“What kind of person complains about such a place but comes here anyway?” The old lady was seething because she had never met such an unreasonable person before. ‘She thinks she’s so great just because she has that bit of money? If she has what it takes, why not take out her family’s money and see if she can compare with our mighty Qi family!’

“Don’t get angry, there are all sorts of people nowadays,” Aunt Liu consoled her immediately and continued walking up.

A few steps later, Grandmother Qi let out a ‘tsk’ before remarking, “Why does that woman look so familiar?”

Plenty of people attended the previous day’s wedding, and as the prestigious elderly couple that they were, Grandfather and Grandmother Qi were seated at the first table, so there were not many people who dared to bother them. The Yu family was not at all important compared to the Eight Great Families, so they were placed further behind. Grandmother Qi must have seen Liang Lihua but only had a vague impression of her.

During the wedding, the old lady took the liberty to dress herself up really well, and she had even applied makeup on her face. However, she did not do the same when visiting Song Yu’s parents, since she was worried that doing so would intimidate them. Dressed simply and devoid of makeup, she looked no different than any other old lady. Thus, it was only natural that Liang Lihua was not able to recognize her.

Meanwhile, Xiao Fan – the driver – recognized Liang Lihua. He told Grandmother Qi, “She’s the lady from the Yu family, the mother of Miss Yu Keyao, whom madam introduced to Young Master Cheng.”

Those words made the elderly lady’s expression turn incredibly ugly. “Hmph! Xia Wenna just had to introduce someone like that! The daughter won’t be any different if the mother has that kind of attitude!”

The old lady then took out her phone and called Xia Wenna.

Xia Wenna picked up and could only manage to say ‘Mother’ before the old lady’s unhappy voice began nagging into the phone. “Don’t you dare think about setting up that Yu Keyao with Chengzhi! Don’t you know what kind of people their family are? Her mother is an unreasonable and rude person. Did you expect the daughter would be better? Things will be a mess if our families are related by marriage!”

“Haven’t you learned anything from what happened to Chengze? Why must you insist on shoving someone to Qi Chengzhi? Must my older grandson suffer the same fate for you to be happy?” the elderly lady vented emotionally and stomped her foot on the stairs. The thought of her dead grandson, and her elder grandson who was not even allowed to find someone he genuinely loved, made her eyes red and teary.

“Mother, what are you talking about? What happened? Did you bump into Mrs. Yu?” Xia Wenna felt so innocent and wondered why she had to suffer such a rebuke for seemingly no reason.

“My point is, I won’t accept Yu Keyao as a granddaughter-in-law!” the elderly lady blurted out and hung up resentfully. She then placed the phone back into the pocket and continued climbing the stairs.

…

…

Song Yu led Qi Chengzhi to the sofa. The home was not big: it was a two-bedroom apartment that was about a hundred square feet at most. It was crowded when there were five people in the living room, but that did not seem to change even after Liang Lihua had left.

Qi Chengzhi was sitting upright on the sofa, and his expression was a stern one. Most of the time, he appeared unapproachable because of his unsmiling tendencies, and at that moment, a layer of sternness to his countenance made him seem like someone who was looking for trouble.

Yu Qianying dragged Song Donglin and sat opposite Song Yu and Qi Chengzhi. All those years of life in retirement had led Song Donglin to adopt a principle; ignorance is bliss. However, at that moment, his face was filled with a sternness that had not made an appearance for many years.

“Remember what you said to me when Jian Yi came and told me that something might be going on with the both of you?” Yu Qianying looked at Song Yu with a very serious expression. She felt lied to, and there was even a touch of hurt as well as disappointment in her eyes.

“Mom, at that time, we weren’t together yet.” Song Yu made direct eye contact with Yu Qianying and did not feel anxious at all. During that period, they truly were not together yet. At most, it was Qi Chengzhi who was having his way with her, to which she did not reciprocate.

Yu Qianying looked intently at Song Yu. “I don’t care what your relationship was at that time, but you couldn’t have been unaware of our family’s relationship with the Qi family. Even if we put all of this aside, you were once Qi Chengji’s fiancée. Now that you’re with his elder brother, what would other people say about you? They’ll be saying all kinds of terrible things, and you’re willing to go through all of that?

“And about the Qi family.” Yu Qianying took a deep breath and looked at Qi Chengzhi’s abnormally stern yet handsome face. “I don’t believe that your family will agree to this. When our Song family went bankrupt, your family did not spare any time in cutting off ties with us. I’m angry, but not too much. After all, even my own siblings did the same, so who am I to blame the Qi family, who is neither my family nor enemy?

“Would the Qi family agree to the both of you in light of Song Yu’s earlier relationship with Qi Chengji? Also, our family now is just like any other ordinary family you’d meet in the street. We have nothing, and even our savings is only that tiny, little, sad amount. All these years, Song Yu was the one who worked hard to earn money, and whatever she earned, I saved them for her dowry. All that money combined, the most you’ll be able to afford is an average car. I don’t think your family would even want to look at such a small amount.

“Will the Qi family agree to us when we have nothing to offer? If they had agreed, they wouldn’t have cut off ties with us in the past. Song Yu is my daughter. I don’t want my daughter to be facing all kinds of accusations or insults. Your family would most likely want the both of you to break up!”

Song Yu intended to say something, but she felt her hand being kneaded softly. She looked down and saw his fair, well-defined fingers clutching her. Surges of warmth were transmitting from his palm; it was comforting and reassuring.

“My side will not have an opinion on this.” Qi Chengzhi’s rich voice was firm and forceful. The room was quiet and the only thing that could be heard was his resonant voice. “I dated Song Yu because I want to marry her. I won’t let her suffer those accusations and insults.”

“Can you speak for the Qi family?” Yu Qianying twitched her lip.

“I can’t.” His directness came as a surprise to Yu Qianying.

Qi Chengzhi then continued, “I won’t speak for them either. This is my business. They cannot make decisions on my behalf. Even if they object, what of it? I won’t decide against marrying her just because of something they said. They aren’t capable of doing that to me.

“I’m not going to be the stereotype that has to get their family’s blessing to get married. Even if they don’t give their blessing, I’ll still marry the person I want to marry. I won’t let Song Yu spend her days suffering with me, nor will I cause her to feel wronged. Everything will remain as it is before the official marriage.”

“Where are you going at?” Song Yu could no longer take it. Her ears were already red and she did not know why the topic had changed to marriage all of a sudden. “I brought you here today to meet my parents, to let them know of our relationship, not for you to propose marriage.”

His firm hand held her tightly and his black pupils – obscured somewhat by his lashes – glanced at her lightly. “Coming here today was to let uncle and auntie know of our relationship, but other than that, I wanted to let you both know that I am serious with Song Yu. I’m in a relationship with her because I want to marry her.

“I haven’t discussed this with her yet, but I’m guessing she doesn’t want things to proceed so quickly and would want us to start with dating first. I understand this, which is why I haven’t said anything to her about it.”

Yu Qianying noticed Qi Chengzhi’s hand holding Song Yu’s. His five fingers were slender and long, and each finger joint was clear and discernible. The ring he wore on his middle finger was incredibly obvious against the backdrop of his fair fingers.

She looked at Song Yu’s left hand, which was placed on top of her knee, and noticed the same ring on her middle finger.

Yu Qianying felt suffocated. In the depths of her heart, she did not agree to them being together because she had no way of finding out whether Song Yu might be suffering all kinds of unsavory verbal abuse from the Qi family.

The Song family had nothing, not even a good familial background nor a high social standing. If the Qi family began treating Song Yu badly, there may not be anyone to support her, since they would be regarding her as someone who just wanted to claim connections with the Qi family. She could be easily bullied because she had no position in the Qi family.

Yu Qianying was about to open her mouth to say something when the doorbell rang again.

After glancing at the two of them, she got up and headed for the door.

She opened the door and saw an old lady standing outside. Yu Qianying was stunned for quite some time before she finally regained her senses. ‘This old lady looks really familiar. Is she Qi Chengzhi’s grandmother?’

It had been years since they last met, and the old lady, who did not wear any makeup, looked much older than before. At that point, Yu Qianying was doubting herself.

“Xiao Yu!” Grandmother Qi greeted with a smile.

“And you are…” Yu Qianying looked at the plain-looking old lady in front of her. Then, her eyes shifted to the people behind, all of which were carrying plenty of stuff in bags of various sizes.

“You don’t remember me? I’m Qi Chengzhi’s grandmother.” Grandmother Qi was all smiles as she asked, “Are you free? You’re not busy, are you?”

Yu Qianying was so shocked that she froze and had no idea how to react. It had never occurred to her that the Qi family’s matriarch would show up in person.

The old lady swiveled her neck and raised her left hand to gently strike her own shoulder. “Sigh, we old people simply have to accept our limits. I was just carrying this little thing and I’m already so tired! My hip can’t stand it.”

It was then that Yu Qianying snapped out of it and saw the old lady grimacing at the door. The old lady then placed the thing that she was carrying on the ground and subsequently began massaging her hip.

That box, however, did not seem heavy at all. There was even an audible rattle, as though it was rather empty when it was placed onto the ground.

Seeing how Grandmother Qi brought bags of this and that over to meet them, it seemed like she came in peace. ‘Did she come here to try and convince me not to let Song Yu be with Qi Chengzhi?’

‘If she is, shouldn’t she have just written a cheque?’

‘What’s all this stuff for?’

Yu Qianying did not know what to think. The only thing she could do was invite the old lady in.

The old lady happily allowed both Aunt Liu and Driver Xiao Fan to carry those things into the house. As she walked, she said, “These are some things for you to eat and drink. See if there’s any suitable place to put these? Or better yet, just put them in the kitchen!”

She ordered Xiao Fan to bring everything into the kitchen without even waiting for Yu Qianying’s reply.

“I didn’t even inform you that I was coming, so hasty of me. I didn’t bother you, did I? I’ve known for quite some time that you’re staying here, but I was just too embarrassed to come here in a hurry.” The old lady grasped Yu Qianying’s hand warmly and did not give Yu Qianying the opportunity to say anything; she just went on and on like a machine gun.

On the day Qi Chengzhi brought Song Yu home, it was confirmed to them that she was the girlfriend that he spoke of. It was obvious that the Qi family would not just sit around doing nothing. They made sure to dig up every single one of Song Yu’s details in the past year.

Naturally, her parents’ home was not something that could be hidden from the Qi family.

Every single time Yu Qianying wanted to speak, Grandmother Qi’s blabbering forced those words back in again, and eventually, Yu Qianying did not bother to reply.

They were walking into the living room anyway, and once the old lady entered, she was given quite the shock when she laid her eyes on her grandson, who was sitting as motionless as a rock on the sofa.

“Oh dear, why are you here?” she exclaimed in astonishment. She patted her chest a couple of times and was grateful that she did not go there to break the happy couple apart. However, would she face her eldest grandson if she had done that?

She tried remembering the things she said to Yu Qianying just moments earlier. There was nothing inherently unpleasant in what she said, so she did not have to worry about risking Qi Chengzhi’s unhappiness.

Qi Chengzhi cocked an eyebrow. He heard everything his grandmother said, of course, so he could roughly guess why she intended to show up. His lips curled up slightly, erasing the stern lines that were originally present.

“I came here to propose marriage.” Qi Chengzhi’s voice was mellow and calm, his then smiling face was no longer there, and his expression looked especially serious.

Grandmother Qi, “…”

Song Yu, “…”

Yu Qianying, “…”

Song Donglin, “…”

“I came here to visit my in-laws. You, though, why did you come all the way here, Grandmother?” Qi Chengzhi looked at his grandmother half-smilingly and stopped her in her tracks completely.

Yu Qianying twitched her lips. ‘In the beginning, he said he came here to introduce himself as her boyfriend, how did it suddenly turn into a marriage proposal? Just how thick-skinned is he?’

‘In-laws? I haven’t even agreed to their relationship. Isn’t that a bit too early?’

However, it was the next sentence that left Yu Qianying utterly speechless, and it came from the elderly lady’s lips.

“I’m meeting my family-in-law.” She sat her bottom on the sofa without waiting for Yu Qianying to say anything. She glanced at the coffee table and asked, “Dear, do you have a glass? It’s really cold outside and I’d like to have a cup of hot tea.”

