Chapter 69: Make Her Kowtow and Admit Her Wrongs

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Make Her Kowtow and Admit Her Wrongs

After several seconds, he slowly turned back, his grip on Shen Shuangshuang’s hand tightening. "Mm, that’s right."

Shen Shuangshuang’s heart instantly pounded out of her chest. Tears welled up, threatening to spill from her eyes.

Completely ignoring the roomful of staring eyes, she lunged forward and threw her arms tightly around Sheng Hui’s waist.

She pressed herself into his embrace, her voice trembling and broken. "Sheng Hui, you’re the best. You always stand by me... you always choose me!"

Liu Yumin and Yao Yuzhen stood nearby, their faces lit with unstoppable smiles as they nodded emphatically.

But Song Yao raised a finger, pointing at the embracing pair, her voice clear and loud.

"I’m new from the countryside, so I really don’t understand the rules in the city. Back in the village, if a girl even talked to a man for a few minutes too long, people would point and curse at her."

"But here, in front of everyone, holding hands and jumping into a man’s arms is considered proper behavior?"

Seeing her own daughter struck speechless by Song Yao, Liu Yumin looked over at Yao Yuzhen, who kept her head down without saying a word. Her temper flared, and her expression darkened.

She pointed at Song Yao and began to berate her. "Look at the fine daughter you raised! Supposedly a high-society young lady, but with no sense of decency at all! Shuangshuang was just kindly advising her not to be so harsh and mean, and what does she do? She turns around and starts slinging mud, trying to frame her!"

Yao Yuzhen’s face flushed. She lowered her head, wringing her hands, and spoke in a hushed voice, "Oh dear, this is so embarrassing..."

"I really didn’t expect this. Song Yao is usually so docile. Song Yao meant well, but she messed up. I’ll apologize to Shuangshuang on her behalf."

Liu Yumin planted her hands on her hips, her voice suddenly shrill, the veins on her neck bulging.

"You think an apology from you settles it? Song Yao needs to get on her knees, kowtow, and admit she was wrong! If she doesn’t, she’ll never learn her lesson!"

The room fell silent. Everyone exchanged glances, their eyes darting between the few people at the center of the conflict.

A woman standing nearby couldn’t help but speak up. "Comrade Yao Yuzhen, Song Yao is your biological daughter! Are you just going to stand there and watch her get chewed out like this?"

"Exactly!"

Another middle-aged man chimed in, "Song Yao hasn’t said a single lie from start to finish, has she? Everything she said was the honest truth, wasn’t it?"

"Those two are from Nanhui, and Shen Shuangshuang is their biological daughter. Of course they’re going to take her side. Blood is thicker than water, isn’t it?"

"Anyone who believes Liu Yumin’s story is a fool!"

"I was at Shen Shuangshuang’s last birthday party. That Zhang Laosan said it himself in front of several people. It wasn’t Song Yao who tried to latch onto him at all. It was Liu Yumin who saw he had some savings, secretly drugged Song Yao, and tried to throw her into his bed!"

Everyone knew the score. Besides, Shen Zhenwu was standing right behind Song Yao now.

Who at this family reunion banquet today wasn’t here for Shen Zhenwu?

They wanted to make connections, build relationships, and get their faces known.

’You two think you can secretly sling mud at Song Yao? Play dirty right under our noses?’

No one was buying it!

Yao Yuzhen had expected this.

She softened her voice. "I am Song Yao’s biological mother. From the bottom of my heart, I want what’s best for her, for her to be secure."

With that, she turned to Song Yao. "Daughter, what do you have to say about what your adoptive parents just said? You should tell everyone the truth."

The corner of Song Yao’s mouth twitched up. "Say what? Didn’t you just say everything for me? You even apologized. I didn’t even have to open my mouth."

Yao Yuzhen immediately frowned. "I’m doing this for your own good! Your adoptive mother’s words were harsh, but there’s some truth to them."

