Su Ming was very curious about what that man did for a living. He thought for a moment, then suddenly turned and rushed to the balcony. It was a seven-story apartment building, not very tall. He clung to the railing and looked down, just in time to see the slightly chubby figure of the man leisurely descending the stairs. A brand-new black Audi A6 was parked at the bottom, and a young man in a white shirt jogged from the driver's seat, respectfully opening the rear door. The middle-aged man bent down and got in, the door closed, and the car silently glided into the twilight.

"You saw him?" Qiu Tong had somehow appeared on the balcony as well, standing behind him.

"I saw him. He seems to be doing quite well!" Su Ming nodded and said, "Cousin-in-law, you and he..."

In 2003, owning an Audi A6 in Donghai City, and having a personal driver, meant this man was definitely extraordinary.

"My relationship with him is not for you to ask about! It's none of your business!" Qiu Tong's voice was hoarse and carried a weary seriousness, "He's not a simple man. When he's around, call me 'cousin.' Don't ask unnecessary questions and try to speak less. Privately, I'm still your cousin-in-law. Stay here for a couple of days, and I'll help you find a job."

"Forget it!" Su Ming sneered, "Since you're someone else's mistress, our family ties are over. You have no obligation to help me. I'll stay at a hotel."

Her previous indifference made him realize that the woman in front of him was no longer family.

He picked up the dusty luggage bag from the corner and was about to leave.

"What's the rush?" Qiu Tong quickly blocked the door, "How much money do you have? Have you found a job?"

"Two hundred left. I'll find a job myself." Su Ming seemed determined.

"Two hundred?" Qiu Tong sounded like she heard a joke, but her eyes weren't smiling, "That won't last three to five days here. Jobs aren't easy to find. Factories mostly hire women now; men can't even get in without connections."

"That's not your concern!" A hint of youthful stubbornness and confusion crossed Su Ming's face. He gritted his teeth, "I'll figure out the job situation myself."

He reached for the door, but Qiu Tong suddenly grabbed his wrist. Her palm was hot and slightly damp, "It's so late, where are you going? Your mom entrusted you to me, so I have to take care of you!"

"I can take care of myself!" Su Ming stubbornly shook off her hand.

Unexpectedly, his hand swung out and accidentally hit Qiu Tong's chest.

Qiu Tong let out a startled cry, her chest sinking in pain, and she instinctively covered it with one hand, gently rubbing.

Only then did Su Ming realize his hand had accidentally touched his cousin-in-law's sensitive area. The astonishingly soft sensation he felt through the thin nightgown turned into a burning heat that rushed to his cheeks and ears. Seeing her pained expression, he panicked and instinctively leaned closer, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! Let me... help you... rub it..."

His hand froze halfway in the air.

"Don't you dare!"

Qiu Tong raised her eyes and glared at him.

Su Ming's face turned crimson, and he stammered, "I... I didn't mean it... I..."

Qiu Tong didn't scold him further, just leaned against the wall, gently rubbed her chest twice more, and then lowered her hand. The neckline of her nightgown was askew, and the skin she had rubbed was slightly red. She looked at the flustered Su Ming, sighed softly, and her tone softened, "Don't be stubborn, okay? Your mom repeatedly asked me to take good care of you over the phone. It's late, and you're unfamiliar with the place. If something happens, how can I explain it to your mom?"

Seeing her softened attitude and genuine concern in her eyes, Su Ming's tense shoulders relaxed a bit, and he whispered, "Are we still family?"

"Of course, we are." Qiu Tong smiled sweetly and gently patted Su Ming's shoulder, "I'm still your cousin-in-law. But if Jiang Jian is around, call me 'cousin.'"

"That man earlier, Jiang Jian, he is..." Su Ming couldn't help but want to probe into the man's identity.

"You can consider him your cousin-in-law, and don't ask more in the future." Qiu Tong glanced at Su Ming, then smiled sweetly, "Come on, let's eat!"

"Okay." Su Ming paused, his voice lowering, "Sorry for the trouble tonight, cousin-in-law. I'll start looking for a job tomorrow."

Qiu Tong looked at his slightly childish profile and finally showed a sincere smile, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes slightly relaxing, "That's more like it. Come on, let's eat." She turned to lead the way, the hem of her nightgown swaying lightly.

Su Ming followed, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the curve of her back and the slight sway of her hair as she walked.

Then, he noticed her casually raising her hand, her fingertips lightly brushing over the red mark on her chest.

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat, his cheeks burning, and he almost blurted out in a voice as soft as a mosquito, "Cousin-in-law... you... you..."

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread.com".

"What about me?" Qiu Tong looked at Su Ming curiously.

"You... you're not wearing a bra..." Su Ming pointed at her chest, then quickly lowered his head.

Qiu Tong paused, then quickly looked down, exclaiming softly, "Oh my, I'm really not. Wait a moment!" Before she finished speaking, she slipped into the bedroom, closing the door with a "bang."

Su Ming stood alone in the suddenly quiet living room, the air still carrying the scent of the strange man's smoke, Qiu Tong's faint soap fragrance, and an indescribable, restless, ambiguous atmosphere. He looked at the hand that had accidentally touched his cousin-in-law's chest, his fingertips curling slightly.

Three minutes later, Qiu Tong emerged in a light purple cheongsam-style dress, outlining her graceful figure, paired with small heels, making her look both mature and charming. She applied light makeup and led Su Ming out the door.

They arrived at a nearby luxurious seafood restaurant, where the hostess in a thigh-high slit cheongsam greeted them with a smile. The restaurant's lighting was soft, and the air was filled with a faint, salty freshness of the sea.

Qiu Tong skillfully ordered a few dishes and a bottle of red wine. When Su Ming saw the "Seafood Double Set: 388 yuan" on the menu, his eyes nearly popped out.

Three hundred and eighty-eight!

That's almost a month's salary for his father at the factory back home. In the early 2000s inland, an ordinary worker worked tirelessly for a month to earn that much. His cousin-in-law spent his father's monthly hard-earned money on one meal.

Su Ming's emotions were incredibly complex, both shocked by the extravagant spending and deeply attracted to this lavish lifestyle like a giant magnet. He looked at Qiu Tong, who exuded the charm of a city woman with every move, and thought of the man driving the Audi A6 earlier, a strong desire surged in his heart.

In the future, I want to live like them, a life of the elite.

He secretly clenched his fist.

When they left the seafood restaurant, night had fully fallen, and the streetlights were gradually lighting up. Su Ming touched his slightly bulging stomach, feeling heavy-hearted. That meal, which his cousin-in-law paid for without batting an eye, cost 388 yuan, almost twice the savings he brought from home.

"Let's go buy some things." Qiu Tong naturally led him toward the night market.

The night market was bustling, the stalls' lights shining brightly. Qiu Tong skillfully led him into a store with a sign that read "Foreign Trade Clothing," picking out a light blue striped shirt, a pair of dark gray trousers, and black leather shoes.

"Try them on." She handed the clothes to Su Ming.

Su Ming held the clothes, glanced at the tags, and discreetly pinched the thin stack of bills in his pocket, whispering, "Cousin-in-law, I have clothes..."

"Your undershirt is too rustic; you can't wear that to job interviews." Qiu Tong raised an eyebrow and handed the clothes to him, "Go try them on!"

"Okay!" Su Ming took the clothes and was about to turn around.

"Wait!" Qiu Tong looked him over and curiously asked, "What's your underwear size?"

"Uh... why do you ask?" Su Ming looked at his cousin-in-law curiously, not understanding what she was up to.