Chapter 123: What Is This Birth Mother’s Game?

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: What Is This Birth Mother’s Game?

What he had told Shen Shuangshuang at the time was this.

"Shen Zhenwu isn’t an impulsive man. His feelings for Yu Zhen won’t be so easily severed."

Now, facing Yao Yuzhen, he changed his tune in an instant.

But unfortunately, his words struck a chord deep in Yao Yuzhen’s heart.

Her nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face.

"His whole family is the same! One face in public, another in private. They’re better actors than opera singers, but they’re all empty shells inside!"

Ruan Yongxing immediately took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.

"Yu Zhen, don’t cry! He’s just a scumbag."

Seeing she had someone to back her up, Yao Yuzhen began to speak between sobs.

"If it hadn’t been for that whole mess back then, would I have been muddle-headed enough to marry him? Living with a man like that has wasted half my life!"

Ruan Yongxing sighed softly.

"Yu Zhen, you really got a raw deal."

She sobbed for another moment, then suddenly raised a hand to wipe her face.

"Alright, alright, let’s not talk about it. Let’s turn the page."

"Yongxing, the reason I asked you here today is, actually..."

Yao Yuzhen pursed her lips.

"Right now, the entire Shen family is utterly bewitched by that little wench. Even Shen Zhenwu is on her side, protecting her without asking any questions. If this goes on, I’m afraid Shuangshuang won’t even have a voice in the Shen family."

"Besides... about that incident back then..."

Ruan Yongxing cut in directly.

"Make her leave. The sooner, the better."

"Leave?"

Yao Yuzhen was taken aback.

’That’s easy for you to say, but where would she go?’

Ruan Yongxing nodded.

"Yes, leave. Get her out of Beijing."

"Why does the Shen family dote on her so much? Isn’t it just because of the novelty of finding what was lost? They feel like they owe her and would do anything to make it up to her, heaping every good thing on her."

"Because of that, Shuangshuang has naturally become a stumbling block."

"But in the end, that girl didn’t grow up in the Shen family. Her own parents have barely held her. How could their bond be that deep? As long as she’s out of sight, given time, their feelings will naturally fade."

Yao Yuzhen pondered for a moment, her fingertips tapping on the table.

A moment later, she nodded.

"That makes sense. But how do we make her leave?"

"She has work here, and she’s pregnant. The old madam has already said she wants her to rest here through her pregnancy, her postpartum confinement, and give birth."

When Ruan Yongxing heard this, his brow furrowed.

"She’s pregnant?"

"Heh, she must be after the Shen family’s money, right?"

"It’s true that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I didn’t expect her to be so greedy to the bone."

"In that case, you need to act fast."

"Otherwise, I’m really afraid you and Shuangshuang won’t be able to win against her. You two are too straightforward, not cunning enough."

"Here’s the plan..."

He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and whispered the details into Yao Yuzhen’s ear, one by one.

Yao Yuzhen listened very attentively.

After he finished speaking, she nodded emphatically.

Ruan Yongxing slapped his thighs and stood up.

"It’s already dark, I should get going. I have a day off in two days. If you and Shuangshuang still haven’t gone back to the Shen family, I’ll come visit you again."

Yao Yuzhen got up to see him to the door.

"It’s windy outside. Make sure you dress warmly and drive carefully."

Ruan Yongxing waved.

"Don’t worry. You should get back inside too, don’t catch a cold."

Once his back had completely disappeared down the hallway, he let out a long sigh.

’To be honest, his heart was pounding.’

’He’d been afraid Yao Yuzhen would impulsively ask him to stay for dinner, or even for the night...’

’If that happened, he’d have had to come up with ten lies on the spot to get out of it.’

’Luckily, his luck was good.’

’Yao Yuzhen might be muddle-headed, but she was very particular about keeping up appearances.’

’Ruan Yongxing knew perfectly well that as long as he didn’t make the first move, she’d have to suppress that impulsive streak of hers.’

On the third day after leaving home, Yao Yuzhen suddenly called Song Yao and asked to meet her alone.

