The news of Fu Chengyan leaving the Fu family home that eventful night had spread. Everyone was also clear on Fu Chengyan’s attitude toward Song Jingyu. He would never marry her so naturally, he wouldn’t show up for the wedding.
With such an understanding, everyone knew to act accordingly and was more cautious when it came to doing business with the Song family.
They all knew what kind of person Fu Chengyan was. It would good if he chose to not take action, but if he did, things would certainly blow up.
Song Zhenyan became extremely cautious because of the incident. She grew up in a household filled with strife; the scheming and backstabbing in the Song family were no less than the Fu family. The reason Song Zhenyan still had a firm standing in the Song family even after getting married was not just because of the Fu family, but also because of her tactics. Even though she was a woman, Song Zhenyan had built a lot of connections while she was still in the Song family. But after she married into the Fu family, she could never really stretch her legs and realize her potential. This was one reason Song Zhenyan refused to return to the Fu family.
She was getting very impatient. She could not let go of what had happened during dinner that night. Fu Chengyan was her son, and yet he treated her like a rival. She couldn’t and wouldn’t accept it.
“Yan, are you still listening to me?”
Song Huaiyan, who was all the way in the capital, quickly heard of the events of that night. Fu Chengyan’s attitude was a slap in the face for the Song family. This forced Song Huaiyan to have some serious thoughts about the issue. “What on earth was Fu Chengyan thinking?”
“Huaiyan, how about we just forget about Jingyu’s problem?” Song Zhenyan had turned it over and over in her mind and concluded that Fu Chengyan had no reason to treat her that way. Which meant all of it had to be because of Song Jingyu.
Song Zhenyan refused to admit this before, but after returning to the Fu family, she truly learned the meaning of indifference.
Previously, even though those in the Fu family disliked her, they never made it obvious. But now, every single member of the Fu family, from old to young, despised her and the Song family. The reason behind all this was none other than Song Jingyu and Fu Chengyan’s marriage.
Song Zhenyan admitted she had her own personal reasons and wanted to fix her relationship with Fu Chengyan, but she kept failing because of Song Jingyu.
“What are you saying?” Song Huaiyan inhaled sharply when he heard what Song Zhenyan said. “Did you get a concussion? Jingyu and Fu Chengyan’s marriage is a done deal. You agreed to it too! And the little piece of work took Jingyu’s virginity. How dare he try to pretend like nothing ever happened?”
“Huaiyan!” Song Zhenyan was getting a headache. “No one is sure what really happened all those years ago. Yan and Jingyu told different stories. Do you think Yan is someone who would take advantage of Jingyu and not own up to it?”
Even though Song Zhenyan’s relationship with Fu Chengyan wasn’t great, he was still her son, and she knew and trusted his character.
No one saw what happened between Fu Chengyan and Song Jingyu all those years ago. The only thing known was Fu Chengyan suddenly became enraged and stormed out of the Song house while the housekeepers looked on. Yet, none of them actually witnessed him taking advantage of Song Jingyu.
She claimed that something happened between her and Fu Chengyan. She also had the marks and bruises on her body as proof. So everyone concluded that Fu Chengyan was the culprit. Song Jingyu insisted so, too.
Song Zhenyan believed this version of events as well. However, after observing Fu Chengyan all this while, her intuition told her it was someone else who had sexually harassed Song Jingyu.
“He’s your son, so you’re naturally on his side. But don’t forget, you’re part of the Song family. Have you forgotten how the Fu family treated you those years ago? There’s not one good person in there. The Song family took care of you in your time of need, and that’s a fact!”
“I know! I don’t need you to remind me!” Song Zhenyan was nearly in hysterics when she interrupted Song Huaiyan. “I don’t need your constant reminder of my painful past!”
Song Zhenyan had experienced unimaginable pain when she was caught between Fu Sheng and Fu Heng. It was a past she couldn’t bear to revisit. “Anyway, if you want both the Fu family and the Song family to be unharmed, then my suggestion is for you to drop this matter about Jingyu and Yan’s marriage. Chengyan is my son, I know him. If you continue to go down this road, no one knows what he will do.”
“Aunt, what did you say?” Song Zhenyan’s door suddenly opened and in came a zombie-like Song Jingyu. Her eyes dripped with menace as she looked at Song Zhenyan. “Aunt, what did you say? What do you mean?”
“I…”
Song Zhenyan was so taken aback by Song Jingyu’s entrance that she dropped her phone. “Jingyu, listen to me. There’re plenty of good men out there, you can have anyone else you want. I’ll introduce some-”
“Enough!” Song Jingyu pushed Song Zhenyan away hysterically. “You were lying to me all this while! You said you would treat me well and help me with Yan. They were all lies!”
