Chapter 12

Early the next morning, Song Nian woke to the sound of Xu Jin washing up.

When she opened her eyes, she saw him stepping out of the bathroom, already dressed neatly. He looked refreshed, even less cold and heavy than usual.

But then she thought of his domineering behavior from the night before.

She had nearly cried from exhaustion begging him to stop, yet he hadn’t said a word—if anything, he seemed displeased that she made a sound, becoming even rougher…

Even with the extra tolerance she usually gave him, Song Nian was angry. So when she got up, she ignored him. At breakfast, she didn’t take the bowl he handed her and served herself instead.

At the head of the table, Xue Suwan noticed the tension between her son and daughter-in-law and frowned ever so slightly.

But her age had taught her: unless absolutely necessary, don’t meddle in young couples’ affairs—it only backfires.

Besides, they had done what she required: consummated the marriage and started trying for children. Anything else wasn’t her concern as an old woman.

After finishing, Xu Jin set his chopsticks down and suddenly said, “Shall we go to the factory together?”

Song Nian sneered inwardly.

What was this supposed to mean? He’d treated her so poorly yesterday, and now he wanted to make nice?

She’d been riding the bus for days, and only now he thought of giving her a lift?

“Thank you, but no.” Even in refusal, her tone was soft and measured.

Xu Jin glanced at her, paused, then stood. “I’ll head out first then.”

Song Nian stayed silent. After finishing her meal, she went to the factory on her own.

---

At lunchtime, Xiao Dingguo brought food to the military liaison office to eat with Xu Jin. Between bites, he suddenly remembered something. “Why don’t you call your wife over too? Save her the trouble of lining up.”

Xu Jin’s face was calm. “Why should she get special treatment?”

Xiao Dingguo curled his lip, then leaned closer, gossiping: “Let me tell you, I could see it yesterday—Qin Heng clearly liked your little wife from before… He even asked me what kind of man she married and if he treated her well. You better watch out, someone’s already eyeing her.”

Xu Jin shot him a glance.

Xiao Dingguo clicked his tongue. “Oh, right, I almost forgot. You’ll part ways with her anyway and go back to Anya. Of course Captain Xu wouldn’t care about that.”

Xu Jin gave him another look. “If your mouth can’t stay shut, then keep it shut.”

Xiao Dingguo quickly raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, I’ll shut up.”

But as he ate, he muttered under his breath: “Still, you turn cold the second I mention Anya. No wonder people think that… If you care so much, why don’t you at least check how she’s doing in the capital? Whether she’s been treated badly?”

He watched Xu Jin’s expression carefully.

After a moment of silence, Xu Jin said evenly: “I’m married.”

Xiao Dingguo snorted. “Tch… serves you right. One wrong decision.”

Later, back in his own office, Xiao Dingguo picked up the phone and dialed a number. It was answered quickly.

“How are you doing, An’an?”

“I… I’m the same as before. Enough, I know you’re really calling to ask about him. He’s fine, of course he’s fine. Newly married—how could he not be?”

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you. But really, why do you two put yourselves through this? You know Ah Jin—he’s always been bound by rules. Even if the engagement was only verbal, it still existed. When someone came to claim it, of course he wouldn’t break his word…”

The line went quiet, only faint sobbing sounds.

Feeling guilty, Xiao Dingguo softened his voice. “You know what he’s like. After all, you were once with A-Ling… He could never bring himself to take that step. Add the engagement on top of it, and he just… retreated.”

With a helpless, pained sigh, he added: “If you couldn’t let go, you shouldn’t have let him send you away that day. You should’ve grabbed him and forced the marriage. I don’t believe he would’ve hidden like a coward. With a man so rigid and rule-bound, someone has to take that step first…”

“Enough, stop crying. I don’t think he cares much for that Song girl anyway. He must still be thinking of you.”

“So what if he’s married? Plenty of people divorce nowadays. Maybe he’ll come around, realize he made a mistake. He’s focused on rescuing the Song family right now—once that’s done, if he divorces, no one can fault him.”

“Alright. Don’t cry anymore. Call me if you need anything…”

When the call ended, Xiao Dingguo rubbed his head irritably.

What a mess.

He knew Anya had long fallen for Xu Jin, but she kept it buried—and of all people, she faced Xu Jin, an ice block.

And now? Song Nian appeared out of nowhere. He married her, Anya regretted it, and now she was crying alone in the capital. What good did that do?

And him? Useless!

Back when Anya was set up with Xu Ling, he hadn’t dared speak up. After Xu Ling’s death, seeing her draw closer to Xu Jin—who’d promised his brother to look after her—whatever courage he had withered away again.

Now Xu Jin was married, Anya had fled to the capital… and he still couldn’t confess. Instead, he was here playing advisor.

Pathetic!

Maybe what people said was true: if the one you love is happy, you’ll be happy too.

---

Meanwhile, Song Nian’s work went on as usual.

After lunch, she and Liu Pingping, along with a few other women, went for a walk to digest. After all, they’d be sitting at sewing machines all afternoon, so a bit of movement did no harm.

They chose a quiet path, which led them past the women’s dormitory.

Liu Pingping, remembering that a dorm-mate had promised her some apricots, asked Song Nian to wait by the stone table downstairs. “Try some later, Qiao Lina says they’re delicious.”

Song Nian sat down obediently while Liu Pingping ran upstairs.

On the third floor, she spotted Zhang Man hanging laundry on the balcony. The two locked eyes but ignored each other.

Zhang Man hated Song Nian, and because Liu Pingping was close with Song Nian, she disliked her too. But then, as if struck by an idea, Zhang Man glanced down. Sure enough, Song Nian was sitting below.

She looked at the damp laundry in her hands, smirked, and deliberately wrung it out over the balcony.

Song Nian felt sudden drops of cold water on her head and thought it had started to rain. Looking up, she saw Zhang Man’s triumphant smile and the wet clothes in her hands.

Their eyes met. Zhang Man tilted her chin defiantly, said nothing, and leisurely hung the clothes.

Song Nian immediately realized it was deliberate.

She wasn’t someone who liked to stir up trouble, but she had never been one to swallow humiliation either. Even with her family fallen, she wasn’t about to live cowardly.

Since Zhang Man hadn’t even tried to apologize, Song Nian got up and went upstairs.

By the time she reached the third floor, Zhang Man had already retreated to her dorm and closed the door.

Peering out the window at Song Nian standing outside, Zhang Man only grew bolder, flopping onto her bed and pretending to nap.

Song Nian glanced at her, then turned to the corridor. A few freshly washed clothes hung on the line—all Zhang Man’s.

She calmly unpinned them, carried them to the railing, and tossed them down.

After a moment, Zhang Man realized Song Nian hadn’t knocked. She looked up—and the girl was gone.

Coward!

Zhang Man smirked, but then it hit her. She rushed out, leaned over the railing, and saw her freshly washed clothes sprawled in the dirt below, filthy again.

“Song Nian!”

She spotted Song Nian and Liu Pingping already walking away. Enraged, Zhang Man shouted and stormed down the stairs after them…