Chapter 31: What Are You Hiding

When Song Qingyou returned home, she ran straight into Song Chang, who was hurrying toward her.

Song Chang wore a worried expression. “Did the old master just come by? He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

“No, he didn’t.” Song Qingyou pushed open the door and went inside. As she had expected, the living room was in complete disarray—Song Yuan had taken out on the furniture all the anger he hadn’t managed to unleash on her.

Song Chang frowned. “If he comes again, call me right away.”

Song Chang was one of Song Ning’s people. In his eyes, only Song Ning and the daughter she bore were his true masters. Addressing Song Yuan as “old master” was already more courtesy than he felt was due.

Song Qingyou bent down to pick up a shard, examining it closely. “Call someone to tidy up the house. Also, tally up the damages and send the bill to the Song family.”

Song Chang sounded doubtful. “Do you really think the Song family will pay?”

Song Qingyou replied, “The Song family won’t, but Li Ruo will.”

At first, Song Chang didn’t believe it. But after delivering the bill to the Songs, Li Ruo actually paid up.

When Song Chang handed over the check for a million, he still looked incredulous. “How did you know Li Ruo would pay, Miss?”

Song Qingyou was sitting at her desk, brewing tea. She smiled faintly at his words. “I did her a big favor this time. A mere million is nothing to her—of course she wouldn’t be stingy.”

Song Chang grew increasingly confused. “I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

Song Qingyou poured him a cup of tea, her willow brows arching gently. “Uncle Chang, have some tea.”

Song Chang, burning with curiosity, accepted the cup. “Miss, you’re trying to keep me guessing, aren’t you?”

“It’s not just me who has a grudge against Song Chen. Ever since Li Ruo married into the Song family, Song Chen has never treated her well. When she tried to get her own brother a spot in the company, Song Chen blocked her at every turn. She’s held a grudge ever since.”

Song Qingyou took a sip of tea, unhurried as ever. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I promised Li Ruo I’d snatch Song Chen’s project and knock him down a peg in front of the board, giving her the chance to get her brother into the Song family. Asking her for a million in return—hardly excessive, is it?”

Song Chang swallowed, glancing at the calm, smiling eyes of Song Qingyou.

His young mistress certainly knew how to make use of every opportunity. She was going to take Song Chen’s project anyway, but insisted on selling Li Ruo a favor in the process.

Now, not only had she secured the project, but she’d pocketed an extra million as well.

He cleared his throat. “You’re truly clever, Miss.”

“By the way,” Song Qingyou looked up, “how’s the task I gave you coming along?”

Song Chang’s expression grew serious. “There’s only sixteen percent of Song Group’s shares circulating outside, and they’re very expensive. Buying them all would cost a fortune. All our money is currently tied up in the venture capital firm; what’s left is only enough to acquire about two percent.”

Song Qingyou set down her teacup and rubbed her brow.

She rather regretted not squeezing more out of Fu Tingshen during the divorce.

Her eyelids drooped slightly. “Has the Song family been involved in any scandals lately?”

Song Chang hesitated. “Well…”

“If not, then create one,” Song Qingyou said softly.

Three days later.

The second young master of the Song family, Song Chen, was photographed by the media spending the night at a hotel with several women, exposing his chaotic private life. Old scandals were dredged up as well, including a hit-and-run cover-up from his university days.

The Song Group’s stock price plunged overnight.

Song Qingyou seized the chaos to acquire eight percent of the shares at a low price.

By the time the company’s PR team managed damage control and the stock rebounded, Song Qingyou was already at home, cradling her newly acquired shares, sipping tea, and admiring the flowers.

Whenever her mood improved, someone always seemed to come along and spoil the atmosphere.

The front door was pounded loudly. Song Qingyou finished her tea unhurriedly before rising to answer it.

Seeing the man at the doorstep, his face twisted in fury, her expression showed a hint of surprise. “Second Brother? What brings you here?”

Song Chen barged in, shoving her aside as he stormed in, shouting angrily, “Wasn’t stealing my project enough for you? You had to leak all that dirt about me too? What good does it do you for the Song Group’s shares to crash? Can’t stand to see me succeed? Is it not enough to fleece me alone?!”

Song Qingyou stumbled back a step under the force of his push, a cough escaping her throat as tears sprang to her eyes. “Second Brother, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t you dare pretend!” Song Chen sneered. “That pitiful act might work on others, but not on me. Don’t think I don’t see what you’re up to. You think that just because you’ve gotten close to Yan Shaoqin, you can take the Song Group back?”

He pressed closer, eyes narrowing. “Song Qingyou, do you remember what it felt like to be locked in the basement as a child? Seems you’ve forgotten after all these years. Would you like me to help you remember?”

Song Qingyou’s lashes trembled, her eyes darkening.

How could she ever forget?

The memory of huddling in that cold, pitch-dark basement, starving for three days and nights, would haunt her forever.

Song Qingyou lifted her gaze, a tear sparkling in the corner of her eye. She was a beauty to begin with, and tears only made her all the more captivating.

Song Chen abruptly released her hand, his face dark as thunder.

Song Qingyou had never wanted to cry in front of Song Chen, but her body betrayed her; these tears were beyond her control. She wiped them away and calmly said, “The project was never yours to begin with. If you lost it, it’s because you weren’t good enough.”

At her words, Song Chen’s anger flared instantly. “Say that again, I dare you!”

Song Qingyou replied, “Instead of wasting time questioning me here, maybe you should consider who’s recently joined Song Group and who benefits most from these scandals about you.”

Song Chen narrowed his eyes. “What are you implying?”

Song Qingyou coughed lightly a few times. “Second Brother, if I spelled everything out, you’d look even dumber.”

Song Chen fell silent, but her words had reminded him—his biggest adversary in the Song family was Li Ruo.

Besides, after he lost the project last time, Li Ruo had used the opportunity to bring her brother into the company, and now this had happened only days later.

Piecing it all together, Song Chen suddenly understood, and, too angry to bother with Song Qingyou any longer, he slammed the door and left.

Once he was gone, Song Qingyou felt utterly exhausted. Her second brother had some brains, but not many.

He was, in fact, the easiest member of the Song family to deal with.

That was why she had chosen to target him first.

It seemed the results were better than expected.

Song Qingyou stood in place, coughing hard for a long while before she could catch her breath. She stared at the handkerchief stained bright red with blood, dazed.

Recently, it seemed she’d been coughing up blood more often.

Lost in thought, she was startled when a noise sounded from across the hall. Song Qingyou instinctively stuffed the bloody handkerchief into the cabinet by the door.

Fu Wenzhou had just woken up. Hearing the door slam, he hurried out, and as soon as he opened the door, he saw Song Qingyou looking flustered. He was tall and long-legged, and in a few strides he was standing before her.

His voice was husky. “What are you hiding?”

Song Qingyou forced a smile. “Weren’t you away these past couple of days? Why did you come back last night?”

Fu Wenzhou’s gaze was dark as he bent down, drawing close, his breath warm and damp. “Qingyou, what are you hiding?”