After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 120
Chapter 120
Song Qingrou received a call from Driver Xiao Li and immediately excused herself from Mrs. Huo to rush over.
Hurrying all the way, she had just entered when she heard a young, sharp, and arrogant female voice spouting nonsense.
The woman being targeted on the other side was obscured by the crowd of onlookers, only a corner of her clothing visible. But even from that corner, Song Qingrou knew who it was; such a beautiful and outstanding corner of clothing could only belong to her daughter-in-law, Yu Qingtang.
Song Qingrou had never been wronged in her life, nor would she allow anyone around her to be wronged.
“Dressed in dragon robes, one still doesn't resemble a crown prince. A pheasant on a branch is still a pheasant,” Song Qingrou said coldly. “Are you talking about yourself?”
Wei Zhiling's face turned deathly pale, a flicker of resentment in her eyes. She lowered her head and said, “Mrs. Cheng.”
Although she lacked some sense, with Song Qingrou standing before her, she knew who she could afford to provoke and who she couldn't. Her usual arrogance, with eyes practically on the top of her head, vanished. Never mind herself; even if her father were present, he would have to respectfully offer a placating smile.
The Cheng family didn't have as many messy affairs as the Wei family. Cheng Yi had inherited the Cheng family business and was Chairman Cheng, holding real power, on equal footing with Old Master Wei.
How could she, someone three rungs lower, dare to challenge Song Qingrou?
Song Qingrou observed her for a few moments and recognized Wei Zhiling as the daughter of Wei Tingzhi, the eldest uncle of the Wei family.
The Wei family had many descendants and was a renowned prominent family. However, among the grandchildren, those who were somewhat known were either exceptionally outstanding, like the siblings Wei Jingfeng and Wei Jinglan from the second branch, and Eldest Uncle Wei's eldest son, Wei Zhiling's brother; or they were particularly arrogant, untalented, good-for-nothing profligates—arrogant second-generation rich kids who practically wore “My dad is XX” on their foreheads. Wei Zhiling was the latter.
Wei Zhiling lived up to her name—arrogant and overbearing. Being the youngest in the eldest branch and a girl, she had been spoiled rotten since childhood. Her annual birthday parties were extravagant, with guests invited from all over, making her seem like a princess.
Her father, Wei Tingzhi, hadn't even become the “crown prince” yet, but she was already living the life of a princess.
Song Qingrou understood the situation and politely asked, “And you are?”
She was Mrs. Chairman Cheng, Commander Song's daughter, Ms. Song Qingrou. Of course, she wouldn't stoop to brawling like a shrew like Wei Zhiling. Besides, when cultured people argued, they always used “soft knives.” And just like that, a soft knife was thrust towards Wei Zhiling's heart.
Wei Zhiling looked up, stunned.
“Mrs. Cheng, we met a few months ago. You even praised me for being pretty.”
Eighth Miss Wei, Minglan, silently slipped into the crowd, using her clothes to slightly cover her face, afraid of being recognized as Wei Zhiling's companion.
Was Wei Zhiling an idiot? Did she take polite remarks seriously? Could she possibly believe that all the flattery she received at her birthday parties was genuine?
On second thought, if she weren't an idiot, she wouldn't have said such things to Yu Qingtang in public at the mall.
A barely perceptible sneer touched Wei Minglan's lips. This was good; Wei Zhiling had hit a steel plate. It was a perfect opportunity for Song Qingrou to teach her a lesson. She really thought she was the center of the universe, the princess of the world.
The onlookers fell silent, some showing expressions of not being able to bear watching.
Clearly, they weren't idiots, but the idiot herself was oblivious.
Song Qingrou was shocked: She actually didn't realize I was deliberately slighting her? What kind of an airhead was this?
She even began to doubt herself: Should I even bother with her? The intellectual gap was too obvious; it felt like bullying someone with a disability.
She glanced at Yu Qingtang, and the thought that had just surfaced was immediately suppressed. No! She hadn't finished venting Yu Qingtang's anger yet!
