Planting subtle foreshadowing in such minute details was her habitual approach as a screenwriter.
Moreover, Zheng Jianguo only had that psychological reaction after seeing Ruan Zheng, indicating that the Zheng Family likely also had a daughter who had been left adrift outside, much like Ruan Zheng.
If that daughter were the Zheng Family’s third child, it wouldn’t have been omitted entirely in the narrative. The most probable reason for not mentioning her was that there was no third child.
Thus, the situation became quite clear.
The Zheng Family had no extra children, yet one was missing, meaning Zheng Wanyin must have taken that child’s place.
Neither Zheng Xiujie nor Wang Jinhua mentioned it, suggesting they were unaware—it was that old scoundrel Zheng Jianguo who had secretly swapped out his youngest daughter behind his wife and son’s backs.
However, all of this remained speculation.
What truly confirmed Ruan Zheng’s suspicions was Zheng Jianguo’s reaction.
He agreed to Ruan Zheng’s demands.
This validated Ruan Zheng’s conjecture.
And successfully handed leverage right into Ruan Zheng’s hands.
This round was an overwhelming victory—how could Ruan Zheng not gloat?
Of course, there was still Zheng Xiujie in the Zheng Family.
The reason Ruan Zheng didn’t suspect him was simply that he shared the same face as Wang Jinhua, making it impossible for him to have been swapped.
Only that poor child remained pitiable.
Although the Song Family also favored Song Yao, they genuinely hadn’t known about the child swap back then, which made them slightly better than Zheng Jianguo.
After gloating, Ruan Zheng remembered she was still a patient and quietly lowered her crossed legs.
Almost the moment she did, Song Yao barged into the hospital room.
This was Ruan Zheng’s first time seeing Song Yao in person; previously, she had only glimpsed her through the original host’s memories, and those impressions were hazy.
Song Yao had the appearance of an innocent, delicate flower.
Not stunningly beautiful, but sufficiently demure and well-behaved.
In this era, everyone tended to favor obedient girls, which was why Song Yao was so popular within the military compound.
Of course, her family background also played a role.
The Song Family boasted three military men.
Father Song Changjiang was a deputy division commander, the eldest son Song Zhandong was a battalion commander, the second son Song Zhanbei was a deputy battalion commander, and although Mother Song wasn’t in the military, she served as the deputy director of Huai City Textile Factory.
With such a family background, even within the military compound, they were considered top-tier.
Those with sharp eyes and ambitions to curry favor all targeted Song Yao.
After all, compared to the shrewd and experienced Song Changjiang and others, Song Yao was naive and kind-hearted—much easier to deceive.
This led to Song Yao being practically coddled and pampered by the entire compound as she grew up.
When her true identity was eventually exposed, her simple wish to become a true member of the Song Family even prompted Mother Song to have Song Zhanbei marry her, fully unleashing the protagonist’s halo.
But Ruan Zheng wasn’t a character from the book; this halo had no effect on her.
After entering the room, Song Yao met Ruan Zheng’s scrutinizing gaze and felt a tremor in her heart, a sense of foreboding. Yet, given her awkward position, she couldn’t say much. She simply stepped aside to let Mother Song, Liu Xiangqin, enter behind her.
Liu Xiangqin was 44 this year. Having lived a sheltered life, her features were bright and well-maintained, making her exceptionally beautiful.
Ruan Zheng bore a fifty percent resemblance to her, but unfortunately, her dark complexion overshadowed everything. Liu Xiangqin couldn’t see the similarity at all, which was one reason she felt no closeness toward Ruan Zheng.
Seeing the bandages wrapped around Ruan Zheng’s head, a flicker of pity flashed in Liu Xiangqin’s eyes.
But remembering her husband’s instructions, she quickly hardened her heart. “Xiao Zheng, you’ve gone too far this time. Go to the station immediately to withdraw the case, take some nutritional supplements to apologize to your mother-in-law, then publish a clarification in the newspaper stating that you married Xiujie voluntarily, without any coercion, and that your mother-in-law never forced you back to the countryside. Do you understand?”
