Chapter 2: Returning to the Song Residence

To take care of Tan Yue, despite Song Yunli’s repeated letters urging them to leave, the group didn’t speed up; instead, they drove slowly, fearing a relapse of her illness.

After a grueling half-month journey, they finally arrived at the Song Residence.

Tan Yue disembarked from the carriage. It was already nearly dark, and the sunset glow spread over the residence like a painting.

Several people stood at the doorway, constantly glancing toward her. Seeing this scene, Tan Yue couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity.

Could this be a sense of belonging?

Qiao Shuang got out of the carriage, worried that she might feel unwell, and affectionately took Tan Yue’s arm. “Ajiao, let’s go. Let’s go home.”

She had imagined this scene countless times, and now it had finally come true.

Her Ajiao was back.

Tan Yue nodded at her and said, “Okay.”

Seeing his daughter, Song Yunli remained calm. With red eyes, he patted Tan Yue’s shoulder, “I’m glad you’re back, I’m glad you’re back.”

For ten years, they had been searching for Ajiao, nearly desperate. Song Yunli hadn’t thought he’d find her in his lifetime.

Song Qingqi came over and hugged her, his voice trembling, “Sister, you’re finally back.”

Then he pinched her face affectionately, “Even though you’ve grown up, you’re still as cute as ever.”

“Ajiao, I’m so excited. Don’t let me scare you,” Song Qingqi said softly, then lowered his hand, fearing that his actions would give Tan Yue a bad impression.

Tan Yue felt a little uncomfortable watching Song Qingqi’s cautious expression, but she remained nonchalant and said, “It’s okay, brother! I’m so glad I found you!”

“I’m happy too,” Song Qingqi said, hugging Song Yuejiao.

The old lady standing nearby, leaning on her cane, remained silent, merely nodding at Tan Yue.

Next to the old lady stood a young woman, about fifteen or sixteen years old. Tan Yue judged her to be about the same age, and they bore a striking resemblance. For some reason, she felt a slight unease at the sight of this woman.

The woman, noticing Tan Yue’s gaze, smiled faintly. “I often heard my mother mention my sister. Now that my sister is back, I can finally put my worries to rest.”

Why hadn’t she heard her mother mention her younger sister?

Tan Yue pondered to herself: “She seems quite a character.”

“Really?” Tan Yue replied simply. Since her mother hadn’t mentioned her, she wasn’t important. The more she spoke, the more mistakes she would make. Besides, the old lady seemed difficult to talk to, so it was best to avoid causing trouble until she was familiar with the family.

“Li Jinzhi, who are you calling mother?” Song Qingqi was enraged upon hearing this and shouted at the woman, “My parents never had a daughter like you!”

“Yes, I’m sorry, Brother Qingqi,” Li Jinzhi said, looking frightened and aggrieved. “I’m just so happy to see my sister.”

“Alright,” Old Madam Song interrupted them. “Stop arguing at the door, aren’t you afraid of being laughed at? Let’s talk inside.”

Tan Yue instinctively knew this Li Jinzhi wasn’t a pushover, and even felt she was a bit of a jerk.

The group headed towards the inner room. Song Qingqi didn’t feel distant towards Tan Yue despite not seeing her for years. He approached her and spoke proactively, “Ajiao, you’re my only sister. We don’t even acknowledge Li Jinzhi. Don’t take it personally.”

Song Qingqi’s voice was low, but loud enough for everyone in the group to hear. He didn’t care what Old Madam Song and Li Jinzhi looked like.

Before his sister returned, these two had been a headache for his parents. Now that his sister was back, he couldn’t let her be bullied.

After entering the house, Old Madam Song sat at the head of the table and said in an unyielding tone, “Now that Yuejiao has been found, let’s finalize Jinzhi’s recognition as a daughter-in-law as soon as possible.”

“Jinzhi has been with me since she was little, and she’s learned quite a bit of ladyly etiquette. In the future, when Yuejiao goes out to banquets, Jinzhi can accompany her and teach her.”

