Old Mrs. Song is reborn; get out of here, you scumbag husband and illegitimate child!

"Where's that kid Song Dong?"

Song Xianglan put down her teacup, looked around the shop, and said, "You guys usually hang out together, why are you the only one wandering around here today?"

"Godmother, you're still counting on him to mind the shop?"

Liu Yukun pulled out a chair and sat down, a mischievous smile on his face.

"He's a very busy man now, eager to be someone's free helper."

"What do you mean?"

"They're in a relationship."

Liu Yukun lowered his voice, "I've taken a liking to the female owner of a clothing store on this street. That woman is incredibly capable; she sets up her own stall and does business."

Song Dong now spends his days working as an assistant, even dictating how the store coordinates its employees' clothing.

Every few days, he would make long-distance calls to Song Yulu's shop in Xincheng, asking about the latest trendy outfits from the south, then turning around to show off his tips to the female owner.

Song Xianglan was amused.

"Well, Song Dong's luck has finally turned around. What about you?"

Liu Yukun pursed his lips.

"Me? I don't get involved in that kind of trouble."

"I heard last year that he also got a girlfriend? They said they've been together for almost three years."

"I did submit one."

Liu Yukun leaned back, crossed his legs, and said, "That's not dating, that's just living together. She keeps me company, I give her money, it's a mutually beneficial arrangement. Marriage is out of the question, I'm a complete non-marriage advocate for life."

Song Xianglan's expression darkened slightly.

She knew Liu Yukun's character well; he had suffered a lot back in the village.

His biological mother, in order to please his stepfather, didn't treat him like a human being.

Having seen through the sycophantic and calculating faces of people who would fawn over others for a living since childhood, he has become wary of relationships as well.

They only care about money, not people.

"Always talking about money, isn't that vulgar?" Song Xianglan stood up. "Come on, let's take Godmother for tea. Let's have a good talk."

Liu Yukun stood up nimbly.

"Why do you want tea, godmother? You've come all this way to Haishi, let me treat you to coffee. Coffee is the most fashionable drink in Haishi right now."

The two strolled into a coffee shop with a distinctly Western decor.

As soon as I sat down, the waiter came over with the bill.

Liu Yukun, familiar with the place, ordered a freshly ground coffee.

Song Xianglan flipped through the menu, ordered a cappuccino, and then took a fancy to the Western-style pastries in the picture.

I ordered a cheesecake and a chocolate cake.

"What's so good about this dark, unappetizing herbal soup?" Song Xianglan scooped up a piece of cheesecake with a small spoon and put it in her mouth. It had a rich milky flavor. "Tell me, what's going on with that girlfriend of yours? Don't try to evade the question."

Liu Yukun stirred the black coffee in his cup.

"That's all. She's pretty and has a good personality, and she's been with me for almost three years. Godmother, can you please stop looking at me like I'm a criminal?"

I didn't mistreat her. I bought her whatever clothes or jewelry she wanted.

I gave her plenty of money, and she was very happy. When we first got together, I made it clear to her that I would never get married.

Song Xianglan put down her spoon.

She gave him a disdainful look.

"Giving money equates to affection? You think a perfectly nice girl would only want your jewelry?"

"Otherwise what?"

Liu Yukun shrugged. "Aren't all women like that? As long as you give them enough benefits, they're happy. As long as marriage isn't mentioned, they'll agree on any amount of money."

Anyway, I live alone, so I don't need to save too much money. Besides, I invest what I have; I've bought houses and shops to rent out.

"That's what you call condemning everyone based on a single example."

Song Xianglan snorted coldly, "It's only because that girl has a good temper that she spoils you. Bring her out for dinner tonight. I want to see what kind of silly girl can put up with you for three years."

"Sure. I'll bring him out so you can meet him." Liu Yukun readily agreed, not taking it seriously at all.

The two were talking.

Song Xianglan, with her sharp eyes, glanced out the window and suddenly burst out laughing.

"Yu Kun, do you think that's Song Dong?"

Liu Yukun turned his head and looked over, then burst out laughing.

On the street outside the coffee shop.

Song Dong was following behind a young woman wearing a red dress.

The woman was wearing high heels and walking very fast, her face as cold as ice.

The woman's features were striking; she was clearly a formidable person. Someone who could run a business in a place like this must have an inherently strong personality.

"I told you that it wouldn't look good if the collar was made smaller." The woman raised her voice, stopped walking, and turned around.

"Yes, yes, it's my fault. I shouldn't have given such advice." Song Dong reached out and pulled the woman's arm, his eyes full of ingratiation. "Can we change it back?"

The woman flung his hand away and stormed off.

"My business is none of your concern."

"Baby, don't be angry." Song Dong jogged after him, sweating profusely. "I only made one mistake."

Liu Yukun sat by the window and watched the whole thing, bursting into laughter.

"Godmother, look. Last time he was bragging to me that men have to be assertive and have the woman under their thumb when dating. Turns out, he's based all of that on his female boss. I think he's practically a grandson to her now."

Song Xianglan glanced at him but ignored his laughter.

"Does being domineering mean you're right?"

Liu Yukun's laughter stopped abruptly.

He opened his mouth, but was choked and couldn't utter a single word.

Song Xianglan picked up a tissue and wiped her mouth. "Alright, hurry up and tell Ronghua that we're having a family gathering at Lao Ding Feng Restaurant tonight."

Six p.m.

Private rooms at Lao Ding Feng Restaurant.

Huang Ronghua arrived early and was sitting there pouring tea.

Unlike the other two, he was introverted, conservative, and steady, and he was very disciplined in managing the shop.

The door to the private room was pushed open.

Liu Yukun led a young woman in.

Song Xianglan glanced at it.

