Reborn in the 80s: Divorced and Spoiled by the Military Man - Chapter 165

Chapter 165: A Man and a Woman Fighting for Her Son’s Affection

“Just call me Captain Shen. No need to be so formal.” Shen Subai gave her a polite nod, his tone cool and distant. “Haozi and I just got back from catching the train. We’re going to rest in our rooms for a bit. Make yourself at home.”

After saying that, he took the luggage from Tian Hao’s hand, then strode toward the bedroom.

Tian Hao followed him on instinct. It wasn’t until they reached the room that he realized something was off. “Brother Shen, if you’re going to rest, why did you take my luggage?”

Shen Subai shoved the luggage back to him. “Force of habit. I forgot.”

Tian Hao didn’t fuss over it. He glanced sneakily outside and lowered his voice. “Auntie Lian is trying to set you up with Tang Lin, isn’t she? You’re not even going to say a few more words to her?”

“There’s no chance between me and her. Keeping my distance is better for everyone.”

Shen Subai shut the door with a firm motion. When he turned back around, a trace of melancholy had appeared on his hard, stern face. “Haozi, being forced into something doesn’t feel good. You should understand that better than I do. You’re the only person I can say this to. After all, you’re my best brother.”

Tian Hao was moved by that last sentence. His family often urged him to get married too, but he was the type to muddle through anything, and since he’d dated before, his parents didn’t push him quite so hard.

But when it came to being pressured into marriage, he absolutely knew how it felt. More importantly, his upright, indomitable Brother Shen had actually shown a melancholy expression because of this forced matchmaking!

If he, as a brother, didn’t step in now, then when would he?

A surge of heroic spirit rose in Tian Hao’s chest. He patted Shen Subai on the shoulder. “Brother Shen, leave this to me. With your brother here today, Auntie Lian won’t be able to force you one bit!”

Shen Subai lowered his eyes and curled his lips. “No need for thanks between brothers. Didn’t you say last time you wanted a dual-cassette recorder? I asked someone to buy one.”

Tian Hao sniffed. “Brother Shen…”

Shen Subai shook his head lightly. “Go on back first. We were on the train all night, so get some rest. I just hope my mom can come around.”

Outside, ever since the two of them had entered the bedroom together, Su Qinglian had been sitting on pins and needles. With her mind full of worries, she no longer had the mood to chat much with Tang Lin. She only forced a smile. “Linlin, why don’t you head back first? It’ll be time for lunch soon.”

Tang Lin bit her lip. She had originally planned to stay for lunch. It had been so long since she’d seen Shen Subai, but he had treated her so coldly.

Tian Hao came out with red-rimmed eyes from being so moved. Seeing that Tang Lin was still there, he immediately started driving her away. “Miss Tang, don’t you have work? Why are you still at Auntie Lian’s at noon? Brother Shen was exhausted last night and is resting now. It’s not convenient for you to be here.”

For Brother Shen’s sake, he would play the villain!

Only, when those words reached the ears of the two people present, they took them in two completely different ways…

Su Qinglian felt her vision go black, and her mind went blank too. At this point, she couldn’t force out even a hint of a smile. “Both of you should just leave. I have a headache. I’m going to lie down for a while.”

Tang Lin quickly stood up. “Auntie Lian, are you all right? Do you want me to take you to see a doctor?”

Trying to curry favor?

Tian Hao immediately moved over and squeezed her aside. “You’re not needed here. I’ll keep Auntie Lian company.”

Su Qinglian took a deep breath. “I don’t need anyone to keep me company. Can both of you leave?”

Tang Lin glared fiercely at Tian Hao, then reluctantly picked up her bag and smiled at Su Qinglian. “Then I’ll go back first. I’ll come by tonight to chat with you.”

Tian Hao refused to back down. “I’ll come tonight too!”

Expressionless, Su Qinglian gritted out, “No one is coming tonight. My family goes to bed early!”

Go. All of you, go!

Compared to having a man and a woman fighting over her son’s affection, she would rather Shen Subai stay a bachelor!

The two of them left one after the other. In the Compound, Tian Hao shot Tang Lin a sidelong look. “Brother Shen already has someone he likes, so don’t even think about it.”

Tang Lin’s expression stiffened, and she denied it on instinct. “Impossible!”

She had liked him for so long. She had been waiting for him all this time. How could he possibly have someone he liked?

