During the meal, Gu Lianhuai’s father came downstairs. He didn’t react strongly to seeing Song Yunyi, even asking her a few questions about how she’d been, before turning to discuss company matters with Gu Lianhuai.
Somehow, the conversation shifted to marriage. Hua Wanqing brought up Tao Zhaozhao again: “Lian Huai, Zhaozhao has liked you since she was little, and our two families have always been close. If we were to unite through marriage, wouldn’t it be better to bind our interests together?”
“Tao Zhan is the one in power in the Tao family now. Rather than going through all that trouble, wouldn’t it be simpler if I just married him instead?” Gu Lianhuai noticed Song Yunyi hadn’t touched much of her food, picked up some of her favorites and placed them in her bowl, and said in a flat tone.
Elder Gu scolded him: “Look at the nonsense coming out of your mouth! What kind of behavior is this!”
Elderly Mrs. Gu also chimed in to mediate: “Lian Huai, don’t talk nonsense. We know you don’t have that kind of preference.”
“How does Grandma know I don’t? Maybe I’ve been fooling you all these years.” Gu Lianhuai set down his chopsticks and said slowly, “It’s been three years. My patience has its limits.”
Hua Wanqing’s face turned ashen in an instant.
Father Gu’s expression darkened as well: “Lian Huai, what do you mean by that?”
“Quite simply, I don’t have the patience to keep playing these games with you. Either things go my way, or I’ll never marry anyone else.”
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll find an adopted son to take your place?” Father Gu said coldly.
“I don’t care.” Gu Lianhuai’s expression was indifferent. “As long as you’re willing to hand the Gu family legacy to someone with no blood relation to you.”
Song Yunyi sat to the side, mechanically chewing her food, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
This argument appeared to be about her, but in truth, everyone knew Gu Lianhuai was doing it for Qiao Shuran.
“Do you really like that actress that much?!” Hua Wanqing slammed her chopsticks down heavily.
“Don’t talk about her like that!” Gu Lianhuai roared.
The table fell into dead silence.
Just then, Gu Lianhuai’s phone rang.
When he answered, Qiao Shuran’s sobbing voice came through: “Lian Huai-gege…”
Gu Lianhuai’s expression changed drastically. He stood up immediately: “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so sad… Lian Huai-gege…”
Gu Lianhuai grabbed his keys and headed for the door, saying to Song Yunyi on his way out, “Something came up. Have the driver take you home later.”
The sound of a car engine soon echoed from outside.
After he left, the tension in the air was so thick it could crack at any moment.
Hua Wanqing looked at Song Yunyi as if she were watching a joke: “See? Whenever that woman needs him, he’ll rush to her without hesitation. You’re nothing but a joke.”
Song Yunyi set down her chopsticks, her tone very calm: “Then why not just give in? That way, you can mend your relationship with him and fulfill his dream at the same time.”
These words drew everyone’s attention, their eyes filled with distrust.
They didn’t believe Song Yunyi would be so willing to let go.
Song Yunyi didn’t say much more, only adding, “Think it over carefully. Brother Lian Huai has loved Qiao Shuran for so long without ever changing. If you don’t want the Gu family to end without heirs, just agree.”
This statement, for once, left everyone without a word of rebuttal.
Father Gu asked her: “Don’t you like Lian Huai? Why are you urging us to give in? Once they’re together, Lian Huai will never see you again.”
Song Yunyi smiled softly and said in a gentle voice: “What does my liking even amount to?”
The others fell into silence. Even Hua Wanqing looked at her with a complicated expression.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether Song Yunyi was playing hard to get or genuinely had no selfish motives.
But looking back over the years, she had to admit that Song Yunyi lived up to her name—beautiful and dignified. Every time she came, she sat quietly to the side, answering only what was asked, never overstepping, her every word and action beyond reproach.
Hua Wanqing sighed inwardly. If only the girl’s family background weren’t so poor, she could have tolerated letting her marry into the Gu family.
What a pity.
Song Yunyi rose to take her leave. She didn’t humiliate herself by asking for the driver, walking step by step out of that magnificent villa.
Jingyue Huafu was too large, and combined with her naturally poor sense of direction, she soon got lost. Song Yunyi found a bench and sat down, rubbing her ankle with one hand while searching for the security phone number on her phone.
A call suddenly popped up on her screen. Seeing who it was, Song Yunyi’s expression stiffened.
She stared silently at the phone screen.
The urgent ringing was especially jarring in the quiet night. The glow of the screen illuminated her delicate face, casting a cold, lonely light.
She pressed answer.
Wu Shuyi’s stern voice came through: “Why did it take you so long to answer?”