Song Qingrou's expression remained unchanged as she gently asked, “Oh, I remember now. You're a Miss Wei, aren't you?”
“Yes! That's me!” Wei Zhiling immediately regained her arrogance, but remembering the person before her was someone she couldn't afford to offend, she quickly reined herself in. Her expression twisted for a moment before she managed to compose herself.
Song Qingrou then asked nonchalantly, “Oh, which Miss Wei are you?”
Wei Zhiling almost vomited blood.
Which other Miss Wei was there? In the Wei family, she was the only “Eldest Miss”! Even Wei Jinglan was just her second uncle's daughter and wasn't qualified to be called Eldest Miss!
The surrounding customers all realized that Song Qingrou was deliberately targeting Wei Zhiling, her words like needles hidden in cotton. They all remained silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to speak.
Wei Zhiling suppressed her temper: “Mrs. Cheng, I am ranked ninth.”
Song Qingrou mused, “Ninth, huh.” She turned to Yu Qingtang and said, “Xiao Tang, you're ranked seventh, right?”
Yu Qingtang nodded.
Song Qingrou said, “Then, by rights, you are her older cousin. Xiao Jiu, call her ‘Jiejie.’”
Wei Zhiling almost blurted out, “On what grounds?!” “I'm not calling that bitch mute ‘Jiejie’!” Song Qingrou's seemingly gentle but actually sharp eyes stared coldly at her. Wei Zhiling swallowed the words rising to her throat, glanced at the calm and unperturbed Yu Qingtang, and reluctantly said, “Jiejie.”
She'd just consider it as being bitten by a dog!
Song Qingrou asked Yu Qingtang, “Did you hear that?”
Yu Qingtang didn't want to get further entangled with Wei Zhiling and was about to nod, but Song Qingrou gave her a look.
Yu Qingtang didn't move.
Song Qingrou said with a smile, “Your Jiejie didn't hear you.”
Wei Zhiling closed her eyes and shouted loudly, “Jiejie!” She then turned and yelled at the crowd, “Wei Minglan, where the hell did you go?!”
Wei Minglan had no choice but to come out, her head bowed.
Wei Zhiling hit her arm hard twice to vent her anger.
Song Qingrou looked at Yu Qingtang, who shook her head. The two exchanged information with a tacit understanding in a single glance.
—Did she bully you too?
—No.
Song Qingrou was aggressive, the crowd was silent. No matter how foolish Wei Zhiling was, she belatedly realized Song Qingrou was backing Yu Qingtang. She pulled Wei Minglan's hand and said angrily, “Let's go!”
A light, airy sentence from Song Qingrou made them freeze on the spot.
“Stop.”
Wei Zhiling turned back: “Mrs. Cheng, I have no grievance or enmity with you. Don't push me too far! Bullying the young as an elder, don't you think it's beneath your dignity?!”
The onlookers were dazed.
So you also know what it means to lose dignity? Why didn't you feel it was undignified when you were acting like a shrew towards your cousin just now?
They didn't remember this foolish Ninth Miss Wei, but they did remember the Seventh Miss Wei behind Song Qingrou. Seventh Miss Wei was stunningly beautiful, exuding a faint, refined scholarly aura. Her personality was quiet, and she handled things with ease. Compared to the arrogant and domineering Ninth Miss Wei, the difference was stark; she was much more like a young lady from a prominent family.
No wonder the Cheng family wanted to form a marriage alliance with Seventh Miss Wei. Among the customers, some madams with children at home couldn't help but scrutinize Yu Qingtang more, becoming more amazed the more they looked.
If they had known earlier that the Wei family had such a daughter, their families would have tried to propose marriage too.
Wei Zhiling heard schadenfreude-filled laughter from the crowd, glared at the person who laughed, then turned to Song Qingrou with a neither servile nor overbearing expression.
Song Qingrou maintained a gentle demeanor from beginning to end. Hearing this, she stepped forward, took Wei Zhiling's hand, held it in her palm, and said, “Xiao Jiu, you've misunderstood. Since you two are Xiao Tang's younger sisters, I should at least entertain you on Xiao Tang's behalf.”