“Please… Please don’t say it like that. I’m not used to it,” Yu Qianying replied and put on a bold face. She could not possibly be swayed by a few words from the grandson-grandma duo. “Also, about your grandson and our daughter, we haven’t agreed on anything. He’s just met us today and we haven’t even talked about it. Calling us your family-in-law would be too early.”

Yu Qianying remarked and left to the kitchen. She took three cups and invited Aunt Liu as well as Driver Xiao Fan to have tea too.

The old lady pursed her lips and was not too happy with what Yu Qianying said. She took the cup and sipped a few rather audible mouthfuls of tea. Once the tea had warmed up her body, the old lady felt comfortable enough to begin speaking, hence she placed the teacup down.

“Xiao Yu, look at me. I’m old enough to be your mother, so I’m considered your elder. Please don’t be hasty. Listen to what I have to say.” The old lady rubbed her hands and glanced at the cup, as if unsure where to begin. “Look at my eldest grandson. He’s handsome, his attitude is admirable, and for so many years he has never been with a woman before. Not even those entertainment and gossip newspapers could get a picture of him doing anything bad. What does this mean? This means our Chengzhi is a very, very self-respecting person. Men like him are difficult to find nowadays.

“Men like him wouldn’t search for just any lady, but if he finds one that he likes, his heart will be set on her.” The old lady then sighed. “I’m not bragging or anything, but in that aspect alone, a person like him – someone who treats a woman with one mind and one heart – is a woman’s dream. How many women have cracked their heads for something that they admire but can never get?

“I won’t lie to you; I felt the same way when I found out about them and didn’t agree to it. Your Song Yu was previously engaged to our youngest grandson, and I’ve already treated her as my granddaughter-in-law at that time. I still keep her in my heart even though we’ve lost contact over the last few years. When she reappeared so suddenly at our home the other day, and Qi Chengzhi said that she was going to be our granddaughter-in-law. However, in all honesty, I was briefly unable to accept it at that time.

“It goes without saying that the whole thing is a mess. People outside would be saying all sorts of things, be it about both our families or my grandsons,” the elderly lady said calmly and drank a few more sips of tea due to her thirst.

“But when I think of it, my grandson really likes Song Yu. Will the unsavory gossip last if they get married? My point is, these two kids love each other, and as long as they’re happy, why should we care about what outsiders say? Am I right, Xiao Yu?”

The old lady then became emotional, and her imagination began running wild. There was a certain radiance to her expression when she continued, “Soon after their marriage, I can hug my great-grandchild and you can hug your grandchild. All of us can live our own lives happily, and there’s no reason for us to care about what others say. It’s not like we have to rely on what people say in order for us to be happy, right? That’s obviously not possible, and our kids will have to suffer because of that. It isn’t worthwhile for us to deprive our kids of happiness just because of some gossip, now is it?”

The crux of it was how hard it was for Qi Chengzhi to find a girl that he truly liked. There was nothing bad about Song Yu, the only issue being her previous engagement with Qi Chengji. Song Yu’s family were good people, and she had a pleasant character too. The old lady had always liked her, and she was deeply regretful when the engagement with Qi Chengji was called off.

There was nothing more important to Grandmother Qi than holding her great-grandchildren in her arms. She did not care much for anything else.

“Xiao Song, Xiao Yu, which date do you think would be best?” The old lady took out a Yellow Calendar from her bag and said, “I even brought a Yellow Calendar 1 with me.”

“Madam, this is…” Yu Qianying did not know what to say to the old lady.

Grandmother Qi was the oldest and most senior out of everyone there, so Yu Qianying found it inappropriate to say anything too harsh.

“Grandma, you’re not objecting to us?” Qi Chengzhi’s enigmatic eyes were filled with gentle happiness.

“If I object, are you going to break up with her?” The old lady rolled her eyes as if to say ‘duh!’

The whole family could object for all he cared, Qi Chengzhi would still go to the civil administration office and register his marriage. What use would objecting be?

Qi Chengzhi smiled and said, “Han Zhuoli is investing in a new movie. He’ll be shooting at the family home, and they’re looking for an old lady to act with the female lead in one scene. Are you interested, Grandmother? If you are, I’ll let Han Zhuoli know so that he can end his search. There aren’t many lines in the script, it’s just two scenes and it’ll be done in a day, so it won’t tire you.”

“Really?” The old lady’s eyes lit up and she leaned forward slightly. “What kind of role is that? Let me have one that’s a bit challenging. For instance, my children are not filial and took all my money without caring for me, so my character is forced to live off scraps. Or, or, I can play the role of a woman with Alzheimer’s, someone who’s a bit cuckoo in the head, also discarded by the children. Anything’s fine as long as it’s challenging and I can show my fine acting skills.”

The old lady then sat up straight and smoothened her clothes. “Look at my personality, my energy. One look and you know I’m not some ordinary old lady. It would be such a waste if I’m given a boring role. I’ll only accept something that’s strongly contrasting. Only then will my acting skills be put to the test and I can unleash my specialties.”

She leaned forward once more and took a sip of tea before pointing in front of her. “Have I told you before? I was part of an acting group when I was young. I played Sanmao 2 , I played The White-Haired Girl 3 , I even played the part of Tiemei 4 from The Legend of the Red Lantern. After my retirement, I would go and help out once in a while, and there was once I even played the part of Grandmother Li [4].”

“I don’t really know the specifics, but I’ll ask Han Zhuoli. Or maybe I can tell him to come to the home directly, so both of you can talk about the kind of role you want. If the role is too minor for you, and you want to be the lead, you can tell me and I’ll let him make the necessary amendments.” Qi Chengzhi took the teapot and poured tea for his grandmother, as well as for Song Donglin and Yu Qianying. He even did so for Aunt Liu and Xiao Fan.

Aunt Liu and Xiao Fan were quite overwhelmed by that small courtesy, and their hands were shaking while holding their cups.

Yu Qianying could not help but stare at him. It scarcely crossed her mind that Qi Chengzhi would perform such a personal gesture towards everyone there.

Yu Qianying could not help but stare at him. It scarcely crossed her mind that Qi Chengzhi would perform such a personal gesture towards everyone there.

As insignificant as the gesture was, it was so much more meaningful when it was Qi Chengzhi who did it.

His fingers were fair-skinned and his finger joints were very distinct. When they held up the teapot, it made up for an elegant sight.

“Forget about being the lead. I’m too old, I don’t have that kind of energy or strength. Just a scene or two is good enough for me to showcase my acting skills. I don’t mind if it’s a minor scene, I’m going to be a star anyway,” she said confidently. Her expression then changed all of a sudden, and she looked suspiciously at Qi Chengzhi. “Are you bribing me?”

Qi Chengzhi did not deny it, but simply smiled and replied, “There’s more where that came from.”

The old lady was certain that her grandson was bribing her.

She wanted to speak, but the doorbell interrupted her.

Yu Qianying frowned. Visitors just kept on showing up on that day. Was everyone so free on that particular day that they just had to come all at once?

With no clue as to who came to visit, Yu Qianying stood up and headed for the door. After opening the door and seeing who it was, Yu Qianying’s expression turned sullen.

“Qianying,” Xia Wenna greeted. Her expression was an awkward one and although she wanted to smile, she was somehow unable to do so. She spotted a few pairs of shoes at the door, both men’s and women’s, so she asked, “You have guests?”

“It’s been years since I last saw you. What brings you here today?” Yu Qianying asked coldly. She was courteous with the old lady, but she treated Xia Wenna with nearly the same attitude as she did with Liang Lihua.

“If you have guests, I’ll come here another day.” Xia Wenna felt slightly embarrassed. She was already on the way there when the old lady called her.

She thought about it the entire night and struggled to come to terms with the decision that she made. She went there with a cheque in her purse.

She stayed up last night just to make a decision on that issue. Dark eye bags were even present when she left home, and it took her a great deal of makeup to conceal it.

Her hand then pressed her bag subconsciously. It was like she could feel its weightiness despite not being able to touch the thin cheque that was inside.

“Why do I hear Xia Wenna’s voice?” The old lady’s voice resonated from within the house, and a few seconds later, she walked to the door.

Xia Wenna blurted out in surprise, “Mother, why are you here?”

Grandmother Qi looked at Xia Wenna and then at Yu Qianying. Xia Wenna did not look like she was paying her ‘family-in-law’ a visit, but rather, she seemed intent on tearing the happy couple apart.

Thus, the old lady walked out, held Xia Wenna’s shoulder, and turned to Yu Qianying, saying, “Xiao Yu, let me talk to my daughter-in-law for a moment.”

After saying that, she brought Xia Wenna down to the floor below and heard Yu Qianying closing the door upstairs.

“Mother, why are you here?” Xia Wenna grasped her bag tightly as she was led by the old lady.

Xia Wenna was unaccustomed to hearing the old lady call Yu Qiangying ‘Xiao Yu’.

“I haven’t asked you either. Why are you here?” the old lady retorted with the same question.

Noticing how Xia Wenna seemed glum, hesitant to speak, and noticeably flustered, the old lady narrowed her eyes. “Don’t tell me you were going to pressure Song Yu’s parents into convincing Song Yu to break up with Qi Chengzhi?”

“Mother, even if they are together, something might happen in the future.” Xia Wenna kept her voice low and said, “We might be able to disregard what other people will say, but…”

“But what?” The elderly lady became angrier and more angsty. Her grandson was dating a girl before her very eyes, and that was a sign that great-grandchildren were on the horizon. What was all the fuss with Xia Wenna?

“Do you really like Yu Keyao that much? Do you know what kind of people her family are? They’re all a bunch of snobs!” Anger was imminent when the old lady brought up Yu Keyao’s family.

“I wore plain clothes today, without any makeup, and that Yu Keyao’s mother, whatever her name was…” the old lady began, prompting Xia Wenna to fill in the blanks by uttering ‘Liang Lihua’ softly. The old lady could care less about the details and simply waved it off.

“Liang whatever her name was, she bumped into Xiao Fan while he was carrying the crates of wine, and she immediately went crazy. She was being so unreasonable, cursing at us and saying we lack manners and all that. I wonder who’s the rude one! She thought that I was some normal old lady, but even if I was, did she have the right to treat me that way? With that hidden manipulativeness of hers, if she knew who I was, I’d probably be able to push her down the stairs, and she’d still be all smiles and apologizing for blocking my way!

“I’m telling you now, don’t force my grandson to wed a girl he doesn’t like. Chengze’s only been dead for a few years, have you forgotten so quickly? If Chengzhi and Song Yu really love each other and they are happy together, why do you need to care about what other people say? They’re living their lives with each other, and it has nothing to do with any outsider. Are those people going to give you a grandson? Okay, say you separate the two and force Qi Chengzhi to marry another woman. You know Qi Chengzhi’s attitude, if he doesn’t like her, it means he doesn’t like her. Are you really going to let him spend the rest of his days suffering?

“If he’s together with someone he doesn’t like, I don’t think he’ll even touch her. If that happens, when will I be able to carry a great-grandchild? Wouldn’t you be worried if the married couple doesn’t have feelings for each other and constantly fight every day?” The old lady’s eyes began tearing as she spoke. She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed her eye sockets before blowing her nose slightly, saying, “Tell me, what if something like Chengze happens again? What then?”

“I’m already so old. Do you want me to see my grandson die before me and make me heartbroken? Chengzhi is the brightest prospect in our household, and he’s going to be the leader of the family someday. The Qi family will be relying on him. It would be such a pity if he can’t follow his heart in finding a wife. I’ve thought about it, and I feel sad for all the Qi family grandkids. Every single one, except for Chengyue, are unable to follow their own wishes.”

“Everyone sees them and says that they’re born with a silver spoon. Since young, they get everything they want, and of course, everyone envies that. I, on the other hand, pity them. Why must they be born in a family like the Qi family, to parents like you? Leaving aside Chengze’s death, why did Chenglin bring back Youxuan, whose mother no one even knows? Why did he break up with his fiancée? Was it not all of you who kicked up a fuss and insisted on them getting married even though he didn’t like her? It ended up as a tragedy, didn’t it?”

“Chengzhi’s already thirty-five. It’s not easy for him to find a girl he likes. If you still want to break them up, what kind of heart do you have inside your chest? Are you not his birth mother?”

Xia Wenna felt hurt, and her eyes became teary too. With trembling lips, she choked and said, “Mother, these words you’re saying, do you know how hurt I am? I was pregnant for ten months, and I suffered much more giving birth to him than I did with Chengji. How can I not be his birth mother? I want nothing more than to give him the best. Why should I stop him from having his own happiness?”

