You’re the Child’s Mother
“Your Song Chan really exceeded expectations this time. She’s usually at the bottom of the class; I don’t know what stroke of luck she had, but she managed to get into the top class.”
The amusement park was bustling with activity, and the themed Western restaurant was decorated in a dreamlike style. Her aunt’s family was treating everyone to dinner to celebrate Song Chan’s admission to the top class.
However, Song Chan felt strangely uncomfortable listening to her aunt’s congratulatory remarks.
“Compared to her, our Xuanxuan was really unlucky this time. Her dad took her to Japanese food before the exam, and look what happened.”
Song Chan’s mother: “Not fresh?”
Aunt: “Salmon, salmon! Listen to that name, so unlucky! She did well in politics, history, and geography, but failed physics and chemistry! Our Xuanxuan is usually cut out for Tsinghua and Peking University. Everyone’s always said she’s smarter than your Song Chan. What’s the use? Real ability is nothing compared to luck.”
Song Chan’s father: “Sister, don’t say that. It’s just a placement exam. Xuanxuan will definitely get into a good university in the future.”
Aunt: “That’s true. Song Chan still needs to work harder. The early bird catches the worm. She was lucky this time, but who knows, she might not be so lucky in the college entrance exam.”
Song Chan felt something was wrong, really wrong.
But she looked around. Her younger brother, Song Qing, was stuffing himself with a plate of salad, and her mother and father were laughing heartily at her aunt. They didn’t seem to see anything wrong.
Song Chan forced a stiff smile, inwardly wondering if she was being too sensitive.
Was she being too sensitive?
The waiter brought out dish after dish, her aunt’s mouth never stopping.
“This is seafood flown in from Norway. You don’t have the money to travel abroad, so you rarely have the chance to taste it, especially Song Chan. Eat more.”
“Oh, that’s hilarious! Song Chan, that’s not how you eat caviar. Look it up online yourself, hahaha.”
…
The meal left Song Chan sweating profusely. Sometimes she would cast pleading glances at her parents, but they didn’t seem to understand. They even thought her aunt’s upbringing was spot-on—no wonder she was the only worldly-wise rich woman in the family.
When the dessert was served, Song Chan mustered her courage and said, “Thank you, Auntie. I’m a little full. Can we go outside and have some fun?”
Her auntie chuckled and said, “Sure, sure!” Then, looking at her daughter Zhou Wenxuan beside her, she added, “You should take your cousin out to play.”
Cousin Zhou Wenxuan warmly approached and pulled Song Chan up, “Let’s go.”
Song Chan didn’t interact much with her cousin; they only sat together for a meal during holidays.
Actually, Song Chan longed for a kind and understanding older sister, but her cousin was usually very aloof and never initiated conversations with her, even refusing to accept her friend request on Ma Huateng’s social media. Song Chan had often felt quite upset about this.
This was the first time her cousin had taken the initiative to ask her to play, and Song Chan happily went out with her cousin Zhou Wenxuan.
The amusement park was packed with people on the weekend. Song Chan spotted an ice cream stall and excitedly grabbed her cousin’s hand. “Sister, let’s go get some ice cream!”
“Um, Song Chan, I made plans with some friends.”
At the same time, she pulled her hand away from Song Chan’s grasp.
Song Chan looked at Zhou Wenxuan somewhat blankly, afraid her cousin would say she was leaving her.
“Let’s play together when my friends arrive.”
She wasn’t being abandoned.
Song Chan’s eyes lit up again, and she answered Zhou Wenxuan crisply, “Okay!”
Zhou Wenxuan, not understanding what Song Chan was so happy about, shook her head with a hint of disdain and turned her back.
She waited with her cousin for an hour before her cousin’s friends finally arrived one after another.
There was one boy and two girls; judging from their clothes, they came from well-off families.
Her cousin had no intention of introducing Song Chan to them. The group walked forward, laughing and joking, while Song Chan followed behind, feeling completely invisible.
“What should we do first?”
The boy in the sailor shirt was picking out tickets.
Perhaps wanting to fit in, Song Chan offered, “Do you want some meat skewers? I’ll go buy some.”
The three girls glanced back, their gazes icy.
Her cousin ignored her completely.
“Why are you only thinking about food the whole way?”
The boy in their group teased Song Chan, amused.
“Jiang Yuanqi, are you going to treat us or not! The roller coaster is eighty per person, pay up!”
“Coming, coming, what are you angry about? I’m talking to your cousin, not some other girl.”
“What cousin…”
Song Chan didn’t hear what Zhou Wenxuan said after that; she only felt that suffocating feeling of not fitting in wash over her again.
