Fatal Desire

Chapter 161 They Never Gave Up on Each Other
Song Yunyu agreed to marry Zhao Zongting partly because she liked him, but more importantly, she wanted to provide Song Xi with a better living environment.

Having gone through many years of trials and tribulations, she knows all too well that women face all kinds of pressure and challenges no matter where they are.

Even though everyone shouts the slogan of "equality for all", only a pyramid structure with different levels of hierarchy can make society the most stable.

Therefore, there will always be people in this world who stand higher than others, who look down on everyone from their high positions.

So why can't this person be her niece?

Song Yunyu hoped that Song Xi and Zhao Yansen would get along well, and most importantly, that she would have access to the same resources as him.

She may not run as fast as him, nor be as talented, but she's always on the move and always better than most people.

Even if she really had no talent, with her brother Zhao Yansen's protection, no one dared to look down on her or bully her.

My niece is outstanding, even more so than Song Yunyu. Every time she sees Song Xi, she feels gratified and glad that she made the right decision.

Under Zhao Yansen's care, Song Xi grew up and became increasingly outstanding, transforming into a stunning young lady from a prominent family.

But...love? How could that be?

No matter how hard Song Yunyu tried to recall, she couldn't figure out where the problem was.

Song Xi's tears fell heavily onto Song Yunyu's hand as she asked with difficulty, "Auntie, have I caused you trouble again?"

She didn't know how she had messed everything up again. It seemed that her feelings were always so untimely and always easily hurt those around her.

"No." Song Yunyu hugged her niece and gently patted her back, just like when she was a child, to comfort her, "You have never been a trouble for your aunt."

Song Xi was truly at a loss, just like back then when she gave up everything to beg Zhao Yansen to let her stay. She couldn't be cold and indifferent; her emotions were too rich, especially in front of the person she cared about most.

She wouldn't betray her aunt, but she also didn't want to abandon Zhao Yansen.

Song Xi tried her best to regain her composure: "Auntie, please don't scold my brother anymore, okay? If you have to blame someone for this, blame me. It's because I love him too much, I..."

Song Yunyu really wanted to yell, "You're so immature, but isn't he immature too? What kind of brother would do such a scoundrel!"
But she couldn't bring herself to curse.

"Since you love each other so much, let's be together." Song Yunyu closed her eyes. "If you really like each other, then let's try to make it work."

Song Xi was stunned.

"Auntie only hopes you can be happy." Song Yunyu's voice choked with emotion. "The future is full of uncertainties. If one day you feel unhappy and don't want to be with him anymore, don't be discouraged. You still have your auntie."

If my niece is unhappy, no amount of agreement will matter; but if my niece is truly happy, no amount of opposition will matter.

“Your aunt has been neglecting you before, otherwise I wouldn’t have only found out about you and him now.” Song Yunyu wiped her wet eyes as she spoke, feigning a stern scolding tone. “You child, why didn’t you tell your aunt? You kept your aunt in the dark, did you think it was fun?”

"Auntie..." Song Xi cried even harder, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls.

"Alright, alright, stop crying." Song Yunyu's tears also fell silently. She blinked, her voice trying to sound relaxed, but unable to hide her heartache. "You child, it was one thing to cry when you were little, but why do you still cry so much now that you're all grown up?"

Song Xi retorted, "Well, I only like to cry in front of my aunt."

Song Yunyu gently patted her niece's back, feeling her slightly trembling shoulders, and couldn't help but ponder.

Zhao Yansen said something that might be true.

She forced her ideas onto Song Xi, ignoring what Song Xi truly wanted.

They are blood relatives.

They had both endured and given up many things for each other.

But they never gave up on each other.

Whether in the past, present, or future.

When Zhao Zongting and Zhao Chengyou entered the ward, the aunt and niece had already wiped away their tears and were chatting happily.

“Uncle.” Song Xi immediately stood up.

Zhao Chengyou greeted, "Mom, Sister Xi."

"You all stay with your aunt, so I'll be going now." Song Xi turned to say goodbye to her aunt, picked up her bag, and left the ward.

Zhao Zongting's gaze lingered on Song Xi's figure for a few seconds before he sat elegantly by the hospital bed and examined Song Yunyu's expression: "Did you tell Xi'er?"

