Chapter 219: Born with a Screw Loose

The implication was clear. The person who was supposed to apologize hadn’t said a word, so what was the point of him stepping in?

Director Cheng immediately shot Yang Lei a look, and it was as sharp as a knife.

He was so exasperated with him.

Yang Lei hemmed and hawed for a long moment. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his fingers clenched and unclenched before he finally managed to force out the words.

“Um… I’m really sorry about the other day. It’s my fault for not keeping He Wei in line… I’ll be sure to discipline her when we get home. She’ll never do it again. You’re a bigger person, so please don’t take it to heart.”

Wu Xin quickly chimed in.

“Right, right! There was no malice intended, really. It’s just that Xiao Wei mentioned you had moved in, so I thought we’d stop by for a friendly chat, get to know each other a little…”

Song Yao let out a laugh.

“Your family has a… unique way of making friendly conversation, doesn’t it?”

“Is blaming the victim a family tradition?”

The smile on Wu Xin’s face froze on the spot.

He Wei’s face immediately darkened.

But Song Yao just laughed even harder.

“What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t you say you came to say hello?”

Director Cheng’s tone was tense, his brow furrowed deeply.

“Well then, I’m just returning the greeting to ‘Auntie’ here!”

Director Cheng slapped his thigh and barked, “If you’re not going to apologize, then get out! We’re at this point, and you still won’t admit you’re wrong?”

“Still trying to pass the buck?”

He gestured vaguely with his finger in Wu Xin’s direction.

“Then what did you come here for?”

His voice fell, but he didn’t wait for a response.

It finally dawned on him.

He finally understood why Song Yao had cut him off right from the start.

And why she had immediately wanted to kick them out.

“Go on, get out! All of you! We’ll handle what comes next according to regulations!”

Now that Director Cheng had truly lost his temper, Wu Xin instantly backed down.

“Oh, Director, please, no! It’s not that we won’t apologize! We will! We’ll do it right now!”

She started bowing repeatedly toward Song Yao’s bedside.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! This mouth of mine… I swear I was born without a filter. The moment I open it, the wrong words just come out!”

She raised a hand as if to slap herself, but pulled it back halfway, instead bowing at a full ninety-degree angle.

“My brain must be full of water, my heart coated in lard! I just spout nonsense! Please, don’t lower yourself to my level, I beg you, please don’t…”

As she spoke, she pushed her daughter He Wei’s shoulder, forcefully shoving her toward Song Yao.

“Quick, bow! Apologize to her, quickly!”

While forcefully pressing down on the nape of He Wei’s neck, Wu Xin spoke up before her daughter had a chance.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, truly! Xiao Wei is so undisciplined. I’ve failed as a mother. I’ll be sure to give her a harsh lecture when we get back and teach her a lesson she won’t forget!”

Held by the waist and her shoulder twisted, He Wei was forced to give Song Yao three deep bows.

When she straightened up, she looked up right into Song Yao’s mocking gaze.

Song Yao barely lifted her eyelids, her gaze settling calmly on He Wei’s face.

He Wei felt a sting in her nose and her eyes instantly reddened. She whirled around and bolted out the door, losing a shoe in her haste.

Director Cheng opened his mouth, about to try and smooth things over, but Song Yao simply held up a hand.

“Alright, alright. The sentiment has been received. Let’s consider this matter closed.”

“From now on, just don’t come looking for trouble with me again.”

“If there’s a second time…”

She trailed off, her expression hardening and her gaze turning frosty.

Hearing this, Wu Xin immediately began nodding and bowing.

“We wouldn’t dare! We really wouldn’t! From now on, Xiao Wei will be sure to give you a wide berth!”

“Then you should rest well, take care of yourself!”

As she said this, she had already turned and was walking quickly towards the door.

Before the words were even fully out of her mouth, she had already bolted, disappearing faster than a rabbit.

Director Cheng and Yang Lei also followed them out the door.

Once everyone had left, Li Hanchen’s brow was furrowed so tightly you could have crushed a mosquito in it.

“That’s it? Aren’t you letting them off a little too easy?”

