The Princess’ Shadow Guard – Chapter 82

Senior Sister Chapter 12

He has arrived, he chased after his subject matter all the way from the capital (unexpected guest).

A few days after Cao Yun left, the two people left to watch the teahouse alone did not see Ming Qin and Murong Yan, who had promised to return, but instead encountered an 『unexpected guest』 who almost scared Song Shuqing half to death.

“Zi Yan… Can we not work today?”

Walking slowly, Song Shuqing, who was stuck at the first-floor staircase, turned around and looked up at the woman behind her with a weary expression. “Can we not work, can we close the shop today?”

Helplessly sighing, Zi Yan looked at the shadow guard standing behind her, burying her face in her waist, gently stroking her head. “It’s your demeanor that always confuses me about how old you really are.”

“No matter how old I am, I don’t want to work.” In a muffled voice, Song Shuqing hugged the woman in front of her. “Even when I reach a hundred years old and become an old lady, I still won’t work.”

“Did I tire you out too much yesterday, that’s why you…” Zi Yan blinked, looking somewhat guilty. “So, should we continue like this today…”

Suddenly lifting her head, the originally listless shadow guard swiftly stepped back without looking down, then quickly moving behind the counter after landing. “What are you talking about? I’m feeling energetic now and very willing to work.”

Her gaze sharp.

“As an outstanding young woman who excels at balancing work and personal life, taking care of my wife is just a small matter. Sleeping separately is absolutely unnecessary.”

Song Shuqing looked resolute, wagging her finger, making a 『NoNo』 gesture.

Although Zi Yan was already accustomed to Song Shuqing’s smooth talking on normal days, watching her beloved one speak without blushing or panting, uttering words that were extremely embarrassing, left Zi Yan speechless.

Oh well, at least she had successfully achieved her goal of getting her energized to run the shop properly.

Feeling relieved, Zi Yan began tidying up the tea counter.

But before noon arrived, Song Shuqing, who was halfway through making tea for customers, suddenly rushed in front of Zi Yan, embracing the woman who was keeping the account book. She ignored the shop and ran straight to the third floor.

The mess from the two of them the night before had not been cleaned up yet, and the air was filled with a sweet and cloying scent.

But Song Shuqing couldn’t care less, she grabbed Zi Yan’s arm urgently and blurted out, “Zi Yan, let’s elope!”

Ignoring Zi Yan’s confusion, she continued, “Although I don’t have much money, I will never let you starve. Hurry up and pack your bags, we’ll escape together from here.”

“Wait, don’t panic.” Frowning, Zi Yan calmly asked, “What happened? Why do you suddenly want to run away?”

“The professor… no, the Great Demon King!” Song Shuqing’s head was pounding, she pinched her philtrum to stay awake. “He’s here, he’s chased after us from the capital with his subject matter!”

Looking puzzled, Zi Yan heard banging noises outside the door, an old man shouting loudly, “Miss Song, Miss Song!”

The door was knocked on excitedly.

“I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

“Go away! Don’t come near me!” Song Shuqing leaned against the door, listening to the persistent calls from outside. After a moment, as if after much struggle, she turned to the woman in front of her with a tragic expression and said, “Zi Yan, you must remember, not matter how I change in the future, I will always love you.”

Then, she turned and opened the door, holding back Wang Wei who was trying to enter the room. She grabbed the old man’s collar and led him downstairs. “I told you a hundred times I don’t want to do research. I don’t want to go bald at a young age, or spend every day in the lab. Why do you keep bothering me? And why did you run all the way from the capital?”

Her tone was no longer gentle like when she spoke to the woman earlier, but was filled with resignation and annoyance.

“Miss Song, I have a new research direction, and I need your help,” the old man Wang Wei hunched his back and bent his legs, allowing the shadow guard to carry him downstairs like a chick being held.

“I really don’t want to go back to the university,” Song Shuqing placed her hands on her hips, looking at the man seated on a chair, feeling a headache coming on. “Moreover, I am someone with a family now, not a widow! I really don’t have the time.”

“How can you say that? What does having a wife matter! Miss Song, together we can change the world!” Excited and flushed, Wang Wei’s eyes seemed to be lit up like two 100-watt light bulbs, burning brightly. “Besides, we have funds now, finally we don’t have to struggle in academia.”

“Funds?” The woman with a pained expression suddenly lifted her head upon hearing the keyword.

“Yes, Miss Song.” Wang Wei gestured with his hands, “I now have imperial sponsorship, and am a person who can do whatever I want. If you become my assistant, I can think of a monthly salary… five taels of silver.”

“Ugh… thirty taels of silver,” the woman boldly stated her price.

“Fifteen taels,” arms crossed, Wang Wei attempted to compromise.

“Forty taels of silver,” Song Shuqing said seriously.

“Why did it go up again?” Frustrated, Wang Wei huffed and lamented, “…Twenty taels of silver, I can’t offer more.”

“Fine, deal.” Putting on a reluctantly accepting expression, Song Shuqing pretended to reluctantly agree to a proposal better than she had expected.

“But…” suddenly remembering something, she pondered, “I also have a job at the teahouse, so I can only come in the evening.”

