The atmosphere between mother and daughter grew delicate.
At this critical moment, a knock came from the door.
Lin Shuangyu pushed the door open and entered, a proper smile hanging on her face. Her gaze first fell on Si Yuan before she naturally stepped forward.
She linked arms with Song’s Mother: “Auntie, what are you talking about?”
Song’s Mother turned to look at her, the chill in her tone instantly dissipating, replaced by a touch of softness.
Yet her eyes swept over Si Yuan as she spoke lightly: “We were saying how wonderful it would be if you were also my daughter. It’s such a pity I met you so late, Auntie.”
Si Yuan’s heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by something, a dense pain instantly spreading through her, making it hard to breathe.
This remark from Song’s Mother was too cruel.
Of all the ways she could have admonished Si Yuan, she had to use this one.
Lin Shuangyu immediately laughed and shook Song’s Mother’s arm, intimate and pleasing: “Oh, Auntie, aren’t I going to be your daughter from now on? Let’s stop chatting—the birthday banquet is about to start. Shall we go down together?”
“Alright.”
Song’s Mother agreed readily, and when she stood up, she deliberately straightened Lin Shuangyu’s shawl, her movements natural and affectionate.
The two walked side by side toward the door, their retreating figures looking more like a real mother and daughter.
Si Yuan felt dazed.
She stood rooted to the spot, her feet as if filled with lead, without the strength to take even one step.
It seemed she had done something wrong again.
Only when they reached the doorway did Song’s Mother look back, her tone carrying a barely noticeable urgency: “Why are you still standing there? Even Shuangyu is more concerned about your own birthday banquet than you are.”
Si Yuan’s throat tightened. She nodded and silently followed behind the two.
That dress—she ultimately didn’t change into it.
Actually, no one cared.
There were more people downstairs than she had imagined, the crowd filled with unfamiliar and distant gazes amidst the elegant attire and coiffed hair.
As an adopted daughter of the Song Family, perhaps no one would have come if not for the invitation from the Songs.
No sooner had Si Yuan steadied herself than she was pushed to the front of the crowd.
Lin Shuangyu immediately stepped forward to take her hand, holding it with an unyielding grip, and introduced her to the surrounding elite youths with a smile: “This is Si Yuan, today’s birthday girl.”
Every word that followed felt like she was “promoting” Si Yuan on behalf of Song’s Mother.
Si Yuan’s fingertips turned pale, her eyes instinctively searching the crowd for Song Yan.
She didn’t want a birthday banquet like this; even the word “birthday” now made her anxious.
The medicine?
Where was the medicine she had brought with her this morning…
“I want to go back to the car to get something.”
Si Yuan tried to break free from Lin Shuangyu’s grip.
But her hand was held even tighter.
Lin Shuangyu suddenly leaned close to her ear, her voice lowered with a hint of concealed laughter: “Wait a moment, there’s still a good show you haven’t seen.”
Si Yuan’s fingertips turned cold instantly, her struggle intensifying as she stared warily at Lin Shuangyu: “What are you trying to do?”
Lin Shuangyu raised an eyebrow and spoke leisurely: “If I’m not mistaken, back in the private room, Auntie was telling you not to harbor any foolish hopes about Song Yan, right?”
Si Yuan’s heart sank as she warned her: “Lin Shuangyu, don’t go too far.”
“Too far?” Lin Shuangyu chuckled lightly, “But Auntie also said she wants me to be her daughter. Si Yuan, you—you were born to be abandoned. Your parents left early, and now even the Song Family can hardly tolerate you.”
With those words, she struck directly at Si Yuan’s most painful spot.
The bullying Si Yuan endured from Lin Shuangyu’s clique back then wasn’t just physical—it was psychological as well.
Lin Shuangyu was adept at manipulating people’s minds, and those who excel at manipulation are even more skilled at toying with emotions.
That was why Si Yuan remained trapped in the shadow of psychological trauma for so many years.
Leaning closer, Lin Shuangyu’s voice, laced with chill, seeped into Si Yuan’s ears: “What do you think—if everyone sees how pathetic you are later, will Auntie dislike you even more? Maybe she’ll just send you abroad again and never let you come back to be an eyesore.”
The words struck Si Yuan like a blow to the head.
Her entire body trembled, her fingertips turned icy cold, and she could barely stand steady.
Lin Shuangyu’s words were like needles dipped in poison, effortlessly dragging her back into the shadow of those past torments.
Dazedly, she looked around—the elegantly dressed guests, the flickering lights—everything and everyone seemed to carry malice, suffocating her.
What was Lin Shuangyu planning?
What leverage did she still have?
No… She had thrown everything away. What could Lin Shuangyu possibly use to threaten her now?
Just then, a man in a suit walked past with a wine glass, smiling as he offered it to her: “Happy birthday, Song Miss.”
Si Yuan recoiled as if scalded, stepping back abruptly, her eyes filled with terror.
The commotion was noticeable enough that many turned to look.
From a distance, Song’s Father and Song’s Mother also witnessed the scene.
Exchanging a glance, they both furrowed their brows, their displeasure unmistakable.
Noticing something off about Si Yuan, Song’s Father frowned slightly and turned to his wife beside him: “Where’s A Yan? Why hasn’t he arrived yet? Xiao Yuan—only he can calm her down every time.”
Song’s Mother’s expression was stern, her tone impatient: “A Yan just got off the plane and is on his way. But I think we can’t always rely on him to handle her—don’t you know Xiao Yuan harbors some improper feelings for A Yan?”
“Don’t imagine things,” Song’s Father shook his head, his tone softening. “I saw with my own eyes that Xiao Yuan threw away all those old things. She was young and couldn’t distinguish between dependence and other emotions. I actually think now that she’s grown up, she doesn’t have those kinds of thoughts about A Yan anymore. Back then, she was just a scared child, and A Yan always doted on her, so she depended on him for everything.”
“Being scared is an excuse?” Song’s Mother retorted, concern in her eyes but leaning more toward Song Yan. “No matter what, as parents, we have to help her break this dependence. What if she acts immaturely again someday and causes some scandal? It would shame A Yan, and our Song Family would have nowhere to hide our face!”
Song’s Father nodded silently, a rare touch of melancholy in his tone: “If Xiao Yuan’s family hadn’t gone through those troubles, she might not have to struggle like this, and things between her and A Yan could have been peaceful.”
Song’s Mother took a sip of wine, her tone resolute: “That’s not necessarily true. Even if those things hadn’t happened, the Si Family and our family are still mismatched. She and A Yan were only ever meant to be siblings.”
In the crowd, Lin Shuangyu suddenly released Si Yuan’s hand.
Seizing a moment to exchange pleasantries with a lady nearby, she slipped away unnoticed, leaving Si Yuan alone and isolated amid the bustling crowd.
Si Yuan turned around, feeling lost and disoriented.
It was supposed to be her birthday banquet, yet at this moment, she felt like an intruder, utterly helpless and out of place.
She couldn’t understand why, despite having a clear conscience and having long suppressed inappropriate feelings, even managing to smile while giving her gift to Lin Shuangyu just to maintain this carefully preserved familial bond.
Yet why did Lin Shuangyu still cling to her like an inescapable net, refusing to let go?
The more she thought about it, the more panicked she became, her chest tightening until she felt almost suffocated.
Just then, a slight commotion arose at the entrance of the Banquet Hall.
A tall figure walked in against the light and immediately spotted Si Yuan among the crowd.
It was Song Yan.
Song Yan had arrived.