Clearly, she had bumped into him herself, yet Lu Yanzhi’s Adam’s apple moved as he coldly said, “Watch where you’re going.”
With that, he strode ahead into the main courtyard.
Song Zhiyao rubbed her nose and hurried to catch up.
When she entered, Lu Yanzhi was already greeting Madam Lu. The matriarch’s expression was gentle, her eyes soft with a smile.
But when she saw Song Zhiyao, the smile froze.
Madam Lu’s gaze was complex. “Why are you here?”
She didn’t understand it. Her former daughter-in-law had always been well-behaved, but after giving birth to Shenshen and Weiwei, it was as if she had become a completely different person—willful, reckless, and these past years even entangled with Lu Jinyu…
Madam Lu had tried to stop her before, only to be scolded mercilessly.
Song Zhiyao had even sent Su Xin to gather information. After Song Zhiyao berated her mother-in-law back then, Madam Lu had been bedridden for three months. After that, she never interfered again.
Song Zhiyao knew that Madam Lu had tolerated her all these years because of the friendship between their families, her own mother’s relationship with Madam Lu, and their past familiarity.
If it had been anyone else, quietly dying in the backyard would not have been unlikely.
Song Zhiyao bowed. “Your unfilial daughter-in-law greets her mother.”
Her behavior over the years had truly been unfilial.
Madam Lu masked the complexity in her eyes and, with a cold, distant voice, replied, “No need. I do not dare accept such a title from you.”
Song Zhiyao felt slightly awkward but did not speak in protest. Lowering her gaze, she appeared gentle and obedient.
Madam Lu inwardly sneered. Someone who looked so compliant could still deal such cruelty to her own son.
“Go back,” Madam Lu said. “You don’t need to come here again.”
She was already not abandoning Song Zhiyao because of the children she had borne for the Lu family and the friendship between the Song and Lu families.
“Mother,” Song Zhiyao explained, “I am here today first to apologize, and second to celebrate Shenshen and Weiwei’s birthday.”
Madam Lu could no longer restrain herself. “You are their mother, their real mother, but you…”
Song Zhiyao lowered her head, neither daring nor able to argue.
“Mother,” Lu Yanzhi interjected, “I approved this.”
Once he spoke, Madam Lu didn’t argue further, only saying faintly, “If that’s the case, as you wish.”
Song Zhiyao sensed that Madam Lu and Lu Yanzhi still had things to discuss, so she wisely withdrew.
She went to find Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei.
Asking the servants, she learned that the two children were playing in the garden of the main courtyard.
She had barely taken a few steps when a bratty voice rang out, “Something this good isn’t for a mute like you. Hand it over!”
Her heart tightened, and she hurried toward the sound.
She saw a chubby little boy roughly snatching the toy lamb from Lu Jianwei’s hands.
Lu Jianwei naturally refused to let go, clutching the lamb tightly, her little face full of resistance.
The boy was stronger, but slightly shorter. Seeing he couldn’t win, he let go and shoved her with all his might.
“Little sister!”
“Stop!”
Both Song Zhiyao and Lu Jianshen shouted simultaneously.
Lu Jianshen rushed over, but Lu Jianwei had already been pushed down, her toy lamb taken.
Tears streamed down her face, her silent sobs heartbreaking.
Lu Jianshen quickly helped her up. “Sister, don’t cry.”
But Lu Jianwei’s gaze was fixed on the stolen lamb—her precious little lamb.
“Lu Yan,” Lu Jianshen looked at the boy and reached for the lamb. “Give it back, this belongs to my sister.”
“I don’t want to,” Lu Yan pouted, holding the lamb. “I like it—it’s mine.”
Lu Jianshen naturally wouldn’t let his sister be bullied and tried to snatch the lamb back.
Lu Yan resisted.
He could bully the timid Lu Jianwei, but in front of Lu Jianshen, he was just a younger brother.
Lu Yan refused, so Lu Jianshen, annoyed, shoved him down just as he had done to Lu Jianwei and grabbed the lamb.
“Waa!” Lu Yan cried loudly. “No, no! That’s mine!”
Lu Jianshen ignored him, and after some effort, reclaimed the lamb.
Lu Yan cried even louder.
“Yan’er!” A female voice rang out, full of concern and urgency. “What happened? Who bullied you?”
Lin Guanguan hurried over.
Seeing her, Lu Yan immediately saw his ally and complained, “Mom, they bullied me! I want my little lamb!”
Lin Guanguan picked up Lu Yan, frowning, and scolded sharply, “Lu Jianshen! You’re the elder brother! How can you bully your younger brother?”
Lu Jianshen’s back straightened. “I didn’t bully him. He bullied Weiwei first, taking her things.”
“You should always let the younger ones win anyway. And it’s just a little lamb.” She reached for it to take it from Lu Jianshen.
