Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 299 - 294: I’ll Try to Come Back and Keep You Company Tonight
Over here, the private room.
After Wei Yun sat down, he gestured for Lin Qiao to sit as well. Taking advantage of the time before the guests arrived, he said, "The person coming later is the Deputy Steward from the Embroidery Workshop Bureau; they have some influence there."
He paused for a moment, "A lecherous and greedy person, but you don’t need to be afraid. While I’m here, he won’t act out."
Lin Qiao understood this more than anyone. Business dinners were either about lust or money. "Alright."
She thought to herself if that man dared to make a move, she’d chop off his lifeline.
Ahem, she’s tolerated one villain enough.
This Deputy Steward was quite full of himself. They waited for a little over a quarter of an hour, and he still hadn’t arrived. Lin Qiao glanced at Wei Yun, her face showing dissatisfaction but she still exercised patience.
She didn’t know much about Wei Yun, only knew he was of the legitimate line of the Wei Family, but didn’t seem well-regarded. She had seen people from the Wei Family treating him without respect.
But when it came to business acumen, Wei Yun was undoubtedly impressive.
After waiting a bit longer, the Deputy Steward still hadn’t arrived.
Lin Qiao frowned, "This person seems unreliable."
Carrying such airs before even starting the negotiation, once they start, he’s likely to make excessive demands.
Wei Yun let out a deep "Hmm." then stood up, "No more waiting, let’s go."
As they headed downstairs, they suddenly stopped as a young, tall, and sturdy man was talking to a middle-aged man, who looked somewhat obsequious.
The young, tall man noticed them, stepped forward, and said, "Qiao’er, why are you here?"
He seemed unaware she was there.
Lin Qiao didn’t suspect anything, "Just have some matters to attend to."
"Vice General Song, this is?" the middle-aged man suddenly interjected.
Song Tingfan reached out and held Lin Qiao’s hand, warmly saying, "My wife."
The middle-aged man quickly flattered, "Mrs. Song."
Widow Song had been heard often, and Mrs. Song still sounded awkward, Lin Qiao: "..."
She responded politely.
At this time, Wei Yun coldly stared at the middle-aged man, saying, "Deputy Steward, quite the airs you have."
Jiang Tao, the middle-aged man, had just seen Lin Qiao and Wei Yun coming out together, thinking Wei Yun had some connection with Vice General Song, quickly apologized, "Mr. Wei, I’m truly sorry, the carriage broke down on the way, and I walked all the way here."
"I’m really sorry. Let me host you for a meal and punish myself with three cups of wine."
He stepped down, and Wei Yun naturally didn’t insist on making things difficult, "It’s fine." He said, glancing over at Song Tingfan.
Unexpectedly, after three years, he had become a Vice General.
An Yuan valued martial prowess, and military officers held more weight than civil servants.
The group returned to the private room. Lin Qiao wanted to withdraw her hand, but Song Tingfan showed no intention of letting go. She leaned in and whispered, "Tingfan, let go, we need to discuss business."
Seeing him staring at her, seemingly unwilling to let go, she added softly, coaxing, "Ahem, hold hands again when we get back."
"Alright." Song Tingfan released her hand and then poured her a cup of tea.
Trying to get close, Jiang Tao said, "Vice General Song, you and your wife seem to have a wonderful relationship."
"Hmm." Song Tingfan nodded.
Lin Qiao took a sip of tea, glanced at Jiang Tao’s flattering expression, and then at Song Tingfan’s calm demeanor.
This villain was more accomplished than she imagined.
She felt an inexplicable satisfaction, thinking she had raised him well.
She subconsciously ignored the part about raising him askew.
During the meal, Lin Qiao proactively brought up the issue of the blueprint. Jiang Tao glanced at Song Tingfan and agreed immediately.
Wei Yun knew that today’s success was largely due to Song Tingfan, and after Jiang Tao left, he said, "Thank you for this matter."
