Chapter 49 I Don't Blame You
She stared at Qiao Yiqing, her eyes slightly red.
"That's all your speculation! I grew up in the Zhou family, and he's been my uncle since I was a child. I've never forgotten that identity! No matter what's going on outside, whether it's rumors, gossip, or misunderstandings, it can't change this fact!"
Qiao Yiqing saw how agitated she was, but there was no anger on her face.
She slowly stood up, reached out her hand, and gently but firmly pressed Song Zhiwei back into her seat.
"Zhiwei, I'm not saying all this to blame you."
Song Zhiwei's mind was in complete chaos.
My heart was pounding, and my ears were ringing.
She suddenly felt a pang of regret, regretting that she shouldn't have insisted on staying in Yancheng in the first place.
If she left early, she could go somewhere where no one knew her.
Perhaps then we wouldn't be in this embarrassing and tormenting situation today.
Her hidden thoughts, those feelings she dared not even think about herself.
She never overstepped her bounds, never took the initiative to get close.
She simply liked him silently, restrained herself, and suppressed her feelings.
But why should she live with this shame when she did nothing wrong?
She felt like she was walking on the edge of a cliff; one wrong step and she would be doomed.
Qiao Yiqing continued, "I just want to sincerely apologize to you, and I also ask you to do me a favor and say a few words for me in front of Zhiwei. I really like him and don't want our relationship to end because of a misunderstanding. Do you understand?"
Song Zhiwei slowly withdrew her hand, her fingertips slightly cold.
She took a deep breath and replied, word by word, "Auntie, I understand how you feel. I know you're very sad right now, and I understand you don't want to lose Uncle. But what's going on between you two really has nothing to do with me. I've already moved out of the Zhou family home, and I'm no longer someone who can interfere in their private affairs at will. I don't want to get involved anymore, and I shouldn't get involved anymore."
"I'm already in an awkward position at the Zhou family's house... Could you please not make things difficult for me?"
As Qiao Yiqing looked at her lukewarm attitude, the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.
She still held onto a sliver of hope.
But Song Zhiwei's answer was like a bucket of cold water, poured over him from head to toe.
Her lips pursed slightly, her expression slowly darkened, and a fine line appeared between her brows.
"After all that talk and going around in circles, you never intended to help me, right? You wanted to reject me from the very beginning, didn't you?"
Song Zhiwei bit her lower lip so hard it almost broke.
She didn't want to argue, much less escalate the conflict.
But this feeling of being relentlessly pursued left her with nowhere to escape.
"Is it really that hard to ask you to say a few good words for me to Zhiwei?"
Qiao Yiqing's voice suddenly rose an octave, her eyes slightly red.
"Or are you hoping I'll break up with him? Deep down, you actually want us to cut ties completely, right?"
Song Zhiwei suddenly looked up, her pupils shrinking sharply.
She stared straight at Qiao Yiqing, as if seeing the person in front of her clearly for the first time.
You don't need to look at me like that.
Qiao Yiqing sneered, but her eyes showed no sign of backing down.
She gently blew on the steam, then slowly took a sip, her tone eerily calm.
"My request isn't unreasonable. I just want you to call Zhiwei and explain the situation to him, to tell him that I haven't betrayed him or fallen for someone else. It's that simple, why are you making such a fuss?"
Song Zhiwei's mind was in complete chaos.
She really didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing.
But in the current situation, Qiao Yiqing is pressing her relentlessly.
She couldn't bring herself to say "no."
She knew all too well that if she refused, Qiao Yiqing would immediately retaliate.
They said she had other thoughts in her heart, that she still had feelings for Zhou Zhiwei, and that she was jealous of her.
She pursed her dry lips, her throat bobbed, and her voice was so low it was almost inaudible.
"Okay... I promise you."
Qiao Yiqing then smiled again.
She nodded gently, her tone softening.
"Thank you, Zhiwei. I knew you wouldn't just stand by and watch me suffer."
Song Zhiwei didn't speak again, her face showing no emotion.
She silently took her phone out of her bag and unlocked the screen with somewhat stiff fingers.
Open your contacts and find the name "Zhou Zhiwei".
She took a deep breath and then pressed the dial button.
The bell rang a few times.
The call was answered quickly, and a familiar, deep male voice came through: "Zhiwei."
She tried to keep her voice steady and asked softly, "Uncle, have you and Aunt really broken up?"
"Is it because of that phone call she made that day?"
Song Zhiwei's voice trembled slightly.
"Don't worry about things between adults."
Zhou Zhiwei's voice remained gentle.
Song Zhiwei tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on Qiao Yiqing opposite her.
She saw Qiao Yiqing wink at her secretly and make a "go on" gesture under the table with her finger.
Her heart tightened, knowing she couldn't back down now. She could only steel herself and whisper, "Actually... I think my aunt is a really nice person, gentle and considerate. Why don't you think about it again? Maybe... the misunderstanding can be cleared up."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone.
Immediately afterwards, Zhou Zhiwei's voice came again, this time with a calmer tone.
"Zhiwei, did Qiao Yiqing ask you to make that call?"
Song Zhiwei's hand holding the phone suddenly stiffened.
Her heart suddenly stopped beating.
It then began to pound violently against his chest.
She didn't expect Zhou Zhiwei to ask that question directly.
Qiao Yiqing also heard these words, and her expression changed slightly.
A crack appeared in his previously composed expression.
She quickly lowered her head, pretending to adjust her bag strap, but a hint of unease showed in her eyes.
“You never asked me about these things before.”
Zhou Zhiwei lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.
"If she contacts you, ignore her. Tell her to talk to me directly if she needs anything. You don't need to stick your neck out for others."
Song Zhiwei's lips moved as if she wanted to explain.
But he swallowed the words back down his throat.
She knew that any further explanation would only make things worse.
She could only give a soft "hmm".
"I see."
After saying that, she quickly hung up the phone, her fingertips still trembling slightly.
She placed her phone on the table and stared down at the dark screen.
Qiao Yiqing raised her eyes and scanned Song Zhiwei's face several times.
She ultimately said nothing, only sighed softly, reached for her bag, zipped it up, and turned to leave the coffee shop.
Song Zhiwei stood there, her chest heaving.
She slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.
The next day at noon.
She dialed Xie Lingling's number.
"I agree. Let's go meet our first blind date."
The location was the same coffee shop downstairs from the law firm—a familiar environment, yet an unfamiliar beginning.
Not long after, a man walked in.
He was in his early thirties, tall and straight, wearing a dark black down jacket.
His features were well-proportioned, with distinct brow bones, a high nose bridge, and slightly upturned eyes.
"Hello, are you Ms. Song?"
The man stood in front of her desk, his voice steady.
Song Zhiwei nodded and smiled slightly: "I am Song Zhiwei."
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