Chapter 183: Having a Backer

Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Having a Backer

Li Hanchen nodded.

"Mom’s at home, so look after her."

"Don’t worry!"

Li Yuan patted his chest, the sound firm and loud.

Li Hanchen reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

Before getting in the car, he picked up a blue cloth bag from the passenger seat and handed it over.

"Some snacks Song Yao bought. They’re for Little Tian."

Wu Xixi wasn’t the most reliable person.

But with his older brother and mother around, the family at least had a backbone.

The moment the bag of pastries was handed over, Wu Xixi’s expression changed in a flash. She smiled so wide her eyes crinkled into slits.

"Come back and visit often, sister-in-law!"

’If she comes back, we’ll eat well.’

’She’s the precious daughter of a high-ranking official now!’

Song Yao completely ignored her, just waving at Wei Guilan and Li Ying.

As dusk settled, the small jeep pulled smoothly to a stop at the entrance of the family courtyard.

Li Hanchen walked her upstairs, then immediately turned to find the political commissar.

By the time he finished his business and came home, Song Yao had already set the noodles on the table.

Steaming alkaline noodles were piled high in a blue-and-white porcelain bowl, topped with two soft-boiled eggs.

Seeing him walk in, she immediately put down her chopsticks.

"Go wash your hands! The sauce for the noodles is ready!"

"I also made a cabbage and ham soup. It’s still hot!"

The lid of the clay pot was tilted open, white steam puffing straight up.

Li Hanchen felt a little embarrassed.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"It just came off the stove, I wasn’t waiting long at all. Hurry and try it. Let’s see if my skills are better, or if you’re still the champion!"

After washing his hands, he sat down, picked up some noodles with his chopsticks, and ladled a spoonful of soup.

After one bite, he nodded without hesitation.

"You win."

Song Yao tilted her chin up.

"Of course! Back in the day..."

’Back in what day?’

She quickly shoveled a large mouthful of soup into her mouth, only to hiss from the heat.

’Oh, crap. The original owner of this body never even grew up in Ning City!’

’What am I going to do if I let it slip!’

She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, her eyes welling with tears as a thin layer of sweat beaded on the tip of her nose.

Li Hanchen quickly pulled out a handkerchief and fanned her face.

"Are you okay? Is it still hot?"

Song Yao tilted her small face up, gazing at his handsome features so close to her, and blinked.

"Maybe if you kiss it, it won’t be hot anymore?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Li Hanchen: "..."

"One more kiss! Another one!"

She was so delighted she secretly kicked her legs under the table.

"Eat first."

"It’s too hot! I’ll let it cool down. Kisses first, kisses first!"

When she got into one of her playful moods, she didn’t hold back at all, grabbing his sleeve and shaking it gently.

Li Hanchen: "..."

In the end, Song Yao slurped her noodles, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Honey, you smell so good!"

Li Hanchen glanced at her greasy, shining mouth and almost blurted out:

’Is it the noodles that smell good, or me?’

Meanwhile, our Director Li sat with his back ramrod straight, eating his meal with more restraint than he showed during tactical drills.

But Song Yao?

She ate with utter satisfaction, radiating pure comfort.

「 」

The phone signal had been too unstable to conveniently call Beijing while Song Yao was visiting the family home.

So, as soon as she was settled back in, she immediately dialed the number and called Yang Wanqing, Shen Zhenwu, and the others one by one to give her New Year’s greetings.

On the other end of the line, Yang Wanqing fired off a series of questions.

"Is it cold in Ning City? Are the blankets thick enough? Do you like the food?"

To be honest, Song Yao hadn’t really adjusted well since coming back.

The climate, the food, the social customs... she had to get used to everything all over again.

But she didn’t mention a word of it, swallowing it all back down.

’If I told her, Grandma would just worry for nothing, and there’s nothing she could do to help.’

Instead, she said with a cheerful laugh:

"It’s quite warm! My mother-in-law is a fantastic cook. She makes something different for me every day!"

"She even packed bags and bags of local specialties for me to bring back for you all to try!"

Hearing this, Yang Wanqing’s heart was put at ease.

