Chapter 7 : Song Ruoer Returns Home

Huo Zhen quickly put the money on the table and chased after her.

“I’ll take you back.”

“No…”

“I said I’ll take you.”

“Alright…”

By now, most of the guests in the mansion had already left.

Song Ying stood at the entrance of the alley and said to Huo Zhen, “Let’s say goodbye here.”

Huo Zhen said, “I’ll come to you in a few days to propose marriage?”

“I won’t marry.”

Unexpectedly, Song Ying refused so straightforwardly. Huo Zhen panicked and asked anxiously, “Why? Did I scare you just now?”

He deeply regretted it. If he had known Song Ying would show up, he would have pretended to be a coward and let those men beat him up.

Song Ying said, “General Huo should know that I just got divorced not long ago.”

“I know. Yue Shaozhi doesn’t deserve you. You were right to leave him.” Huo Zhen grew anxious. “At least try going on a date with me. What if you end up liking me?”

Song Ying didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. What kind of brain did Huo Zhen have? Why was a grown man in such a hurry to get married?

Faer reminded nervously, “If Miss doesn’t return soon, the Marquis will find out.”

Song Ying said to Huo Zhen, “General Huo, I gave you those buns unintentionally. You don’t need to repay me. Goodbye.”

Watching her disappear into the alley, Huo Zhen clenched his fists, turned around, and left.

Feeling upset, he went back and beat that group of people up again.

—

Later…

Song Ying had just changed clothes when Song Jinlan arrived.

“Song Ruoer’s matter is settled. I’m returning home tomorrow.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Aunt.”

Song Jinlan snorted, “In this household now, you’re the only one still standing up to that woman.”

The “woman” she referred to was Song Ruoer’s biological mother, Zhou Hanxiang.

Song Ying replied, “Aunt, you don’t need to worry about me. I’ve dealt with this before, even before I got married.”

Song Jinlan said, “Who said I’m worried about you? I’m just reminding you not to anger your father. He just told me he’s going to take you to meet someone in a couple of days.”

Song Ying remained silent.

Song Jinlan added, “I already declined for you. Who would dare marry a divorced woman?”

Song Ying smiled. “Thank you, Aunt.”

Song Jinlan stood up and said, “Take care of yourself.”

Song Ying replied, “I’ll walk Aunt out.”

“No need. Just don’t drag me into things next time you get married.”

Still, Song Ying escorted her aunt to the gate. After seeing her get into the carriage, Faer let out a small sigh. ” The Madam is really something. Miss, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Song Ying had already gotten used to it.

When Song Ruoer came back home after getting married, Song Ying initially wanted to fake being ill and not attend. But she thought better of it, no one else would feel embarrassed, and she would only look weak.

So she carefully dressed up and showed up in high spirits.

At the round table, Yue Shaozhi sat in the main seat, with Song Jinzhuo and Zhou Hanxiang on his right, and Song Ruoer on his left. The only remaining seat was directly across from Yue Shaozhi.

Song Ying bowed politely to everyone, then took her seat.

During the meal, she remained quiet and composed, just as she always did.

But Song Ruoer didn’t think so. She assumed Song Ying was only pretending to be calm, while in reality, she must be hurting and furious inside.

Song Ruoer glanced at Yue Shaozhi beside her. He too, like Song Ying, looked completely unaffected as calm as a frozen lake.

Song Ruoer felt reassured and picked one of Song Ying’s favorite dishes to put in her bowl.

“Sister, this is your favorite.”

Song Ying smiled, said “thank you,” and ate it without hesitation.

Faer stood in the corner, anxiously watching her young lady, afraid that she would be bullied.

‘Miss, sob sob sob… you really didn’t have to come to this dinner…’

Noticing the worry in her little maid’s eyes, Song Ying suddenly winked at her, as if to say, ‘Don’t worry. I’m really okay.’

She had done nothing wrong.

Yue Shaozhi caught her winking and was momentarily distracted. It felt like he was seeing her for the first time.

