Tang Jin finally took a careful look at the shop.
There were three large connected storefronts—exactly the size she wanted. Directly across the street stood the department store. This location was undeniably prime real estate.
The two of them walked out of the optical shop.
Yang Lifan immediately asked eagerly, “So, what do you think? Are these rooms enough for you?”
“They’re just the right size. And the location is amazing. I didn’t expect you to be a genuine rich second-generation,” Tang Jin teased.
“They’re all properties my grandfather left behind. It’s not really my own ability,” Yang Lifan said modestly.
“How much is the rent per month for these rooms?” Tang Jin asked. The location was excellent, but she was short on money. She didn’t even know if the five hundred yuan she had would be enough for the rent.
“It’s my family’s property. Just use it. Why talk about money?” Yang Lifan said sincerely. After all, she was the girl he liked. Talking about money would make things feel distant.
“That won’t do. If you don’t charge me rent, I won’t use it,” Tang Jin said firmly. She believed there was no such thing as a free lunch, and she didn’t dare take advantage of such a favor.
Seeing how persistent she was, Yang Lifan understood her personality. It reminded him of the time she bought scrap fabric—she had insisted on paying for it.
It seemed the favor couldn’t be given away after all.
“One hundred yuan a month,” he finally said.
He had already cut the price in half.
Tang Jin didn’t know the local market price, but one hundred yuan didn’t seem expensive to her.
“Did you lower it too much?”
Yang Lifan thought she might be getting upset again and quickly explained, “For acquaintances, it should be a little cheaper. Friendship price, friendship price!”
Tang Jin didn’t pursue it further. A friendship price was fine—she really needed to save money right now.
“Alright then, Boss Yang, it’s settled. I’ll head back first. Draft a lease agreement in the next couple of days and I’ll come sign it and pay the rent.”
Tang Jin thought that since the matter was settled, she should go back and check how the small courtyard was being cleaned up. If she was going to open a clothing shop, she would have to postpone making items from fabric scraps. She needed to start designing clothes and ask the sisters-in-law to hurry with the sewing so they could try to open in about a month.
“I’ll give you a ride. I happened to drive here,” Yang Lifan said. He originally wanted to invite her to dinner, but it was still early—not quite dinner time yet.
“No need to trouble yourself. I’ll take the bus,” Tang Jin declined. Keeping distance from men was basic propriety for a married woman.
Yang Lifan didn’t want to miss this chance to spend time alone with her.
“We can discuss the rental details on the way. Or I can introduce you to a textile factory owner. Don’t you need a lot of fabric to make clothes?”
That sentence completely caught Tang Jin’s attention. She had been wondering where to buy fabric wholesale. As her clothing production increased, she definitely couldn’t keep buying small amounts from the department store.
“Alright then. Thank you, Brother Yang. In a few days I’ll cook some crayfish and pickled fish as a thank-you and bring them to your garment factory,” Tang Jin said with a smile.
During the drive they discussed many things.
Tang Jin explained that her funds were tight right now, so she would pay rent monthly for the time being, but after six months she would switch to yearly payments.
Yang Lifan didn’t mind at all and said she could pay however she liked.
Tang Jin suggested signing a five-year lease. Yang Lifan said any length was fine.
He also said he would take her to meet the owner of the textile factory in the next couple of days.
While they were talking, they arrived at the entrance of the military family compound. Only then did Yang Lifan realize Tang Jin was a military spouse.
Tang Jin got out of the car, and Yang Lifan followed.
“Tang Jin, I didn’t expect you to be a military family member.”
“Yes. By the way, Brother Yang, do you know anyone who does renovations?” Tang Jin asked. Since he had grown up in Nankun City, he must know many people.
“I do. I’ll introduce you.”
“What about someone from a furniture factory? I need to design some display cabinets myself.”
Those small items needed display cabinets. If she wanted the shop to look high-end, the way things were displayed and packaged was very important. She was also planning to go to the south soon to purchase some leather shoes and handbags to match her clothing.
She knew she might be expanding too quickly. It wasn’t a problem of ability—it was mainly a shortage of funds.
