"Yes, I came from the countryside. When we were introduced back then, I didn’t think much of you; you were older, divorced, and still from the countryside. I thought my aunt wanted to use me to repay a favor. But when I had that incident with Lin Tao at the grain bureau during my temporary job, and he wouldn’t take responsibility, I realized your worth. I wanted to be with you, but unfortunately, you didn’t want me in the end," Bai Hehua said mockingly. "You’ve been divorced, I’ve had a child, and we didn’t end up together, so it’s all square, right? You’re the only one who knows about this, and I don’t expect you to save face for me. But you should at least consider my uncle’s face and not spread my affairs around, right?"
Shen Bin replied coldly, "Being poor isn’t awful, what’s awful is being poor and looking down on yourself, degrading yourself. I don’t care to talk about your matters, but this is the last time you drag me into your mess. If it happens again, I won’t even consider your uncle’s face."
"Aren’t you afraid Ye Ling won’t like you for being so cold and heartless?" Bai Hehua, realizing there was truly no future with Shen Bin, decided to speak her mind. She sneered, "But then again, Ye Ling has always been indifferent to her family, like strangers. With you and her being so alike, how could she not like you? You two are really a match made in heaven."
"Get out." Although Shen Bin was cold by nature, he never spoke in such a tone.
He inherently disdained girls like Bai Hehua, who didn’t know how to value themselves. No reason could excuse having a relationship with a man before marriage, especially not during their own matchmaking. Although he had wanted to come clean to both parties, Bai Hehua’s reasoning softened his heart; he didn’t expect her to be such a dark-hearted person. Official source is novel⸺fire.net
Hearing her mention Ye Ling made Shen Bin even more displeased. If it had been a man here saying this, Shen Bin would have kicked him long ago, not let him walk away so easily.
Bai Hehua proudly lifted her chin, turned, and strode out of the tent. Once outside, her tears fell. She found a secluded spot to cry alone, then secretly wiped her tears with snow and returned. Ye Ling, sleeping at the tent entrance, looked up as someone came in and met Bai Hehua’s eyes. Before she could look away, Bai Hehua shot her a fierce glare and walked off.
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow, clearly implicated by association with Shen Bin. She wondered what could have prompted Bai Hehua to reveal her true nature so blatantly, but Ye Ling was indifferent, as it had nothing to do with her.
In the following days of training, though she spoke privately with Shen Bin, he never mentioned it, so Ye Ling naturally didn’t ask. The training itself was monotonous, and time flew by. Apart from training, Ye Ling read books. On rest days, she’d hunt wild chickens with Shen Bin, making life fulfilling. Soon, only three days remained until their release from training.
Ye Ling traveled with the group to the city, and Shen Bin helped her carry her things home. Bai Xue felt a tinge of disappointment when she saw her youngest daughter hadn’t returned, but she noticed the closeness between Ye Ling and Shen Bin, which frustrated her even more. Although Bai Xue maintained a surface cordiality with Shen Bin due to his parents’ status.
As for Ye Ling, recalling her husband’s words from last time, Bai Xue masked any dislike with Shen Bin present. Since Ye He Ping didn’t return, Bai Xue didn’t cook. Shen Bin helped Ye Ling to bring her things home and then suggested they eat out.
Ye Ling didn’t want to stay home and left with Shen Bin. On the way, they bumped into Zhang Linong and the other two, who had just returned from the street. They were surprised that Ye Ling was back. Zhao Guodong was pleased and approached to chat.
Shen Bin was generous, inviting the three to eat, and took them to a hotpot place that opened last year. With it being winter and close to New Year’s, the place was empty except for their group. Shen Bin asked the four of them to order and went to the land bureau to call Ye He Ping.