Volume One, Chapter 82: Wife

Song Xinyu glanced at the gifts on the table and couldn’t help but scoff, “Sister, you buy such expensive clothes for your husband, but when you come home, you only bring a few hundred yuan’s worth of Brain Platinum. Isn’t that going a bit too far?”

Song Yanfeng tugged at Song Xinyu. “What are you saying? It’s good enough that your sister’s come home.”

He was still hoping to get close to Gu Yuandong through Song Qingyu, so naturally, he couldn’t treat her with the same coldness and hostility as before.

“Qingyu, your sister just speaks her mind but means no harm. Don’t take it to heart.”

Song Qingyu smiled faintly. “She may mean no harm, but her mouth is foul. Best if she speaks less in the future.”

Song Xinyu’s face turned green. “You—”

“Isn’t there a famous commercial slogan? ‘When giving gifts, only give Brain Platinum.’ I specially went to the supermarket to get it. Dad, you don’t mind, do you?”

Song Qingyu cast Song Yanfeng a look full of hidden meaning.

“Mind? Of course not. How could I not like it? As long as it’s from Qingyu, I’m happy.”

He shot Song Xinyu a glare, then smiled at Song Qingyu. “Qingyu, come sit down with Jingmo.”

Song Qingyu led Pei Jingmo to their seats, and the servants brought out tea and pastries.

“Qingyu, here are your favorite chestnut cakes. Madam Wang went to the market early this morning to buy fresh chestnuts just to make them for you.”

Madam Wang stood respectfully to the side and greeted Song Qingyu with a flattering “Miss.”

But Song Qingyu looked at her coldly, her face expressionless. “Indeed, people do become kinder as they age. I remember you’d rather feed leftovers to the dog than let me eat them.”

Pei Jingmo’s face darkened. He had known Song Qingyu’s days in this house had been hard, but he hadn’t realized just how bitter they were.

Madam Wang broke out in a cold sweat.

Song Yanfeng tried to cover for her. “Ah, you used to hate me so much, you never wanted to eat at the table with us. And leftovers really aren’t good for the health. Madam Wang was thinking of your wellbeing.”

“Is that so? Then you mean starving is good for one’s health?”

Song Yanfeng’s expression nearly cracked. He hadn’t expected Song Qingyu to bear such a grudge.

But Song Qingyu hadn’t come here to dredge up old grievances or seek justice. She couldn’t be bothered to waste more words. “So, what is it that you said Mother left for me?”

“It’s a bracelet. I’ve kept it in the bank vault. I’ve already sent the driver to fetch it.”

Song Qingyu’s expression darkened. She had called him about it a long time ago, and only now was he sending someone to get it.

“Could it be you’re reluctant to part with it?”

“How could I be? That was meant for you, for your wedding. Of course it’s yours.”

As he spoke, Song Yanfeng looked at Pei Jingmo.

Although Pei Jingmo was decent-looking, he had neither power nor influence—just a laborer, a world apart from Chu Xingzhi.

Yanfeng’s gaze toward him was full of disdain and contempt. “Jingmo, where is your family home? How many people are there?”

Song Qingyu disliked the way her father looked at Pei Jingmo. Pei Jingmo was here as her partner in this charade, and she wouldn’t let him be humiliated.

“What are you getting at?”

“Tsk, I’m your father. You’re married now; can’t I ask about your husband’s family?”

Song Qingyu nearly laughed. He hadn’t cared for her in over a decade, and now he wanted to play the concerned parent? Wasn’t it a little late for that?

Pei Jingmo had noticed that from the moment they entered the house, Song Qingyu’s body and nerves were taut.

This was her home, and yet she was so afraid of it—he could only imagine how much she had suffered as a child.

He gently took her hand, and when she looked at him, he gave her a reassuring glance. “My family is in Yunluo Village. At home, there’s my grandmother and my younger sister.”

“And your parents?”

“My mother passed away. As for my father—best not to speak of him.”

It was the first time Song Qingyu had heard Pei Jingmo talk about his family. She hadn’t known his mother had died too.

No wonder he was so capable at everything.

She didn’t know how to comfort him, so she simply patted his hand gently.

“Do your family know about your marriage to Qingyu?”

“They do.”

“And they had nothing to say?”

“They’re very happy I married a city girl.”

