"Fate?"
Li Shishi didn't see it that way. When she was traveling in Europe, she was harassed by some hooligans at a bar late at night. Indeed, it was Song Yun who came to her rescue, but still!
In the end, didn't she just get drunk under Song Yun's influence and follow him to book a room? The next morning when she woke up with a splitting headache and saw the completely unfamiliar surroundings and the man lying next to her, Li Shishi nearly had a breakdown. She could only put on her clothes, give Song Yun a slap, and then flee in a panic.
Song Yun sat in his chair and sighed, thinking that the world was really damn small. In more than twenty years, maybe Li Shishi was the only one brave enough to slap him in the face? And to think he had received another one today. But what could he do when he felt guilty as a thief? He had thought it was a night of passion, but in the light of day, when he saw the red stains on the sheets and an enraged Shishi escaping, Song Yun, rubbing his slightly sore face, didn't chase after her.
"Shishi, you could try dating Song Yun for a while, see how it goes," Mr. Li said, lifting his teacup to hide half his face. "You and Song Yun were meant for each other since childhood. If it weren't for Song Yun's father saving me decades ago, the Li Family would probably be long gone by now."
"Mr. Li, if it's because of my master, then you really don't have to worry about it. My master saved you and is owed a debt of gratitude, but there's no need to repay it with Shishi's future happiness," Song Yun said earnestly. "Besides, there's no affection between us. Getting married for the sake of marriage alone isn't fair to me either."
"Fair? You want fairness?" Li Shishi jumped up from her chair in anger when she heard this and pointed at Song Yun, shouting, "You bastard."
"..."
"Shishi, watch your language," Mr. Li scolded with some irritation, slapping the table. "Have all my years of teaching you been forgotten? Song Yun, you don't need to keep making excuses. This marriage has been discussed with your master, and if you think it's too soon to accept, I will give you two some time to get to know each other."
"Grandpa," Li Shishi wanted to say something more but upon seeing her grandfather's stern expression, she could only close her mouth helplessly.
"Song Yun, do you have a place to live right now? If not, you can move in to keep this old man company," Mr. Li asked kindly, turning his head.
"I do, I do. After I came back, I bought a courtyard house, and it's all set up now; I won't trouble you," Song Yun replied.
"Hmm," Mr. Li pondered for a moment before looking up and saying to Li Shishi in a tone that brooked no argument, "Shishi, I remember you still live at the company office, right? Since Song Yun has a courtyard house, you can move in with him. The two of you can see each other every day and develop your feelings."
Cohabitate? Song Yun nearly fainted when he heard this news. Under normal circumstances, he would be overjoyed at the idea of living with such a beautiful woman, but judging by Li Shishi's rage, she might as well sneak into his room with a knife in the middle of the night and end his life. This was not fun at all.
"Hmm, sure," Song Yun thought Li Shishi would instantly refuse, but to his surprise, she very straightforwardly agreed, though the way she looked at him seemed increasingly off.
"Now that we are going to live together in your courtyard house, I'm going to rely on you for advice, Song Yun," Li Shishi extended her hand to Song Yun in a very magnanimous gesture, completely different from her angry demeanor just moments ago, making Song Yun sigh at how incredible this woman was for changing her face so quickly without any lead-up.
"That's right, I've been worried all day long, so I'm going to my room to rest. You two young ones have a good chat," Mr. Li said contentedly and left, making Song Yun sit awkwardly on his chair, not knowing whether to speak or remain silent.
"Didn't you say your name was Song Chao?" Once Mr. Li left, Li Shishi reverted to the easily angered little leopardess.
"Hehe... it's just a code name," Song Yun said guiltily.
"You really are something. I thought you were a good guy, but it turns out you're not much of anything, with all your tricks," Li Shishi narrowed her eyes and said. "Don't bother making so many excuses to me, I don't want to hear them. As for what happened before, I'll pretend it never happened. Of course, don't be under any illusions because of what I've said. In the future, you go your sunny path, and I'll walk my own log bridge. Marriage is out of the question. Just don't end up dead in your room one night, and good luck to you."
Great, he really entangled himself with a deity he shouldn't have provoked. No sooner did she claim not to hold a grudge than she was threatening him. Oh heavens, why are you so unfair to me?
"Where's your courtyard house?"
After a moment of silence, Li Shishi asked.
"Ah? Are you really planning on moving in?"
"What else? Since Grandpa has already spoken, who knows when he'll do a surprise inspection? Since we're going to act, we might as well do it properly. Once we get through this period, I will naturally find a way to refuse this marriage."
With no other choice, Song Yun reluctantly gave out the address. Getting the address, Li Shishi didn't linger and stood to leave.
Song Yun sat in the room and let out a long sigh to the ceiling. What was all this about?
By the time he returned home, it was past six in the evening. Song Yun had just entered when he heard knocking. With a day's worth of surpressed anger not yet dissipated, he shouted towards the door, "No newspapers, salespeople scram."
"It's me, Xiao Qing, Senior Brother Song," a sweet voice came from outside, causing half of Song Yun's anger to dissipate immediately.
"Oh, it's Qingqing. What brings you to your senior brother?" Song Yun cheerfully opened the door and welcomed Xiao Qing in with a smile.
"Today senior brother, you told me to head back first, but my right eyelid kept twitching at home, and I wondered if something had happened. After sitting all day in the yard without any news from you, I came to check when I saw you had returned."
Seeing what a real woman was like, she worried about a man she had known for just a few hours. Such a kind and foolish child.
"You still don't know your senior brother's skills? They were just some petty thieves, and I took them down in no time," Song Yun looked at his neighborly little sister and felt the urge to tease her. "What's wrong, worried about your senior brother? Don't worry, with you constantly worrying about me at home, how could I let those bad guys take advantage?"
"It's not as exaggerated as you say..." Xiao Qing said in a low murmuring voice as she blushed.