Meanwhile, Su Xiao returned to the living room, her eyes already reddened, her expression full of grievance.
“Mother,” she said bitterly, “Song Yue is far too unruly. I personally went to tell her to come greet the Duke, but she ran away instead. She even told him to go to hell.”
The moment those words fell, Li Meiran’s expression darkened.
That stupid girl.
It seemed she truly didn’t want to live anymore.
He Fen was no fool.
She understood immediately what Su Xiao was trying to imply.
Her face hardened, and she turned on Su Xiao with a sharp rebuke.
“Have you lost your mind?” she scolded.
“How can you speak so carelessly in front of our distinguished guests?”
Su Xiao looked flustered at once, as if she had been wronged.
“Mother, it’s really not my fault,” she said hurriedly.
“Song Yue was too unruly. I was so angry that I spoke without thinking. She even told the Duke to—”
She paused deliberately, then added loudly, as though afraid Li Meiran hadn’t heard clearly enough.
“—to leave and never come back!”
He Fen let out a long sigh and turned toward Elizabeth, her tone filled with regret.
“Please forgive us, Madam. That child lacks discipline. She’s nothing like my eldest granddaughter, Weisha. Weisha is sensible, well-mannered, and properly educated. She would never behave in such a crude way.”
Elizabeth’s brows slowly drew together.
The girl sounded troublesome.
Too troublesome.
Perhaps this Song Weisha really was the better choice.
After a moment, she asked slowly, “That girl, Song Yue… is her father the eldest son of your family?”
He Fen nodded.
“Yes. He passed away early. Without parents to guide her, she grew up unrestrained.”
Elizabeth sighed softly.
So Mr.
Yun hadn’t been mistaken after all.
What a pity.
Seeing the moment, Su Xiao smoothly changed the topic.
“I don’t think Song Yue will return anytime soon,” she said gently.
“Why don’t I invite the Duke and Madam to stay for dinner?”
“Alright,” Li Meiran replied immediately, nodding without hesitation.
Elizabeth turned to look at her son, surprised.
She had planned to leave, yet he agreed so readily.
“Well then,” she said after a pause, “we’ll accept your hospitality.”
Su Xiao’s face lit up with joy.
“What an honor! I’ll personally prepare the meal.”
As she turned to leave, she grabbed Song Weisha’s arm.
“Why are you still standing there? Come help me in the kitchen. You’ll cook something for the Duke yourself!”
Song Weisha stamped her foot in frustration.
“Song Yue insulted him like that, yet he’s not even angry!”
Su Xiao lowered her voice and whispered reassuringly, “Why worry? If she didn’t anger him this time, she will sooner or later. You only need to act like a gentle and proper lady. When the moment comes, who else would he choose?”
Song Weisha calmed slightly, but impatience still gnawed at her heart.
She curled her lips into a cold smile.
By now, Song Yue should already be at school.
It was a pity she wouldn’t be there to see how everything turned out.
*
At school, Song Yue rushed into the classroom, her footsteps sharp against the floor.
The moment she stepped inside, she felt something was wrong.
The room was eerily quiet.
Too quiet.
Her gaze swept across the seats.
Lan Xia wasn’t there.
Not at her desk.
Not anywhere.
Only one person remained.
Bi Ge was leaning lazily against a desk at the back, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Song Yue’s heart sank.
She strode toward him, her voice low and dangerous.
“Where’s Lan Xia?” she demanded.
“What did you do with her?”
Bi Ge lifted his eyes slowly.
“How would I know?”
A bitter laugh escaped her.
“You’re the class monitor,” she snapped.
“Something happened in your class, and you did nothing? Do you even deserve that title?”
Bi Ge’s expression changed instantly.
He straightened and grabbed her shoulder.
“Watch your mouth.”
“I’m just telling the truth,” Song Yue shot back, shaking off his hand.
“You only know how to follow orders blindly like a dog.”
His face darkened.
“Say that again.”
“You heard me,” she said coldly.
“You don’t protect your classmates. You protect whoever feeds you the bone. Your parents should have known about your dog-like personality. That’s why they named you after Beagel.”
Anger flared in his eyes at the blatant insult.
He shoved her hard, pinning her back against the desk.
“You bitch…”
Song Yue met his gaze without flinching.
“Let go of me.”
Instead of releasing her, he leaned closer, his voice dropping into something sharp and vicious.
“You think you can provoke me without consequences?”
Song Yue lifted her knee sharply, catching him off guard and forcing him to stagger back.
“Don’t touch me.”
Bi Ge’s rage exploded.
He lunged forward again.
“You dare hit me?”
“I dare more than that,” she snapped.
Her palm then cracked across his cheek.
*Tap*
The sound rang out sharply in the empty classroom.
Bi Ge froze, one hand lifting to his burning face.
“You think you’re better than everyone else?” he sneered.
“Everyone’s the same.”
Song Yue turned her face away, disgust clear in her eyes.
“You’re nothing more than a Song Weisha’s dog.”
“Say that again,” he growled.
“You heard me,” she replied calmly.
“And if you don’t let go, I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly what kind of person you are.”
Her gaze flicked toward the classroom door.
Then suddenly, her expression changed.
Her eyes widened.
Her shoulders tensed.
Her voice trembled as she spoke aloud, “This… this is a misunderstanding.”
Bi Ge stared at her, stunned by the sudden shift.
Frightened?
Who could possibly scare Song Yue like that?
Several faces flashed through his mind.
Song Weisha.
The principal.
No one else truly scared him—except the thought of the principal calling his parents and stripping him of his position as class monitor.
Thinking of that, Bi Ge instinctively straightened and glanced toward the door.
His reputation couldn’t be ruined.
But when he looked again, the doorway was empty.
That brief hesitation was all Song Yue needed.
She drove her knee forward, striking him hard in the lower abdomen.
As he doubled over, she shoved him away, sprinted for the door, slipped out, and slammed it shut from the outside.
Click.
She locked it.
Only then did Bi Ge realize he had been fooled.
He rushed over and yanked at the handle furiously.
“Song Yue! Open this door! If you don’t, don’t even think about coming to class tomorrow!”
Outside, Song Yue leaned casually against the door, completely unbothered.
“Fine. I won’t come,” she replied lightly.
“If you can stop me, go ask the principal for permission.”
Bi Ge nearly choked.
That threat was useless.
“You think you’re clever?” he shouted angrily.
“It was your cousin who told me to find people to teach you a lesson today! I went easy on you, and this is how you repay me?”
Song Yue snorted.
“My cousin really is something,” she said coolly.
“She sends you to deal with me while she stays home trying to win over Duke Li Meiran.”
She paused, then added coldly, “Just wait. You’ll be left behind sooner or later.”
With that, she turned and walked away without looking back.
Inside the classroom, Bi Ge slammed his fist against the door, his chest heaving.
What?