Shen Yanting heard the footsteps and turned around, visibly pausing for a moment.
In his memory, Song Nanzhi had always been the one hiding behind Song Youfan, dressed flamboyantly, spoiled and willful.
But the woman before him now…
Her light-colored shirt was neat and crisp, the collar perfectly in place, with two braids hanging down over her chest.
She looked fresh and clean, stripped of all that ostentatiousness—could it be that she actually had some womanly charm?
Before he could speak, Song Nanzhi had already stopped in front of him.
Song Nanzhi tilted her face up slightly. “Regimental Commander Shen, sorry to keep you waiting.”
Shen Yanting snapped back to attention, the corner of his mouth curling up in his habitual half-smile. “Tsk, Miss Song actually dares to show up?”
Song Nanzhi felt her ears grow warm, knowing Shen Yanting was teasing her.
She pressed her lips together and met the man’s gaze without flinching. “Didn’t Regimental Commander Shen come as well?”
“Me?” Shen Yanting let out a scoffing laugh. “I’m a man of my word—every promise I make, I keep.”
“As for you…” He deliberately dragged out his words with an insufferable expression on his face.
“The conditions on the island can’t compare to Haicheng. It’s a barren land with scarce supplies—you’ll be lucky to get your fill of corn buns.”
“There’s no coffee for you to drink…”
“A pampered young lady like you, used to a capitalist lifestyle—don’t come crying and begging to go back when the time comes.”
Hearing this, Song Nanzhi began to have doubts. Were the conditions on the island really as bad as he said?
But she didn’t have a better option now. She needed to leave the Song family as soon as possible and settle down somewhere.
As for the child… she’d find an opportunity to tell him. If that didn’t work, then… divorce?
At the very least, she could beg him to register the child’s household. Otherwise, without ration coupons and schooling, the child would be truly ruined.
Anyway, he’d already been married twice—surely one more wouldn’t matter to him?
Song Nanzhi tilted her head with a resigned expression. “When you marry a rooster, you follow the rooster; when you marry a dog, you follow the dog.”
“…” Shen Yanting was momentarily choked by her words. He furrowed his brow—it sounded odd, but there was nothing wrong with it.
He stared at her for another two seconds, then let out a low chuckle. “Fine, you’ve got guts. Let’s go.”
Shen Yanting stepped forward to enter, only to find Song Nanzhi hadn’t followed.
He turned back, raising an eyebrow. “What? Lost your nerve at the last step?”
Song Nanzhi looked at him very seriously. “Regimental Commander Shen, may I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead!”
“Why… did you agree to marry me?”
Shen Yanting seemed caught off guard by the question. He paused for a moment, then broke into a casual smile.
“There’s no big ‘why’ to it. Didn’t you come to me yourself?”
Song Nanzhi remained where she stood, seemingly unsatisfied with his answer.
Shen Yanting glanced at the people passing by, then decided to humor her.
“I’m getting old, and my family’s been pressuring me to marry. Marrying you also conveniently solves a problem for Yuexi.”
“Why wouldn’t I take that deal?”
Again with Shen Yuexi. Song Nanzhi pursed her lips inwardly.
Still, everything he said seemed to be true.
And this man, though he appeared roguish, seemed to value loyalty and keep his promises.
With that thought, Song Nanzhi let out a soft, obedient “Oh.”
Shen Yanting furrowed his brow and urged, “Don’t just stand there—hurry up and go in.”
Women were such a hassle.
The two walked into the office one after another, where people came and went, most of them in military uniform.
“Originally, this paperwork was supposed to be done on Zhou Island, but since I happen to be in Haicheng, it’s more convenient for you to come here.”
“We’ll submit the documents here today, but approval will take a few days.”
A few more days?
Song Nanzhi mentally calculated what supplies she needed to stock up on before heading to the island…
Suddenly, a sharp burst of crying shattered the dull atmosphere of the hall.
“You little brat! You tore my dress!”
“Waaah… wuwuwu…” The child seemed to cry even harder.
A female comrade raised her voice. “Cry! You little brat, you still know how to cry! Do you know how expensive this dress is?”
“I have a blind date to go to later! Now it’s all ruined!”
Song Nanzhi followed the sound and saw a conspicuous young woman in the queue. Her face was flushed red with anger as she clutched her dress in distress.
There was a large tear at the side of her waist, the fabric already fraying.
Beside her stood a little boy of three or four, wailing loudly, clearly terrified.
The one who looked ready to hit the child was presumably his mother. “Telling you not to run around! You’re always causing trouble every day!”
The scene was chaotic.
Strangely, Song Nanzhi felt her heart clench at the sound of the child’s cries.
Without much thought, she pulled out a few fruit candies wrapped in colorful paper from her pocket.
In this day and age, these were a rare treat.
She walked quickly over to the little boy who was sobbing and hiccuping, then crouched down in front of him.
“There, there, don’t cry.” She gently placed the candies into the boy’s chubby little palm.
“Here, big sister gives you some candy, okay? It’ll sweeten your mouth.”
The little boy looked at the gentle older sister before him, then at the pretty candies in his hand.
For a moment, he really forgot to cry, only his little nose still hiccuping.
Song Nanzhi wiped the boy’s tears. “But we tore your auntie’s dress, shouldn’t we say sorry?”
The little boy seemed to understand. He timidly turned his head to look at the young woman who was still angry.
Then he looked at Song Nanzhi’s encouraging eyes and muttered softly, “S-sorry…”
Seeing the boy’s obedient manner, the softest place in Song Nanzhi’s heart was touched.
A strange feeling—could it be the pregnancy hormones?
The young woman’s expression softened a bit when she saw the child apologize.
But looking at the obvious tear, she frowned again.
“A simple sorry is enough? I saved up cloth coupons and money for a long time to buy this from the department store.”
“How am I supposed to face anyone like this!”
Song Nanzhi stood up and carefully examined the style and fabric of the dress she was wearing.
She smiled gently. “Comrade, don’t worry. The tear is quite noticeable…”
“But I can try to alter it for you. Maybe it’ll fit better and look even nicer than before.”
Seeing the girl’s doubtful expression, she added, “And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll compensate you with money?”
Shen Yanting tugged at her arm and lowered his voice. “Don’t meddle in other people’s business!”
“You’re a pampered young lady—since when do you know needlework?”
“Besides, dresses from the department store aren’t cheap. It’s not that easy to just say you’ll pay for it.”
Who does he think he’s looking down on!
Song Nanzhi gently freed her arm from his grip and turned her head to smile at him. “Regimental Commander Shen, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
Then she looked back at the girl. “What do you say, comrade? It can’t get any worse than this, right?”
The girl looked at her confident eyes, then at her own pitiful dress.
She bit her lip. “Then… I’ll trouble you.”
Shen Yanting stood to the side with his arms crossed, waiting to see.
She’d boasted so boldly—how was she going to back it up?
Though he was watching the show, he instinctively reached into his pocket, ready to pay the compensation.