Chapter 171: Setting a Trap

The video was not long, consisting of only two segments, totaling less than ten minutes in all.

When Elder Ruan heard that Ruan Yinyin had actually offered to hand over fifteen percent of the Ruan family shares on a silver platter, his face turned pitch black with fury.

For his own granddaughter to humble herself so deeply just to beg someone, even going so far as to use company shares to secure a marriage alliance—

If word of this got out, where would the Ruan family's honor and dignity go?

Yet, she was his own granddaughter after all. Even though he had watched the entire video and knew that Ruan Yinyin was the one who had provoked the two elders first, he did not severely scold her. Instead, he directed his blame toward Fu Wenzhou.

"Just because Yinyin uttered a few harsh words, you had to resort to such a heavy hand? If there was anything she did wrong, you could have communicated with the two of us, and naturally we would have disciplined her!"

Elder Madam Ruan chimed in, "No matter how many faults Yinyin has, it is still no justification for Fu Wenzhou to lay a hand on her. Qingyou, if you still consider me your elder, do not interfere in this matter!"

Song Qingyou's expression cooled with a hint of indifference, and she refused to back down. "Is Elder Madam Ruan condoning her own granddaughter acting as a homewrecker? Or does the Ruan family simply turn a blind eye when their daughter aggressively tries to destroy someone else's relationship?"

Elder Madam Ruan's expression shifted drastically. "What do you mean by that! How is our Yinyin a homewrecker?"

Song Qingyou replied neither servilely nor overbearingly, "Isn't she? The entire Beijing social circle knows that Fu Wenzhou and I are in a relationship, yet Ruan Yinyin continued to pester my boyfriend and even resorted to public slander. My boyfriend warned her repeatedly, yet she remained unrepentant, stubbornly attempting to play the third wheel and tear our relationship apart. Madam, do you consider such behavior correct?"

My... boyfriend?

Yuyou actually acknowledged me in front of outsiders!

Standing behind her, Fu Wenzhou's dark eyes lit up for a fraction of a second, his gaze narrowing slightly as a curve formed at the corner of his lips.

Lying on the bed, Ruan Yinyin watched everything unfold, her vision darkening with blinding rage as she wished she could scream bloody murder.

Elder Madam Ruan's expression was grim. Song Qingyou had expertly positioned herself as the victim, turning passive initiative into an aggressive defense while using the Ruan family's prestige to corner them.

She could only blame her own granddaughter for being so utterly useless!

Elder Ruan was shaking with anger, taking several heavy breaths. "Song Qingyou, I've always known you were sharp-tongued since childhood, and you used to be a reasonable person. But after getting tangled up with this madman from the Fu family, you've been corrupted by proximity and become so unreasonable and overbearing!"

Song Qingyou looked toward the elderly couple and gently shook her head. "It is precisely because I wanted to reason with you both that I was willing to bring Fu Wenzhou here today. If not out of respect for the two elders' past kindness, given how Ruan Yinyin humiliated me, do you really think I would have left things at this?"

She suddenly tossed the question back at the Ruan elders.

Her tone was utterly calm, yet it caused both elderly members of the Ruan family to freeze in place.

Had this incident occurred before the Song family changed hands, the Ruan elders might not have taken Song Qingyou seriously. But this was a young woman who had bided her time for years, ultimately sending her own biological father and siblings straight to prison.

As for the rest of the Song family, some were dead, some were injured, others were rotting behind bars, and there was even a vegetative patient lying in a hospital bed—she hadn't even spared her stepmother, Li Ru.

Such a deep and calculating mind was not something an ordinary person possessed.

If not for a sliver of past affection with Elder Madam Ruan, Ruan Yinyin might well have turned up dead in some remote wilderness one day without a soul ever knowing who did it!

Elder Madam Ruan swept her gaze across Song Qingyou and Fu Wenzhou, and the raging fire within her chest suddenly extinguished.

It was not because she was willing to let it go, but because growing angry was completely useless.

Fu Wenzhou was a madman who acted recklessly and defied all conventions—he was someone they simply could not afford to provoke.

Song Qingyou was even more terrifying, resembling a venomous snake lurking in the dark, silent and still, yet capable of executing the most cruel and fatal revenge from the shadows.