In his memory, she had always been cautious taking a long time to think before she spoke to him.

“Husband, try this too. Mother made it herself.”

Looking at Song Ruoer’s soft, sweet face, the icy expression that had rested on Yue Shaozhi’s face for a thousand years finally melted into a smile. “Thank you.”

Song Ying sighed inwardly. ‘I should have let Song Ruoer come back to the capital earlier, then I wouldn’t have wasted all that time.’

“Ying’er, I heard that you’re close to General Huo now, is that true?”

Song Ying looked at Zhou. How did she know?

She turned to look at Song Jinzhuo and realized it must’ve been her father who told Zhou. As for why Zhou was bringing it up now, Song Ying suspected… was she trying to test her feelings about Huo Zhen?

But why bring it up during dinner? Couldn’t she ask her privately another time?

Song Ying glanced at Yue Shaozhi and Song Ruoer again…

She sighed inwardly, her father really couldn’t even have a peaceful meal without stress.

Song Ying put down her chopsticks, looked at Zhou, and said calmly, “I’m not familiar with General Huo.”

Zhou responded, “But I heard General Huo wants to marry you…”

The air suddenly fell silent. Song Ruoer sneaked a look at Yue Shaozhi, then tried to ease the awkwardness kindly. “Mother, we’re eating, why bring that up now?”

Zhou lightly tapped her own lips. “Sorry, sorry, I was just worried about Ying’er. There are rumors out there that she’s favored by General Huo. I just wanted to ask her in person and clear things up. I’m sorry, Ying’er, that was inappropriate of me.”

Song Ying smiled. “General Huo did say he wanted to marry me. He… wants to marry into my family.”

Pfft, cough cough…

At the table, both men choked on their wine.

Song Ruoer and Zhou quickly handed them handkerchiefs to wipe their mouths.

Seeing Song Ying chuckle, Song Ruoer asked, “Sister, didn’t you just say you’re not familiar with General Huo? Then how could he…”

Song Ying replied, “We’re not familiar, but that doesn’t conflict with him wanting to marry into my family, right?”

Song Ruoer was caught off guard, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.

Yue Shaozhi held her hand. “What’s wrong?”

Seeing her cry, Song Ying felt a twinge of guilt. “I was just joking. Don’t cry. Sister still loves you.”

Everyone: …

Song Ying: ?

She ended up enjoying the meal quite a bit.

Later, while she and Faer were walking back, Song Ruoer stopped them.

“Sister.”

“What is it?”

Song Ruoer looked so delicate she seemed like she’d fall over in a breeze.

Song Ying, who had a soft spot for beautiful women, stepped forward and supported her. “Why are you out here alone?”

“Shaozhi and Father are in the study.”

“Oh. Then what are you doing out here? Why not go chat with your mother?”

Song Ruoer looked at Song Ying, her voice trembling. “I’m sorry, sister.”

“Why are you apologizing again?”

“I know you’re upset, sister. You must have felt uncomfortable seeing me and Shaozhi together today. I didn’t want this either, but Father…”

“Wait.” Song Ying raised her hand and helped adjust the silver hairpin in Song Ruoer’s hair, then smiled in satisfaction. “There. This silver hairpin really suits you.”

Song Ying had once seen Yue Shaozhi holding that very hairpin in his study. Back then, she’d just married him, and had been too shy to ask. She had hoped one day he would surprise her with it.

But now she understood, such gifts are only given to the person one truly loves.

Seeing Song Ying staring at the hairpin, Song Ruoer said, “Shaozhi gave this to me.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“Yes, I saw him take it out once.”

Faer gently tugged at Song Ying’s sleeve. Song Ying helped fix the hairpin once more, then said, “Alright, go keep your mother company. The Regent is often busy, if you get bored, you should visit her more.”

She gently patted Song Ruoer’s shoulder and walked away without looking back.

By the time Song Ruoer turned to respond, Song Ying had already rounded the corner. She raised her hand and touched the silver hairpin, remembering what Song Ying had just said.

“I saw him take it out before.”