The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 91

Qin Shuang was a loyal friend. After Song Mingyue explained the situation, she understood immediately. “I knew you weren’t just here to see my mother. Come on, I’ll take you.”

As they left the Qin residence, Song Mingyue lingered at the doorway for a long time. She didn’t know when she would be back; she planned to arrange a direct shipping agreement with the wholesaler today so she wouldn’t have to travel back and forth. The opportunities to meet would be rare after this.

Qin Shuang found her lingering odd. “Why the long face? Anyone watching would think you’re actually heartbroken to leave my parents.”

Song Mingyue didn’t answer. It wasn’t an act; she truly felt a sense of emptiness. Beside her, Chen Che reached out and took her hand. They exchanged a silent, knowing look—he understood her. A wave of warmth washed over her.

At the street corner, as Qin Shuang walked ahead, Song Mingyue caught up and asked, “Those men from last time… they haven’t come back, have they?”

Qin Shuang waved her off carelessly. “I’ve already handled them. They won’t be back.”

Her casual tone made Song Mingyue uneasy. “You didn’t get involved with some older man, did you?”

Qin Shuang looked puzzled. “What old man?” Her reaction seemed genuine, but Song Mingyue remained worried. “The older men out there are all con artists. Don’t let yourself be fooled just because they have a little money.”

Qin Shuang looked offended. “What do you take me for? Do you really think I’d get involved with an old man for money?”

Song Mingyue explained patiently, “It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just that some of these men are incredibly cunning. It’s hard to stay on guard.”

In truth, Song Mingyue had an ulterior motive—part of why she insisted on coming here. She feared that if she left Qin Shuang here to descend into a life of misfortune, she wouldn’t be able to live with it. In her past life, she had loathed Qin Shuang, but now, faced with the reality of the girl’s potential tragedy, she couldn’t stand by. This was just Song Mingyue’s nature—cold on the outside, but soft on the inside.

They walked straight to the night market. Unlike the bustling evening scene, the afternoon market was quiet. Er-mei was busy organizing clothes in her stall. When she saw Qin Shuang arrive with Song Mingyue—and a dashing man trailing behind—her eyes went wide.

Qin Shuang knew Er-mei had a weakness for handsome men, but she gestured to Chen Che and said, “Don’t bother looking. This is Song Mingyue’s husband.”

He’s already taken? Er-mei felt a flicker of disappointment but smiled at Qin Shuang. “Back again in broad daylight? What’s the occasion?”

“Look, the stock she bought last time sold out. She’s here for more.”

Er-mei had guessed as much, but she was blunt. “That stock was from months ago, and you’re just selling it now? Is there even a business to be made here?”

Song Mingyue smiled. “We were busy getting the shop ready. We only started selling those pieces last week.”

It was Er-mei’s turn to be surprised. “You sold everything in just a few days?”

“Almost everything in a single day, so we’re looking for new styles.”

“How much are you planning to stock this time?”

Song Mingyue was straightforward. “I’m here to discuss a long-term partnership. I want you to notify me whenever you have new stock.”

A big client. Er-mei’s attitude changed instantly. Seeing that it was still a while before the evening market, she left her work behind. “Come on, I’ll take you to the wholesaler.”

The “wholesaler” was actually Er-mei’s older brother. He had only helped them last time as a favor to Qin Shuang, never taking the business seriously. This time, it was different. His usual clients were local to Shanghai, with an occasional buyer from the nearby suburbs; he had never dealt with someone from so far away. He was hesitant—what if they defaulted on payment?

Qin Shuang stepped in immediately. “Brother Ye, Song Mingyue is a relative. I’ll personally guarantee her character; she won’t default.”

Song Mingyue nodded. “My shop is in Moshi. You are welcome to visit anytime to check.”

Qin Shuang added, “Exactly! She has a physical shop, and look—this is her husband. He’s a soldier serving in the military.”

The mention of the military changed everything. The man looked Chen Che over; his upright posture and dignified aura were unmistakable. “A soldier? I’m happy to do business with the wife of a soldier.”

