Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Li Muye picked Song Yi up from the ground and punched him in the face again.

Song Yi's cheeks trembled, his jaw loosened, and his mouth filled with the taste of iron. His vision went dark.

Ling Yun screamed, pointing at Li Muye with her hand adorned with a large pink diamond, "Who are you? Why are you hitting my fiancé? Security! Security!"

People from the Ling family and the Song family rushed forward to separate Li Muye and Song Yi.

With Li Muye’s physique, honed from years of training, two or three people couldn't hold him back. He dragged them along as he continued to attack Song Yi.

Until Song Qingning hugged him around the waist, the scent of citrus enveloping Li Muye. He turned his head and saw Song Qingning's moist, trembling eyes, causing him to stop.

Song Qingning pleaded, "Muye, don’t fight."

Li Muye relaxed his strength, allowing them to hold his arms and pull Song Yi away.

Just as Song Qingning was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Song Yi, with half his face swollen, suddenly charged over and hit Li Muye’s face with his elbow.

A sharp pain shot from Li Muye’s nose straight to his brain, blood gushing out, and his vision blurred. He staggered backward, covering his nose and mouth.

The people from the Song family and the Ling family pulled them apart, inevitably favoring one side.

They restrained Li Muye but didn’t stop Song Yi, who took advantage of Li Muye’s temporary inability to fight and kicked him several times.

"Stop hitting him!" Song Qingning, worried, stood in front of Li Muye and was kicked and punched by the enraged Song Yi.

As Li Muye regained his senses and saw Song Qingning being hit, a surge of anger rose within him. He rushed over, tackled Song Yi, and started pummeling him.

A crowd gathered around, trying to pull them apart, but the chaos only grew worse.

The archway decorated with roses and lilies was knocked down, and the cake and champagne spilled all over the floor.

What should have been an elegant engagement party turned into a mess. Ling Yun’s screams echoed through the venue, "Ah—"

Everyone’s ears hurt, even Li Muye paused for a moment.

Shen Tingzhou covered his ears, impressed by her powerful scream!

Ling Yun’s eyes widened, and her meticulously styled hair came loose, blown by an inexplicable gust of wind that swept it back.

In that instant, Shen Tingzhou felt as if Ling Yun had grown black eyeliner and her nails had suddenly extended ten centimeters, each step crushing mountains and rivers.

"How dare you ruin my engagement party! You’re asking for death!"

Ling Yun reached down, grabbed Li Muye’s shoulders, and with a fierce look, flung him aside.

The terrifying strength contained in her slender body stunned Shen Tingzhou for centuries.

To be Qin Shiyao’s rival, she was indeed no ordinary person; when she lost her temper, it was truly frightening!

Song Yi, now rescued, looked at her gratefully, "Yunyun."

Ling Yun gazed at him affectionately, but upon seeing his swollen, bruised face, her smile froze, and she turned her head away, looking conflicted.

Song Yi: ?

Confused, Song Yi called out again, "Yunyun?"

Ling Yun forced a smile, looked at him briefly, then quickly looked away.

No, it was too ugly.

This time, Ling Yun’s disgust was obvious. Song Yi stiffened, feeling hurt, and reached out to grab his fiancée.

Before his bloody hand could touch Ling Yun, she stepped back dramatically.

How could she let such a dirty hand touch her haute couture, specially designed by a famous chief designer, a work of art, unique in the world?

Don’t touch me with those dirty hands!

Ling Yun subtly stepped back another half-step, smiling at Song Yi but looking elsewhere, "Can you stand up?"

Song Yi, feeling wronged and sad, said, "You won’t even look at me."

"How could that be?" Ling Yun moved her eyes slightly toward him, but just a little, then quickly looked away again, "See, I’m looking at you."

Song Yi: "... Yunyun, your eyes are crossed."

Ling Yun: ...

Ling Yun realized this wasn’t good, after all, they were going to marry and spend their lives together.

But that face was just too ugly!

How could someone get beaten up like a pig’s head!

Ling Yun glared angrily at Li Muye, seeing how even bleeding from the nose made him look wild and handsome, which only made her angrier.

