Chapter 141: Chapter 141: The Only "Salvation" to Grasp
Song Yangming watched Chi Wan. She seemed completely unaffected by her family’s bankruptcy, her bright face showing she was happily enjoying her university life. A flash of resentful jealousy flickered in his eyes.
But he quickly lowered his head, hiding his gaze.
He hadn’t forgotten the purpose of his visit today; in fact, he was filled with a certain malicious anticipation.
Although Song Yangming was Chi Wan’s uncle, he was only ten years older than her.
The year Chi Wan was born, a ten-year-old Song Yangming had actually felt a sense of joy looking at the tiny, soft baby.
But later, he watched as Chi Wan, from the moment she was born, easily possessed everything he didn’t have. Meanwhile, Qian Cuicui and Song Jianguo constantly whispered in his ear that all of it should have been his.
The family fortune his sister and Chi Yuanshan had built, and everything Chi Wan now enjoyed—it all should have been his.
They should have just handed everything to him, be it money or anything else.
But then, Song Yangming discovered he wasn’t Song Jianguo and Qian Cuicui’s son after all.
His biological father, it turned out, was a member of the He Family.
However, nothing went as he had imagined. He had walked right into a trap set just for him, getting entangled in gambling debts and tricked into a living hell.
He didn’t want to think about what happened next. He had lost everything, but at least he was still alive. He hadn’t dared to hope for anything more.
That was until his biological father, Song Baihan, found him and told him the truth about the traps. It was all He Lingfeng’s doing, a plot to stop him from claiming Song Baihan’s inheritance—because Song Baihan’s life was on a countdown, and He Lingfeng couldn’t wait any longer.
It was because Song Baihan had been planning to officially acknowledge him as his son.
As he watched Song Baihan, with tears in his eyes, say he had failed him and that He Lingfeng shouldn’t have discovered his existence so soon, Song Yangming finally felt like he had been given a new lease on life.
After he and Song Baihan acknowledged each other, those nightmarish scenes slowly faded, leaving only Song Baihan’s words behind.
Song Baihan had said, "Since He Lingfeng is so heartless, willing to destroy you at all costs, then I won’t go easy on them either. You are my son; you should have been the one to inherit everything from me. But they bear the surname He. In the end, their hearts are not with mine."
Sharing the same surname was proof of their natural alliance, the ultimate expression of their blood ties.
Thanks to the importance and obsession Song Jianguo and Qian Cuicui had placed on surnames for years, Song Yangming believed this without a doubt.
He never once wondered why Song Baihan’s son, born into the He Family, had the surname He.
The only thought in Song Yangming’s mind now was: ’I am Song Baihan’s son. Once Song Baihan dies, I can have everything I’ve ever wanted.’
Before that could happen, his biggest obstacles were the current successors of the He Family: He Rong and his son, He Lingfeng.
But Song Baihan had told him that He Lingfeng had taken a liking to Chi Wan. Chi Wan, however, did not reciprocate and was trying to find a way to escape He Lingfeng’s control.
As long as they used Chi Wan to catch He Lingfeng in a mistake, they could naturally bring down He Rong as well. And Chi Wan, as the pawn, would of course be "used to her full potential."
And the only thing Song Yangming needed to do... was to give He Lingfeng an opportunity. An opportunity to destroy the person standing right in front of him.
*
"Wanwan, I... Your uncle knows I was wrong about what happened before." When Song Yangming raised his head again, his face was filled with regret and remorse.
Combined with his haggard appearance, he did look rather pitiful.
But Chi Wan wasn’t easily moved. She remained indifferent. "What do you really want from me? I’m not my parents, and I’m not giving you any money."
Song Yangming’s expression stiffened. "Wanwan, after everything that’s happened, I truly know I was wrong. You already know I’m not your biological uncle, right? But my biological father’s side... I’m afraid it’ll be hard for them to accept me. Look at the state I’m in."
He brazenly showed his severed wrist to Chi Wan. "I only just found out that this happened to me because my biological father’s grandson set a trap for me. Wanwan, I truly regret everything, and I’m scared. I finally understand how good your parents were to me."
Chi Wan stared at Song Yangming’s wrist without a word, but her expression was no longer as cold as before.
Seeing this, Song Yangming felt he had a chance and pressed on, "Wanwan, we’re the ones who are a real family. Think about it, I’m only ten years older than you. When you were little, I was just a teenager myself, and I used to play with you.
"If I hadn’t been framed and gotten addicted to gambling, how could I have done those inhuman things?! I was just scared, and all I could think about was paying off my debts. But after having a brush with death, I finally understand that family is the most important thing."
As he spoke of these emotional matters, his eyes even turned red.
Chi Wan finally showed a hint of hesitation. "You... Since you’ve come to your senses, just try to be a better person from now on. Grandpa and Grandma were hit hard by what you did, and now I don’t even know where they’ve gone..."
Song Yangming quickly replied, "Don’t worry, Wanwan. That’s what I came to talk to you about. I couldn’t find my sister and brother-in-law. Did they go somewhere? Wanwan, you need to be careful. My biological father told me his grandson has his eyes on you now and is trying everything to get you.
"But your uncle absolutely cannot stand by and watch him try to harm you after he’s already destroyed me! I came today to warn you to be careful. I... I’ll do my best to protect you, too!
"So, if you run into any danger, you have to tell me. Just... consider it my way of atoning for what I did before."
After speaking, he left with a look of shame, not waiting for Chi Wan’s reaction. He didn’t press the matter of the Friday banquet.
Chi Wan watched Song Yangming’s retreating back, sneering inwardly while her face held a thoughtful expression.
’If Song Yangming really thought the way he claimed, he wouldn’t have ended up in the mess he’s in now.’
’Too bad he never learns his lesson. Song Baihan only had to toss him a little bait, and he’d bite the hook and refuse to let go.’
’It’s understandable, though. The Song Yangming of today has practically nothing, and Song Baihan is the only "salvation" he can grasp onto.’
In any case, since the ladder was already in place, all Chi Wan had to do now was wait for Song Yangming to come and "trick" her. As for Song Yangming’s fate, she didn’t care. He was destined to once again lose everything he desperately wanted.
Meanwhile, Song Yangming, who had already rounded the corner, looked back at Chi Wan still standing in the same spot and sneered to himself. ’Just like her weak parents. All it takes is a few nice words and some emphasis on so-called family bonds, and she goes soft.’
’Once Chi Wan and He Lingfeng are at each other’s throats, I’ll have my revenge.’
While Song Yangming was plotting how to successfully trick Chi Wan into attending He Lingfeng’s banquet, Chi Wan sent a message to Qin Shi.
"I’ve already figured out a way to get into He Lingfeng’s banquet. You just need to bring up the idea of tricking me into going at the right time. It doesn’t matter if He Lingfeng believes you or not. It might make things a little easier for you for a while."
