Hearing Song Qinian's name, Li Junshen's eyebrows twitched slightly. He pressed Song Jiashu's hand, which was about to send a text message.
"Not yet."
"Huh? Don't you want to see my sister?"
"Of course not, I just want to surprise her."
"Wow~"
Song Jiashu exclaimed playfully, then a hint of awkwardness appeared on his face as he thought of something. "Junshen, actually... my sister is already married."
"I know."
"Then you..."
"If your sister is happy, I wish her well."
"Then if..."
Song Jiashu was about to ask, "Then if my sister isn't happy?", but he didn't know if Li Junshen had a girlfriend, if he was married, or if he still liked his sister as much as before, so he couldn't say it.
Li Junshen gave Song Jiashu a meaningful look. "If what?"
Song Jiashu chuckled dryly. "Nothing... nothing, let's eat."
Even without Song Jiashu saying anything, Li Junshen knew what he wanted to say.
Song Jiashu couldn't hide his thoughts; they were all on his face.
"Whether it's the me of the past or the me of now, nothing is more important than your sister's happiness."
Upon hearing this, Song Jiashu asked cautiously, "Junshen, do you... feel about my sister..."
Li Junshen smiled and took a sip of tea, remaining silent, but his meaning was quite clear.
Song Jiashu smiled. "I knew you definitely liked my sister. I could tell when we were kids. You were cold to everyone, but you were good to my sister. If I weren't her brother, I wouldn't even be able to talk to you."
Thinking of childhood memories, a trace of gentleness flashed in Li Junshen's dark eyes.
Then, Song Jiashu sighed, "You came at the perfect time today. Today is my last day working at Xianting. If you had come any later, we would have missed each other."
"If I remember correctly, you should be taking the college entrance examination this year. How were your results? Which university are you planning to attend?"
Song Jiashu shook his head. "I missed one subject, so I can't attend a university in China. I have to go abroad."
"Oh?"
"It's a long story, better left unsaid."
The eyes beneath the lenses flashed slightly. Li Junshen said faintly, "Which country are you planning to go to?"
"Italy."
"That's good. I know quite a few people there. Don't worry, I'll have them look after you."
"Thank you, Junshen. But... I'm very adaptable. It doesn't matter if no one takes care of me. I'm more worried about my sister, in case she gets bullied."
"Don't worry, I won't let anyone bully your sister."
With Li Junshen's assurance, Song Jiashu was relieved.
In Song Jiashu's eyes, Li Junshen and Song Qinian were clearly in love. They had grown up together and were separated because Li Junshen moved away.
Although Song Qinian and Li Junshen were both young at the time, the feelings of first love were the purest.
The reason Song Qinian married Shen Chi Yan was that she was tricked by his mother.
Shen Chi Yan was not a good match for Song Qinian at all. Song Qinian's not divorcing Shen Chi Yan now was entirely for their father.
Song Jiashu trusted Li Junshen implicitly. Without much effort, Li Junshen learned all about the Song family from Song Jiashu, which was consistent with his own investigations.
Nian Nian...
Just mentioning her name made his blood boil.
He wondered what expression she would have when she saw him.
...
Song Qinian, who was buying things for Song Jiashu at the mall, suddenly shivered.
Mu Yuxin pulled up Song Qinian's collar and asked worriedly, "Are you catching a cold?"
Song Qinian shook her head. She wasn't sick, just a sudden chill.
She didn't pay it much mind, thinking about what else she needed to buy.
"Jiashu really likes eating. Buy him some more chili sauce and snail noodles."
Mu Yuxin was already too tired to walk. "My Nian Bao, Jiashu is going to school, not fleeing a famine. He's buying so many things, how will he carry them?"
"I'll take him directly to the airport security check. When he gets to Italy, Shen Chi Yan's people will pick him up."
"Still, there are limits. What if he can't finish them and they expire? We can always mail them to him when he wants them!"
Song Qinian thought about it and agreed. She then bought winter clothes for Song Jiashu.
Before Song Jiashu left, Song Qinian went home.
The dining table was filled with a dazzling array of delicacies. Liu Xiaohan claimed she made them herself, and neither Song Qinian nor Song Jiashu exposed her.
When Song Guanliang was home, Liu Xiaohan never even entered the kitchen, so how could she cook?
Moreover, the dishes on the table and the takeout boxes from downstairs were clearly from the same source.
"Jiashu, you're going abroad tomorrow. Mom is reluctant to let you go, but I hope you'll succeed. You must study hard and not let down your sister and brother-in-law's good intentions."
Liu Xiaohan's words were all about flattering Shen Chi Yan. Song Jiashu was unhappy but didn't want to cause trouble before leaving, so he could only nod. "I understand."
Liu Xiaohan sighed heavily. "If only your father were here, we could all have a happy meal together. Now, your father is in prison, your sister is with the Shen family, and you're going abroad. I'm left all alone at home, so empty."
As she spoke, Liu Xiaohan even started to cry.
The mention of Song Guanliang cast a gloom over Song Qinian and Song Jiashu's faces.
Seeing Song Qinian's sadness, Song Jiashu immediately put a piece of braised beef brisket on Liu Xiaohan's plate. "Let's eat first, or the food will get cold."
Seeing Song Jiashu personally serving her, Liu Xiaohan was overjoyed and in tears. "Okay, okay, let's eat, let's eat. Nian Nian, you should eat more too."
Liu Xiaohan served dishes to both Song Qinian and Song Jiashu. Song Jiashu also served Song Qinian. "Sister, eat more. I believe things will get better and better for us."
Song Qinian felt a pang of sadness, but she didn't want Song Jiashu to worry, so she smiled and nodded.
After dinner, Liu Xiaohan wanted to tell her daughter and son that she had found a good job, but since she hadn't finalized it yet, she decided not to.
She planned to tell them after she received her first paycheck or when things stabilized.
That night, Song Qinian was supposed to stay at home, but Gao Kunlun messaged her, saying that his car was parked downstairs.
Song Qinian had no choice but to leave.
After Song Jiashu and Liu Xiaohan watched Song Qinian get into the car and leave, Liu Xiaohan sighed, "It seems Shen Chi Yan can't do without your sister. Your sister has waited for more than three years, and finally, the clouds have parted to reveal the blue sky."
"Hmph, I don't think so!"
"What?"
"Nothing, I'm going to take a shower."
The next morning, Song Qinian was rushing to leave when Shen Chi Yan stopped her. "I'll go with you."