Chapter 538 - Saving Face

Mrs. Gu took a moment before asking, "She really raised your daughter?"

Song Xin'ai nodded her head. "She did. I believe that's all she had done in the past two decades. Raising a daughter that wasn't even her own."

"What about marriage?" asked Mrs. Gu.

Song Xin'ai rolled her eyes, "I told you back then and I'll tell you again, marriage had never been in Mu Chenyan's life plan. She never even thought about it. I still remember when my mother-in-law had asked her about marriage, she had said, 'Who said marriage is the life goal? My goal is freedom!'" Song Xin'ai smiled a little before adding, "But Hulin used to say that she ran from relationships only because she never wanted someone else to be in control of her and her life. When you love someone, you're giving that person control of yourself. You become vulnerable and Mu Chenyan never wanted to be vulnerable before anyone."

What Song Xin'ai didn't know was that fate had played Mu Chenyan well. The woman who didn't want to make a person her life goal actually ended up falling so deep that even now it was impossible for her to pull herself out. And that person was no one else but Raelle. Yes, marriage was still not in her life goals. But now she had a person she wanted to live for and improve herself. She was not only vulnerable before Raelle but also helpless. That's just how fate loved to play with people.

"She must have been lonely," commented Mrs. Gu.

"Who knows?" was the only reply she received from Song Xin'ai.

Mrs. Gu left with a complicated feeling. She didn't know how to react to the news that Mu Chenyan was back. It was such a bizarre coincidence that Mrs. Gu had been classmates with Mu Chenyan since middle school. They even went to the same medical school. It wasn't because they were friends. Far from it. They were just classmates who knew each other's names. Or maybe Mu Chenyan didn't even know Mrs. Gu's name. 

It was always Mrs. Gu whose eyes would follow Mu Chenyan everywhere. But she couldn't be blamed for that, Mu Chenyan was always the center of attention wherever she went. She was bright, lively, wild, funny, strong, and so much more. There was nothing that Mu Chenyan couldn't do. Talk about playing basketball with boys, or playing cello with the girls, she'd do it all. Talk about getting into fights with random street thugs, or topping every exam, she was the best at both. 

She was the person who made people envious. Oh, she sure made people jealous but none could do anything about it. After all, none could reach her level. Maybe Mrs. Gu also aspired to become like Mu Chenyan one day and get out of her introverted personality. Who knew when the idea of becoming like Mu Chenyan morphed into taking Mu Chenyan's position? 

"Little sister-in-law, Mother is calling you."

Song Xin'ai looked at her second sister-in-law and seeing her smug look, she was feeling tired. She already knew where this was gonna go. Taking a deep breath, she entered the inner courtyard and went to her parents' living quarters. Apparently, no one had gone to sleep just yet. They were all waiting for her.

"Xin'ai didn't your father tell you that Weimin would be getting married to Jiaojiao?" asked Grandmother Song. "How can your son humiliate her like that? It's his fortune that Jiaojiao's family is even choosing your son. How can you not be thankful?"

Song Xin'ai didn't know how to deal with these stubborn people. Sometimes she wondered if she had really failed herself by choosing all these people over her own happiness? Maybe she did fail herself and everyone else to whom she actually mattered.

"I didn't even raise him," reminded Song Xin'ai. "Who said I'd be allowed to make decisions for his marriage? Maybe his father can do it but I doubt it. You heard it, second sister-in-law, Weimin has a boyfriend and since Hulin hasn't done anything about it, it means Weimin is allowed to make his own life decisions."

"Impudent!" Grandfather Song slammed his hand on the table startling everyone. But this time Song Xin'ai wasn't scared. Not even a little. "Where will our Song family put our face?"

Song Xin'ai shrugged, "Saving the Song family's face isn't his responsibility. All of you have always made it clear to my kids that they are from the Xiang family." She looked at the younger generation of the Song family and sneered, "And why does it only have to my kids? If you want to save face, you should care more about your granddaughter who got pregnant before marriage and doesn't even know who the father is. All my son did is get a boyfriend. I don't see anything wrong with that." Everyone was left stunned speechless by what Song Xin'ai said. She rarely talked back to anyone in the family. So rarely that they often forgot how much worse she could get with her words.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do," said Song Xin'ai and gave her parents a small bow before leaving. No-one stopped her. Not they didn't want to stop her to berate but anyone in their right mind would know to not mess with Song Xin'ai right now.

Song Xin'ai went to the place where all the gifts were kept. She looked through the pile of gifts and found the ones she was looking for at the very bottom. She smiled when she saw the gift boxes that came from Xiang Weimin and Xiang Wai. She took only these two and left the Song family house. Yes, she didn't live here. She'd have long gone crazy if she did.

No, she was already crazy. It couldn't get any worse. But she'd have really murdered someone if she had stayed there.. She drove her car back to her penthouse where she lived alone.