Chapter 84: Renting a Shop

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Renting a Shop

Ling Qinghan wasn’t in his military uniform today. He was dressed in gray-blue civilian clothes and looked like he had just finished his leave.

After a brief chat, she learned that the shop was an old property left to him by his mother.

Years ago, his mother had started out by running a pastry shop, building her family’s nest egg with her skill in making traditional sweets.

She had been gone for many years, and the property had been sitting empty ever since.

But he was worried that if he simply rented it out, it might be used for shady business, so he just left it vacant. And so it remained for several years.

He was always so swamped with work that he had no time to manage it.

This time, Ling Qinghan’s demeanor was noticeably softer. He wasn’t as stone-faced as he had been the first two times they’d met.

As the saying goes, it’s hard to be rude to someone who’s greeting you with a smile, though Song Yao still cringed when she recalled their last encounter, which had been full of thinly veiled insults.

"You’ll really rent it to me? Well, I have to thank you in advance. I took a liking to this place the moment I saw it and was just wondering how to get my hands on it!"

She took a step forward, her tone light, but she kept a close watch on Ling Qinghan’s expression.

Ling Qinghan’s gaze shifted to Xiao Li, who was standing behind her. "Mr. Li, are you posted here watching her every day?"

Before Ling Qinghan had even finished speaking, Xiao Li immediately interjected, "The leader gave the order himself. From now on, I’m to stay by the young lady’s side to ensure her safety."

"Watching her around the clock?" Ling Qinghan raised an eyebrow.

He remembered clearly that the last time at the Shen family home, when Song Yao was publicly sabotaged, Xiao Li had been standing right by her side.

If he hadn’t rushed over with Zhang Laosan, how could Song Yao have possibly turned the tables on the spot?

"That’s none of your business, is it?" Song Yao’s brow furrowed.

She was well aware of what was happening. She was willing to accept Ling Qinghan’s olive branch, but that didn’t give him the right to criticize or pass judgment on her people.

Yes, Ling Qinghan had saved her life, but that last time, it was in front of so many people.

She had been desperately hoping he would speak up and defend her, but no, he remained silent the entire time, letting Ji Xianbei sling mud at her.

Then again, he had secretly gone to the camp afterward to add his testimony, so at least he hadn’t completely washed his hands of the matter.

To put it bluntly, they were even. There was no feud between them, no old grudges.

More accurately, she owed him a favor.

But a favor was one thing, and personal feelings were another.

In her heart, Xiao Li was her trusted right-hand man. Who was an outsider to come and find fault with him?

Unexpectedly, Ling Qinghan took a step forward and lowered his voice. "Comrade Song Yao, two days ago, Mr. Shen happened to mention something while having dinner with my mother."

He paused and let out a breath. "We’re both at that age, and our parents feel... we’d be a good match. They want to set us up."

Song Yao froze for a moment before it clicked. "So, you agreed to rent the shop to me because of this?"

Ling Qinghan nodded, his tone straightforward.

"I’m not opposed to marriage, but renting the shop to you has nothing to do with that. Last time, I just stood there and said nothing while you were being insulted. That was wrong of me. Consider this an apology."

He pulled a neatly folded paper from inside his jacket and unfolded it. It was the original rental agreement, and the space for the lessor was already signed.

"Done! It’s settled. I’ll take the shop!" Song Yao agreed immediately.

She took the contract, and after confirming everything was in order, she pulled a small red ink pad from her cloth bag and pressed her thumbprint onto the lessee’s signature line.

’She couldn’t care less how much of what Ling Qinghan said was true. A tangible benefit in her pocket was what mattered; everything else was just a smokescreen.’

’Besides, Ling Qinghan’s mother... isn’t she the renowned Sister Qin?’

’And how much influence did Sister Qin have?’

’Even Shen Zhenwu had to respectfully call her Director Qin.’

’No wonder Ling Qinghan wasn’t afraid of Ji Xianbei stirring up trouble back then, nor was he intimidated by Shen Zhenwu holding him accountable afterward. His connections ran deep!’