"Okay." Song Yunyu took the water glass from Zhao Chengyou and nodded. Zhao Zongting said to Zhao Chengyou, "Go to the living room and do your homework."

Zhao Chengyou was precocious. He glanced at Song Yunyu and knew that his parents probably had something to talk about. He then carried his schoolbag and walked towards the living room.

"Yansen has already dealt with the Xiao family. The old man and the old woman don't really agree, but there are signs that they're softening their stance."

Zhao Zongting patted Song Yunyu's hand, "You should give him a chance and believe in him."

Regarding Song Xi's matter, Song Yunyu actually had reservations about Zhao Zongting.

After all, Zhao Zongting and Zhao Yansen are father and son, and they cannot stand on the opposite side.

The only person who could make Song Yunyu change her mind was Song Xi.

Zhao Zongting looked at his wife and stated unhurriedly, "After the laboratory explosion, Yansen spent half a year in the intensive care unit to save Xier."

Song Yunyu was stunned, incredulous: "Wh...what? He saved me..."

“I just found out about this myself,” Zhao Zongting said. “The old man kept it a secret from us.”

Song Yunyu recalled carefully.

During the six months that Song Xi was abroad, Zhao Yansen did not appear even once.

"Putting yourself in her shoes, it's not bad for Xi'er to be with Yansen. Otherwise, looking around, who can compare to Yansen? The Gu family is barely acceptable, but they're still inferior to Yansen," Zhao Zongting comforted his wife. "They grew up together, and their relationship might even be better than ours. It's not so easy to break off. Besides, are you at ease with Xi'er getting married?"

"Alright, stop trying to persuade me," Song Yunyu said with a smile. "I agree, okay?"

*
Song Xi did not lie to Zhao Yansen; she did indeed make an appointment with Qin Fanghao.

The location was chosen to be a secluded, upscale bar in the west of the city.

The geometric pendant lights hanging from the ceiling emit an ambiguous warm brown light, which, combined with the lazy rhythm of jazz music, creates an exceptionally quiet and comfortable atmosphere.

As Song Xi walked in, she unexpectedly bumped into acquaintances Jiang Shangxue and Li Shuyi.

The higher the social class, the smaller the social circle; encountering such people is not surprising.

After exchanging greetings, Jiang Shangxue asked, "Want to come together?"

Song Xi politely declined, saying, "I have an appointment with Fang Hao."

Jiang Shangxue also knew Qin Fanghao, so she didn't say much, and the two parted ways.

Li Shuyi, however, unusually turned back every three steps, frequently glancing at Song Xi.

Jiang Shangxue teased, "Anyone who doesn't know better would think you're planning to marry Song Xi."

"Stop laughing." Li Shuyi looked away.

Zhao Yansen was a man of impeccable morals and had no women. Among the women in their circle, only she caught the eye of Old Madam Zhao. She had hoped for a marriage alliance, but it all fell through. It would be a lie to say Li Shuyi wasn't sad.

After all, no one knew that she had been in love with him for eight years.

From a fleeting glimpse in early autumn, the source of a young girl's secret crush, to the joy and sorrow of a later arranged marriage, and finally to a grand finale.

Only she knew.

In this world, there are girls like Song Xi who love passionately and persistently, girls like Li Shuyi who love quietly and secretly, and girls like Fu Guanyue who love clearly and freely.

"Fu Guanyue, do you know?"

As soon as Song Xi sat down in the booth, Qin Fanghao leaned over and asked her mysteriously, "Zhou Ji'an's ex-wife."

Song Xi didn't rush to answer Qin Yinghou's question, which she already knew the answer to, and instead ordered a glass of juice.

Qin Fanghao, the drunkard, was utterly incredulous: "No way? Coming to a bar for juice?"

Song Xi earnestly sought opinions: "Then how about we switch to milk?"

"..." Qin Fanghao was speechless. "Then let's have juice."

The crisp sound of shakers rattling came from the bar, and the jazz music switched to a more soothing blues tune.

Song Xi steered the conversation back to the beginning, asking Qin Fanghao, "Why did you suddenly bring up Fu Guanyue out of the blue?"