Tian Hao curled his lip. “Believe it or don’t.”

From now on, he would block Brother Shen’s romantic prospects for him. Even Hero Qiao from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils said that good brothers had to be loyal!

…

When he got home, Tian Hao’s father did not pressure him to find a girlfriend. Instead, he asked carefully about his work. When he learned that Tian Hao had been getting close to Shen Subai lately, he felt deeply reassured. “Subai has been smarter than other children his age since he was little. Learn as much as you can from him.”

Tian Hao was proud by association. “Dad, Brother Shen and I are brothers who practically wear the same pair of pants now. Don’t worry!”

Tian Hao’s father thought that sounded a little strange, but when he considered Shen Subai’s character, he relaxed. “That’s good, then.”

Shen Subai was extremely efficient. In just one day, he had more or less taken care of everything. Since he had been away for so long, he naturally had to have a meal with his family and visit the old man. By the time he returned from the hospital, it was already very late, but there was still someone standing at the entrance to the Compound. From the look of it, she was waiting for him.

Tang Lin’s eyes lit up, and she hurried over to greet him. “Brother Subai…”

“Captain Shen,” Shen Subai interrupted her. His expression did not change much, and his tone remained fairly gentle. “Comrade Tang, is something the matter?”

A blush rose on Tang Lin’s face. Summoning her courage, she looked at him. “The first thing I did after coming back was look for you, Subai… Captain Shen. I thought you understood how I felt.”

Shen Subai nodded calmly. “I do.”

He was not stupid. Of course he could tell when it came to things like this.

Tang Lin’s eyes brightened. “Then…”

“Find someone else. I don’t feel that way about you.” In just a few words, he rejected her cleanly and decisively, without even trying to soften the blow. Tang Lin’s face instantly turned pale.

She had liked him for so long. How could she possibly accept this? “Why? What exactly about me isn’t good enough?”

Inside the Compound, Su Qinglian watched from afar through the window, her heart in her throat. Could Tang Lin really fail to bring her son around too? Hurry up and cry. What man could be immune to a pretty girl’s tears?

Sure enough, Tang Lin’s eyes reddened. Just as she was about to choke back a sob, someone suddenly shot out from the side.

Tian Hao swaggered between the two of them, slung an arm over Shen Subai’s shoulder, and gave Tang Lin a sidelong glance. “Tsk. Miss Swan still hasn’t given up? As long as I’m here, don’t even think about it!”

Tang Lin was a proud person. After being mocked like that, her face shifted from red to white. All she could do was glare fiercely at Tian Hao before turning and running away.

Her tears came a little late. She only started crying after she got home…

Behind the window, Su Qinglian closed her eyes, her heart filled with desolation. Why was Tian Hao lingering around like a ghost that refused to leave?

Commander Shen noticed that his wife’s expression was off, so he also looked out the window. When he saw Tian Hao with his arm around Shen Subai’s shoulders, he chuckled. “Haozi and Subai seem to have a pretty good relationship…”

“Good, my ass!” Su Qinglian was furious. She did not want to look another second and stormed back inside in a huff. “Sooner or later, you Shens are going to be the death of me!”

Commander Shen suffered this undeserved disaster without having any idea what he had said wrong. Wasn’t it a good thing for their son to have a close brother? She was angry about this too?

But he did not dare say that out loud. After all, when Captain Su was young, she had been the team’s famous iron lady, the type who would fight anyone who refused to accept it…

Outside the Compound, Tian Hao, who had successfully driven Tang Lin away, patted his chest. “Brother Shen, how was that?”

The corner of Shen Subai’s mouth curved slightly. “You really are a good brother.”

Tian Hao chuckled. “Oh, right. When are we going back? Let’s not take the train again. It was exhausting!”

Shen Subai lifted a brow. “The day after tomorrow, maybe. Plane tickets are too expensive. It never hurts to save where we can.”

“Oh…”

Tian Hao leaned against the wall and chatted idly for a bit. “I’ve gotten used to Haicheng. Now that I’m back, I don’t even have an appetite. The food at Xie Yunshu’s little canteen has real flavor. Oh, right, I called the Project Department today and heard some gossip. Since when did Yunshu and Ji Siyuan get so close? They even went to an art exhibition together. You don’t think there’s something going on between them, do you…”