They had lost some time at noon, so by the time the case discussion wrapped up, it was already close to quitting time.
Lawyer He had to go pick up his daughter from school, so he drove off first.
Cheng Ziyan was still trying to coax Chi Sheng, who couldn’t be bothered with him. She stepped forward and took Song Yunyi’s arm. “Yunyi, where are you headed? Want me to have the driver take you?”
Song Yunyi stood at the entrance of Xiajiangnan and shook her head. “No need—Brother Lianhuai is coming to pick me up.”
“Oh, is that so.”
Cheng Ziyan leaned in. “See, this is what you don’t know—Lianhuai is taking Sister Song back to the old residence for dinner tonight.”
“Does it make you look smart to run your mouth?” Chi Sheng let out a cold laugh, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Should I make myself scarce? Wouldn’t want your good buddy to see you with me and take it out on you.”
Cheng Ziyan sighed. “That’s just between Lianhuai and Brother Cheng. How could it involve you?”
“And yet you just dragged Yunyi into it, didn’t you?”
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Song Yunyi pressed her lips together and changed the subject. “Brother Ziyan, what exactly happened in our sophomore year of high school? Why did President Feng leave the country early?”
For a moment, the air around them went still.
Chi Sheng fell silent.
She pulled Song Yunyi closer and patted the back of her hand. “Yunyi, this is a taboo topic. Not many people know the details, and we don’t either. Don’t ask Gu Lianhuai or my brother about it either, or you’ll catch their wrath.”
Cheng Ziyan nodded seriously. “Whatever you do, don’t ask!”
Song Yunyi’s expression turned a little awkward. “Got it.”
She had only been trying to change the subject, not because she genuinely wanted to know—and there was no way she’d be foolish enough to actually go ask them.
Not long after, Gu Lianhuai’s car pulled up in front of Xiajiangnan.
Today, Gu Lianhuai hadn’t brought his driver and had switched to a sleek Porsche. He lowered the window and greeted the two of them warmly. Chi Sheng also properly addressed him as “Brother Lianhuai.”
Song Yunyi said her goodbyes to the pair and settled into the passenger seat.
The Porsche merged into traffic and headed toward the Gu family’s old residence.
“When did you take over Chi Sheng’s case?” Gu Lianhuai suddenly spoke. His tone was calm, with no trace of displeasure—Cheng Ziyan must have explained things to him.
Song Yunyi said softly, “I only took it over a couple of days ago. The original attorney in charge was Aurora, but he had to go on a business trip, so it fell to my supervising attorney, and that’s how I got brought in.”
Gu Lianhuai showed no particular reaction after hearing this, only humming in acknowledgment.
The silence that followed stretched all the way to the Gu family’s old residence.
The old residence was built in the style of a traditional Chinese garden courtyard home. The exterior was designed around classical landscaping. Past the main gate was a long corridor, and on the right side of the corridor was a pond with a bridge over it.
At this time of year, the water lilies had long since filled the pond. A gentle breeze swept through, causing ripples across the emerald water while the lilies swayed—serene and beautiful.
Passing through a grove of bamboo, they arrived at the Chinese garden villa where the elder Gu couple lived. Before they even stepped inside, they could hear laughter drifting from within.
Song Yunyi looked at Gu Lianhuai. He ignored her questioning gaze and, with an arm around her waist, walked straight in.
“Young Master, you’re here.” The housekeeper hurriedly handed them slippers.
Elderly Mrs. Gu hadn’t seen her precious grandson in a long time and turned around with a delighted smile. “Lianhuai, come here.”
But the laughter came to an abrupt halt the moment she saw Song Yunyi.
Like a scene from an absurd play.
Song Yunyi stood at Gu Lianhuai’s side, playing her part in the act. “Grandma Gu, Grandpa Gu, Mrs. Gu.”
Elder Gu glared at Gu Lianhuai with a face full of fury. “I told you in advance that Zhaozhao would be coming—so why did you still bring her along? Where do you think that leaves the dignity of our two families?!”
Hua Wanqing, Gu Lianhuai’s mother, made no effort to hide her disgust for Song Yunyi. Her sharp, venomous gaze swept over her. “I don’t know what kind of spell she’s cast on you, but I don’t think we need dinner anymore. It would just ruin our appetite.”
Elder Gu slammed his cane hard against the floor. “Unfilial wretch! Are you trying to infuriate me to death?!”
The young woman seated beside the elder Gu couple saw that he was getting worked up and quickly moved to soothe him. Once Elder Gu had calmed down a bit, she rose and walked over to them.
She had a sweet, obedient face, and her smile was just as sugary. “Brother Lianhuai, Sister Yunyi, hello.”
