Chapter 51: This Time, She Is Not Afraid

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: This Time, She Is Not Afraid

Rumors about this had been circulating for a while, but no one had dared to say anything to her face.

Besides, these people had no connection to Song Yao whatsoever; they had barely even met her a few times.

The other day, Song Yao was called in at the last minute just to make an appearance. Out of more than thirty people there, no more than five had actually spoken to her.

Let them laugh if they wanted. She didn’t live off their approval, and that wasn’t why she was here anyway.

After listening, Song Yao lifted her gaze and winked at Xiao Li.

Xiao Li understood instantly.

A crowd had formed a circle around her, staring, but she acted as if nothing was wrong.

"So what if I’m shameless? It’s hardly a rare condition. What’s truly laughable are the ones who do something wrong and then play dead, hoping to get away with it."

"Well now, Comrade Ji Xianbei. Are you really a man’s man? You were so impressive that night, using every trick in the book on me! But... your fighting skills are frankly a bit pathetic."

On the surface, Cheng Hai and Ji Xianbei were thick as thieves, backing Shen Shuangshuang and putting down Song Yao together.

But if you thought about it, the two were competing so hard for favor they were green with envy. Who really considered the other an ally?

So, the moment he heard Song Yao tear Ji Xianbei to shreds, Cheng Hai couldn’t hold it in. "Hahaha... Ji Xianbei, are you even capable?"

He forcefully swallowed the second half of his sentence. If he said any more, wouldn’t that be as good as admitting she was telling the truth?

That would give the whole game away.

Ji Xianbei’s smile vanished.

"I have no idea what kind of crap you’re spouting. But let me remind you, Beijing isn’t a place for you to run wild. Anyone you pick out from here could make you regret it. Me included."

As soon as he said this, many people nearby nodded in agreement.

Song Yao?

A girl who just popped up from some dirt hill in the countryside dared to act so arrogantly here?

What gave her the right to be so brazen?

The crowd murmured, "What was Mr. Shen thinking? Bringing someone like her home to be his goddaughter?"

"Don’t tell me all those years of fighting messed with his head..."

"Keep it down! Don’t make wild guesses!"

Song Yao slowly scanned every face.

She knew very well that this was a battle she still had to fight alone.

But this time, she wasn’t afraid.

It was different from her past life.

She had powerful backing!

All that effort she went through to get close to him, risking her life to take a blade for her convenient new dad—what was it all for?

Wasn’t it precisely so she could stand tall today and settle these old scores, one by one?

Her expression didn’t change. She opened her mouth and repeated every single word Ling Qinghan and Ji Xianbei had said in the car that night.

Everyone’s expressions changed instantly.

All eyes shot to Ji Xianbei, pinning him in place.

Then, they slowly shifted to Ling Qinghan, who had appeared by the door at some point.

Ji Xianbei’s face turned green.

’This Song Yao... how does she remember everything?’

’And in such perfect detail?!’

That incident had happened over half a month ago.

But Song Yao was recounting it like a recording.

He froze, not daring to move, just staring at Song Yao as if she were a ghost that had suddenly materialized.

But Song Yao didn’t look at him. Instead, she slowly turned her head to face the young man at the door.

She recognized him at a glance.

She would never forget that face, even if she were burned to ashes.

"Comrade Ling Qinghan."

Her voice was soft but every word was clear. "You were the one who dragged me out of the car that night. I never had the chance to thank you in person. Now that everyone’s here, can you tell us what really happened?"

At her words, every eye in the room swiveled to focus on Ling Qinghan.

Ling Qinghan didn’t say a word. He just stood there, quietly watching Song Yao.

A chill went through Song Yao’s heart.

’But she’d expected as much.’

From the moment Ji Xianbei had walked in, she knew this confrontation wouldn’t be fair.

She hadn’t been counting on anyone else to speak up for her.

"Oh, my, what a scene we’re making for everyone!"

A voice, gentle yet firm, drifted in.

Yao Yuzhen walked slowly into the center of the room, her skirt swaying gently.