Neither of these two was a kind soul; both were ruthless fiends who never let a single grievance go unpunished.

Not a single person in this couple was innocent!

If the Ruan family's influence could easily crush the Fu and Song families, it would be one thing, but they stood on equal footing, neither truly superior to the other.

This meant that even if they fought to the bitter end, the only possible outcome would be mutual destruction.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Observing the expressions on the faces of the Ruan elders, Song Qingyou's lips curved upward ever so slightly before she quickly straightened her features, shedding the cold demeanor she had worn moments before.

She covered her mouth with a soft cough, her willow-like brows furrowing gently, transforming back into the frail and harmless Song Qingyou people were accustomed to seeing.

"Of course I know the Ruan family isn't short on money, but this sum of two hundred thousand is the maximum compensation required by law. Please accept it as a token of sincerity from both myself and Wenzhou."

Unfazed by the gloomy glares from the Ruan elders, Song Qingyou placed the money on the table, her voice softening. "Elder Madam, Grandfather Ruan, I believe you must already be aware that Wenzhou has successfully located Master Yunfang's disciple, Yunnian."

At the mention of Yunnian, the old madam immediately lifted her eyes. However, she did not rush to reply, choosing instead to wait for Song Qingyou to continue.

Song Qingyou stepped forward and gently took Elder Madam Ruan's hand. "I heard that Young Master Ruan's condition has worsened again? Once Yunnian returns from Haizhou, I can have him take a look at the young master."

In truth, Song Qingyou had previously consulted Yunnian about treating the young Ruan master. Having previously observed the boy's condition during a visit to the Ruan residence, she had outlined the general symptoms to Yunnian to see if he could offer a cure.

After listening, Yunnian had stated he was ninety percent confident, prompting Song Qingyou to plan a consultation for the Ruan child upon his return from Haizhou.

She had never expected that an act of kindness would eventually become a bargaining chip.

Song Qingyou sighed inwardly.

The Ruan family had long been searching far and wide for physicians, and they were naturally familiar with the renowned Master Yunfang. Yet, for all these years, Master Yunfang had wandered the four corners of the earth without leaving a trace. They had been utterly astonished a few days prior to hear that Fu Wenzhou had actually brought Master Yunfang's disciple back with him.

They had been wondering when the right time would be to bring it up with Song Qingyou and ask the young disciple to examine little Zhi.

Yet, with the incident involving Ruan Yinyin happening midway, the enmity between the two families seemed set in stone, and Elder Madam Ruan had already abandoned that hope entirely—never expecting Song Qingyou to bring it up of her own accord.

This condition was indeed overwhelmingly tempting. The Ruan elders exchanged a glance, neither of them speaking a word.

Yet sometimes, silence speaks volumes.

Lying in bed, Ruan Yinyin widened her eyes in horror, her gaze filled with bitter hatred. Terrified that Elder Madam Ruan might actually agree, her entire body writhed violently as a hoarse, whimpering sound escaped her throat.

Lowering her gaze to look at her granddaughter, Elder Madam Ruan felt a pang of agonizing heartbreak. Yet, no matter how much it ached, it could never outweigh the importance of saving Ruan Zhi's life.

Meeting Elder Madam Ruan's guilt-ridden gaze, Ruan Yinyin was consumed by a fury so intense she longed to scream: *Why?!*

*Aren't I the one you dote on the most?*

*Why are you so willing to brush past my humiliation just for the sake of your grandson?*

Unable to believe her eyes, Ruan Yinyin struggled frantically as tears streamed down her face, glaring relentlessly at her grandparents.

Unable to bear it any longer, Elder Madam Ruan hardened her heart, turned her head away, and said to Song Qingyou, "Since you are willing to save my little grandson, we will consider the matter with Yinyin as never having happened. It was Yinyin's fault to begin with; we will discipline her properly in the future and ensure she never goes near Wenzhou again."

Song Qingyou had anticipated this outcome all along.

Human hearts always leaned toward a preference.

No matter how much one was favored or pampered on ordinary days, when a critical choice had to be made, they would always lean toward the one they loved more.