Chapter 26
The wind and rain continued to howl, the sky dark. The dim light cast down, faintly illuminating the not-so-large bedroom.
A young female Alpha, dressed in a simple hoodie and jeans, sat on a chair by the bed. The light cast a shadow, but it couldn’t hide the seriousness in her eyes.
She was serious.
“Ji Tang, stay. The children can’t be without their Mommy, and they can’t be without their Mama.”
“And, I want you to stay.”
Her voice was low. As she slightly tilted her head up, everything was laid bare. Ji Tang sat on the edge of the bed, her slightly messy black hair tied back, her pale face tinged with a yellowish hue in the lamplight. Their eyes met, and she could clearly see the sincerity in Song Xun’s eyes.
There was even guilt, heartache, and deep affection.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
In truth, Ji Tang had imagined countless times what it would be like to see Song Xun again, or what Song Xun’s reaction might be if she ever found out the truth.
Maybe she would think it was too absurd and refuse to believe it.
Maybe she would blame her, for suddenly appearing with two children and disrupting her peaceful life.
Maybe she would take the children away, or break up with her girlfriend out of a sense of responsibility…
There were so many possibilities.
But no matter what, none of them were what Ji Tang wanted to see.
She didn’t want to be a burden to Song Xun, nor did she want Song Xun to become a source of insecurity for the children.
So she had never disturbed her.
Even when Guan He had tried so hard to persuade her, she had never wavered. Until she saw Song Xun again in the complex.
Song Xun had grown up, she was taller, but she also seemed colder, more taciturn. In Wang Qingyao’s words, she looked fierce…
Not at all like a college student.
Ji Jinning had never mentioned it; she was always sensible. But Ji Jinyu was different. The little girl would sometimes ask her why she didn’t have a Mommy.
Everyone else had a Mommy, why didn’t she?
And Ji Tang… couldn’t answer.
Until now…
Song Xun’s answer was something she had never, ever expected.
Just as she had never known that Song Xun liked her.
And she had never known that Song Xun… already knew the truth.
She was willing to accept the children, and she was willing for her to stay.
Her eyes began to sting. Remembering the scene in her room earlier, her reluctance, her fear, and the sense of security that had come with Song Xun’s arrival…
Ji Tang bit her lower lip, and after a long moment, she found her voice. “I…”
“Alright, then it’s settled.”
Song Xun suddenly stood up, took the water from the bedside table, twisted off the cap, and handed it to her. “Thirsty? Have a drink.”
“…” Ji Tang.
Ji Tang was helpless. She hadn’t said anything yet.
But she didn’t refuse, nor did she deny it. To be with her children was, of course, the best thing for her. As for Song Xun…
They would talk about it later.
She lowered her head, a bit evasively. In the dim light, her slightly messy black hair fell forward. She didn’t take the water, and Song Xun didn’t force her. She reached out and tucked her hair back.
It was still a bit damp.
The cool, tingling sensation of her fingertips stimulated her senses. Ji Tang instinctively pulled back, the tips of her ears turning red.
“I haven’t washed my hair in a few days…”
“It’s fine. It still smells good.”
Ji Tang looked up in surprise. “How did you…”
How did you become so glib in just a few years…
She quickly stopped herself, but Song Xun understood what she meant and winked with a smile. “Probably a talent.”
She added, “A talent for you.”
“…” Ji Tang.
She was at a loss for words, and a bit uncomfortable. After a moment of silence, she took the water Song Xun was still holding out, took a sip, and changed the subject. “Why is there a stove in your room?”
Who puts a stove in their bedroom during renovations? It’s so out of place.
“Oh, that.”
Knowing she was shy, Song Xun followed her lead and glanced at it, a grin spreading across her face, revealing a set of white teeth.
“I’ll tell you in a few days. It’s a secret for now.”
“So mysterious. If you don’t want to say, then don’t.”
Ji Tang glanced at her. Song Xun looked innocent. “Aren’t I giving you a reason to stay?”
“You’re not sincere at all.”
“What? How am I not sincere?”
Song Xun didn’t like hearing that. She straightened up, then suddenly smiled. “Fine, sincere. How about I beg you now?”
“Ji Tang, Auntie Ji, wifey, please have pity on me and the children and stay.”
The lilting, trembling tone of her voice could have navigated a mountain road with eighteen bends.
“…” Ji Tang.
She almost choked on a mouthful of water. Song Xun stopped fooling around and quickly bent over to pat her on the back.
But as soon as she reached out, Ji Tang pushed her away with a look of disgust. “Get up. Don’t touch me.”
She couldn’t even look at this person anymore. But…
Hmm, after all this fooling around, the unfamiliarity and distance that had grown between them over the years seemed to have vanished.
Perhaps she was amused by her own antics. Song Xun took the water bottle from Ji Tang, screwed the cap back on, and placed it on the table. “It’s almost eleven. You should rest some more. By the way, that friend of yours, are you two close?”
“You mean Qingyao? We’ve known each other since college.”
Ji Tang didn’t have many friends. She could talk to many people, but there were only two she considered close: Wang Qingyao and Guan He.
“…From the time I was pregnant until now, Qingyao and Guan He have helped me a lot.”
“Song Xun, can she stay?”
Ji Tang understood what Song Xun was asking. She also knew that, from her position, she shouldn’t be asking for so much. But Wang Qingyao was a friend of many years. She had helped with the children and helped her a lot. If she were to kick her out now, with her home in that state, she wouldn’t be able to live there.
