Within a few days, upon hearing that Song Yan was planning a birthday banquet for Si Yuan, Lin Shuangyu expressed some surprise.
Her tone was full of curiosity: “A-Yan, why are you suddenly thinking of holding a birthday banquet for Xiao Yuan? I’ve never seen you put so much effort into it before.”
In the past, Song Yan’s affection for this younger sister had always been superficial.
Even on Si Yuan’s birthdays, he would only buy her some perfunctory, expensive gifts.
Song Yan lowered his head to scroll through the banquet arrangements on his phone and casually replied, “When Xiao Yuan’s biological parents were still alive, they held one for her every year. She hasn’t properly celebrated her birthday once in all these years away from home. Since this is her first one back, we should make sure she’s happy.”
He didn’t notice the flicker of unease in Lin Shuangyu’s eyes.
“So that’s how it is,” Lin Shuangyu nodded with a smile, though her fingertips subtly tightened. “You’ve really thought this through.”
While her words were agreeable, her eyes grew cold in the silence.
She hadn’t expected that even after all those years of Si Yuan living under someone else’s roof, it hadn’t made a difference.
After being driven abroad for five years, the moment she returned, she could make Song Yan remember her past habits and go to such lengths for her.
Suppressing the jealousy surging within her, she lifted her gaze, her face once again bright and radiant, and proactively suggested, “Do you want me to help you with the preparations? I can assist with the venue decorations or the party favors.”
Hearing this, Song Yan’s brow relaxed slightly, feeling somewhat relieved.
“Good, I was just worried I didn’t know what girls like. You’re thoughtful, so I’ll feel at ease leaving it to you.” He gently touched Lin Shuangyu’s hair and was about to say more when his phone suddenly rang.
It was a call from Song Yan’s special assistant.
It seemed to be work-related.
“I need to go back to the company to handle something,” Song Yan glanced at the time, stood up, and headed out, adding as he left, “By the way, there are a few old photo albums in the second drawer of the study—some family photos of the Song Family. Remember to display them when you’re decorating the venue. She’ll probably be happy to see them.”
With that, he picked up his coat and left.
Lin Shuangyu nodded. “Don’t worry, leave it all to me!”
After seeing Song Yan off, the smile on Lin Shuangyu’s face instantly faded.
Her offer to help was only to prevent Song Yan from investing too much thought into Si Yuan’s affairs.
Lin Shuangyu turned and walked toward the study, impatiently pulling open the second drawer.
Sure enough, there was a photo album inside.
Opening it, the first photo was of Si Yuan as a child.
She must have just arrived at the Song Family back then, looking entirely pitiful and somewhat sad.
Song Yan had her wrap her arm around his, trying his best to cheer her up.
Lin Shuangyu raised an eyebrow, somewhat disdainful. “Hmph, she really knows how to act pitiful.”
She scoffed and flipped past the photo.
After randomly selecting a few photos, Lin Shuangyu closed the album, but her hand slipped, and it fell to the floor.
Lin Shuangyu was exasperated. Sure enough, anything related to Si Yuan was unlucky.
Reluctantly, she bent down to pick it up.
As she glanced around, she suddenly noticed a hidden compartment under Song Yan’s desk.
From the gap in the compartment, a corner of yellowed kraft paper was visible.
Lin Shuangyu’s heart skipped a beat.
As if guided by some unseen force, she pulled open the compartment and retrieved the package.
The kraft paper was wrapped tightly.
When she opened it, a blue-covered diary and a stack of photos fell out.
In the photos, Si Yuan had grown into a young woman, standing side by side with Song Yan under the cherry blossom tree in the Song Family’s yard, their shadows nearly touching.
And that wasn’t all.
There were also various photos of Song Yan taken from Si Yuan’s perspective.
Doing homework with her, accompanying her to the amusement park, feeding kittens together…
Lin Shuangyu’s face turned cold as she flipped open the diary again.
The handwriting inside was delicate and elegant, yet every page was filled with thoughts about Song Yan.
[Brother bought me a strawberry cake today. It seems like he knows I have a sweet tooth.]
[Brother stayed up late for tutoring tonight. I made him some soup, and he patted my head and said thank you.]
[Brother prepared a birthday gift for me. I thought I would never receive gifts from family again.]
Lin Shuangyu’s face instantly turned icy, her fingers gripping the diary so tightly that the paper crumpled.
Compared to Si Yuan’s ambiguous words, what angered Lin Shuangyu more was discovering that Song Yan had secretly hidden this diary in his study.
How could he keep these things?
Jealousy and unease surged from the depths of Lin Shuangyu’s heart.
“Si Yuan, it seems you still haven’t learned your lesson.”
A moment later, the corners of her lips suddenly curled into a sinister smile. “If I could make you lose face in school back in high school, I can do it again now.”
She got off work early today.
As Si Yuan walked downstairs, the evening breeze brushed against her face, instantly washing away some of her fatigue.
Just as she was heading to the parking garage, someone called out to her from behind.
Si Yuan turned around and saw Chen Mo.
Compared to his flirtatious demeanor last time, Chen Mo’s attitude was noticeably more restrained this time, likely because he had inquired about her family background from others.
He jogged over and asked eagerly, “Si Yuan, are you free this weekend? I’d like to treat you to a meal as an apology… for my previous rudeness.”
Si Yuan adjusted her bag strap and politely shook her head. “Sorry, I already have plans this weekend.”
“What about another time?” Chen Mo pressed immediately, taking a step forward and almost blocking her path. “My schedule is flexible—just name a time.”
Si Yuan frowned slightly and offered a more direct excuse with patience. “No need, Chen Mo. I already have someone I like.”
His smile froze as if doused with cold water, and he furrowed his brows, his tone tinged with disbelief and curiosity. “You haven’t been back in the country for long, right? How could it be so fast… Is it someone from our company?”
His persistent questioning made Si Yuan somewhat impatient, but since Chen Mo had been her half-mentor when she first joined the company, she maintained a surface-level politeness.
“Sorry, I’d rather not discuss personal matters. I just remembered some work I need to finish—I have to go back and work overtime. Excuse me.”
“Overtime?” Chen Mo refused to let it go, his voice rising slightly as he spoke righteously. “Didn’t you already submit all your drafts last week? Who’s assigning you more work? I’ll go talk to the supervisor—this is exploitation!”
Si Yuan quickly stopped him, thinking he was being foolish. “Really, it’s not necessary. It wasn’t assigned by the supervisor.”
“Then who was it?” Chen Mo persisted stubbornly, his eyes filled with determination and indignation, resolved to stand up for Si Yuan.
“Whoever it is, they can’t exploit people like this!”
As soon as his words fell, a deep, cold voice suddenly cut through the chilly wind from behind.
“It’s me. Do you have a problem with that?”