Song Yunyi only gave a slight nod.
In the face of everyone’s fury, Gu Lianhuai’s reaction was utterly indifferent. He walked past Tao Zhaozhao, pulling Song Yunyi along as he headed further inside, and said coolly, “If you can’t stomach the meal, then don’t eat. No point in giving yourself indigestion.”
Song Yunyi could tell that Gu Lianhuai’s relationship with his family had grown increasingly strained over the years.
She had heard that back then, Qiao Shuran had actually promised to be with Gu Lianhuai after graduation. But after Hua Wanqing paid her a private visit, Qiao Shuran had solemnly rejected him.
That year, Gu Lianhuai had a massive fight with his family.
But at the time, all he could do was endure. Now that he had taken over the Gu Corporation, there was naturally no need for him to keep backing down.
“Lianhuai, is that any way to speak to your mother?!” Hua Wanqing clearly couldn’t accept such treatment. She rose furiously and stepped forward to block his path.
“You all knew Yunyi was coming for dinner, didn’t you? And you know exactly why you invited Tao Zhaozhao.” Gu Lianhuai stopped and let out a cold laugh. “Since none of you want to have a proper meal, then nobody eats.”
Tao Zhaozhao was ignored by Gu Lianhuai, her expression turning somewhat awkward, but she still explained, “I just happened to come by to visit Grandma Gu. I didn’t know you’d be bringing Sister Yunyi today.”
“Now you know. You can leave.”
“I…” Tao Zhaozhao’s eyes instantly reddened.
She bit her lip and truly took her leave of the Gu elders and Hua Wanqing: “Then Grandma Gu, Grandpa Gu, Auntie, I’ll be going now. Zhaozhao will come visit you another day.”
With that, she picked up her bag and headed out.
Hua Wanqing quickly grabbed her: “Leave for what? The one who truly needs to leave isn’t you.”
At this highly pointed remark, Song Yunyi didn’t even so much as blink.
Tao Zhaozhao shook her head firmly: “No, Auntie, I still have things to do later.”
Seeing that she couldn’t persuade her, Hua Wanqing shot Gu Lianhuai a fierce glare and said in a somewhat stern tone, “Go see Zhaozhao out.”
Gu Lianhuai didn’t move.
Hua Wanqing coughed in anger: “Fine, you’ve really grown capable now. Now that you hold power, you don’t take your own mother seriously anymore. Are you trying to anger me to death before you’re satisfied!”
Only then did Gu Lianhuai, his face taut, catch up with Tao Zhaozhao.
After Gu Lianhuai left, the atmosphere in the living room was tense.
Hua Wanqing didn’t even ask Song Yunyi to sit down. In the dead silence, Song Yunyi lowered her gaze to the flowers placed not far away.
She thought, perhaps soon she wouldn’t need to come here anymore.
Given how dissatisfied Hua Wanqing was with her, it was only a matter of time before she compromised and accepted Qiao Shuran.
Seeing her standing there motionless, Hua Wanqing sneered: “You’ve really gone to great lengths to marry into a wealthy family, enduring all this time.”
Song Yunyi’s tone was very calm: “Madam Gu is joking. What I love is Gu Lianhuai the person.”
“What if Lian Huai didn’t have his current status and position? What if he had nothing at all? Would you still love him then?”
Song Yunyi slowly raised her head. Her expression was composed, as if she were merely stating a fact: “First of all, I’m capable of supporting myself. Secondly, if Madam Gu feels that her own son doesn’t even possess the most basic personal charm, then I think you should be reflecting on yourself.”
“Sharp-tongued!” Hua Wanqing knew exactly what would hit her where it hurt and sneered, “Isn’t your acquaintance with him also because of money? Back then, your adoptive parents’ company was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Lian Huai helped you. I’ve heard that the Song Group’s capital chain broke because of you too. If it weren’t for Lian Huai, you might have had to atone with your life back then, right?”
Song Yunyi’s expression shifted slightly. She clenched her palms tightly to keep her composure from crumbling.
“Don’t think Lian Huai brings you back a few times because he likes you. He’s only using you to provoke us, to sulk with us, to force us to compromise. Otherwise, with your background, you couldn’t even touch the threshold of our door!”
That last sentence pierced her heart like a red-hot needle, causing her to convulse in pain, unable to speak.
Bitterness rose on her tongue. She thought to herself, could time pass a little faster, just let her leave quickly—she still needed to go see Qi Yue.
Seeing that Gu Lianhuai was about to return, Elderly Mrs. Gu patted Hua Wanqing’s hand, signaling her to stop talking.