News of Ruan Yinyin's return to the Ruan family and her outburst spread throughout the capital, causing much controversy. People who were previously on good terms with Ruan Yinyin were now eager to sever ties with her, telling everyone they met that they were not familiar with her.
Ruan Yinyin lost four teeth and her voice was also damaged. Although she had undergone surgery and could speak, her voice was different from before, with a hoarse quality typical of an elderly person. Furthermore, her teeth had not been properly repaired, causing her to speak with a lisp.
She locked herself in her house and never went out, only arguing incessantly with the two elders of the Ruan family. She would also beat Ruan Zhi from time to time to vent her anger. Once, when the two elders of the Ruan family found out that she was beating Ruan Zhi, they were so angry that they forcibly locked Ruan Yinyin in the room.
The news about Ruan Yinyin spread throughout the Beijing entertainment circle in just half a month.
When Song Qingyou heard about this, she was attending a dinner party in the entertainment circle. Most of the powerful and influential people in the capital were there, but the Ruan family, who never missed a dinner party, were the only ones absent.
Yan Miao cut a small piece of cake and handed it to Song Qingyou, whispering gossip, "Have you heard about Ruan Yinyin's situation?"
Song Qingyou took a bite of the cake, found it too sweet, and put it back on the table in front of her.
She and Yan Miao sat in the corner, while Fu Wenzhou and other wealthy young men played cards in the upstairs lounge area. With no one bothering her, Song Qingyou was able to relax.
Hearing this, he said calmly, "I heard some."
Yan Miao looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to them before whispering in Song Qingyou's ear, "It's not just the rumors. They say Ruan Yinyin makes a scene at home every day. The day before yesterday, she even changed Ruan Zhi's medicine. Ruan Zhi was sent to the emergency room and almost didn't make it back. That's why Grandpa Ruan and Grandma Ruan were so angry that they locked her in the room."
Song Qingyou frowned slightly: "Ruan Zhi is her own brother, how could she do that?"
Yan Miao snorted, "How could she not do it? She curses Ruan Zhi at home every day, wishing him to die soon. She also says that she was adopted and that only Ruan Zhi is a member of the Ruan family. In the Ruan family, the only person she dares not offend is her brother Ruan Mingchen."
Song Qingyou's expression darkened slightly. Ruan Yinyin had actually targeted Ruan Zhi; it seemed that her departure from the Ruan family was not far off.
Yan Miao spoke again, mysteriously saying, "But I heard from my brother that Ruan Yinyin has already given in today. She cried bitterly at the Ruan family, regretted her mistakes, and even knelt down to Old Madam Ruan and Old Master Ruan to beg for their forgiveness."
"Give in?"
“Yes.” Yan Miao said, “The Ruan family didn’t come to the banquet tonight because they were having dinner with Ruan Yinyin. The two elders still care about their granddaughter and can’t bear to be harsh on Ruan Yinyin anymore.”
Song Qingyou didn't think Ruan Yinyin would really realize her mistake. She chuckled and wiped her lips with a handkerchief: "Crocodile tears."
"Huh?" Yan Miao didn't understand.
Song Qingyou: "No, didn't you say you had a boyfriend? Why didn't you bring him?"
When her boyfriend was mentioned, Yan Miao blushed slightly: "He doesn't like these kinds of occasions and doesn't want to come. Besides, my brother is here today too. He doesn't even know I'm dating anyone. I only told you."
Song Qingyou couldn't help but laugh and said, "Your face is all red, do you like it that much?"
Yan Miao nodded immediately: "Yes, yes, I like him, the kind of liking that makes me want to marry him." After saying that, her expression became dejected again: "If my brother knew, he definitely wouldn't agree."
Song Qingyou said, "Probably not? Yan Shaoqin doesn't seem like such an unreasonable person. Besides, great talents can come from humble backgrounds. As long as he has good character and ambition, that's enough."
Yan Miao twisted her hands together: "His family seems to be in very bad shape. I heard that his father is a gambler who gambled away all the family's money. Even after his mother hanged herself, his father didn't quit gambling and still asks him for money from time to time."
Song Qingyou frowned: "Did he tell you this?"
"Hmm." Yan Miao said softly, "I wanted to help his father pay off his gambling debts before, but he refused. He said he didn't want our relationship to be associated with money, and he hoped our love would be pure and clean."
Song Qingyou glanced at Yan Miao and asked, "So how was his father's gambling debts finally resolved?"
Yan Miao: "I gave it to him secretly, he didn't know."
"..." Song Qingyou stuffed the handkerchief back into her bag. "How much money did you pay back for him?"
Yan Miao stretched out one hand.
"fifty thousand?"
"Five hundred thousand."
Song Qingyou paused, her brows furrowing even deeper.
Five hundred thousand is a small number for Yan Miao, but it is a huge expense for an ordinary family.
Song Qingyou narrowed her eyes: "Does he really not know?"
Yan Miao said with certainty, "Really, I didn't tell him. I gave it to him secretly."
Song Qingyou frowned: "He knows."
“Qingyou, he didn’t know that he later specifically told me not to help him.” Yan Miao took Song Qingyou’s arm and rested her head on her shoulder: “I really think he’s a good person. For him, I can go against my family. I’ve made up my mind about him, Qingyou.”
Song Qingyou's expression was somewhat somber. She took out her phone and made a call: "Jiang Xun, do you have time to come to the booth behind table number 8 on the first floor?"
Jiang Xun arrived quickly, carrying a glass of champagne. She sat down in the booth next to Song Qingyou and looked around. "You managed to find a quiet spot even in such a noisy place."
Song Qingyou introduced them: "Yan Miao, my good friend, the youngest daughter of the Yan family. This is Jiang Xun, the daughter of the Jiang family in Binhai, and also my current business partner."
Yan Miao waved to Jiang Xun: "Hello, I've heard Song Qingyou mention you before, saying you're very capable."
Jiang Xun raised an eyebrow: "She can compliment people?"
Yan Miao: "Of course! She also said that Uncle Jiang is about to retire, and you are in charge of most of the businesses in Binhai. She said you are very capable and even told me to learn from you."
Jiang Xun glanced at Song Qingyou with an ambiguous look. The other party had no expression and remained indifferent and aloof.
She smiled and raised her glass to Song Qingyou: "You flatter me."
Song Qingyou raised her teacup, indicating, "Let's use tea instead of wine."
Yan Miao was not to be outdone, and she picked up her drink and took a sip.
Setting down his wine glass, Jiang Xun asked, "What brings you here?"
Song Qingyou said, "Your family runs a casino. What do you do if someone owes you money and doesn't pay it back?"
Jiang Xun scoffed: "Isn't that simple? Give him some time to raise the money, bring people to block his door and demand repayment. If he doesn't pay back the money, we won't let them have an easy time. If he really can't pay back the money in the end, then we'll cut off an arm or a leg or something."
Yan Miao was almost dumbfounded: "How brutal is it?"
"Otherwise what?" Jiang Xun laughed. "You're a delicate flower in a greenhouse, so naturally you don't know the dangers outside. Does that make you cruel?"
Jiang Xun hasn't even mentioned the many torturous methods yet.
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