Song Qingning, holding a stack of facial tissues, squatted beside Li Muye, gently wiping the blood off his face with concern.

"It’s all my fault," he said, full of self-reproach. "If I hadn’t stopped you... Doctor Shen?"

A shadow fell over them as Song Qingning noticed Shen Tingzhou approaching. She moved aside to let him examine Li Muye’s injuries.

Shen Tingzhou took ice from the bucket of chilled champagne, wrapped it in a napkin, and applied it to Li Muye’s nose to stop the bleeding.

Li Muye slightly tilted his chin, looking sideways at Song Qingning, reassuring her, "Don’t worry, I’m fine, right, Doctor Shen?"

Shen Tingzhou said, "No bones were broken, just the blood vessel walls. It'll be fine after some ice."

Seeing that they even had medical help on standby, Ling Yun refused to be outdone and said, "Doctor Shen, could you take a look at our Song Yi? He's more seriously injured than him."

His face is swollen like a pig's head; who knows if there will be any lasting effects.

If there really are lasting effects, she would tear the culprit apart with her own hands.

Ling Yun glared at Li Muye, "Why did you suddenly hit him?"

The Song couple, who went to check on Song Yi's injuries, also gave him a reproachful look.

However, since Li Muye was from the Li family, they couldn't directly blame him and could only hope that their well-born daughter-in-law would say something.

Li Muye's puppy eyes instantly turned into fierce wolf eyes as he coldly glanced at Song Yi, "I wouldn't even feel satisfied if I killed him!"

Ling Yun didn't understand what kind of relatives Li Muye and Song Yi were, but ruining her engagement party and hitting her man was unacceptable.

"You dare to spout such arrogance after hitting someone," Ling Yun pulled out her diamond-encrusted clutch, "I want you to..." have a face full of marks too.

She raised her bag to strike, but a hand reached out mid-air and grabbed her wrist.

Qin Shiyao stood behind Ling Yun with a smile, "Be good, don't cause trouble." Let's enjoy this drama.

Good my ass!

If Ling Yun had to choose the person she hated most in the world, it would definitely be Qin Shiyao.

This woman was taller, prettier, and had a slightly better background than her.

What was even more infuriating was that Qin Shiyao was more domineering and arrogant than her.

Ling Yun couldn't believe she couldn't even match others in being domineering!

Why should she listen to orders? This was her engagement party, her stage, and she was the star of the day!

"I won't..." Ling Yun struggled, but Qin Shiyao's grip was like an iron clamp. Ling Yun used all her strength to pry her hand off, "I won't, won't, won't..."

Ling Yun couldn't break free from Qin Shiyao's hold. The latter, annoyed by her noise, covered her mouth.

Qin Shiyao dragged Ling Yun back, saying to Li Muye and the others, "Carry on, don't mind us."

Everyone present: ...

Shen Tingzhou: Impressive, very strong!

Ling Yun's back pressed against Qin Shiyao's chest as she was dragged out of the crowd.

Feeling the softness behind her, Ling Yun was first shocked, then angry, unwilling to believe it.

Enraged, Ling Yun broke free from Qin Shiyao's grip, turned around, and felt her chest, then her own.

"It can't be," Ling Yun looked dazed, "It can't be, yours can't be bigger than mine. You must have gotten implants."

Qin Shiyao: "...Thanks, they're natural."

Deeply shaken, Ling Yun left Qin Shiyao and went to the buffet area to devour papaya.

Defeated for life by Qin Shiyao, Ling Yun was filled with hatred.

Without Ling Yun's protection, Song Yi became weak and helpless.

-

Li Muye glanced at Song Yi, "Dare you tell everyone what you did?"

Everyone present: ?

Tell us, tell us quickly!

Qin Shiyao: Fight, fight!

Song Yi felt uneasy and instinctively moved closer to his mother.

Seeing her child, whom she had raised since birth, beaten so badly, Song Yi's mother felt a pang in her heart and became protective like a hen guarding her chicks.

She held back her anger and said to Li Muye, "In terms of seniority, Xiao Yi is your uncle. Even if there was a misunderstanding, you shouldn't have hit him at his engagement party."

