"By the way, that Song Jiaping, he comes and goes as he pleases, treating our group like a marketplace? Who approved his resignation?" Huangfu Sisong had only learned about Song Jiaping's resignation over a month ago and was somewhat displeased. Forgetting the relationship between Song Jiaping and Mengyao, he questioned Mengqi.
"His family member is ill and needs a loved one's company," Mengqi replied, signaling her father. Seeing Mengyao already lowering her head with a blank expression, she feared she had reopened an old wound.
Upon hearing Song Jiaping's name, Hong Jiaxi and Yao Feili also fell silent, their expressions turning considerably colder.
The lively atmosphere at the dinner table subsided. Wu Xiufang glared at Huangfu Sisong and said, "I told you not to talk about group matters during dinner. It's ruined everyone's mood. Try this layered cornmeal pastry I made myself."
She then served a piece to Huangfu Sisong and encouraged everyone else to try it. Only then did they set aside their thoughts and continue eating cheerfully.
After the meal, Huangfu Sisong and Wu Xiufang went to the study, while the younger generation continued chatting in the living room.
Yao Feili knew that Hong Jiaxi had opened a pharmaceutical company and was very interested in the pharmaceutical sector in Lancheng, so he and Hong Jiaxi hit it off very well.
Mengyao seized the opportunity to hint to Mengqi, saying, "Sister, I've bought quite a few fashion items and jewelry these days. Can you help me see if my choices are good?"
Mengqi smiled and nodded, then went upstairs with her to Mengyao's room.
As soon as the door closed, Mengyao immediately asked, "Song Jiaping resigned. Is he going back to being a doctor? You said his family member was ill, is it his mother? How is she, is it serious?"
She asked so many questions at once that Mengqi didn't know where to begin. She simply said, "I saw you and Jiaxi reconciling and you both seemed very happy together. Don't worry about Song Jiaping anymore. No matter how he is now, pretend you don't know. Learn to let go and move on."
"Sister, you say it so nicely and simply. But what about you? You're already married, so why can't you let go of him?" Mengyao retorted.
Mengqi asked, bewildered, "Who are you saying I can't let go of?"
"You're still pretending! Who else could it be but Song Jiaping!" Mengyao couldn't stand her sanctimonious demeanor. "Even if Song Jiaping likes you, and he doesn't let go, you can't cross the line of morality and meet him privately behind your brother-in-law's back."
"I..." Mengqi was completely confused by her words. "When did I ever meet him privately? We have no relationship at all! Even if we occasionally had dinner alone, it was because of you."
"Because of me? You're good at finding excuses. If you two hit it off and want to be together secretly, what does that have to do with me!" Mengyao said angrily.
Mengqi also said excitedly, "Isn't it because he wanted to know your recent situation from me!"
"He would inquire about me from you?" Mengyao's anger vanished instantly, and she asked disbelievingly.
Mengqi knew she shouldn't tell her this, but the words were already out.
Her emotions also calmed down considerably. "Yes. He likes you, and he always has."
Mengyao suddenly sat down on a chair, stunned, murmuring, "No, how could that be? He said he had stronger feelings for you than for me, that he hated me..."
Mengqi sighed helplessly and said, "I don't know what he's thinking specifically. All I know is that he likes you, but he has many concerns. He's intentionally distancing himself from you, yet he's always thinking about you. His actions are very strange, and I always feel like he's hiding some secret. Sigh, he's a complicated person. It's good that you two didn't end up together. Don't overthink it anymore."
"Then what kind of illness did his mother have that made him have to resign to accompany her?" Mengyao's heart was filled with mixed emotions at this moment.
Mengqi looked at her and said, "A terminal illness. It seems she doesn't have much time left."
Mengyao suddenly felt a pang of pain in her heart. Song Jiaping only had his mother left. If he lost this last relative, how lonely he would be from now on.
She now wished she could disregard everything and soothe the pain in his heart, but her reason told her she couldn't do that.
"Which hospital is she in?"
"I don't know. He didn't tell me. It seems he doesn't want to disturb his mother," Mengqi said, seeing her look lost again. She advised, "Forget it. Since you've chosen Jiaxi, be with Jiaxi properly. Don't keep thinking about other men in your heart. Is that fair to Jiaxi?"
"Do you think you're being fair to your brother-in-law?" Mengyao asked.
Mengqi paused slightly and said, "I admit I don't have that strong a love for him. Our marriage is more like a combination of two interests. But I've never loved passionately before either. It's all the same who I marry, fair or not. Your brother-in-law is remarried, and he understands this better than I do. So, we've been clear-headed and rational since we got together. You don't need to worry about us."
Mengyao said "Oh," not entirely agreeing with Mengqi's statement.
Mengqi might be rational, but she saw the way Yao Feili looked at Mengqi every time, and it didn't seem as clear-headed as Mengqi thought. He should still have genuine feelings for Mengqi.
Mengqi reminded her, "Don't forget the forces behind the Hong family. If you provoke Song Jiaping at this time, you'll only make him an enemy of the Hong family. You'll be the death of him."
Seeing Mengyao's shocked expression, Mengqi felt that having said all this, Mengyao should now understand the gravity of the situation.
She didn't need to say anything more and opened the door, walking out.
Mengyao hadn't considered these things before, but Mengqi's words made her realize that after choosing Hong Jiaxi, breaking up with him might not be so easy.
Seeing that she shouldn't think about Song Jiaping anymore, and having agreed to be Hong Jiaxi's girlfriend again, she should devote herself to Jiaxi and not be half-hearted.
She knew everything in her heart, yet she still couldn't help but wonder how Song Jiaping's mother was doing now. Was Song Jiaping staying at the hospital with his mother every day?
...
In the study, Wu Xiufang couldn't help but scold Huangfu Sisong a few times, saying he shouldn't have mentioned Song Jiaping in front of Mengyao.
"Didn't you see the expression on that girl Yaoyao's face just now? She still has feelings for Song Jiaping."
"I just didn't think about it," Huangfu Sisong said regretfully. "It's good that the Song fellow resigned. Then he'll have no more connection with our family and can be completely cut off from Yaoyao."
Wu Xiufang nodded and said, "Jiaxi is a good kid, but the Hong family's background is too complicated. Will Yaoyao suffer if she marries into their family?"
"I also feel that the Hong family's background is always a bit shady. They haven't completely cleared their name over the years. However, as long as Yaoyao and Jiaxi's relationship is good, the Hong family shouldn't treat Yaoyao badly. Forget it, let's not dwell on these things anymore. Yaoyao has her own destiny."
Wu Xiufang sighed and said, "Yaoyao has been used to freedom since she was little. Let her be."