Chapter 166: What a Huge Scandal

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: What a Huge Scandal

But he never expected that the first person to slap such a label on him would be his own sister.

"Even if Shen Songyao is no good, you should have divorced her first, shouldn’t you?"

"Does this other person know you’re married?"

In the corner of the communications room, a certain colleague’s ears were pricked. The pencil in his hand froze on the paper, its ink bleeding into a small blot.

’Whoa, now this is some juicy gossip!’

’Director Li is seeing someone new?’

’I haven’t heard anything about it!’

’All I heard was that his wife wasn’t some adopted country girl, but Battalion Commander Shen’s own sister—the precious daughter of a high-ranking official from Beijing!’

’Where did this third person come from?’

Li Hanchen: "..."

’She just makes things up on the spot, doesn’t even bother inventing a pretext.’

He raised a hand and beckoned to Li Ying.

"Come here. Yes, a little closer."

Li Ying stood her ground, stubbornly refusing to move a single step.

Li Hanchen: "..."

He called out again, "Come here."

Only then did she reluctantly shuffle toward the door.

The moment Li Ying pushed the door open, she saw Song Yao leaning against the car, her face pressed to the window.

"Hey, sister, why’d you bolt so fast? Are you in a rush to get reincarnated?"

Song Yao knew perfectly well that Li Ying couldn’t stand her. That was completely normal.

The old Shen Songyao had done more than her fair share of nasty things.

What was it that Shen Songyao had said back in the day?

"What’s the damn point of a girl like you going to university? Sooner or later you’ll just end up in some man’s bed, popping out kids and raising them!"

"A woman’s lot in life is to serve a man, isn’t it? And you’re paying your own money to go to school? I think that brain of yours is just for show!"

"And look at your mom. She’s almost fifty, how many years does she have left?"

But Li Ying had never paid her any mind, just like a moment ago—she’d turn her head, slam the door, and go straight back to her room.

Song Yao had thought that this time, too, Li Ying had hurried back to the communications room for some peace and quiet because of her words.

She never expected...

The moment Li Ying heard the word "sister," her face stiffened.

"Who are you calling sister? We’re not related in the slightest!"

She truly did hate the old Shen Songyao.

’But this one in front of her... she’s not necessarily some innocent little flower, is she?’

’Her older brother has had such bad luck; he’s never met a single dependable person.’

Hearing this, Li Hanchen’s brow furrowed.

"You’re my sister and she’s my wife. If you don’t call her ’sister-in-law,’ who are you going to call that?"

The words had barely left his lips when his jaw tightened. He stared intently at Li Ying, his gaze heavy.

Li Ying froze.

"...You two got divorced?"

Li Hanchen: "..."

"Have you been reading so much your eyes have gone crooked?"

"Yeah, my vision does seem a bit blurry. When people stand far away, their faces are just a blur."

Li Ying nodded earnestly.

Li Hanchen: "..."

Song Yao, who was still leaning against the car window, exclaimed, "Huh??"

"Then why haven’t you gotten a pair of glasses?"

Song Yao looked worried.

"Is money tight? Your brother can pay for them."

Her tone was soft, her smile gentle.

"You don’t need to worry about that," Li Hanchen said in a low voice.

Feeling a pang of guilt, Song Yao immediately beamed at her sister-in-law.

"Yingying, it’s all my fault, a thousand times over! This brain of mine..."

"It’s like my brain got slammed in a door and pecked by a chicken—it’s completely muddled! I used to just say whatever came to mind, so please just treat it all like nonsense! You’re the bigger person, so don’t stoop to my level, okay?"

Li Ying: "???"

"In the past?"

She quickly took two steps forward, staring intently at Song Yao’s fresh, fair face.

"You... You’re not..."

Song Yao’s heart skipped a beat.

"You... don’t recognize me?"

Li Ying looked the stylish, brightly smiling young woman before her up and down.

"...Sister-in-law?"

Song Yao nodded vigorously.

"You’re... how..."

Li Ying didn’t finish her sentence, her mouth hanging open.

Song Yao pushed open the passenger-side door.

"It’s a story that would take three days and nights to tell. Get in the car first. We can talk all about it once we’re home and settled."