Then, she looked at Song Qingning beside Li Muye, her brows slightly furrowed, "Qingning, why didn't you stop him?"

Her words carried a hint of reproach, making Song Qingning's heart tighten, causing a slight suffocation in his throat, and he lowered his head.

Seeing this, Li Muye exploded, "Are you senile? Can't you even tell who's close and who's not?"

Song Yi's mother's face immediately darkened.

Song Qingning hurriedly tried to pull him back, "Stop talking..."

Li Muye turned to him, "Isn't it true? You're their real son, yet they criticize you everywhere. How can parents act like this!"

With these words, the crowd erupted in shock.

At the buffet area, Ling Yun stopped eating the melon and slowly lifted her head.

What about not being born, who wasn't born?

Everyone present looked at Song Yi, thinking the same thing—

Wow, how outrageous! We love hearing this!

Only Qin Shiyao: "Fight! Fight!"

Song Yi, who usually cared about his reputation, felt unbearably uncomfortable under the scorching gazes.

Without the identity of the Song family's young master, he was just an ordinary person—or perhaps even less than that. At least an ordinary person wouldn't be mocked as a chicken pretending to be a phoenix.

Song Yi tried to hide his embarrassment, his face pale as he called out pitifully, "Dad, Mom."

This call angered Song Yi's father as well. He believed he had treated his biological son and adopted son equally well.

Even if he hadn't, it was his family matter. How dare a Li meddle in the affairs of the Songs? Who do you think you are?

Song Yi's father said sternly, "I don't know where you heard those rumors, but Song Yi and Song Qingning are both my sons, born of my blood."

Li Muye laughed as if hearing a great joke, "Then, would you dare to do a paternity test?"

Song Yi's father: "Why would I need a paternity test for the son I raised?"

Li Muye: "So, you won't do it!"

"Stop being unreasonable!"

"Would I be unreasonable if you weren't so cold and heartless? Bah, I'm not being unreasonable, but you are truly cold and heartless, mistaking fish eyes for pearls. If you're blind, go to the hospital for treatment."

Shen Tingzhou: ...

Although... has Li Muye gone off-topic?

He should be arguing with Song Yi's father about whether Song Yi is actually his biological son; instead, he should expose what Song Yi has done.

Shen Tingzhou tugged at Li Muye, trying to pull him back from this wild tangent.

But Li Muye, caught up in his heated argument with Song Yi's father, didn't pick up on Shen Tingzhou's signal.

Song Yi's father was so angry he nearly fainted, "You... even your own father wouldn't dare speak to me like that!"

Li Muye sneered, "Are you sure?"

In front of Li Jingchong, how many times had Song Yi's father not bowed low and behaved like a grandson?

Shen Tingzhou pinched him hard, trying to remind him.

Feeling the pain, Li Muye instinctively pushed away Shen Tingzhou's hand without thinking, "Doctor Shen, don't worry about it; my nose is fine."

Today, he was going to scold this old man into waking up and see if he dared to bully Brother Ning again!

Seeing Li Muye roll up his sleeves, ready to unleash his eloquence, Shen Tingzhou felt a sense of unease creeping in.

Something seemed to be approaching...

The next moment, the conference hall doors opened, and a man walked in.

Wearing a shirt, vest, and suit, with deep-set eyes and a stern expression, he looked every bit the domineering CEO, as if plucked straight from a novel.

It was Li Jinghang, Li Muye's older brother.

His arrival immediately deflated Song Yi's father's arrogance.

Unlike Li Muye, who only received dividends from the company, Li Jinghang had taken over the empire left by Li Jingchong and was also Song Yi's father's client.

Unexpectedly, Song Yi's father's face showed a subtle complexity at Li Jinghang's presence at the engagement party.

Li Jinghang had come directly from the airport and immediately noticed Song Qingning, whose clothes were disheveled and bore a footprint. His brows furrowed.

Taking a wet wipe from the table, Li Jinghang bent down to clean the mark on Song Qingning's clothes.

Song Qingning's breath hitched as she looked closely at Li Jinghang's deep-set eyes, turning her head slightly away.

