Chapter 2The Handshake

Having struggled in this city for many years, we have a few friends who gather regularly.

Today was one such occasion.

When the dinner started, everyone surrounded Ethan, praising him for being young and promising, saying a vice-director position was just around the corner.

Ethan smiled indifferently.

In the government office, he was famous for his "pen," always highly regarded, and had an aloof air about him.

"Tiger and his wife are coming today too."

Someone said.

Everyone's faces suddenly looked a bit strange.

Tiger is Ethan's fellow townsman. Two years ago, he made some money as a contractor, but ended up getting addicted to gambling. He not only lost his family property but also became a discredited person (blacklisted for debt).

Every time we gather, he drinks himself into a stupor, cursing heaven and earth and social injustice. Last time, he even fought with an old friend and beat him so badly he was hospitalized for half a month.

"I asked him to come."

Ethan put down his teacup and said lightly.

"After all, we've been friends for many years. We can't stop being friends just because he's down on his luck."

Seeing his stance, everyone couldn't say anything more and nodded with embarrassed smiles.

I frowned slightly.

Not for anything else, but because I'm pregnant. Tiger smokes heavily, one after another without stopping. If I mention it to him, he puts on a sarcastic expression as if I'm "looking down on people."

I wanted to talk to Ethan, but saw his gaze towards the door, seemingly expecting something.

Bang!

The door was pushed open forcefully.

I shuddered.

I saw Tiger walking in, cursing.

"Charging me twenty bucks for parking, why the hell don't they just rob me!"

He pointed behind him and cursed again, "Ungrateful thing! Every woman helps her own man, only you, bitch, help outsiders!"

Behind him, a woman walked in with her head down, faint finger marks on her face.

This is Tiger's wife, Sarah.

She looks gentle and virtuous, but unfortunately, she has a bad fate and got stuck with a violent husband like Tiger.

"What are you shouting about! Watch it!"

Ethan suddenly spoke in a deep voice, sounding very displeased.

Upon seeing him, Tiger immediately changed his face, smiling broadly.

"Bro, sorry sorry, my bad temper acting up again, not paying attention to the occasion. I'll punish myself with three drinks later!"

Saying this, he sat down carelessly, picking up chopsticks to eat peanuts, ignoring the person behind him.

Sarah stood awkwardly by the door.

Her hand quietly brushed a lock of hair down, obviously trying to hide her face.

Everyone showed sympathy and deliberately looked away to avoid embarrassing her.

I sighed and said loudly.

"Sarah, come sit down, food will be served soon."

She smiled gratefully at me and walked in to sit next to Tiger.

"Thank you, sister-in-law."

After speaking, she looked past me at Ethan next to me and whispered:

"Thank you, brother."

Ethan's face was slightly tense, and he didn't say anything.

During the meal, Tiger started cursing again, smoking and drinking, quickly turning red like a cooked shrimp.

Sarah peeled shrimp for him one moment and poured wine for him the next, barely eating anything herself.

Just as I was about to tell her to eat more.

Ethan suddenly extended his chopsticks and put a piece of fish for Tom, who was hosting the dinner next to him.

Tom laughed, "I'm the host today, I should be the one serving you."

"It's all the same."

Ethan said lightly, then stood up and put a shrimp for the person sitting next.

Just like that, following the seating order, he put a chopstick of food or served a bowl of soup for everyone.

Everyone present was flattered.

"What's wrong with Brother Ethan today? The sun rose from the west."

"Yeah, we're really not used to this."

"It must be because sister-in-law is pregnant, Brother Ethan is happy!"

"Right right right! That explains it!"

I was also a bit surprised, but hearing everyone say this, I felt it was indeed so.

Ethan is introverted and not good at expressing himself.

My pregnancy is great news for him and his entire family.

His parents back in his hometown were even more excited than when they learned he passed the civil service exam.

At this moment, I smiled and wanted to tease him a bit.

But I saw him raise his eyes slightly, his gaze seemingly inadvertently landing on the front right.

I followed his gaze.

Sarah lowered her head, drinking soup sip by sip with a spoon.

Between the hanging hair, a pair of almond eyes were slightly red.

...

Ethan just served her a bowl of chicken soup.