38

Song Tan was recuperating at home, taking care of her illness while reading  books.

Her clinic was about to open, but she hadn’t taken the medical qualification exam yet.

Originally, with her level, passing this exam should not be a problem, but due to health reasons, she has failed the exam twice.

As Song Tan read, she sighed lightly, uncertain whether she could pass this time.

Her luck seems to have been bad all along.

On the day of the college entrance exam, she had a fever and fainted right after leaving the exam room. She missed the admission cutoff for A University’s Medical Department by just one point.

During the qualification exam, she fell ill twice, once fainting in the exam room and once missing the exam altogether.

Even if she was just a supporting character, was it really necessary for her to have such a tragic script?

Song Tan stared at the  book, lost in thought.

At this moment, the doorbell at the entrance rang.

Surprisingly, it was Su Ran.

Previously, Su Ran almost disrupted the marriage between Huo Yanlin when she came to Huo’s mansion. After that incident, Old Master Huo ordered that this woman should not appear in Huo’s mansion again.

Unexpectedly, after the old master fell ill, she boldly appeared at Huo’s mansion.

This should have been approved by Huo Yanlin.

“Do you have something to discuss with me?”

Seeing her, Song Tan seems unsurprised, her expression calm, and her voice flat, as if she anticipated why Su Ran would appear here.

Her composure makes Su Ran somewhat uncomfortable.

“I…,” it’s been a while since she contacted Song Tan.

After signing the agreement with Song Tan, they didn’t talk much. Su Ran felt a bit guilty about Song Tan sponsoring her education. Apart from asking for account details on holidays, the only other contact was on the day of Huo Yanlin’s wedding, when she initiated the conversation.

At that time, Song Tan directly sent her a photo of Huo Yanlin and Song Jiaojiao at the wedding.

“I don’t want to pursue a master’s degree.”

Su Ran gathered courage and spoke up.

As she said this, she looked up at Song Tan.

She didn’t know what kind of expression she expected to see on Song Tan’s face, but it certainly wasn’t this… no emotional fluctuations, as if she had anticipated this day.

It’s somewhat embarrassing.

“I know, I was fickle.”

As Su Ran was about to reflect further, Song Tan calmly spoke, “Did you bring the breach of contract penalty?”

Su Ran : “?”

“Su Ran, you’re not a child. You should know that a signed contract has legal effects, right?”

Song Tan spoke, sighing inwardly.

The male and female leads seem to be a bit lax in terms of legal awareness, like two law-blind individuals only focused on love.

“Song Tan, you didn’t sincerely want to sponsor me.”

Song Tan didn’t deny it, “Do I look like such a kind person?”

Su Ran : “…” She looked like it, but also not really.

She always appeared soft and weak, but when she tempted Su Ran to sign that contract, it was like a demon enticing someone into the abyss, and Su Ran jumped in.

Su Ran now deeply regretted trusting Song Tan back then.

“Huo Yanlin asked you for help?”

The plot has changed now, but Song Tan can still guess what kind of drama the two leads are playing.

If she’s not mistaken, it’s probably a plot where they overcome difficulties together.

“Still in love with him?”

Su Ran adjusted her expression, “No.”

“No, but you want to help him, right?”

Song Tan spoke calmly, but Su Ran’s face turned red, “Between him and me, there’s no possibility of being together, but he once helped me. Now I owe him a favor, isn’t that reasonable?”

“It’s reasonable.”

Repaying favors is normal.

Lady Bai married Xu Xian to repay a favor¹.

What’s wrong with Su Ran repaying a favor?

“Song Tan, I know you’re actually a good person. Can you let me go?”

“First of all, I’m not a good person. I’m just a law-abiding citizen. Secondly, I’m not holding you back. Don’t portray me like a bandit. Finally, breaking the contract and paying compensation is just and proper. If you can’t afford it, be ready to be sued.”

Su Ran finally understood.

Song Tan is truly impenetrable.

“I can’t afford it.”

“Ten million is a huge sum for you, but for the person you want to help, it’s just a small amount.”

She didn’t mention the matter of Huo Yanlin hearing about the compensation and never bringing up the contract termination again. She just said, “As I said before, I’m just a law-abiding citizen. Once the compensation is settled, everything else is negotiable.”

Su Ran left in embarrassment, and Song Tan didn’t care whether Su Ran begged Huo Yanlin or not.

She wasn’t interested.

The only thing she found regrettable was that Su Ran had a good hand but didn’t cherish it at all.

Shen Yin noticed that Song Tan’s appetite seemed a bit off today.

“Have the dumplings been left out for too long?”

Today, Shen Yin brought back dumplings, filled with corn and meat. Shen Yin tried two and found them tasty, but Song Tan didn’t feel like eating anymore after eating one.

“No, the dumplings are quite delicious.”

“Then you must have something on your mind.”

Today, Su Ran came, and she came to see Song Tan.

Shen Yin knew all this.

However, he didn’t know what the two of them talked about that made Song Tan lose her appetite.

“Ah.” Song Tan sighed, saying, “Just thinking about the exams next month makes me a bit anxious.”

Shen Yin : ?

Losing appetite because of exams?

“I see you’ve been studying diligently, not slacking off. You should be fine for the exams.”