Xia Wenna sobbed and sniffled, then took out her phone from the bag. She scrolled to the picture she had taken the previous night and showed it to the old lady. “Mother, take a look for yourself.”

The elderly lady sniffled and harbored some doubts as she took the phone from Xia Wenna. She may be old, but she was quite familiar with all those gadgets. Handphones were not a problem for her at least, since she was also fond of scrolling through her WeChat moments every day.

After her fingers swiped the screen a few times, her expression changed instantly.

“Where did you get this?” the old lady asked solemnly. She lowered her voice as much as she could and her expression was unusually stern.

“Where else would I get it? How much power would I need to have to even do such a thing? Qi Chengzhi was the one who showed it to me yesterday. Before leaving, I managed to take photos of it.” Xia Wenna took the phone back from the old lady and placed it into her handbag.

“Mother, even if we don’t interfere with them now, can this thing be kept hidden from them for an entire lifetime? If Song Yu finds out, will she still be able to continue being with Chengzhi? The Song family will not just let the matter slide, that’s for certain! If Song Yu finds out after they get married and divorces him, tell me, Mother, is that happiness?”

The old lady’s head hurt immediately. Being of old age, she really did not like these troublesome things. She placed her fingers on the temples and began massaging while constantly exclaiming, “Oh dear, oh dear!”

“So, what I’m thinking is, before we get to the point of no return, it’s better for them to go through a period of sadness and break up now when their feelings aren’t too deep yet.” Xia Wenna then continued, “Regarding all this, Qi Chengzhi is the one who had done something unforgivable to the Song family, but in essence, it’s our family, the Qi family, that had done wrong to the Song family. Mother, tell me, now that you know what’s going to happen in the future, are you still going to let them be together?”

The elderly lady’s heart was in a total mess. She no longer cared about how dirty the wall was and leaned helplessly against it while she massaged her temples.

“Tell me, did Qi Chengzhi willingly show it to you?” the old lady questioned.

Xia Wenna nodded and explained, “He wants me to feel guilty, to feel that I let the Song family down, so I’ll stop making things difficult for Song Yu by objecting to their relationship. Of course, I feel terrible for the Song family, so today…I brought them a cheque so they’ll be able to build the company back up again. It may not be as strong as it used to, but it’ll put them in a better position than they are now.

“But I’m worried that this thing can’t be kept hidden for long. What’s going to happen then? Wouldn’t the Qi family and the Song family be in an even bigger mess?”

The old lady took in a deep breath, then exhaled it out again. When all was said and done, she was still the matriarch of the Qi family, and by the time her expression turned stern and her gaze became frightening, Xia Wenna did not dare to look at her directly in the eye.

“Since Chengzhi told you willingly, he trusts that you wouldn’t betray him as his mother, and honestly, if you want to break them apart, you can just tell them the truth. I believe that irregardless of Song Yu’s reaction to it, her parents would definitely not allow her to be with Chengzhi once they found out,” the elderly lady opined.

“You’re right, Mother. I wouldn’t betray him.” Xia Wenna looked down and sighed anxiously.

“That’s that, then. Just treat it as though you didn’t know about all of this, and keep quiet about it forever. Delete the picture in the phone, just in case someone else sees it.” The elderly lady stared at Xia Wenna, wanting the latter to take her phone outright that instant. Relief set in only when she saw Xia Wenna delete the picture right in front of her eyes.

“Alright, you can go home.” The old lady waved her hand and dismissed Xia Wenna.

“Mother, are you…” Xia Wenna looked at the old lady in shock but found herself tongue-tied when she opened her mouth.

“Since Chengzhi had chosen to do what he did at that time, he should’ve had understood the risks involved, hence, possessed the capability to bear the consequences, come what may. Now that he’s still decided to be with Song Yu, there is no doubt that he can bear it all.” The elderly lady looked at Xia Wenna. “He’s your son, surely you understand that aspect of him?”

“Mother, you’re still going to agree to the both of them being together?” Xia Wenna asked in surprise because she understood the meaning behind the old lady’s words.

Grandmother Qi pursed her lips and stared at Xia Wenna for some time before remarking, “Can you object to it? If you don’t want to tell Song Yu everything, what reason could you possibly have for objecting? Even if you tell Song Yu, will Chengzhi just give up on her? It’d be better if we just keep quiet so everyone can live happily ever after.”

Xia Wenna had something to add, but the old lady dismissed her without a word. Before she left, the old lady even managed to give her a warning. “The next time you come, it better be as an in-law. That cheque inside the bag? Tear it up for me right now!”

There was no one behind the old lady after returning to the Song’s family’s home, leaving Yu Qianying to wonder as to where Xia Wenna had gone.

The elderly lady offered an explanation, “Chengzhi’s mother remembered that she had something to do, so she had to leave. Xiao Song, Xiao Yu, let’s continue where we left off.”

…

…

Jian Yi sat in the car with his mind filled only with the exchange between Xia Wenna and Grandmother Qi.

Zhou Mingyan had been telling him all about Song Yu’s faults, and after a while, the conversation steered to the time she went by the Song family house to send the wedding invitation.

Her tone seemed very impolite.

Jian Yi and Qi Chengyue would be going on their honeymoon the next day. Therefore, since his wife was having a beauty session today, Jian Yi thought it was the perfect opportunity to visit the Song family and apologize to Song Yu’s parents.

However, it did not occur to him that on his way up the building, he would overhear the conversation between Xia Wenna and Grandmother Qi on the staircase.

Even though the two of them had never explicitly said what it was that Qi Chengzhi did, their entire conversation betrayed the fact that he had done something unforgivable towards the Song family. It was something so serious with the potential to ruin their relationship even.

Jian Yi’s right hand was placed on the steering wheel while his left elbow rested near the window. His left index finger was placed on his lips and he frowned while pondering over the things he had heard.

From Xia Wenna and Grandmother Qi’s reaction, Qi Chengzhi must have done something so shocking that the Song family could fall out with them completely, and regardless of what might happen, it would lead them to strictly object against Song Yu’s relationship…

Jian Yi came to a realization which resulted in a dramatic change of expression.

The only possibility he could think of was the Song family’s bankruptcy.

Back then, the Song family went bankrupt without any news about it. It was particularly sudden, and no one knew the details of what really went down.

‘Was it possible that Qi Chengzhi was involved in the bankruptcy?’

‘Could he have been the one who plotted it all, even?’

‘Why would he do that?’

‘It couldn’t possibly be just to prevent Song Yu and Qi Chengji from getting married, could it?’

At the time of Song Yu’s engagement to Qi Chengji, if the Song family went bankrupt, the Qi family would definitely have stopped the marriage, considering the attitude they had back then.

Qi Chengze was still alive then, and because the Qi family was still a powerhouse, they would certainly not have wanted an in-law that would give them no benefit.

As the youngest, it was a wonder how Qi Chengji could endure being used just to connect both families through marriage.

The finger that Jian Yi placed just below his nose slowly formed into a fist. ‘If that was the case, how long had Qi Chengzhi been eyeing on Song Yu?’

‘Did he really go into hiding for so many years before making a move on Song Yu?’

‘If that was really the case, his patience was something to be reckoned with!’

‘How detailed were his plans!’

‘During this time, how much did Qi Chengzhi have to plot in order for him to take a step at a time to reach to where he was?’

‘Did he really spend so much effort on Song Yu?’

Jian Yi found it more and more unfathomable as he thought about it. ‘Could a person like that even exist? Someone who would be willing to execute such an arrangement, one that was capable of creating a disaster, just for the sake of one woman?’

The most shocking part was that it was all happening to Qi Chengzhi.

It became more and more outrageous when Jian Yi pondered deeper into it. Nonetheless, it still seemed logical, because there was no other explanation that he could think of.

Jian Yi tightened his grip on the steering wheel. His fingers were slender too, with well-defined joints. He had attractive hands, and at that time, veins were bulging out from the back of his palm.

He blinked his eyes, which slowly turned red, as though he was engaged in a show of strength with some invisible entity.

In the end, he clenched his teeth tightly and punched the steering wheel. Then, he took a few slow, deep breaths. He trembled at first when he took those breaths, but slowly, he began to calm down. Only then did he leave.

…

…

The old lady was finally ready to say her goodbyes. She stood up, took her bag, and held Yu Qianying’s hand. “Xiao Yu, if you have the time, come over to our house for a walk. Bring Song Yu along. It’s just me and my husband all day, and it’s pointless for us to spend our days arguing. Do come and have a chat with me.”

She took out the Yellow Calendar while saying that, and after flipping it she exclaimed, “Oh dear, the day after tomorrow is a good day, very suitable for journeys. Come over on that day then, the both of you! Coincidentally, there will be a dance practice on that day for a competition. Maybe we can dance a bit, and if there’s nothing for you to do, it’s good for you to stretch your legs there!”

“Madam, I…” Yu Qianying wanted to decline, but the way the old lady held her hand so intimately left her no chance to reject the invitation.

“It’s set then. Look at my aging arms and legs, you can’t always expect me to come here right? My hip is killing me after going up flights of stairs to your home.” The old lady placed her hand on her waist and held Qi Chengzhi’s arm. “Come on, elder grandson. Lend me some support.”

“In that case, I’ll be going. No need for you to send me off.” She waved her hand at them. “Chengzhi, come and send me.”

Qi Chengzhi knew that the old lady had something she wanted to tell him privately. Aunt Yang and Xiao Fan were there, so technically there was no need for him to send her off.

It was not easy for Qi Chengzhi to have an ally like his grandmother, so he felt it unwise to reject her request.

He looked over to Song Yu, and she nodded at him. Yu Qianying’s expression did not seem too pleased. It was a sign that she, too, had some private matters to talk to Song Yu about. Even if Qi Chengzhi stayed, Yu Qianying might send him on his way.

Song Yu glanced at Yu Qianying and saw her unhappy expression, but still, she could not resist going over to Qi Chengzhi and kneaded his arm to let him feel at ease.

Her dependence and closeness to Qi Chengzhi made Yu Qianying feel powerless, as though her daughter was going to leave the family.

Looking at Song Yu’s demeanor, her heart seemed fully committed to Qi Chengzhi: she poured her heart out to him, and a couple of sentences would not suffice to make her change her mind.

Qi Chengzhi smiled at Song Yu and saw her tender and submissive appearance. Her distinctly monochrome eyes looked at him innocently and her gaze was full of reliance. When he looked at her, faint blushes even appeared on her face.

Yu Keyao’s blush was different, more feigned. However, when Song Yu blushed, it was as though she was very self-conscious about how she blushed so easily. The look on her face seemed a little conflicted, but it was exceptionally intriguing.

Qi Chengzhi felt a stir in his heart when she looked at him like that. He wanted to touch her face dearly and kiss her.

Nevertheless, Yu Qianying and Song Donglin were present, so all he could do was restrain himself. His warm, dry hand touched the hand that held him and softly kneaded it.

The feeling of being held by him once more was incredibly satisfying. Ever since they came in, he did not show too much affection with Song Yu for fear that it might provoke Yu Qianying. He did not even hold her hand. The only thing they did was sit primly, but not too closely, on the sofa.

“I’ll see you out.” She could not care less about what Yu Qianying would think. She simply held his elegant hand and rubbed her thumb on the joints of his fingers.

“I’ll see you out.” She could not care less about what Yu Qianying would think. She simply held his elegant hand and rubbed her thumb on the joints of his fingers.

The old lady sported an exceptionally content smile as she looked at them from the side. She genuinely felt that Song Yu’s previous engagement with Qi Chengji was no longer an issue.

Yu Qianying snorted coldly as if to admonish Song Yu, but the latter pretended not to hear and continued seeing Qi Chengzhi out.

Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu faced each other. One of his hands was still holding her hand, but the other crept up slowly to her waist. He tilted his head downward and leaned close to her. His thin, warm, and handsome lips were almost touching the tip of her nose.

Song Yu blushed as she glanced behind Qi Chengzhi, muttering softly, “Grandma’s here.”

Grandmother Qi turned her eyes away immediately and let Aunt Liu help her down a flight of stairs. She looked down from the porch, pointed to the ground below, then said to Aunt Liu, “Xiao Liu, look at how fat that dog is. It can’t even walk!”

Curious, Aunt Liu searched frantically for the dog. “Where is it?”

