Chapter 101: I Only Want My Mother

After dinner, Song Qinglong took the initiative to clean up the leftovers downstairs, while Du Mansheng returned to her bedroom on the second floor. To cope with the earlier situation, she had forced herself to maintain a smile for nearly an hour, leaving her utterly exhausted.

Just as she was about to lie down for a moment’s rest, she pulled back the covers and caught sight of a long yellow hair under her pillow. Du Mansheng froze, glancing down at her own dark hair… A wave of intense disgust surged through her!

With trembling hands, she grasped the yellow hair, her eyes turning bloodshot with anger.

Song Qinglong really could do this!

It was bad enough to fool around outside, but to actually bring Chen Xue home?!

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Du Mansheng instinctively grabbed a tissue from the bedside table, wrapped the hair in it, and tucked it into her pocket.

Turning her head, she saw Song Xiaoxiao peeking around the door, her face filled with hesitation. “Mom… can I come in? I… I have something to tell you…”

Du Mansheng suppressed her anger. “Come in.”

Song Xiaoxiao bit her lip and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

Du Mansheng watched as the small girl approached her step by step. It was reminiscent of when she had just learned to walk; that unsteady gait brought both warmth and worry.

“Mom…” Song Xiaoxiao stood before her, unsure how to begin.

Du Mansheng remained silent, simply observing her.

Her feelings towards Xiaoxiao were exceedingly complicated! If she were to say she hated her, after all, Xiaoxiao was the daughter she had raised for seven years. In terms of both time and emotion, Du Mansheng had invested deeply in Xiaoxiao. Even if it were just a pet cat or dog, seven years of affection would be difficult to articulate.

If she were to say she loved her, it was precisely because Xiaoxiao was Song Qinglong and Chen Xue’s biological daughter… Because of Xiaoxiao’s existence, her own daughter, Xiaoyu, had been abandoned by their father for many years… It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Xiaoxiao had taken Xiao Yu’s place!

Du Mansheng felt utterly torn!

She wanted to distance herself from Xiaoxiao, yet seeing the child’s adoring gaze made her heart soften uncontrollably; noticing the high-end clothing on Xiaoxiao reminded her that these should have belonged to Xiaoyu… filling her with resentment!

Seeing that her mother remained silent, Song Xiaoxiao lowered her eyelashes and murmured, “Mom… I… I don’t want the Song family’s money.”

This statement stunned Du Mansheng for a moment. “Why?”

Xiaoxiao felt a deep pain in her heart; she knew that none of this belonged to her. If Mom’s biological daughter returned… everything would have to be given back to her, and she would only be treated as an illegitimate child, kicked out of the house! Why would she even consider wanting the Song family’s assets?!

“I have my dad and mom; that’s already much better than ordinary kids!” Song Xiaoxiao expressed earnestly. “And I have grandparents who love me… Xiaoxiao doesn’t want to inherit the Song family’s business; I just want everyone to stay by my side…”

Du Mansheng could never truly leave the assets to Xiaoxiao; it was merely bait to lure Song Qinglong into a trap. However, seeing how adamant Song Xiaoxiao was made her feel somewhat pleased.

At least… her daughter hadn’t been led astray…

She reached out and gently stroked her daughter’s hair, saying ambiguously, “What belongs to you, Mom will give you all of it.”

Though Xiaoxiao was an illegitimate child, she had been raised under Du Mansheng’s care for many years. As long as she remained unaware of this matter and behaved well in the Song family without causing trouble, Du Mansheng was willing to provide a good path for Xiaoxiao.

Du Mansheng’s mother had mentioned that there were distant relatives in their family who had been married for many years without children and were planning to adopt from an orphanage soon.

Song Qinglong had taken Xiaoyu away with Song Hui; his funds were also not clean. When everything came to light, he would inevitably end up behind bars for several years. At that time, if Xiaoxiao wanted to go with her biological mother Chen Xue, Du Mansheng wouldn’t give her a single penny; if she didn’t recognize Chen Xue, then perhaps she could be sent to live with relatives for a few years.

Don’t blame Du Mansheng for being ruthless; if Xiaoyu returned, all of her heart would naturally be devoted to her biological daughter! If during this time Xiaoxiao felt jealous or even tried something against Xiaoyu, Du Mansheng might unleash all her hatred towards Song Qinglong onto Xiaoxiao.

The child was growing up and should leave home for another environment where she could contemplate who was right or wrong in this matter.

If Xiaoxiao understood things well enough, once Xiaoyu recovered physically and both sisters agreed, they could live together. If she harbored resentment towards Du Mansheng, there would be no need for her to return…

Thus, at this moment, Du Mansheng felt only a basic sense of responsibility towards Song Xiaoxiao.

What belonged to her would not be withheld.

What did not belong to her—no matter how much Xiaoxiao wanted it—would not be given.

Song Xiaoxiao understood this clearly; shaking her head, tears welled up in her eyes: “Mom! I don’t want anything! I don’t want anything at all! I just want you with me!”

Since she was five years old when she learned that there was another woman who was supposed to be her real mother, she had been engulfed in fear regarding this matter…

Song Xiaoxiao truly liked Du Mansheng and wanted only this one mom!

But as she grew older and understood more about life, one thing became clear—Chen Xue and Mom could not coexist; if things were exposed, all that awaited her would be Mom’s hatred—nothing else!

She reached out, firmly gripping Du Mansheng’s clothing like an abandoned kitten, crying uncontrollably: “Mom! I really don’t want anything… Not the Song family’s money… not the company… not the assets… I don’t want any of it! Please don’t abandon me, okay?”

Du Mansheng nearly pulled her daughter into an embrace out of heartache but held back: “What nonsense are you talking? How could Mom ever abandon you?”

Song Xiaoxiao wiped away tears, shaking her head: “I know Mom knows… Xiaoxiao shouldn’t have held any illusions… Mom, I actually am not—”

“Song Xiaoxiao!” A furious voice came from the doorway—Song Qinglong’s voice.

Both mother and daughter turned to see him striding in angrily as he pulled Song Xiaoxiao away: “What nonsense are you spouting?”

His tone was authoritative and full of warning.

Song Xiaoxiao’s face turned pale with fear as tears hung on her eyelashes, ready to fall.

Du Mansheng pushed him away angrily: “Why are you scolding the child?” Then she pulled Song Xiaoxiao to her side. “Don’t mind him; what did you want to tell Mom earlier?”

Song Xiaoxiao bit her lip; fear filled those big eyes.

“I… I…”

Song Qinglong interjected: “Xiaoxiao, today is your mother’s birthday. Don’t you think crying like this is ruining the mood?”

Hearing this made Song Xiaoxiao lower her head heavily like a deflated balloon: “I’m sorry…”

“Alright then; Dad has something he wants to discuss with your mom. You can go back to your room now.”

Song Xiaoxiao left slowly with unsteady steps, as if frostbitten.

Back in her princess room, the little girl seemed to make an important decision. She took out her phone and dialed a number.

“Hello? Grandpa? Can you talk some sense into Mom so that she doesn’t transfer all assets under her name over to me?”

Grandpa Du was quite surprised: “Xiaoxiao? Why are you suddenly saying this?”

Song Xiaoxiao clenched her fists and trembled as she spoke: “Because… because my dad has someone else outside!”