"Shuangshuang’s god-sister here has quite the imagination. She spins a tale more dramatic than a movie."

Someone in the crowd immediately chimed in with a laugh.

"Our military folk have discipline etched into their bones. How could they possibly do something like that?"

"Ji Xianbei grew up with my kid. We all know what kind of person he is."

Shen Shuangshuang also pushed her way to the front, her voice rising. "Comrade Song Yao! Dad was injured because of you, and we have always treated you with respect. But you’re getting more and more out of line! Last time you set up Sheng Hui at the Special Operations Department, and now you’re publicly framing Ji Xianbei for murder!"

"Could she be a spy sent here?"

"Exactly! She’s specifically targeting good people and trying to destroy them!"

"Why is the leader still keeping her around? Don’t tell me he’s been completely fooled?"

Yao Yuzhen took half a step forward and dabbed the corner of her eye. "You all don’t know... For years, Shen and I have spent more time apart than together. He’s never been able to get over the matter of Shuangshuang’s birth. He says the child was swapped at birth, but the truth is..."

She choked up, and a tear rolled down, landing on the back of her hand.

The onlookers held their breath.

Everyone wanted to know what secret the rest of that sentence held.

"Sister Yu Zhen, stop wiping your tears! If you’re in trouble, let’s clear it up right here. If Mr. Shen is really treating you badly, we sisters won’t just stand by. We’ll say what needs to be said and fight for what’s right, no question!"

A group of old military wives, who had been holding down the fort for decades, all slapped their thighs and stood up.

"That’s right! Yu Zhen, don’t be afraid of him! With all of us backing you, even Shen Zhenwu has to listen to reason! He might be a leader, but he’s still part of our community!"

Listening to the cacophony of support filling the room, Song Yao almost burst out laughing.

’These people don’t even know the first thing about the situation, and they’re already grabbing their pitchforks?’

Who in the Beijing compounds didn’t know how Shen Zhenwu treated Yao Yuzhen?

The man wasn’t some iron-willed tough guy; he was a bona fide henpecked husband!

Just then, Shen Shuangshuang moved closer, murmuring softly, "Mom, have some water first. Let me massage your temples..."

Sobbing, Yao Yuzhen finally stopped crying.

"This was supposed to be a private family matter, and I shouldn’t be airing it out. But ever since Shen was transferred to Nanhui, wild rumors have been spreading... Since everyone’s here today, I might as well set the record straight once and for all!"

She grabbed Shen Shuangshuang’s hand and pulled her to the very front of the crowd.

"Shuangshuang is my and Shen’s biological daughter, our one and only! All those rumors about a real and fake heiress are complete nonsense. The truth is, Shen was saved by Comrade Song Yao years ago, and out of genuine gratitude, he took her in as his goddaughter. Who would have thought..."

Yao Yuzhen’s gaze was like a nail, boring straight into Song Yao.

Shen Shuangshuang immediately picked up where she left off. "Who would have thought that someone would use my dad’s name to run wild all over Beijing! Director Sheng saw that something was wrong, and that’s why he had her brought into the Special Operations Department for a background check."

"My dad values loyalty and was temporarily blinded by his debt of gratitude. Director Sheng was just worried he’d fall into a trap and be used as someone’s pawn!"

"My dad... he looks at me like I’m a stranger now. To protect this person, he won’t even let me in the house anymore..."

Before she could finish, her body went limp and she collapsed into Yao Yuzhen’s arms.

Several young military officers nearby who had crushes on Shen Shuangshuang immediately scowled!

Yao Yuzhen patted her daughter’s back, her voice dropping to a low tone. "It’s Mommy’s fault... I couldn’t protect you. Your dad... he doesn’t believe you’re my biological daughter, but he’s too proud to admit it, so he’s putting on a show for everyone by kicking you out of the house."

The moment she said this, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar!

To prop up Shen Shuangshuang, Yao Yuzhen was throwing all the mud she could onto herself, even daring to trample on Shen Zhenwu’s reputation and use it as a stepping stone!