The old lady pinched Aunt Liu immediately after the question. Following an ‘ouch’, she looked at the old lady and noticed a frown, prompting her to nod and say, “I see it! I see it!”

Song Yu’s ears were feeling extremely hot. It was obvious that the old lady was just cooking up an excuse to give Song Yu and Qi Chengzhi some space.

Qi Chengzhi observed the white, downy vellus hairs on Song Yu’s ear. He bent his head and kissed her ear, letting his dry and warm lips brush gently against the downy hair. His actions made her feel rather ticklish, but knowing that the old lady was there, Song Yu did not dare to let out a pampered giggle.

Qi Chengzhi then continued kissing her from her ears to cheeks, and finally, his lips landed on hers.

Song Yu pushed him away and forbade him from kissing too passionately since the old lady was still around.

Not satisfied with the kiss, he gave her a few extra pecks and held her waist with both his hands. A scorching-hot electric current was emanating from the gentle caresses of his lips. His voice was hoarse when he began speaking, “I’ll talk a while with Grandmother before coming back here. She brought the driver and Aunt Liu, so there’s really no need for me to send her. She just has a few things she wants to tell me.”

“Take your time. Maybe you can go back first if you’ve finished talking with Grandma. My mom definitely wants to speak to me privately too, it wouldn’t be convenient to do that if you were there.” Song Yu tilted her head backward slightly, otherwise, her lips would have been rubbing against his when she spoke. She would have felt really hot if she did not tilt her head back.

“I’ll wait for you downstairs.” He tightened his grip and pressed her against himself. “It doesn’t matter if your conversation takes a long time. If you need me, tell me. I’ll come up.”

Song Yu listened to his words. His insistence on waiting for her meant that he was not about to let her stay there that day. Ever the dominant man, he wanted her to go home with him no matter how late it might be.

When a man of his composure made such a demand, he seemed like an insecure little child. She felt somewhat sorry for him.

“Okay.” She tiptoed and kissed him on the lips, but felt slightly embarrassed after kissing him.

“You’d better get going. Grandma’s gonna be laughing at us.” Song Yu looked down and avoided his gaze. She fixed her eyes on his abdomen. His sturdy muscles were wholly covered by his clothes, but she could not control herself from recalling the sight of his half-naked body.

Qi Chengzhi smiled as he placed his lips on hers and kissed her once again. He proceeded to help the old lady down only when Song Yu re-entered her home.

The elderly lady stared at Qi Chengzhi continuously as they made their way down. In the end, Qi Chengzhi could not help but say, “Grandmother. Please keep your eye on the stairs. Don’t keep looking at me.”

Grandmother Qi was not staring at him on purpose. In fact, she did turn away at the start and looked at the scenery below. Nevertheless, Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu’s conversation still reached her ears.

Her grandson was so indifferent and so detached towards everyone else, but with Song Yu, he was soft-spoken and particularly caring.

When she peeked at them moments earlier, Qi Chengzhi was grasping Song Yu very tightly. He stuck to her like an herbal plaster and seemed unable to let go of her for even a second.

She heard everything that Qi Chengzhi said. He wanted to wait downstairs for her and insisted on bringing her back home with him; he did not want her to stay too long by herself with her parents.

How could the old lady not be shocked when it was Qi Chengzhi who did all those things?

Aunt Liu was also so shocked that her face went pale. It was the first time she saw Qi Chengzhi acting that way. She stole glances at him from time to time because she felt like he was a different person altogether.

After everything that transpired, Grandmother Qi could deduce that Qi Chengzhi would not break up with Song Yu. Even if Song Yu was willing to, he would most certainly refuse.

The old lady sighed. Qi Chengzhi’s act of running the Song family into bankruptcy was likely done just for the sake of voiding Song Yu’s engagement with Qi Chengji.

No wonder he never had a woman by his side: Song Yu was the only woman in his heart and the only person that was constantly in his mind.

As a result, it was impossible that Qi Chengzhi would let go of her even if his family protested.

Qi Chengzhi helped his grandmother into the Volvo. Xiao Fan had switched on the engine, but he remained outside the car with Aunt Liu. They chatted, and when a peddler selling roasted sweet potatoes passed by, Aunt Liu bought two and ate with Xiao Fan.

It was late enough in the day that the weather was warmer, but the air was still chilly. In spite of that, eating those roasted sweet potatoes brought about a feeling of warmth in them.

Inside the car, Grandmother Qi looked at Qi Chengzhi with a very stern expression.

Nowadays, the old lady was genial and all smiles. She was always on good terms with the neighbors; moreover, she had minor roles in theatre and she was fond of plaza dancing. Her approachability, however, was a far cry from her younger days. Back then, she was known as the iron lady, both in name and in her real-life persona. Everything that she said became set in stone, and she governed the Qi family with absolute strictness.

If it were not for that, Xia Wenna would not have been so afraid of the old lady.

It was also the reason why Qi Chengzhi wanted to persuade her first—if he was successful in doing so, his other family members would pose no threat anymore.

“Your mother told me about the things you did to the Song family,” she remarked solemnly.

…

…

“How long were you two in a relationship? The car that Lao Xu saw during the new year, it was his, wasn’t it?” Yu Qianying asked the instant Song Yu entered the home.

“We just got together during the new year,” Song Yu told the truth.

“Hmph!” The thought of it made Yu Qianying’s blood boil. “You even told me that Lao Xu saw wrongly.”

“Mom, we had just gotten together at that time. Nothing was official. Your opinion of the Qi family is also a strong one, and I wouldn’t dare to rush myself into telling you all this,” Song Yu summoned up the courage and remarked.

“When you first asked me whether I was together with him or not, the answer was a solid no. But feelings are not something you can predict, especially after I got along with him later on. Feelings don’t always happen the way you want them to. I know that you don’t like the Qi family and I’ve told myself before that we weren’t compatible. Because of that, I had inner conflicts too, but in the end, I couldn’t stop my heart from feeling what it felt.”

“Mom, all along I’ve told you that feelings are dependent on fate. Who would’ve known that fate would lead me to Qi Chengzhi? I like him, and it has nothing to do with the Qi family. When I was with him, the only thing I thought of was him, not the Qi family. I just hope that you can distinguish Qi Chengzhi and the Qi family.”

“All I want is to let my heart search for someone that I can truly love. It wasn’t easy for me to find one, and I just want to be with him without further complications. You’re always introducing good men to me, urging me to be in a relationship and get married. I know you want nothing else but to see me happy. I believe that I can be happy with Qi Chengzhi. Will it be possible for you to not care so much about the Qi family anymore? Or, you can separate Qi Chengzhi as a person from the Qi family. Qi Chengzhi is Qi Chengzhi. He’s not the Qi family. Whatever that happened in the past was not his fault. You can choose to dislike the Qi family, but can you just accept him? Can you please accept him, Mom, for my sake?”

Yu Qianying pursed her lips into a tight straight line. Her breathing was tense, heavy, and clearly audible, while her face began turning red due to her overwhelmed emotion.

“Do you think that I’m against the relationship just because of my past with the Qi family? When our family went bankrupt and the Qi family refused to help, they did nothing wrong. I have no right to complain about it to them. The Qi family is a powerful family, and I’m worried that you won’t be treated right by the family if you were to continue your relationship with him! I wasn’t worried in the past because our family had power too, but now that we have nothing at all, wouldn’t you be bullied by the Qi family?”

“Qi Chengzhi is going to be the future leader of the family. It’s only natural that the Qi family would want his other half to be equally powerful, and useful to him. But you don’t have anything now, and it’s still a question of whether Qi Chengzhi’s parents will even accept you. Judging by the way Xia Wenna came today, I think she wanted me to persuade you to break up with him! If something happens to the Qi family in the future, they wouldn’t think twice about casting you aside.”

“What else is there for me to pursue? Don’t I have nothing in the first place? If they want to rid themselves of me, what more do I have that they would want to rid themselves of? The only thing that matters is that Qi Chengzhi will not leave me.” Song Yu pursed her lips and clenched her fists tightly. With full of confidence, she said, “And, I believe that Qi Chengzhi will protect me.”

Yu Qianying trembled in extreme anger. She only wanted what was best for Song Yu, but the latter’s words painted her as the bad person. Song Yu was stubborn and would not listen to her no matter how much advice was given.

“If you get hurt next time, don’t come crying to me!” Yu Qianying was so furious that her voice was faltering and her eyes became red.

Those who call themselves mothers would always love their children dearly. She was worried that Song Yu might get the worst out of the situation. It happened once already, so she should have the brains to learn from that mistake, should she not?

Song Yu, however, remained stubborn, and all Yu Qianying could do was be angry and start worrying. She rued not being able to protect Song Yu.

A reassuring hand held her shoulder, and Song Donglin’s voice subsequently began resounding from beside her. “Let our daughter make her own decision on this. Our bankruptcy isn’t necessarily a bad thing. At least Song Yu has the power to make her own choices now. If today she chooses Qi Chengzhi, all we can do is hope that the man will not let us down.”

“Dad, Mom, I too had doubts about being with him. It took a lot for me to make up my mind and come to this decision. But I believe he’ll protect me. He placed his trust in me right from the very beginning, and I’m now trying to trust in him wholeheartedly. I know that it’s brave of me to do this, and although it’s a gamble, I’m confident that it’s a gamble that will pay off. Even if you don’t trust him, you can trust me. How about it?”

“It wasn’t easy for me to find someone that I really liked, and I really do want to continue being with him. Mom, I know that you were always tolerant of my stubbornness. Let me be stubborn one more time, please?”

“You…” Yu Qianying let out a sound but paused firmly. She wanted to lift her trembling hand, but she could not do so. She simply turned her head away in anger.

There was nothing else Song Donglin could do except to place his hands on her shoulder and comfort her. “Our daughter’s all grown up. A lot of things aren’t for us to decide. It’s her journey, and she should be the one to live her own life. I trust my daughter. You should have a bit of faith in her, too.”

Song Donglin shot Song Yu a glance and led Yu Qianying into the room so they could talk.

Song Yu sat in the living room but was still able to hear the loud arguing between both her parents. For the most part, it was Yu Qianying who raised her voice when speaking. Song Donglin’s voice was virtually indiscernible, but on the rare occasion that his voice was heard, he was advising her patiently in a very warm tone.

After a while, both of them came out. Yu Qianying’s eyes were still red, but there was an added hint of determination in her look; it was no longer the outright disapproval that was present in the beginning.

Yu Qianying took a few deep breaths. Her blocked nose made her voice rather muffled, and she seemed quite uneasy when she said, “Stay for lunch. You haven’t been home for a long time now.”

Song Yu did not forget that Qi Chengzhi was waiting for her, but even so, she did not want to disappoint Yu Qianying, considering that things took a somewhat ugly turn that day. It was difficult to get Yu Qianying to relent and cease the objection, and if Song Yu did not stay back for lunch, it really would break her parents’ hearts.

Therefore, Song Yu had no choice but to nod in agreement, albeit somewhat hesitantly.

Once Yu Qianying went to make lunch, Song Yu sneaked out to the balcony and called Qi Chengzhi.

“Have you finished talking with Grandma?”

“Yes. She went home already.” Qi Chengzhi’s deep voice resounded from the other end of the line.

As soon as Song Yu heard his voice, her anxieties and her insufferableness gradually turned calm.

“My mom told me to stay for lunch. I don’t know when I’ll be able to leave. I don’t want to make them even sadder than they are now,” Song Yu explained as her eyes darted across the room. Yu Qianying had yet to come out of the kitchen. Song Donglin caught Song Yu making the phone call on the balcony, but he paid no mind to it. “You should go back first. Don’t wait for me. I’ll take a cab there once I’m done.”

“Mm,” Qi Chengzhi replied crisply and directly. Song Yu was somewhat taken aback by his response.

Based on her understanding of him, he was a single-minded man when he had his heart set on something. When she saw him off earlier, he insisted on bringing her home with him, so she felt uneasy upon hearing his response.

He was a strong-willed and dominant man, but his dominance was exactly the things that made her felt spoiled. When he answered her without kicking up a fuss, she felt as though she did not feel adored anymore.

It was then that Song Yu realized that she had been spoilt far too often by him.

Song Yu shook her head and giggled at herself. There was no doubt that he had spoiled her quite a bit. She was never that petty in the past and she would never have taken such an insignificant thing to heart. Moreover, she was the one who suggested that he should leave, and repeated insistence was not her character at all.

