Chapter 86: Sour Grapes

“Didn’t I say yesterday that the newcomer seems rather cunning?”

“You were absolutely right. She’s clearly targeting Captain Li.”

“Young people these days are so brazen, nothing like how reserved we were in our time.”

“Exactly! Chasing after a man all the way to his workplace…”

When Shen Yi’an arrived at the living square using her Space ability, she witnessed a group of aunts and matrons gathered together, enthusiastically gossiping.

Harsh criticisms faintly reached her ears.

“I think it’s her parents’ fault for not raising her properly. No decent girl would chase a man to his workplace.”

“Absolutely! I still think Political Commissar Liang’s wife’s niece is more suitable. She’s dignified and gets along well with everyone.”

“What’s the point of us discussing this here? Captain Li doesn’t even pay them any attention…”

Though angered by these comments, Shen Yi’an didn’t lose her composure.

She knew these people were just venting empty words.

If she were standing before them, they’d likely adopt a completely different attitude.

But rationality aside, that didn’t stop her from taking out her notebook and sketching the distinctive features of the most vicious speakers.

She might not be capable of settling scores with them now, but that could change in the future.

Perhaps one day, if she decided to stay in the Family Compound, she could expose every single one of their dirty little secrets.

Since they loved gossiping about others, fine—let them talk their fill.

As the old saying goes: what goes around comes around.

The mud they sling at others will eventually return to them, either unchanged or multiplied.

When that day comes, they’ll have to face the consequences themselves!

How dare they insult her parents’ upbringing? Go to hell!

After filling three pages with ‘notes,’ Shen Yi’an finally focused on identifying the source behind these rumors.

She wasn’t disappointed. After more than twenty minutes of ongoing discussion, someone finally mentioned the crucial information.

“…Speaking of which, with all this lively discussion, who exactly started these rumors?”

“Yeah, I’m curious too. I just arrived and heard you all saying someone has designs on Captain Li. Who said that?”

“Didn’t we mention it? It’s Political Commissar Liang’s wife’s niece. She said she went to visit with good intentions but got scolded by the newcomer.”

“Really? Then how did she know they were staying at the guesthouse?”

“Oh, that’s no secret. Yesterday, a few of us were chatting here when we saw Comrade Wang from the gate guard leading some people to the guesthouse. We specifically asked him when he passed by…”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an began to piece things together.

Yesterday, when the sentry—Comrade Wang, as these people called him—escorted their group to the guesthouse, sharp-eyed observers had noticed.

Eager for fresh gossip, these active members of the living square couldn’t resist cornering Comrade Wang on his return to inquire.

Based solely on Comrade Wang’s brief account, the imaginative aunts and matrons had filled in numerous details themselves.

But at this time, public opinion was still normal—everyone unanimously believed that Captain Li’s family had brought a young woman to the military unit for him to meet.

The shift in public opinion began after Political Commissar Liang’s wife’s niece appeared.

Her reddened eyes and tearful expression perfectly fueled the aunties’ gossipy instincts.

Although the information she revealed was always “moderate,” once processed by the aunties, a fresh story framework emerged.

After a night of spreading and fermenting, the story had become even more vivid by now:

Captain Li’s relatives came to visit him in the military unit, but were pestered by “her,” who had somehow learned the news.

Out of politeness, Captain Li’s relatives had no choice but to bring “her” along to the base.

Yet no one knew that “her” original intention was to pursue Captain Li, which made “her” particularly hostile toward any female comrades around him, especially young, unmarried ones.

Political Commissar Liang’s niece was young and unmarried, so when she visited, she naturally received a scolding.

But since she got along well with the aunties in the Family Compound, the niece risked being scolded again to kindly remind them: some topics were better discussed privately, not spread for everyone to know.

If “she” overheard, a confrontation might follow.

With this prelude, the aunties only dared to discuss the matter in the Life Square.

Though they loved gossiping, they didn’t want to become the subject of gossip themselves.

Another reason was that the Life Square faced the guesthouse, allowing them to spot anyone coming out immediately.

Once someone appeared, the aunties would smoothly change the topic—no matter how sharp-witted you were, you’d never guess what they had been discussing.

If not for the Space to hide in, Shen Yi’an was certain they wouldn’t have gotten a single honest answer when they approached.

Not only that, they might have become the unlucky fools at the center of the gossip.

Thinking this, she curled her lips in frustration.

What kind of people were they?

Treating others’ gossip as free entertainment, spreading it however they pleased?

Fortunately, she had gathered the information she needed and had no interest in hearing more.

