“Has Man’er fallen in love?”
Song Junyan’s hand paused as he reached for the cigarette case, squinting over at her.
He wore glasses, all his emotions concealed behind the lenses, carrying a dormant calmness.
Ruan Wenhua didn’t notice any of this and continued on her own: “You and Man’er are close—has she ever mentioned having someone she likes?”
Song Junyan: “Why do you say that all of a sudden?”
The question put Ruan Wenhua in a difficult spot.
Outwardly, they were all one family.
But within, Song Lianming was the eldest son, while Song Junyan was nothing more than an illegitimate child who couldn’t be brought into the light.
People’s hearts are separated by skin.
Even close kin could turn their blades on each other—let alone him?
Ruan Wenhua couldn’t possibly spill everything to Song Junyan like beans tumbling from a bamboo tube.
Weighing her words for a moment, Ruan Wenhua said, “Young girls are thin-skinned and can’t hide things well. I’ve noticed there seems to be some sign of it.”
Song Junyan said nothing.
Shen Zhiyin, who had been quietly listening on the side, suddenly spoke up: “Man’er is beautiful—plenty of people like her, and there’s no shortage of those who try to win her favor. It’s enough to stir a passing fancy in her.”
Song Junyan let out a light laugh. “You noticed it too?”
Those few short words carried a hidden meaning.
They struck Shen Zhiyin’s eardrums with an almost martial intensity, and she gave an awkward smile. “I’m just guessing.”
Ruan Wenhua seized the opening. “There’s no smoke without fire—a guess backed by reason.”
She took Shen Zhiyin’s hand. “I’m afraid she might go down the wrong path.”
To get into Ye University, one had to stand out in at least one of ability, background, or insight.
Song Man was nothing but an orphan who’d stumbled into fortune by sheer luck and been taken in by the Song family.
What could she possibly pick from?
Shen Zhiyin thought to herself.
But Song Junyan spoke up: “Sister-in-law, are you asking me to go question her?”
Shen Zhiyin could no longer sit still.
The two of them were already in an ambiguous state—giving them another chance to be alone together would be like adding oil to a blazing fire.
Besides, this happened to be an opportunity.
Shen Zhiyin’s eyes rolled with a glint, and she spoke with a smile: “After all, she’s a precious darling raised in Sister’s hands, so it’s only natural for you to worry. But asking her outright about such matters—girls have thin faces, and she’d likely be too shy to say it.”
Shen Zhiyin paused for a moment, as if thinking, or as if weighing her words.
“How about this—Sister, you host a banquet and invite suitable young men from the same social circle. To the outside, you’d say Man’er has reached the age and should find someone suitable to get to know first. On the inside, if Man’er already has someone in her heart, she certainly won’t be willing to accept such an arrangement.”
“How thoughtful of you.”
A light scoff came from across the room.
Shen Zhiyin looked up, meeting the man’s gaze.
Deep, dark—even the warm yellow lamplight seemed to turn cold as it fell into those eyes.
Shen Zhiyin pressed her lips together. “I was just speaking off the top of my head—it might still need more consideration…”
But Ruan Wenhua took it to heart. That night, she mulled it over carefully and truly found it feasible, so the next day she discussed it with Song Lianming.
Song Lianming frowned. “Man’er is only a junior in college. Isn’t it too early to do this now?”
Ruan Wenhua shot him a glance. “I was only twenty-two when I married you. Why didn’t you think I was too young then?”
At the time, a subordinate under Old Master Song had made a political misstep, and the fallout nearly brought Song Lianming’s father down from his position.
Song Lianming had acted decisively and married the daughter of Shanghai’s wealthiest man at the time—Ruan Wenhua.
When one prospers, all prosper; when one falls, all fall.
The Ruan family gladly handed over a large sum of money to fund a face-saving campaign for Old Master Song, building up his momentum. That was what kept his position secure.
That matter had long since passed.
But Ruan Wenhua would bring it up from time to time.
Going along with her words made him seem spineless, while going against them left him open to accusations of “killing the hounds once the rabbits are gone.”
So Song Lianming simply listened.
Now, seeing Ruan Wenhua showing signs of launching into another lengthy discussion on the matter, Song Lianming immediately surrendered: “Do as you please. If she takes a liking to someone, it doesn’t have to be a formal betrothal—dating first is fine too.”
He added, “Whether you’re playing cards or listening to music, just make sure it’s all settled before the old man gets back. Don’t let him find out.”
The old man was nearing retirement—a man who had held power his entire life, about to see it slip away. Perhaps he felt uneasy, or perhaps he wanted to prove he was still vigorous in his old age.
So despite his failing health, he insisted on going to the neighboring city to participate in new construction.
Counting the days, there was only half a month left.
Ruan Wenhua’s heart tightened. She felt she couldn’t delay any longer and immediately set about making preparations with great urgency.