Slightly hurt, she stroked her heart and listened as Qi Chengzhi’s voice rang through the phone, “When you’re ready to leave, tell me.”

“Okay,” Song Yu answered before hanging up.

Upon entering the house, there was a momentary awkwardness between Song Yu and Song Donglin, as she had no idea what to say to him.

Song Donglin adjusted his glasses, flashed her a smile, then shifted his attention back to his kifu.

Yu Qianying laid out all the dishes on the dining table and called on the two to eat. Song Donglin then removed his glasses and set his kifu aside. He promptly got up and headed for the dining hall.

“I heard your lease is expiring, so when it does, move back here. After all, I don’t feel too reassured with your quality of life when you’re living by yourself out there.” Song Yu had just taken some vegetables when she heard Yu Qianying’s words.

“It won’t be convenient for me to go to work if I stay here.” That was all Song Yu could say.

“Oh, so it’s convenient if you stay at Qi Chengzhi’s place?” Yu Qianying’s face turned sour, although she was not a close-minded person. When feelings between a young couple reach a certain point and they were more or less certain that they were each other’s life partner, living together before marriage was no big deal. If Song Yu were to reach that phase, Yu Qianying would not object.

However, Song Yu and Qi Chengzhi had not even been together long. The Qi family had yet to accept her and the marriage arrangements were not even discussed properly. It was nuts of her to stay with Qi Chengzhi so quickly!

If something happens in the future, Song Yu would be the one who would get the worst of it!

“You’ve known each other just recently, but you’re already staying with him. Aren’t you afraid that he wouldn’t appreciate you well enough because he thinks you’re too carefree?” Yu Qianying placed her chopsticks down and asked.

“I trust him.” Song Yu placed her chopsticks down too, before she continued calmly, “If he really did think about that, then he’s no longer Qi Chengzhi, he’s no longer the man I love. He never treats me half-heartedly. Hiding the relationship was my choice. He always wanted to meet you, and to bring me to meet his family, but I’m the one who’s afraid that you can’t take it. I told him to keep everything a secret, as if our relationship was something shameful.”

“He’s a man full of pride. He kept everything secret because of me, but not once did he complain, because he respected my decision. He brought me home to visit the Qi family, and they objected of course. But at least his attitude remained the same. Otherwise, why do you think the elder Qi lady would come here today? If this is what you call half-hearted, what is your definition of sincerity, then? In my opinion, he wouldn’t treat me any less seriously if we stayed together.”

‘Slap!’

Yu Qianying hands slapped the chopsticks on the table and the resulting contact produced a crisp slapping sound, “You can say whatever you like now that you’re older. It makes me look like I’m the one who’s in the wrong.”

“Mom, that’s not what I meant, I…”

“Do whatever you like! If you don’t like hearing my sincere advice, then forget about it.” Yu Qianying cut Song Yu off and did not allow her to finish her sentence. Without even bothering to continue eating, Yu Qianying stormed off into the room.

Song Yu lost her appetite after hearing the loud ‘bang’ caused by slamming the door. She stared at the array of dishes on the table and felt a sourness rising in her throat.

Song Donglin sighed and patted Song Yu’s shoulder. “About all this, you can’t expect her to accept it all at one go. The least you could do is tell her bit by bit so she can take things one by one. I’ll check on her.”

“I think…I’d better leave.” Song Yu stood up and felt unworthy of facing her parents, especially when Yu Qianying took the trouble to cook so many dishes.

Song Donglin nodded and headed for the room. Then he heard Song Yu call out, “Dad. I’m sorry.”

Song Donglin chuckled. “Silly child. You just need to know what you’re doing.”

Song Yu watched as Song Donglin entered the room and closed the door behind him. Once again, her parents’ voices could be heard from within: Song Donglin was advising and explaining, while Yu Qianying was grieving.

A sour taste manifested in Song Yu’s throat and her eyes felt sore too. She grabbed her bag and left silently.

She took her phone out and thought about calling Qi Chengzhi, but after thinking about it for a moment, she decided not to.

As she neared the entrance to the building, she stopped and rubbed her eyes, which had teared up unknowingly. She looked up and tried stopping the tears from coming out, though she did sniffle a few times before taking a few deep breaths. Finally, she took as deep a breath as she possibly could and walked out of the building entrance.

A few more steps later, she found herself glued to the spot as she laid her eyes on a Range Rover, parked not too far away. The vehicle body, as well as the window tint, was completely black. Its car plate number was blue, and she could not possibly mistake it for another car.

‘Didn’t he go back? Why is his car here?’

She walked a couple of steps forward and saw the car door swinging open. Every single movement seemed to slow down considerably, and she spotted those slender and fair-skinned fingers popping out from the door, as well as a pair of long legs extending out from the car.

Song Yu froze on the spot. Her heart thumped strongly all of a sudden when he got down from the car and stood silently in front of it.

Sporting a black Burberry windbreaker, he looked tall and stylish as the garment highlighted his slender frame. It made his long legs even longer, as though he was an unfinished work of art.

Sporting a black Burberry windbreaker, he looked tall and stylish; the garment accentuating his slender frame. It made his long legs even longer. It was as though he was an unfinished work of art.

His hands were stuffed into the pockets of the windbreaker, as he stood there looking at her in silence. It felt as if he had been waiting for her all his life.

Song Yu’s eyes began to prickle, and she felt a hotness coming from within. She ran toward Qi Chengzhi. Without hesitation, she threw herself into his embrace. She did not even slow down or stop when she was standing in front of him.

“Didn’t I tell you to go back home?” She buried her face in his chest, greedily inhaling his scent.

“Didn’t I say I’d wait here for you?” He removed his hands from his pockets and held her tightly. Then, he planted a kiss on her forehead and breathed into her hair.

“If I was to stay here and have lunch, were you going to wait and let yourself go hungry?” His love for her was overbearing and intransigent. At times, that intransigency led him to have a foolish, one-track mind.

He could hear from her voice that something was not quite right. His slender fingers ran through her hair, and he then lifted her head up to see her reddened eyes.

Tears were not trickling down, but her rabbit red eyes made him frown.

“What happened?” His voice turned low.

Song Yu shook her head. Qi Chengzhi pursed his lips and said, “Let’s go to the car.”

He led her to the front passenger seat and helped her in, before going back to the driver seat.

He was in no rush to start the car. Turning to her, he observed her carefully and asked, “Are you really that emotional because I waited for you here?”

Song Yu blushed because that was part of the reason.

Qi Chengzhi sighed and did away with his teasing tone. “What’s wrong exactly? Did you get into an argument with your parents?”

Song Yu shook her head. “My dad’s okay, but my mom… she still needs some time to accept all this. My dad’s trying to console her now. It’s just… this whole thing made her angry and I feel like I’ve disappointed her. Back home, I said a few things that may have been harsh. She wants the best for me, but I…”

Song Yu struggled to continue talking. She watched as Qi Chengzhi’s fair and elegant hand covered hers.

He kept quiet and did not pledge anything to her. To begin with, he was never an emotional man, who would say all sorts of overly-sentimental things. Instead, his grip on her hand was unusually firm, as though he was afraid that she would not understand his intentions.

“What did you and Grandma talk about just now?” Song Yu changed the topic.

Qi Chengzhi retracted his hand and started the car. He got into gear and started driving, before replying unenthusiastically, “Nothing out of the ordinary. The gist of it was this: if I really had my heart set on you, and if I promised to give her great-grandchildren, she’d support us.”

In truth, however, the old lady said something else. She had wanted him to guarantee that Song Yu would still choose to stay with him, instead of divorcing him if the truth behind the Song family’s bankruptcy ever came to light. If he could do that, Grandmother Qi would not forbid him from consorting with her.

Having said that, if he himself had no faith that Song Yu would continue to be with him should that day come, then it would be best for him to sever ties with Song Yu as soon as possible.

Qi Chengzhi glanced at Song Yu. His hand left the joystick and reached over to hold her hand in his steady grip.

“Weren’t you supposed to have lunch at home? You came down pretty early. Have you finished eating?” His voice, though rich, was not at all loud. His thumb meanwhile, was caressing the back of her hand gently.

“When we were eating, my mom told me to move back with them. She knows that I’m staying with you now.” As soon as she completed her sentence, she could feel him tightening his grip.

Knowing that he had misunderstood things, Song Yu used her other hand to cover his and rubbed it gently.

The skin of hand was delicate, enabling her to feel his bones. His bluish-green veins were visible through the fair skin.

“Things weren’t too bad at first, but, because I declined to move back with them, the whole atmosphere made me lose my appetite,” she replied softly and looked up at his handsome features.

He loosened his grip on her hand, allowing his expression to relax. Then he caressed her delicate, small hands, “What do you want to have for lunch?”

“Are you hungry? If you’re not too hungry, let’s go home. I’ll cook for you.” Song Yu stared at his gorgeous face and decided that she wanted to treat him especially well. It was rare that a man as handsome as he would go as far as neglecting himself for her.

She felt that there was not much she could do for him, but if it there was anything that she was capable of doing, she was willing to do it for him.

“You’ve become very fond of cooking for me recently.” Qi Chengzhi looked at her and chuckled.

His chuckle made all traces of sternness disappear from his thin lips, just like dark clouds opening up to reveal a clear sky.

He initially thought that Song Yu would blush and refuse to reply because of her shyness. However, despite her blushing, she responded openly with an “Mm.” Her forward assent was not something that he had considered.

Qi Chengzhi instantly tightened his grip on her hand. Her response was a pleasant surprise that lightened his mood. He brought her hand to his lips and gently pressed a couple of kisses.

“Let’s go home then,” Qi Chengzhi said.

…

…

The two of them went back to Viewpark Residence. It was a Sunday, so Aunt Yang had the day off and had gone home. Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu were the only ones in the house.

The couple went into the room and changed into their house clothes. Despite living together and involving each other in nearly everything, she still felt embarrassed to change right in front of him. Thus, Song Yu took her clothes and went to the changing room.

After changing her top, she proceeded to change her pants. It was then that the door to the changing room clicked open. She turned and grabbed her pants, but Qi Chengzhi came in before she had the chance to put them on.

Once he entered, the changing room felt as congested as a small warehouse.

Qi Chengzhi’s enigmatic, pitch-black eyes leisurely savored her body. His eyes travelled from the crown of her head to her bare feet.

Her top barely reached her waist, allowing one to glimpse her belly-button if she were to slightly raise her arms.

Song Yu felt hot under his intense gaze. The pants in her hand went forgotten, as she lost her train of thought.

“I’m changing. Why did you come in?” she asked softly, trembling.

Qi Chengzhi kept quiet. Reaching over, his pale slender fingers closed over her pants, plucking them out of her hands and discarding them. He then took a step forward, and placed his rough palms on her waist, caressing her silky-smooth skin.

His hands drifted from her waist to the small of her back, tracing circles with his fingers. Her body was pressed flush against him, as his parted lips brushed the shell of her ear.

It was an undeniable fact that the old lady’s words still had an effect on Qi Chengzhi, albeit, not till the point of compromising his feelings. Of course, breaking up was not an option, but it did not deter the worry he felt when she would discover the truth. He did not know how she would react.

His discovery of her argument with her parents simply exacerbated these feelings. She had even defended him from Yu Qianying’s harsh words. She had remained firm and resolute in her defence because it had involved Qi Chengzhi.

He felt grateful and passionate by her trust and the high opinion she held of him. However, he was wary of the possibility that the more faith she placed in him, the more disappointed she would be when she found out the truth.

When they were in the car earlier, he had wanted fuse her to him as he held her in his embrace. He had wanted to be in her; and, throughout the journey, he had kept those desires at bay.

She trembled and blushed when she felt his aggressiveness. “You don’t wanna eat anymore?”

“Feed ‘him’ first, until ‘he’ is satisfied.” Resting his jade stalk against her, he gave a gentle nudge. She gasped, sudden and harsh, burying her efflorescent face into his chest.

Arching upwards she brushed a kiss against his lips, as she circled her arms around him.

After all that happened that day, all she wanted was to have him.

Qi Chengzhi’s shoulders tensed as he seized her waist, lifting her up and fervidly pressing his lips against hers.

One of the things he particularly liked about her was her penchant for not feigning aloofness or pretending to be shy in moments like this. She would always follow her heart’s desires. If she wanted to do something, she would do it. There would be no attempt on her part to try and mask her intentions.

