Chapter 53: "The Family Banquet"

“Aunt and nephew involved together—it does sound intriguing,” he remarked.

Song Qingyou spun around, her gaze icy as she looked at Ruan Mingchen, though her lips curled with a smile. “You plan to threaten me with this? It’s a pity; I was born with no patience for threats.”

Ruan Mingchen’s expression didn’t shift. “I’m not threatening you. I simply find your relationship disgraceful.”

Her voice was measured, impossible to read for anger or joy. “None of your damn business.”

These were the words Fu Wenzhou often had on his lips.

Ruan Mingchen’s face hardened, evidently surprised to hear those four words from Song Qingyou.

She felt a surge of satisfaction as she turned to leave. So, those four words worked wonders—no wonder Fu Wenzhou used them all the time.

It wasn’t until her figure disappeared from his sight that Ruan Mingchen slowly withdrew his gaze.

How vengeful she was.

A face as serene as Guanyin, a heart as venomous as a snake.

Ruan Mingchen sneered.

–

Song Qingyou left the teahouse and walked toward the car. Seeing her approach, Song Chang opened the door. “Sir called just now.”

She paused as she got in. “What did he say?”

Song Chang closed her door, then circled to the driver’s seat. “The eldest young lady is back. He wants you home to welcome her.”

Song Qingyou lifted her eyelids slightly. “When did this happen?”

“Just last night.” As they passed the traffic light, Song Chang pressed the brakes. “There’s been unrest in Country F. She was afraid to stay there alone, so the eldest young master arranged for her to return.”

Song Qingyou gave a dismissive laugh. “Song Shi truly dotes on his sister.”

Song Chang replied, “They share the same mother. Of course Song Shi sides with Song Wei.”

The relationships among the Song children were famously tangled. Song Yuan, years ago in the countryside, had a son and daughter with his first love. Then he moved to the capital, met Song Ning, and abandoned his old flame. After marrying Song Ning, he kept a mistress, who bore him Song Chen.

In the end, Song Ning, the only legitimate wife, had the youngest child of all.

Song Chang’s tone was sardonic. “Because of this, Song Chen caused another uproar in the Song household. He schemed for ages to send Song Wei away, and now, after just five years, she’s back. Today, Song Shi holds more power in the Song Group than he does, so Song Chen flutters around like a grasshopper, always making trouble for Song Shi.”

Song Qingyou observed coolly, “Song Chen is witless—he’ll never win against someone as cunning as Song Shi.”

She’d witnessed how treacherous Song Shi and Song Wei could be since childhood.

Oddly enough, she owed Song Chen some thanks; if he hadn’t sent Song Wei away, the past few years would not have been so peaceful for her.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

Song Qingyou stepped out, Song Chang close behind. The Song family servants barely bothered to feign courtesy, each casting sidelong glances.

Most of the staff had been replaced after Li Ruo’s arrival, but no matter how many times they changed, none treated Song Qingyou with sincerity.

Everyone knew how unwelcome she was in this house.

As she entered the garden, she noticed it wasn’t as it had been during her last visit. The roses were reduced to bare stems, leaves wilted, and in the bleakness of winter, the scene reeked of defeat.

Her eyes flickered, and she walked a few steps further. Reaching the living room, she heard raised voices inside.

“Song Chen, you did this on purpose! These roses were imported from abroad at great expense, and you just mowed them down with a grass cutter—what were you thinking?”

Song Chen’s lazy voice drifted out. “Step-mother, I saw your roses nearly crushed by snow, and they won’t survive the winter anyway, so I figured I’d help clear them. Why blame me?”

“I nurtured them with care every day, and you just destroyed them!”

Their quarrel raged, and a gentle voice interjected. “Step-mother, don’t argue with second brother. It’s not worth harming your health. Second brother, why must you antagonize the roses?”

Song Chen scoffed. “Song Wei, stop pretending to be the peacemaker. When I argue with Li Ruo, you and Song Shi are delighted, aren’t you? Don’t think I don’t see through your little schemes.”

Song Wei’s voice quivered with a hint of tears. “Second brother, how can you say that? We’re family—I’d never want you to fight with step-mother…”

She sounded fragile, as if deeply wronged.

Song Chen, growing impatient, said bluntly, “When are Song Shi and the old man coming down? Why do they always discuss matters behind my back? What, am I just an outsider in this family?”

As he spoke, Song Yuan descended from upstairs, barking, “Enough!”

Song Chen straightened up immediately, abandoning his nonchalant pose, and grinned. “Dad, I was just waiting for you—thought you’d never come down.”

Song Shi stood behind Song Yuan, casting Song Chen a look of undisguised disdain.

Song Chen glared back.

Li Ruo, crying, complained to Song Yuan about Song Chen’s destruction of her roses.

Song Chen repeated his excuses, Song Yuan scolded him a bit, then comforted Li Ruo, finally easing their conflict.

Once this family drama ended, Song Qingyou sauntered in.

Song Wei rushed forward, affectionately looping her arm through Song Qingyou’s. “Little sister, it’s been five years—are you well? I heard you married and then divorced? What a shame—I never had the chance to attend your wedding.”

Her face was full of regret, as though she truly mourned missing her sister’s wedding.

If Song Qingyou hadn’t once taken scissors to Song Wei’s long hair, she might have believed in this sisterly affection.

The touch on her arm made Song Qingyou inwardly nauseous. She withdrew without betraying her disgust, smiling, “It was a family alliance, interests at odds—there was nothing worth attending.”

Her smile was gentle, but her words were sharp as knives. Song Yuan’s face darkened instantly. He snorted, “You admit it was a family alliance, yet dared to divorce on your own. Song Qingyou, do you even see yourself as part of the Song family?”

Song Chen chimed in, “She’s been competing with me in business—how could she be on our side? We treat her as family, but she doesn’t treat us as hers.”

Song Shi looked at her. “It was indeed wrong on your part. How could you divorce without consulting us? No matter what, the Song family is your support. If you truly couldn’t bear living with Fu Ting Shen, you could have come back and divorced later. Acting on your own wasn’t appropriate.”

Support?

Song Qingyou nearly laughed aloud.

Song Wei feigned surprise, going to clutch Song Yuan’s hand and coaxed, “Dad, since little sister’s already divorced, there’s no point in dwelling on it. If you’re really angry, just make her stand and eat tonight, as punishment for disobedience. But once she’s punished, we must never mention it again.”

Song Qingyou’s lips curled, her smile cold as winter wind.

Listen to her—so ready to speak up for her.

Song Wei, oh Song Wei, ten years and you haven’t changed at all.