I Married an Athlete Who is 1.85 Meters Tall, and We Fell in Love After Getting Married - Chapter 3.1

Holding hands, Sang Xiao and Kuang Qingshang entered the private dining room. The room was already full of people. At the head of the table sat an old man in a Tang suit; his hair was silver, but his eyes were sharp. This was a family banquet for his birthday, and no outsiders were invited—only relatives.

The private room was decorated festively, spacious yet private. Sang Xiao and Kuang Qingshang were late, which was slightly impolite. Sang Xiao didn’t know many of Kuang’s relatives, and even fewer knew her; most only vaguely knew that Kuang Qingshang had married.

The old master looked at the two of them with a kindly expression: “You’ve arrived. Sit down, sit down.”

After jointly greeting their grandfather, Sang Xiao and Kuang Qingshang took their seats and then greeted the elders present one by one. The people Sang Xiao was most familiar with were Kuang Qingshang’s mother, Feng Shu, and her younger sister, Kuang Xun, but neither of them was present today.

That was odd.

As if sensing her confusion, someone asked, “Hasn’t Sis-in-law returned yet? Doesn’t she have time for Dad’s eightieth birthday?”

“Xiao Xun hasn’t come either. Both mother and daughter are abroad right now and couldn’t make the time.” It was Kuang Qingshang’s Third Uncle who replied. “Fortunately, Qingshang, who is the busiest, managed to rush back.”

The old master fixed his gaze on his two unpromising sons and said, “They are busy with work. As long as the thought is there, it’s fine. It’s better to be busy with work than to be idle.”

Third Uncle, whose children were all idle, immediately shut up.

Sang Xiao listened and felt that the Kuang family might not be as harmonious as they appeared on the surface.

This was Sang Xiao’s first real meeting with Kuang Qingshang’s relatives. The old master had many children: three sons and two daughters. Kuang Qingshang’s father was the eldest son, and this branch only had the two daughters, Kuang Qingshang and Kuang Xun.

Kuang Qingshang’s father had passed away long ago, and the three brothers had already split the family assets, so there shouldn’t be any struggle for inheritance. However, when outsiders mentioned the Kuang family, they only knew about the mother and daughters, Feng Shu, Kuang Qingshang, and Kuang Xun, as the Kuang family’s business rapidly expanded under Feng Shu’s control and had nothing to do with the other branches.

The children of the two uncles and two aunts also made up a large family, plus the cousins and older female cousins who were already married and had children, making the scene very lively. It didn’t matter that Feng Shu and Kuang Xun hadn’t arrived; everyone knew the old master liked Kuang Qingshang the most.

Once everyone was present, the food started being served.

Sang Xiao’s most dreaded moment arrived.

“What is your job, Xiao Sang?”

“Kindergarten teacher.” Sang Xiao answered honestly and directly. When faced with the same question in the past, she would say she was a teacher, only for people to systematically check from university teacher, high school teacher, middle school teacher, and elementary school teacher, until they finally realized she was a kindergarten teacher, upon which they’d give a meaningful smile.

Does a kindergarten teacher count as a teacher?

Probably not.

The person paused: “Ah, looking after children must be hard work, right?”

Sang Xiao smiled: “It’s alright. The kids at the kindergarten are very cute.”

“Then you must love children, right?”

Sang Xiao immediately had a bad feeling.

No way, no way. They had only been married for just over a month and were already being pressured to have a baby? Although it was most likely just a relative who couldn’t find anything else to talk about, asking a random question, much like how elders always ask if you are dating or married during holidays.

In reality, the questioner isn’t deeply concerned; they are just asking casually, but the harm to the person being asked is not to be underestimated.

Sure enough, the relative followed up with: “When do you two plan to have a child? Xiao Sang loves children so much, she must want one very much, right?”

Sang Xiao was prepared and didn’t feel much emotion. Her parents had also hinted at it, though not as urgently as the relative, merely saying that if Kuang Qingshang had the idea, she shouldn’t refuse. It seemed that once she and Kuang Qingshang had a child, the relationship between the two families would be more stable, and the alliance more reliable.

Sang Xiao was about to say they had no plans for the time being.

Kuang Qingshang spoke first: “We don’t plan to have children.”

The relative was choked up.

“Why wouldn’t you plan to have a child? Having a baby takes a toll on the body. The sooner you have one, the easier it is to recover, so much so that after giving birth, it’s as if you never did.”

Kuang Qingshang stated reasonably: “It is precisely because it takes a toll on the body that we don’t plan to have one.”

The relative was choked up again: “…”

Someone smoothed things over: “Qingshang certainly dotes on her wife.”

After that, Kuang Qingshang remained silent.

Sang Xiao guessed: Kuang Qingshang probably dislikes children intensely.

