Chapter 190: A Sure Win

Chapter 190: Chapter 190: A Sure Win

’But I can’t just stand here at the top of the stairs like a statue, can I?’

With that thought, Song Yao turned sideways, pressing herself against the wall to squeeze past Song Wen and slip into her room.

She was wary of him on the stairs, but on level ground?

Heh, even pregnant, she was facing a nine-year-old. She could probably lift him with one hand and spin him around three times.

’Get in the room, lock the door. A guaranteed win.’

"Auntie, do you want to make some fast cash?"

Just as her arm brushed past his, Song Wen suddenly piped up.

’Alright, so this kid really did travel back in time. And he’s still got that smug ’I’ve seen it all’ attitude.’

"Fast cash?"

Song Yao asked as she reached out and twisted the doorknob.

"Yes, fast cash."

Song Wen immediately started to follow her.

"Stop!"

Song Yao raised a hand to block him.

Song Wen froze.

"Huh?"

She waved her hand with a beaming smile.

"Please take a step back. Thanks for your cooperation."

Though confused, Song Wen shuffled back half a step.

But the next second...

SLAM!!

The door slammed shut right in front of his nose, the force of it creating a gust of wind.

It missed him by a hair’s breadth; any closer and it would have given him a nosebleed.

"What’s wrong? Oh, right. I’m telling you to get lost!"

Inside, Song Yao stood with her hands on her hips, laughing gleefully.

She then casually set her shopping bag down by the coffee table.

With a WHOOMPH, she sank into the sofa.

There was a teapot on the coffee table. She poured a cup, GULP GULP, drank half of it, and instantly felt much more comfortable.

She picked up an apple, took a huge bite, and let the juice trickle down between her fingers.

She pressed a button on the remote, and the TV flickered to life.

On screen, a character was in the middle of slapping someone, the sound cracking loudly.

BANG BANG BANG!!!

The pounding on the door from outside sounded like war drums.

"Auntie! What’s the meaning of this?!"

"Open the door! I really have a way to make money!"

"You have a way? Then go show your parents! Stop bothering me!"

Song Yao just cranked the TV volume all the way up.

Once she had rested enough, she got up and cooked a bowl of noodles.

After eating, she lay down for a nap.

The pillow was soft, the blanket was warm, and her eyelids felt too heavy to lift.

’Whatever ruckus is going on outside is none of my business.’

But she had been dozing for less than twenty minutes.

The door was being pounded on again, so hard the window frames rattled.

Song Yao shot up, fury rushing straight to her head.

’I could probably dismantle a refrigerator with my bare hands right now.’

She yanked open the door, ready to roar.

"Wha—!"

But when she saw who was at the door, the word caught in her throat, and she abruptly changed her tune.

"...Who are you looking for?"

"You’re Ms. Shen, correct?"

The police officer at the door glanced at her very pregnant belly.

Song Yao quickly waved her hands in denial.

"No, no, I’m not. My surname is Wen. I’m Wen Jinci."

"That’s not right! She is Shen Songyao!"

A skinny little boy squeezed out from behind the two police officers, only reaching up to their waists.

The officer picked up the explanation.

"This boy ran to the police station by himself to ask for help. He said he was looking for his aunt but was being blocked from entering her home. We were worried something might happen, so we came along."

Before the officer even finished, Song Yao was nodding vigorously.

"Oh, I understand completely! I’ll go get my household registration book. Please, wait a moment!"

She turned and hurried back inside.

The main light in the living room was off. Only a single table lamp was on, its soft glow spilling over the arm of the sofa.

She walked straight to the coffee table and pulled open the top drawer.

Inside, several official documents and a dark blue, hardcover household registration book were neatly arranged.

The boy outside didn’t stay quiet, immediately turning to the police with a pout.

"She really is my auntie! Her husband’s name is Li Hanchen, and he’s a regimental commander in the army! For years they couldn’t have kids, so they officially adopted me as their son! But then she got pregnant, and she removed my name from the household registration book..."

