Chapter 116: Is "Qingyou" a name for you to use?

Inside the house, Gu Bai was already arranging the table, completely acting as if he belonged there. Fu Wenzhou scolded him a few times but felt it wasn’t enough, and wanted to kick him with his foot. Unfortunately, his legs weren’t in good shape, and he missed his target.

Seeing this, Gu Bai burst into laughter and mocked him. Fu Wenzhou squinted his eyes and switched to using his cane. This time, Gu Bai was hit squarely, unable to dodge, and he began yelling as he jumped onto Xu Zezhan: “Ah Zhan, he’s bullying me!”

Xu Zezhan was engrossed in his phone when suddenly someone leapt onto him. Startled, he nearly dropped his phone. Seeing Fu Wenzhou approaching, Xu Zezhan quickly closed his phone and pushed Gu Bai aside: “Weren’t you going to play mahjong?”

Gu Bai’s attention immediately shifted, and he started clamoring to play mahjong.

After everyone sat down, Liang Muchuan suddenly asked, “Qingyou, want to join a round?”

Song Qingyou was chatting with Yan Miao about entertainment gossip and was caught off guard when called out. She hesitated, “I don’t know how to play mahjong, you all go ahead.”

Liang Muchuan replied casually, “It’s fine, just for fun.”

Fu Wenzhou’s eyes flickered slightly, and with a cold sneer, he said, “You invited Qingyou too?”

Liang Muchuan raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t a name meant to be called?”

Fu Wenzhou’s face darkened instantly, his thick black brows like twin swords. Before he could lash out, Xu Zezhan sensed the tension and stepped between them: “Enough already. We’re brothers, it’s the New Year—don’t ruin the mood.”

Gu Bai tried to smooth things over: “Yeah, what’s with you guys?”

Xu Zezhan glanced at Liang Muchuan and lowered his voice: “We’ve watched this guy grow up. You know how much he loves Song Qingyou. It’s not easy for him to finally be with her. So don’t mess things up, unless you don’t want this brother anymore.”

Liang Muchuan’s face remained cold, silent.

He had indeed once harbored some secret feelings for Song Qingyou, mostly admiration though, with no real intentions. What he couldn’t stand was Fu Wenzhou acting as if Song Qingyou was his possession, as if everything in the world must belong to him if he wanted it.

Just for glancing at Song Qingyou a bit longer at a dinner, Fu Wenzhou threw a punch at him. At the time, Liang Muchuan hadn’t thought much of it, but when he got home and found half a tooth missing, he ended up spending tens of thousands to fix it.

Thinking about this still made Liang Muchuan furious. He was determined to make Fu Wenzhou suffer a little.

But Xu Zezhan was right—Fu Wenzhou treated Song Qingyou like his life. What could he do with such a hopeless romantic, love-struck brother? He had no choice but to swallow his anger.

After reassuring himself, Liang Muchuan sat back down and coldly said two words: “Deal.”

Fu Wenzhou snorted coldly, sat opposite him, and kicked Gu Bai’s leg: “Are you still playing or not?”

Gu Bai grinned cheerfully, “Of course.”

Xu Zezhan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the matter was settled.

“Hey, do you think Liang Muchuan likes you?” Yan Miao, who had been observing for a while, leaned over and whispered into Song Qingyou’s ear.

Song Qingyou sipped her tea calmly and said, “No, you’re overthinking.”

“Really?” Yan Miao touched her nose and glanced back at Liang Muchuan, who was shuffling his tiles. Noticing the gaze, he looked up and made a cutting gesture across his neck.

Yan Miao muttered, “…Seems I was overthinking.”

Song Qingyou set down her cup, wiped her lips, and responded nonchalantly.

Yan Miao rested her chin in her hand, staring at Song Qingyou’s profile. Back in college, they were classmates. Yan Miao remembered the day she saw Song Qingyou step out of a car—a breathtaking glimpse that left a lasting impression.

Several times, Yan Miao thought she almost developed feelings for her.

Song Qingyou was just too beautiful, almost unearthly. Back then, she was a bit plumper, not as slender or frail as now. She looked healthier and more vibrant.

Now, when not smiling, she resembled a snow lotus on an iceberg—distant and untouchable.

How to put it?

If Yan Miao had to choose a word, it would be “aloofness.”

Even after years of friendship, whenever they met after a long time, Song Qingyou still carried an aura of distance that normal people wouldn’t dare to breach.

But Yan Miao wasn’t normal. Though intimidated, she would still give Song Qingyou a warm, sincere hug.

Because Yan Miao knew Song Qingyou needed such embraces.

Lost in thought, Song Qingyou didn’t notice when Yan Miao called her name twice, only responding after the third call: “You called me?”

Song Qingyou smiled lightly: “What are you daydreaming about?”

Yan Miao peeled a lychee and naturally offered it to Song Qingyou: “Do you think this New Year will pass smoothly?”

“Why wouldn’t it?” Song Qingyou smiled, accepting the lychee and swapping the snacks Yan Miao liked to her side.

Yan Miao whispered mysteriously, “The news that you’re sending the whole Song family to the bureau has already spread out. Otherwise, why do you think Gu Bai and my brother showed up?”

Song Qingyou glanced casually at Yan Shaoqin sitting on the sofa, absorbed in his phone. Fu Wenzhou and the others were playing cards, but he showed no intention of joining, instead just fiddling with his phone.

She pointed at Yan Shaoqin: “Why isn’t your brother playing?”

Yan Miao explained, “He always loses when he gambles. Every time, he ends up losing money to your guy. My grandpa and Fu Wenzhou’s grandpa have never gotten along—they’ve held grudges for years. After grandpa heard my brother kept losing, especially to Fu’s great-grandson, he strictly forbade him from playing cards during the New Year.”

Song Qingyou couldn’t help but laugh: “So that’s why.”

Yan Miao turned serious: “I’m asking you something important, don’t change the subject.”

Seeing Yan Miao’s earnestness, Song Qingyou smiled: “Go ahead.”

Yan Miao said, “This news is probably everywhere now. People will gossip about you, but that’s inevitable—you can’t control what others say. But how will you handle the Song Group’s board? Although your father and your unrelated siblings are all in custody, they still hold shares. You made such a big scene this time. Surely, you have other plans beyond just putting that family away?”

Song Qingyou looked at Yan Miao with some surprise.

Yan Miao’s mind was usually filled with trivial things like food and fun, but when serious, she was surprisingly perceptive.

Song Qingyou smiled: “I plan to take over the Song Group.”

“Ah?” Yan Miao was puzzled. “But I heard from my brother that the Song Group’s cash flow is broken and won’t survive this New Year. Taking over now means you’re just cleaning up a mess. Besides, those old foxes on the board won’t be easy to deal with.”

Song Qingyou said calmly, “That’s why I plan to go to Jiangcheng to meet with the CEO of SY.”