TIPS – Chapter 29

“Aunt Yang, are you trying to force me to death?” Xue Lan cried hysterically.

Why?

Why was even Aunt Yang, who had always liked her the most, rejecting her now?

The man who was supposed to be her husband had become someone else’s, and fate was so cruel to her!

“I don’t care! No matter what, I will marry Brother Junxi! Even if I have to be his concubine or a secondary wife, I’m willing! If you don’t agree, I’ll hang myself at your doorstep!”

Just as these passionate words rang out, a cold, emotionless figure stood at the doorway.

It was Song Jingwei.

His expression was as calm as still water, but his presence was overpowering.

Behind him stood Shen Junxi, looking utterly flustered and helpless.

Inside the room, both Yang Shi and Xue Lan saw them standing at the door.

Their reactions were completely different. Yang Shi panicked—Xue Lan’s identity was too special. She wasn’t just any village girl—she was the one who had once been engaged to Shen Junxi. And now she had barged in at midnight, saying all this in front of Song Jingwei. How would Song Jingwei react?

Meanwhile, Xue Lan looked at the tall, elegant man standing at the door.

So this was Shen Junxi’s rich wife?

Not only was he better looking than her, but his family was wealthier, and on top of that—Shen Junxi cared deeply for him.

That alone was enough to break her heart.

“Daughter-in-law… why are you awake?” Yang Shi asked nervously, forcing an awkward smile.

Her flustered reaction was identical to Shen Junxi’s.

“Nothing much. I just heard someone crying so loudly and got curious.”

Song Jingwei was a light sleeper—even the slightest noise could wake him up.

With Xue Lan sobbing so hysterically, how could he possibly sleep through it?

As soon as he got up, Shen Junxi had immediately followed him, looking anxious.

“T-this… actually, she’s a girl from the Xue family in the village. She…” Yang Shi stammered, unsure how to explain.

Song Jingwei’s cold expression made her nervous.

But before she could finish, Xue Lan suddenly lifted her head and declared firmly:

“I was engaged to Brother Junxi—before you married him.”

Her tone was unshakable.

It didn’t matter if she wasn’t as pretty or as wealthy as Song Jingwei.

She had one undeniable advantage—she was a woman.

No matter what, a woman was more suitable to be a wife than a man.

And besides—Shen Junxi had once been engaged to her. That must mean he preferred women!

“You were engaged,” Song Jingwei replied smoothly. “But what about now?”

He deliberately avoided Xue Lan’s sharp gaze, stepping into the room and casually finding a seat.

Shen Junxi hesitated for a moment, but still followed him closely.

“It wasn’t my choice!” Xue Lan argued. “It was my parents who wouldn’t allow it! That’s the only reason I didn’t marry Brother Junxi!”

She turned to look at Song Jingwei, eyes burning with conviction.

“You come from a rich family—you’ve surely seen plenty of men with three wives and four concubines. I’m not asking to be his first wife. I’m willing to be a concubine!”

As she spoke, she stared intensely at Shen Junxi, waiting for his reaction.

But Shen Junxi avoided her gaze entirely, shrinking behind Song Jingwei as if she were some fearsome beast.

Seeing this, Song Jingwei calmly asked:

“You keep saying you’re willing to marry him. But have you ever considered—does he want to marry you?”

Xue Lan was stunned.

Song Jingwei continued, his voice steady and emotionless:

“If you throw yourself at someone and demand to be their concubine—but they don’t want you—are you really going to shamelessly cling to them?”

“That’s nonsense!” Xue Lan snapped. “Brother Junxi wouldn’t reject me! He’s only hesitating because of you! If you allow it, he will definitely agree!”

She was so sure.

After all, what man didn’t like having multiple wives?

Song Jingwei raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Then why don’t you ask him directly?”

Xue Lan turned to Shen Junxi expectantly.

But before she could even ask—

Shen Junxi frantically shook his head, as if she were some terrifying monster.

“You… how could you treat me like this?”

Tears streamed down her face again.

She was heartbroken.

Shen Junxi immediately started gesturing, expressing his true feelings.

Yang Shi quickly translated for Song Jingwei:

“Daughter-in-law, Junxi says he will never marry Xue Lan. Don’t worry—his heart only belongs to you.”

Shen Junxi nodded vigorously, then quietly grabbed Song Jingwei’s sleeve, seeking comfort and security.

“Waaahhh!”

Xue Lan collapsed onto their dining table, sobbing uncontrollably.

The three people in the room felt utterly exhausted.

“What do we do now?” Yang Shi rubbed her forehead, feeling a massive headache coming on.

“Do you know where her family lives?” Song Jingwei asked without hesitation. “Go get them to take her home.”

His tone was firm and decisive.

Yang Shi hesitated. “But if her parents find out, they’ll definitely cause a scene.”

Chen Shi from the Xue family was not an easy woman to deal with.

Song Jingwei smirked slightly.

“One person making a scene, or an entire family making a scene—it makes no difference. We’re not afraid.”

His confidence was unshakable.

Something about his words gave Yang Shi strength.

“Alright. We’ll do as you say.”

But at that moment, Xue Lan suddenly screamed:

“No! You can’t go to my parents! They’ll kill me!”

“Didn’t you say you were going to hang yourself at my doorstep?” Song Jingwei cast a lazy glance at Xue Lan. “Hanging yourself or getting beaten to death—it’s not that different. What’s there to be afraid of?”

His voice was calm, but there was a faint trace of irritation—as if he was using this late-night drama to vent his own insomnia-induced frustration.

