Volume One, Chapter 10: I Was the One at Fault

After finishing the explanation, Uncle Bai softly addressed Song Min in the room, “Miss Minmin, madam said she will properly teach the young master a lesson.”

Song Min’s voice was weak and fragile. “No! It was my own carelessness, it has nothing to do with Huaiye…”

Uncle Bai sighed, “You’re just too soft-hearted. It’s one thing to be soft on the young master, but if you’re soft on others as well, madam will have to step in herself.”

As he spoke, his eyes gave Song Zhu a warning glance.

With an expressionless face, he walked over to Song Zhu. “Miss Song, madam specifically asked me to deliver a message to you.”

He took out his phone and tapped it once.

“Song Zhu, I can allow you to return to the country out of respect for the Song family.”

“But if you don’t behave, next time it won’t be as simple as sending you abroad.”

“Don’t think you can compare to Minmin—neither in the Song family nor the Wen family will you ever measure up to her.”

Song Zhu had heard this voice countless times before.

Since childhood, the owner of that voice had gently held her in his arms, doting on her, saying, “Zhu Zhu, will you be my daughter-in-law in the future?”

“Our Zhu Zhu is the most beautiful and smartest.”

Now…

Song Zhu couldn’t help but give a self-mocking smile.

“Miss Song, understand?” Uncle Bai asked sternly.

“I understand,” Song Zhu replied.

Uncle Bai sized Song Zhu up and then turned to Song Siyen. “Those who make mistakes have no right to wear designer brands, right?”

He glanced at Song Zhu’s bedroom. “Those who err should come back to atone, not to live in luxury.”

“Are you really going to treat this Miss Song like a princess?”

Hearing this, Song Siyen immediately nodded. “Uncle Bai is right. She doesn’t deserve designer brands or to live here.”

“But it’s a pity…” He spread his hands helplessly, “Your young master protects her, so there’s nothing I can do.”

Mentioning Wen Huaiye, Uncle Bai’s expression shifted slightly, his gaze turning icy as he glanced at Song Zhu. “A person must have self-awareness. Miss Song should realize she came back to atone.”

“Here’s a message for you, Steward Bai.” Song Zhu interrupted Uncle Bai’s next words outright.

“This is the Song family, not the Wen family.”

“Even if it were someone from the Wen family, they have no right to boss people around on Song family territory.”

Uncle Bai didn’t expect Song Zhu to speak up, his eyes suddenly widening. “You…”

“You’re the good daughter the Song family raised!” He glared directly at Song Siyen.

Song Siyen immediately looked at Song Zhu. “How dare you speak to Uncle Bai like that? You’ve been abroad so many years, and your temper has only gotten worse…”

“Brother!” Song Zhu cut him off coldly. “Has the Song family really fallen to the point where a steward has to lecture us?”

Song Siyen was stunned.

Uncle Bai’s expression also froze.

Song Zhu’s gaze fell on Song Sinian and Song Lin’an emerging from Song Min’s room. “Has the Song family really come to this?”

Of course not.

Since Wen Huaiye took over the Wen family, he indeed expanded their business empire considerably.

But the Song family had also earned a lot in technology and entertainment over the years.

“Stop stirring up trouble. Our relationship with the Wen family…” Song Siyen hurried to say.

“Siyen!” Song Lin’an interrupted him sternly and walked over.

Uncle Bai’s face darkened, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

“Steward Bai, this time we owe Mrs. Wen our thanks. Our youngest daughter does have a bad temper; it’s the Song family’s fault for failing to educate her properly.”

“No…” Uncle Bai wanted to say more but was cut off by Song Lin’an. “If there’s nothing else, we won’t be entertaining you further.”

Uncle Bai left with a sullen expression. Once out of the Song family estate, he called Mrs. Wen.

After the call connected, he recounted the earlier events. “Madam, the Song family is still siding with Song Zhu. I only spoke up for Miss Minmin and warned Song Zhu a few times, yet they kicked me out.”

“Hmph!” Mrs. Wen sneered. “Just as expected. That girl Song Zhu has always been cunning and scheming.”

“Only Huaiye, that stubborn fool, is completely deceived by her.”

“We absolutely cannot let her ruin Huaiye and Minmin.”

“I only recognize Minmin as my daughter-in-law.”

After hanging up, Uncle Bai glanced once more at the Song family villa and told the driver to leave.

As soon as Uncle Bai left, Song Siyen anxiously said, “Dad, you don’t really believe what she said, do you?”

“Uncle Bai cares about Minmin and was just worried she’d be bullied, that’s why he spoke up.”

“Given our relationship with the Wen family, Uncle Bai has every right to reprimand us a little.”

Song Lin’an remained silent with a stern expression.

Seeing his father silent, Song Siyen angrily turned toward Song Zhu. “This is all your doing. You’ve only been back a few days, and you’ve already caused such chaos at home.”

“You’re nothing like Minmin. When Minmin was here, our relationship with the Wen family was harmonious beyond measure.”

All because of Song Zhu.

Since her return, she had harmed Minmin and now was sowing discord between the Song and Wen families.

“Shut up!” Song Lin’an scolded sharply.

Song Zhu ignored Song Siyen’s foolish rant, but inside, she looked at Song Lin’an with a flicker of hope.

Her father was different.

He had built his career from nothing, making a name for himself in Jiang City.

He had seen human nature and deceit too many times to be easily fooled.

He would surely sense something was wrong.

“Dad!” Song Min, supported by Jiang Zhiyi, came out. Her face was especially pale, and she was too weak to speak with strength.

Leaning lightly against Jiang Zhiyi, her eyes shimmered with tears about to fall.

“Dad, the Wen family is just overly worried about me.”

“It’s all my fault.”

“I’m the one who caused the rift between the two families.”

Song Zhu looked at her, on the verge of tears, and said coldly, “No matter how much the Wen family worries about you, they have no right to boss the Song family around.”

“This isn’t just a reprimand—it’s an insult to the Song family.”

Smack!

Right after Song Zhu finished speaking, Song Lin’an raised his hand and slapped her.

Everyone present was stunned.

Even Song Siyen, who had been shouting, fell silent.

Song Zhu stared blankly at Song Lin’an, her mind a complete void.

Frowning, Song Lin’an said sharply, “You’re truly hopeless!”

“Don’t you know the relationship between the Song and Wen families? Don’t you understand how many joint projects we have?”

“If you hadn’t bullied Minmin, would the Wen family have sent people to our door?”

“You openly say that the Wen family is slapping the Song family’s face—how do you expect the Song family to cooperate with the Wen family in the future?”

Song Zhu raised her hand to touch her cheek.

The slap was so hard it swelled instantly.

Her eyes were filled with panic, strands of hair falling across her forehead, her expression frozen as if caught on a paused frame.

This sorrowful look made Song Lin’an’s heart tighten.

Looking at her, he felt a sudden unease.

Song Zhu opened her mouth slightly, quietly asking, “So, I’m the one at fault?”