And if she ran into another person like Wang Sheng, Wang Qingyao would be finished.
Ji Tang couldn’t be indifferent.
Song Xun smiled. “Don’t worry, I know what to do.”
She smiled down at her, a complete contrast to the cold, taciturn person from her memory. The Song Xun of three years later had grown up, was more responsible, and more dependable.
After a long time, Ji Tang couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile and whisper, “Okay.”
“You met in college. Is she also a medical student?”
“No, we’re not alumni. She was at the agricultural college near the medical school. Now she works at the agricultural research center in Jintai District.”
Agricultural research center.
In other words, hmm, a farmer. That’s how you could put it.
“And you? Where do you work? A hospital or a clinic? I’ve been looking for you, even hired several detective agencies.”
Ji Tang looked up at her. “No, not at a hospital. At a pharmaceutical research base in the suburbs.”
No wonder I couldn’t find her. Such a remote place, I never even thought of it.
Bang bang!
There was a knock on the door, short and light, followed by Chang Wan’s voice. “Big Sis, your sister-in-law’s friend is awake.”
“I know. Let her eat something first.”
“Okay.”
Song Xun turned to Ji Tang. “Go out. Shi Tou is already downstairs keeping watch. I’ll go down later and pack up your things.”
Ji Tang nodded. “I’ll go with you to pack.”
Song Xun didn’t agree immediately. “How are you feeling? Don’t push yourself.”
“I’m fine.”
Other than feeling a bit weak, her glands were fine. In fact, they were quite comfortable and warm now, probably the result of being soothed by Song Xun’s pheromones after being fully marked.
Her back still hurt a little, but it wasn’t a big deal. Seeing that she wasn’t forcing herself, Song Xun didn’t argue. She brought over a pair of light slippers, placed them down, and reached out to help her.
Ji Tang was at a loss for what to do. “I don’t need your help.”
“You’re still injured.”
“It’s my back that’s injured, not my legs.”
But Song Xun ignored her. The slippers were easy to put on and comfortable. She helped her up and out the door.
Ji Tang couldn’t break free.
This was the first time she had seen the apartment after Song Xun had moved in. Her assessment, hmm, was that the renovations were very strange.
Every window was covered with thick curtains. The house had a backup power supply, so letting light out would cause unnecessary trouble. Ji Tang could understand that.
But what was with the massive heated kang from the northeast?
Not only were there small stoves in the rooms, but there was also a large one in the living room, probably custom-made. It was huge. What kind of interior design was this?
She was curious, but she didn’t ask.
Wang Qingyao had already changed into Chang Wan’s clothes and was sitting on the sofa in the living room, eating at the coffee table. She was hungry and eating quickly, but not ungracefully.
Chang Wan sat next to her, and Chang Fei was on the heated kang, next to the sleeping dogs.
Seeing Song Xun and Ji Tang come out, the siblings both stood up. “Sister-in-law!”
Ji Tang couldn’t help but blush.
They used to call her “Auntie.” Being called this now… was a bit hard to get used to.
Song Xun suppressed a laugh and helped her to the sofa, then sat on the armrest, her arm around her shoulder.
Wang Qingyao looked at Song Xun, then at Ji Tang. Seeing that she was fine, she also felt relieved.
“Where are Little Ning and Little Yu’er?”
“They’re sleeping in the room. They’re fine.”
Seeing that Wang Qingyao was genuinely concerned about the children, Song Xun didn’t give her the cold shoulder. This was the first time she had really looked at Wang Qingyao.
She was very beautiful, a completely different type from Ji Tang. She didn’t have Ji Tang’s gentle maturity, but she was more cheerful and lively.
“I hear you studied agriculture?”
Wang Qingyao wasn’t close with Song Xun, but she knew that this was the person who had saved them. Although, from Ji Tang’s perspective, she had suffered for three years, so it was natural to view Song Xun unfavorably.
But it was a fact that she had received her help.
“Yes.”
She nodded in thanks. “Thank you, Song Xun.”
“No need.”
Song Xun was direct. “I heard from Ji Tang that you’ve been helping her take care of the children. I should be the one to thank you.”
“You know the situation now, so I won’t beat around the bush. Your house is ruined, and you can’t go back. Ji Tang and the children are definitely staying. I finally found them, and I won’t let them go.”
“If you have nowhere safe to go, and you don’t mind, you can stay here.”
Wang Qingyao hesitated. She knew that, for her, staying was the best option.
After all, she had nowhere else to go. But she didn’t want to be a burden to Ji Tang…
Ji Tang also tried to persuade her. “Stay for now, Qingyao. You have nowhere to go. After the storm stops, if you want to leave, you can leave then.”
Song Xun glanced at her but didn’t say anything. In a way, the apocalypse had already begun. So, it wouldn’t stop.
“It’s fine, you’re not a burden. Aren’t you good at farming? There will always be a use for you.”
“…” Wang Qingyao.
She’s a perfectly good agricultural researcher, how did she become a farmer in Song Xun’s eyes?
Hmm, although in a way, it was true. But, well, it was still annoying to hear.
She wasn’t a coy person. Seeing that Song Xun was serious, she didn’t refuse.
“Alright, then I’ll be troubling you.”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “I’ll definitely work hard at farming in the future to repay you.”
Chang Wan couldn’t help but laugh.
