Chapter 187: Shameless Denial

Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Shameless Denial

"How are we settling the rent?"

Yao Yuzhen had learned her lesson this time.

The police officers were standing right there, so the couple wouldn’t dare act shamelessly to her face.

But once the police left, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t just turn on her and deny everything.

Sure enough, the landlord’s wife glanced at the uniformed officers and eased up a little.

"You’ve been here for over a full month, so I’ll charge you for two."

She held up two fingers, jabbing them in the air.

"From the day you signed the contract to today, it’s been thirty-seven days. We charge by the full month."

Yao Yuzhen’s stomach churned with anger.

’I’ve only been here for less than ten days this month!’

But on second thought, she realized arguing would get her nowhere, so she simply waved her hand dismissively.

"Fine. Then give me back the four extra months of rent I paid."

The landlord’s wife’s eyelids twitched.

"Once you’ve cleared out the room, you’ll get your money immediately."

She reached out and tugged on her husband’s sleeve.

The words had barely left her mouth when she turned, ready to pull her husband away.

But one of the police officers shouted.

"Hold on! Are you going to compensate her for her medical bills?"

Only then did the landlord’s wife grudgingly pull out a few bills and slap them on Yao Yuzhen’s bedside table.

"Take it!"

She muttered as she pulled out the money.

"What awful luck! She faints in my courtyard, and I’m the one stuck paying her medical fees? Next time, I wouldn’t rent to people like her even if the house crumbled to dust!"

At the door, she turned her head back to deliver one last jab.

"No wonder all your men run off! If I were a man, I wouldn’t stay with you either!"

As soon as she said it, the officer called out to her again.

"Stop! Get back here!"

She could only shrink back, sheepishly returning to stand before the hospital bed with her head lowered. She meekly squeezed out two words.

"I’m sorry... I have a big mouth."

The officer reprimanded her with a stern face.

"You’re old enough to know better. Can’t you think before you speak? We’ll let it go this time, but if it happens again, don’t blame us for being harsh."

Only then were the two allowed to leave.

Once the door closed, Yao Yuzhen gave the two officers a genuinely grateful nod.

"Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you..."

"Don’t thank us, it’s our—"

"Ahem!"

The other officer quickly nudged his partner’s arm and cut in, "It’s just part of our job. What we’re supposed to do. If you run into any trouble in the future, feel free to come find us."

Yao Yuzhen understood at once.

’He knew who they were really speaking on behalf of.’

The officers turned and left.

Two days later, Yao Yuzhen was discharged from the hospital. Not only did she not have to pay a cent for her medical fees, but she also got her fifty-yuan security deposit back.

Leaving the hospital, she didn’t look back once, grabbing her bag and moving straight out of that little room.

Shen Rongjing had already arranged for people to keep an eye on her movements.

When he heard she had moved into Ruan Yongxing’s house, he immediately gave an order.

"Pull back. No need to follow her anymore."

He also mentioned the matter to Shen Zhenwu in passing.

After visiting Beijing for a few days, it was time for Song Yao to return to Ning City.

The wheels of her suitcase made a soft, rumbling sound on the concrete.

She waved toward the old Shen Family residence as she pulled her suitcase along.

Yang Wanqing held Song Yao tight, unwilling to let go, her arms tightening around her.

Then she turned her head and started nagging her son.

"Didn’t I tell you to find a way to get Rong Dan and Li Hanchen transferred to Beijing? Your father worked at the ministry for over a decade. He knows people, he has connections. Can he really not pull some strings for this?"

Shen Zhenwu sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"The New Year just ended. Personnel transfers can’t happen at the drop of a hat."

"Oh, don’t worry, don’t worry. A little more time, and the little baby in Song Yao’s belly will be here!"

Yang Wanqing let go of Song Yao and quickly straightened her collar.

"The doctor said this pregnancy is very stable."

"It won’t take that long," Shen Zhenwu had to mutter in a low voice. "Rong Dan already submitted his application last month. I got news this morning that it passed the initial review."

Song Yao also quickly took Yang Wanqing’s hand to soothe her.

