Chapter 44 I am not a bargaining chip

"Is that your boyfriend in the back?"

Of course she recognized Sheng Tingzhou.

I had not only heard his name, but I had also heard too many things about him from other people.

The only son of the Sheng family, with an unfathomable background, and a promising young man.

Even her husband, Zhou Jianping, had to be careful when mentioning it.

Now I see him coming back with his daughter, carrying large and small bags of daily necessities.

His clothes were neat and his expression was natural; it was hardly like a simple "on the way" encounter.

The atmosphere between the two clearly revealed a tacit understanding.

Song Zhiwei's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shook her head.

"No, Mom, don't make wild guesses. He lives upstairs and downstairs. We just happened to buy the place together, it's on the way."

Xie Lingling's eyes flashed, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment crossing her gaze.

She slowly lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the back of her daughter's hand.

She genuinely hoped her daughter could find someone with good conditions; it wasn't out of snobbery, but out of practicality.

During her years in the Zhou family, she was always careful and tolerant.

Even buying a decent piece of clothing for her daughter requires careful consideration.

If Song Zhiwei can marry into a good family, she can stand tall in front of the Zhou family.

No longer do I have to live like an outsider living under someone else's roof.

Song Zhiwei lowered her head to enter the door lock password, her fingertips pausing briefly on the number keys.

After pressing the last button, the door lock clicked softly.

She pushed open the door, stepped aside to let Xie Lingling go in first, and then turned to look at Sheng Tingzhou.

Sheng Tingzhou had already approached, standing under the doorway light, his shadow stretching long and thin.

"Should I leave the things with you, or with me?"

"Leave it with me."

She spoke softly, her tone calm yet tinged with a hint of detachment.

The bag felt very light in his hands.

He bent down slightly and placed the bag securely on the counter, only straightening up after confirming that nothing had been knocked over.

When he came out, he still didn't look at anyone much, only nodding slightly to Xie Lingling.

He then turned around and walked steadily toward the door.

Xie Lingling watched this scene, her gaze fixed on the receding figure.

Until the door was gently closed, making a soft "click" sound.

She slowly withdrew her gaze, turned to look at her daughter, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Sheng Tingzhou helped you move your things? Has the sun risen in the west?"

Song Zhiwei came out of the kitchen, carrying two bottles of chilled mineral water.

She handed one of the bottles to her mother, who was sitting on the sofa, and unscrewed her own bottle with her other hand.

She spoke as calmly as if she were discussing the weather: "He was a very kind person. He just happened to be passing by and offered to help."

Xie Lingling took the water, but didn't drink it right away.

Instead, he held the bottle in his palm and rubbed it back and forth, staring at his daughter with a suspicious look.

"You might say that to others, but I don't believe it. That eldest young master of the Sheng family has never done anything good in Yancheng since he was a child. He acts arrogantly because of his family background, and many people curse him behind his back for being cold-blooded and ruthless. And you still say he's kind-hearted?"

Having spent so many years in high society, she's seen a lot and heard a lot of gossip.

In the past, some girls, unaware of their own limitations, took the initiative to approach Sheng Tingzhou, hoping to climb up this big tree. And what was the result?

If he feels unhappy, the other person's fate is never good.

They either lost their jobs inexplicably, or their reputations were ruined overnight.

She eventually left Yancheng in disgrace, and no one dared to mention her name again.

"He's still my boss."

Song Zhiwei added casually.

"You worked for his company? When did that start? How come you've never mentioned it before?"

Xie Lingling sat up abruptly, her eyes instantly lighting up.

She grabbed Song Zhiwei's wrist and practically dragged her daughter down onto the sofa.

She moved closer herself, staring at her with excitement.

"So, where are you two at now? Is he interested in you? Have you seized any opportunities to climb the social ladder? The Sheng family is one of the most powerful families in Yancheng!"

Song Zhiwei frowned, a strong sense of unease welling up in her heart.

She instinctively pulled her hand back, her fingertips slightly cold.

She hates it when people put her name together with Sheng Tingzhou's.

Especially when using that ambiguous yet expectant tone.

That association made her feel offended.

Perhaps because of her childhood experiences, she always felt that she was not good enough.

He had no illustrious family background, no glamorous connections, and even his mother's marriage was once a laughing stock in their social circle.

She has always tried to keep a low profile, live by her own abilities, and not want to depend on anyone.

Moreover, someone like Sheng Tingzhou was never someone she should have aspired to be.

In addition, I recently heard some of Zhou Zhiwei's remarks.

They say Sheng Tingzhou has been in a bad mood lately, and no one in the company dares to mess with him, except for you.

These words pierced her ears like fine needles, making her even more vigilant.

"Mom, stop dreaming."

Her tone turned somber.

“Why would anyone even look at someone like me? Do you think Sheng Tingzhou is an ordinary person? What he cares about has never been feelings, but rather interests, social status, and resources. In their eyes, a girl like me with such a complicated background doesn’t even have the right to enter the game.”

She knew perfectly well that in this circle, people with any status or position wouldn't seriously consider someone like her.

Not to mention Sheng Tingzhou.

The man who stands at the top, looking down on all living beings, was destined from birth to choose the most suitable marriage partner.

It's not about 'feeling'.

After hearing this, Xie Lingling remained silent for a few seconds, and the excitement on her face slowly faded.

She bent down, twisting the cap of the water bottle, her fingertips turning slightly white, and finally couldn't help but sigh.

"Why don't you give it a try? What if... he really treats you differently?"

If her daughter could really marry into the Sheng family, she wouldn't have to live in constant fear, worried that outsiders would gossip and say that she and her daughter were trying to climb the social ladder and were scheming.

As long as you can establish a firm foothold, you won't have to worry for the next few decades.

"mom!"

Song Zhiwei suddenly stood up, her voice turning cold.

"Don't bring this up again. I'm not your bargaining chip, and I won't gamble on any marriage into a wealthy family."

The atmosphere froze instantly, and even the air seemed to sink.

Seeing her unpleasant expression, Xie Lingling knew that continuing the conversation would only irritate her, so she quickly raised her hands in surrender and softened her tone.

"Okay, okay, let's not talk about it anymore. I admit I misspoke, alright? Let's not discuss this anymore."

She forced a relaxed smile, trying to ease the tension.

Then, on a sudden impulse, he changed the subject: "By the way, your uncle and Qiao Yiqing broke up. Do you know what happened? They were even appearing together in public a few days ago. How did they suddenly fall out?"

The moment those words were spoken, the slightly tense atmosphere came to an abrupt end.

Song Zhiwei fell silent.

Her fingers unconsciously curled up, her nails digging gently into her palm.

The thorn that had been hidden in my heart for so long was suddenly touched gently again.

It hurts so much it feels achy and throbs.

The scene from that night kept replaying in her mind.

Qiao Yiqing stood on the balcony answering the phone, the moonlight shining on her face.