“Song Yunli, you’ve really grown wings, haven’t you? You don’t even listen to me anymore. This is outrageous!”
Madam Song was practically furious enough to die from anger.
On the other end of the line, Song Yunli said calmly,
“Mom, think it over carefully.”
With that, he hung up.
The moment the call ended, Madam Song angrily smashed the enamel mug beside her.
“I told you long ago—if you push him too hard, it’ll only backfire. But you wouldn’t listen.”
Grandma Song sat there holding a cup of tea, her face dark as she said,
“Tell Yunting to come back immediately. She’s only causing trouble for her brother.”
“Mom, Yunli married a girl whose background we know nothing about. I heard she’s from Nancheng. As his mother, how can I not worry?”
Madam Song rubbed her aching temples, her expression gloomy.
Grandma Song replied leisurely,
“Back then, I never complained about your family background.”
Madam Song: “…”
Another day passed.
Tang Jin got up early and hung the clothes she had washed downstairs to dry.
Zhang Mei approached her curiously.
“Comrade Tang Jin, I owe you an apology. Yesterday I almost got fooled by them into thinking you were some homewrecker who ruined other people’s relationships.”
“Oh? Then why don’t you think that now?” Tang Jin asked as she shook out a shirt and hung it up.
Zhang Mei laughed awkwardly.
“You just don’t seem like that kind of person.
“And Comrade Song Yunli made things very clear to Comrade Wen Fang last night. He’s always treated her like a younger sister. If you ask me, she’s shameless.
“She knew full well that you and Song Yunli were together, yet she kept hanging around him and even tried to curry favor with your future mother-in-law.”
“Let her do as she pleases. Song Yunli can handle it himself.”
Tang Jin picked up her enamel basin.
“Sister Mei, thank you for understanding me. I didn’t bother explaining because I knew you were a sensible person.”
“Of course I am. My eyes are sharp.”
Zhang Mei chuckled as she watched Tang Jin head upstairs.
Not long afterward, Wen Fang and Song Yunting came downstairs.
Zhang Mei immediately rolled her eyes at them.
“Tch.”
Wen Fang and Song Yunting: “???”
Back in her room, Tang Jin took out the fabric Song Yunli had bought for her the day before and began cutting it carefully.
Her grandmother had taught her sewing when she was younger.
After drawing the patterns and cutting the fabric, she used the sewing machine in her space to make herself a set of clothes and a dress.
At noon, she cooked herself a bowl of vegetable noodles inside the space.
When she finished, she was pleasantly surprised to discover that the seeds she had soaked the previous night had truly improved.
Not only had all the mold been purified away, but the seeds had swollen to exactly the right degree.
Excited, Tang Jin scooped them out.
Then, full of energy, she grabbed a small hoe and planted all the vegetable seeds in the patch of land in front of the little courtyard.
She eagerly looked forward to the day they would sprout.
After finishing everything, Tang Jin left the space.
She couldn’t stay locked in her room all day without arousing suspicion.
Sure enough, when she came downstairs, Zhang Mei asked with concern,
“Sis, I haven’t seen you come down all day. Aren’t you hungry?”
“A little. I’m going to grab something to eat.”
Tang Jin went to the state-run restaurant and had a meal.
She also bought some cooked dishes to store in her space so she could take them out and eat whenever she wanted later.
Afterward, she visited a recycling station and rummaged through the discarded items, eventually finding several valuable old books.
By the time she returned, the sun was setting.
Song Yunli was already waiting downstairs, his face glowing with happiness.
“Ajin.”
“The housing application got approved?”
Seeing how delighted he looked, Tang Jin couldn’t think of any other reason.
Sure enough, Song Yunli beamed, practically begging for praise.
“It did. Since your condition makes things inconvenient, I specifically requested a first-floor unit.”
“Thank you. You handled that very well. When can we move in?”
Tang Jin felt that staying at the guesthouse was inconvenient.
If she moved into the military family compound, then whenever Song Yunli went on missions, she would have plenty of freedom.
“I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning.”
Afraid she might misunderstand, Song Yunli quickly added,
“I’m going to find a few comrades to help clean the place later. Tomorrow you can move in directly.”
He really was thoughtful.
He knew her current condition was special and that she shouldn’t overexert herself.
“Alright. Then I’ll go pack up.”
Tang Jin was in a good mood as well.
Song Yunli then stuffed a handful of dried tangerine peels into her hands.
“They’re sweet and sour. Good for your appetite.”
“Where do you keep finding all these strange dried fruits?”
Tang Jin felt that Song Yunli was surprisingly resourceful.
He smiled mysteriously.
“As long as it’s something you want, I’ll always find a way to get it for you.”
Just as expected of the novel’s male lead.
That kind of charm was enough to make Tang Jin’s heart waver.
But she wasn’t the heroine.
Forcing herself to ignore the strange feelings in her chest, she said calmly,
“Thank you. I’ve been walking around all day and I’m a little tired. I’ll go rest now.”
“Alright.”
Song Yunli watched her enter the guesthouse, a spring-like smile lingering in his eyes and at the corners of his lips.
Back in her room, Tang Jin stared at the dried tangerine peels in her palm.
Covering the wildly beating heart in her chest, she gently shook her head.
“Tang Jin, before loving someone else, love yourself.
Always put yourself first.”
She didn’t have many belongings, and most of them were stored inside her space.
That night she slept there as well.
Knowing she would be moving the next day, she woke up very early.
After hiding away everything that shouldn’t appear in public, she picked up her luggage and opened the door.
Immediately, she met Song Yunli’s sparkling eyes.
He had just raised his hand to knock.
The two couldn’t help smiling at each other.
Naturally, Tang Jin said,
“You’re here.”
“Come on. Let’s get something to eat first.”
Song Yunli casually took the luggage from her hands.
But before they even reached the staircase, the noise attracted attention.
Song Yunting and Wen Fang opened their doors curiously.
The moment Wen Fang saw Tang Jin’s luggage, delight flashed through her heart.
Was Tang Jin finally going home?
Song Yunting was also smiling brightly as she asked without the slightest attempt to hide her excitement,
“Brother, why are you here so early? Are you taking Tang Jin to the bus station?”
“No. I’m taking her to the family compound.”
Song Yunli’s straightforward answer left both women dumbfounded.
Wen Fang, in particular, felt as if she had turned to stone.
What?!
The family compound?
How could someone with Tang Jin’s status live in the family compound unless…
A bold possibility surfaced in Wen Fang’s mind.
Her ears buzzed as she refused to believe it.
Impossible.
How could Song Yunli have married Tang Jin?!
“Brother, have you lost your mind? She’s only your girlfriend. How can she live in the family compound?”
Song Yunting voiced the very question in Wen Fang’s heart.
The two women stared at Song Yunli in unison, hoping for an answer…
An answer they wanted to hear.
Instead, they saw Song Yunli speak with complete seriousness:
“Song Yunting, Comrade Tang Jin and I are already married.
“From now on, when you see her, address her as Sister-in-law.
“As my wife, what’s wrong with her living in the family compound and accompanying me as a military spouse?”