“This will be my third attempt.”

Shen Yin fell silent.

“The first time, I fainted in the examination hall. The second time, I didn’t even make it to the exam venue.” Song Tan sighed lightly. “It’s not a lack of ability, but a lack of luck.”

Normally, Song Tan was eloquent and fearless even in front of Old Master Huo. Rarely did she show self-doubt like she does now.

It seems she’s genuinely worried about her exams.

“Let me show you something.”

Shen Yin pulled her into the study.

He took a  book from his bookshelf, with a photo tucked into the front page.

It was a photo of Shen Yin receiving an award.

“You’re not trying to show off to me, are you?” Song Tan gave him a strange look.

Shen Yin looked at her helplessly.

“I get it, you want to use this to encourage me, saying that where there’s a will, there’s a way?”

“Not exactly,” he explained, “Every time my classmates have exams, they hold this photo and pray. I don’t know if it works, but according to feedback, it seems to have some effect.”

After saying this, Shen Yin felt a bit awkward.

There was a feeling of boasting about oneself.

“I understand. This is to worship the Exam God.”

In school, whenever exams approached, a mysterious ritual called ‘worshipping the Exam God’ would take place. Being exceptionally outstanding since childhood, Shen Yin was regarded as the ‘God’ by his classmates. When exams were near, they would seek his blessings.

“This photo was taken by the school, and they made quite a few copies.”

Song Tan noticed that Shen Yin, rarely, seemed a bit shy.

She knew that he took out this photo to help her reduce some psychological pressure and give her some comfort.

However, saying it directly to her would undoubtedly be self-praise, even if it was Shen Yin, he didn’t have such thick skin.

“So, are you going to make a copy for me?” Song Tan teased him.

Shen Yin handed the photo directly to her, “No need to copy, just use the original.”

“I think there’s something better than the original.”

Shen Yin : ?

“The Exam God is right in front of me. Why should I go far and wide for a photo?”

Shen Yin : “…” Although it sounded reasonable, it would be strange for Song Tan to worship him like that, right?

Song Tan didn’t care about being strange. She clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and muttered to Shen Yin, “Exam God, please bless this examinee with a smooth exam.”

“Shouldn’t you bow?”

Bowing seems more sincere.

Song Tan bent her waist, bowed once, twice, and when she was about to bow down again, Shen Yin stopped her.

“If you bow again, it feels like you’re sending me away².”

“How can I absorb the power of the Exam God from you?”

Shen Yin : “…” He just wanted to give Song Tan a little psychological suggestion, but now it turned into a sincere metaphysical discussion?

“How about…”

“How about this?” Song Tan reached out and hugged Shen Yin.

Shen Yin’s body stiffened.

He didn’t expect that Song Tan would hug him as she spoke.

They have never hugged before.

“Suck³—” After a few seconds of burying herself in Shen Yin’s arms, Song Tan earnestly began to suck.

Shen Yin, who was a bit physically tense, suddenly relaxed.

“You…”

“They worship the photo of the Exam God, I absorb the divine energy by hugging the Exam God. The effect must be hundreds of times better.”

Song Tan was serious, and Shen Yin nodded while trying to hold back a smile.

“Definitely.” Although it went a bit off track, if it makes her feel more secure, he’ll play along.

“Then let me suck a bit more.”

Shen Yin’s scent was pleasant, a faint fragrance that was refreshing and somewhat addictive.

Song Tan lay on his chest.

Under the guise of sucking in the divine energy of the Exam God, she took advantage of the situation.

To be honest, she had this idea for a long time.

Having a heavenly-like husband sleeping beside her, without making a move, is quite challenging.

But previously, they only pretended and acted affectionate, yet maintained a certain distance.

And now, Song Tan feels that it won’t be long before Shen Yin tears off this layer of tenderness.

She is sure that she will miss the current Shen Yin.

So, before he tears off his disguise, Song Tan feels that she shouldn’t waste any more time.

Shen Yin doesn’t know what Song Tan is thinking in her heart; he just feels that Song Tan is acting a bit unusual today.

They share the same bed, but Song Tan sleeps straight as a board. Throughout the night, they never got close to each other.

He is a patient person.

The current Song Tan is too frail.

He decides to wait a little longer.

Wait until she’s healthier again, then…

This wait leads to now.

Instead, she starts to act ‘as she pleases’ towards him.

Seeing her enjoying the ‘sucking,’ Shen Yin raises his hand and directly embraces her.

Song Tan feels Shen Yin’s response and lifts her head from his embrace, looking at him with her face up.

Shen Yin remains expressionless, “You can interpret it as the blessing of the Exam God.”

Song Tan is not scared at all; instead, she seriously considers for a moment and says, “Is just hugging not enough?”

Shen Yin : ?

Song Tan refuses to elaborate further; she wants Shen Yin to understand.

Shen Yin, naturally intelligent since childhood, comprehends the meaning in her words.

However, he’s not very skilled in practical matters.

¹ reference to ‘The Legend of the White Snake’ ↩︎

² in China, bowing three times is usually done at funerals (though there are also other times, like when worshipping Buddha or during wedding). ↩︎

³ Song Tan’s spoke out the sound effect ↩︎