But opportunities wouldn’t wait.
The winds of reform had already swept across the country. If she didn’t seize the moment now, she might miss the chance.
If she truly couldn’t gather enough funds, she planned to apply for a bank loan.
At that moment, Fang Xiangdong and Mu Heng were driving back to the military compound. From a distance, Fang Xiangdong noticed a black sedan parked at the entrance.
“Old Mu, isn’t that Sister-in-law? Who’s that guy? Pretty handsome young fellow,” Fang Xiangdong said, completely focusing on the wrong detail.
Mu Heng saw it too.
Tang Jin was chatting and laughing with the man. Seeing her smile so brightly at another man made his chest tighten instantly. He even felt the urge to punch someone.
“Stop the car,” Mu Heng said in a low voice.
Fang Xiangdong had already intended to stop and greet them, but he hadn’t expected Mu Heng to be so impatient.
Mu Heng stepped out from the passenger seat.
“Wife, what are you doing here?”
Tang Jin froze when she heard him call her “wife.” She looked toward him as he walked over.
Hadn’t this man never called her “wife” before? How strange.
Yang Lifan was equally shocked.
Tang Jin was married?
He looked at the man walking toward them—wearing a military uniform, tall, unbelievably handsome, but with a frighteningly cold gaze that made people shiver.
“Who is this? Aren’t you going to introduce him?” Mu Heng asked coldly as he approached.
“Oh, my landlord. Yang Lifan,” Tang Jin quickly introduced.
Then she turned to Yang Lifan.
“This is my husband, Mu Heng.”
“Landlord?” Mu Heng frowned at the word. Was she planning to move out? Did she really want to divorce him?
The thought made his heart feel even more unsettled.
Meanwhile, when Yang Lifan heard the introduction, his heart ached. The girl he had finally come to like—he hadn’t even had the chance to confess yet—and she already belonged to someone else.
Beautiful women never lacked admirers.
But she looked only seventeen or eighteen. Wasn’t that too young to be married?
Why hadn’t he met her sooner?
“Brother Yang, I still have something to do later, so I won’t keep you for dinner today. I’ll invite you and Sister Shan another day,” Tang Jin said. She wanted to go check how the courtyard cleaning was progressing.
Yang Lifan forced a small smile. “Alright. See you another day.”
He turned, got into the black sedan, stepped on the accelerator, and drove off quickly. He needed to find a place to heal his wounded heart alone.
“You still haven’t explained why you called him your landlord,” Mu Heng said. She had even mentioned inviting the man to dinner another day. Could it be that she also liked him?
He could clearly tell that the man liked Tang Jin. When he heard she was married, he had looked very disappointed.
“I rented his property. I’ll explain when we get home. I need to go check the courtyard and see how the cleaning is going,” Tang Jin said.
Without waiting for Mu Heng to respond, she hurried off toward the courtyard. She hadn’t helped at all today and felt a little embarrassed about it.
Mu Heng suddenly felt like a box of seasonings had been knocked over in his heart—every emotion mixed together.
In the past, she had clung to him all day long, trying every trick to seduce him—crying, making scenes, even threatening suicide. The whole compound knew about it.
It had annoyed him to no end.
Especially since their marriage had come about through her deception. He had saved her, only to be forced into marriage. They had nothing in common, and he truly hadn’t wanted the relationship to continue.
But now she had changed.
She had become independent, able to design clothes and cook delicious meals. She was clean and hardworking, keeping the house spotless every day. Even her manners and the way she spoke had completely changed.
It made him want to try living properly with her.
Yet now she barely looked at him anymore—treating him with indifference, neither close nor distant.
And now she had even rented a house?
Was she really preparing to divorce him?
“Old Mu, let’s go grab a couple of drinks,” Fang Xiangdong said. He had heard in the car earlier that Tang Jin called that man her landlord.
He had once joked that Mu Heng’s wish for a divorce could come true any minute.
He hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
Mu Heng got back into the car without saying a word.
Fang Xiangdong turned the car around and drove toward the city.