The girl's name was Sheng Ruzhi. She looked to be about twenty-five years old and was wearing a beige dress. She wasn't particularly stunning, but she was clean and had a quiet demeanor.

At this age, families usually start pressuring people to get married.

"Godmother," Liu Yukun pulled out a chair and casually introduced, "this is Ruzhi."

Sheng Ruzhi quickly greeted her, "Hello, godmother."

The four people sat down.

The food is served after ordering.

As soon as the dinner party began, Song Xianglan had been secretly observing everyone.

Sheng Ruzhi didn't say much, and her eyes were almost always on Liu Yukun.

Song Xianglan was all too familiar with that look in her eyes; it was brimming with light and pure adoration.

I heard that Sheng Ruzhi had an accident when she first came to work in Haishi.

Liu Yukun helped out briefly, and that's how the two met.

A plate of stir-fried shrimp was served on the table.

Liu Yukun was talking to Huang Ronghua about the Shanghai stock market, saying that he had bought a lot of good stuff from people who had lost money in the stock market, and that Huang Ronghua should keep an eye out for it.

He naturally took the empty plate in front of Sheng Ruzhi, peeled seven or eight shrimp and put them in, and then casually pushed the vinegar dish in the distance to her side.

Song Xianglan inquired about Ruzhi's family situation.

Before Sheng Ruzhi could speak, Liu Yukun interrupted her.

"Her family lives in the next city, and she stayed in Haishi after graduation. Her family of four is very simple, so there's nothing to worry about."

Liu Yukun said this in a casual tone.

Sheng Ruzhi lowered her head, dipped the peeled shrimp in vinegar, and put it in her mouth without saying a word in rebuttal.

Song Xianglan saw it all.

Is this what you call not caring?

It's just a transaction; who would know the other party's preferences and background so well?

The dishes had five flavors.

Song Xianglan put down her chopsticks and changed the subject.

"Yu Kun is a lucky guy. I think Ru Zhi is the best match he'll ever have. You two have been dating for over two years now, shouldn't you consider making it official?"

These words were spoken.

The table suddenly fell silent.

Liu Yukun's chopsticks trembled, and a piece of pork rib fell onto the table.

He reacted strongly and quickly waved his hands.

"Godmother, don't try to play matchmaker. I've told Zhizhi eight hundred times that I have no intention of getting married." Liu Yukun turned to look at Sheng Ruzhi, eager to distance himself from her.

"Marriage is such a hassle, all the daily grind and chaos. We're fine as we are now, right, Zhizhi? Neither of us wants to be tied down by marriage."

Sheng Ruzhi froze as she picked up the vegetables.

It happened in an instant.

The light in her eyes suddenly dimmed, and her lips tightened slightly.

But only for a second.

She quickly raised her head, a nonchalant smile on her face.

"Yes, godmother." Sheng Ruzhi put down her chopsticks, her voice revealing a hint of understanding. "Yu Kun's temper is like a child's, and I also think he's not suitable for marriage. It's fine as it is now, and I don't want to get married either."

Liu Yukun visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

I picked up my glass and took a sip.

That fleeting sense of loss did not escape Song Xianglan's eyes.

Song Xianglan suddenly smiled.

There was a hint of coldness in that smile.

She looked at Liu Yukun.

"How old is Yu Kun? How many people has he met? He's had an incompetent mother, seen a dilapidated home, and he thinks all women in the world are after him. Because of one or two lousy people, he's dismissed everyone else. Don't you think that's going too far?"

Huang Ronghua nodded. "That's going too far. Isn't a woman like my godmother good enough?"

Sheng Ruzhi, listening from the side, felt very pleased.

"I..." Liu Yukun stammered.

"I encountered a beast like Yang Dashan who schemed against me," Song Xianglan pointed to her nose, "but I still didn't completely condemn all men. What gives you the right to use one bad person to trample on someone else's sincerity towards you?"

The private room was completely silent.

Song Xianglan's words were like knives, stripping away all the pretense Liu Yukun had been using to disguise himself.

His non-marriage stance, disguised by money.

It's just a shield for fear of being abandoned.

The door to the private room was pushed open.

Song Dongfeng strode in.

"What's all this commotion about? I heard Auntie lecturing people in the hallway." Song Dong pulled out a chair, sat down, and casually picked up the teapot on the table and took a sip.

He glanced at the flustered Liu Yukun and then added insult to injury:

"Auntie is right. Yukun, your theory is nonsense."

Liu Yukun glared at him:

"Stop being so cocky. Why didn't you say anything when you were chasing after her and trying to coax her this afternoon?"

"I'm just doing it because I want to," Song Dong said without a hint of shame. "It's better than a coward like you who doesn't even dare to show his true feelings."

Huang Ronghua picked up his teacup and gestured towards Liu Yukun.

"Yu Kun. Living together is a matter for two people." Huang Ronghua said slowly and deliberately. "Look at your sister-in-law and me, although we live in different places, we don't see each other often throughout the year."

She came to visit me during summer vacation, and I went back to Qingyang to be with her during winter vacation.

These past few days, her cousins ​​have been visiting Haishi, and she's been spending time shopping with them in the surrounding areas, so she hasn't had a chance to see her godmother.

But our relationship is still very good. If you don't get married, you won't even have someone to share your joys and sorrows.

Your sister-in-law also came to Haishi to see if she could stay. Later, she couldn't get used to life there and went back. I don't think that's a bad thing; people should always have a sense of responsibility.

Liu Yukun could no longer hold the cup in his hand.

He secretly glanced at Sheng Ruzhi beside him.

Sheng Ruzhi kept her head down, focused only on the dish of vinegar in front of her.

But before she knew it, the girl's eyes were completely red.

He felt a sudden panic.

He opened his mouth as if to say something in rebuttal, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

Her usual silver tongue in business was now useless.