Noticing Shen Tingzhou out of the corner of her eye, Song Qingning pushed Li Jinghang gently, "No, no need."

Li Jinghang naturally withdrew his hand and turned to look at the injured Li Muye, asking coldly, "What happened?"

Li Muye, indignant, replied, "They favor Song Yi again!"

Shen Tingzhou: ... The point isn't favoritism; the point is that Song Yi knew long ago that he wasn't their biological son!

Of course, favoritism is also despicable.

Li Jinghang's logic was clearly clearer than Li Muye's. He asked, "Just because of this?"

The Song couple's favoritism towards Song Yi wasn't new. If it were merely favoring the adopted son, it wouldn't have enraged Li Muye.

Li Muye's face went blank for a few seconds before he angrily said, "This Song Yi knew he wasn't the Song family's son. He did a paternity test three years ago."

Shen Tingzhou: Congratulations, finally remembered!

Qin Shiyao: "Fight! Fight!"

The onlookers' pupils widened in shock: Goodness!

The Song couple also trembled, looking at Song Yi in disbelief.

Song Yi panicked, sitting up abruptly, grabbing the Song couple's hands, "Mom, Dad, I really didn't know. They are slandering..."

Li Jinghang coldly interrupted, "If there's no evidence, my brother wouldn't say these things in such a situation!"

Li Muye's gaze flickered.

Actually, he had no evidence; he had just heard it from someone else.

Li Muye looked at the person who told him this, and the other person responded with a "everything is under control" smile.

It seemed like they had solid evidence!

Li Muye's confidence soared, and he sternly said, "That’s right. Would I be talking nonsense about something like this without absolute evidence?"

Seeing Li Muye so certain, Song Yi felt a chill run down his spine. No matter how thick-skinned he was, he crumbled in the face of irrefutable evidence.

But he still had to defend himself.

"I did know about it long ago," Song Yi stubbornly changed his tune, saying painfully, "I kept it from you because I didn’t want to leave this family, didn’t want to leave you all. I was afraid you wouldn’t want me anymore. During that time, I couldn’t sleep every day."

Just as the Song couple's eyes started to moisten, they heard Li Jinghang speak up.

He coldly said, "While you were parading around as the Song family’s eldest son, Qingning was living in the basement, working three jobs a day, forced to pay off her gambling father’s debts."

The Song couple: Their tears dried up instantly.

Li Muye, who had calmed down, became furious again due to Li Jinghang’s description of the miserable situation.

He glared at the Song couple and yelled, "He has suffered so much. Now that he’s finally home, you still won’t treat him properly."

Song Qingning didn’t feel wronged herself; she had gotten used to it over the years.

She had grown accustomed to enduring others’ cold gazes and bullying, silently bearing the hardships of life, and putting herself down in the dust.

Because no one stood up for her.

When she was young, she was falsely accused by classmates of stealing. In the scuffle, one of the children scraped their elbow.

The teacher asked them to bring their parents, but Song Qingning’s foster parents didn’t show up. She faced the angry parents alone.

From that moment on, she knew she didn’t have the right to cry or complain.

Looking at the two broad-shouldered men in front of her, Song Qingning’s eyes welled up with tears.

In fact, there had been someone who once stood in front of her, shielding her from the storms, but that person didn’t remember.

Noticing the stiff expressions of the Song couple, Song Yi thought it was bad and hastily said, "After I found out I wasn’t your biological child, I’ve been looking for Qingning. I planned to tell you once I found her..."

Li Jinghang asked, "You’ve been looking for her?"

Song Yi broke down, "Are you being polite? Always interrupting me!"

But facing Li Jinghang’s icy gaze, he swallowed his anger and lied, "Of course I’ve been looking, always looking."

He definitely hadn’t looked; he had barely managed to hide the truth, how could he have looked?

Shen Tingzhou thought he dared to make such a bold claim because he was sure Li Jinghang had no evidence.

This was like an idol who was rumored to be dating sending out a lawyer’s letter. It didn’t matter if outsiders believed it; what mattered was that the fans did.

