Song Nanzhi walked to the window.
She saw Song Youfan, dressed in a brand-new Zhongshan suit, walking hand in hand with Shen Yuexi into the living room.
What rotten luck!
“Dad, Mom, we’re back.” Song Youfan’s voice was light and cheerful.
“I’ve already made an appointment with the photographer. We’ll have our wedding photos taken in a few days.”
“Master Liu’s craftsmanship is among the best in Haicheng.”
He cast an adoring glance at Shen Yuexi. “We need to dress properly for the photos, so we stopped by the department store.”
“Yuexi picked out a qipao—pure silk fabric, Suzhou embroidery workmanship.”
“It’s just that the price is a bit…”
Before he could finish, Yun Shuang’s smile froze for a moment.
Then it widened even more. “Our Yuexi is so beautiful—she naturally deserves the best.”
Hearing such praise, Shen Yuexi’s face flushed with shy pride.
Thinking of how she would marry Song Youfan in grand style and land a respectable job at the state-owned factory, she couldn’t help the corners of her mouth curling upward.
Once Song Nanzhi was sent to the countryside, exposed to wind and sun, she’d turn into a haggard housewife within days.
What would she have left to compete with her for anything?
Yun Shuang quietly pulled Song Youfan aside and lowered her voice. “The money at home, I’m afraid…”
“What about the money?” Song Youfan thought his mother was reluctant to pay.
“Didn’t we agree on the photos and getting the wedding outfit? Surely the family can scrape together that much?”
“Yuexi is a daughter-in-law you all approved of. To act like this right after the engagement—doesn’t that seem unreasonable?”
The Shen family was a military and political dynasty. Only by marrying Shen Yuexi could he wash away the stain of his origins. This couldn’t go wrong.
Yun Shuang stamped her foot anxiously. “It’s not that I won’t give the money, it’s that…”
She didn’t want her son to misunderstand, so she gritted her teeth and said, “The cash at home—your father gave it all to Nanzhi!”
“What?” Song Youfan’s voice shot up sharply.
Shen Yuexi, not far away, glanced over in their direction.
Song Youfan took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice down. “Is Dad out of his mind?”
“He gave all the money to Nanzhi—then what am I supposed to use to marry Yuexi?”
“It’s all because of her antics!” Yun Shuang complained bitterly. “Your father said it was for her settling expenses in the countryside…”
“Ten thousand yuan! Since when does settling in cost ten thousand?”
She shot a sour glare at Song Mingyu on the sofa.
“What! Ten thousand yuan!” Song Youfan completely lost his composure.
Shen Yuexi had also pieced together the gist of it, and her eyes darkened abruptly.
That Song Nanzhi had swindled the Song family’s money—she didn’t believe it.
Wasn’t she just a foolish, love-struck fool, completely manipulated by the Song family?
Where had things gone wrong?
Song Youfan noticed the change in Shen Yuexi’s expression.
He walked straight over and patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry.”
“There must be some misunderstanding. I’ll go find Nanzhi and get the money back.”
With Song Nanzhi, he could always take whatever he wanted—a few sweet words were all it took.
He quickened his pace and climbed the stairs.
Song Nanzhi was just opening her wardrobe to pack her clothes when she heard footsteps on the staircase. She could guess what was coming.
Before long, a figure stopped behind her.
“Nanzhi.” Song Youfan forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“I heard about the money from Mom. I know you’re upset.” He leaned in slightly. “But you can’t act out like this, can you?”
“So much money on you, a young woman—and in a place like the countryside, no less. It’s not safe.”
It might even invite trouble.
Song Nanzhi continued folding her clothes, her face calm and unruffled.
Hah—so he knew the countryside wasn’t safe, yet he’d still forced the original owner to go.
What kind of family were they, with hearts like that!
Song Youfan saw she wasn’t moved in the slightest and tried coaxing her again.
“Is it because of my engagement to Yuexi that you’re still sulking?”
Yes, that had to be it—that was why Nanzhi was using this method to block his marriage to Yuexi!
He reached out, about to ruffle her hair like he always did. “Silly girl, you’re making things hard for your brother.”
“Have I ever shortchanged you since we were kids?”
“Marrying her is for the sake of this family, and for being able to protect you better in the future.”
If it were the original owner, she’d have been fooled by his sweet talk again.
“Now’s not the time for tantrums, hm?”
Song Nanzhi let out a soft laugh. Wasn’t she the one who’d climbed the Shen family ladder first?
From what she knew, in terms of official rank, the one in the Shen family you could least afford to offend was Shen Yanting.
Not to mention he had the backing of the old chief.
Shen Yuexi’s parents… were quite ordinary.
But she wasn’t planning to reveal her situation with Shen Yanting just yet. Until the marriage certificate was in hand, she feared complications.
Shen Yanting had kept quiet about it too—otherwise, Shen Yuexi would have already told Song Youfan.
Seeing her stay silent, Song Youfan pressed on. “Nanzhi, be sensible and stop this. Just hand over the money first.”
Song Nanzhi had had enough. She stopped what she was doing and turned around.
“Song Youfan, you really overestimate yourself.”
Song Youfan was taken aback by her sudden use of his full name.
“That money was left to me by my own parents. Taking back what’s mine is only natural!”
“Besides, I’m about to leave this family anyway. Whether you get married or not, and what you use to get married with, has nothing to do with me.”
A grown man like you, living off your parents day in and day out.
Her words were decisive and unyielding, catching Song Youfan completely off guard. He was momentarily stunned.
It took him a few seconds to react before he spoke, “Nanzhi, there’s a time and place for throwing a tantrum! Right now, the most important thing for our family is to latch onto the Shen family!”
“Besides, sending you to the countryside is only temporary. Once Yuexi calms down, we’ll find a way to bring you back.”
Song Nanzhi’s stomach churned violently. Like she’d believe a word of his nonsense!
This man standing before her—what on earth had the original owner of this body ever seen in him?
Compared to Shen Yanting, he was worlds apart. At least Shen Yanting’s words made people believe him without question.
Suddenly, that phrase popped into her mind—”Every word I spit is a nail driven home”—and the corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily.
Song Youfan thought she was openly mocking him. “Song Nanzhi! Don’t push your luck!”