Wei Zhiling didn't want to stay a second longer, her face dark as she said, “No need!”
She tried to pull her hand back but couldn't move it. She used all her strength, but Song Qingrou's well-maintained, smooth, and delicate hand held hers like an iron clamp.
Wei Zhiling had an ominous premonition.
Song Qingrou, who grew up in a military compound, easily subdued Wei Zhiling. She looked at Wei Zhiling with a smiling gaze, a smile that hid a dagger: “Not going to give Auntie face? Hmm?”
Wei Zhiling's heart sank.
After Song Qingrou said that, the surrounding customers didn't even dare to watch the commotion anymore. They scattered, only daring to glance over with their peripheral vision, afraid of being noticed by Song Qingrou.
Song Qingrou loosened her grip on Wei Zhiling, patted the back of her hand affectionately, and said gently, “If you see anything you like, just tell Auntie. Don't be polite.”
She beckoned a sales assistant. The assistant who had been attending to Wei Zhiling earlier waited beside her and cautiously asked, “Miss Wei, do you still want to try on the clothes from before?”
Wei Zhiling was about to cry.
She had never suffered such public humiliation!
Song Qingrou was still holding her hand. This time, she wasn't using much force, but Wei Zhiling still didn't dare to pull away. With red, aggrieved eyes, she said, “I'll try them!”
The sales assistant said, “Please follow me.”
Wei Minglan picked up the clothes and followed, her head bowed the entire time.
Song Qingrou clapped her hands, turned around, and when she looked at Yu Qingtang, the smile on her face was as warm as spring, her eyes full of amazement. “This outfit is so beautiful, it suits you.” She circled Yu Qingtang several times, praising her endlessly, “It's too beautiful. Xixi will definitely love it.”
She said to the nearby shop assistant, “Pack this one up first. Are there any other recommendations?”
The shop assistant beamed and said, “Yes, yes.” Then she led the two to pick out more clothes.
Half of Cheng Zhanxi's taste in clothes was influenced by her mother. Ms. Song was exceptionally good at picking clothes. The shop assistant couldn't even get a word in, watching Song Qingrou hold one outfit after another against Yu Qingtang, each combination creating a satisfying effect.
Never mind Yu Qingtang, even the shop assistant herself was tempted. But then she thought about her own face, and then about the money in her purse, and dismissed the idea.
Song Qingrou had an easygoing personality and didn't ignore the shop assistant. While picking clothes, she chatted with her. Seeing her good taste, the assistant got a bit carried away and joked, “Mrs. Cheng, you could be a sales assistant here. You're better at choosing than I am.”
As soon as she said it, a chill ran up from the soles of her feet.
A perfectly fine wealthy madam, suggesting she become a sales assistant—was she cursing her?
Her face turned pale, and her legs felt weak.
But Song Qingrou laughed and said, “You know, I actually have been a sales assistant, but not in this kind of luxury mall. What if someone recognized me...”
The shop assistant thought: It would be embarrassing?
Song Qingrou continued, “...it would affect my sales performance. I want to sell things legitimately with my words, not by relying on my face.”
The shop assistant burst out laughing.
Yu Qingtang took the clothes Song Qingrou handed her and couldn't help but smile.
Song Qingrou hung the clothes Yu Qingtang was to try on to one side and said, “But today, when you say my taste is good, I'll only take half the credit. It's mainly because my daughter-in-law is naturally beautiful. Praise her, don't just praise me.”
The shop assistant was very perceptive and immediately turned to praise Yu Qingtang, complimenting her skin, her proportions, and so on. Yu Qingtang was quite immune to praise from strangers, but Song Qingrou beamed from ear to ear, happier than if she herself had been praised.
While it was harmonious here, on the other side, Wei Zhiling grew angrier the more she thought about it in the fitting room.
She threw the clothes she had brought in heavily onto a chair. Try on clothes? Try on bullshit!
