Chapter 250: Song Yiluo’s Loss of Composure
Yi Roujing walked out of the restroom, and the two people in front were talking to each other in low voices.
"Song Yiluo, when you go out and socialize now, you’re representing the Song Family, so don’t associate with just anyone. Do you think our Song Family is a shelter for hangers-on?" The girl in the trench coat spoke sarcastically, her voice not low, and as she spoke, she glanced at Yi Roujing.
"Got it, Third Cousin." Song Yiluo replied in one breath.
Yi ’Hanger-on’ Roujing, was she being looked down upon?
She looked down at her outfit: a white shirt underneath, covered by a blue knitted cardigan, a floral skirt, white embroidered cloth shoes, combined with her perfect face and elaborate fishtail braids. Did she look like someone who needed to freeload?
"Ready?" Ding Ancheng walked toward Yi Roujing, carrying a bag of snacks, without even glancing at Song Yiluo.
Song Yiluo’s face turned pale, recalling the threats and humiliation she encountered when she sought out Ding Ancheng before returning to Jing City, she was so furious she lost her reason, "Ding Ancheng."
Ding Ancheng acted as if he hadn’t heard, only lifting his head to look at Song Yiluo when he reached Yi Roujing’s side, "What’s up?"
Song Yiluo’s face turned even paler at Ding Ancheng’s indifferent gaze.
"Nothing?" Ding Ancheng carefully looked at Yi Roujing and asked in a low voice.
Song Yiluo exploded, "What do you mean, Ding Ancheng, do you think I would do something to Yi Roujing?"
Song Cenran, watching the furious Song Yiluo beside her, was a bit curious. This person, valued by her father, went to the southern countryside as a young intellectual and even found top-notch Lingzhi mushrooms that helped their grandfather recover. Her connections gained through the Lingzhi set her apart among the Song family’s branches. Song Yiluo, usually calm and a central character, had this unexpected side.
"It depends on what the young intellectual is trying to achieve." Ding Ancheng mocked, "What the young intellectual has done before is contemptible, with such a reputation, people can’t help but be wary."
Song Yiluo trembled with anger, "Alright, alright, you two are really something."
Song Cenran didn’t particularly like Song Yiluo, but they were all Song Family when out—she couldn’t just let a fellow Song be bullied, "What feud do you have with my cousin? If you insult her like this, I’ll report you to the police."
"Feel free." Ding Ancheng said indifferently, taking Yi Roujing with him.
Song Cenran didn’t expect Ding Ancheng’s attitude to be so harsh. When had she been so ignored and wronged, "Hey, what kind of person is this?"
"Song Yiluo, who are those two? I’ll teach them a lesson." Song Cenran was angry.
"Third Cousin, we still have to attend the Xu Family banquet tomorrow, let’s wait until afterward. They’re in Huaixi County, they won’t run away. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to teach them a lesson." Song Yiluo said darkly, "In the next few days, I’ll find out which hotel they’re staying at."
"Mhm." Song Cenran nodded, knowing that nothing could go wrong at Xu Family’s banquet, it was the most important event for Song Family recently. The main Song Family originally didn’t receive an invitation; they got it through connections.
"I wonder how Xu family’s son, whom they found back, is. I heard he grew up in the countryside; he might have a rustic charm." Song Cenran murmured.
"Grandpa said he’s excellent. Otherwise, Xu Family wouldn’t hold such a grand banquet; many families in Jing City have already gone to Baiqian Village to congratulate them in advance."
The Song Family knew nothing more; they hadn’t accessed the information source. What they knew was heard from familiar families. Those families treated them more kindly due to the Lingzhi, but they were barely stepping on the social circle’s edge.
On the other side, Ding Anmin, Xia Xingchen, and their group were looking at clothes, with styles and colors all being the most popular. Huang Xiaobao helped Ding Anmin choose, suggesting she try this and that, mostly picking red. Today, Huang Xiaobao was also taking Ding Anmin to shop for wedding supplies.
Xia Xingchen and Gu Shizhao stood to the side; the two hadn’t spoken much.
"Are you okay?"
"Are you alright?"
Both spoke up at the same time, asking about each other.
"Did Teacher Ding say anything to you?" Gu Shizhao smiled and asked.
Xia Xingchen silently agreed. Gu Shizhao discreetly tugged Xia Xingchen’s hand, squeezing it before letting go, "I’m fine. If you really can’t relax, when we return, I’ll borrow Teacher Ding’s room and let you check if I’m hurt, alright?"
Xia Xingchen’s face immediately flushed, glaring at Gu Shizhao angrily.
"What happened here?" Gu Shizhao approached, looking at a small cut near Xia Xingchen’s left earlobe, very small, only about two dots long.
"Oh, it’s nothing." Xia Xingchen shifted her gaze away.
Gu Shizhao frowned slightly. Ding Anguo noticed the two of them; he was the only one alone, while everyone else was paired up. It made him miss Feng Lishu.
Ding Anguo was also examining clothes carefully, thinking about how Feng Lishu would look wearing them. He decided not to interfere with the atmosphere between Ding Anmin and Huang Xiaobao. Just as he was about to ask Xia Xingchen and Gu Shizhao, he noticed something strange between them, and when he approached, he understood.
"Xingchen, you haven’t told Gu what happened on the train?" Ding Anguo said honestly.
"What happened on the train?" Gu Shizhao became nervous hearing this, "Where’s Ding Ancheng, didn’t he say the journey was safe?"
"Ancheng didn’t want you to worry; he said you’ve had a rough time lately." Xia Xingchen explained softly, "What I encountered has been resolved with Sister-in-law’s help. It was just terrifying but it’s over. And you, you didn’t tell me what you encountered either."
Gu Shizhao sighed, gently saying, "I’ll tell you when we get back; you can tell me yours too, okay?"
Xia Xingchen nodded, a shy smile appearing on her face. Their mutual gaze made Ding Anguo painfully aware that he was just a catalyst. Suddenly, he really felt like getting married.
"Xia Xingchen!"
A voice, incredulous and sharp, burst out not far away, drawing everyone’s attention. As the named protagonist, Xia Xingchen also looked over. This Jing City was so small. Seeing the five people not far away, Xia Xingchen felt strangely out of place from them—her biological father, stepmother, half-brother, and stepsister, probably standing beside the brother-in-law.
"Gu Shizhao." Gu Yiyi initially noticed Xia Xingchen, but upon their turning around, she realized her biological nephew Gu Shizhao was standing right next to Xia Xingchen, along with a handsome young man.
"Xingchen, when did you return to Jing City, why didn’t you come home?" Xia Donghe, Xia Xingchen’s biological father, still hadn’t processed the situation.