?Chapter 198: Chapter 198 Contradiction   Chapter 198: Chapter 198 Contradiction                                   After Loo Ping had left, Su Man’s eyes brimmed with tears as she pushed open the half-ajar study door with great grievance and burst into uncontroble sobs upon seeing Wen Siyuan.


    “What good would it do if I had heard? Do you really expect me to go find Comrade Xiao Kang to argue on your behalf?”


    Wen Siyuan sat with his hands crossed over the desk, frowning at his wife.


    “Why not? She’s unreasonable even when she’s in the right—that’s her fault. Why can’t I confront her?” Su Man asked amidst her weeping.


    “Didn’t you say it yourself? They are in the right. Besides, from what I just overheard, Comrade Loo didn’t say it was Comrade Xiao Kang spreading rumors outside; it was those kids around our courtyard…”


    Before Wen Siyuan could finish, Su Man interrupted him angrily, “Enough! If you don’t want to help me, then just say so, but don’t forget, when people gossip about me, it reflects poorly on you too.”


    Closing his book, Wen Siyuan asked, “You’re right, but I don’t wish to care about that, considering we’re not in the right. What’s the harm in being talked about by others? Eventually, they’ll tire of it and find it dull, but if you go and argue with Comrade Xiao Kang now, you’ll only give people more reason to talk and make it seem like you’re the one at fault, never reflecting on your actions but audaciously causing trouble for Comrade Xiao Kang. Do you think you could continue to live here peacefully in this courtyard after that?”


    Su Man: “I see you just care about saving face!”


    Wen Siyuan: “Say whatever you like.”


    Su Man: “You…” How could she have married such a man? He wouldn’t argue on her behalf, norfort her. How was he treating her? Scolding her and now simply ignoring herpletely out of line!


    “There’s something you need to understand.”


    Wen Siyuan suddenly spoke up again, “In our institute, many are eager to join Comrade Luo’s research team. Comrade Loo’s spouse is one of them, and if you don’t handle your rtionship with Comrade Xiao Kang well, considering how much Comrade Luo cares for his spouse, I can’t guarantee that you won’t be moved out of the group under some pretext. And when my spot bes avable, it’s very likely that Comrade Loo’s spouse, Zhang Sheng, will fill it. Let me tell you something else—in terms of project research, Zhang Sheng specializes in the same area as I do.”


    “Are you suggesting… Sister Loo said those words to me on purpose?” Su Man stopped her tears; she wasn’t foolish, especially when it came to their mutual interests, she was quite astute!


    Realizing how close she hade to falling into Loo Ping’s trap, Su Man couldn’t help but clench her fists tightly.


    “What do you think?”


    Instead of answering, Wen Siyuan countered with a question.


    “Do you have to talk to me in such an ambiguous tone?” Su Man red at Wen Siyuan, saying irritably: “Since you heard everything, what are you nning to do about Wen Yue and her sisters?”


    “You and I are husband and wife, and Yueyue and her sisters are naturally your daughters, too. I naturally hope you will guide them sincerely. Besides, if Yueyue and her sisters turn out well, it only benefits your reputation.” Wen Siyuan paused for a moment, then continued, “If you’re unsure how to do it, you might learn from Comrade Xiao Kang.”


    Upon hearing this, Su Man’s just-subdued anger red up again: “How do you want me to learn? Should I learn from your so-called Comrade Xiao Kang to buy new clothes for her three kids now and then, or should I be like her, stuffing milk candies or various snacks into their pockets or the little bags slung over their shoulders every time her kids go out to y?”


    In fact, as Su Man said, Kang Li had taken the time to sew a small crossbody bag for each of her three little ones, cutting out cartoon versions of rabbits, tigers, and ducks from bright colored fabric and meticulously stitching them onto the bags.