Chapter 19 Throw Yourself Into His Arms

“Yirou? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Lin Yirou didn’t speak, but tears flowed like a broken string of pearls.

“Oh! Huaiqing, is this your girlfriend? Why is she crying so hard?” a coworker who was leaving work with them teased.

Song Huaiqing looked embarrassed, stammering, “No… not… it’s my sister.”

Hearing it was his sister, the male coworker’s eyes lit up.  “Oh, your sister? She’s really pretty! Introduce us?”

Lin Yirou looked shocked, crying even harder.  She glared angrily at Song Huaiqing and ran away, heartbroken.

“Hey! Yirou, don’t run!”

Seeing her run off, Song Huaiqing forgot about his coworker and chased after her.  The coworker looked strange, muttering, “Is she really his sister?”

Lin Yirou ran a long way before stopping, pretending to be exhausted.  She was in a secluded corner of People’s Park.  Soon, Song Huaiqing caught up.

“Yirou, what’s wrong? Why are you crying so sadly?”

Hearing his gentle voice, she cried even harder.

“Song Huaiqing! You bastard!” she sobbed.

Even though Song Huaiqing was already disturbed by Lin Yiwan, he still felt a pang of sympathy.

“Okay, okay, I’m a bastard, don’t cry.”  He wiped her tears, his movements practiced, not like he was doing it for the first time.  “Tell me, why are you crying? Who bullied you?”

“It’s Sister Wanwan…” Lin Yirou said, wiping her tears.

Song Huaiqing was stunned.  “Wanwan? What did she do?”

“Wuwuwu, I went to the Grain Bureau to see her today, but her coworkers scolded me. Does she resent me for taking her job and badmouthed me at work?”

In the past, Lin Yirou wouldn’t have complained so directly.  But after being humiliated and hearing Song Huaiqing call her his sister, she poured out her resentment towards Lin Yiwan.

Song Huaiqing saw her speaking this way about Lin Yiwan for the first time and found her unfamiliar.

“Yirou, I believe Wanwan isn’t like that.” He said dryly, even he didn’t quite believe it.  Not only had Lin Yirou changed, but so had Lin Yiwan.  Yet, he inexplicably defended Lin Yiwan.

Seeing him defend Lin Yiwan, Lin Yirou looked incredulous.  “You don’t believe me?”

Song Huaiqing’s gaze flickered, avoiding her eyes.  “I believe you, but there must be a misunderstanding.”

Seeing this, Lin Yirou felt a pang of anxiety. Something felt out of control.  Remembering him calling her his sister in front of his coworkers, and Tan Qiuyue’s advice about giving sweetness, she bit her lip and threw herself into his arms.

“Brother Song…”

The figure she had longed for in her dreams was in his arms.  Song Huaiqing should have been happy, but he felt stiff.  Thinking of Lin Yiwan’s alluring face, he instinctively pushed her away.

“Yirou, don’t do this.”

Lin Yirou hadn’t expected to be pushed away after her first attempt at a hug.  She was shocked, her tears freezing in her eyes.  “Brother… Brother Song?”  Didn’t he like her?  Why did he push her away?

Song Huaiqing avoided her gaze, stammering, “Yirou, I’ve always treated you as a sister. Don’t do this, it could be misunderstood.”

Sister?  Lin Yirou found this absurd.  Which man would sacrifice his girlfriend for a non-blood-related sister?  Even giving up his job for her and sending his girlfriend to the countryside?

“Brother Song, are you joking?” She moved closer.

Song Huaiqing retreated awkwardly.  “I’m not joking. You’re Yiwan’s sister, so you’re my sister.”  Fearing further actions, he turned and ran, leaving Lin Yirou in tears.

Bastard!

—

Tan Qiuyue was enjoying a period of good fortune.  Her daughter was about to start working at the Grain Bureau, had a close relationship with a high-ranking official’s grandson, and the annoying little vixen was soon going to the countryside. 

All that remained was for her son to graduate and get a job at the textile factory, eventually succeeding Lin Weimin. 

Three out of four family members having jobs she couldn’t imagine the envy of others, or the bitterness of those in the village.

In a good mood, Tan Qiuyue walked with a spring in her step.  Her son was coming home for dinner, so she bought a large piece of fatty meat, parading it through the streets, enjoying the envious glances, before returning home. 

She hummed as she cooked.

Soon, Lin Yirou returned, looking listless, her eyes red and swollen. Tan Qiuyue was startled.  “Yirou, what’s wrong? Did something go wrong with the job?”  This was her biggest concern. She knew her daughter had gone to the Grain Bureau today.

Lin Yirou shook her head.  “No, they said Lin Yiwan was busy transferring her job.”

Relieved that it wasn’t a job issue, Tan Qiuyue guessed it might be Song Huaiqing.  Before she could ask, the door opened again. 

Lin Weimin entered, with a hint of joy on his face. Seeing this, Tan Qiuyue thought something good had happened. “Weimin, what’s so happy? Did you find money?”

Lin Weimin paused, his smile faltering, but quickly recovered.  “Our Yirou is about to start working, as her father, how can I not be happy?”

Tan Qiuyue didn’t suspect anything.  “Go wash your hands, we’ll eat when Haohao gets back.”

“Okay, I’ll go now.”  Lin Weimin was about to hang up his bag.

“Let me do it.”  Tan Qiuyue was always gentle with her husband; she wouldn’t let him do such a small thing. 

She reached for the bag, but suddenly smelled a strange odor like urine and milk. 

The smell was faint, but Tan Qiuyue’s heart skipped a beat.