QTIMP -Chapter 73 Character Persona – Lazy (Part 21)

This time, he had raised his estimation of Si Qiu’s foreign language skills by several levels, and so he took a few excited steps forward—only to be blocked by Lu Hongjun.

He took a deep breath, then sincerely extended the invitation. “Comrade Si Qiu, I’d like to invite you to come with me back to the research institute to translate an important document.”

Seeing the young woman show no trace of excitement, he quickly continued, “We will provide appropriate compensation, no less than what a professional translator would receive. If you complete this task well, we can also give you a work recommendation.”

Seeing him so animated, Bai Qi felt a sense of pride.

Si Qiu, not wanting to listen any further, quickly raised her hand to stop him. “Please don’t go on introducing it—I won’t accept this job.”

That one sentence froze the other two people in the room, while only Lu Hongjun looked at her with a smiling gaze.

Before Bai Qi could speak, Shen Xuan stepped forward, “Comrade, perhaps you don’t understand. Although this would be a temporary translation role, the fee we provide won’t be any less. Once it can be made public, your resume will reflect it as well.”

“No, no, none of that matters. I just feel… too tired. Really, really tired. I can’t do work that exhausting.”

Si Qiu’s words made the two of them start assessing her. This comrade was probably over 1.65 meters tall, weighed more than 110 pounds, had fair and rosy skin, and bright eyes.

She certainly didn’t look frail or chronically ill. Besides, the investigation report also noted that she was in good health. So why did she claim translation work was so tiring?

Si Qiu immediately understood what the two of them were thinking. Ever since arriving in this world, whenever she said she was too tired to do something, people always looked at her in astonishment.

From the public’s perspective, many tasks were effortless—no plowing, no digging ditches, no heavy labor. How exhausting could it really be?

Some even thought that sitting indoors translating, simply sitting still without moving, couldn’t possibly be tiring.

But that was other people’s experiences. For Si Qiu, it was different. Her lazy muscles couldn’t tolerate the slightest exertion. Her money was still sufficient, so she didn’t want to move.

“Since there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first. I haven’t eaten yet, and if I go any longer hungry, I won’t be able to handle it—it’s also bad for my health.”

She said this and turned to leave, but Lu Hongjun called out, “Wait for me, wife.”

Lu Hongjun then turned to the corps commander and said, “If the commander has no other matters, I’ll head back too.”

Then the couple left, leaving the stunned onlookers behind.

Why were they so shocked? Today’s society valued selfless dedication. If the country needed you, if the government needed you, if the people needed you, you were expected to devote your physical strength, energy, labor, and all your personal value.

No one bargained with the state, yet here the research institute had offered such generous conditions, and Si Qiu refused simply because she was “too tired.” This was utterly shocking.

At that moment, the corps commander’s office phone rang—it was a call from the research institute. Shen Xuan answered and heard the other side say:

“Deputy Director, the two professors carried out an experiment based on the previously translated portions. An explosion occurred, injuring three people including the director. They have been sent to the hospital. Please return as soon as possible to manage the institute; otherwise, those spies might take advantage and cause unnecessary losses.”

Shen Xuan’s head buzzed. “What happened? Didn’t we say—without a confirmed translation, the experiment shouldn’t proceed?”

There was a sigh on the other end. “Alas, the three old men were provoked by reports from abroad.”

Shen Xuan didn’t know what else to say, but he couldn’t just let it go either. After all, what had just happened only confirmed that the translator was unreliable.

So Comrade Si Qiu had to go back to the research institute with him.

He turned to look at Commander Bai. With the phone recording and their conversation, even if Commander Bai didn’t say anything, he had probably already heard most of it clearly. So when the two of them exchanged glances, Shen Xuan slammed his hand on the desk.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to her place and personally talk some sense into her.”

Commander Bai, agitated by the phone call, felt a sense of urgency and completely forgot what his wife had told him about how well Little Jun’s wife enjoyed life.

Meanwhile, the couple was walking home, and Si Qiu was still circling around, trying to reason with Lu Hongjun.

“Brother Lu, look—you just came back from a mission, and you’re still injured. How could I possibly leave you alone? Besides, you said I’ve lost weight lately. If I don’t take care of myself properly, it could affect my lifespan in the long run. I still want to stay by your side for life.

You’re a soldier with the best physique. If I don’t take care of myself, I definitely won’t outlive you.”

What was Lu Hongjun? He was a sharp-minded man who could see through people, and of course, he knew what she was thinking. He glanced around—there was hardly anyone nearby—and pinched her nose.

“Got it, got it. Our little lazybug can’t bear to leave me and wants to grow old with me. So we’ll skip the exhausting stuff—we’re not starving anyway.”

Si Qiu knew he had seen through her little scheme, but as long as he went along with it, it was fine. She quickly nodded.

“Brother Lu, you’re really good. Sigh… I just hope this won’t put you in a difficult spot, since that old man is your superior.”

Si Qiu was 1.67 meters tall, and Lu Hongjun was 1.86 meters, so she had to tilt her head up to look at him while speaking. Her neck was getting sore, and suddenly she thought that her husband didn’t really need to be that tall—it would make everyday conversation a lot easier.

Lu Hongjun, unaware of her little mental calculations, was still assuring Commander Bai that he wouldn’t be forced and that he wouldn’t give in. He had no clue about the fleeting thoughts crossing his wife’s mind—or he would have disciplined the other party properly.

Back at home, the couple decided to give themselves the afternoon off and killed a duck to make old duck soup.

By the time Commander Bai and Deputy Director Shen arrived, they had just set up the soup pot and were about to add some noodles. This meal would suffice for now, and they could have the old duck soup for dinner.

When Si Qiu opened the door and saw the two standing outside, her heart skipped a beat. When they came in and she met Lu Hongjun’s gaze, she even twitched her nose.

She had this persistent feeling that there was no escape.

Lu Hongjun knew how things would go but still gave her a reassuring look.

Shen Xuan was really anxious. As soon as he sat down, he began his persuasion.

“Comrade Si Qiu, our research institute really needs a translator right now. We hope you can lend a hand for the sake of contributing to our country. Of course, rest assured, we will make sure you are treated fairly in all other respects.”

Lu Hongjun poured water for the two of them first and then said, “Deputy Director Shen, please don’t worry. My wife has some mental fatigue. She can’t stay up late, handle heavy work, or endure hunger. That’s why she declined this job. It’s truly not that she doesn’t want to contribute to the country.”

Si Qiu nodded beside him, pecking like a little chick.