She manipulated the Space to return to her room in the guesthouse.

Instead of waiting for the Song family of four in her room, she went straight over and knocked on their door.

“Auntie, you’re here!”

Song Yao opened the door, his eyes crinkling into a smile when he saw Shen Yi’an.

“Auntie, come in quickly! We’re almost ready.”

“Mom is braiding my sister’s hair.”

“Okay!” Patting his short-cropped hair, Shen Yi’an smiled and entered.

Sure enough, she saw the mother and daughter braiding each other’s hair into pigtails, a scene of perfect tacit understanding.

Though they weren’t speaking, their cheerful moods were palpable.

When the younger one saw her, her eyes sparkled but she remained silent, while the older one continued her task and greeted her.

“Yi An, you’re here?”

“Have a seat! I’ll be done in a moment!”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an walked over to the mother and daughter with a smile. “Sister Rongying, I didn’t know you were so skilled.”

“Look, our adorable Xiao Shu has turned into a little flower—so pretty!”

Upon hearing the praise, Song Shu still didn’t speak, but she reached out a small hand and grasped one of Shen Yi’an’s fingers.

The slightly flushed cheeks and frequently blinking eyelashes proved the little one’s happiness and shyness.

This scene inexplicably brought Chen Rongying even more joy.

“Don’t you think the connections between people are truly marvelous?”

“Even though we’ve just met, it feels like we’ve known each other since birth.”

“It seems our bond really speaks for itself!”

Shen Yi’an smiled and patted the little girl’s head before looking up to reply, “I feel the same way.”

“Even though we’ve only known each other a short time, it feels like we were acquainted in a past life.”

It must be said, some people’s connections seem destined by fate.

No matter how many twists and turns, they will eventually appear in each other’s lives.

Listening to their conversation, Song Chaoxu, sitting by the desk, couldn’t help but interject.

“Wait, when did you two become so close?”

“Yesterday it was ‘Comrade Chen’ and ‘Comrade Shen,’ and today it’s ‘Sister Rongying’ and ‘Yi An.'”

“What, did you secretly establish diplomatic relations behind the backs of us three father and sons?”

Hearing this, Chen Rongying shot him a playful glare.

“Don’t be sour grapes just because you can’t have it.”

“Yi An and I just click, it’s like we were meant to meet earlier.”

After saying this, she shook her head with a hint of regret.

“It’s just a pity you don’t have such good fortune.”

These words instantly riled Song Chaoxu up.

“Your way of addressing each other messes up the family hierarchy!”

“Third Brother calls me Brother Xu, so logically his wife should also call me Brother Xu.”

Perhaps feeling the address was too vague, he added two more sentences.

“Of course, it’s fine to call me Brother Xu even before marriage.”

Then he continued with his previous point.

“So, if you call me Brother Xu, you can only be my sister-in-law.”

“But now you’ve already called her ‘Sister Rongying’—what, are you implying I should be your brother-in-law?”

Hearing he was jealous over the terms of address, Chen Rongying ignored him and smiled at the person opposite.

“Yi An, what do you think?”

“Does ‘brother-in-law’ roll off the tongue better, or should you follow Third Brother and call him Brother Xu?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi’an thought for a moment before answering, “Let’s each go by our own rules.”

“Since I called her Sister Rongying first, naturally I should address you as brother-in-law.”

“I don’t care how Li Beichen addresses you.”

This answer made Chen Rongying’s eyes crinkle with laughter. “That works, let’s go with what you said.”

With the adults’ forms of address settled, the children’s became much simpler.

Since the sisterly relationship was the main theme, the next generation would address each other as cousins.

The delighted Song Yao immediately called out, “Auntie, from now on you’re my real aunt!”

“Don’t worry, when the younger siblings are born, I’ll take care of them just like I take care of Xiao Shu.”

Although Song Shu still didn’t speak, she snuggled even closer to Shen Yi’an’s leg.

Seeing the two children like this, Shen Yi’an wasn’t one to stand on ceremony.

Without ready-made red envelopes, she directly took out two ten-yuan bills, stuffing one into each child’s hand.

Naturally, there was some back-and-forth of “you push, I decline,” but the red envelopes ultimately ended up in the children’s pockets.

Witnessing this scene, Song Chaoxu couldn’t resist teasing the children.

“Keep the red envelopes for now.”

“When your younger siblings are born, remember to return the favor with gifts.”

In response, Chen Rongying gave him a light slap.

Once everything was settled, the group prepared to head to the cafeteria for a meal.

On the way, Shen Yi’an mentioned his plans for after the meal.