At some banquets, her daughter-in-law always refused to bring Jinzhi to them, claiming she wasn’t a legitimate young lady. Although Jinzhi never said it, Old Madam Song knew she felt bad.

Now that Jinzhi has been recognized as a young lady of the Song family, it’s natural that either her daughter-in-law or Song Yuejiao will take her to banquets from now on.

“Mother!” Song Yunli interrupted Old Madam Song. “Jinzhi is my cousin’s daughter. How can we acknowledge her as our biological parent while her parents are still alive? I disagree!”

Old Madam Song looked a little displeased. “How can you not even accept such a small matter? It’s just a matter of recognizing her as a goddaughter. In the future, Jinzhi will be your goddaughter and provide for you in your old age.”

“Impossible!” Song Qingqi stood in front of Tan Yue and defended her. “Grandma, I only have one sister, Ajiao, and my parents only have one daughter, Ajiao. How could this Li Jinzhi be a Miss Song?”

Old Madam Song looked at Song Yunli, as if asking for his opinion.

Song Yunli nodded firmly, his words infuriating Old Madam Song: “If you wish to divide the family, just say so. I will grant your request.”

“You are rebelling!” Old Madam Song pounded her cane against the ground, venting her anger. Seeing her son and daughter-in-law still refused to budge, the old lady’s face dimmed slightly. “Fine, I’m old and can’t control you anymore.”

Why don’t they understand her? Jinzhi is a good child. Adopting her can only bring good, not harm.

Old Madam Song’s heart sank at her son’s determined gaze, and she simply stopped talking about the matter.

Li Jinzhi opened her mouth to speak, but the old lady fell silent. She moved her lips, but remained silent.

Then the old lady called out to Tan Yue calmly, “Song Yuejiao, come here.”

Although Tan Yue had a somewhat negative impression of the old lady, she obediently went over.

The old lady opened a box held by a nearby maid. Inside was an exquisite jade hairpin. When Song Yunli saw the hairpin, her expression faltered, then returned to normal.

The old lady stood up and placed the hairpin on Tan Yue’s head, still disapprovingly saying, “I had prepared something else for you, but after seeing you, I think this is more suitable.”

To be honest, the moment she saw Song Yuejiao, she felt a little dazed, as if she had returned.

Then Old Lady Song dismissed her thoughts. It had been over twenty years, and she would never be able to find her again.

Old Lady Song felt that seeing her daughter again before she died was a luxury.

Li Jinzhi watched Old Lady Song place the hairpin on Tan Yue’s head, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes.

The old lady had always treasured this hairpin, and she had never expected Song Yuejiao to give it to her upon her return.

Tan Yue’s attention remained fixed on the two people who seemed to have some slight grievances against her.

As she bowed to the old lady and stepped back, she subconsciously glanced at Li Jinzhi. Seeing Li Jinzhi’s expression, Tan Yue felt a little puzzled.

“Auntie, is there something hidden in this hairpin?”

Tan Yue wasn’t quite sure why it had caused such a reaction in Li Jinzhi.

[Key Props Waiting for the Host to Explore Themselves.]

Tan Yue cautiously touched the hairpin on her head.

The old lady didn’t seem so bad. The hairpin looked quite valuable, and it seemed to have a story behind it.

Since the hairpin was a key prop, she had to protect it.

In Li Jinzhi’s eyes, Tan Yue’s action felt like a provocation, and she couldn’t help but feel resentful.

If… if she hadn’t been found, she would have been the only daughter of the Song family.

“Will Ajiao be called Song Yuejiao from now on, or do you want to go by her current name?” Song Yunli asked Tan Yue cautiously.

Ajiao had just returned, and everything should be centered around her. He was afraid that any misstep would cause her to retreat from them.

“Since she’s back, let’s change it back.” Song Yuejiao wasn’t obsessed with her name.

Whether it was Tan Yue or Song Yuejiao, she vaguely remembered her mother telling her that names were just for display, and it didn’t matter what they were called.

The old lady nodded with forced satisfaction upon hearing this.

