderstood. The two of them looked well-matched standing together, but their age gap was fairly obvious. Gao Shen was now twenty-five, while Jing Qingxin had just turned eighteen. It wouldn’t be hard to believe they were siblings or distant relatives.

The old woman had clearly been taken by Gao Shen’s military uniform—and he was handsome, too. She just happened to have an eligible granddaughter at home. Observing the slight distance between Gao Shen and Jing Qingxin, and seeing Gao Shen stand protectively just behind her, the two matched each other in height, appearance, even temperament.

But perhaps, the elderly lady thought, they might be siblings or relatives after all. Soldiers were highly sought after these days! In the fifties, women married workers; in the sixties, farmers; and in the seventies, soldiers were the catch. It would be such a shame to miss out!

Thus, she had tested the waters with probing conversation, unwilling to give up.

The trolleybus lumbered along, stopping and starting, never very fast. At each station or when the doors closed, a “beep, beep” sounded, much like riding an elevator.

Ning City boasted many streets and winding alleys, lined with tall, lush plane trees. The old houses along the street were partly hidden by their foliage. In April, sunlight filtered through the leaves, pouring down in golden shafts, while a gentle breeze stirred the air.

Outside the windows, occasionally, the loudspeakers broadcast the sayings of famous figures. Inside, acquaintances chatted about factories, prices, and even the hum of the trolley’s electric current provided a backdrop.

This was a vivid era, one where material scarcity was met with an abundance of spirit! The scene suddenly moved Jing Qingxin, giving her a sense of true belonging in the moment.

After about ten stops, they reached the station marked “City Hospital,” and Gao Shen led Jing Qingxin off the trolley.

Jing Qingxin had no sense of direction, so she followed Gao Shen quietly. Soon, they turned into a narrow lane where the crowds thinned, the buildings changed from apartments to tiled houses, and the homes grew increasingly shabby.

Just moments earlier, amidst the bustle of the trolley, Jing Qingxin had kept quiet and behaved. Now, walking in the empty alley, she felt playful and called out sweetly, “Soldier brother, why are you walking so fast?”

Gao Shen, striding ahead, faltered slightly at her words.

Jing Qingxin pressed her lips together in a smile, skipping forward to walk beside him, and said with a gentle laugh, “What’s wrong? Did I call you the wrong thing? Soldier brother—or Brother Gao?”

Gao Shen’s expression darkened a bit, and he quietly scoffed: Little girl, don’t think I don’t know what you’re teasing about!

He’d already sensed the old lady’s intentions back on the trolley, and her expression had made things clear. The fact she’d mistaken them for siblings had left him frustrated.

For the first time, Gao Shen realized the age gap between himself and Jing Qingxin. His girl was still so young, in the bloom of youth, seven years his junior! Among his peers, the earliest to marry already had children six or seven years old. Suddenly, he felt like an old ox grazing in tender fields.

“Is it funny? Hmm?” Gao Shen’s voice was low as he gazed deeply at Jing Qingxin’s smiling face.

“You’re several years older than me. Isn’t it right to call you brother?” Jing Qingxin teased, undaunted.

Gao Shen stopped, calling softly, “Jing Qingxin!”

She immediately stopped smiling. It was the first time he’d called her full name so seriously, and it felt unusual—she sensed a hint of danger.

Had she touched a nerve? He seemed calm, but the more placid he appeared, the more intimidating he became. Jing Qingxin had only meant to tease him for fun—she hadn’t expected him to care so much about the age difference!

Honestly, dear, you’re only now realizing the age gap? Isn’t your reaction a bit slow?

“Alright, I was just joking. It’s not my fault you’re so popular!” Jing Qingxin pouted.

Her man’s popularity proved his charm—and, indirectly, her own discerning taste. But whenever she thought of others coveting him, her mood soured.

Gao Shen, hearing this, quickly caught the nuance in her words. His gloomy mood was instantly lifted, becoming partly sunny. His girl cared about his popularity? Did this mean she was jealous, and cared deeply for him?

Suddenly, Gao Shen said softly, “Don’t worry. My heart belongs to you alone.”

A radiant smile lit Jing Qingxin’s lips. She realized that Gao Shen, nowadays, was becoming ever more adept at flirting, his words sweet enough to warm her heart.

Seeing her smile, Gao Shen’s step lightened, and he asked quietly, “Does it matter to you?”

Though he didn’t phrase the question fully, Jing Qingxin understood perfectly. She replied with a gentle smile, “If it mattered, would I be standing here with you? You really are slow to react!”

Jing Qingxin had never cared about the age difference. As long as they loved each other sincerely, admired and respected one another, and shared mutual trust, it was enough. Besides, what was seven years? In her era, couples were sometimes thirty or forty years apart!

Their age gap meant nothing, and her own father was six or seven years older than her mother, which hadn’t affected their relationship at all.

Gao Shen’s lips curled in a smile, his heart suddenly clear. He’d been narrow-minded for a moment! It had no bearing on their feelings; his girl, though seven years younger, never seemed a child in their interactions. On the contrary, their thoughts matched perfectly.

A brief interlude, fleeting and harmless, left them feeling closer and more understanding of each other.

After walking for over ten minutes, they finally stopped in front of a secluded courtyard. The alley and walls resembled those at Liu’s house in the county town, though for the county, Liu’s place was respectable enough; here in the city, it was unmistakably a slum.

—Extra Notes—

Throwing flowers—ten thousand words complete!

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