Song Yi didn’t need Li Jinghang to believe him; what he truly cared about was the attitude of the Song couple.

Song Yi looked at the Song couple and said sincerely, "Mom and Dad have been so good to me. How could I bear to let your real child suffer outside?"

His skin was indeed thick, and his acting skills were genuinely good.

Hearing this, everyone present understood clearly.

No one believed Song Yi, except the Song couple...

Song’s mother held Song Yi’s hand, her wet eyes full of affection, "Good child, I raised you. You’ve always been kind-hearted. Your father and I both believe you."

This display of deep maternal love drew... ridicule from everyone.

A straightforward girl blurted out, "Wow, like brain-dead fans who believe anything blindly."

One dared to say it, and the other dared to believe it.

A rotten pot matched with a rotten lid.

Song Yi: ...

The Song couple: ...

Damn!

Li Muye was thoroughly frustrated by this blind and heartless couple. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to continue arguing, but Shen Tingzhou held him back.

Li Muye gave Shen Tingzhou a questioning look, What’s wrong, Dr. Shen?

Shen Tingzhou thought: With your inability to get to the point, it’s better to let your brother handle this.

Shen Tingzhou was right; Li Jinghang was indeed capable!

Li Jinghang calmly said, "If I didn’t have evidence, I wouldn’t say this."

Shen Tingzhou: As expected of the CEO of a listed company, lies come naturally.

Song Yi stiffened but quickly regained his composure, "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Li Jinghang’s next words completely shattered Song Yi’s feigned calmness.

Li Jinghang: "Three years ago, when you found out you weren’t the Song family’s child, you took things openly and secretly from the company and the family. Should I list them here one by one?"

Song Yi’s face turned ashen.

The Song couple's affection turned to shock and suspicion.

Indeed, although the previous Song Yi presented himself as a refined gentleman in public, he was actually somewhat rebellious, disregarding his family's objections to pursue an acting career in the entertainment industry.

Three years ago, he suddenly changed his stance, abandoning literature for business, and accepted his father's arrangement to join the company.

From that year onward, he became increasingly filial, coaxing his mother into transferring ownership of two properties to him and taking away many of his father's antiques and calligraphy pieces.

Seeing Song Yi's expression, it was clear that Li Jinghang had hit the nail on the head.

Shen Tingzhou first felt puzzled, then understood.

Li Jinghang probably didn't know about Song Yi's situation before this. He guessed Song Yi's actions based on human nature.

Someone as selfish as Song Yi, upon realizing he wasn't the Song family's son, would undoubtedly be terrified and start planning for his future.

With Li Jinghang's intelligence and reaction speed, how could Li Muye possibly outsmart him?

Shen Tingzhou gave him a sympathetic look.

Xiao Li, who was naive, was full of questions and sent a concerned inquiry, "What's wrong, Dr. Shen? Is your eye uncomfortable?"

Shen Tingzhou: ...

He was overthinking it. With Li Muye's brainpower... he would stubbornly crawl out of the pit his brother dug, fall back in, crawl out again, and fall back in...

If he encountered a soft-hearted deity, they might give in seeing him so pitiful.

Song Qingning...

seemed quite soft-hearted.

Come on, Xiao Li.

Shen Tingzhou patted Li Muye on the shoulder.

Li Muye remained confused; today's Dr. Shen seemed strange.

-

Song Yi couldn't understand why these people were so intent on breaking up their family.

Isn't everything fine as it is?

He was the pampered golden boy under the Song couple's care, while Song Qingning was the ugly duckling left outside, though she had shed her drab feathers and returned to the wealthy family, still vastly different from the swans among swans.

Only in this way could he marry Li Jingchong, who was twice his age, and preserve the Song family's reputation.

Song Yi grew up in the Song household, receiving elite education from the Song couple, excelling in both emotional and intellectual intelligence, and dating an outstanding fiancée with excellent background and appearance.

But Song Qingning was not like that; she was crude, short-sighted, and materialistic.

During the Song family's crisis, she turned to Li Jingchong, a man old enough to be her father.

This was the script fabricated by the Song couple!

And the truth behind their favoritism toward Song Yi!