The wholesaler grew much more enthusiastic. Song Mingyue picked out several items, ensuring he understood her shop’s aesthetic. “Don’t worry, we’ll work with patterns. When new stock comes in, send me the designs, and we can discuss it over the phone.” In prosperous Shanghai, many wealthy families already had telephones, making communication easy.

Thanks to Chen Che’s military credentials, the negotiations went exceptionally well. After everything was settled, Er-mei went back to run her stall. Song Mingyue wanted to treat the wholesaler to a meal, but he was busy. In the end, only Qin Shuang joined them.

Over dinner, Song Mingyue talked about their successful start and shared her blueprint for the future. “I hope to one day open a branch here in Shanghai.”

Shanghai was thousands of miles away from Moshi. To open a branch here… the business would have to be massive. Qin Shuang didn’t quite believe it, merely chuckling, “Your ambitions are truly grand.”

“So, Qin Shuang, why don’t you join me?”

Qin Shuang, busy eating fish, didn’t seem to hear her. “What did you say?”

“I asked if we should be partners. Let’s open stores all over the country.”

Qin Shuang looked at her oddly. “Mingyue, if your husband didn’t have that military ID, I’d truly suspect you were a con artist setting a trap from the beginning.”

Song Mingyue laughed. “What would I be trying to scam? I’ve spent a lot of money on these clothes. It wouldn’t be worth it to scam you. I’m sincerely inviting you to join our team.”

“Why me?”

“Because I think you have a great personality—vibrant and outgoing. You’re perfect for this.”

Qin Shuang was genuinely surprised; Song Mingyue was the only person who had ever described her that way. But she had no interest in this industry; her passions were limited to eating, drinking, and having fun.

Song Mingyue tried a different angle. “Have you ever thought about the future? What about your parents?”

“My parents have their pensions. They don’t need me to support them.”

Qin Shuang urged her to stop lecturing. She had grown up in Shanghai and had no intention of moving to a distant city like Moshi. “If you really consider me a friend, just come visit me regularly.”

Seeing her resolve, Song Mingyue stopped pushing and instead decided to tell her a story. “I knew a friend once. She was beautiful and deeply loved by her parents. But she married a wealthy older man who turned out to be a fraud. He had several mistresses and never intended to make her his legitimate wife. In the end, the girl’s father died of anger, and her mother lived a life of misery.”

Qin Shuang paused. “Why are you telling me this?”

“No reason. Just feeling sentimental—it’s hard to turn back once you’ve taken a wrong step in life.”

“You’re a young woman yourself, yet you’re nagging me like my mother. I warn you, I just started to like you—don’t make me start hating you.”

Song Mingyue shook her head. “I don’t want anything from you. I just hope you find happiness in your future.”

Qin Shuang still felt that Song Mingyue was acting strangely, though she couldn’t put her finger on it. She had her own boyfriend—a handsome, age-appropriate man—and she wasn’t about to listen to Song Mingyue’s advice. She felt that the life Song Mingyue was describing had absolutely nothing to do with her.

After the meal, Qin Shuang left to find her boyfriend. Song Mingyue watched her go, her eyes filled with worry. Chen Che, standing beside her, asked softly, “Yueyue, do you know something that will happen to her later?”

“Ah? No, how would I know?”

That was true, but to Chen Che, her tone sounded exactly like a warning. Chen Che carried the bags of clothes himself. Once they reached the hotel, he immediately asked if she was feeling any discomfort.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired. I want to rest.”

Throughout the trip back, Chen Che noticed she was downcast and assumed she was simply exhausted. He pulled back the covers and told her to sleep. “If you’re sleepy, sleep for a while. I’ll wake you at 10:00 to wash up.”

Song Mingyue lay in bed, unable to sleep. Everything felt predestined. If this is all written in stone, can Chen Che’s future be avoided? She looked up at him—busy, kind, and devoted—and her heart was heavy with anxiety.