As he spoke, his Adam’s apple bobbed.

"But I still miss her... I just wanted to see if she’s doing okay..."

The police officers looked at each other, at a loss.

On one side was a heavily pregnant woman; on the other, a teary-eyed nine-year-old.

Both pulled at their heartstrings, and it was impossible to take a side.

The two officers exchanged a look, neither speaking right away.

They waited until Song Yao came back out with the household registration book.

"You’re a Beijing local? In that case..."

The officer closed the book and handed it back with both hands.

"We understand the situation now. Thank you for your cooperation."

Song Yao smiled demurely.

"It’s my duty! But this child..."

The officer glanced down at Song Wen, and the boy flew into a panic, his voice cracking.

"She changed her name! Just because she changed her name doesn’t mean she’s not my auntie! I really was her son for years! Why would I lie to you?!"

He pointed a finger straight at Song Yao. "She’s the one who’s lying! She’s lying to you!"

Song Yao’s eyes widened, her face a mask of bewilderment.

"Officer... this..."

The officer in the lead felt his ears grow warm at her polite tone and quickly cleared his throat.

"This kid’s pretty sharp. We’ll ask him for his home address later and make sure he gets back safely." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

As he spoke, he pulled a registration form from his pocket.

"Thank you so much!"

Song Yao gave a small bow, her movement limited by her belly.

"It’s our duty."

The officer reached for Song Wen as he spoke.

But Song Wen dug in his heels, twisting away and shouting.

"Auntie! I’m really capable! In the future, I’ll build robots, develop computer chips, and become the richest man in the world! Just trust me this one time, keep me as your son, and in the future, mountains of gold and silver will be yours!"

Song Yao’s heart skipped a beat.

’Whoa, so he really did travel back in time.’

When she looked up again, her expression was calm, her eyes holding just the right amount of confusion.

But when she turned to face the officer, her expression shifted to one of complete bafflement.

"Officer, has he... had a recent scare? Or has someone been telling him strange things?"

The officer clicked his tongue.

"This kid... he talks like he’s from a TV show..."

He shook his head, handed the registration form to his partner, and gestured for him to move in.

In the end, the two of them managed to half-carry, half-coax Song Wen away.

A nine-year-old was no match for two determined adults.

That evening, Li Hanchen and Shen Rongdan came home from work together.

Li Hanchen and Shen Rongdan exchanged a look, then asked in unison,

"The kid’s only nine. How did he find his way here by himself?"

Song Yao shrugged.

"I really have no idea! He barged in shouting about teaching me how to make money and telling me to ’keep me as your son.’ It gave me a real fright."

She swallowed, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"His little face was so tense, his eyes wide, and he just kept talking and talking without taking a breath."

Li Hanchen’s brow furrowed.

"Did your sister-in-law bring him here?"

He raised a hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose, his voice growing deeper.

"Where is she?"

"You shouldn’t go to your stall for the next couple of days," Shen Rongdan added.

This time, instead of her usual cheerful agreement, Song Yao simply nodded obediently.

"Okay, I won’t go. I’ll prepare more stock at home. When you have a day off, or when Second Brother is free, I’ll go out to sell with one of you."

She set her cup down, her hands resting flat on her knees.

"Alright. I’ll buy some more green vegetables later," Li Hanchen said as he stood up and headed for the kitchen, unbuttoning his cuffs.

Song Wen had gritted his teeth, stubbornly refusing to tell anyone where he lived.

No matter how many times the police officers asked, he just shook his head.

He ended up toughing it out at the police station for two whole days without so much as a glimpse of Song Yao.

’How did things go so wrong?’

’In my past life, at this time, I was living with my parents in a city apartment, eating well, and even receiving money from Auntie Song Yao every month. Life was so comfortable.’

’So why in this life is Dad in jail and Grandma locked up? And Mom... where is Mom?’