Clearly, this was not the answer Song Yanfeng wanted.

“Jingmo, my daughter is so beautiful and capable, yet you’ve shown nothing for marrying her. Isn’t that a bit improper?”

Pei Jingmo pretended not to understand. “What are you getting at, Father-in-law?”

Yanfeng cleared his throat. “I was never in favor of you marrying Qingyu, but she insisted, so as her father, I can only give you my blessing. But you can’t just take a wife for free. Shouldn’t you give a bride price?”

Song Qingyu had suspected there was another reason he wanted to give her the bracelet, but she hadn’t expected it would be this.

He actually had the nerve to ask for a bride price.

Before Pei Jingmo could speak, Song Qingyu said coldly, “There was no bride price. I wanted to marry him. If anything, I should be the one giving him money.”

Yanfeng’s face darkened. “Qingyu, I’m only asking for a bride price for your own good. Surely, a million isn’t too much for him?”

He was nearly thirty and had worked for years. Surely a million wasn’t beyond him.

Song Qingyu almost laughed out loud.

“If not a million, then eight hundred thousand. You can’t just marry him for nothing. If a man gets you too easily, he won’t cherish you. What if he—”

“Even if he leaves me one day, it’ll be my own choice. Not to mention eight hundred thousand, he doesn’t even owe me eight yuan.”

Song Yanfeng hadn’t expected Song Qingyu to be so adamantly on the other side.

He turned to Pei Jingmo. “Jingmo, what do you say?”

Pei Jingmo smiled at Song Qingyu. “Qingyu decides everything in our house. I listen to her.”

Yanfeng: “……”

Song Xinyu couldn’t watch any longer. “Song Qingyu, who knew you were so love-struck? The way you defend this man, you’ll regret it sooner or later.”

“Just mind your own business.”

“Kindness thrown to the dogs!”

At that moment, the driver arrived, covered in dust. Song Qingyu stood up excitedly. The driver glanced at Yanfeng, and when he nodded, handed the box to Song Qingyu.

She opened it to find a green jade bracelet.

Thinking of her mother’s keepsake, Song Qingyu’s eyes grew red.

Yanfeng quickly closed in, trying to mend their relationship. “No parent doesn’t wish happiness for their daughter. I’m no exception. Last night, your mother came to me in a dream, blaming me for not taking care of you…”

He sighed. “It’s true, these years I’ve neglected you because of work. I’ll make it up to you.”

Song Qingyu looked at him with reddened eyes.

Affection that arrives too late is worth less than grass.

After all he’d done, she couldn’t believe him.

“I don’t need your compensation. If you truly regret, you should go every day to Mother’s grave and repent, and do more good deeds.”

She glanced at Pei Jingmo. “Jingmo, let’s go.”

Pei Jingmo rose and, seeing how fragile she seemed, put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

Yanfeng, not having achieved his aims, was unwilling to let them leave. “Qingyu, Madam Wang has prepared a table full of dishes. Stay and eat before you go.”

“No—”

Song Qingyu had just begun to refuse when, after a long absence, Chu Xingzhi walked in holding two large boxes.

Yanfeng was overjoyed and went to greet him at once. “Xingzhi, what brings you here?”

Chu Xingzhi’s gaze lingered deeply on Song Qingyu before he smiled at Yanfeng. “It’s been a long time since I visited Uncle and Aunt. I hope you don’t mind.”

Song Xinyu immediately spotted the designer bags in Chu Xingzhi’s hands and eagerly went over to take them. “Brother-in-law, it really has been a while—”

Suddenly realizing something, she turned to Pei Jingmo and apologized, “Sorry, I’m just used to calling Young Master Chu ‘brother-in-law.’ Didn’t catch myself in time.”

Yanfeng quickly said, “Since everyone’s here, Madam Wang has made plenty of food. Let’s all sit and eat.”

His gaze fell on Pei Jingmo. “Jingmo, it’s rare for you to accompany Qingyu here. Surely you don’t have to rush off without even sharing a meal?”

His intentions were clear, and Song Qingyu had no desire to stay.

“We’re leaving.”

She tugged at Pei Jingmo, but he didn’t move. She looked at him in confusion.

Pei Jingmo gave her a gentle smile. “Wife, I’m hungry—”