“Song Ruannin.” The man’s pressing voice fell again. “Speak.”
Song Ruannin’s throat felt clogged with cotton. After a long pause, she finally spoke: “I never thought about divorcing him.”
With that, she opened the door and quickly fled the scene.
Her heart pounded wildly. Only after returning to her room did Ruan Ning finally let out the breath she had been holding.
“Sister Ruan Ning, why were you gone for so long?” Zhou Ying came over to ask.
Ruan Ning snapped back to reality. “I ran into a bit of trouble, which delayed me. I didn’t manage to buy anything either—that dessert shop was closed.”
“It’s okay. Qimeng is already asleep,” Zhou Ying comforted her. “Sister Ruan Ning, let’s get some sleep too. We have a lot to do tomorrow.”
The next day, the group met Director Liao, and things progressed smoothly.
During the audition, Li Qimeng performed exceptionally well. The director’s team informed her to go back and wait for news.
The group hurriedly flew back to Yancheng.
As soon as she got off the plane, Ruan Ning went to the hospital.
Du Yunfei explained Song Zhirou’s condition in detail. It was more complicated than expected, and the awakening period would need to be extended.
Although she had mentally prepared herself, after leaving the hospital, Ruan Ning felt completely drained. She sat on a bench at the bus stop, lost in thought for a long time.
It wasn’t until Chen Wanyue called, with Song Ziyan’s voice coming through the phone, that she snapped out of it.
“Mom, aren’t you done yet? I’ve been staying at Grandma’s for a week already. I miss you so much.”
Ruan Ning finally perked up. “Sweetie, wait just a little longer. Mom will come pick you up right away.”
After not seeing Song Ziyan for over a week, the little girl threw herself into her arms the moment they met.
Ruan Ning felt as if all the exhaustion of the past few days had been swept away in an instant.
On the way home, the little girl held her hand the entire time, chattering about the fun things that had happened at school over the past few days.
Ruan Ning listened patiently.
“Mom, my best friend Ji Yumo’s birthday is on Sunday. She invited me to her house to play. Can you come with me?”
Ever since starting first grade, Song Ziyan had often talked about making a good friend named Ji Yumo.
Song Ziyan looked at her with sparkling eyes, making it impossible for Ruan Ning to refuse. “Okay.”
On Sunday, Ruan Ning first took her daughter to the mall to buy an exquisitely crafted music box, then took a taxi to the address given by Song Ziyan’s good friend.
As soon as she got out of the car, Ruan Ning froze.
In front of her stood a lavishly decorated French-style standalone villa, covering a vast area. A banner hung above the entrance, reading: “Happy Birthday to Princess Ji Yumo.”
By then, many people had already gathered in the villa’s courtyard.
A man dressed as a butler jogged over to the two of them, crouched down, and asked Song Ziyan, “Are you little friend Song Ziyan?”
Song Ziyan nodded. “Yes.”
The two were respectfully ushered inside.
In the distance, a little girl dressed like a princess from a fairy tale spotted Song Ziyan and immediately rushed over, wrapping her arms tightly around her.
“Yanyan!”
After the two little girls exchanged affectionate greetings, Ji Yumo finally noticed Ruan Ning.
“So pretty,” she said, holding Song Ziyan’s hand and asking, “Is this your sister?”
Song Ziyan beamed with pride. “Not my sister—she’s my mom.”
Ruan Ning also crouched down, gently patting the little girl’s head, and smiled warmly. “I heard you’re our Ziyan’s best friend at school.”
“This is Auntie’s gift for you. Happy birthday.” She handed the gift to the little girl.
Ji Yumo happily accepted it, “Wow, thank you, pretty auntie.”
Ruan Ning was invited to the parents’ seats in the yard.
Throughout the event, her eyes never left Song Ziyan.
Song Ziyan was wearing a simple floral dress.
But seeing all the children in the villa garden dressed so exquisitely, a pang of bitterness welled up in Ruan Ning’s heart.
Only Song Ziyan was dressed so plainly.
She felt guilty—over the years, Ziyan hadn’t had an easy life with her.
Just as she was thinking this, Ji Yumo shouted from across the yard, “The prince is here!”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the villa entrance.
Zhai Yu walked out from under the villa’s arched doorway.
The man was tall and imposing, dressed in a prince’s outfit embroidered with gold thread, a cape draped over his shoulders, his hair slicked back—like a character straight out of a comic book.
Song Ruannin widened her eyes, rubbed them, thinking she must have been mistaken.
Why was it Zhai Yu?
After Zhai Yu entered, the children swarmed around him, pulling the indifferent-looking man into games.
Ruan Ning sat in the last row of the parents’ seats, overhearing whispers from those in front.
“Is that the Zhai family’s second son who was just recognized? I heard he was handsome, but I didn’t expect him to be so dashing, like a celebrity.”
“Exactly, exactly. I wonder if he’s married. If not, I could introduce my niece to him.”
“Forget it. With the Zhai family’s status, marriage alliances are predetermined. Let’s not get involved—just enjoy the view.”
Ruan Ning didn’t know what relationship Ji Yumo, Song Ziyan’s classmate, had with Zhai Yu. She just tried to keep herself hidden behind the people in front, hoping not to be noticed.
After playing games with the children for a while, Zhai Yu removed his cape and walked toward the parents’ seats.
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Zhai Yu walked to the last row and sat directly beside Ruan Ning.
Ruan Ning held her breath, occasionally stealing glances at him.
“What? Don’t recognize me after just a few days?” The man’s tone was cold.
Song Ruannin cleared her throat, “Hello, President Zhai.”
At that moment, two little girls ran up to them.
Song Ziyan was sweating from playing, so Ruan Ning took out a handkerchief to wipe her forehead. Afterward, the little girl nestled softly into her arms.
Seeing this, Ji Yumo stared at Zhai Yu with grape-like eyes, “I want my sweat wiped too.”
Zhai Yu replied coolly, “Use your skirt to wipe it.”
Ji Yumo pouted again, “Then I want to snuggle in your arms too.”
“Wipe the sweat off your head first.” Zhai Yu held the little girl’s head, refusing to let her get close.
Ruan Ning kept glancing at the two of them out of the corner of her eye.
Zhai Yu noticed and raised an eyebrow, “What? Are you the only one allowed to have a daughter?”
He ruffled Ji Yumo’s hair a couple of times, messing it up.
“This is my daughter,” Zhai Yu said.
Ji Yumo cooperatively called out to him, “Father.”
“Good girl.” The man looked at Ruan Ning, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Ruan Ning was stunned for a moment before saying, “Your daughter is very cute.”
Zhai Yu’s expression immediately darkened, his brow furrowing slightly.
The little girl in his arms took advantage of the situation, climbing onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and calling out repeatedly.
“Father, Father, Father, Father.”
Just then, a woman wearing a classical embroidered cheongsam, with a graceful figure and an elegant stride, walked over and picked up Ji Yumo.
She said to Zhai Yu, “If you want a daughter, have one yourself. Don’t think about stealing mine.”
Song Ruannin had seen this cheongsam beauty on television before.
Zhai Lingyin, the eldest daughter of the Zhai family, and Zhai Yu’s biological sister.
Zhai Yu glanced at Song Ruannin out of the corner of his eye and said to Zhai Lingyin, “I’d love to have one, but six years ago, no one gave birth to a daughter for me. Why don’t you ask my girlfriend from six years ago why she didn’t give me a daughter?”