Chapter 78: A Good Time to Strike

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: A Good Time to Strike

With Shen Shuangshuang exposed and reduced to a punchline at the dinner tables of the Beijing Community, Qi Dongxue was absolutely thrilled. She looked at Song Yao with the kind of affection reserved for a comrade-in-arms.

Without a second thought, she slung her arm through Song Yao’s. "Come on, my treat! Let’s get coffee. We can catch up while we drink!"

Song Yao didn’t protest, following her into the shop with a slight smile.

Coffee was still a novelty in those days. The average person had rarely even caught a whiff of it. The clientele was generally limited to two types: those who had studied abroad, or blonde, blue-eyed foreigners.

A slightly bitter, roasted aroma wafted through the shop. A row of glass jars sat on the windowsill, their labels printed with slanted Italian script.

The moment they walked in, the few patrons inside all turned to look.

Qi Dongxue greeted the young man behind the counter like a regular, then familiarly led Song Yao to a corner booth.

She lifted the hanging cloth curtain and gently nudged Song Yao’s back with her elbow, signaling for her to take the inner seat. Qi Dongxue then went around the table and sat in the chair opposite her.

"Miss Song, what do you want to drink? Name it!"

She pushed the menu to the middle of the table, her gaze burning as she stared at Song Yao’s face.

Song Yao shrugged. "Sister Qi, this is my first time in a place like this. You decide."

"Done! Let’s get you a cappuccino. If it’s too bitter, add sugar. We’ve got plenty!"

She beckoned a waiter over. As she handed him their order, she immediately leaned forward and lowered her voice to ask, "Is it true Shen Shuangshuang was kicked out of the Shen Family? Was that your doing?"

Song Yao gave a slight wave of her hand. "I didn’t drive her out. She was never supposed to be there to begin with. Things are simply returning to their proper places."

"Wow, so the two children were actually switched at birth?"

"I was overseas back then. When I heard about it, I was kicking myself! I can’t believe I missed out on all the drama!"

She ran a hand through her hair, her earring swaying with the motion.

Song Yao’s lips curved into a half-smile. "Comrade Qi Dongxue, you seem to have... strong feelings about Shen Shuangshuang?"

Qi Dongxue scoffed, her face filled with disgust. "Don’t get me wrong. It’s not her I hate, it’s her whole disgusting act!"

She leaned in even closer, almost pressing against Song Yao’s shoulder. "Everyone says you two were always at each other’s throats. You must be well aware of her methods, then?"

Song Yao raised her eyes slightly, her gaze calm yet tinged with amusement. "If that’s the case... Comrade Qi Dongxue, does this mean you’ve also been bested by her?"

Qi Dongxue’s face twisted in disgust. "Sheng Hui and I are the ones who grew up together! Before they turned eight, that mother and daughter from the Shen Family had never even set foot in Beijing. They were cooped up in Hai City."

"Back then, Shen Shuangshuang didn’t even know Sheng Hui’s last name! Our two families, on the other hand, have been visiting each other daily ever since my mother was pregnant with me. We were as close as real family."

A clear note of indignation crept into her voice. "Before Shen Shuangshuang showed up, I was the center of attention in our compound. All those rotten boys were ordered by their parents to be good to me. Sheng Hui especially—he was so sweet and considerate."

"And then what happened? The day Mr. Shen was transferred back to Beijing, he brought his wife and daughter with him."

Her eyes suddenly looked empty, and her voice softened.

"It was so strange. She hadn’t even found her footing yet, and suddenly everyone was swarming around her, as if drawn by a magnet."

Song Yao shook her head internally. ’What else could it be?’

’She’s the story’s protagonist, after all. The rest of us are most likely just disposable side villains, props to fill out the cast.’

"That’s all ancient history, Comrade Qi Dongxue. Why are you still dredging up the past?"

Song Yao’s question was casual, and Qi Dongxue immediately shed her aggrieved expression.

Waving her hand dismissively, she said with a grin, "I was abroad for years. All those familiar faces from my childhood are strangers to me now. Who’d still be hung up on that?"

