Chapter 96: What About Xiaoxiao?

Du Manchang gritted his teeth in anger: “That beast! I suspect he orchestrated the kidnapping back then! How else could his and Chen Xue’s child have slipped into the hospital unnoticed?”

Du Mansheng also realized this, closing her eyes in disgust: “I can never forgive him… He kept this from me for so many years… Cheating, swapping my child, bringing his mistress’s child home for me to love all these years!”

Madam Du listened and wept: “It’s all your father’s fault! Back then, your father and Uncle Song were close. When the Song family was about to collapse, Uncle Song knelt down begging your father for help… I said we should just give them money! Your father, being so straightforward, insisted on marrying you off to them, allowing Uncle Song to die in peace… Their whole family took advantage of our honesty! They exploited your father’s sense of honor!

Before your engagement, I’d heard about Song Qinglong and Chen Xue’s affair. I worried you’d end up with a heartless man, but he swore to me that Chen Xue was just a gold digger, making her sound worthless! I never liked that Song Qinglong boy – how good can someone be if they constantly badmouth their ex-girlfriend after breaking up?

But I was soft-hearted, thinking perhaps the Song family’s troubles had hit him too hard, making him speak carelessly… As a result… just because I misjudged him, I ended up sending my precious daughter into a wolf’s den for all these years?!”

Upon hearing this, Du Mansheng embraced her mother and cried. Both were too heartbroken to speak.

Du Mansheng’s father felt bitter: “It’s my fault… It’s all my fault…”

Du Manchang remained rational: “Dad, Mom, Sister, now is not the time for crying. What’s done is done. We should think about how to minimize the damage, right?”

Her father nodded, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes: “Manchang is right. Let’s all pull ourselves together and not let grief cloud our judgment. We need to think about how to deal with this.”

After a pause, he continued: “I’ll tell the finance department to hold off on that 8 million. I know about Song Qinglong’s business deal – he’s going to collaborate with an American. Honestly… it’s very risky.”

Du Manchang thought for a moment, outlining a general plan: “Let’s set aside the 8 million issue for now. When Song Qinglong gets anxious, he’ll naturally press sister for it! When that happens, sister, don’t panic. Just say there’s some family emergency and the 8 million was needed for that. Stall him for three or four days.”

“Alright.”

Du Manchang continued analysing: “As for Xiaoyu, to avoid alerting them, our family might not be able to take her back for now.”

“I’ve already asked Yueqing to help me take care of Xiaoyu.”

“The Yan family’s daughter won’t let us down. Mom, don’t worry about this.” Du Mansheng’s mother sighed worriedly, “I just feel sorry for Xiaoyu. She should have been our family’s precious treasure, but instead she’s been treated like this by her own biological father?”

Du Manchang was also furious but tried to suppress his emotions and calmly said: “Over the years, our family hasn’t had much business entanglement with the Song family, mostly just financial dealings. Without much interest at stake, targeting the Song family won’t hurt us too badly.”

Du Mansheng’s father frowned: “Are you thinking of taking over Song family’s business?”

“No.” Du Manchang said hatefully, “I want to personally suppress all their projects! Whatever state they were in before sister married him, that’s what the Song family will be reduced to! If Song Qinglong really has what it takes, he can make a comeback, and I’ll admire him as a true man! But over these years, they’ve been like parasites, frantically leeching off the Du family! I dare say, without us, Song Qinglong is nothing!”

Du Mansheng’s father, having mentored Song Qinglong himself, naturally knew his capabilities. He nodded, essentially approving his son’s idea.

Then, he thought of something and turned to his daughter, asking gravely: “Mansheng, dealing with the Song family will inevitably affect Xiaoxiao… Although she’s not your biological child, you’ve raised her like the apple of your eye for seven years… Can you… can you bear to part with her?”

This question struck at Du Mansheng’s heart. She broke down crying: “Dad… I’m so confused… I don’t know! Xiaoxiao is that woman’s daughter! She’s evidence of Song Qinglong’s betrayal… Every time I think of her, I’m reminded of how cruelly Song Qinglong gave Xiaoyu away to others back then!

But… but… I’ve genuinely loved Xiaoxiao for so many years… It’s impossible to say I have no feelings for her… I don’t know how to face Xiaoxiao… Children are innocent, Xiaoxiao might not know the truth… But what about my Xiaoyu? Isn’t my Xiaoyu even more innocent and pitiful? I’m so confused, Dad…”

Du Mansheng’s mother was heartbroken: “I’ve seen how you’ve loved Xiaoxiao all these years… Whatever decision you make! Mom supports you! Just based on the fact that Song Qinglong sent Xiaoyu away, we can definitely put him in jail! Chen Xue might not even be willing to raise Xiaoxiao, and will likely leave the child with you! If you want to keep Xiaoxiao, we’ll keep her. If you’re angry that she’s Chen Xue’s child, we can give her up for adoption! Let’s wait until you’ve calmed down before making any decisions, okay?”

The room was filled with sobs, interspersed with sighs from her father and Du Manchang.

Meanwhile, online, a post by a popular influencer with millions of followers suddenly went viral!

The title was eye-catching — 「So-called National Mom? Can’t even tolerate her own flesh and blood?!」

Below was an audio recording.

A woman anxiously asked: “Hello, is this Yan Wang’s mother, Yan Yueqing?”

The person on the other end sounded drunk: “What is it?”

“Hello, Yan Wang’s mom. The little one suddenly became very ill today, with a high fever that won’t break, convulsions, and unconsciousness… We’ve already contacted the Yan family, and the old master is on his way. Could you come to the hospital now? With his mother’s company, Yan Wang should—”

Before she could finish, the other party interrupted: “If this sickly child were really my son, he should just die! Don’t bother me anymore, okay?”

The cold voice carried a bone-chilling chill.

Then came the sound of the phone being hung up…

Weibo exploded instantly.

[What the hell! Is this Yan Yueqing? How can she be so cold towards baby Wang? Is this real?!]

[The voice sounds a bit like her… but… isn’t she being too cruel? Would any real mother curse her own son to die?]

[Too cruel! Completely different from the loving mother we see on the show!]

[So there really are people who create a ‘national mom’ image just for show effects? Laughable, now you’ve been exposed, right? Disgusting!]

[Her fawning over Tang Tang was already gross enough, but I didn’t expect her to be so cruel to her own son? Oh Wang Wang, how did she convince you to go on the show and pretend to have such a close mother-son relationship?]

Xu Li was scrolling through Weibo when she suddenly saw this rapidly trending topic. She immediately rushed out with her phone: “This is bad, Yueqing! Someone’s smearing you online!”

Yan Yueqing remained calm: “Oh? Let me see?”