"Then you should come over sooner! I’ll have your father send a car to pick you up!"

"No, no, that’s not necessary! I can just buy a sleeper ticket myself. The attendants on the train take great care of me—they help with my bags, find my seat, and even pour me hot water!"

"When are you leaving?"

The old woman replied instantly, her voice full of anticipation.

"The day after tomorrow! I’ll go buy the ticket tomorrow!"

"Alright! Be sure to call before you leave, so I can have your older brother wait for you at the station early!"

"Okay, okay!"

Song Yao hung up the phone, turned her head, and looked grinningly at Li Hanchen, who was sitting beside her.

"Um... I was thinking of going to stay with Grandma for a few days..."

Li Hanchen was actually quite reluctant to let her go, but he also knew that over there, she would be doted on.

If Song Yao went, her life would be much more pleasant.

It’s just...

He looked down, fiddling with the hem of his clothes, his voice a little muffled.

"I just ended my leave..."

"Don’t worry, you really don’t have to worry about me! Your only job is to get me on the train, and then mission accomplished!"

She had it all figured out. What could Li Hanchen do?

He had no choice but to nod. "Alright. I’ll find some time to come visit you."

"Oh, no, no, don’t! I’ll be heading back home in a few days anyway!"

She waved her hand dismissively, her sleeve sliding down to reveal a sliver of her pale wrist.

"Coming back?"

His brows twitched. His voice rose half a pitch unconsciously before he immediately lowered it.

"Are you hoping I don’t come back?"

Song Yao’s eyes darted, locking onto him.

She tilted her head, her chin slightly raised.

"How could that be!"

Li Hanchen quickly waved his hands.

"I was just thinking that once you go to Beijing, you’d want to settle in for a while. I was afraid you’d rest for many days before heading back..."

His fingertips dug hard into his palm, then quickly released.

"Hah, what was I thinking! It’s just a trip to visit relatives and give New Year’s greetings for good luck."

She smiled and shook her head, tapping the tip of her own nose.

"Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be back! Work hasn’t started up yet before the New Year, so I’m not in a rush to start my job."

She patted her chest, her voice bright and clear.

When Li Hanchen heard that, his eyes instantly lit up.

"Great! I’ll go grab the tickets first thing tomorrow morning!"

He shot up straight, knocking his knee on the corner of the table.

Song Yao stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his lean, strong waist.

"Mhm, I wouldn’t dare stay away too long. Without you, I’d feel so empty."

The moment the words left her mouth, the tips of Li Hanchen’s ears burned red.

Song Yao waved goodbye to Li Hanchen and stepped onto the train bound for Beijing.

No one would have expected that just as they were nearing the station, she would run into a familiar face.

After sitting for the better part of a day, her legs were numb and her back was sore.

Song Yao was bored, so she lifted the curtain to her bunk to peek out at the commotion.

And the first thing she saw was Yao Yuzhen.

Her hair was a mess, and she was jabbing her finger at a scrawny man’s face.

"It was him! He stole my money! I saw it with my own two eyes!"

"The moment I opened my eyes, he was pulling his hand out of my bag! The money must be in his pocket!"

Yao Yuzhen’s voice was shrill as she pointed straight at the man.

The man flinched, shrinking his neck and lowering his head, as a train officer grabbed his arm and began searching his pockets.

"I really didn’t take it! I was just looking for someone, and she’s trying to frame me!"

With a great RUSTLE, he pulled all of his pockets inside out for everyone to see.

They were completely empty. Where was the wallet?

Yao Yuzhen was so furious her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head.

"Impossible! I saw him stuff it in there as clear as day! It was there a moment ago! It has to be on him!"

Before she finished speaking, she raised her hand to frisk him herself.

The man dodged her, but there was no fear in his eyes. Instead, he furtively glanced toward the back of the crowd.

Song Yao’s heart skipped a beat.

’He probably has an accomplice on the train.’

’The wallet was probably passed off to someone else during the commotion. That’s why he’s so confident.’

Yao Yuzhen reached out and felt the inner pocket of his jacket, then his side pockets, patting him down several times but coming up with nothing.

Still not giving up, she reached for his back pocket, pressing her whole palm against it.