They sold their daughter for glory but refused to admit it, thus neglecting and belittling Song Qingning.

They wanted the entire upper circle to know that the excellent Song Yi was their child, while Song Qingning was the stain on their family.

"Father, Mother," Song Yi raised his hand, sincerely assuring the Song couple, "I haven't done anything to betray you or the company."

The Song couple gritted their teeth but put on amiable smiles, "Both Father and Mother believe you."

See, they believe me.

They can only believe me!

Song Yi felt cold inside but showed a moved smile, embracing them and continuing the charade of a harmonious family.

Shen Tingzhou watched the inexplicable family, not understanding but respecting them.

Li Jinghang saw through everything; he could sanction them economically but couldn't force this hypocritical couple to reveal their true selves spiritually.

When someone has no bottom line, few can control them.

Even the furious Li Muye couldn't, only cursing inwardly at what a mess this was.

This absurd scene, however, calmed Song Qingning down.

She used to hope for her biological parents' love and married a man she had only met twice just to gain their approval.

Five minutes ago, she was still saddened by their favoritism, but now those feelings were gone.

A loud bang broke the eerie silence.

Everyone turned to see the source of the sound, only to find the other protagonist of the engagement party... smashing melons.

More accurately, smashing papayas.

Ling Yun, holding her beautiful dress, strode from the buffet area, with the crowd parting for her.

Not for any other reason, but mainly because Ling Yun's aura was too oppressive.

Shen Tingzhou saw hints of darkened eyeliner on her face, making her even more intimidating.

Seeing Ling Yun approach, Song Yi swallowed nervously and said, "Yunyun, I'm not the Song family's child, do you still want me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Yun slapped him hard across the face.

Shen Tingzhou wasn’t exaggerating; it was the first time he had seen someone get slapped so hard they flew like a spinning top.

Song Yi was stunned, staring blankly at Ling Yun.

Ling Yun slapped him again. "You kept it from me and now you dare to morally blackmail me!"

Song Yi spun around like a top once more.

Ling Yun: "I don’t care whose son you are. Even if you’re the Song family’s son, so what? My father is richer anyway."

The Song couple wanted to refute her, thinking that their family used to be powerful too. It was just that the recent years had been tough, but they would rise again.

But seeing Ling Yun's demeanor and Song Yi's face, they could only hold back their words.

"But you shouldn’t have deceived my feelings!"

Ling Yun raised her hand high and slapped Song Yi's terrified face, making him spin a full circle.

Song Yi’s face swelled up like an old pig, puffed out in a large circle.

Everyone present covered their faces, imagining Song Yi’s pain.

Shen Tingzhou winced and couldn’t help but marvel, “Qin Shiyao’s legs and Ling Yun’s slaps are no joke.”

Too terrifying!

"Three years ago, no matter how I pursued you, you were indifferent and preferred that singing little flower. I wondered why you suddenly started dating me. Turns out you found out you weren’t the Song family’s child and used me as a stepping stone!"

Song Yi’s mouth was filled with blood, his swollen cheeks squeezing his eyes into slits.

Shen Tingzhou struggled to see the lingering affection in his eyes.

Because Song Yi’s eyes were so narrow, the affection seemed as thin as paper.

He reached for Ling Yun’s hem, pleading, "Yunyun, I truly fell in love with you. I want nothing else but you. Don’t abandon me."

He really did love Ling Yun.

In the past, he thought Ling Yun was arrogant and ignored her pursuit.

Later, when he discovered his true identity, he lived in constant fear, unable to sleep. To avoid falling into obscurity, he began accepting Ling Yun.

At first, it was calculated, but eventually, the feelings became genuine.

Ling Yun was both angry and hurt. "I told you I didn’t care who you were. If you had been honest then, I would have believed anything you said. But now, I don’t believe a word."

Seeing Song Yi trying to grab her clothes, Ling Yun kicked him away. "Don’t touch my haute couture; you’re not worthy!"

Song Yi froze, his face showing a painful expression that couldn’t turn into tears.

He really couldn’t cry because his face was too sore to even wrinkle.

