Chapter 36: Wife

The three people let out a collective sigh of relief. “Let’s handle this soon,” Ji Kangyong said. “Dragging things out might only lead to trouble.”

“Agreed,” Li Zhaozhao nodded. “The Zhang family is still buying supplies aggressively. I’m worried their actions will attract unwanted attention.”

Zhang Heping rolled his eyes. “Wouldn’t it be safer for us if the Zhang family took those risks?”

“True, but I also feel a strange connection with the Zhangs, like we’re in this together,” Li Zhaozhao sighed.

The room fell silent. Finally, Zhang Heping spoke, “Can we finalize the procedures today?”

“Yes, it’s still early. Let’s get going,” Shen Yanming nodded, gathering the documents.

“Hold on, what are you guys discussing? Something I’m missing?” Li Zhaozhao asked eagerly.

“Hehe, Bi Qiao’an sold me her house. Yanming and I are now neighbors,” Zhang Heping smirked.

“Damn, Little Zhang, you sly dog!” Li Zhaozhao yelled, playfully wrestling Zhang Heping.

Ji Kangyong ignored their antics, turning to Shen Yanming, “Are there any other sellers in your building?”

“Why, are you interested too?” Shen Yanming was surprised. “But you can’t!”

“What do you mean?” Ji Kangyong frowned.

“You’re not married, so why buy a house? Isn’t your household registration still with your family?” Shen Yanming rolled his eyes.

Ji Kangyong fell silent, his family situation clearly weighing on him. He couldn’t take it anymore.

“Just inquire for me. Maybe I’ll get hitched someday,” Ji Kangyong grumbled. He had the money now; he’d figure out the rest later.

“Got it!” Shen Yanming agreed. Indeed, who could say for certain what would happen in the future.

“Me too. Old Shen, ask around for me as well,” Li Zhaozhao quickly jumped in.

Days flew by, and soon it was New Year’s Day. The Management Bureau and Human Resources Bureau, among others, held a joint gathering. Shen Yanming confidently brought Bi Qiao’an to sit with the Management Bureau group.

“Little Shen, who is this…?”

“My fiancée!”

“Indeed a talented man and a beautiful woman. When’s the wedding?”

“Next June.”

Shen Yanming beamed as he introduced Bi Qiao’an to his colleagues. She greeted them graciously.

Suddenly, a tiny figure ran over, a chubby three-year-old in a red padded jacket. His big curious eyes fixed on Bi Qiao’an, then a wide grin spread across his face.

Bi Qiao’an’s heart melted. “Hello, cutie! What’s your name? Where are your parents?”

The little boy wasn’t shy at all. “I’m Zhu Ranran, three and a half! My dad’s Zhu Shiliang. I know him, he’s Uncle Shen!” He pointed at Shen Yanming.

Shen Yanming smiled. “Ranran, why are you alone? Where’s your dad?”

“Dad went to greet other uncles and told me to play here!” Zhu Ranran replied cheerfully.

Shen Yanming explained to Bi Qiao’an, “That’s Director Zhu’s son. He often comes to play at the office, and everyone dotes on him. Director Zhu was likely busy and let Ranran come over on his own first.”

He looked up and looked around, and spotted Director Zhu deep in conversation with higher-ups, likely reporting on work. Zhu Shiliang caught Shen Yanming’s eye and, seeing Ranran talking happily with the girl beside him, felt relieved and smiled with gratitude.

“Ranran, have you started kindergarten yet?”

“Nope. Dad says I’m too little. Next year, but I don’t want to go!”

“Why? You’ll make so many friends!”

“Because then I can’t stay with Mom and Dad.”

Bi Qiao’an smiled, patting Zhu Ranran’s head. Given the world’s trajectory, kindergarten soon wouldn’t be an option anyway.

“Sister, you’re so pretty. Are you Uncle Shen’s wife?”

Bi Qiao’an was amused. “Aren’t you a clever boy! I’m impressed you understand what a wife is at your age.”

“Of course! Mom is my dad’s wife. Dad said Sister Mi wants to be Uncle Shen’s wife.”

“Oh, really?” Bi Qiao’an raised her eyebrows, glancing at Shen Yanming with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Zhu Ranran nodded vigorously before Shen Yanming could speak. “Mm-hmm! Ranran never lies!”

Bi Qiao’an laughed at Zhu Ranran’s adorable earnestness. “Ranran is amazing. But Sister is Uncle Shen’s wife. That Sister Mi…”

She paused, unsure how to broach the mistress topic with a child.

Shen Yanming, however, stepped in smoothly. “Your sister Qiao’an is my wife. I pursued her for years, just waiting for her to be old enough to marry. Mi Xue’er is just my colleague. It means she works in the same office as me and all the other uncles and aunties.”

He aimed these words at both Zhu Ranran and their eavesdropping coworkers.

Bi Qiao’an gave Shen Yanming an approving look. Clever man!

“Okay! I’ll tell Sister Mi you have a wife next time!” Zhu Ranran hadn’t grasped “colleagues”, but he got the main point.

“Our Ranran is so smart!” Bi Qiao’an grinned widely. Hehe, now she had a little ally to help stake her claim.

Bi Qiao’an thought for a moment, then reached into her down jacket pocket, took out a chocolate bar from her space, and gave it to Zhu Ranran.

Zhu Ranran’s eyes lit up. “That’s super yummy! Dad says it’s imported. Sister, are you really giving it to me?”

“Yes, a reward for Ranran!”

“Thank you, Sister! Ranran likes you!”

As he watched the two of them, Shen Yanming pressed his lips together, a sour note of jealousy rising in his throat that he couldn’t quite swallow down.

That evening, he asked, “You like Ranran a lot, huh?”

“Yep! He’s way more honest than certain people!”  Bi Qiao’an hadn’t forgotten about Mi Xue’er.

“Whose vinegar jar is spilling over?” he teased.

Bi Qiao’an rolled her eyes and feigned annoyance. “Humph, not talking to you anymore!”

“Mi Xue’er was the girl at the exam site. She keeps asking me out to eat, but I always tell her I have a girlfriend. Even then, she’s… persistent.” Shen Yanming pulled Bi Qiao’an into a hug, his voice taking on an aggrieved tone. “Wifey, you have to stand up for me!”

With an amused laugh, Bi Qiao’an asked, “So, how should I stand up for you?”

Shen Yanming offered tentatively, “You know, like you did today. Come by my office regularly, bring me lunch, things like that. Just to, you know, mark your territory.”

Bi Qiao’an smiled. “Okay!”