The protagonist of the day, Old Master Kuang, spoke up: “How long are you planning to stay this time, Qingshang?”

Sang Xiao immediately pricked up her ears.

This was the question she cared about most.

Kuang Qingshang glanced indistinctly at Sang Xiao: “I plan to take some time to relax this time, probably half a month.”

Sang Xiao was very disappointed. Half a month was surprisingly long. She had actually been hoping Kuang Qingshang would stay busy indefinitely.

“Only half a month?” The old master thought for a moment. “Since you are married, you should spend more time at home. Also, go see the company and help your mother. You can’t play basketball your whole life.”

Kuang Qingshang: “Mhm, I understand.”

The old master asked again: “The old injury hasn’t acted up, has it?”

Everyone could see the old master’s favoritism toward Kuang Qingshang, and they quietly remained silent.

Kuang Qingshang: “No, please don’t worry.”

The old master nodded, then changed the subject: “Alright, focus on eating.”

After dinner, the younger generation usually tried to make fun of the occasion, but the old master waved his hand: “Since everyone has managed to gather today, go amuse yourselves.”

Sang Xiao wasn’t close to anyone and was a little dissatisfied with the idea of gathering after the meal. Fortunately, Kuang Qingshang said she was tired and wanted to go back and rest early. Only then did Sang Xiao realize that Kuang Qingshang had just rushed back from out of town today and had come to pick her up as soon as she arrived.

Everyone was very understanding.

“A brief separation is better than a newlywed reunion for the young couple.”

“We won’t disturb you.”

The two were still holding hands, fulfilling their spousal duty, as they walked out of the hotel. Sang Xiao wiggled her fingers. Kuang Qingshang noticed and let go of her hand, asking, “Do you still want to go back to the apartment?”

Sang Xiao had bought the apartment after deciding to work at Chenxi Kindergarten because it was close to work. Now that Kuang Qingshang was finally back, if she went back to the apartment, it would seem problematic, as if she were hiding from Kuang Qingshang, but… let her hide.

It was late at night, and with the relatives’ comments about the ‘newlywed reunion,’ Sang Xiao didn’t dare to go back. She wasn’t ready to perform other spousal duties with Kuang Qingshang yet.

She hadn’t prepared herself.

Sang Xiao stepped back two paces, so she wouldn’t have to strain to look up when meeting Kuang Qingshang’s eyes, and could also see Kuang Qingshang’s expression more clearly. She said, “Yes, back to the apartment.”

Kuang Qingshang looked at the distance between them, her lips moved slightly, but she ultimately said nothing, driving Sang Xiao directly to the apartment building entrance.

Sang Xiao hesitated and said, “Want to come up for a seat?”

What nonsense was that?

Kuang Qingshang shook her head: “You go rest well. But I don’t think living in the apartment is a long-term solution.”

She had said that much.

It would be a miracle if Sang Xiao could rest well.

Kuang Qingshang didn’t say much in the way of grand principles, only looked at Sang Xiao quietly, finally saying, “We are already married.”

Then she left directly.

After watching Kuang Qingshang drive away, Sang Xiao went home and collapsed on the sofa. She took off her clothes to shower, and after showering, she called Bian Yan to complain: “Kuang Qingshang is actually done with her game.”

Bian Yan: “You were paying attention to her?”

Sang Xiao: “She came to the kindergarten to pick me up. It was her grandfather’s birthday today, and we just got back from the hotel.”

Bian Yan: “Then you two are sleeping together tonight, aren’t you?”

Sang Xiao: “No, I’m at the apartment.”

Bian Yan: “Still nervous?”

Sang Xiao: “Mhm, I feel unsure. I plan to ask an expert for advice.”

She hadn’t expected Kuang Qingshang to return so quickly. Sang Xiao thought Kuang Qingshang would continue training and competing elsewhere. When Kuang Qingshang came back, she realized her little heart couldn’t handle it at all.

Bian Yan knew which expert Sang Xiao was referring to and said, “I’m with her now. Come over right away, or that woman will eat you alive without you even knowing.”

Sang Xiao touched her face.

Was she really that timid?

Sang Xiao changed her clothes and took a taxi to a low-key bar. As soon as they met, Bian Yan scrutinized Sang Xiao from head to toe, as if worried she had suffered a loss.

The owner of the bar was already holding a wine glass, watching the two of them.

Xu Jia, 28 years old, another prematurely married expert.

She was also in a marriage of convenience, but she was thriving. When others were told they were entering an arranged marriage, they would try everything to pursue romantic freedom, but she was quite nonchalant and managed her marriage very well. If Sang Xiao didn’t know the inside story, she would have thought Xu Jia and her wife were in a free-will relationship, not a commercial alliance.

Xu Jia was dressed in a casual, relaxed manner.

She looked at Sang Xiao like a teacher.