"Grandma, I’ll be back again soon! As soon as the wind softens and the sun warms up, I’ll be right back! And I haven’t dropped my work over there, I’m still at it! I’ve already done the preliminary dating and cataloging for two new pieces of Ming dynasty blue and white porcelain that came in last week."

"Work? What work? Your belly is about to pop right up to your chest!"

Yang Wanqing shook her head, full of concern. She reached out to touch Song Yao’s abdomen, but afraid of using too much force, she just let her hand hover lightly against it.

"Your father called last night. He said they’ve already prepared millet porridge and pig’s trotter soup for you at home; they’ve even got the stew pot simmering."

"It’s still early! The baby won’t be born until summer at least!"

Song Yao linked her arm with her grandmother’s, gently nuzzling her head against her shoulder. The tips of her hair brushed past Yang Wanqing’s ear.

"I climbed three flights of stairs yesterday without even getting out of breath. I’m even quicker on the stairs than you are."

Yang Wanqing could only wave her hand in resignation.

"Alright, alright. Just make sure you leave early when the time comes. Buy your train ticket in advance so you don’t end up unable to get a sleeper car."

"Of course! It’s a promise!"

Song Yao took a car home.

As soon as she walked in the door, she saw a large, black-framed box in the living room.

A television!

She circled it twice, her eyes wide.

"Where did this thing come from? Didn’t we say we’d wait until we moved into the new place to buy one?"

"I carried it back."

Li Hanchen stood there, grinning, a look on his face that said he was waiting for praise.

"You bought it?"

Song Yao walked quickly over to him and looked up at him.

"Yep!"

Li Hanchen nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

Song Yao threw herself at him, draping her entire body over him.

"Were you afraid I’d come home and rot from boredom? That I wouldn’t even want to step out the door?"

"Hm? Say something, mister."

As she spoke, she reached through his sweater to pinch the soft flesh on his side.

"Ngh..."

The back of Li Hanchen’s ears instantly turned bright red.

Song Yao stood on her tiptoes, hooked an arm around his neck, and gave him three quick kisses on the face.

"SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!"

But after the kisses, she wrinkled her nose.

"But... you bought it too soon! When we move to Beijing, how are we going to move this big thing? Carry it onto the train?"

"To Beijing?"

Li Hanchen frowned, his gaze freezing for a moment.

"Yep! Grandma said she misses me so much she can’t sleep well, and she doesn’t want us to always be living apart like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, so she’s trying to get you and Second Brother transferred to Beijing together."

Song Yao let go of his neck, grabbing the fabric of his shirt with both hands as she looked up at him.

"Are you happy about it?"

Li Hanchen thought for a moment, then nodded.

"It’s the same wherever I go. It’s all work, serving the people. One place isn’t better than another."

Hearing that, Song Yao hugged him even tighter.

"Once we’re settled, we’ll bring Mom over too! A lively family of five, with no one left behind!"

"Mm, okay. I’ll listen to whatever you say."

With the television there, Song Yao didn’t stay idle.

She brought a small stool and sat in front of the TV, stringing beads while watching *Animal World*.

A basket of small jewelry gradually filled up.

All of it was for her to sell.

In another couple of days, when the weather warmed up a bit, she would set up a stall at the street corner.

’Once I get to Beijing, I can keep selling them there too!’

Song Yao refused to listen to anyone’s advice. While Li Hanchen was out delivering documents and Shen Rongdan was at the factory for a meeting, she deftly packed her things and headed out, carrying several bags on her own.

Her old wooden stall table had been stored at the newsstand on the street corner.

When she went to get the table, the woman at the newsstand was stunned to see her.

"Hey! I was just thinking you weren’t coming back!"

"Where have you been for so long?"

"Did something happen at home?"

She looked Song Yao up and down.

Song Yao smiled and handed her a small bag of candy.

"Here. My grandmother gave them to me. She said they were imported goods someone gave to Shen Zhenwu, from overseas."

"Everything’s fine at home! It’s just that right before the New Year, I found out I’m not actually the Shen Family’s biological daughter. I was abducted when I was little, and I only recently found my real family."