“You…!” Xue Lan shuddered. He was terrifying.

“If she keeps making trouble, just tie her up.” Song Jingwei told Yang Shi casually. Then, turning to Shen Junxi, he said, “It’s late. You and I will make a trip.”

Shen Junxi immediately shook his head, pointing toward the room, gesturing for Song Jingwei to go back to sleep.

After spending these past days together, he knew Song Jingwei’s temper well—if he didn’t get enough sleep, he’d get irritable and restless. How could he let him waste sleep time on this nonsense?

“Do you think I can sleep peacefully in this situation?” Song Jingwei rubbed his temples, exasperated.

Shen Junxi’s eyes filled with distress. He felt guilty, torn between helplessness and worry. Would Song Jingwei be angry about this? Would he resent him even more?

“Let’s go.”

The Xue family lived on the other side of the village. It wasn’t too far, but not exactly close either.

The two men walked slowly in the darkness, holding torches to light their way.

Shen Junxi kept watching the road anxiously, afraid that Song Jingwei might trip over something. Eventually, he just grabbed onto Song Jingwei’s sleeve to make sure he was safe.

“Why do you like grabbing other people’s sleeves so much?” Song Jingwei frowned, yanking his sleeve back.

“That’s such a girly habit.”

He hadn’t noticed before, but now that he had, he couldn’t ignore it.

Shen Junxi looked aggrieved. It wasn’t that he wanted to grab a sleeve.

He actually preferred holding hands.

But… could he?

When they arrived, the Xue parents had no idea that their daughter had run off in the middle of the night.

Seeing Song Jingwei and Shen Junxi at their doorstep, they were shocked.

Upon hearing that their daughter was at the Shen family’s house, their faces turned dark with anger and shame.

Xue Lan was a proper, unmarried girl—yet she had run off to another man’s house in the middle of the night, looking for someone else’s husband.

If word got out, their family’s reputation would be ruined!

“We need to go get her immediately.” Xue Xin, Xue Lan’s father, wiped his face, his expression grim.

Without hesitation, he and his wife, Chen Shi, rushed out with the two men.

This time, the return journey was much faster—Xue Lan’s parents were in a hurry.

But Song Jingwei was not used to country roads. Several times, he nearly stumbled into the fields.

Shen Junxi had had enough. Without hesitation, he grabbed Song Jingwei’s hand and refused to let go.

Even when Song Jingwei glared at him, even when he shook his hand, Shen Junxi held on tightly.

Even if Song Jingwei insulted him or tried to shake him off, it didn’t matter.

“Hey—”

Silence.

Shen Junxi acted like he hadn’t heard anything.

“Let go.” Song Jingwei struggled, uncomfortable.

“I can walk by myself. You don’t need to hold my hand.”

Two grown men holding hands—even if no one saw, it still felt inappropriate.

“Mm.” Shen Junxi nodded in acknowledgment…

…but his grip didn’t loosen at all.

“Then let go.” Song Jingwei’s voice dropped, carrying a warning.

Shen Junxi pretended to be deaf, saying nothing.

All the way until they reached the Shen family home, he held on.

Only when they finally arrived at the doorstep did he reluctantly release his grip—but his other palm was already damp with nervous sweat.

The family dog, Hei Zi, barked once.

Inside, Yang Shi immediately knew that the Xue family had arrived.

She turned to Xue Lan and whispered:

“It’s probably your parents. When you see them, don’t be stubborn. Just tell them you were feeling upset and came to talk to Aunt Yang, alright?”

“Don’t say any of that nonsense again.”

But Xue Lan sat completely still, as stiff as wood.

She was utterly crushed.

“Where is my daughter?!”

Chen Shi stormed inside, yelling as if her daughter had been kidnapped, instead of sneaking out on her own.

“She’s sitting right there.” Yang Shi met her at the doorway, pointing inside. “Take her home.”

Chen Shi glared at Yang Shi, then rushed forward and hugged Xue Lan tightly.

“My daughter! Why did you run off like this?! You nearly scared me to death!”

“Hurry up and come home!” Xue Xin, her father, stood at the door, his expression dark with shame.

This was a complete disgrace.

“Father, Mother… I don’t want to go home.”

Xue Lan buried her face in Chen Shi’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting? If you’re not going home, where do you plan to go?!” Xue Xin’s anger flared.

His daughter had never been this disobedient before.

He knew it.

It was all because of Shen Junxi!

Through her tears, Xue Lan lifted her head and looked toward the doorway—toward Shen Junxi and Song Jingwei standing together.

Her voice trembled with emotion:

“I want to marry Brother Junxi.”

The room fell silent for a moment.

Then, both parents turned to Shen Junxi and Song Jingwei, their expressions turning dark and furious.

“Do you even know what you’re saying?!” Chen Shi snapped.

“Shen Junxi is already married! Open your eyes and look—he has a husband!”

“I don’t care!”

“I’ll be his concubine if I have to! I only like him! I’ll only ever love him! Even if you don’t agree, it’s too late! My reputation is already ruined! No one can stop me!”

She was desperate now—pushing forward with everything she had.

“Oh, so that was your plan?”

Chen Shi’s face turned red with rage.

So her daughter had deliberately run off in the middle of the night, trying to ruin her own reputation—all just to force them into accepting this marriage?

Xue Xin exploded in fury.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward and slapped Xue Lan across the face.

“Wake up! Have you lost your mind?!”

His heart ached—but he refused to let his daughter sink any lower.