"You really need to think about your words and actions. A daughter of the Shen Family can’t act without decorum. You have to behave properly in front of your elders. I’ve already made plans. As soon as this reunion is over, I’ll hire a tutor for you and have them drill you every day."

Song Yao just laughed. "Propriety is a two-way street. Which of those people was polite to me just now? Who was willing to listen?"

A flicker of a smile passed through the corner of Yao Yuzhen’s eyes.

But Shen Shuangshuang shot to her feet, her face pale. "Sister! Aren’t you being too extreme? It’s one thing to target me, but Comrade Cheng Hai and Comrade Wu Yufeng are here today representing the Cheng and Wu Families! To insult them like this in front of everyone is like slapping both families in the face. That’s going too far!"

"Talk about outrageous, you take the cake!"

Song Yao shot her a sideways glance, her eyes as sharp as knives.

"Today is the day Dad specially arranged this banquet to formally recognize me as his daughter. And what do you do? You invite Liu Yumin? She’s the one who secretly switched me at birth, causing me to be separated from my biological father for nineteen years."

"While my dad searched the entire country for me, she and Song Shunqiang used me as their punching bag since I was a child, beating and cursing me endlessly. She is my sworn enemy, and Song Shunqiang was her accomplice. Together, they ruined my childhood."

"And you? You personally led my enemies right through my family’s door. Is your heart made of stone?"

Shen Shuangshuang faltered, stumbling over her words.

Sheng Hui’s face was impassive, his voice cold and hard. "Shuangshuang didn’t know about all that. She invited the couple because she was afraid of rumors, of people saying the Shen Family is ungrateful after being helped. After all, Song Shunqiang and his wife raised you for over ten years. And when Mr. Shen heard you were being mistreated, he immediately had them thrown in jail. They were terrified for over two weeks."

"Those who know the inside story would praise Mr. Shen for being so protective of his daughter. But those who don’t might hear about it and accuse the Shen Family of repaying kindness with cruelty."

"PFFT—"

Song Yao burst out laughing.

"Sheng Hui, oh, Sheng Hui. The rumors say you’re the most level-headed and responsible young master in the Beijing Community, but look at you. You can’t even get the basic facts straight. If you had just spent ten minutes reviewing the case file on the baby swap, you wouldn’t be saying things like this."

The moment these words left her mouth, the color drained from Yao Yuzhen’s face.

She immediately lowered her voice and hissed, "Song Yao! Who gave you permission to address Comrade Sheng Hui like that? He is the Sheng Family’s designated successor! Do you think you’re still in that old tenement building you used to live in?"

Sheng Hui’s face turned thunderous.

"Shen Songyao, you will pay dearly for the words you’ve said today."

It was a blatant warning.

But at that critical moment, a figure suddenly stepped forward, completely shielding Song Yao.

The man wore a dark gray suit, his shoulders straight, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

Song Yao looked up and saw that Li Hanchen had returned.

’Well now,’ she thought. ’Looks like Xiao Li has already taken care of what I asked him to...’

"Even Minister Sheng wouldn’t dare to be disrespectful to the young lady while standing here. Who the hell do you think you are, Sheng Hui?"

Li Hanchen’s tone was calm and flat, but his words landed like a brick.

The crowd started whispering amongst themselves, secretly asking who this man was.

They soon found out he was the young security officer who worked for Shen Zhenwu, temporarily assigned as Song Yao’s personal bodyguard.

Everyone looked at each other, momentarily speechless.

A common security officer actually dared to tell off Sheng Hui to his face?

He had some serious nerve!

Sheng Hui’s eyes darkened, his gaze instantly locking onto Li Hanchen.

He had to think twice about dealing with Song Yao, but teaching a mere grunt a lesson?

That didn’t require a second thought.

Without another word, he flicked his wrist—and pulled out his weapon, aiming it straight at Li Hanchen’s right hand!

Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Sheng Hui’s pupils suddenly constricted!

His body instinctively lurched to the right. A shot hit the ground right beside the man next to him, sending up a spray of debris.