“I didn’t hear it earlier.” Song Yunyi’s voice was a little hoarse. “Is something the matter?”
“Can’t I call you if there’s nothing? Song Yunyi, don’t forget your surname. You’ve been back in the country for so long and haven’t come home once.”
Song Yunyi looked at the crescent moon in the sky, her voice as light as the wind: “Do you want me to come back?”
Silence on the other end.
Since she was fifteen, she could count on one hand the number of times she’d returned to that home.
A mother and daughter once inseparable had become the most familiar of strangers. The dead air was almost comical.
There was a pause on the other end before Wu Shuyi’s voice came through: “Your grandmother is sick. The doctor says she only has about six months left. Find some time to come back and see her—she’s been thinking about you constantly.”
Song Yunyi’s hand clenched around her phone, her voice turning frantic: “What happened to Grandmother?”
“She fell last month. They managed to save her, but her spirit just isn’t what it used to be. She’s been muttering about you these past few days, and no amount of persuasion helps. If you have any conscience at all, come back and see her through her final days.”
Song Yunyi didn’t know when the call had ended.
She clutched her chest and crouched down on the ground, curling her entire body into a ball. Her throat felt stuffed with waterlogged cotton. Tears splashed onto her palms, one after another. She couldn’t make a sound, her lips trembling uncontrollably.
When she was little, her parents were always busy and rarely came home. Back then, the Song family wasn’t particularly wealthy and couldn’t afford a nanny. Her grandfather had passed away early, so it was Grandmother Song who raised her.
She was a kind, smiling, and immaculately clean old lady. She treated her wonderfully—would soothe her to sleep, buy her candy, and take her to get pretty dresses whenever she was feeling down.
Her retirement pension wasn’t much, but most of it went to her.
The neighbors would always ask why she doted on her so much—what was the point of spoiling a little girl who would one day marry into someone else’s family and cook and wash clothes for them?
Grandmother Song couldn’t stand it. She grabbed a broom and chased them out. From then on, everyone knew that the one thing you must never touch was the kind old lady’s granddaughter.
She had always been a top student, ranking first in her grade year after year. Any neighbor with a child around her age would push their kid to come ask her questions.
Back then, she was thin-skinned and couldn’t say no, so she’d patiently tutor them over and over, leaving herself very little time. She wouldn’t finish her own homework until eleven or twelve at night.
Grandmother Song’s heart ached for her. She tried to dissuade the neighbors repeatedly, but they paid her no mind. In a fit of anger, Grandmother Song bought a fierce black dog and chained it at the front door. From then on, no one dared come over to ask her questions again.
That fierce dog was pure black, and she, being a mischievous child, insisted on naming it Little White.
Little White wasn’t happy with the name and gave her the cold shoulder for three days, until she won him back with a big bone. From then on, he became her best childhood companion.
Then one day, Little White disappeared. She searched for him everywhere but couldn’t find him—until one day, the police brought back a Little White who had lost a leg and was covered in wounds.
Who did it, she still doesn’t know to this day.
She only remembers holding Little White and crying for a long, long time.
By then, her parents’ business had already grown big. They moved from their cramped rental apartment into a spacious villa, leaving everything from before behind—including Little White, who was missing a leg.
Her father had just come into money then and was at his most proud and image-conscious. Guests came and went constantly, and there was no way he would allow such a dog to stay at home and tarnish his reputation. So while she was at school, he sold Little White.
How much per pound was it?
I think it was ten yuan.
She cried for a long time. It was Grandmother who held her, comforting her over and over, promising to take Little White’s place as her best companion.
Unfortunately, a few years later, her true origins came to light, and she could no longer stay by Grandmother’s side like she did when she was little.
High beams blazed into her face, and the roar of an engine grew from far to near. Song Yunyi buried her face into her knees, looking utterly miserable.
The sports car sped past her.
Song Yunyi wiped her face and stood up, picking up her bag from the ground to keep walking.
Unexpectedly, the sports car circled back. Its headlights stung her freshly cried eyes. She angrily shielded her eyes, suppressed the urge to curse, and stepped aside to let it pass.
But the car stopped a few steps ahead of her, and the sound of a door opening rang out.
Just as she was wondering what was going on, a familiar voice came from ahead: “Why is it that every time I see you, you look like a complete mess? Attorney Song, I’m technically on your client’s side, you know. Don’t you want to maintain some image in front of me?”
Song Yunyi’s head shot up, and there was Feng Cheng leaning against his car door, the headlights casting sharp, handsome features across his face, his expression teasing.
Her voice failed her. After a long moment, she stammered: “What are you doing here?”