“Sure, sure, for the sake of academic research, we will both work day and night. You can come in the afternoon, I promise it won’t be too hard for you.” Patting his chest, the old man vowed earnestly.

However, Song Shuqing was already a seasoned veteran in society, she just rolled her eyes and completely disbelieved the man’s nonsense.

Damn it, if it weren’t for the money and the huge debt, she wouldn’t have worked herself to death.

She had given too much, she had no choice but to compromise!

Rubbing her temples in agitation, Song Shuqing saw Zi Yan coming downstairs. She suppressed the sweet words in her mouth, and with a touch of grievance, she took the woman’s hand, “Zi Yan, I misspoke earlier…”

“Hmm? What did you say wrong?” Zi Yan looked at her pitiful lover, and the unfamiliar old man happily drinking tea beside them, once again puzzled.

“I shouldn’t have said 『No matter how I change in the future, I will always love you』.” Trying to hold back non-existent tears, Song Shuqing corrected her earlier words.

“I should have said 『No matter how I change in the future, you must still love me』.”

After a few days, Zi Yan finally understood why Song Shuqing had said those words to her.

Although she didn’t understand what Song Shuqing meant by 『this is f*cking worse than 996』, she could see the bruises under the woman’s eyes and her evident exhaustion.

(LP: “996” is a work schedule, which means working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week. This schedule is notorious in China, especially in the tech industry, for its demanding and exhausting nature.)

Once her daytime work at the teahouse ended, Song Shuqing had to go across the street to meet with Wang Wei, and the two of them would work on something unknown until late into the night.

Although Zi Yan wanted to stay up and wait for Song Shuqing to return, she always ended up falling asleep before she could, only to wake up in the morning to find the woman stealthily coming back to their room and pulling her into an embrace, sleeping closely together on the single bed.

Even during their waking hours when they could spend time together, Song Shuqing was rarely around. As soon as the teahouse closed, she would dash out like a tornado, and any delay would lead to hearing the old man shouting at the shadow guard about withholding wages as a threat.

This intense schedule continued until Murong Yan and Ming Qin returned from their outing, bringing some relief.

Holding her junior sister tightly, Song Shuqing felt like she wanted to hug and kiss Ming Qin in excitement, if not for Murong Yan by her side.

Gratefully shedding tears, she looked at her helpful junior sister, feeling like the person in front of her was a savior with a halo around them, “Qinqin, have you finally come to rescue your Senior Sister? If you didn’t come back, I feel like the needles in my hair would outnumber my remaining hair.”

“Senior Sister, you’re hugging me so tight…” Ming Qin patted her seemingly slimmer Senior Sister, and asked with concern, “I can take over; do you want to rest for a bit?”

“No! While I have the time now, I need to quickly finish that darn report that cursed old man… oh, wait, Wang Wei assigned to me,” releasing her arms, Song Shuqing rushed out of the teahouse, leaving behind her words, “Once I finish early today, I can spend more time with my dear Zi Yan…”

Watching her Senior Sister walk away like the wind, Ming Qin crouched down to straighten Murong Yan’s skirt hem. She then rested her chin on the woman’s knee and raised her head in confusion, “Senior Sister, you’re so tired, but didn’t Yanyan never ask you to repay the money she lent you?”

Taking a sip of tea, Murong Yan calmly replied, “Yes, after all, I don’t lack money.” She patted Ming Qin’s head, “So even if she never pays me back, it’s okay.”

“Then Yanyan can tell Senior Sister not to worry so much.” Raising her head, Ming Qin suggested with her head tilted.

“I believe your Senior Sister is aware of this matter.” Seeing the puzzled expression of the person beneath her, Murong Yan patiently explained, “Your Senior Sister knows she can take Zi Yan away from that place at any time, whether directly through my authority and financial resources, or even using her former skills as a shadow guard.”

“However… she is unwilling to get involved as if it were an act of mercy or charity from a superior to an inferior, considering the many tragedies brought about by the abuse of power.”

“Your Senior Sister still cares about Zi Yan’s feelings because she is a very cherished person.” Unable to contain a light laugh, Murong Yan teased, “Although she may not act serious most of the time, she is gentle and reliable in critical moments…”

“Even if her methods are a bit indirect.”

Seeing Ming Qin still somewhat confused, Murong Yan bent down to kiss her forehead, “Ah Qin, you don’t have to understand.”

Reaching out to adjust the red ornament in Ming Qin’s left ear, Murong Yan continued, “Whether it’s applying pressure from top to bottom or using pity that is unrelated to love, as long as it keeps you bound to me, I will go to any length and use any means without hesitation.”

“Do you, Ah Qin, not fear this ungentle side of me?”

“Hmm? Why should I be afraid?” Comfortably squinting her eyes, Ming Qin tilted her head back, “Yanyan is my only desire, why would I be afraid?”

The woman lowered her gaze, looking at the shadow guard’s pure and sincere eyes, “Indeed…” she gently blinked, “Ah Qin, keep it this way, no need to be too clever.”

“Just come to me, just love me.”

“That’s all I need.”

The author has something to say:

The princess’ shadow guard cannot be too clever~

LP: Re-translated on May 14, 2024