"No need to thank me. My wife’s business is my business." Song Tingfan spoke with an indifferent tone.
Left and right, he emphasized "my wife," as if he feared others didn’t know they were married. Lin Qiao’s mouth twitched, "..."
Wei Yun detected his hostility, gave Lin Qiao a look, and left in his carriage without saying anything.
From afar, Gao Qiang and Zhou Fu’an peeked over the wooden railing on the pavilion. Zhou Fu’an said with glee, "Look at the Vice General’s face, doesn’t it look like a pot of ash?"
"But if it were my wife looking that pretty, my face would be darker than a pot bottom, humph. Not hitting that guy would already be polite."
"Come off it, stop dreaming."
Gao Qiang gave him a disdainful look and then said, "Vice General Song is leaving his wife unattended, why sleep on the streets with us? Maybe he’s not up to it?"
"Heh heh, you’re dead. I’m going to report this to Vice General Song." Zhou Fu’an grinned mischievously.
"You dare tell, I’ll report you. Don’t forget you called Vice General Song an old monk last year, saying he couldn’t get a wife!" Gao Qiang glared at him in annoyance.
...
Lin Qiao still needed to buy some pastries. "You go ahead, I’ll just buy something and head back."
"It’s alright, let’s go together." Song Tingfan shook his head.
Hearing this, Lin Qiao didn’t say more. After walking a few steps, she thought of something and curiously asked, "How do you know the Deputy Steward?"
"The Autumn Chrysanthemum Appreciation is under our jurisdiction, we occasionally have contact."
"So does that mean you know people from the Embroidery Workshop?"
"Hmm."
"Had I known, I would have asked you. Wouldn’t have waited so long in vain."
Song Tingfan stopped in his tracks, his deep eyes reflecting her face, "You never tell me anything."
He would have to ask for her to say anything, and if he didn’t ask, she wouldn’t speak. It seemed she never considered relying on him.
Lin Qiao was momentarily stunned; she was just used to being independent, "Ahem, you’ve been too busy lately."
Song Tingfan didn’t expose her, "Alright, I’ll try to be back to accompany you in the evening."
Hearing this unexpectedly, Lin Qiao choked on her sip, coughing, "Cough cough cough..."
She didn’t mean for him to come back to accompany her.
Finally, her heart felt a bit at peace these past few days.
She quickly waved her hand, "No need, if you have things to handle, go ahead, I have Granny and the others at home with me, you can stay at the barracks and avoid the back-and-forth."
Seeing her flustered, charming demeanor, Song Tingfan’s fatigue from the past few days vanished, "These days, I’ve been sleeping on the streets."
"Sleeping on the streets?"
"Hmm, things were urgent."
Lin Qiao finally noticed the blue hue around his eyes, "Tonight, rest well. Are you heading to the barracks tomorrow?"
"No, taking a day off. I’ll take you all out tomorrow." Song Tingfan spoke with a hint of indiscernible guilt.
Initially thinking he could take care of them, but he had been so busy these days that he seldom stayed home.
They walked for quite some time before they reached the Baisheng Cake Shop. Lin Qiao finally realized what the soft cakes mentioned by the lady were.
Homemade cakes.
Presumably bought whole and cut into pieces.
Given the distance, they were likely chilled with ice.
She carefully inspected the cakes and found them not too fresh, so she didn’t take any, buying other pastries instead.
Just as she was about to pay, Song Tingfan paid for her. She quickly stopped him, "These are for the elder sister in the alley, she gave the money for it."
"You keep it for yourself."
Song Tingfan held her hand in return and handed the broken silver to the waiter with his other hand, "Weigh another pound of these."
"Alright, one hundred and thirty-five cents in total." The waiter quickly counted out the change and packed the items for him, saying with a smile, "Take care."
Leaving the shop, Lin Qiao looked at Song Tingfan, "Where do we catch the carriage?"
Song Tingfan discreetly glanced at her chest before retracting his gaze, "Let’s buy a few more things."