She abruptly pushed open the door, sneered, and strode out, ready to leave.
One meter away, directly opposite the fitting room door, stood Driver Xiao Li in a black suit. Xiao Li quickly raised his voice, “Madam, Miss Jiu has finished trying on the clothes.”
Wei Zhiling: “...”
What the hell???
Song Qingrou immediately replied, “I'm coming right now. Xiao Jiu, wait there for Auntie.”
Wei Zhiling: “...”
Song Qingrou came over, and her expression instantly became displeased. She reprimanded Xiao Li, “How is this ‘finished trying on’? She clearly hasn't changed yet. What's wrong with your eyes?”
Xiao Li said, “I'm sorry, Madam. I saw incorrectly.”
This tactic was called “pointing at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust tree.” Wei Zhiling suddenly had a flash of insight and understood.
Facing Song Qingrou, who had returned, Wei Zhiling, fuming but not daring to speak, re-entered the fitting room.
“Well done.” Song Qingrou patted Xiao Li's shoulder with satisfaction. Xiao Li smiled, revealing a set of neat white teeth.
Wei Zhiling, carrying several outfits that Song Qingrou had forcibly bought for her “thanks to Yu Qingtang,” left the store full of suppressed anger.
She stood at the entrance, glared resentfully at the store's sign, and blacklisted the brand. Not only would she never shop here again, but she would also throw away all the items from this brand that she owned at home!
Wei Minglan silently followed beside her and asked, “Are we still going to shop elsewhere?”
Wei Zhiling said angrily, “I'm already full of anger! Shop my ass!” She lifted her hands. “Aren't you going to take these for me? They're killing me!”
Several more bags were hung on Wei Minglan's hands, weighing down her shoulders.
Wei Zhiling called her driver. When the driver arrived at the entrance to pick them up, he was thoroughly scolded by the fuming Wei Zhiling. Why did other families' drivers accompany their young mistresses shopping, while hers was nowhere to be found? In reality, the driver had to serve more than just her, had specifically asked for an approximate time before leaving, and had rushed over immediately upon receiving the call. Wei Zhiling didn't care. If her driver had been by her side, she wouldn't have seemed so weak; at least he could have held back Yu Qingtang's driver! It was all his fault!
The driver was used to it, letting her words go in one ear and out the other as he loaded the bags into the car.
Wei Zhiling got into the car, cursed a few more times before stopping, and said, “Home.”
The black Rolls-Royce entered the main road traffic.
Wei Zhiling grabbed a cushion and slammed it hard onto the back seat, voicing the angry question that had been swirling in her mind from the beginning: “On what grounds does that mute?!”
Wei Minglan lowered her eyes and said nothing.
Wei Zhiling said, “The Cheng family was clearly about to break off the engagement, so why would Mrs. Cheng still protect that bitch—”
Wei Minglan remained silent, intending to let her vent her anger alone and not provoke her further, but she felt a sinister gaze from in front of her.
Wei Minglan looked up.
Wei Zhiling's face was gloomy. “You told me the Cheng family's wedding preparations had stopped and they were going to break off the engagement. Did you deliberately lie to me to make me lose face—”
“No!” Wei Minglan vehemently denied, shaking her head in panic. “I didn't! How would I dare lie to you! Besides, I wasn't the only one who said that. Didn't you hear it from others too?”
Wei Zhiling's expression flickered. She snorted coldly and said, “I suppose you wouldn't dare.”
Her expression softened. Puzzled, she said, “Then why would Mrs. Cheng back that mute?”
A trace of venom flashed deep in Wei Minglan's eyes, but her face showed no change as she said, “I'll tell you the truth, don't get angry.”
“Speak.”
“The biggest mistake you made today was publicly slandering Seventh... that mute,” Wei Minglan said. “Think about it. The Cheng family's breaking off the engagement hasn't been made public yet. No matter how dissatisfied Mrs. Cheng is with the mute, she is still the Cheng family's prospective daughter-in-law. If you slap the mute's face, aren't you slapping the Cheng family's face?”