Through her actions, she told him, in no uncertain terms, that she wanted him, lusted for him.

Qi Chengzhi kissed her passionately, not breaking even for a breath. He let himself loose and took everything she had.

Song Yu let out a moan and clung to his neck, her hair cascading around them.

…

…

In the end, Song Yu had no idea when she was brought to the bed. Her brain was blank, and all she could remember was how rough he had been with her. She was spent.

Qi Chengzhi was still hugging her tightly, showering her with kisses that landed on her eyes, her nose, her ears, and, finally, her lips.

Her eyes half lidded, Song Yu languorously stretched out. He had slammed into her with a ruthless, ardent ferocity. She had taken all of him with adoring tear-stained eyes.

Her eyelashes, wet with tears, were thick and black. It was as though she had applied a fresh layer of mascara. Framing her misty eyes, they were like a pair of black handheld fans.

Her moist lips were slightly parted, as she was still lost in the post-coital haze. Her cheeks were a charming, tender red, inducing Qi Chengzhi to kiss her continuously. Back and forth he went, from her misty eyes, to her pink cheeks, then to her lips. He kissed them again and again, without stopping.

Song Yu was so exhausted that she did not even want to move a single muscle. She simply submitted herself to him and allowed him to continue kissing her. As embarrassed as she was, exhaustion hindered her desire to protest.

She tiredly perched her hands on his back, absent-mindedly stroking up and down, her fingertips barely sensing the smooth sinuous muscles they grazed.

Seeing how obedient she was, Qi Chengzhi’s eyes flashed with mischief. His lips traveled downward and he pressed into her, wanting more. Song Yu, however, kicked his calf.

“I don’t have any more energy. I’m hungry.” She originally wanted to cook lunch for him, but he had had other ideas. By the time he had satiated those ideas, Song Yu was completely devoid of strength. He had made her both tired and hungry.

Qi Chengzhi abruptly jerked up, and pulled her so tightly to him that the entirety of her back was nearly lifted off the bed.

He pressed his lips against her nape, caressing her sensitive skin. His voice had a hint of untamed passion when he said, “I really wish I could fuse my bones to yours.”

Song Yu was blank for quite some time. His lustful voice was somewhat authoritarian, but, at the end of the day, everything he said was a testament to how much he cared for her. His caresses on her neck made her feel excited. She hugged him tightly and pressed her face into his shoulder. Rubbing him gently, she breathed in his heady musk, feeling her body ignite as she did so.

“If it’s you, then I want the same thing, too,” she remarked. Upon completing her sentence, her mind went blank, and she could not believe that those words had escaped her mouth.

It was something she had always kept deep inside her heart. For the longest time, she had been too embarrassed to say it out loud, but, whenever she was with him, those words had manifested themselves in her every action.

…

…

At that moment, neither of them had any energy left. Even Qi Chengzhi was so tired that he did not want to get up. He spooned her, lying comfortably on the bed.

Hunger finally set in, and it was then that Qi Chengzhi went down to the kitchen. Rummaging through the shelf, he found two bowls of instant noodles. He boiled some water, prepared the noodles, then brought them up to the room.

While Song Yu was eating the noodles, she recalled their conversation in the car that morning. It would have been much better if they had eaten some appetizers at some restaurant somewhere, rather than having to end up eating instant noodles. It was pitiable when she thought about it.

After finishing the noodles, she looked at Qi Chengzhi’s blank expression.

His usually handsome face did not look too well, and he seemed particularly restrained.

“Let’s indulge ourselves and spend the day in bed. We’ll just cook some instant noodles if we get hungry,” Qi Chengzhi said while throwing himself over Song Yu and lying back down. She was not even given the slightest chance to object to him.

…

…

The next day, Song Yu had eyebags and bloodshot eyes when she went to work. She and Qi Chengzhi really did spend the whole day in bed, but they did not just lie there doing nothing. QI Chengzhi had spent the whole day doing her, and had, therefore, not given her much opportunity to rest.

If things continued as they were, she would start worrying for Qi Chengzhi’s health.

Song Yu was aware that she was just an ordinary girl, not some devastatingly beautiful woman. She did not understand what it was that drove his fervor.

She was not able to concentrate properly at work that day. It took her two cups of coffee—one on either side of noon—to be able to get through the day.

During her arrival at work in the morning, Ruan Danchen saw her, and raised an eyebrow mischievously. “Say, what did you do this weekend? Why do you look so tired? From what I can see, it looks like you’ve indulged in bedroom activities a bit too much! Were you and Qi Chengzhi staying at home all weekend, rolling around in bed? If so, that’s a pretty naughty lifestyle you both have! Qi Chengzhi looks fine now, but, if you keep sucking him dry, won’t he become all thin and skinny pretty soon?”

“Can’t you be more decent, please?!” Song Yu blushed, but she would certainly not admit that Ruan Danchen had gotten it right on the first guess. “I was watching TV until late last night.”

Ruan Danchen had not expected to hit the nail on the head with the guess. Judging by Qi Chengzhi’s temperament, she would never have never thought him to be extremely lustful. She did not take herself too seriously with the question, and, after making light of it, did not press Song Yu for further details.

In the afternoon, Song Yu received a call from the front desk, saying that a woman named Yu Keyao—who claimed to be Song Yu’s cousin sister—was looking for Song Yu.

Song Yu cocked her eyebrow. She did not expect Yu Keyao to come to her workplace. Truly, that woman and her mother were as annoying as herbal plasters.

Surmising that Yu Keyao’s intentions of coming over were likely the same as her mother’s, Song Yu simply did not want to waste her time by arguing with her. She told the front desk, “Tell her I’m not in. If she comes back again in the future, tell her the same thing.”

Song Yu did not know how many times Yu Keyao might return, but Song Yu’s guess was that this would be far from the last time. Being the pampered daughter that she was, Yu Keyao would not just get off her high horse and stop pestering Song Yu.

It did not take long for Song Yu to drop the matter and treat it as though nothing had happened.

She headed down after work. Just as she reached, she received a call from Qi Chengzhi.

“I’m stuck in a traffic jam. I’ll be a bit late.” Qi Chengzhi’s voice came from the other side of the line. “Just wait inside the company. Don’t come down just yet. I’ll call you once I’m there.”

“Okay. No need to rush,” Song Yu replied before turning and heading back inside to wait in her office.

However, a soft voice called out from behind, “Big Sis.”

Song Yu turned around and saw Yu Keyao strutting over. The latter had a faint smile on her face, one that was characteristic of her status as the young lady of a prestigious family.

Song Yu’s expression soured immediately, and she spoke into the phone. “I’m hanging up now.”

“Big Sis, when did you come back? Why didn’t I see you coming back?” After a leisurely walk, Yu Keyao stood in front of Song Yu. Her hands, clutching her handbag, were arranged in front of her.

“Oh, I was always here. I just didn’t have the time to see you,” Song Yu smiled insipidly while maintaining a hostile tone.

Song Yu could find no reason to be amicable towards someone like Yu Keyao, who lusted after her man. It was the same with Yu Keyao’s mother, who was so deluded, she had the insolence to pay Song Yu’s parents a “visit”.

Yu Keyao, who sported a pleasant, affable smile, froze immediately. Her lips twitched slightly, before she delicately tucked a tress behind her ear. She then smiled awkwardly and asked, “Big Sis, do you think poorly of me?”

Without even bothering to uphold her smile, Song Yu coldly declared, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to my office.”

She turned to leave, but, before she could take a step, Yu Keyao seized her wrist.

Yu Keyao appeared soft and gentle, but the force of her grip was tremendous. Song Yu’s hand throbbed with the force of Yu Keyao’s grip. Song Yu frowned and wondered if she was doing it on purpose.

“Big Sis, is this about Big Brother Chengzhi?” Song Yu did not bother turning, but she could hear Yu Keyao’s soft voice from behind. The voice was so innocent and meek, a sharp contrast to her iron grip.

Song Yu was disgusted by the familiar address Yu Keyao had used, “Big Brother Chengzhi”, but she had no choice but to turn and face Yu Keyao.

Yu Keyao still did not show any signs of relaxing her grip. Based on her appearance, no one would be able to guess that she was gripping Song Yu’s wrist so tightly that it hurt.

“Big Sis, can we find a place to talk?” Yu Keyao’s soft entreatment seemed sincere.

“There’s nothing for us to talk about.” Song Yu tried freeing herself, but to no avail.

“Big Sis, we haven’t met each other in so many years. Treat it as a normal chat about our younger days There’s plenty of things that I want to tell you. If you’re not willing to talk with me privately, I don’t mind speaking with you right here and now. It’s all the same to me, so we can do it here, if you don’t mind people passing by and hearing some of the more private things that I wish to tell you.” Yu Keyao’s grip remained solid, as her delicate voice revealed a more threatening undertone.

Song Yu gave her a cold stare. Despite the threat, Yu Keyao’s expression remained as soft and guileless as it normally was. Looking at that face made Song Yu feel even more disgusted.

A charming smile once again crept over Yu Keyao’s lips. Song Yu took a deep breath and agreed to Yu Keyao’s demands.

When Yu Keyao let go, Song Yu noticed the presence of fresh red lines on her wrist. She massaged it softly, wincing at the sting.

The two of them then walked to the café, located on the ground floor of the building. As they were heading there, Song Yu sent Qi Chengzhi a message, informing him that she would be waiting at the café.

Yu Keyao ordered green tea, while Song Yu wanted nothing except for a glass of water. She found herself unable to drink anything else while Yu Keyao was in front of her.

Yu Keyao smiled tenderly and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Big Sis, how’s your life been all these years? I was still so young when your family went bankrupt, and there was nothing I could do to help. I remember when I was young, my mom always brought me to Auntie’s place to play, and you’re the big sis that I always liked.”

“It’s been all right,” Song Yu replied curtly, pursing her lips.

“I looked for you because I wanted to apologize to you,” Yu Keyao said, but paused when the waiter served her green tea. She continued after the waiter left. “I just found out that my mom went to Auntie’s place and said some really mean things to Uncle and Auntie. I’m apologizing on her behalf. I hope you didn’t take it to heart.”

Song Yu glazed at her expressionlessly. “If it’s about that, then we’re done talking. I accept your apology, but I can’t speak for my parents.”

Song Yu rose upon the completion of her sentence. Just as she was about to leave, Yu Keyao, once again, grabbed her wrist, albeit with much less force than earlier.

In spite of that, it still felt painful because of the force she had applied before. Song Yu frowned.

“Big Sis, I’m not done yet.” Yu Keyao pulled Song Yu back down. “Do you really hate me that much? That you’re not even willing to sit down with me and hear me out? Whatever it may be, we’re still cousins, aren’t we?”

“What else do you have to say? I’m rushing to meet someone,” Song Yu retorted bluntly.

“You’re meeting Big Brother Chengzhi?” Yu Keyao smiled, glanced at Song Yu, then looked down. “Big Sis, my mother’s words may be unpleasant, but she has a point. From my observations, the Qi family seemed to have already known about the two of you before they’d set me up with him. And, since they knew all about it and still chose to arrange a blind date, it means that they don’t approve of the both of you. Since that’s the case, why must you persist so determinedly? Do you want to burden Big Brother Chengzhi and be disapproved of by the Qi family?” Yu Keyao took a few sips of tea, before using a tissue to carefully wipe the tea stains from her lips. She then smacked her lips to make sure that her lipstick was still perfect.

“Your feelings for each other may be strong now, but what if the Qi family continues to reject you? You’ll get tired of it, and you’ll feel mistreated, and you’ll complain to Big Brother Chengzhi. He might feel pity for you at first, but as time passes, he’ll grow annoyed. The Qi family will continue to reject you and disapprove of you, and, when Big Brother Chengzhi is trapped in the middle of it, he’ll soon grow tired of it.”

“You’ll start fighting more, and your love for each other will diminish. At the end of the day, no one will get the better of it, and to what end? You’ll both be sick of it. Let’s not even talk about you getting sick of it. If you watch Qi Chengzhi grow tired of everything and know that it was because of you, how could you bear it? If you really love him, you wouldn’t burden him like that.”

“Big Sis, you might think that I’m saying all this just to make up an excuse for the both of you to break up, but I want the best for you. Breaking up is the most sensible thing for the both of you to do.” Yu Keyao’s expression spoke of her sincerity. She extended her hands, in hopes of clasping Song Yu’s, but she thought the better of it and awkwardly retracted them.