It wasn’t that he felt sorry for He Wei; he was furious that Song Yao had been wronged and couldn’t stand to let it go.

Song Yao waved her hand.

“I was just acting! I’m pretty convincing as a sick person, don’t you think?”

She raised her hand to feel her own forehead, then winked at him.

“Even you were convinced, which just goes to show how good my performance was.”

“Besides, even a cornered cat will show its claws.”

She paused, her fingers lightly tapping her temple.

“I have no intention of just taking abuse without fighting back.”

“This was perfect. Someone like He Wei is proud to her very core; her reputation is more valuable to her than her life. Being forced by her mother to bow to me today… from now on, she’ll probably want to disappear into a crack in the wall whenever she sees me.”

Li Hanchen looked down at her, his voice low.

“Don’t worry. She won’t be around for much longer.”

“Huh?”

Song Yao tilted her head, looking at him.

He reached out and gently tapped the tip of her nose.

“After causing such a huge mess, her disciplinary action was decided long ago. They’re just waiting for a formal reason to start the process.”

Song Yao nodded.

“That works too. I don’t like running into her every day either.”

She pulled down her sleeve, covering a small section of her wrist.

“A little peace and quiet would be nice.”

Once He Wei’s matter was settled, Song Yao moved back into the family apartment building.

She had just reached the ground floor when she saw several of the other wives from the building gathered under a shady tree, chatting while watching their children.

Seeing her return, the women immediately smiled and gathered around, greeting her one after another.

Song Yao also smiled and replied, exchanging a few polite pleasantries.

She had assumed it would just be a quick greeting and a few polite words.

But she had just reached the second floor when she heard a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK at the door.

After that, people started arriving in waves.

They came in pairs or groups of three, all carrying gifts:

They’d step inside and say one thing: “Something to help Song Yao recover. Make sure you eat it!”

And with that, they would turn to leave.

Song Yao, with her large belly, hurried to the door. She steadied herself with one hand on the frame while the other reached out uselessly.

All she could do was gaze at the room full of thoughtful gifts, sighing in bewilderment.

This was exactly what she had been afraid of, and why she’d kept her identity under wraps.

But as it turned out, some secrets were impossible to keep.

A short while later, Yang Wanqing appeared downstairs, supported by her household helper as she ambled over.

Looking up, she saw the packages piled up like a small mountain at Song Yao’s door, and Yang Wanqing was stunned for a moment.

“Oh my, what’s… what’s all this?”

Song Yao quickly explained what had happened.

Yang Wanqing waved a dismissive hand, chuckling. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just little things from the neighbors. Don’t feel burdened by it, just accept them.”

“We’re all neighbors, we see each other every day. Everyone has times when they’re in a tight spot. It’s perfectly normal to lend a helping hand.”

‘Besides, this lets everyone know the score.’

‘This girl has powerful people backing her. It’ll keep any other clueless troublemakers from showing up.’

Yang Wanqing had also brought Xiao Xiao along with her, and they came bearing several bags of food.

They had a lively, home-cooked meal and didn’t leave until the sun was about to set.

That evening, Li Hanchen came in the door, saying as he changed into slippers, “My mom just called. She said her work has eased up, and she wants to come stay for a few days.”

Song Yao was in the middle of peeling an apple, the knife gliding smoothly along the skin. She nodded as soon as she heard him.

“Of course. When is Mom planning to leave? I’ll get things ready.”

“I’ll call again tomorrow to get a firm date.”

Li Hanchen rubbed the back of his neck.

‘In truth, no date had been set at all.’

‘He was just hesitant about this point and hadn’t dared to make the final decision himself.’

The weather got muggier by the day, and Song Yao hardly ever ran into He Wei anymore.

Wei Guilan said she was coming, but she delayed for half a month before actually setting off.

And before that, Director He had already persuaded He Wei to resign.

The old man sat behind his desk, sighing.

“Your belly is about to start showing, and I’m worried sick looking at it every day! If you were to trip or bump into something, I couldn’t bear the responsibility.”

He paused, then pushed the temporary employment contract on his desk to the side.