Ruan Zheng had long been aware of the Song Family's attitude, but Liu Xiangqin's words still left her deeply disappointed.
She had cursed Zheng Xiujie to vent the original host's resentment and also to release her own frustration over being inexplicably transmigrated.
She wasn't some shrew who took pleasure in cursing others for fun every day.
Moreover, since Liu Xiangqin was, after all, her nominal mother, being too aggressive or speaking too harshly wouldn't help her scheme for compensation.
Ruan Zheng suppressed the disappointment in her eyes, and when she looked up again, her eyes were brimming with tears.
Unfortunately, before she could put on her act, Song Yao spoke first.
"Mom, don't be angry. Sister must have spread those rumors because she resents us for making her marry Brother Xiujie in my place. She definitely didn't mean it."
Damn.
A damn green tea bitch.
Ruan Zheng nearly rolled her eyes.
Fortunately, as she moved, the tears in her eyes fell first, interrupting her action.
She didn't rush to refute Song Yao's words. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Liu Xiangqin and said slowly, "Mom, if I died, would you feel sad about it?"
Liu Xiangqin frowned disapprovingly. "Don't change the subject. I'm talking to you about serious matters. Hurry up and take care of it."
Ruan Zheng persisted. "Is that question so hard to answer?"
Liu Xiangqin grew even more furious, her voice rising an octave. "What nonsense are you spouting? You made a mistake, and everyone is busy cleaning up your mess. Xiao Yao even nearly knelt to beg your father-in-law for mercy, asking him not to blame you. And what are you doing? Hiding here slacking off, asking these ridiculous questions. Can't you be a bit more sensible and take some responsibility?"
Ruan Zheng had originally intended to keep up the act, but seeing Liu Xiangqin's attitude, she couldn't be bothered anymore.
Her face fell. Without even looking at Liu Xiangqin, she turned her back and said indifferently, "If you don't even care about my life or death, then you have no right to be my mother. And if you're not my mother, you naturally have no right to demand anything from me. Please leave. I have a terrible headache and need to rest."
Liu Xiangqin was stunned.
Before she could fully process the meaning of Ruan Zheng's words, Song Yao wrapped her arms around her.
Song Yao seemed furious, her entire body trembling, yet even so, she prioritized comforting Liu Xiangqin, her filial piety on full display. "Mom, Sister is just speaking out of anger. She didn't mean those words. Please don't be upset."
Only then did Liu Xiangqin's anger surge belatedly.
In an instant, her expression turned cold and stern, adopting the authoritative demeanor she used at the factory.
Unfortunately, Ruan Zheng couldn't see it and had no interest in listening to their mother-daughter performance. Her voice grew even colder. "My demand is simple. If you want to be my mother, then please prioritize my safety and well-being. If you don't want to be my mother, then know your place and approach me with the attitude of negotiating terms, not with the arrogance of ordering me around."
"You!" Liu Xiangqin's pent-up words were instantly choked back by Ruan Zheng.
Song Yao promptly stepped in as the peacemaker. "Sister, say less. Look how angry you've made Mom."
She continued patting Liu Xiangqin's back soothingly. "Mom, don't take it to heart either. Sister is just full of resentment with nowhere to vent it. She probably just wants to take it out on someone close to her. She doesn't mean any harm."
Liu Xiangqin felt immensely comforted by Song Yao's words.
But the thought of what Ruan Zheng had done and said made her heart grow cold.
Truly, a biological child can never compare to one raised with care.
This child, Ruan Zheng, had truly been ruined by her upbringing in the countryside.
She was utterly disappointed in Ruan Zheng and said with a cold expression, "What's the point of being tough at home? If you have the guts, go be tough outside. Get yourself sent off for labor reform, and see if we'll clean up your mess again."
Ruan Zheng: "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm pretty tough outside too. Otherwise, why would you two come here? Visiting the sick? Empty-handed? That's really poor manners. If word gets out, the aunties in the compound will laugh about it for half a year."
Liu Xiangqin and Song Yao: "…"