Chapter 40: Slowly Settling Accounts With Her

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Slowly Settling Accounts With Her

Cheng Hai grew anxious and forcefully pressed the box back into her hands.

"Don’t overthink it! In our eyes, you’re still our princess! You couldn’t make it back from Yunhai, so we’re making it up to you with a special birthday party."

Just then, Yao Yuzhen walked in, carrying a freshly boiled kettle.

She happened to overhear them, her steps faltering for a moment before a smile appeared on her face.

"Xiao Cheng, you’re so thoughtful."

As she spoke, she walked over and casually stroked Shen Shuangshuang’s hair, her gaze soft.

"I was also thinking about your birthday. Since your friends want to celebrate, why don’t we host a birthday tea party at our house? We can all get together and have a good time."

Shen Shuangshuang’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Really, Mom? But... won’t it be too conspicuous? It’s been several days since my birthday."

"What’s there to be conspicuous about?"

Yao Yuzhen waved her hand dismissively, her expression nonchalant.

"This is the perfect opportunity for me to make things clear, lest some fools listen to the rumors outside and start treating some impostor from the countryside like a treasured jewel."

As soon as she said this, both Shen Shuangshuang and Cheng Hai felt a surge of satisfaction.

"Aunt Zhen, don’t you worry. We’ll all be there on that day, every single one of us!"

Cheng Hai patted his chest, guaranteeing it.

"Well, well, what’s all the happy chatter about? Let me join in on the fun."

Just as he was speaking, Song Yao swaggered in.

The atmosphere in the room instantly went cold.

Cheng Hai shot to his feet, his expression immediately darkening.

"How did you get in?"

Song Yao gave him a look of disbelief.

"How else would I get in? Through the front door, of course. I’m not some thief who scales walls. Did you expect me to climb in?"

"Is Wu Yufeng getting paid to do nothing?"

Cheng Hai’s temper flared, and his voice rose a notch.

"Oh? So it was you who told Wu Yufeng to stop me?"

Song Yao raised an eyebrow, the corner of her lip curling into a cold sneer.

"Cheng Hai, let’s get something straight. Your surname is Cheng. This family has absolutely nothing to do with you, right? Since when was it your place to give orders here?"

Her gaze shifted to Shen Shuangshuang beside him, and she let out a cold laugh.

"Or is it that you two have already been conspiring behind the scenes, which is why you’re bold enough to act all high and mighty in front of me?"

"Shut up!"

Yao Yuzhen’s face was ashen as she stared daggers at Song Yao.

Shen Shuangshuang’s eyes reddened, tears welling up.

"Song Yao, what gives you the right to spout such nonsense about me and Brother Cheng? What are you trying to do? This is my house, and Brother Cheng is my friend. Even if you are Dad’s goddaughter, you have no right to boss people around here!"

Song Yao ignored her completely, her gaze fixed squarely on Yao Yuzhen’s face.

"I heard my dad mention that this house was passed down from the Shen Family ancestors. The property deed is registered in the old master’s name and hasn’t been changed. Legally speaking, the right of disposal still belongs to the original owner."

"In other words, the one who calls the shots in this house is still my dad. And as it happens, before he left, he specifically instructed that after I came home, my word would be even more powerful than his."

"You say I’m cursing people out? Who else should be cursing if not me? I was blocked at the door and couldn’t get in, of course I’m going to be pissed! I’ll yell at whoever gets in my way, and you’re telling me to shut up? Who the hell do you think you are? I think you should be the one shutting up first."

Yao Yuzhen was so angry her temples throbbed, and her vision started to go black.

Usually, she was the one who left others feeling suffocated, but every time she ran into Song Yao, it was like lighting a powder keg—it exploded at the slightest touch.

The feeling of being completely suppressed made her hands and feet go cold.

"Mom, what’s wrong?"

Seeing her mother’s face turn pale and her whole body start to sway, Shen Shuangshuang quickly rushed forward to support her.

"Mom! Don’t scare me! Sit down, I’ll go get a doctor!"