Lu Jianshen instinctively stepped back.
Lin Guanguan quickened her pace. “Give it—ah, oww!”
Her hand was grabbed.
It was Song Zhiyao.
Seeing her, Lu Jianshen paled, hugging the lamb tightly.
“Dà sǎo!” Lin Guanguan struggled, but couldn’t free her hand.
She didn’t care, however, and immediately complained, “Look at Jianshen and Jianwei! Not a bit like older siblings—they bullied Yan’er!”
“Dà sǎo, you better control them properly.”
Lu Yan looked at Song Zhiyao with a wronged expression. “Auntie, I want to play with the little lamb!”
Mother and son stared at Song Zhiyao, waiting for her to scold the two children.
Lu Jianshen opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but stayed silent.
Song Zhiyao didn’t need to intervene—he already knew the outcome.
Just like countless times before, he instinctively stood on Lu Yan’s side.
Song Zhiyao glared at Lin Guanguan. “Who do you think you are? I saw everything just now. No need for you to accuse first.”
“Lu Yan bullied my daughter, took her toy, spoiled and willful at such a young age, full of lies. You raised your son like this and still have the nerve to interfere?”
She tightened her grip on Lin Guanguan’s wrist.
“Ow! Ow! Ow!” Lin Guanguan twisted in pain, shouting, trying to break free.
Song Zhiyao didn’t let go. Lin Guanguan couldn’t escape.
“Let go!”
She struggled, and only then did Song Zhiyao release her.
Lin Guanguan lost balance and stumbled backward, falling embarrassingly to the ground.
“Mom!” Lu Yan finally realized and ran to her side.
Looking at Song Zhiyao now, all the earlier pretense was gone; his eyes were full of disgust and hostility.
Lin Guanguan, still reeling from Song Zhiyao’s shift in attitude, stared at her in disbelief.
Song Zhiyao positioned Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei behind her, looking down at Lin Guanguan.
“If your son bullies my daughter, don’t blame me for being rude.”
“Next time, I see it happen, I’ll hit you too!”
Lin Guanguan: “…Aren’t you afraid Lu Jinyu will get angry?”
“Oh right.” Song Zhiyao nodded. “If he causes trouble, I’ll deal with him too.”
Having said this, she turned to face the shocked, astonished faces of Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei.
Though different in appearance, their expressions were the same: wide-eyed, mouths slightly open.
Lu Jianwei’s big eyes still glistened with tears. The little boy looked pitiful yet cute.
Even normally composed Lu Jianshen finally looked a little childlike.
Song Zhiyao couldn’t help smiling.
She squatted down and looked at them. “With me here, no one will ever bully you.”
Her words were sincere. Lu Jianshen froze for a moment.
Lu Jianwei slowly gave her a smile.
The little girl’s chubby cheeks and crescent-shaped eyes melted Song Zhiyao’s heart.
Lin Guanguan saw Song Zhiyao’s protective attitude and her eyes flickered with a dark glint.
Song Zhiyao had truly gone mad!
In the past, she always sided with Lu Yan, and now she was defending those two little ones.
Lin Guanguan’s face twisted, about to speak, but the two figures emerging quickly made her expression turn into feigned grievance.
She pinched Lu Yan’s hand.
Lu Yan’s little face immediately crumpled, and he began to cry loudly.
His cries were loud but tearless.
Lin Guanguan clutched him, biting her lip in mock grievance. “Lu Jinyu…”
Lu Yan, hearing her voice, ran to Lu Jinyu, shouting, “Dad, they bullied me! Sob! Sob! Auntie is bad! Auntie bullied me too!”
Lu Jinyu instinctively steadied Lu Yan.
Lu Yanzhi’s gaze swept over him coldly. “Second brother, teaching children requires strictness. Do I need to tell you this?”
Lu Jinyu stiffened, embarrassed, recalling Song Zhiyao’s harsh words from yesterday.
He immediately said to Lu Yan, “Apologize.”
When had Lu Yan ever felt so wronged?
In the past, Song Zhiyao always defended him unconditionally, often at the expense of Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei.
This was the first time he was asked to apologize.
Lin Guanguan couldn’t help but protest. “So that means Lu Jianshen pushed him into the ice lake!”
“Dà sǎo, Lu Jianshen, as the elder brother, wasn’t punished for that. Today it’s just child’s play. Why exaggerate?”
Song Zhiyao didn’t know the full story of the ice lake incident.
But from today alone, she understood the character of Lu family’s children.
She believed Lu Jianshen wouldn’t do anything truly bad.
Even if he did, there must be a reason.
She looked at Lu Jianshen.
The little boy clearly disagreed but didn’t argue.
Song Zhiyao sighed inwardly, feeling even more pity for Lu Jianshen.
She crouched down. “Jianshen, can you tell me what really happened at the ice lake that day?”