Chapter 40: Who Hit Her?

The news of Grandpa Song’s heart surgery reached Shuangxu last.

While having dinner at the Shen residence, she learned about it from Fu Yun and Shen Changyuan’s conversation.

“You didn’t know?” Fu Yun was surprised.

Shuangxu’s reaction was indifferent: “No one told me.”

“How could Cui Ning not even tell you about something so big?” Fu Yun quickly asked someone to prepare some nutritional supplements. “He’s still in the hospital. Go see him now.”

“I don’t want to go.” Shuangxu lowered her head and ate fish nonchalantly. “It’s not like I can make him better by seeing him.”

“He’s your grandfather. He’s had heart surgery, and you, his granddaughter, don’t even bother to go see him. If people find out, they’ll point fingers and call you unfilial.” Fu Yun was trying to help her.

Unfilial, so be it, Shuangxu thought, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

“You child,” Fu Yun said, “You’re going to make people think we’ve raised you wrong.”

Only then did Shuangxu put down her chopsticks and reluctantly stand up.

Mrs. Wang，the housekeeper, sent her out, nervously nagging, “When you see your grandfather, be good. Be sweet and say nice things.”

Shuangxu didn’t have any expectations for this: “What’s the point of being sweet? Even if I flatter him, he won’t like me anyway.”

Mrs. Wang stood at the door, watching her get in the car, and sighed silently, “Such a good girl, why doesn’t he like her?”

Shuangxu hadn’t seen her grandfather since returning to China a month ago.

He had never treated her like a granddaughter, so she didn’t owe him anything. Their relationship was even worse than that of strangers. At least strangers didn’t dislike her.

This visit was purely for appearances.

The entire floor of the hospital was cleared. When Shuangxu went up, she ran into Song Leyan.

Song Leyan saw her and crossed her arms, saying arrogantly, “Who told you to come?”

Shuangxu ignored her and walked towards the ward.

“Last time, Shen Yu threw me off the boat, and now you dare to show your face in front of me?” Song Leyan turned to call someone. “Aunt Zhang, throw her out!”

Aunt Zhang hesitated, unsure what to do. “Miss, I don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“I said yes, then it’s yes.” Song Leyan was domineering. “Are you going to do it or not? If you don’t, I’ll throw you out too.”

Shuangxu’s position in the Song family was awkward. She wasn’t the mistress, nor was she a guest, making the servants’ attitude towards her very subtle.

But no matter what, Aunt Zhang didn’t dare to actually throw her out.

She was in a dilemma, when Cui Ning’s voice rang out: “Leyan, don’t cause trouble.”

“I’m not causing trouble, she’s the one who bullied me first.” Song Leyan saw Cui Ning’s displeasure and snorted, shutting her mouth.

Cui Ning’s attitude towards Shuangxu was still lukewarm: “Go in.”

Shuangxu carried the nutritional supplements into the ward. Grandpa Song was leaning against the headboard, with the nurse feeding him.

She acted obediently: “Grandpa, are you feeling better?”

“You still know I’m your grandfather.” Grandpa Song looked at her with the same sternness and criticism he had when she was a child. “I’ve been in the hospital for half a month. Even my subordinates from decades ago come to visit every day, have you come to see me once?”

Shuangxu thought to herself, I don’t need you to promote me.

“I didn’t know about it.”

Having been a high-ranking official for decades, Grandpa Song’s voice carried the pressure of a superior: “You didn’t know, that’s not anyone else’s fault. You’ve been back in China for so long, and you haven’t even been home once.”

She didn’t want to pretend to be obedient anymore.

Shuangxu knew it was best not to argue, it was pointless, but she still did: “It’s not my responsibility. I don’t have the ability to predict the future.”

Song Leyan fanned the flames from the side: “Grandpa, she’s been running to the Shen residence to curry favor, she doesn’t have us in her eyes at all.”

Shuangxu gave her a cold stare. Song Leyan felt like she was going to be slapped again.

Shuangxu’s tone was calm, with a hint of sarcasm: “You raised me, and I curry favor with you too.”

Grandpa Song understood what she meant and snorted: “You’ve become quite eloquent. Leyan said you hit her last time?”

Shuangxu didn’t deny it: “I did.”

Grandpa Song raised his hand and slapped her without warning.

The nurse holding the bowl froze in shock. Shuangxu’s face was turned to the side, a red mark quickly appearing on her porcelain-white skin.

