Not far away, Song Yunli had no idea that the impression he had left on Tang Jin was already quite poor.
Frowning impatiently, he said,
“Yunting, I’m busy with missions. I don’t have time. Buy your own tickets and go back.”
“Brother, Sister Wenfang came all this way specifically to see you. How can you be so cold and heartless?”
Song Yunting felt indignant on Wenfang’s behalf and complained,
“Do you even know that we spent two days and one night changing trains to get here?”
“I never asked you to come.”
Song Yunli showed them no courtesy whatsoever.
A bitter feeling welled up in Wenfang’s heart.
“Brother Yunli, Auntie was worried about you being here all alone. That’s why Wenfang and I came to check on you.”
“I don’t need that.”
His handsome face remained expressionless as he said bluntly,
“Wenfang, don’t waste your time on me. There are plenty of outstanding men in the compound.”
“You—!”
Wenfang had never expected him to speak so harshly. She was instantly driven to tears.
Song Yunting was furious.
“Brother, Sister Wenfang has been so good to you. How can you talk to her like that? Do you know how much that hurts her feelings…”
She rattled on for quite a while before realizing Song Yunli wasn’t responding.
At that moment, Song Yunli’s gaze had already locked onto a familiar figure in the distance, causing his heart to skip a beat.
Without another thought, he sprinted toward her.
Reaching her in seconds, he grabbed Tang Jin’s wrist.
“Don’t go.”
Tang Jin turned around and met his slightly nervous eyes.
His voice was urgent.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
Tang Jin fell silent.
Just moments ago, she had been wondering whether she should still approach him if he had already met the novel’s heroine.
After all…
She had no intention of becoming the other woman.
“I… I’ll take responsibility for you!”
Noticing the indifference in her gaze, Song Yunli hurriedly expressed his intentions.
He had been searching for her seriously.
“Who is she?”
Wenfang and Song Yunting finally caught up.
Song Yunting immediately demanded an explanation.
Meanwhile, Wenfang eyed Tang Jin warily.
The young woman seemed to glow with fairness. She wore a simple floral blouse paired with an army-green skirt, making it impossible to look away.
Tang Jin gave Song Yunli a faint smile, as if silently asking:
So this is what you mean by taking responsibility?
“This is my younger sister, Yunting.”
Afraid Tang Jin might misunderstand, Song Yunli quickly explained.
Then, turning his hand over naturally, he took hers in his own.
Facing Song Yunting, his expression turned stern.
“Yunting, mind your manners. This is your sister-in-law.”
“What?!!”
Song Yunting and Wenfang froze.
Wenfang’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Her nose stung with tears.
Song Yunting’s mouth hung open as her mind completely blanked out.
“Come on. Let’s get in the car first.”
With his free hand, Song Yunli casually took the luggage from Tang Jin and led her toward the jeep.
The thin calluses on his fingertips brushed against her skin, making her palm itch inexplicably.
Their clasped hands were damp with a thin layer of sweat.
So far, his performance was acceptable.
“I don’t believe it!”
Wenfang’s shrill cry came from behind them.
Finally snapping out of her shock, she squatted on the ground and burst into tears.
Impossible.
Auntie had still been worrying about Brother Yunli’s marriage recently.
How could this woman possibly be his girlfriend?
“Sister Wenfang, don’t be upset yet.”
Feeling both awkward and sympathetic, Song Yunting comforted her softly.
“My brother has never had a girlfriend. There’s no way one could suddenly appear out of nowhere.
“He’s probably just afraid we’ll bother him, so he found someone to pretend to be his girlfriend and make us leave.”
“That’s right. It has to be that!”
Wenfang suddenly looked up, clearly convinced.
“Yunting, will you take me to see your brother?”
“Of course I’m on your side, Sister Wenfang!”
Helping her up, Song Yunting declared,
“I know where my brother’s military unit is. I’ll take you there.”
Inside the jeep, Song Yunli placed Tang Jin’s luggage in the back.
It was almost as if he was afraid Wenfang and the others would catch up.
The moment he got in, he stepped on the accelerator.
“Sorry. I was too forward just now.”
Both hands gripping the steering wheel, he looked visibly nervous.
Tang Jin suddenly laughed.
“Song Yunli, let’s properly introduce ourselves again. My name is Tang Jin.”
Song Yunli glanced sideways at her.
Her smile crashed straight into his heart, making the corners of his lips lift involuntarily.
“Everything I said just now was serious.
“I’ll take responsibility for you.”
“And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
Tang Jin asked softly.
His expression immediately became solemn.
“I’ll submit a marriage application right away.”
He was already organizing his thoughts, preparing to persuade her—
But before he could say another word, she nodded.
“Sure.”
“Really?”
Song Yunli found it hard to believe.
It felt like a dream.
His entire body felt light and weightless.
Tang Jin laughed.
“Of course it’s real.
“Song Yunli, I’m pregnant.”
Screech—!
The jeep came to an abrupt stop.
Song Yunli stared at her dumbfounded, as though his brain had completely stopped functioning.
Even the hands gripping the steering wheel were trembling with excitement.
“Keep your eyes on the road.”
There was amusement in Tang Jin’s eyes.
She looked perfectly calm.
Song Yunli, however, couldn’t calm down at all.
In the end, he simply pulled over to the side of the road.
His expression was complicated.
“Is it from that night?”
“Mhm.”
Tang Jin admitted it openly.
“To be honest, I came here specifically to find you.
“The child needs a household registration.”
“Leave it to me.”
His answer instantly reassured her.
Then she explained,
“You should think carefully.
“My grandfather and maternal grandfather have both passed away.
“But they were once patriotic capitalists.
“Our family background could become a problem at any time.
“If that bothers you, there’s no need to force yourself. I can think of another solution.”
“I don’t care.”
Song Yunli’s reply was firm.
“Everything I’ve achieved in the military was earned with my own two hands.”
How could he possibly leave her to face the burden of raising a child alone?
“I’ll handle all of that.”
His domineering confidence pleased Tang Jin.
Yet when she thought about the young woman from earlier—and the future heroine—she looked at him seriously.
“Song Yunli, we don’t have any emotional foundation.
“But I want to give birth to this child who shares my blood.
“So let’s get married.
“After the child is born, we’ll get divorced.
“The child will stay with me.”
Song Yunli: !!!
One second ago, he had felt as though happiness had dropped from the sky.
A wife.
A child.
The next second, his heart plunged straight into an abyss.
“In the Song family, we have widows and widowers.
“We do not have divorce.”
“I’m telling you this in advance because I’m afraid that one day you’ll meet a woman you truly love and regret marrying me.”
Tang Jin looked at his handsome, furrowed brows and couldn’t help thinking:
With a face like that, our child probably won’t look bad either.
If there were no so-called heroine in the future…
Perhaps staying married wouldn’t be impossible.
“You don’t trust me.”
Song Yunli’s voice grew deeper.
Starting the jeep again, he said,
“You must be hungry. I’ll take you to eat first.”
He clearly didn’t want to continue the topic.
Tang Jin wisely kept quiet.
Soon, they arrived at a state-owned restaurant.
Song Yunli pulled out a chair for her.
“Sit down. I’ll get the food.”
“Alright.”
Resting her chin on her hand, Tang Jin watched him walk away on his long legs.
He attracted the attention of quite a few young women along the way.
He truly had the looks for it.
A short while later, Song Yunli returned carrying several dishes:
Braised pork ribs with potatoes, steamed egg custard, and sweet-and-sour pork tenderloin.
Each serving was enormous.
“So much?”
Tang Jin looked at the spread in surprise.
Did he think she was a pig?