Just as Song Yao settled the deal with Ling Qinghan, Song Shuangshuang, who had just slunk away from the train station looking utterly defeated, happened to be passing by the front of the shop.

"Song Yao?"

She instantly recognized Song Yao—the woman who had stolen all her opportunities and snatched away her glamorous life.

Song Shuangshuang stopped dead in her tracks, fury instantly igniting in her eyes.

"Why didn’t you die on the road? Why didn’t you rot away in that backwater village?!"

She glared at Song Yao, her heart filled with a bitter, searing hatred.

As soon as Ling Qinghan left, Song Yao waved Xiao Li over.

"Tomorrow, arrange for someone to deliver a new desk and chairs. Also, have two clothing racks installed. Oh, right, and we need to get a sign made. In large letters, it should say ’Handmade Alterations, Custom Womenswear’..."

Xiao Li took out a notebook and pen, meticulously writing down every word.

When Song Yao had finished, he looked up and asked, "Young Lady, are you going to start dating Ling Qinghan?"

Song Yao waved her hand dismissively. "Dating? Where did you get that idea! It’s just my dad and Aunt Qin think we’re about the same age, so they’re trying to set us up. I haven’t agreed to anything..."

Xiao Li added, "Actually, Ling Qinghan’s family is even wealthier than Sheng Hui’s..."

The words went in one of Song Yao’s ears and out the other—she paid them no mind. But Song Shuangshuang heard them.

Her eyes widened. ’Damn it, how could I have forgotten about Ling Qinghan?’

’He was usually so low-key, never one to initiate conversation.’

’With Sheng Hui gone, her mind had gone blank, and she’d completely forgotten about him!’

Qi Dongxue’s words at the train station exit buzzed in her head.

’She was empty-handed now, with Sheng Hui as her last straw. If Qi Dongxue managed to snatch him away too, she’d truly become a pariah in Beijing, a ghost no one would spare a glance for!’

’No... I still have one last card to play!’

A surge of desperate energy coursed through Song Shuangshuang, and the blood rushed to her head.

She suddenly remembered the boy who always used to hide behind a tree, secretly watching her.

’Now she had nothing left. The likes of Zhou Wei and Wu Yufeng were fine for a drink and a chat, but marriage?’

’They couldn’t elevate her status, couldn’t help her stand up to Qi Dongxue, and were no match for Song Yao.’

’Was she supposed to spend the rest of her life in the Beijing Community living at their mercy?’

’She’d rather jump into the city moat and get it over with!’

Song Shuangshuang shot a quick glance at Song Yao, a cold sneer flashing across her face before she turned and walked away.

’Just you wait, Song Yao!’

’You’re just a country bumpkin fresh from the sticks! To me, you’re not even worth as much as a dishrag!’

After a long day, Song Yao got home to find Shen Zhenwu surprisingly sitting in the living room.

A half-full cup of long-cold tea sat untouched on the coffee table.

"Dad, no overtime at your unit today?"

Shen Zhenwu immediately stood up. "Your mother called the barracks and said she had something important to discuss, so I took leave and rushed back."

His eyes were fixed on the kitchen, his expression tense.

Song Yao turned to look as well. A thin wisp of white steam was rising from the stove.

The father and daughter’s eyes met.

Song Yao spoke first. "If she absolutely refuses a divorce, Dad, what are you going to do?"

’Judging by Yao Yuzhen’s behavior, she most likely wanted to reconcile.’

Shen Zhenwu heaved a long sigh, his shoulders slumping.

"My girl," he began, "if she goes back to how she was before, always making trouble for you, always trying to push you out... then even if I get stripped of my rank and officially reprimanded, I will see this divorce through! But..."

He pressed his lips into a thin line, not finishing his sentence.

Song Yao raised a hand and gently placed it on his arm. "That’s enough, Dad. I’ll remember what you said. That’s more than enough."

’A divorce wasn’t something you could get just by asking.’

’Neither of them had committed any major wrongdoing, and their marriage had been officially approved by the organization. How could they just break it off on a whim?’

’In the past, the only reason Yao Yuzhen dared to throw such fits was because she had their marriage certificate to back her up.’