On the other end of the phone, Wei Weimin’s old classmate immediately laughed. The two exchanged pleasantries for a while before the classmate asked why Wei Weimin had suddenly called today.
Wei Weimin got straight to the point. “I’m calling to ask about someone. I want to know if your school has a student by this name.”
The classmate chuckled. There were so many students at Jing University—how could he possibly remember them all? But since Wei Weimin was asking, he told him to give the name, and he would arrange for someone to check at the school the next day.
Wei Weimin politely thanked him, then added, “Her name is Song Jinyue. A female student.”
The moment the classmate heard the name, his grip on the phone tightened, and his expression subtly changed. The question slipped out almost instinctively.
Wei Weimin was about to answer but noticed the shift in the man’s tone.
For some reason, he lied. “I’m asking on behalf of a friend…”
As soon as he said it, he was stunned himself. He didn’t know why he had lied—it felt like pure instinct.
Just then, the classmate’s voice came through again.
“If you were asking about someone else, I’d have to check,” the classmate said. “But not Song Jinyue.”
“She’s a well-known genius at Jing University. Exceptional learning ability—she grasps things instantly. And she’s very beautiful.”
“The school originally planned to recommend her for a national-level research project. But something happened, and she requested to withdraw.”
“After she withdrew, she disappeared completely—as if she vanished into thin air.”
Wei Weimin grew curious. What could have happened to make someone like her drop out?
He asked, but the classmate only gave a vague answer, saying it seemed to be a family issue and that he didn’t know the details.
Wei Weimin felt something off about the explanation, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what.
If she was as outstanding as described—a genius—why didn’t the university try harder to keep her?
He voiced his doubt. “With such an outstanding student, why didn’t your school retain her?”
The classmate replied that they had tried. First, Song Jinyue refused. Second, her parents were highly educated and had studied abroad.
He didn’t say more, but Wei Weimin already understood.
Times were chaotic. Everything was unstable, and even those with ambition and ideals could easily meet misfortune.
Wei Weimin sighed. “Sigh…”
The classmate fell silent.
After a moment, Wei Weimin said, “Alright, thanks for the help, Xiangdong. When you come over here someday, I’ll treat you properly.”
The classmate laughed. They chatted a bit more before hanging up.
Wei Weimin put down the phone, staring at it as he pondered the conversation.
Talent shines wherever it goes.
Staying in Jiang City would be just as good.
The thought of keeping Song Jinyue in Jiang City began to take root in his mind.
What he didn’t know—
His old classmate, who had just hung up, stared at the phone with a dark expression before dialing another number.
As soon as the call connected, he spoke coldly, “Song Jinyue is in Jiang City.”
Before the other party could respond, he hung up.
…
…
The Chen family.
All members of the Chen household were gathered together, discussing the news that Song Jinyue and Song Xiongguan had been taken away.
Mother Chen looked at her youngest son in shock. “They were really taken away?”
Chen Pansheng nodded. “Yes.”
Chen Lingling lowered her head, a smug smile appearing on her swollen face.
Song Jinyue, you wretched woman! You dared to hit me—this is your karma!
Serves you right!
Chen Jing sat there calmly, without a trace of anxiety or panic. If one looked closely, there was even a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
Each member of the Chen family had their own thoughts.
“Bang!”
A loud noise startled everyone. They looked up at Father Chen, who had slammed something down.
His fists were clenched, his face fierce. “Song Xiongguan is a beast! His family conditions are so good, yet after all these years of marriage, we’ve never even met his parents. We haven’t enjoyed a single benefit!”
Chen Pansheng frowned. “Could it be that brother-in-law knows what we did back then? That’s why he never took eldest sister back to the capital?”
“Impossible!” Father Chen denied immediately, though his heart tightened. “If he knew we set him up, would he still send gifts during holidays?”
Chen Pansheng curled his lips. “He sends gifts but never shows up.”
That single sentence left Father Chen speechless, his eyes widening in anger.
Thinking about it, it did seem true.
Then what was the point of scheming back then to marry their eldest daughter to Song Xiongguan? It seemed to have brought them nothing.
As Father Chen fumed, Chen Jing’s voice sounded.
“I bought those gifts.”
Father Chen was startled.
Everyone turned to look at her.
Mother Chen asked, “You bought them? Not him?”
Chen Jing looked at her calmly. “He gave the money. I bought them.”
Chen Pansheng grew impatient. “Forget the past. Let’s deal with the current situation. What do we do now?”
Without waiting for anyone else to speak, he stated his stance.
“I say divorce.”
Chen Lingling froze. “Divorce?”
Back then, for her eldest sister to marry Song Xiongguan, their entire family had schemed and drugged him.
Otherwise, with her sister’s looks, she wouldn’t even be worthy of carrying his shoes—let alone marrying him.
And now… divorce?
If they divorced, who could her sister even marry?
As she was thinking, Father Chen spoke again.
“Didn’t we arrange that marriage because we thought he had potential and could help our family? After all these years, have we gained anything? Nothing! Instead, we’re being dragged down!”
The more he spoke, the angrier he became. “Divorce! Write the divorce papers immediately. Get him to sign them so he won’t drag you down any further!”
“You already got a formal job through him. Even if you divorce, you’ll still be able to remarry.”
Chen Jing agreed without hesitation. “Alright.”
Mother Chen tried to comfort her. “Don’t be sad. I’ll find you someone better.”
Chen Jing smiled faintly. “I’m not sad. I’ve wanted to leave him for a long time.”
“I thought he was capable and promising. But in the end, he’s nothing. He was the same when I married him as he is now.”
“I thought he might become a factory director and bring our whole family up. Turns out—he’s just useless.”
She paused, then let out a cold laugh.
“What’s the point of being with someone useless?”