Grandpa Song had been a high-ranking official all his life, his voice lowered, carrying a sharp aura: “You hit Leyan in public, whose face are you hitting? You have bad intentions, causing so much trouble. Your father sent you away for you to reflect, to learn to be better, what have you learned? The Shen family indulges you, they don’t discipline you properly, that’s because your actions outside are bringing shame to our Song family!”

Song Leyan gloated from the side: “I told you, I’ll definitely return that slap to you!”

Shuangxu’s entire left cheek was burning with pain. Every slap she had received in her life had come from her so-called family.

She didn’t cry, she didn’t even feel wronged, only annoyance.

“It’s not me who’s bringing shame to the Song family, it’s Song Leyan. If you care so much about the Song family’s reputation, sew her mouth shut.”

Grandpa Song was about to get angry when Cui Ning pushed open the door: “Dad, Zheng Lao is here to see you.”

Grandpa Song’s face immediately switched to a smile as he greeted the old man who walked in with a cane.

“Old Zheng, why are you here?”

Zheng Lao, the old man, was already in his eighties. He leaned on a dragon-headed cane, his white hair covered by a black baseball cap, his spirit bright, his eyes as sharp as a hawk.

Although he had retired from the front lines, his influence in the political world continued to this day. Everyone who saw him would respectfully call him Zheng Lao.

“I heard you had heart surgery, so I naturally had to come see you.”

“Just a minor surgery.” Grandpa Song’s attitude was amiable. “Zu Ye is also here.”

Zheng Zuoye walked in and immediately fixed his gaze on Shuangxu, his eyes like venomous snakes, making her feel uncomfortable.

She stood silently to the side, waiting for the two elders to finish their greetings. She found an opportunity to slip out unnoticed when no one was paying attention.

Zheng Zuoye followed her relentlessly, “Did you sleep with Yue Zifeng that night?”

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

“Who else could it be?” Zheng Zuoye didn’t feel ashamed but rather proud, cursing Yue Zifeng for taking advantage of the situation. “The plan I painstakingly crafted, he ended up benefiting from it.”

Yue Zifeng?

What did he have to do with it?

The Song family’s servants were not far away. Zheng Zuoye, not daring to get physical, blocked her path and whispered, “Song Shuangxu, stop pretending to be innocent in front of me. Either you play with me, or I tell your brother that you’re hooking up with his good friend. He wants to kill me, doesn’t he? I wonder if he’ll kill his good friend first.”

Shuangxu felt utter disgust for him, “You drugged me. Do you think my brother will let you off the hook?”

“Go ahead and tell him.” Zheng Zuoye was unafraid, leaning close to her ear and speaking menacingly, “If I mess with you, I’ll get a beating at most. If this gets out, your grandfather, who cares so much about face, will definitely make you marry me to save the Song family’s reputation.”

“I just want to play with you. Getting married is too much trouble.”

Shuangxu gritted her teeth.

She knew Zheng Zuoye was telling the truth.

If this got out, the Song family would do anything to protect their reputation. The best way would be to turn this scandal into a happy event.

That night, she had nothing to do with Yue Zifeng. She couldn’t let Yue Zifeng take the blame and be forced to marry her. It would be unjust.

He Tingzhou? Don’t even think about it. Even if they had actually done something, He Tingzhou wouldn’t take responsibility for her.

In fact, nothing happened that night. So, in the end, either Zheng Lao would let it go and suppress the matter, or Zheng Zuoye would marry her to give an explanation.

It was a dead end for her.

Someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from Zheng Zuoye. She looked up and saw Shen Yu’s back, just like in many moments from her childhood.

“Get out,” Shen Yu said coldly, “Don’t force me to beat you in front of your grandfather.”

“I was just saying a few words. You’re so tense,” Zheng Zuoye said with a defiant air. Before leaving, he looked at Shuangxu meaningfully.

“Think about it. I’ll wait for you.”

After Zheng Zuoye entered the ward, Shen Yu turned back and asked her, “What did he want you to think about?”

Shuangxu’s mind was in chaos, and she mumbled, “Just the same old stuff.”

A shadow of gloom crossed Shen Yu’s eyes, but his voice remained gentle as he spoke to her, “Don’t pay any attention to him.”

Shuangxu hung her head, lost in thought.

“Did you hear me?” Shen Yu asked.

She nodded, “I know.”

Shen Yu’s gaze fell on her swollen left cheek, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Shuangxu then remembered this part. She had been so bothered by Zheng Zuoye that she had forgotten the pain on her face.

She instinctively tried to turn her face away, but Shen Yu’s fingers held her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“Who hit you?”

She hadn’t felt wronged before, but when she met his gaze, Shuangxu felt her nose tingle.

“My grandfather.”