After the discussion, the family sat down together for dinner. Unlike usual, there was an extra pair of bowls and chopsticks, and the atmosphere was no longer as dull as before.

Qiao Shuang and Song Yunli chatted more at the table than usual.

After dinner, Qiao Shuang took Song Yuejiao to Wangshu Courtyard, where she had previously lived.

Song Yuejiao entered the courtyard and immediately saw the swing under the peach tree. She instinctively walked over to it and sat on it.

It seemed…it seemed like she had sat here a long time ago.

Qiao Shuang watched Song Yuejiao’s movements and excitedly asked, “Ajiao, do you still remember this swing?”

Song Yuejiao nodded, then swung it again, hesitantly saying, “I have a vague impression, but it’s very vague.”

She remembered sitting here, with a very handsome brother pushing her.

She had dreamed of this scene before, but thought it was a dream. She had never imagined it would actually happen.

Seeing this, Qiao Shuang didn’t ask any more questions. She led Song Yuejiao to open the door. Although Song Yuejiao didn’t know much about the items inside, her intuition told her that they must be very valuable.

“Ajiao, the furnishings in the house haven’t been touched since you disappeared. It’s been cleaned every day. Occasionally, I’ve added things I thought you might like to your room. I’ve put things that don’t fit in the room in the storeroom, thinking that when you return, I’ll take them out and let you choose.”

Qiao Shuang looked at the items and said with emotion, “Now they have their owner back.”

Song Yuejiao turned her head to look at Qiao Shuang’s profile as she spoke, feeling a touch of emotion.

She was actually quite lucky. After she got lost, she found a wonderful adoptive mother, and her biological parents still missed her so much.

“Mother,” Song Yuejiao began, wanting to ask who Li Jinzhi was, but it seemed a bit abrupt.

Qiao Shuang, observing Song Yuejiao’s confusion, comforted her, “Ajiao, if you have any questions, just tell me directly. Don’t keep it bottled up.”

Song Yuejiao relaxed her reserve and asked, “Who is that Li Jinzhi? Is she really your adopted daughter?”

Qiao Shuang seemed to have known Song Yuejiao would ask this, and wasn’t surprised. She dismissed the maids and told Song Yuejiao about Li Jinzhi.

It was the second year after Song Yuejiao’s disappearance. The old lady’s cousin and his family came to the capital to seek refuge with them. Out of kinship, Song Yunli found a job for her cousin in the capital.

But that day, after the old lady saw Li Jinzhi, she strongly requested that she be brought to the Song residence to live for a while. Li Jinzhi was also sweet-talking, coaxing the old lady into a good mood every day.

Later, the old lady directly allowed Li Jinzhi to live in the Song residence, even wanting her to be included in the Song family tree and become their child.

Qiao Shuang refused, desperately wanting to find her daughter, and Song Yunli was very supportive of his wife.

The old lady also took issue with this, began to find fault with Qiao Shuang, and even tried to arrange for Song Yunli to take a concubine.

Later, it was only when Song Yunli, in a fit of rage, broke off relations that the old lady finally calmed down.

She also gave up on the idea of ​​including Li Jinzhi in the family tree and allowed her to live in the Song residence, living and eating like a young lady.

I thought she wouldn’t bring it up again, but she persisted and brought it up again today.

“Ajiao, you’re our only daughter. We’ve never let her touch your things, and we won’t let Li Jinzhi bully you.” Afraid Song Yuejiao wouldn’t believe her, Qiao Shuang swore another oath. “If I lie to Ajiao, I’ll…”

Song Yuejiao quickly covered Qiao Shuang’s mouth, blocking her from saying anything else. She said gently, “Mother, you don’t have to swear. I believe you.”

With her parents and brother’s protection, Song Yuejiao was already content. It wasn’t worth getting angry over an outsider.

She wasn’t stupid; she could naturally sense the love her parents and brother had for her.

Qiao Shuang had initially taken extra care of Li Jinzhi because she was young, but one day, she saw Li Jinzhi quietly cursing her own Ajiao.

“I hope Song Yuejiao will never be found. It’s best if she dies outside, so no one will compete with me.”

