Chapter 83: Devastated

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Devastated

Sheng Hui raised a hand and gently stroked her back.

He knew full well that this transfer to the Northwest, while appearing to be a way to lie low, was secretly a critical mission.

He knew what was buried beneath that stretch of desert, and he knew who was watching those things.

He couldn’t return to Beijing until the mission was complete, but as soon as it was, his new orders would arrive.

He couldn’t say this, nor did he dare.

So in the end, he simply lowered his head and added, "Shuangshuang, trust me this once. It won’t be for too long."

She tilted her face up, her voice tight. "Sheng Hui, hurry back and apologize to Uncle Sheng! Then beg my dad to relent!"

"Once our elders have calmed down, you can stay, and we won’t be torn apart like this! We’re at that age, we should be planning a wedding, don’t you think?"

As soon as she said this, Sheng Hui fell silent. Her words grated on him like a pebble in his shoe. It wasn’t painful, exactly, but it was deeply uncomfortable.

’He’d always been a proud man, and Shuangshuang knew it.’

He had ended up in this mess entirely because he had stood up for Shuangshuang and dealt with Song Yao.

Afterward, Mr. Shen had slammed his hand on the table, and that very night, Sheng Zhanhong had thrown the transfer order in his face.

But every word from Shuangshuang implied that he should just swallow this bitter pill alone. There wasn’t a single word of comfort, let alone any effort to protect his pride.

"Shuangshuang, don’t bring this up again."

Sheng Hui’s expression cooled, and he put some distance between himself and Song Shuangshuang.

"If you really feel you can’t wait, there are plenty of good guys in Beijing. Pick one you like, get married, and live your life."

He was proud to his core.

Even though he loved Shuangshuang, he would never beg her to wait for him.

Not even when this whole mess was her fault to begin with.

Song Shuangshuang saw his change in attitude at once, and her heart leaped into her throat. She hurried to salvage the situation.

"Sheng Hui, that’s not what I meant! I—I’ll definitely wait for you! One year, two years... even ten years! I’ll wait!"

She had no other options right now; her only choice was to cling tightly to Sheng Hui as her lifeline.

’Good thing he’s Sheng Zhanhong’s only son,’ she thought. ’Sending him to the Northwest now is just a rap on the knuckles. He’ll have to be brought back sooner or later!’

But her declaration didn’t soften Sheng Hui’s expression one bit.

He just said calmly, "It’s time. I have to go."

With that, he turned and strode toward the train without a hint of hesitation.

"Sheng Hui—!"

Song Shuangshuang’s voice was shrill and trembling. She had just started to lunge forward when a train attendant blocked her at the carriage door.

"Miss, the train is about to leave. You can’t board without a ticket."

The attendant’s arm was held out firmly, not yielding an inch.

She could only stand there, watching Sheng Hui’s back as it grew more distant.

Once the train departed, she left the station dejectedly.

She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when she suddenly spotted Qi Dongxue, carrying a canvas bag and followed by two young men with luggage, walking toward the station entrance.

Song Shuangshuang’s mind went blank, and her heart sank.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she bolted toward her.

"Qi Dongxue!"

Qi Dongxue stopped at the sound of her name. Turning her head to see who it was, her lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Well, well, Song Shuangshuang? Did you need something from me?"

Song Shuangshuang was tongue-tied. "You... you have luggage. Where are you going?"

She was overcome with panic. Her gut told her something was very wrong, and she prayed she had guessed incorrectly...

But Qi Dongxue just tilted her head and smiled, her reply both casual and piercing. "I’m going to be Sheng Hui’s assistant. Didn’t you know?"

She blinked. "He’s leaving Beijing today, so of course I have to go with him."

"You... You’re going with him to the Northwest?!"

Song Shuangshuang’s mind went blank, and her vision swam.

Her worst fear had come true!

’My rival is chasing the man I love to the ends of the earth!’

"Are you out of your mind? That place, the Northwest? One sandstorm and you’ll be buried alive!"

Song Shuangshuang’s eyes were practically bulging out of her head, and her voice trembled.

"Aren’t you the precious young miss of the Qi Family, coddled and spoiled? Are your parents really okay with you running off to that godforsaken place?"

Qi Dongxue casually flicked her curly hair, her smile effortlessly cool and aloof.

"Well, Sheng Hui is going, isn’t he? This time, I can’t just wait around anymore."

The moment she finished speaking, Song Shuangshuang’s eyes reddened. Her lip trembled, and she lunged forward to grab Qi Dongxue by the collar!

Before she could touch her, a young soldier in uniform blocked her, skillfully deflecting the force of her lunge.

Her feet slipped, and she nearly stumbled and fell, but another guard caught her and steadied her.

Qi Dongxue looked down at the woman before her—this Song Shuangshuang with her messy hair and smudged eyeliner—and a fleeting, dismissive look crossed her face.

’I really have Song Yao to thank for this.’

’If she hadn’t come out of nowhere, who would have ever gotten to see Song Shuangshuang in such a state—devastated and ready to pounce and bite?’

Song Shuangshuang stared intently at Qi Dongxue, her lips moving several times, but no sound came out.

"Shuangshuang, you should go take a look in the mirror. See what you look like right now."

Qi Dongxue’s tone was as flat as if she were discussing the weather. "Is it worth it? Ruining yourself like this, all for a man?"

Her words were a knife, plunging straight into Song Shuangshuang’s heart.

"Other than Sheng Hui, I have nothing left!"

Her voice was hoarse. "And you? If you really don’t care about him, why are you chasing him all the way to the Northwest? Why pretend you’re above it all?"

Qi Dongxue scoffed and lifted her chin.

"We’re not even on the same wavelength. I’m going there partly for him, yes. But for the other part? I was assigned. The mission is there, and it’s not my place to pick and choose. Even if Sheng Hui weren’t going, I’d still have to go."

As she spoke, she stared straight ahead, not sparing Song Shuangshuang a single glance.

Song Shuangshuang’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Then promise me, right here and now, that you won’t make a move on Sheng Hui!"

Her words came out in a rush, each one urgent, as if she were grasping at her last hope.

Qi Dongxue shot her a lazy glance. "Why should I listen to you? On what grounds?"

Song Shuangshuang’s face turned white, and her voice grew shrill. "Still playing stubborn? Are you telling me you don’t want to steal him from me? You’re definitely doing this for him!"

"Shuangshuang, you think too highly of yourself. Be honest, do you really think Uncle Sheng would ever let you marry into the family? Given your current status, you’d be better off getting over it and figuring out how you’re going to live the rest of your life."

Qi Dongxue was already walking away.

Song Shuangshuang stood frozen in place, her fingers icy and her teeth chattering.

Her worst fear had come true...

Song Yao’s arrival had completely upended the pampered, privileged life she had always known, forcing her true colors to show.

How did she even get out of the station?

She couldn’t remember.

All she remembered was mechanically putting one foot in front of the other, the conversation at the station replaying endlessly in her mind.

By the time she came to her senses, she was standing in front of Qingyuan Restaurant.

Looking up, she saw Song Yao standing there, talking to a man in civilian clothes.

Song Yao stood in profile, holding a folded piece of paper.

The man had a handsome profile. His lips were moving as he responded to Song Yao’s question. It was Ling Qinghan!

"Are you really going to rent this shop to me for cheap?"

Song Yao frowned, her eyes full of suspicion as she stared at Ling Qinghan.

She and Xiao Li had wandered three blocks to find this place. When she’d asked about the rent, before the owner could even speak, she had run into this familiar face.