"Her?" Lin Zhaojiang was slightly taken aback, then chuckled, "She's not a family member of mine, she's my aunt's student."

“Xu Yanqing…” Song Wan murmured her name, her fingertips tracing the photo, and she couldn’t help but smile. “She’s really beautiful.”

Lin Zhaojiang quickly said, "You're beautiful too."

Song Wan nudged him, her expression charmingly innocent. "She's my aunt's student, so is she also a playwright?"

“Yes,” Lin Zhaojiang said. “I know nothing about her, but I’ve heard that she is a very talented writer and screenwriter. However, she is very low-key and has always kept herself a secret from the outside world. She has not published many works, so very few people know her name.”

Song Wan asked curiously, "Does she still write books?"

Lin Zhaojiang shook his head. "Later, she was heartbroken and seemed to be dying for a man. My aunt was very disappointed in her and never contacted her again."

"And then what?"

"Then... she passed away." Lin Zhaojiang put his arm around her shoulder. "I actually know nothing about her. If you want to know, you can ask my aunt yourself."

Song Wan was taken aback and gently lowered her eyes.

Lin Zhaojiang smiled and gently stroked her face with his large hand. "Speaking of which, I'd like to introduce you to my aunt when the time is right. Is that alright?"

Song Wan was a little scared, her gaze timid.

“Wanwan,” the man said softly, his hands resting on her shoulders, each word flowing like a gentle stream, “to me, your aunt is just like my mother, even closer than my mother. You know, my parents passed away early, and it was my aunt and uncle who were there for me through a very difficult time. When I first took this position, many people in the Zhonglin Group were eyeing me covetously, and it was my aunt and uncle who stabilized the situation, and it was my maternal grandfather’s family who helped me secure my position… I want to marry you, and I don’t care what the Lin family thinks, but I must bring you to my aunt and uncle, to my maternal grandfather’s family. I want their blessings.”

Song Wan nodded, understanding dawning on her. Her aunt was her future mother-in-law.

She asked him softly, "Is Auntie... easy to get along with?"

"What if they're difficult to get along with?"

Song Wan bit her lip lightly, "I will try my best to make her like me."

Lin Zhaojiang's eyes flickered slightly. "The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship in such a large family might be more tense than in an ordinary family. Can you adapt?"

She barely hesitated before firmly uttering a single word: "Yes."

This surprised Lin Zhaojiang.

"Didn't you just say that your aunt and uncle were there for you during the most difficult time? I believe that your aunt loves you, and I... I love you too, so your aunt must be able to feel my sincerity towards you."

"Then what?"

"Then..." Song Wan paused, "She will definitely accept me! Time will tell."

She spoke so earnestly that she didn't notice the smile welling up in the man's eyes.

“Don’t worry,” Lin Zhaojiang said gently, “My aunt and uncle are both very easy to get along with. They are very sentimental people, and you’re right, they both love me very much, so they would be happy to see another person love me.”

Song Wan chuckled softly, leaning gently against his chest, and continued looking through the photo album.

However, her gaze lingered on Xu Yanqing's face for a moment, and in that instant, a strange feeling swept through her heart.

...

He Yining sneaked around a side path and arrived at the back door of the He family mansion, then quietly opened the door.

This is the He family's backyard, a place rarely visited by people. The road outside is a private road, without any vehicles. Chen Li had been waiting here for a long time, and upon seeing He Yining, she excitedly waved to her.

But after seeing He Yining's disgusted expression, her smile froze on her lips, and she finally managed only a forced, insincere smile.

“Ningning…”

"Are you crazy?!" He Yining berated her as soon as she saw her. "How did you find your way here? The maid said there was someone outside in the backyard and was going to call security... Luckily I stopped her!"

“Ningning, I…”

"Money again?" He Yining crossed her arms, arrogant and domineering, and sneered coldly, "It seems you don't have anything else to ask me for. So, how much do you want this time? It's for your good-for-nothing son again, isn't it? That piece of trash, why isn't he dead in rehab yet!"

"You!" Chen Li's eyes widened, her expression suddenly changing. "How could you say such a thing about your brother!"

"Let him die! I don't have a brother like that!" He Yining's face was contorted with rage as he pulled a bank card from his pocket and slammed it into Chen Li's face. "There's 200,000 yuan in there. If you dare bother me again... I'll have security throw you out!"

Chen Li stood there stunned for a moment before slowly squatting down to pick up the bank card. Her spirit seemed to still be detached from her body as she stared blankly at her daughter.

In a daze, Song Wan's image appeared in her mind.

She recalled that no matter how she treated Song Wan, that girl never held a grudge. Even when she schemed to get Song Wan into Lin Zhaojiang's bed for money, Song Wan never said a word of "no".

Song Wan was submissive and always granted her mother's requests.

But what about this biological daughter?

Chen Li's heart sank completely.

She didn't come here today to ask for money; it's just that her health has been deteriorating lately, and diabetes has left her exhausted. She thought of her children who also suffer from the same illness, so she first visited Song Huai at the drug rehabilitation center, and then came here to see He Yining.

However……

They've really brought this humiliation upon themselves.

She regretted agreeing to Duan Jinrong's conditions back then and letting He Yining be raised by the He family. Even if they were destitute, she should have kept all her children by her side!

"Ningning," she forced a smile, looking at her ingratiatingly, "Are you in a bad mood today?"

"You're crazy!" He Yining rolled her eyes at her in disgust, paused, and then said, "How did you handle that matter?"

"What?"

"Are you suffering from Alzheimer's?" He Yining cursed again. "You said last time that you would help me get rid of Song Wan!"

"Oh, that..." Chen Li explained cautiously, "Ningning, I really haven't found an opportunity. That brat... she's taking advantage of having Lin Zhaojiang backing her up, and she doesn't respect me at all! I asked her to come over for a meal, but she ignored me."

"So the result was that it didn't work out, right?"

He Yining glared angrily.

Before coming to the backyard, she overheard He Cangwu chatting with a friend outside his study. He Cangwu was talking about his investment plan for SL Publishing Company, and his words were full of praise for Song Wan...

She was angry but had nowhere to vent, and Chen Li just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Heh, you really can't find an opportunity?" He Yining sneered, gritting her teeth. "If you really wanted to get rid of someone, how could you not find an opportunity! I think you're just trying to fool me!"