She couldn’t believe such a young child could say such vicious words. From then on, she saw Li Jinzhi no longer as gentle as before, and she treated her like an ordinary elder.

As Song Yuejiao listened to Qiao Shuang’s story, she noticed a glint in her eyes.

Song Yuejiao sighed, stood up, walked over to Qiao Shuang, and embraced her.

After spending some time with her, she had discovered that her mother seemed particularly prone to tears.

As Qiao Shuang was embraced by Song Yuejiao, she couldn’t contain her emotions and began to cry.

“I… I used to feel it was so unfair. Why were other people’s daughters always around, enjoying the company of their children, while my daughter was nowhere to be found? Some even cursed her behind her back, hoping she wouldn’t come back.”

“But we always felt you were still alive, so we never gave up looking for you. Thankfully, you’re back now.”

Song Yuejiao was at a loss, unsure how to comfort her. She patted Qiao Shuang’s arm and soothed, “It’s okay, don’t be sad. My mother…” wasn’t back.

[Detection…]

The words that Song Yuejiao had nearly blurted out died in her throat when she heard the system’s sudden voice.

Song Yuejiao’s words suddenly changed: “Mother, don’t be sad. They’re not good. Let’s not worry about them. I’m back now.”

Song Yuejiao anxiously shouted to the system in her mind, “My dear aunt! I didn’t say that!”

She was afraid the system would bring bad luck to her.

[The host was detected to be about to swear, but corrected in time, so a reminder was given.]

Song Yuejiao breathed a sigh of relief at this.

Hearing Song Yuejiao’s address, Qiao Shuang asked tentatively, “Can Ajiao call me Mother from now on?”

She preferred Ajiao to call her Mother, as she felt a closer relationship.

“Okay, Mother,” Song Yuejiao immediately changed her tune.

She used to call her adoptive mother Mother.

Song Yuejiao yawned. To be honest, the jolting carriage ride hadn’t allowed her much sleep.

Seeing this, Qiao Shuang, thinking about all the traveling she’d been doing, sat for a while before leaving, telling Song Yuejiao to get some rest.

After spending time with her family today and the previous time, Song Yuejiao felt that her family was very kind to her, and she liked them very much.

Although Old Madam Song and Li Jinzhi were a little unfriendly, it didn’t really bother her.

Song Yuejiao held her chin, feeling a little melancholy, wondering how her mother was doing.

She’d talk to her mother someday and ask if she could help her find her mother.

[Host has arrived at a new location: Song Mansion. Daily quests will begin starting today.]

What the hell?

Song Yuejiao asked, “Auntie, what are the daily quests?”

Practice the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and embroidery every day. Practice hard, and you’ll be the most beautiful lady in the capital.]

Song Yuejiao didn’t find the system’s words cute; she just got goosebumps.

“Mother, let me die! What the hell is this quest?” Song Yuejiao cursed, unable to contain herself.

[Host has been detected using indecent language. In ten seconds, the host will fall to the ground.]

After being told this by the system, Song Yuejiao covered her mouth and quickly stood up, waiting cautiously.

Song Yuejiao muttered to herself, but just as the ten seconds were up, her footing suddenly slipped, and she fell uncontrollably to the ground.

“Fuck…” Song Yuejiao, sprawled on the ground, nearly cursed again. “The sun has set, the moon has risen, and it’s time for me to go to bed.”

[The system will now remind the host to cultivate themselves as ladies. If the daily tasks are not completed, a punishment will be initiated the following day.]

Song Yuejiao, as if she hadn’t heard clearly, asked again: “Punishment? Auntie, are you kidding?”

She treated the system like her own aunt, but it was trying to tire her out.

Just when Song Yuejiao was hoping she had misheard, the system repeated. After reviewing the mission, the light in her eyes completely faded.

[The more unfinished tasks you have, the longer your bad luck will last. Keep up the good work, host! I’m rooting for you from behind.]

Support, support you.

Song Yuejiao only dared to think about it in her mind, not speak it out loud.