Song Chan didn’t speak again, didn’t make any requests, and just silently followed behind them with her head down.
Upon reaching the roller coaster ticket gate, Song Chan tugged at her cousin’s sleeve. “I’ll wait for you here.”
“Don’t be a coward, we’ve already bought your tickets.”
“Song Chan, don’t be like that. We came here today to celebrate with you, don’t spoil the fun.”
“Roller coasters are so much fun!”
Song Chan trembled at the sight of that enormous ride, but at the same time, she wondered if agreeing this time would allow her to fit in.
Not wanting to miss the chance to be close to her cousin, Song Chan gritted her teeth and said, “Okay, I’ll go.”
Soon, the previous roller coaster ride ended, and a new batch of riders began getting their tickets checked.
Song Chan was led to her seat by a staff member and had all the safety precautions taken.
“Cousin, can you hold my hand for a second…?”
Before Song Chan could finish speaking, her cousin and her friends giggled and ran off from their seats, disappearing under the railing in a flash, their faces full of mischief.
“Cousin, wait for me!”
Song Chan was anxious to leave, but her full set of safety gear prevented her from doing so.
An announcement began, reminding players not to move.
Song Chan, always obedient, could only close her eyes tightly, resigning herself to her fate.
The laughter of her cousin and her friends, even amidst the noisy crowd, sounded jarring.
Song Chan’s nose stung; an indescribable sadness spread through her heart.
The instant the machine roared to life, Song Chan’s heart sank into an abyss.
A voice told her: You’ve been left behind after all.
So wronged, Song Chan thought, her eyes tightly shut, her trembling eyelashes welling up with tears.
As she felt herself begin to rise, a hand reached out from the side and grasped Song Chan’s tense fingers.
Song Chan was startled, hearing an unfamiliar voice amidst the wind high above.
“You’re scared, aren’t you?”
“It’s okay.”
“The rides are very well-established. You have to trust me, it’s really safe.”
“Don’t be afraid, I’ll hold your hand.”
Song Chan felt her emotions magically calm down.
Who on earth is so kind? Who is so gentle?
The voice sounds so reliable, so steady; it must be an older man.
“Thank you… Uncle.”
Song Chan didn’t notice the other person’s momentary stiffness; she only wanted to see what the person who helped her looked like.
She tried to open her eyes, but the safety shield blocked most of her vision. The blinding sunlight from above blurred the other person’s silhouette into a dreamlike, indistinct figure.
After a while, the wind carried his magnetic voice.
“You’re welcome. Song Chan, since you’re here, you should enjoy the experience, shouldn’t you?”
Song Chan was surprised: “You know me?”
The other person didn’t speak. Song Chan’s heart tightened as she was suddenly plunged downwards, the deafening screams filling her ears.
Song Chan screamed along with them, feeling a surge of exhilaration.
When the roller coaster came to a stop, Song Chan still had her eyes tightly closed. A staff member reminded her, and she snapped out of her daze.
Song Chan quickly looked to her side; a couple was already sitting next to her.
The staff member urged Song Chan: “The next group has already come up, student, hurry up and leave.”
Song Chan reluctantly left, still searching for the figure of the person she had just seen outside the railing.
For some reason, she really wanted to find him.
“Song Chan, are you done?”
Her cousin, Zhou Wenxuan, came over with her friends, her face feigning concern.
“Yes.” Song Chan’s expression was not pleasant.
Zhou Wenxuan affectionately pulled her up, “I was just trying to test your courage! You’re amazing, riding a roller coaster all by yourself!”
The other friends also changed their attitude towards Song Chan, praising her repeatedly, “You’re really great, we were all so surprised, you’re so brave!”
One of the boys handed Song Chan a rabbit-shaped cotton candy, “I just bought this for you. Take it, we’ll take you to eat something delicious later.”
Before they knew it, it was dinnertime.
Song Chan was taken by Zhou Wenxuan and the others to a Chinese tea restaurant five kilometers away from the amusement park.
The restaurant was upscale, with an integrated garden architecture, exuding an air of luxury.
Song Chan was a little reserved. “Cousin, how about we go somewhere else?”
Zhou Wenxuan objected. “We’re celebrating for you, don’t spoil the fun, Song Chan.”
“Exactly! You were so brave today, and I heard you even got into a good class. We have to celebrate!”
“If you leave now, it means you don’t think much of us. We really want to be your friend.”
Song Chan was pushed into a private room without further ado.
The menu presented by the waiter had no prices. Song Chan wanted to question it, but her cousin gave her a warning look. “That’s how it is in high-end restaurants, don’t be silly.”