Shen Songyao was completely baffled.

’What is my dear biological mother up to now?’

Seeing Song Yao frowning in a daze, Yang Wanqing came over and asked.

"Who’s looking for you?"

Song Yao answered honestly.

"My mom."

"Your mom? Yao Yuzhen?"

"Yes."

Song Yao nodded.

Yang Wanqing was puzzled.

"Why would she suddenly think to call you?"

Song Yao was just as clueless.

"How should I know..."

"What did she say?"

"Just that she wants me to go see her tomorrow."

"See her? For what?"

Song Yao spread her hands.

"She didn’t say!"

Yang Wanqing immediately patted her chest.

"Don’t worry, Grandma will go with you tomorrow!"

Song Yao immediately nodded vigorously.

"Okay! I’ll listen to Grandma!"

The words had barely left her mouth when the phone started to RING, RING, RING.

Song Yao casually picked it up and answered.

"Hello?"

"Song Yao?"

It was Shen Rongdan’s voice.

"Yeah, it’s me."

On the other end, Shen Rongdan immediately beamed with joy.

"Oh! You’re home?"

"We’re back! Right after you saw Li Hanchen off, Auntie got worried about me commuting by bus, so she insisted on having me, Grandma, and Grandpa move back into the old residence. Now Big Brother’s and Dad’s security guards drive me every day."

Shen Rongdan declared it was the perfect setup.

"No wonder Li Hanchen called the house so many times and no one answered! He was worried sick!"

Song Yao gave an embarrassed smile.

"Oh... I forgot to let you guys know."

Just as she finished speaking, the person on the other end of the line was abruptly replaced.

Hearing that voice, Song Yao subconsciously tightened her grip on the receiver.

"Um... you made it to Ning City?"

"We did. We got into the city the night before last. I was busy reporting on my work all day yesterday and couldn’t get away. When I called you last night, no one answered, so I thought you were all asleep."

"No, no, we came back on the day you all left."

"Are you settling in okay?"

Li Hanchen asked.

Song Yao hummed softly in affirmation.

She didn’t mention the mess with Yao Yuzhen and Shen Shuangshuang at all.

They were so far apart; there was no point in telling him. It would only make him worry.

There was no need.

On his end, Li Hanchen started talking about his own family’s affairs.

"My mom called. She said Liu Yumin and the others were taken away by the police. Shen Yujie is going around yelling that I was the one behind it and even came to our house to cause a scene. Everyone at home knows now that you’re not the Song family’s biological daughter. I’ve explained the whole story to my mom."

"She wants to come to Beijing to see you, but I told her you’re still here and won’t be back for a while. She agreed right away. It’s just as well, since my sister-in-law had a miscarriage and they need people at home."

"Wu Xixi had a miscarriage?"

Song Yao was stunned, her voice rising half an octave.

On the other end of the line, Li Hanchen paused for two seconds before continuing.

"Yeah. It was the day Shen Yujie came over. When my sister-in-law got home, somehow, the baby was gone."

Shen Songyao opened her mouth, but couldn’t think of what to say, so she just said what was on her mind.

"Tell Mom not to worry about me."

"Done! I told her you’re pregnant, and she was over the moon."

Wei Guilan really was overjoyed.

She had already resigned herself to fate, but when she heard her daughter-in-law was expecting, her hand trembled so much she almost crushed the phone.

"She’s pregnant? That’s wonderful! Truly wonderful! Now our lives can finally feel settled!"

"When is Song Yao coming back? You call me again, and I’ll head into the city right away to see you two lovebirds!"

She didn’t even bother to eat dinner, just sat by the stove waiting for Li Hanchen to call back.

But Li Hanchen didn’t dump all of this on Song Yao at once.

Song Yao responded brightly.

"Okay!"

Li Hanchen had wanted to chat a bit more, but he glanced at his watch and quickly changed his tune.

"Alright, I’ll call you back later!"

"You got it!"

After saying that, Song Yao hung up.