When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 125: Chapter 62: Top Star of the ’60s Cultural Troupe (1)

”Couldn’t you have just pretended you didn’t know anything after you found out? Why did you have to tell me? To bring an ugly duckling like me into this compound, just to be ostracized and disliked by everyone?”

”Song Ruoyun is the one who’s part of your family. I... I’m just an outsider who doesn’t belong...”

”I’m not as pretty as her, my dance foundation isn’t as strong, I don’t have a crowd of people cherishing me, and I certainly don’t... don’t have such a handsome and promising fiancé.”

”My only purpose has been to make her happiness shine brighter. Have any of you ever considered my feelings?”

”No matter what I do, you all think I’m being unreasonable and petty, that I’m just trying to stop you from having both your biological daughter and your adoptive one.”

”Even when I fell down the stairs, you saw it as a ploy to win your favor and frame her, right?”

”Would I really gamble with my own life? I’m just a girl from the countryside. How could I possibly outwit someone as cunning and full of schemes as her? She’s the one who usurped my place, but somehow I’m always the one at fault! I’ll leave, is that what you want? I’ll just go...”

The hysterical, tearful voice, thick with grievance, bombarded Song Ruoyun’s ears, sending sharp pangs of pain through them. Even more piercing was the stinging on her left cheek, the dull ache in her slightly loose teeth, and her hand, which was bleeding freely where it had been cut by the ceramic shards scattered across the floor.

But the blood was barely visible on the red carpet. No one came over to check on the dazed Song Ruoyun. Instead, they crowded around the other girl, endlessly consoling her:

”Zhenbao, we believe you. Didn’t Dad just slap Song Ruoyun a moment ago?”

”We spoiled her rotten. All the cunning she developed over eighteen years, and she had the gall to use it on you.”

”Your father and I were too greedy, and it’s made you suffer all over again.”

”Starting today, we’ll have her move into her work dormitory. Your father and I only need you, our darling daughter, okay? Let’s go to the hospital and get you checked out. A fall from the second story is no small thing; we have to make sure you’re not badly hurt...”

Song Zhenbao clung to her mother, SOBBING. ”Mom... I’ll be good and go to the hospital, but I never want to leave you again. Please don’t look down on me, okay? I’ll try my best to be a daughter you can be proud of...”

As if in some grand, emotional reunion, the family left in a tearful procession, heading straight for the hospital.

Before she left, the mother shot her eldest son a meaningful glance, signaling him to get rid of Song Ruoyun while they were at the hospital.

Gazing at the slender, bowed figure on the floor, the Song Family’s eldest son, Song Huie, clenched his fists. His voice was laced with disappointment and loathing as he said:

”Ruoyun... Song Ruoyun, you pushed Zhenbao down the stairs. That’s attempted murder; you could do time for that. Seeing as you spent eighteen years with our Song Family, we won’t press charges. But starting today, you have nothing more to do with us!”

”Let’s go. I’ll go with you to transfer your household registration from the compound to your work unit. If you behave from now on, we’ll just consider ourselves to have raised an ungrateful wretch. But if I ever see you bullying Zhenbao again, don’t blame the Song Family for getting nasty!”

Song Ruoyun lifted her pale face, a canvas that only made her delicate beauty more striking. She let out a soft laugh. ”Should I change my surname while I’m at it?”

Song Huie stared at her. Her expression held no trace of the panic, remorse, or fear of someone who’d done wrong. She still spoke with that same nonchalant arrogance cultivated over eighteen years of being spoiled.

He gritted his teeth and nodded. ”That’s right. You need to change your name. Your surname is Zhang!”

”I don’t see any reason for you to go upstairs and pack. You’ve got so much pride, don’t you?”

”That pittance you earn every month? You spend it the moment you get it. Everything you own in this house, all your clothes and belongings, we bought them all for you.”

With an impassive expression, Song Ruoyun stood up, clasping her hands behind her back. Her long, curved lashes fluttered once, twice. She pressed her lips together. ”Let’s go.”

Furious, Song Huie stomped upstairs to grab the household registration book, then rummaged around for her work ID. He wheeled out his bicycle and strode ahead. After only a couple of steps, he whipped his head around to glare at Song Ruoyun. ”Let your hair down and cover your face. Don’t walk around looking like some pitiful victim!”

Song Ruoyun shot him a look.

”What? You don’t want your job anymore?” Her stare made Song Huie feel a bit unnerved, but he puffed out his chest and threatened, ”The Song Family is letting you off for trying to murder Zhenbao. Dad slapped you, so what? Are you planning to make a scene and let the whole world know?”

Without a word, Song Ruoyun pulled the band from her hair. A cascade of jet-black locks slid down, concealing her red, swollen cheek, but this only made her appear all the more frail and pitiful.

The Capital City was the capital of Xiahua, and the speed and scale of its economic development were beyond compare to any other province or city.

Factories of all sizes were built side-by-side, their corresponding residential compounds clustered together.