The more Song Chan tried to persuade her cousin to order less, the more extravagant her cousin became. In the end, the table was overflowing with food, far more than the five of them could finish.
When it came time to pay, the waiter politely announced the price, “Hello, your total is 20,300 yuan.”
The wealthy cousin was stunned. “How much!?”
The waiter announced the price again. They hadn’t misheard; it was that expensive.
Although my cousin’s family is wealthy, spending a thousand or eight hundred yuan on a meal is already top-tier. What kind of family would spend tens of thousands on a single meal?!
The group’s stunned expressions showed that this was beyond their means.
Song Chan sensed something was wrong and stepped forward, saying, “It can’t be this expensive. Show me the receipt.”
The previously polite waiter immediately rolled his eyes.
“So you don’t have money? Go eat at a street stall then.”
My cousin blushed, feeling embarrassed by Song Chan’s questioning of the restaurant. “Song Chan, you can’t possibly afford it, can you? We have things to do later. Can we hurry up?”
Song Chan could hardly believe her ears. “Cousin, didn’t you bring me here?”
Zhou Wenxuan: “We’re celebrating for you; you should be treating us to dinner.”
The other three looked at each other, speechless. Clearly, they hadn’t expected Zhou Wenxuan to pull this stunt; they hadn’t brought enough money and had pushed their cousin into a financial mess.
Looking at her aggressive cousin, Song Chan found it hard to describe her feelings.
“Cousin, I never said I was treating.”
The waiter sneered and called out to the manager inside, “Someone’s trying to renege on their bill, Mr. Wang, please come quickly.”
Zhou Wenxuan began to feel humiliated and threatened Song Chan, “Song Chan, how could I renege on my bill? I had no choice but to call your parents.”
Song Chan grabbed Zhou Wenxuan’s hand as she searched for her phone and questioned her in a low voice, “Why did you do this? You know perfectly well that my family…can’t afford this much money.”
How frustrating it was to be forced to say such humiliating things.
Her cousin, however, remained nonchalant. “Song Chan, don’t act all innocent after getting a good deal. Didn’t you eat today? You’re like a country bumpkin, eating abalone one bite at a time.”
“What? Still putting on a show of infighting?” The man called Manager Wang, his face full of disdain, leaned against the cashier. “Trying to run away without paying? No way. Either call your parents to settle the bill, or we’ll go to the police station.”
The group panicked at the mention of the police station.
Zhou Wenxuan exchanged a glance with her friends and pushed Song Chan forward. “You go find her; she said she’d treat.”
Then they tried to escape.
Manager Wang pointed a finger. “Call the police.”
Song Chan felt a chill run through her body. Her limited life experience, coupled with her current isolation and helplessness, left her completely at a loss.
“Go ahead and call the police if you dare!”
Everyone turned to look at the voice and saw a very tall and beautiful girl gracefully walk out from behind the screen wall, her expression arrogant, exquisitely beautiful from head to toe like a porcelain doll.
Behind her was a boy, fair-skinned and handsome, with upturned phoenix eyes, his every move elegant and proper. He took the receipt from Song Chan’s hand, calmly scanned it, and then looked at the manager expressionlessly.
“Are you sure your fees are reasonable? I don’t mind having my lawyer take a look or just calling the market supervision bureau. You choose one.”
The manager frowned: “Who are you? What does this have to do with you?”
Zhong Cheng’s face was calm, but his words were shocking: “She’s my mother, so what does that have to do with me?”
Song Chan: “!”
Zhong Xin facepalmed. Silly Zhong Cheng, they weren’t really asking what your relationship with her was like. You didn’t have to tell the truth.
But now, all she could do was…
She raised her chin, looking at the manager’s disdainful and mocking face, and stepped forward, her aura imposing: “What, your newly adopted mother isn’t good enough?”
She slammed a black gold card on the table. “Look carefully, this is my father’s card. There’s only one in the entire business district. Why? Because this land you’re standing on is owned by my father’s company. And if you want to withdraw money from it today, it depends on your performance, understand?”
The young lady was arrogant and haughty, her superiority radiating from her very bones.
A black gold card, indeed a black gold card, but how did it end up in the hands of these students? Everyone knows the Zhong Group only has one son. Where did these twins come from?
Seeing the manager’s suspicious gaze, Zhong Cheng took out his phone. “Perhaps you’d like to talk to my father in person?”
Song Chan was still reeling from the repeated calls of “Mom,” and now, suddenly hearing that “the children’s father” was also coming, she felt like she was about to faint on the spot