Chapter 85 was purely self-inflicted.
Song Zhiwei's tone was icy, and her eyes were devoid of any warmth.
She looked at Xie Lingling coldly.
"We have nothing to talk about. The past is the past, and I don't want anything to do with you anymore. If you want to be a respectable stepmother and completely get rid of me, your own daughter, then just do it cleanly. Don't push me away while pretending to care."
"I've had enough of this hypocritical performance. I don't need your sympathy, much less your charity."
Seeing her attitude, Xie Lingling knew that she had indeed gone too far last time.
Faced with Song Zhiwei's resistance, her voice unconsciously softened.
"Zhiwei, come out here first and say a few words to Mom. Just two words, okay?"
After all, Sheng Tingzhou was present, and there were some things that were not easy to say in front of outsiders.
Song Zhiwei glanced at Sheng Tingzhou, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment before she looked away.
The man remained calm, as if he were merely an insignificant bystander.
But she knew that his very presence was a source of pressure.
She glanced again at Xie Lingling standing at the door.
The other person was dressed in an elegant cheongsam, with anxiety hidden between their brows.
She knew that if she didn't make this trip today, the other party would never give up.
Hsieh Ling-ling has always been stubborn; once she sets her mind on something, she will see it through to the end.
If we refuse now, they will probably use more methods to force her to give in later.
Rather than being pushed further and further, it's better to confront it personally now, even if it's just a brief maneuver.
She didn't want to bow down in front of others.
She especially didn't want to show any vulnerability in front of Sheng Tingzhou.
She is Song Zhiwei, no longer a little girl who can be manipulated by others.
But in the end, she still went outside.
Once in the corridor, it was so quiet that the only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioner running.
The night outside the window was deep, and moonlight shone through the glass onto the ground.
Xie Lingling reached out and took her hand gently.
"Zhiwei, I was wrong last time. I shouldn't have treated you like that, and I shouldn't have said those hurtful things. I... I apologize to you."
Song Zhiwei abruptly shook off her hand.
She quickly took two steps back to create some distance.
“Ms. Xie, I’ve already said it, we have nothing to do with each other anymore. From the moment you chose to side with them, you were no longer my mother.”
Xie Lingling felt a pang of resentment at her attitude.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
How can a mother and daughter truly never speak to each other again?
Blood is thicker than water; no matter how much you hate someone, you are still connected by blood.
Although she acted impulsively, she has provided for her food and clothing and sent her to study abroad over the years.
They even planned her marriage, wanting to marry her off to a family of equal social standing.
What aspect of this isn't for her own good?
But she had important business to attend to, so she had to suppress her emotions.
She forced a smile, her lips moving somewhat stiffly.
“I’ll transfer the ownership of my house in Jingchun Lake to your name as compensation, okay? It’s an asset under my name, quite valuable, so it’s... my way of making amends to you.”
Song Zhiwei chuckled softly, but there was no real joy in her laughter.
She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes casting a small shadow under the light.
“I don’t want anything you’ve given me now. I won’t accept anything, not money, not a house, not even so-called maternal love.”
If she dares to accept the offer, the other party will relentlessly press her.
This time it's about houses, next time it's about marriage arrangements, and the time after that it might be about the child's surname and the direction of their lives.
She knew that it was another trap that was beginning to take her under control.
She used to be someone who didn't know how to resist, but now she sees everything clearly.
Seeing her stubbornness, Xie Lingling felt her anger rising.
Over the years, she has repeatedly tried to befriend him, only to be met with indifference.
She suppressed her anger, her fingertips trembling slightly, and changed the subject, trying to find a way out.
"You released Xiaolu's recording, didn't you? I checked the source of the release, and the timing is too coincidental."
Song Zhiwei sneered, a sarcastic smile curving her lips.
As expected, they came for Zhou Xiaolu.
"It wasn't me."
Xie Lingling sighed, her voice tinged with weariness.
"Xiaolu may have a bit of a temper, but she's not a bad person at heart. She's always been very respectful to you and has never done anything to wrong you. Now that you've released the recording, have you thought about how she'll face people in the industry after this? You've ruined her reputation and future."
These words pierced Song Zhiwei's heart.
She finally couldn't help but raise her voice, which was filled with grievance.
"Have you ever thought about how she framed me in front of everyone and publicly humiliated me, and you still protect her? How am I supposed to live now? What face do I have left in this family?"
She never expected Xie Lingling to stand firmly on her side.
Even if it's just once, just once, I'd stand by her side.
She just hoped the other party could be a little fairer.
Even if you can't be fair, at least don't climb over her dignity time and time again.
But Xie Lingling just does whatever hurts people.
She is made of flesh and blood, and she feels pain too.
Xie Lingling frowned, her eyes revealing obvious impatience.
“You are different from Xiaolu. She is the eldest daughter of the Zhou family, the true heir of the Zhou family, and everything in the Zhou family originally belonged to her. If she causes trouble, it will affect the reputation of the entire Zhou family and affect the family’s dignity and interests.”
"What does this have to do with me?"
Song Zhiwei finally couldn't hold back anymore; her long-held patience completely collapsed at this moment.
"What does it matter to me whether Zhou Xiaolu is doing well or down on her luck, or whether the Zhou family can save face? I'm not a member of the Zhou family, and I don't live off their charity."
“I wasn’t involved in this framing and slander; it was all her doing. Secretly filming videos, spreading rumors, framing me for hospitalization—she did it all herself! She brought this upon herself, her true colors exposed, and the backlash from public opinion. She has no one to blame but herself!”
After hearing this, Xie Lingling felt a tightness in her chest from anger.
She suddenly raised her hand, ready to slap Song Zhiwei across the face.
Song Zhiwei reacted quickly, her eyes turning cold as she firmly grabbed Xie Lingling's wrist.
"What, you're so protective of your stepdaughter? You should have disciplined her properly when you adopted her. Instead, you're now using me as a scapegoat, indulging her misbehavior, and making me take the blame for all her crimes?"
Xie Lingling was unable to move because her wrist was gripped.
She gritted her teeth and hissed, "Do you even have a brain? We're relying on the Zhou family now! Without the Zhou family's resources and status, would you be living such a good life today? How could this have nothing to do with you! Wake up!"
Song Zhiwei did not back down; instead, she gave a cold smile.
She abruptly shook off Xie Lingling's hand, took two steps back, and increased the distance between them.
"That's because you're subservient to the Zhou family and can only live a decent life by currying favor with them. I will officially sever ties with the Zhou family and never have anything to do with them again."
She was truly heartbroken by Xie Lingling.
I was almost killed just now, and the bruises on my neck are still clearly visible.
But Xie Lingling hasn't even glanced at the wound since she entered the room, nor has she asked a single question about it.
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