“You done talking?” Song Yu drank a few sips of water and as she glanced at her phone; an action that conveyed her impatience.

“Big Sis. You’re incompatible with him.” Yu Keyao was being really patient. Song Yu seemed to be really stubborn, and no words could sway her, so Yu Keyao’s only recourse was to advise her calmly.

“If I’m incompatible with him, who is? You?” Song Yu’s lips twitched and she scoffed sarcastically.

Yu Keyao did not get angry, but instead took a deep breath and replied patiently, “Big Sis, Big Brother Chengzhi is going to become the leader of the family someday. The Qi family has high expectations of his wife. Not just any kind-hearted person will do. They want someone that’s superior in every aspect; from their family background, to their dowry, and their social connections. That is why the Qi family asked for me.”

Tucking a few strands of wayward hair behind her ear, she smiled mockingly. “Even though you’ve said what you’ve said, I still want to give you a serious answer. It’s a fact that I’m more compatible with Big Brother Chengzhi. We are compatible in almost every aspect. Even if you still had your previous status, it shouldn’t be hard to understand that I have a much better advantage than you.”

“I don’t care what advantages you have. I know one thing that all your advantages cannot get you.” Song Yu stood up and glanced coldly at Yu Keyao. “And that is the fact that I’m Qi Chengzhi’s girlfriend. We entered into this relationship with the intention to marry, and all those advantages you have are completely not worth mentioning.”

Yu Keyao’s was momentarily stunned, and her lips twitched involuntarily as she exhaled a breath of air. Song Yu’s statement caused Yu Keyao to momentarily lose her composure. So, with a trembling hand, she once again moved to tuck her lock of hair as she struggled to regain her composure.

“If you really think you’re so perfect for him, tell him. Don’t tell me. Even if I wanted to break up with him, he wouldn’t allow it, so you might as well tell him all these so-called benefits of yours. I really don’t know what your reasons are for talking to me. Do you want me to back off because you mentioned all those awkward situations? Do you think that Qi Chengzhi will come running to you if I left?”

Song Yu sneered, “I’m prepared to vouch for my words and tell you this: even if I do back off, he will continue pursuing me. He’ll chase after me wherever I go. I have no say in the things that he does. So, this is the conclusion: If you want to get married to him so badly, go ahead and tell him. You are aiming for the wrong person, coming to me.”

Song Yu had already reached the edge of the table when she paused, “Oh, yes. No matter what my relationship with Qi Chengzhi might be in the future, I’m currently his girlfriend. So, don’t always go ‘Big Brother Chengzhi’ when you open your trap. From what I know, the both of you have never met before, and you’ve never even shared a meal with him. Wherever did your close relationship stem from? To the point where you’d call him ‘Big Brother Chengzhi’? Miss Yu, you say it so naturally that I wonder how oblivious you must be. Or maybe you’ve called countless other people the same way?”

“You…” Yu Keyao shot up, her shoulders tense.

Song Yu anticipated that this should have broken Yu Keyao. She expected Yu Keyao to lash out in anger, but Yu Keyao simply shook her head disappointedly like one of Chiung Yao’s 1 tragic ladies. “Big Sis, I didn’t know that you hold such a low opinion of me. I’m your little sister. Must you be so unsociable by calling me Miss Yu? Also, I wasn’t the one who began calling him that. During the introduction, Auntie told me to address him as such. How can you say it like… like I’m someone who just goes around seducing other men?”

Yu Keyao let out a heavy sigh. Her gentle and placid face had turned extremely pale. “I came here today to reminisce about our shared history. I was young when it happened, and I couldn’t help you then. But, now that I have a say in my family, I can help you with whatever you need, and if you were to ask me for help, our family will help you.

But I didn’t expect that my meeting you would result in such a terrible misunderstanding. If you don’t like what I’m telling you today, then I apologize. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I only want the best for you. I’m telling you this because I want what’s best for you. Perhaps you can’t accept it now, but, someday, you will.” Yu Keyao sniffled and frowned. It looked as if she were about the cry, but, instead, she forced her lips to curl upwards in a small, tight smile. As she smiled, a tiny tear, no more the size of a bean, trickled down her face.

“I still remember when I was young, mom always brought me over, and you’d always bring out your toys as well as beautiful clothes and share them with me. I always liked you as a big sister, and I treated you as though you were my own big sister, I…”

Yu Keyao stopped abruptly. Before Song Yu managed to detect that something was wrong, a hand landed on her shoulder. A familiar warmth spread through her, as she was enveloped by a warm, familiar scent.

She turned and saw Qi Chengzhi’s handsome face. Every single one of his features was flawless and exotic, albeit, austere. Nonetheless, no matter how hard she stared, she could not find a single fault.

“Why did you come here?” asked Song Yu turning to Qi Chengzhi. Yu Keyao lay forgotten by the wayside.

“I just arrived. I saw that you weren’t out yet, so I came over to take a look,” Qi Chengzhi explained, smiling at her. When he smiles, the austerity of his features vanishes and what remains is a pleasant warmth, it is like the emergence of the sun after the rain.

Yu Keyao stared at him in disbelief. In those rare moments that she saw Qi Chengzhi, not once did she ever see him smile.

During their blind date, Qi Chengzhi had walked in wearing a blank look and all he had done was smoke. He had also treated her rather indifferently when she had visited him at Qilin and at the Qi family residence.

Seeing Qi Chengzhi’s smile made her heart race. How wonderful it would be if looked at her and smiled!

“You haven’t finished your conversation?” Qi Chengzhi’s gaze drifted coldly across the table and landed briefly on Yu Keyao. His smile was long gone, and what remained was the ice-cold glint of his eyes.

“Big Brother Chengzhi.” Yu Keyao’s voice was soft, it was as though most of it had gotten stuck in her throat. But even then, it retained its silken quality. She quickly dabbed the tears from her face. “I had a good chat with my big sis.”

Qi Chengzhi ignored her. It was as if she had not spoken. His pale fingers slid down Song Yu’s arm, trailing downwards until it reached her hand. Rubbing her hand gently, he led her past Yu Keyao.

Throughout the whole sequence of events, the icy cold stare was the only time Qi Chengzhi looked at her.

Yu Keyao stood paralyzed. Unhinged, she began shaking and biting her lower lip. When Qi Chengzhi walked past her, she yearned to take his hand and pull him away. However, she was unable to do so because Song Yu was between them.

She turned around and fixed her gaze onto Qi Chengzhi, watching as he held Song Yu’s hand and walked out of the café. When she glanced at Song Yu, she saw her receiving a kiss, she saw her receiving his smile.

‘Why wasn’t he angry when he clearly saw that Song Yu made me cry?’

‘He saw for himself how vicious and unreasonable Song Yu was. She scolded me like some jealous woman! But why didn’t he chastise her?!’

‘His expression was still so loving and kind, as though he didn’t see anything happen at all!’

Yu Keyao gnashed her teeth and made to chase them down, but the waiter stepped in, stopping her from leaving the café. “Miss, you haven’t paid for the drinks!”

In the waiter’s eyes, Yu Keyao looked like someone who was purposely trying to avoid paying the bill.

Never in her life did Yu Keyao suffer such a despicable look. First, she had to suffer beratement at the hands of Song Yu; next came the server’s turn to look down on her. In her anger, she took out her purse from her bag and simply fished out a red banknote without looking, which she then threw to the waiter’s face. “Keep the damn change!”

After shouting at him, she ran out of the café, but all traces of Qi Chengzhi and his Range Rover were long gone.

…

…

Qi Chengzhi was still holding Song Yu’s hands even after they were in the car. He placed her hand on his thighs, and, just beneath the fabric of his long pants, was his firm and strong muscles.

Qi Chengzhi was still holding Song Yu’s hands, even once they were in the car. He placed her hand on his thigh. Beneath the fabric of his long pants were his supple muscles.

Her palm was warm from the forceful, surging heat of his thigh, and his broad palm.

From time to time, he would rub the center of her palm. Song Yu felt ticklish, but she neither dared let out a sound nor move a single muscle. She held it all in because she was afraid that he would say all kinds of lewd and suggestive things.

Recalling Yu Keyao’s sudden change of expression earlier, she asked him, “When did you come into the café?”

Qi Chengzhi glanced at her with a deadpan expression, making Song Yu feel even more curious.

How much of their conversation did he hear for him to have such an unnatural reaction?

“Tell me!” she urged, pinching his thigh. Her fingers did not find purchase, as his thigh was lean and firm. The most she could manage was a gentle press.

Qi Chengzhi was extremely wary of letting her stir up trouble near his most sensitive area. He gripped her hand, rubbing it, before saying in his rich voice, “I heard you warn Yu Keyao not to call me Big Brother Chengzhi.”

Song Yu tilted her head downward and peeked at him in embarrassment. It was only natural that she blushed.

She was not afraid that he would be angry, neither did she feel guilt. Her blush was one born out of the embarrassment of getting caught in an act of jealousy. Looking back on the words she had earlier said, she felt she had been too overbearing.

“You’re the one who attracted such a distasteful person,” she grumbled, pouting in dissatisfaction.

With a sudden jerk of the steering wheel, Qi Chengzhi parked the car. They were now parked by the side of the road.

Song Yu was unable to react in time. His sudden action made her think he was angry. But, as she was about to protest, his shadow fell upon her.

Qi Chengzhi pressed her down and kissed her pouting lips.

His warm tongue parted her lips and darted in. Song Yu let out a muffled sound but did not resist his advances.

They were still on the side of the road. “Did he park the car to kiss me?”

“Isn’t he a bit extreme in following his desires?”

His violent kisses left no part of her lips untouched. Satiated, he broke free and placed his hands on the back of her seat, his ragged breaths flowing past her.

Her soft, red lips lay parted, giving her an innocent yet beguiling look.

Unable to control himself, Qi Chengzhi lowered his head and began giving her tiny kisses. He started from the corner of her mouth, traveling to the center of her lips, then proceeding to the other corner. He whispered, while his lips were still brushing hers, “Seeing you pout makes me want to devour your lips.”

Song Yu was about to explode from his shameless ministrations. Even his words were salacious, and he was being more direct than he ever was before.

“Stop fooling around.” She poked him and blushed. Since she was so close to him, her lips brushed against his when she spoke.

“I’m not fooling around,” he replied, kissing her lips a couple more times. His fingers crept beneath her clothes as he spoke.

“The police are gonna give you a ticket!” Song Yu exclaimed, blushing. She could feel the familiar haze as if an electrical current was coursing through her body.

“Then kiss me,” Qi Chengzhi whispered, his voice low and husky.

Hearing her admonish Yu Keyao at the café earlier had neither angered him nor lowered his opinion of her. On the contrary, he had felt proud by her show of anger.

She had been unaware of her warrior-like demeanor, as she defended her claim with a burning ferocity.

Anyone who wanted to steal him away would have to face her wrath first.

He found this side of her to be especially endearing.

She had never displayed such a reaction when she had been betrothed to Qi Chengji. She had not even emitted such ferocity whilst she had been in love with Jian Yi.

She was only like this with him. It was a testament to her love for him. It was proof that she had carved him deep into her heart.

The happiness that Qi Chengzhi felt was indescribable. Every cell in his body fizzled with happiness. He hated that he could not recline her seat and take her. He desired to hear her call him hers.

Song Yu was unable to move because he would not. His thin lips pressed hard on hers, so all she could do was hold and kiss him in turn.

“Start the car. Let’s go home first, okay,” she blushed. Her voice, lodged in her heart, was almost a whisper. She could barely hear herself.

He pressed against her lips and let out a guttural chuckle. It sounded like the echoing vibrations of a Guqin, low and beautiful.

“Can’t take it anymore? You want it too?” he teased.

“Shameless! I want to go home and eat!” Song Yu retorted. His teasing laughter told her that he did not believe a word she had said, and his usual austere features now took on a radiant petulance.

Song Yu could not help but giggle. She kissed him once more, marveling in the realization that, even if she were to turn the world over, she would never find one such as he.

His handsome and solemn expression took on a childlike youthfulness when he smiled. Likewise, his cavalier disposition dissipated the moment he spoke, his sacrilegious words betraying him.

