My Youth Began With Him

“Miss Song, what do you mean by that?” Huo Mian pretended not to know what she was talking about.

“Nothing… In the past, I thought that since Qin Chu was such an outstanding man, so many women would throw themselves at him, trying everything they could to be with him. However, in the end, he chose you, and you guys even had a shotgun wedding. I thought his determination was because he didn’t want to let go of his high school sweetheart, but now I can see that… you are a smart and capable woman. If I were a man, I would probably fall in love with you as well.”

“Thank you, Miss Song, for your compliment. I’m not special, rather, I’m an ordinary woman… I cry, laugh, I feel happiness, and I feel sorrow. I also want to protect the man I love… I am willing to face-off against those who try to ruin our relationship; I refuse to stand by and watch as manipulative and calculating bitches try to pry their way through.”

“Haha… you’re absolutely right. You do have to protect him.” Conceding the verbal show-down with Huo Mian, Song Yishi smiled faintly and sipped at her coffee.

“Miss Song, did you need to talk to me about anything else? If not, I’m going to go… working the night shift has been tiring.”

“No, I just wanted to explain to you about the photos.”

“Okay then, I’m going to leave now.”

“Waiter, check please.” Song Yishi elegantly waved her hand.

“It’s okay, my treat.” Huo Mian smiled gracefully and then picked up her bag and left.

Back when she recalled all the storefronts on this street, business was close to dying. Today, the 13 storefronts had combined to become one of the most popular pedestrian streets in the city, and everyone who worked in the coffee shop knew who their boss was.

Of course, they wouldn’t charge Song Yishi, so why was she offering to pay? This area was Huo Mian’s territory…

On her way home, Qin Chu sent her a video-chat request. She set her phone on a little stand above her steering wheel and picked up.

“Hey, Mr. Qin.”

“You seem to be in a good mood, where did you go?”

“To secretly meet with Su Yu,” Huo Mian laughed arrogantly.

“Come here now, I promise not to strangle you,” Qin Chu said in all seriousness.

“Hahaha… I love it when you’re jealous, Hubby, you’re so cute…”

“What kind of fetish is this?” Qin Chu was at a loss for words.

Was his wife’s purpose in life to make him feel bad? To build her happiness atop his agony?

“Where are you going?”

“To South Hill Manor.”

“I thought you went back already.” Uncle Li had told Qin Chu that Huo Mian was back; plus, he could see South Hill Manor’s surveillance from his phone. He noticed that Huo Mian went back before he even got off work.

“Yeah, I did, but then I came out again to have a cup of coffee. I’m now heading back again.”

“Coffee? With who?” Qin Chu was a little surprised.

“Guess…”

“What’s in it for me if I guess right?” Qin Chu asked.

“A hundred yuan,” Huo Mian stuck out a finger.

Qin Chu shook his head…

“500 yuan.”

Qin Chu still shook his head…

“1000 yuan, that’s as high as I go.” Huo Mian clenched her teeth and upped her offer one last time.

“I don’t want money; if I guess right, you have to kiss me.”

“… how am I supposed to do that? You’re not here.”

“Kiss me through the screen.”

“But… that’s awkward.” Huo Mian had never done something as lame as that.

“Yes or no?” Qin Chu purposely provoked her.

“Why not? But you only have one chance, and if you guess wrong, you will have to kiss me through the screen,” Huo Mian said smugly.

This was because she didn’t think Qin Chu would guess right; he would probably guess either Jiang Xiaowei or Zhu Lingling.

After all, no one would imagine that Huo Mian would ever have coffee with Song Yishi.

“Deal.” Mr. Qin was sure of himself as well.

“Okay then, guess.” Huo Mian was proud of herself; Back to 17, sang by a reality-show star, played in her car as she hummed along.

The lyrics were as follows, “The sun is shining, the flowers are smiling… the birds are saying good morning, why are you carrying…”

Before she could finish the rest of that sentence, Qin Chu, who was sitting on the chair in his office said, “Song Yishi.”