Wei Zhiling asked suspiciously, “Is that so?”
Wei Minglan said, “You know the Cheng family; they're famous for protecting their own. Eldest Uncle once said, it's better to fight to the death in the business world than to privately mess with the Cheng family. Their roots run too deep. When it comes to underhanded tactics, it's uncertain who would outplay whom.”
Especially after Commander Song's daughter, Song Qingrou, married into the Cheng family, the usually low-profile Cheng family became like a precious pearl, catching everyone's eye in the Capital City.
Wei Zhiling said with dissatisfaction, “Are you saying my family is inferior to the Cheng family?”
Listen to that tone. The vast Wei family, Old Master Wei wasn't even dead yet, and she spoke as if it were already in her pocket.
Wei Minglan patiently and gently explained to her, “Of course not. Our Wei family isn't bad either. Especially you, wherever you go, don't people call you Miss Wei? The Cheng family's eldest miss is just so-so, perhaps not even as grand as you.”
The corners of Wei Zhiling's lips curled up slightly.
Wei Zhiling had never met Cheng Zhanxi. Previously, Cheng Zhanxi had studied abroad for many years, and after returning to the country, she didn't like attending overly commercial banquets. She would occasionally appear at small gatherings, continuing the Cheng family's low-profile style. That good-for-nothing Wei Shi had praised Cheng Zhanxi to the skies, but he was just a child who hadn't seen the world. In Wei Zhiling's heart, it was indeed as Wei Minglan said: she was Miss Wei, the other was Miss Cheng; she was no worse than Cheng Zhanxi.
If they both went out together, let's see among the second generation of the Capital City circle, who knew more people: her or Cheng Zhanxi.
The corners of Wei Zhiling's lips curled even higher, the earlier frustration swept away.
Seeing this, Wei Minglan added, “So, we just need to wait and watch the mute become a laughingstock. If you really want to teach her a lesson, choose a time when the Cheng family members aren't present.”
Wei Zhiling recalled the earlier incident and pouted, “I didn't know Mrs. Cheng was there. If I had known she was there—”
Even if she had a hundred guts, she wouldn't dare to publicly humiliate Yu Qingtang.
Wei Minglan consoled, “This is also my fault for not keeping an eye out for you.”
Wei Zhiling hmphed, “It's good that you know.”
“So next time,” Wei Minglan suggested, “when we teach her a lesson, let's be quieter, so only the mute can hear. Since no one else will know, there won't be any issue of the Cheng family losing face. You can mock her however you want, even find a chance to put a sack over her head and beat her up.”
Wei Zhiling's eyes lit up. “That's a good idea.”
This way, Mrs. Cheng would have no reason to stand up for her.
Wei Zhiling: “No need for the sack. I wouldn't be able to see, it's no fun. It's more interesting to do it to her face.”
Wei Minglan lowered her eyes, hiding a fleeting look of regret.
But the corners of her mouth slowly curled up.
Earlier, when Wei Zhiling was in the fitting room, Wei Minglan had deliberately gone to a place where she could see Yu Qingtang and observed. Song Qingrou was picking out clothes for Yu Qingtang one by one, gentle and loving. The two were chatting happily; it wasn't just a superficial act, their affection was genuine. Regardless of why the Cheng family's wedding preparations had stopped or whether they were breaking off the engagement, Song Qingrou's protection of Yu Qingtang was from the heart.
Wei Zhiling could act arrogantly towards others, but against the Cheng family, she could only suffer defeat.
A mere younger daughter of the eldest branch, daring to compare herself to Cheng Zhanxi? Cheng Zhanxi was low-profile, but that didn't mean she was a nobody. Wei Zhiling did well in the circle of profligates, but in the entire Capital City circle, would those powerful uncles and elders give face to this Miss Wei of questionable standing, or to Cheng Yi's cherished daughter, Commander Song's beloved granddaughter, Cheng Zhanxi?
Go ahead and dislike Yu Qingtang, target her, mock her, slander her. The more arrogant she is, the harder she will fall.