Between passionate kisses, he guided her hand to his erect member. His voice was hoarse as he whispered in her ear. “Since I can’t take it anymore, you’ll be the one who’s going to bear it all when we get back!”

Song Yu choked. She was unable to pull away from his shaft. Her palm, a deep red, felt as if it had been set ablaze.

“Don’t fool around. Can you drive like this?” Song Yu became worried. She had not anticipated such an extreme reaction, not when they this far from home.

“Would you like to help me?” asked Qi Chengzhi, anchoring her hand to him.

Song Yu’s face turned completely red, and she grabbed his wrist to prevent him from any further encouragements. In the end she was able to break free of him. Pushing him away, she said, “Just drive!”

The drive home made her consider, twice, driving herself. It would be even more troublesome if he decided to get all frisky later on.

Qi Chengzhi locked her in a tight, rocking embrace. Inhaling her scent, he buried his head in her neck. After he had had his fill, he set her free.

Once seated, he refastened his seat belt. Although, it took him quite a while before he was able to calm the raging fire and drive away.

…

…

Finally, they reached the house. As Song Yu opened the door, Qi Chengzhi restlessly stood behind her, grazing her body.

Aunt Yang had been cooking when they entered.

Qi Chenzhi kept close to her as she walked in. He hugged her from behind and kissed her, straining to do so due to the awkward angle. He licked the corner of her lips, before cupping her face and kissing her.

Song Yu did not even have the chance to take off her shoes when she felt him pick her up. He cupped her derriere as he pushed himself between her thighs. His other hand pressed the back of her head and he began kissing with heightened intensity.

“Ahem!” came an awkward cough. It was not a sound that would normally be heard at home. Startled, Song Yu jumped, knocking Qi Chenzhi to the ground in her panic.

Song Yu turned and spotted a group of people standing there since God-knows-when. Yan Beicheng, Qi Chenglin, and Chu Zhaoyang were there, and Qi Chenglin was even covering Qi Youxuan’s eyes.

“Why are all of you here?” Qi Chengzhi was still holding on to Song Yu’s waist refusing to let go. The group just had to be there when the couple was having some fun getting it on. Qi Chengzhi’s looked infuriated, albeit he did not seem ashamed getting caught.

On the other hand, Embarrassment filled Song Yu, and she dared not even lift her head. She felt so undignified and so ashamed that she did not know what to do. She did not even have the courage to look at them. So, she looked down, grabbed both her and Qi Chengzhi’s slippers, and proceeded to slip them on.

Qi Chengzhi then took off his shoes, which Song Yu placed into the shoe cabinet.

“Sir, Miss, you’re back!” Aunt Yang brought out some tea. Qi Chengzhi counted the cups and noticed that there were an extra two.

“With nothing to do tonight, us bros got together and decided to come here for some games,” Yan Beicheng said. He looked pleased as his eyes darted from Song Yu to Qi Chengzhi. “We’re always at my place, the Red Roof Club. It doesn’t feel meaningful anymore. So, since everyone was curious about how you two are living together, we wanted to come by and have a look.”

The doorbell rang as soon as he completed his sentence. Before Qi Chengzhi could wonder who it was, Yan Beicheng proclaimed, “I’m guessing that’s Wei Ziqi and the family.”

Qi Chengzhi cocked an eyebrow. These people barged into his house without having the decency to give him a heads up. Not only that, everyone from the group was here.

Since he was standing right at the door, he turned to open it.

Wei Ran pushed in a baby stroller, holding little Muche. Wei Ziqi came in next, holding little Muran in one hand and a bottle of cranberry juice for the kids in his other.

Aunt Yang took the bottle from him and said to Qi Chengzhi, “Young Master Yan wants to have hotpot. He even brought the pot and all the ingredients.”

Qi Chengzhi glanced at the kitchen and saw a copper hotpot on the dining table. Also present was a mountain of fresh food laid out on the table. He stifled a groan and pulled Song Yu into the room to change.

“I don’t think we came at the right time!” Qi Chenglin wanted to take a smoke, but he remembered that there were kids there. Knowing that Wei Ziqi was a slave to children, Qi Chenglin retracted his hand after touching the cigarettes.

“Qi Chengzhi attacked Sis Xiao Yu from behind like that! His eagerness is frightening. Say, what do you think he’s turned into after holding himself back for so many years?” Yan Beicheng remarked while turning to Chu Zhaoyang. “Lao Chu, are you still gonna put off settling down? You might become even scarier than Qi Chengzhi in the future.”

By then, Qi Youxuan and little Muran were playing with little Muche. They were no longer in the vicinity, so Yan Beicheng did not have to worry about them hearing what he said.

Chu Zhaoyang shot him a cold stare and laughed sarcastically. “Ha-ha.”

…

…

Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu changed into their house clothes and came down. Aunt Yang had already set up the pot and filled it with different soups, giving it a Yin-Yang appearance. The rest of the fresh ingredients were laid nicely on the table.

Qi Youxuan took a cup of cranberry juice from Aunt Yang and drank a mouthful. Then he smacked and licked his lips, staining them red.

“Uncle, Auntie, my kindergarten’s having springtime Sports Day tomorrow. I already told Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma to come. They said they would. Do you want to come, too?” Qi Youxuan’s large black puppy eyes stared at them, full of hope and anticipation.

Qi Youxuan was an easy child. He signed up for the relay race, and his most vicious opponent was a boy named Dai Zhiyao, who was from another class. Dai Zhiyao was the most handsome boy in that class, and many of the girls in the kindergarten liked him. It would not only be friends and family who supported him, but all those girls combined. They would cheer him on like a cheer-leading squad.

Therefore, the first plan of action Qi Youxuan had was to suppress the opposition with a show of force.

An ordinary kid would probably only bring their parents. However, Qi Youxuan’s believed that, if he were to call his entire family over, their presence would definitely be felt.

It was a pity, though, that his fourth uncle would not be available. Otherwise, a battalion would be present to crush his opponent and hand him the victory.

If the Qi family elders did not attend Song Yu definitely would. How could she resist Qi Youxuan’s imploring gaze?

However, she was not on good terms with the family. Save for Grandmother Qi, the last time she had seen any of them was at the wedding.

Speaking of which, Qi Chengyue blamed Song Yu for every single mishap that had happened during the wedding. Furthermore, it was certain that Qi Zhongxun and his wife would not be looking forward to meeting her again.

Qi Youxuan being their grandson made Song Yu hesitant. She looked at Qi Chengzhi, seeking his approval.

Qi Chengzhi did the unexpected and nodded with gusto. “We’ll be there tomorrow.”

“We’ll be there too. Muran didn’t participate in anything, so it will be like a family outing,” Wei Ziqi said.

Little Muran was in the same kindergarten as Qi Youxuan, but she was junior to him.

Qi Youxuan drank some juice and looked at Muran, while still clutching the cup. “Do you know Dai Zhiyao from Class Three of the International Division?”

Muran was eating a piece of beef that Wei Ziqi had fed her. It was still rather hot, so her face was flushed and she exhaled in short bursts to cool her mouth. She heard Qi Youxuan’s question, but only nodded.

“Do you think he’s handsome?” Qi Youxuan asked, blinking.

Muran swallowed the beef and shook her head. “He’s not as handsome as my dad.”

Qi Youxuan scratched his head in distress as he looked at Wei Ziqi’s unpleasant face. When he looked back down, he noticed that Qi Chenglin had given him a bowlful of vegetables. Not a single piece of meat was in sight. He formed his tiny hand into a fist and snapped, “Dad! I’m a growing boy. You can’t always feed me vegetables! I need all the protein from meat so I’ll grow up to be tall and handsome!”

“You’ll get more nutrients if you eat vegetables, otherwise you’ll grow horizontally into a short and fat boy.” Qi Chenglin did not hold back when criticizing his child.

Nevertheless, Qi Chenglin knew that Qi Youxuan liked prawns, so he gave him a few, as well as some pieces of meat. It was best to give him a more varied diet, and Qi Chenglin reminded him to drink less juice.

“I’m competing in a relay race tomorrow. Don’t forget to come and support me!” Qi Youxuan turned to Muran and said. His words were incomprehensible, though, since his cheeks were stuffed.

“We’ll come and sit with you tomorrow,” Wei Ran smiled.

Qi Youxuan smiled contentedly, knowing that his cheer-leading team had expanded.

…

…

The next day, Qi Chengzhi brought Song Yu to the kindergarten so they could meet up with Qi Chenglin and Qi Youxuan. Song Yu felt anxious throughout the journey. She worried that her presence would cause strife amongst the Qi family, and ruin their family outing.

The entrance to the kindergarten was blocked by cars by the time they arrived.

Due to the fame it had acquired, the kindergarten’s International Division attracted many people. Apart from the usual politicians, businessmen, and upperclassmen, there were quite a few celebrities who attended. They all enrolled their children into the kindergarten, and every single one of them was fluent in English.

As they walked toward the kindergarten entrance, Qi Youxuan’s familiar voice called out, “Uncle! Auntie!”

Looking in the direction of the voice, one could see Qi Youxuan waving at them with his little hands. He was in his sports attire and had a jacket on.

Qi Zhongxun and Qi Zhongliang had sour expressions on, and the same could be said of their wives. Moments earlier, Qi Youxuan had insisted on waiting by the entrance, saying that there were still a few people who had not arrived. The elderly Qi couple waited inside, since they couldn’t stand for long hours.

Hearing Qi Youxuan’s shouts, they saw that Qi Chengzhi was coming over while holding Song Yu’s hand.

Fortunately for everyone, Jian Yi and Qi Chengyue were away on their honeymoon. Otherwise, Qi Chengyue might have made a fuss if she had seen the two of them there.

Qi Zhongliang and Xia Wenna’s attitude toward Song Yu had improved a little. This was because Xia Wenna had told her husband the truth behind the Song family’s bankruptcy.

In fact, both Qi Zhongliang and Xia Wenna had been on very good terms with Song Donglin and Yu Qianying in the past. Song Donglin was a man of virtue and honesty, so Qi Zhongliang had been quite willing to befriend him.

They did not reject Song Yu outright, now that they knew the truth, but they still felt awkward facing her.

“Oh, Song Yu! Hehe, we didn’t know you’re coming,” Guan Liya giggled, somewhat sarcastically, “Why didn’t you give us a heads up?”

“Grandma, I was the one who asked Uncle and Auntie to come.” Qi Youxuan’s chubby hands tugged at Guan Liya’s shirttail. When Guan Liya finally looked at him, he continued, “They came to support me during the competition. The more support I have, the better.”

Guan Liya forced a smile and patted Qi Youxuan’s head without speaking further.

Considering how much Qi Chengyue hated Song Yu, Guan Liya’s opinion on her had been formed by her daughter. Then there was the wedding incident, so, in her heart, she was displeased with Song Yu.

“Let’s go. Dad and Mom are waiting for us inside.” Qi Zhongliang’s did not seem too pleased. He did not smile, but neither did he ask Song Yu to leave. He simply shot Qi Chengzhi a glance and walked away.

Seeing as Qi Zhongliang did not say anything, both Qi Zhongxun and Guan Liya felt that it would be inappropriate for them to comment.

Everyone then began walking into the kindergarten. Qi Youxuan, who was holding Qi Chenglin’s hand, turned and looked at Song Yu in excitement. “Auntie, did you notice anything different about me today?”

Song Yu, though preoccupied with her effect on the Qi family, had noticed something was different with Qi Youxuan the instant she had seen him.

His soft, straight, short hair was combed up with the help of pomade. Part of his hair was sticking up like a mohawk, though not as exaggerated. It was a stylish hairstyle that suited him well.

“You changed your hairstyle?” Song Yu smiled and asked.

“The saloon did it for me this morning.” Qi Youxuan showed off, raising his fair and plump hand to slick back his hair. He did this several times. “Don’t I look handsome?”

“Very handsome.” Song Yu smiled and nodded. She did not shower him with empty praise; it was a fact that the Qi family was blessed with handsome men. From Qi Chengzhi to Qi Chengji, and even the deceased Qi Chengze, the Qi family’s young men were all very handsome.

From her perspective, Qi Chenglin only narrowly lost to Qi Chengzhi in appearance. And, since Qi Youxuan was the former’s son, he was still a very handsome kid, if not slightly on the chubby side.

“I think so, too.” Qi Youxuan looked down, feeling shy. His head was bent, and he smiled shyly. “When I run later, won’t I be a handsome hunk who runs like the wind?”