Seeing this, Cheng Hai’s face darkened. He strode forward a few steps and kicked over the small tea table beside them.

"Get the hell out! Who do you think you are, you country bumpkin, to throw a tantrum here? Do you really think you’re the great Miss Shen? Get out! Or I’ll throw you out myself!"

Instead of backing down, Song Yao took a step forward, facing Cheng Hai directly.

"And if I don’t ’get out’? What are you going to do to me? Call the police? Or get physical? Go on, you can try."

Her gaze swept over his waist, where a bulge was visible, the faint outline of a holster showing through his clothes.

A glint flashed in Song Yao’s eyes. The corner of her mouth lifted as she deliberately provoked him.

"You’ve got guts. Why don’t you try and kill me? If you don’t dare, then your precious Shuangshuang is going to have a hard time in the future. The days are long. You can protect her for a moment, but you can’t protect her for a lifetime. I have all the time in the world to settle this score."

When Cheng Hai heard this, his mind went blank with rage.

He might be wary of others, but what was there to fear from Song Yao’s small frame?

He whipped out his weapon.

"Cheng Hai!"

Xiao Li barked, his left hand already clamping firmly onto Cheng Hai’s wrist.

Cheng Hai snapped back to his senses, only to see that Xiao Li had already raised a weapon and was pointing it at his forehead.

In an instant, cold sweat soaked his back!

The damp chill shot up his spine to the crown of his head, making his scalp tingle with fear.

Shen Shuangshuang bit her lip, her brows knitting together, feeling both angry and annoyed.

Her eyes darted toward Cheng Hai, as if she could push him forward with her gaze alone.

’Cheng Hai, just do it already!’

’You’re so close to Song Yao! You could totally take her down before Xiao Li even makes a move!’

All sorts of possibilities flashed through her mind.

’As long as Cheng Hai moves fast enough, he can definitely turn the tables.’

’As for whether he’ll die?’

She didn’t even consider that question.

In her eyes, Cheng Hai was just a useful tool. As long as he was effective, he wasn’t worth any genuine concern.

"Cheng Hai, you dare to move against me? It seems you don’t have much respect for Mr. Shen."

Song Yao’s tone was gentle when she spoke, and there was even a faint smile on her face.

"I wonder, are you part of the force? An act like this could probably earn you a disciplinary record, couldn’t it?"

As she spoke, she glanced down at her fingernails.

"Cheng Hai is not."

Xiao Li added in a cold voice, his weapon still aimed steadily at Cheng Hai.

Song Yao nodded in mock realization.

"No wonder you’re waving that weapon around like it’s a toy. Turns out there’s no one to discipline you, huh?"

The moment she finished speaking, her smile vanished, and her eyes grew sharp.

"So where exactly did you get that weapon?"

Song Yao turned her head, a smile on her face again.

"Xiao Li, I’m just a country girl, I don’t know much. Why don’t you tell me, if someone uses one of these to threaten people, what kind of law would they be breaking?"

Xiao Li’s gaze turned icy, his eyes fixed on Cheng Hai.

"Enough to land him in jail."

CLANG! The weapon that had been held high just moments ago now lay quietly on the floor.

The safety was still on. It was obvious he was just posturing to scare her.

"Li Hanchen... I really didn’t mean it. I was just trying to scare her, just kidding around. No need to be so serious, right?"

As he spoke, Cheng Hai secretly tried to edge backward, wanting to create some distance.

Xiao Li’s muzzle didn’t move. His voice was as hard as iron.

"I was assigned by my superior to protect the young miss. Your actions just now constituted a threat. It’s a good thing I was quick to stop you, otherwise who would take responsibility if something happened? Don’t try to brush this off by calling it a ’misunderstanding’."

At these words, the color drained from Cheng Hai’s face.

Seeing Cheng Hai’s pathetic state, Yao Yuzhen’s brow furrowed deeply.

’What a useless piece of trash!’

’I was counting on him to stick up for me and Shuangshuang, but he ended up being a burden instead.’

But she couldn’t swallow this humiliation either.

Some wild girl from the outside not only waltzes into the house but also acts this arrogant?