Chapter 1038: We Are A FamilySong Xin'ai didn't respond to her question but only said, "I'll check with the director and ask for a leave. I'll definitely be there on your engagement."
"Okay," replied Raelle.
"I saw your proposal," spoke Song Xin'ai. She actually wasn't a talkative person like Raelle but as always, she wanted to bring up a topic to talk about with her daughter just to keep her around for a moment longer.
"I didn't think you'd be keeping up with the internet gossip," said Raelle.
"I don't," replied Song Xin'ai. "But your proposal was too high profile. I'd be living under the rock if I didn't hear a single thing about it."
"That's also true," was Raelle's response because she knew how much her husband contributed to blowing this news out of proportion. And Shui Xian wasn't alone either. Once Mu Chenyan decided to organize an engagement party, she also kept a high profile. At the moment, there were two kinds of people in the upper-class society, the ones who got an invitation to Raelle Xiang's engagement and the others who didn't. And the ones who got it are definitely part of the elites. "I heard you're still friends with your ex-husband."
Song Xin'ai didn't think she'd shift the topic there. She scratched her brow, "Mmm... That's true."
"People think you're trying to get back together with him," mentioned Raelle. She knew how many people had this assumption. In fact, she also knew that even Xiang Weimin and Xiang Wai were under the impression that their mother was trying to get back together with their father.
Song Xin'ai chuckled softly, "They can think whatever they want. What about you? What do you think?"
"You aren't the kind of a person who'd go back," said Raelle certainly.
Song Xin'ai nodded her head, "You're right. As always. I don't have any plans to get back together with Xiang Hulin. But I do consider him a friend. After all, in all my life, he was the only one who understood me. However, it wasn't enough to keep our marriage."
"How is it like?" she asked.
"Hm?" Song Xin'ai looked at her inquisitively.
"Being friends with your ex-husband?"
"Oh, that is actually very interesting," said Song Xin'ai. "The best thing about him is that he isn't temperamental. He is actually very rational. And that's why we rarely fought even when we were married. Now, it's even better. I don't actually expect him to be there for me all the time or listen to me all the time. But it's nice to have someone who occasionally checks up on you and genuinely wants to know how you've been lately."
And those were the kind of people Song Xin'ai genuinely lacked in her life. The ones who would really want to know how she was.
"Do you know why most exes don't stay as friends?"
"Because they ended on a bad note?"
Song Xin'ai shook her head, "It's more so because society doesn't allow it. When you look at two exes sitting together having coffee. People start talking about how they are back together or if one of them isn't getting over the other and is chasing the other again. This sort of stuff makes it difficult to maintain a friendship after a relationship ends."
"I thought most people wouldn't wanna be friends with their exes."
"Sure," said Song Xin'ai. "But in my case, I have the most beautiful memories of my life with Xiang Hulin. I don't see a reason why we have to avoid each other. Especially since we have had three kids together."
"Most would not agree with your opinion," said Raelle.
"No one ever agreed with me anyway," replied Song Xin'ai.
Raelle stood up to leave and said, "I should get going now. I still have to stop by somewhere. I'll wait for you at the party."
"I'll be there with a gift," assured Song Xin'ai.
"I don't lack anything."
"A gift is a thought," said Song Xin'ai. Seeing Raelle leaving, she suddenly recalled something called her out, "Did you find what you're looking for? Regarding Chi Xirui?"
Raelle shook her head, "Not yet. I'll share it with you once I do find it out."
Song Xin'ai nodded her head as she followed her out. But before Raelle could leave, someone came to block her way. He looked rather young. In fact, Raelle could tell he looked even younger than her by a couple of years. But seeing he was a part of the research center, it showed he was quite smart.
"You're Professor Song's daughter?" asked the young researcher Harry.
Song Xin'ai frowned at him blocking Raelle but Raelle didn't show any expression. She just glanced at Song Xin'ai and didn't deny her relationship with her.
"As a family, how can you not care about her at all?" asked Harry. "She has been hospitalized and no one from her family came to see her. She had been spending days and nights in the lab. She lacks sleep. Doesn't eat properly these days. She doesn't even care about her health. But can you pay a little attention. She is your mother, after all!"
"Harry!" Song Xin'ai's voice took a harsh turn and when Harry looked at her, he was shocked to see Song Xin'ai looking at him with displeasure. From the moment he joined the research center, the mentor he liked the most was Song Xin'ai who had been patient with him and always kept a kind expression. But now, she looked like she was very angry. He couldn't tell why.
Raelle looked at Song Xin'ai then her eyes settled on Harry as she said, "Family? Sure she is my mother but that doesn't mean we are a family." Song Xin'ai closed her eyes briefly when he heard that from Raelle but could refute it. "In this world, I'm the last person who should be asking these questions to."
Song Xin'ai agreed with that too. Raelle didn't deserve to be questioned. She as a mother did nothing for her, so how could anyone just question Raelle for not doing anything for her? Especially when Raelle was already here inviting her to her engagement and didn't just threw her aside.