"And you!" Ling Yun’s fierce gaze turned to the Song couple.

The Song couple’s faces twitched, and they cried out, "You, you don’t come any closer!"

Seeing Ling Yun approaching them, the Song couple supported each other and ran forward.

It wasn’t that their legs were weak; they were simply too scared.

The Song couple called out to their nephew to stop Ling Yun, but who dared? That loud slap was terrifying.

Ling Yun blocked their path, her hair moving without wind, her face like a demon’s.

"Can’t your family’s issues be resolved behind closed doors? Today is my engagement party, and I am the main character! Me!"

...Turns out the real issue was being upstaged.

Shen Tingzhou could only say, typical of Qin Shiyao’s rival friend.

"Anyone who steals my spotlight dies!" Ling Yun crushed a papaya with her bare hands and slapped it onto Song Yi’s father’s face.

Perhaps never having experienced such humiliation, Song Yi’s father, drenched in papaya juice, wore an expression of utter devastation.

Wait!

Where did the papayas come from?

Watching Ling Yun continuously slap papayas onto Song Yi’s parents’ faces, Shen Tingzhou was puzzled.

Following Ling Yun’s hand, he saw Qin Shiyao hiding in the crowd, holding a pile of papayas, quickly and secretly supplying Ling Yun with "ammunition."

Shen Tingzhou: You’re going too far!

But, does this count as rivals becoming friends?

Just as Song Yi’s mother was about to scream, Ling Yun, using a move she had employed countless times, stuffed half a papaya into her mouth.

Song Yi’s mother: !

After using up all her "ammunition," Ling Yun removed her engagement ring and scanned the venue.

Finally, her gaze settled on the pitiful Song Yi, and she declared loudly, "Everyone has seen it. The Song family deceived me. From today onward, I have nothing to do with him. If I go back on my word, may I suffer the same fate as this ring."

Ling Yun clenched the diamond ring tightly and threw it into the trash bin.

Qin Shiyao led the applause. "Good! Ling Zhiruo, I’m proud of you."

Shen Tingzhou: ...

Everyone present: ...

Ling Yun's face instantly fell.

It was supposed to be a cool and suave exit, but with Qin Shiyao's interference, Ling Yun lost all her composure and reverted to elementary school bickering mode.

"Who asked you to be proud of me?"

"Isn't it good for me to be proud of you?"

"I don't want you to be proud of me!"

"But you were indeed quite proud today."

"... Of course! But I still don't want you to be proud of me; I don't care at all!"

"Oh, oh, oh."

"What are you 'oh'ing for? Let me tell you, Qin Shiyao, I'm the one who dumped him, not the other way around!"

The two of them bickered as they walked out of the venue, leaving everyone behind with disappointed smacks of their lips.

They hadn't had enough of Ling Yun's "miracle of strength" yet. Why did they leave?

Song Yi sat on the ground in a daze, while Song Yi's parents looked disheveled.

Who would have thought that it wasn't Li Family's domineering CEO who punished them, but Ling Yun, whom they had been eagerly hoping to marry into their family.

Song Qingning calmly watched the Song couple and Song Yi, feeling no emotional stirrings.

She shifted her gaze and said to Li Jinghang and Li Muye, "It's late. Let's go back."

Li Muye immediately responded, "I've been wanting to leave this lousy place for ages."

Li Muye eagerly stayed by Song Qingning's side, telling jokes to cheer her up. In the end, he couldn't help but say fiercely, "Today was Song Yi's lucky day. I don't hit sick people, but when he gets better, I'll break his leg."

Song Qingning showed concern, "Don't fight."

She wasn't worried about Song Yi; she was afraid something serious might happen, ruining Li Muye's future.

Li Jinghang listened to their conversation without showing any emotion, glancing at the Song couple before leaving.

When they caught his gaze, the Song couple shuddered, feeling a sudden fear. Just as they were about to speak, Li Jinghang had already left.

-

Shen Tingzhou had arrived in Qin Shiyao's car, and now she had left with Ling Yun.

Li Muye offered to drive him home, but Shen Tingzhou didn't want to get involved in a messy situation. He grabbed Qin Si and said, "He said he'd drive me home."

