She opened the envelope and found a delivery slip. She had many things to do that afternoon, but after hesitating for a moment, she decided to go to the store to pick up the goods herself. It was the same jewelry store as before. She handed over the slip, and the clerk enthusiastically handed her a box. When she opened it, she found the "Soaring Clouds" hair clip that she had been longing for that day.
As soon as she stepped outside, the cold autumn wind whipped her hair, making it a mess. She thought to herself, "This hair clip really came at the right time."
When he returns from England, she might change her attitude and thank him properly.
Chapter 42 Dual Identity
"Dad, I must first be Chairman Song, and then Mrs. Yi. This will not change. Please forgive me."
-Song Qing
Song Qing went to Zhenhua to arrange work. When she returned home, she found Aunt Zhou serving Yi Mantian a meal. Upon seeing her, Aunt Zhou quickly added more bowls and chopsticks.
Yi Mantian looked rather grim. He simply called out, "You're back," before slowly lowering his head to drink his soup. When Song finished washing her hands and came out, he had already finished eating and was picking his teeth. Aunt Zhou made some tea, and he sat down at the table, drinking his tea and watching her.
She felt very heavy-hearted, and put down her bowl after eating only a little. Aunt Zhou noticed that the atmosphere was a bit strange, but she didn't try to persuade her. She quickly took away the bowl and went to the kitchen to busy herself.
"Come to the study with me."
Song Qing rubbed his forehead, nodded, and followed behind.
Yi Mantian, dressed in a dark red pajama, sat in his executive chair. The desk was smooth and tidy, with only a potted evergreen plant and a steep, bright yellow artificial mountain made of jade, engraved with the words "Long Live the Emperor." He packed his tobacco, picked up his red and black pipe, and slowly began to smoke. This reminded Song Qing that Song Jingmo also liked to smoke like this in his study, although Song Jingmo preferred large cigars.
She was grateful to Yi Mantian for the shares and ownership of the Shibing Building that she had received last time in this very study.
"Where did Zhengwei go?" he finally asked.
"Dad said he's going to England."
"What are you doing? When will you be back?"
Song Qing was taken aback, feeling a vague unease, but still honestly shook her head, "He didn't say."
Even though Yi Mantian knew this would be the answer, his body still stiffened, and then he suddenly coughed.
She quickly got up to pat his back and then turned back to the living room to bring him tea.
"From the time Fuhua ran into trouble, no, no, going back even further, whether it was Zhengwei, Yinkong, or me, how did they treat you and Fuhua?" Yi Mantian squinted and leaned back in his chair to rest. His voice returned to calm, but it still revealed some of his businessman nature.
"Dad, without you, Fuhua might not have survived until now."
"Your father passed away, your sister got married, and your mother was taken away. Now you're the only one left to support the Song family. I know you're under a lot of pressure. Zhengwei has been doing everything he can to support and help you during this time. What is he after? He only charged a token amount of interest on the loan, and as for the cooperation project, it goes without saying. We invested manpower and resources, worked hard for half a year, and got nothing." He became angrier as he spoke, waving his hand and saying, "These things are nothing! You are a daughter-in-law of the Yi family. I only ask that you at least live up to that title! Put more of your heart into the family! These days, in business matters, who dares not give you face?! You must remember your identity and your responsibility to the Yi family!"
As he spoke, he propped himself up on the table, tapping his fingers on the surface. Song Qing's face was already flushed red from his words. She was both angry and resentful. Once the excitement of the wedding was over, and the "double happiness" decorations were torn off, the coldness and indifference of the world were laid bare. But she couldn't utter a single word in her defense. Logically and emotionally, she should be grateful and shoulder this responsibility. However, she couldn't forget Song Jingmo's dying words, "Qing'er, remember, Fuhua will always be the Fuhua of the Song family!"
She hid the bitterness welling up in her heart and stood up, saying, "Dad, first of all, I am very sorry and very grateful for your and Zhengwei's help to me and Fuhua; I was not thoughtful enough. I am a new wife and there are still many things I am not used to, but I remember it in my heart, I have always remembered it." Her voice trembled slightly, and her hands clasped tightly together in front of her.
This was a marriage of convenience, but the bank didn't receive any corresponding benefits; the scales tipped in Fuhua's favor. Fuhua is now in the position of demanding, and she has no reason to complain about Yi Mantian's reprimand. This debt of gratitude weighs heavily on her, making her restless and unable to eat or sleep.
Yi Zhengwei understood this perfectly, and Yi Mantian was no fool either. His words to Song Qing weren't short-sighted; he simply hoped the marriage would develop in the direction he envisioned, that Yinkong and Fuhua could join forces, and that they could create a happy union. He wasn't a good father, but his love for Yi Zhengwei was the same as Song Jingmo's wish for Song Qing's happiness.
"Dad, please believe me, the cooperation will definitely succeed, it's just a matter of time; Fuhua won't always be a burden on the bank." She was usually reluctant to make promises, but this time, she had to say it, just like the promise she made to her employees in Cambridge before her marriage.
"You...you..." Yi Mantian was furious at her stubbornness, which made her deliberately only agree with what he said on the surface. He was so angry that he glared at her.
Song Qing bowed deeply. "Dad, I must first be Chairman Song, and then Mrs. Yi. This will not change. Please forgive me."
Her words were clear in meaning, and though her voice was soft, they conveyed unwavering determination. After his outburst, Yi Mantian was somewhat lost in thought. Hadn't he and Zi Nan ended up like she and Yi Zhengwei? They had been locked in a fierce battle, neither willing to back down, and in the end, their marriage had ended in divorce and their home was no longer a home.
"Dad, are you alright? Have some water first."
Yi Mantian shook his head to stop her worries, and suddenly said, "Xiao Qing, marriage may be brought about by many factors, but this path is only for you and Zhengwei to walk."
Song Qing understood what he meant, but only gave a bitter smile, squatted down, and said, "Dad, you understand everything, so why force us?"
You mean that woman he's seeing?
She lowered her head and remained silent.
"You must always remember that you are the daughter-in-law of the Yi family!"
Song Qing nodded with tears in her eyes, "Dad, don't worry, I won't leave unless the Yi family doesn't want me."
※
Yi Mantian is a good father-in-law. This is what Song thought when she sat alone on the edge of the bed after taking a bath and reflecting on her actions.
Why did he try so hard to bring her and Zhengwei together in the first place? She wasn't unaware of his motives. It was precisely because of this that she clung to Fuhua and refused to compromise.
But today, he changed her mind somewhat; she understood him as she understood Song Jingmo. Even now, though the stakes hadn't diminished, he was still ultimately a father who hoped for his son's happy marriage. Like Song Jingmo, he didn't want the path he had chosen for his son to be fraught with darkness.
After thinking for a while, she dialed Yi Zhengwei's number, but once the call connected, she didn't know what to say.
The two remained silent on the phone, the only sound being each other's breathing.
"Zhengwei..."
"Um."
After racking his brains, Song Qing finally said, "Zhengwei, I want to set up an exhibition hall on the first floor of the Shibing Building."
Yi Zhengwei laughed, stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and said, "I've already given it to you. You don't need to ask me what you want to do with it."
She took a deep breath and asked awkwardly, "Are you in England right now? When do you expect to be back?"
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end. She quickly added, "Dad was worried about you, so..."
Yi Zhengwei sighed inwardly. Song Qing, you never admit defeat, not even when asking the most mundane question. Now, I am your husband. If you want to know my whereabouts, why bring in other people?