Chapter 6: The Song Family
The news of Song Qingyou and Fu Tingshen’s divorce spread a week later, triggered by a reporter capturing Fu Tingshen with Lin Niaoniao as they left the obstetrics and gynecology department together. Once the story was published, speculation and rumors ran rampant. Some even dug up old scandals, claiming that for three years after his marriage, Fu Tingshen was often seen in public with Lin Niaoniao, while neglecting his real wife, causing a surge of public outrage against the two.
It wasn’t until Fu Tingshen personally issued a statement on Weibo, declaring that he and Song Qingyou had divorced long ago, that he and Lin Niaoniao had known each other since childhood and shared mutual affection, and that their rekindled relationship was simply the result of a long period alone, that the rumors of infidelity were addressed. He took the opportunity to announce their upcoming wedding next month.
He then released the divorce agreement, proving that he hadn’t shortchanged Song Qingyou in the division of assets.
Though this explanation was reasonable, and the uproar eventually subsided, the incident still impacted the stock prices of both the Song and Fu families.
When Song Yuan’s call came, Song Qingyou was not surprised in the least. After a brief preparation, she went downstairs to find Song Chang already waiting for her.
Upon arriving at the Song family residence, Song Qingyou was struck by a sense of dislocation. It had only been three years, yet so much had changed—the big tree in the courtyard was new, and the yard, once filled with blooming roses, now boasted nothing but vibrant, thorny red roses.
Song Qingyou knew well that her father’s new wife favored roses above all.
She pulled out a handkerchief and covered her nose and mouth—she was allergic to roses and couldn’t stand the scent.
She followed the servant into the house. Today, a strong draft blew through the hall, making Song Qingyou frown and cough a few times. The servants ignored her, standing motionless, letting her shiver in the cold.
Song Qingyou couldn’t help but speak up, “Could someone please close the windows?”
One of the servants forced a smile. “Sorry, miss, but madam said the furniture is all new and might have formaldehyde. We need to keep the place well-ventilated.”
At that moment, two people descended the stairs.
Song Qingyou looked up.
Ah, her so-called father and his newly-wed wife.
As Song Yuan passed her, he scoffed coldly, “You’re getting bold, daring to get divorced without consulting me.”
Song Qingyou replied with composure, “Lin Niaoniao is pregnant. Fu Tingshen asked for the divorce. There was nothing I could do.”
Song Yuan sneered, “Can’t even keep a man, useless!”
Song Qingyou’s expression remained calm. “You’re absolutely right.”
Song Yuan had never shown much concern for his frail, sickly daughter. The only reason he summoned her back today was because she still held fifteen percent of Ding Sheng Pharmaceuticals' shares.
In recent years, pharmaceuticals had become the most promising industry. Ding Sheng Pharmaceuticals was a rising star in the field, and that fifteen percent stake was not just equity—it was the key to the Song family’s entrance into the sector.
With that in mind, Song Yuan softened his tone, but his words were still imperious. “At least you knew enough to keep your share in the divorce. You’re not completely useless, it seems. Tomorrow, you’ll go with your stepmother and sign the transfer—give her your fifteen percent of Ding Sheng Pharmaceuticals.”
Li Ruo, as she massaged Song Yuan’s back, chimed in with a sweet, smiling voice, “Why wait? Today’s as good a day as any. Qingyou, what do you think?”
Song Qingyou’s throat itched terribly, her head aching from the draft. She glanced sidelong at Li Ruo. “I have no objection to giving the shares to my stepmother, but… cough… but, Father, now that I’m divorced and have no one to rely on, this equity is all I have left. Could you…”
Song Yuan frowned. “The Song family is your support. What does a girl with one foot in the grave need with these shares? Planning to take them to your coffin?”
Song Qingyou paused, her heart turning cold.
Listen to that—the words a father says to his own daughter.
He’d ignored her since childhood, allowed her siblings to bully her, and even the servants dared to boss her around and mock her, simply because in Song Yuan’s eyes, she was nothing but a bringer of bad luck.
Her tongue pressed against her teeth, Song Qingyou slowly forced a polite smile. “Father, it’s unfortunate—I’ve already sold the shares.”
Li Ruo reacted first, her sharp voice shrieking, “What did you say?! You sold the shares?”
Song Qingyou met her gaze with a gentle smile. “Yes, I sold them.”
Song Yuan’s face darkened immediately. “You didn’t consult me about the divorce, and now you sell the shares without telling me. Song Qingyou, do you even acknowledge me as your father?”
Li Ruo had spent all of last night coaxing and cajoling Song Yuan just to get him to agree to retrieve the shares from Song Qingyou for herself. Now, to learn they were already sold—she couldn’t swallow the indignity.
Thinking of her wasted efforts the night before, Li Ruo’s fury grew. “You’ve only been divorced a week—when did you have time to sell those shares? Are you trying to keep them for yourself and cheat the Song family?”
Not giving Song Qingyou a chance to answer, Li Ruo buried her head in Song Yuan’s chest, whining sweetly, “Darling, didn’t I say this girl is just an ungrateful wolf in sheep’s clothing? You didn’t believe me.”
Song Qingyou stood quietly, watching Li Ruo’s performance as one might watch a circus monkey.
Song Yuan was always susceptible to her act. After a bout of feigned tenderness, his gaze toward Song Qingyou grew even colder. “Who did you sell the shares to?”
Song Qingyou answered truthfully, “Yan Shaoqin.”
Another gust of wind swept in, making Song Qingyou knit her brows. She raised her handkerchief and coughed softly.
The sound of her intermittent coughing irritated Song Yuan. He glared at her. “If you’re going to cough, get out! Don’t bring your bad luck into the Song house!”
Song Qingyou froze, her face turning pale from its previous flush. Her lips parted, but she said nothing and turned to go.
Li Ruo’s mocking voice drifted after her. “Just as annoying as her wretched mother.”
Song Qingyou stopped abruptly, turning back to look at Li Ruo.
Li Ruo happened to be watching her, and that one look from Song Qingyou made her breath catch. The words of scorn on her lips died before they left her mouth. By the time she realized she had been intimidated by a single glance from the once-timid, sickly girl, the slender figure had already disappeared down the corridor.
She swallowed hard, feeling she must have been imagining things. How could the weak, easily-bullied invalid have such a cold, menacing stare—like the gaze of death itself?
Ashamed that she’d been frightened by Song Qingyou, Li Ruo turned back to Song Yuan, fanning the flames. “There’s so much talk about the Song family entering pharmaceuticals, and she goes and sells our only shares in Ding Sheng. She has no consideration for the family at all!”
Song Yuan replied impatiently, “What’s done is done. As for the Fu family, they begged for our alliance back then. Now that they’ve expanded and secured their position in the capital, they want to cast us aside. Ungrateful wretches!”
“So what’s your plan, then? Surely you’re not going to seek justice for Song Qingyou? If you ask me, it’s her own fault she couldn’t keep her husband. Three years of marriage and not a single child—probably can’t bear one with that frail body.”
Song Yuan snorted. “Just a pawn. If it’s broken, so be it. But we must take advantage of this situation and bleed the Fu family dry.”
Song Yuan’s original name was Luo Yuan. He’d married into the Song family for both his looks and his business acumen. Otherwise, the family business would never have flourished after the old master’s death.
Now, he could use Song Qingyou’s divorce to gain the upper hand and demand development rights to the eastern district from the Fu family.