Qin Si snorted lightly.

After they left, Qin Si said, "I told you she's unreliable, didn't I?"

Shen Tingzhou didn't know what grudge Qin Si held against Qin Shiyao, but over such a trivial matter, Qin Si kept nagging the whole way.

Shen Tingzhou couldn't help but ask, "Are you secretly in love with her?"

Qin Si immediately shut up, fearing Shen Tingzhou might say more nonsense.

Satisfied, Shen Tingzhou closed his eyes to rest. When they reached his house, he thanked Qin Si, "Drive safely."

This engagement banquet ended abruptly, and Shen Tingzhou had been hungry ever since. After returning, he went to the kitchen to make himself a bowl of noodles.

After lunch, with nothing else to do at home, Shen Tingzhou drove to see the cats.

He bought a lot of new toys for the cats and carried them to the villa.

Xu Xun was at work today, so Shen Tingzhou set up the cat tree while chatting with the Steward, who was trimming the potted plants.

Two hours ago, Ling Yun had just broken things off with Song Yi, and the news had already reached the Steward.

While trimming excess branches, the Steward said, "Looks like we won't be attending their wedding after all."

Shen Tingzhou: "Did you receive an invitation?"

Steward: "Yes."

Shen Tingzhou: ... Indeed, they were half of the wedding world.

The Steward moved some velvet flowers indoors, and Shen Tingzhou stopped his work to help.

Looking at the row of small white hydrangea-like flowers, Shen Tingzhou was surprised, "Why so many?"

The Steward smiled, "These flowers symbolize good luck and eternal changelessness. They will be used at your wedding."

Shen Tingzhou was taken aback and then shook his head helplessly, "We haven't even started anything yet."

"Love is unpredictable," the Steward said while arranging the small flowers. "One day there's no interest, the next day there's love."

That feeling of inexplicable awe again.

Shen Tingzhou lowered his head to smell the small flowers, their soft petals brushing against his nose, filling his senses with a sweet fragrance.

-

When Xu Xun returned, the big tabby cat was sharpening its claws on the cat tree Shen Tingzhou had built.

The little silver tabby was nestled in Shen Tingzhou's lap, exposing its soft belly.

Shen Tingzhou smiled gently, scratching the silver tabby's belly, making the kitten purr contentedly.

Xu Xun looked for a moment, then walked over and moved the cat away, lying down on Shen Tingzhou's lap.

Shen Tingzhou: ?

Xu Xun, looking up at Shen Tingzhou with a straight face, showed no guilt for taking over the territory.

Shen Tingzhou hesitantly asked, "Tired from work?"

Xu Xun closed his eyes. "Yeah, headache, feeling annoyed."

Shen Tingzhou placed his hand on Xu Xun's temples and began to massage him.

The Steward approached with a tray. "Doctor Shen, have some tea."

Xu Xun slowly opened his eyes and looked at him, but the Steward seemed oblivious, smiling just the right amount.

The Steward said gently, "Doctor Shen, could I trouble you with a favor?"

Shen Tingzhou instinctively sat up straighter. "Please go ahead."

The Steward: "We have a few walls infested with termites. I've scheduled pest control workers, and they say it's a big job. Could you take in our young master for two days? If it's too much trouble, forget it."

Shen Tingzhou: "Not at all, when?"

"Tomorrow."

"Alright, what about the cat?"

The Steward smiled lightly. "The cat isn't that pampered."

Who was he implying? Shen Tingzhou didn't say anything, just glanced sideways.

Pampered, Xu Xun asked with a flat expression, "Can we leave today?"

They couldn't leave today because Shen Tingzhou had a case.

Li Muye called, and as soon as Shen Tingzhou answered, he received shocking news.

"Doctor Shen, my father is still alive."

Shen Tingzhou: ?

Shen Tingzhou: !!

Mr. Li was actually alive?

Li Muye's voice was tense, seemingly at a loss. "Doctor Shen, can you come over?"

This...

He could go, but Li Muye's family situation was already complicated enough. Adding him wouldn't make it even more chaotic!