The more misfortune Wei Zhiling encountered, the happier she (Wei Minglan) would be.
Wei Zhiling said, “What are you thinking about, smiling so happily?”
Wei Minglan said, “I just feel especially happy thinking about how the mute will become the laughingstock of the Capital City.”
Wei Zhiling laughed.
“Eighth Sister, you're still the best to me.” Wei Zhiling hugged her shoulder coquettishly.
“Of course.” Wei Minglan held her hand, her head intimately close to hers. “We're sisters, after all.”
The “good sisters” returned to the Wei residence and happened to run into Eldest Uncle Wei at home. Wei Zhiling went up and linked arms with Wei Tingzhi, calling out sweetly, “Dad~”
Eldest Uncle Wei had his daughter when he was over forty, twenty years younger than his eldest son, and usually doted on her excessively. He nodded at Wei Minglan, then looked down at his daughter and said, “What's wrong? Short on money again?”
Wei Zhiling: “No, Dad, let me tell you, when I was shopping today, I met...”
Eldest Uncle Wei gently interrupted her, “Can we talk about it later? Dad has something urgent to attend to and needs to go out now.”
Wei Zhiling pouted.
Eldest Uncle Wei patted her head and said, “Didn't you fancy a sports car last time? Dad bought it for you. The car keys are on your bedside table.”
Wei Zhiling still pouted, “Thanks, Dad.”
Eldest Uncle Wei pinched her pouting lips, which could almost hang an oil bottle, and smiled, “Alright, Dad really has to go out now, it's urgent.”
After saying that, he left without looking back, his pace quickening.
He got into the car waiting at the entrance and received a call from his eldest son, Wei Baiyang.
Wei Baiyang's voice was panicked, “Dad, I've found out. The newly appointed Zhao Changhe is Second Uncle's man.”
Eldest Uncle Wei closed his eyes. You damn Second Brother Wei, so you tricked me here. You want to tear off all pretenses and bring this out into the open, is that it?
“What did your grandfather say?”
Wei Baiyang's voice lowered, “Grandfather said nothing.”
Eldest Uncle Wei's expression changed several times before he regained his composure. “Go to work. Behave well in front of your grandfather. Don't mention Zhao Changhe's matter, just pretend you don't know.”
“Understood, Dad.”
Eldest Uncle Wei returned to his office at the company and smashed an expensive Zisha tea set gifted by a subordinate. From the teapot to the teacups, not a single piece was spared.
Back on the third floor of the mall.
Driver Xiao Li carried three shopping bags in each hand. The shop assistant, beaming, saw Song Qingrou and Yu Qingtang out the door, welcoming them to visit again next time. Only after their figures disappeared did she turn back into the store.
A wealthy lady still trying on clothes in the store breathed a sigh of relief, lowered her head, took out her phone, and typed a message into a WeChat group chat:
Wealthy Lady: 【Guess who I ran into while shopping today?】
Sisters all popped up: 【Who?】
Wealthy Lady: 【Chairman Cheng's wife】
Sister 1: 【Wow, you didn't go up to get friendly?】
Wealthy Lady: 【How would I dare? Last time I met her at a banquet, I didn't even dare to speak to her.】
Sister 2: 【So, meeting her at the mall was a heaven-sent opportunity! You should have seized it. It's so easy to build connections while shopping. Doesn't the Cheng family still have a child who isn't engaged?】
Sister 3: 【Mrs. Cheng is quite good-tempered. I've chatted with her before. You don't need to be so nervous.】
Wealthy Lady: 【Don't even mention it. I watched a whole drama. Mrs. Cheng was standing up for her daughter-in-law. The other party was from the Wei family, I don't know which Miss, seemed to be her daughter-in-law's cousin.】
Sisters 1234: 【!!! Tell us in detail!】
The Wealthy Lady confirmed that Song Qingrou had left, then quietly recounted what had happened in the store using voice messages.