“Jingyu, listen to me. You heard what Yan said that day. He’s never going to marry you. If you go on like this, Yan might take action against the Song family. Jingyu…”
“Then let him! The Song family isn’t afraid of the Fu family!” Song Jingyu screamed uncontrollably. “Yan is mine! Mine and mine alone!”
“Jingyu…”
“If you will not help me, then I’ll do it myself.” Song Jingyu was overcome with rage, and she couldn’t hear a word out of Song Zhenyan. She pushed her aunt aside, ran into her room, and locked the door. She banged her head on the wall while muttering under her breath. Before long, she started convulsing and her eyes lost focus.
It took Song Zhenyan much effort to get up after being pushed to the ground. Because she was worried about her niece, she limped to the latter’s room. Song Zhenyan became alarmed after seeing her door locked and hurriedly banged on the door. “Jingyu, open the door. Listen to me…”
It was New Year and there were many people in the Fu house. Even though people didn’t dare to go upstairs, they could still hear Song Zhenyan’s pleads from all the way downstairs.
Fu Sheng and Fu Heng looked at each other. “I’ll go upstairs to take a look. Heng, you entertain the guests for a while.” Fu Sheng excused himself and went upstairs. He was very surprised to see Song Zhenyan had completely lost her cool and was shouting at Song Jingyu’s door. “What’s going on?”
“Quick! Help me open the door. I’m afraid something has happened to Jingyu.” Song Zhenyan was at a loss and grabbed onto Fu Sheng without thinking much about it. “Jingyu hasn’t been emotionally stable lately. Yan’s actions from that night were a huge blow to her. I’m worried about her. Just open the door!”
Fu Sheng narrowed his eyes and looked at Song Zhenyan’s hand that was grabbing on to him. Song Zhenyan realized what she was doing and quickly let go. “Quick, open the door!”
Fu Sheng nodded. “Back up.” He kicked the door in.
“Jingyu!”
Song Zhenyan found Song Jingyu convulsing on the floor. It was a rather frightening sight.
“Pills! There are pills in the drawer of my nightstand. Jingyu’s pills!”
“I’ll go get them!” Fu Sheng saw that Jingyu wasn’t looking right, so he rushed to grab the pills. There were two bottles of pills in the drawer, both unlabeled. Fu Sheng frowned but quickly ran back to Song Zhenyan. “What are these for? Is Jingyu really mentally…”
“Stop asking so many questions!” Song Zhenyan interrupted him and shoved two pills into Song Jingyu’s mouth. “Water!”
Fu Sheng poured some for Song Zhenyan so she could feed Song Jingyu. It took quite some time, but Song Jingyu eventually calmed down and they could finally take a breath.
Only then did Song Zhenyan realize she had broken out into a sweat. She looked at Fu Sheng awkwardly. “Can you carry Jingyu onto the bed?” She alone wouldn’t be able to do it.
Fu Sheng nodded and did as he was instructed. After that, the two left the room, Fu Sheng couldn’t help but remind Song Zhenyan. “You understand Yan will never marry Jingyu. And even if Jingyu isn’t ill — which she is — he still wouldn’t marry her. Moreover, Yan is the heir to the Fu family and he will eventually be the head of the family. But the matriarch will never be Song Jingyu.”
“Then who will it be? Shen Qianan? The one who has been whoring around and gave birth to a bastard child with a nameless father?” Song Zhenyan couldn’t help but retaliate. “Fu Sheng, I didn’t expect you are still so selfish after all these years!”
“I’m selfish? Yan is your son, too. But you don’t know what he wants, do you? Bottom line is, Yan will never marry Song Jingyu. It may not be Qianan, but it definitely won’t be Jingyu. That’s all I have to say. You watch out for yourself.”
“Fu Sheng, you…” Song Zhenyan was so angry her chest was heaving. “You are despicable! If it weren’t for you all those years ago, I wouldn’t…”
“Enough. I don’t want to discuss who was right and who was wrong all those years ago. I can only say I must’ve been blind to insist on marrying you.” Song Zhenyan tried to grab onto Fu Sheng, but he flung her hand away. He looked at her icily. “Let me remind you, Yan isn’t who I was. The methods you and your brother used on me all those years ago won’t work on him. If you insist on going down this road, I don’t mind having Yan help finish what I couldn’t before.”
Fu Sheng stormed off and left Song Zhenyan standing alone. She looked at the forlorn trees outside the window and thought about the incident from all those years ago, the one she just couldn’t let go.
No, all of this isn’t real! It isn’t! ”Fu Sheng, you prevented me from marrying Heng all those years ago. Do you think you can prevent Jingyu from marrying Yan now?” She would not let him get his way. She was going to help Song Jingyu accomplish what she couldn’t all those years ago.
Song Zhenyan clenched the pill bottles and walked back into Song Jingyu’s room. She caressed Song Jingyu, who was sound asleep. “Jingyu, I promise to help you!”
