Chapter 9 The Warmth of Family
He spoke in a natural tone.
"oh."
She responded softly.
"What? You're not happy about it?"
He frowned, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds.
“No way,” she suddenly laughed, “My aunt is beautiful and has a good temper, who wouldn’t like her?”
But only she knew that the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Qiao Yiqing really couldn't find any fault with her.
She was strikingly beautiful, with delicate features like a female celebrity in a magazine, and her demeanor was graceful and poised, her voice gentle and soft.
It's only natural that Zhou's mother liked her.
Almost everyone in the Zhou family disliked her.
only--
Song Zhiwei always thought that Zhou Yuze liked quiet and gentle girls.
Like that senior student in college who once walked alongside him through the library corridor.
The way he looked at her then was shining.
But now, he has chosen Qiao Yiqing.
She is flamboyant, radiant, and comes from a distinguished family.
This was beyond her expectations.
However, none of that matters anymore.
It has nothing to do with her.
Her experiences from childhood to adulthood taught her one thing.
Be aware of your own position and don't overstep boundaries.
She was an adopted child of the Zhou family, nominally Zhou Yuze's niece, but not related by blood.
She can be treated kindly and taken care of.
But one should not have unrealistic expectations.
Zhou Yuze walked ahead with steady steps. When he heard her last sentence, "Who wouldn't like it?", he simply replied with a faint voice.
"That's good."
The two went downstairs one after the other.
The wooden staircase creaked slightly.
Zhou Huaiqing and his two children were already seated in the restaurant.
Zhou Yunhan went to entertain friends last night and didn't run into Song Zhiwei. But when she saw her today, her eyes immediately fell on her. She looked Song Zhiwei up and down and smiled.
"Oh, so the young lady has finally decided to come back and visit?"
He picked up his teacup and slowly blew on it.
"Grandma just passed away, and you're already in a hurry to come back and divide the inheritance?"
He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and deliberately dragged out his words.
"Oh, right, I forgot, your surname isn't Zhou."
Song Zhiwei pursed her lips, and her lips moved slightly.
She wanted to lower her head, pretend she hadn't heard, and swallow her anger.
But more than a decade of legal training had already ingrained it in his bones.
Almost instinctively, she looked up.
"Isn't Uncle Zhou still alive and in good health? Why are you fighting over the inheritance?"
She paused, her gaze fixed on the person opposite her.
"Or are you just looking forward to that day coming sooner?"
The meaning behind the words couldn't be clearer.
You, Zhou Yunhan, secretly wish your father would pass away soon so you could quickly inherit his estate.
Zhou Yunhan's expression changed instantly.
She never expected that Song Zhiwei, whom she used to boss around, would be like this.
After not seeing each other for several years, you actually dared to say such things in front of so many people.
She was about to open her mouth to refute, but the words had barely escaped her throat.
"Alright, Yunhan, stop talking. Big Brother is still here."
It was Zhou Yuze who spoke.
He sat calmly beside the main seat.
Zhou Yunhan felt a lump in her throat, and her anger surged.
But she didn't dare to lash out at Zhou Yuze.
She had always felt inferior to Zhou Yuze since she was a child.
This uncle wasn't much older than her, but he completely outshone her in both temperament and presence.
He commands respect even when he is silent, and when he speaks, he inspires even greater awe.
Even if she was furious, she could only grit her teeth and bear it.
Zhou Huaiqing, who was standing to the side, had already turned pale.
He was picking up some food when he heard the phrase "fighting over family property," and his chopsticks stopped abruptly, his smile vanishing completely.
He slowly raised his head and glared coldly at his daughter.
"Can't you even control your mouth while eating? You don't know any manners at all in front of guests."
Zhou Yunhan suddenly felt as if all her strength had been drained.
She shrugged, lowered her head, and twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers.
But in her heart, she hated Song Zhiwei to the core.
How dare a girl who lives under someone else's roof talk back to her like that?
I'll teach her a lesson sooner or later.
Zhou Yunsheng, who was sitting opposite, was also slightly taken aback and glanced at Song Zhiwei.
He was peeling the oranges casually.
He stared at Song Zhiwei's profile.
This girl... wasn't she a pushover before?
How come you can actually stab people now?
The family sat around the table for dinner; the food was plentiful and the aroma was enticing.
But each person's expression betrayed their own thoughts.
After dinner, the maid quietly cleared away the dishes.
The coffee table in the living room was soon filled with fruit and delicate desserts.
A bunch of white roses was placed in the center of the coffee table.
Qin Yunshu sat on the sofa and casually picked up a slice of mango.
She casually handed the fork to Song Zhiwei, who was sitting next to her.
"Here, have some fruit, it's good for your skin. Girls need to pay more attention to skincare."
Song Zhiwei looked down at the mango.
Her fingers curled slightly.
Just as I was about to thank them and take the fork, I heard a sweet voice suddenly ring out.
"Auntie, I want one too."
It's Zhou Yunhan.
She stood up from the sofa on the other side.
She walked up to the coffee table with a sweet smile on her face.
Qin Yunshu turned her head and smiled, then handed over another piece of fruit without hesitation.
"Yunhan loves this the most. It was just imported from abroad. Try it and see if it's sweet."
"Thank you, Auntie."
Zhou Yunhan responded sweetly, took the fork, and slowly took a bite.
The fruit was sweet and juicy, and she squinted her eyes, seemingly enjoying it very much.
But her gaze swept sideways towards Song Zhiwei.
Song Zhiwei pursed her lips.
She held the fork, her fingertips slightly cold, and a strange emotion welled up inside her.
Qin Yunshu got up and went to the kitchen to check on the tea.
Zhou Yuce got up to answer the phone.
The others also left the living room one after another, and the once lively space gradually quieted down.
Song Zhiwei looked down at the fork in her hand, then at the almost untouched mango.
She sighed softly and put down her fork.
The mango lay quietly on the plate, its flesh still bright and fresh, but no one touched it again.
She is allergic to mangoes.
She herself couldn't quite remember when this started.
I only vaguely remember that she was about seven or eight years old that year.
A neighbor brought back a golden mango from the south and specially gave it to Grandma to try.
Grandma took the fruit and said with a loving expression, "This is a rare treat. I can't bear to eat it myself; I'll save it for my granddaughter to nourish her body."
That afternoon, Grandma quietly handed her a peeled mango and told her not to let anyone know.
She was overjoyed and finished the food in just a few bites.
But not long after, her face started to feel hot, her neck turned red, and then the redness spread to her arms and chest.
My whole body quickly developed a dense rash.
She curled up on the bed in pain, tears streaming down her face, her voice hoarse as she cried out, "Grandma, I feel so bad."
Grandma was terrified and carried her to the hospital that very night.
The doctor diagnosed it as a severe allergic reaction.
If they had arrived any later, it might have triggered anaphylactic shock.
She received an anti-allergy injection and an IV drip, and stayed in the hospital for three days before her condition improved.
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