Li Ying climbed into the car, and Li Hanchen casually fastened her seatbelt for her as he spoke.

"Sit tight and don’t bump your sister-in-law. She’s pregnant."

Li Ying: "..."

She blinked silently, then rubbed her ears.

’Oh no,’ she thought. ’It’s not just my eyes that are failing, my ears seem to be going too.’

"What?"

Li Hanchen paused, his eyebrows shooting up.

"What’s wrong, little sis? Did your eyes and ears decide to go on strike at the same time?"

"Your sister-in-law is pregnant!"

He couldn’t hide the smug satisfaction in his voice, the corners of his mouth nearly reaching his ears.

"Sister-in-law is pregnant?"

Li Ying instinctively glanced at Shen Songyao’s stomach.

But Song Yao was only four months along, and her stomach was still flat.

Besides, bundled up in a thick padded jacket and multiple sweaters for the winter, who could possibly tell?

Song Yao smiled under her gaze and nodded.

"That’s right, just four months. You’ll be an aunt next year!"

Li Ying: "..."

’Good heavens, what in the world has happened in the last six months?’

’It was one thing for her personality to change, but how did she end up with a little one in her belly too?’

’Didn’t they say it would be difficult for my brother to have kids?’

As soon as the car came to a stop in front of the dormitory building, Li Hanchen waved a hand.

"You two head on up. I’ll get the bags."

Li Ying reached out to take Song Yao’s arm.

Her fingertips had barely brushed Song Yao’s sleeve when Song Yao jumped, waving her hands dismissively.

"Oh, no, no, that’s not necessary! I’m perfectly steady on my feet!"

As she spoke, she placed her hands on her lower back.

"Well... then take it slow. Make sure your footing is solid before you take a step."

Li Ying immediately withdrew her hand. There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice as she quickly added, "The stairs are a little slippery. They were mopped a couple of days ago."

"Don’t worry! I’m as lively as ever!"

Song Yao even patted her own belly for emphasis.

Li Ying stared at her beaming face and muttered to herself.

’This transformation is just too complete...’

"I’ll go help my brother with the luggage!"

She turned to leave.

Song Yao quickly called out, "I can help too!"

She took half a step forward, just starting to raise her arms.

"Don’t move!"

The two siblings blurted out in unison.

Song Yao: "..."

"Okay, okay! I won’t move, I won’t move! You two get it, you two get it. I’ll just stand here and be your cheerleader, ha!"

She immediately dropped her hands to her sides.

Only then did Li Hanchen nod. "Fine. You head upstairs first."

Then he turned to his sister. "And you, don’t run off. Stay with your sister-in-law."

As he spoke, he glanced at the sneakers on Song Yao’s feet.

Li Ying immediately got the hint.

"Let’s go, let’s go. It’s cold out here. It’ll be warmer upstairs!"

In reality, Ning City was much warmer than Beijing.

The temperature itself wasn’t cold at all, and when the sun was out, it could even make you break a sweat.

Song Yao obediently started up the stairs, with Li Ying following close behind.

Song Yao wanted to chat with her, but when she looked back, Li Ying was lagging far behind again.

So she had to stop and wait for her.

But the moment she stopped, Li Ying immediately froze in place too.

"What’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing, it’s nothing! Come on, let’s walk together!"

Song Yao waved at her with a flick of her wrist.

Li Ying hesitated for a moment before walking closer, quickly adding an explanation.

"I was just worried you might slip and fall..."

She was afraid Song Yao would get the wrong idea.

Her old self had been too prone to twisting things.

Whenever Li Ying was quiet, her old self would assume she was being looked down upon and would immediately start a confrontation.

"Think you’re so great just because you’re a university student?"

Her old self had blurted that out the very first time she met Li Ying.

During a later meeting, Li Ying had addressed her as "sister-in-law" right away.

Her old self’s face had immediately fallen, her expression turning hostile.

"Does being a university student make you superior? Look at that dead-fish expression of yours. You can’t even speak properly. It’ll be a miracle if your future husband doesn’t kick you out!"

That’s why this time, Li Ying had a knee-jerk reaction and offered an explanation upfront.