Sister 1: 【Is this Miss Wei an idiot? It seems when you have many children, there are always some bad apples. Prominent families are prominent families. If this were my daughter, I'd wring her neck.】
Sister 2: 【Then it seems Mrs. Cheng and her daughter-in-law have a good relationship. She didn't give the Wei family any face at all.】
Sister 3: 【Wrong. It was the Wei family who didn't give the Cheng family face. Is the Cheng family the type to offer their face to be slapped? Not to mention Song Qingrou. If you slap her left cheek, she'll slap your face until it looks like a pig's head! Song Qingrou had a very explosive temper when she was young, famous in our area. She's Commander Song's daughter, don't think she became a docile, virtuous wife and good mother just because she got married.】
Sister 4: 【Am I the only one who wants to know what her daughter-in-law is like?】
Sisters 123: 【Right, right, right! This is the Cheng family's daughter-in-law's first public appearance, isn't it?】
Sister 1: 【Is she pretty? What's her personality like? Did you talk to her? Is it too late for me to make my daughter learn from her?】
Wealthy Lady: 【Extremely, extremely, extremely beautiful! Her personality seems quite good. I didn't get to talk to her, just saw her from a distance. Her face is tiny, her skin is very fair, she practically glows like a fairy. No wonder the Cheng siblings fought over her.】
Wealthy Lady: 【Your daughter better not try to learn. Just her face alone, no one can compare, unless your daughter is Miss Cheng.】
Sisters 234: 【Hahahaha】
This was Yu Qingtang's first open public appearance in the Capital City. Through the onlookers in the mall, news spread within a small circle, primarily among the wealthy madams of the Capital City social scene, who tried every means to find out detailed information about Yu Qingtang. Although the Cheng family had already arranged a marriage for one child, there was still another one! The siblings had similar tastes in aesthetics, and now that there was finally a reference point, they had to quickly seize the opportunity.
Those madams who didn't want to curry favor with the Cheng family through marriage just watched the excitement, discussing it as a piece of gossip during their leisurely afternoon tea. Regardless, Yu Qingtang's reputation was now out there; she was no longer the obscure Seventh Miss Wei.
Without exception, everyone who had seen her in person had no objections to Yu Qingtang's beauty, and each praised her to the heavens, greatly increasing the public's curiosity.
However, no matter how curious they were, that was all. Yu Qingtang would not be appearing before the public for the time being.
Cheng Zhanxi, after a busy day, returned to the Cheng residence for dinner.
After dinner, she opened the shopping bags beside the sofa one by one to see what clothes Yu Qingtang had bought. When she saw the lake-blue suit, just imagining Yu Qingtang wearing it made her legs feel a bit weak. Then she discovered there were other styles of women's casual suits in the bags: black and white, dark blue, bright red, and so on.
Cheng Zhanxi picked up the bright red one, her eyes a little red with excitement. “You... you bought this?”
Yu Qingtang said, “Auntie picked it out for me.” She gently bit her lip and asked apprehensively, “Don't you like this style?”
Cheng Zhanxi said, “I love it. I love it so much.”
Yu Qingtang's expression became even more worried. “Then why are you crying?”
“Hmm? Am I crying?” Cheng Zhanxi touched the tears at the corner of her eyes and said, “I'm probably just too happy, crying tears of joy.”
She raised her voice, “Mom!”
No response.
Yu Qingtang said, “Auntie is in the library on the basement level. She said she was going to get a book.”
Cheng Zhanxi temporarily ignored the pang of jealousy over why Yu Qingtang knew and she didn't. She took the elevator downstairs straight to the family library. Song Qingrou was standing on a ladder, in front of a whole wall of books in the high-ceilinged room. Cheng Zhanxi rushed towards her, looked up, and said, “Mom, come down quickly!”
Ms. Song was completely bewildered but came down as requested.
“Why are your eyes red? Did you cry again?”
Cheng Zhanxi gave her a loud kiss on the cheek and hugged her tightly.
“Mom! I love you so much! How can you be so wonderful!”
Song Qingrou's neck was wet with Cheng Zhanxi's tears.
“Boohoo... you're the best mom in the whole world!”
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