"Oh, good! Listening to you just now, I was actually worried you still had feelings for Sheng Hui."

Song Yao smiled, her eyes narrowing. "Good thing you don’t. Otherwise, it would be a problem. Song Shuangshuang has long treated the title of ’Mrs. Sheng’ as a staple in her personal wardrobe."

Qi Dongxue’s face instantly darkened. "Her? Is she even worthy? The Sheng Family would have to be insane to let her through their doors!"

Song Yao spread her hands. "But no one else is stepping up. She’s latched onto Sheng Hui and refuses to let go. After a while, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Sheng Family caves."

"Besides... look at her family’s disastrous situation. Her biological mother is dead, her biological father is in a labor camp, and she has that brother, Song Bowen, a veritable leech who just sucks his sister dry!"

"If she actually marries into the Sheng Family, Sheng Hui will not only have to support her family, but he’ll also have to fill a bottomless pit for her. As soon as one hole is filled, the next one will be waiting with its mouth open. It will be an endless, unfillable void."

Before Song Yao could even finish, Qi Dongxue’s face had already turned livid.

She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. "I can’t let Sheng Hui leap into that pit of fire!"

’If Sheng Hui marries her, his career path will be severed, his reputation will be ruined, and his life will be a misery—a triple blow!’

"Well now, that’s not necessarily the case."

Song Yao suddenly changed her tune. "I’m sure you’re not aware, but Song Shuangshuang is quite the collector of male admirers."

"Zhou Wei called off an arranged marriage for her, tearing up the engagement contract on the spot. Wu Yufeng had a huge falling out with his family for her. And Ji Xianbei... he was willing to lay down his life for her!"

She sighed, her face a picture of sincerity. "Sheng Hui would be hitting the jackpot by marrying her! With all those men to back him up, he’d get promoted in a flash, and everything would be smooth sailing."

Qi Dongxue shot up from her chair. "Bullshit! Even the wildest women aren’t that messy! A single girl, stringing along three men at the same time? If Sheng Hui actually gets a marriage certificate with her, won’t his cuckold’s hat be green enough to plant a watermelon patch on?"

"Shhh, keep your voice down!"

Song Yao quickly grabbed her arm, pressing her back down. "The other tables can hear! They have ears sharper than any rabbit!"

Qi Dongxue’s outburst was like a firecracker going off, drawing stares from everyone in the cafe.

Song Yao stared at the pouting Qi Dongxue with a peculiar expression. "Comrade Qi Dongxue, this reaction of yours... Tsk, tsk, how interesting. It couldn’t be that you’re secretly carrying a torch for Sheng Hui, could it? Do you want to marry him?"

Qi Dongxue’s face flushed hot.

She pouted, the tips of her ears turning crimson. "What’s it to you! This is my business, and it’s not your place to tell me what to do."

"I’m not meddling for no reason. I’m genuinely thinking of your best interests."

Song Yao’s expression turned stern, her tone sober. "If you genuinely like Sheng Hui, now is the time to act. If you drag your feet, the opportunity will be long gone."

Qi Dongxue immediately looked up. "Why?"

"Song Shuangshuang can’t be trusted."

Song Yao shook her head gently. "Remember that whole affair with Ji Xianbei? During his trial, he stubbornly refused to drag her down with him. Let’s not debate the truth of the matter, but what was Ji Xianbei trying to achieve? Wasn’t it to protect her? But what did she do? She never even visited him once."

Qi Dongxue’s fists clenched, her knuckles cracking. "I’ve been saying she has a black heart from the start, but no one would believe me!"

"If she can use Ji Xianbei as a stepping stone today, she can push Sheng Hui into a pit of fire tomorrow."

Song Yao lowered her voice. "To be honest, I don’t particularly care for Sheng Hui. But I can’t stand people like Song Shuangshuang even more, the kind who play the sons of the Beijing Community like puppets on a string."

"But, you know, I was never on good terms with them anyway, so I can’t be bothered to wade into this mess."

Qi Dongxue blinked, a spark lighting up in her eyes. "Then what are you getting at by telling me all this?"

"It means I think we’re on the same page."