Chapter 235 Old Acquaintance
His tone was gentle, but his stance was firm.
Seeing that her son was determined and there was no room for negotiation, Song Jinfeng gritted her teeth, tears welling in her eyes. She grabbed her purse from the bedside table, turned and strode toward the door, shouting shrilly, "Fine! I'm leaving! I'll go far away! I don't want to stay here and have to put up with your attitudes!"
"Go live with your country wife! Go be all lovey-dovey! Let's see how long you can protect her!"
"mom!"
Fu Li'an was startled. The surge of emotion aggravated the wound on his chest, and a sharp pain shot through him. He couldn't help but bend over and cough violently, his face turning red and cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Qiao Wanyin immediately rushed forward, holding his shoulder tightly with one hand and gently patting his back with the other, soothing him in a low voice: "Don't get agitated, don't say anything, your injury hasn't healed yet, don't upset yourself..."
"I'll go see Mom off."
She watched her mother's departing figure outside the door, murmured something, and took a step to chase after her.
But as soon as he took a step, Fu Lian grabbed his wrist.
Although his strength was not great, it was very determined.
"No."
He shook his head, his voice low but clear, "Just let the guards take her away. You should go and rest, don't overwork yourself."
Qiao Wanyin looked down at his face, which was slightly pale from the pain, and felt the warmth of his palm. Her heart ached and her eyes reddened.
She understood his heartache and concerns, but she still gently insisted, "But I am, after all, his daughter-in-law. It is my duty to see an elder off as they pass away. It is my responsibility and a matter of respect. I shouldn't skip this step just because of a misunderstanding."
Fu Lian looked up and stared into her eyes for several seconds.
Those eyes held weariness, concern, and even more so, silent support and understanding for him.
Finally, he slowly released his hand, his voice low and gentle: "...Don't force yourself. If Mom said anything harsh on the way, don't take it to heart. She was just angry and may not really mean it."
Qiao Wanyin nodded gently, her nose tingling, but she forced herself not to let the tears fall.
She took a deep breath, turned around, and quickly chased after him out the door.
At the hospital entrance, a cold wind rose slightly, swirling fallen leaves across the ground.
A military green jeep was parked quietly by the roadside, its body still covered in a little dust.
Song Jinfeng stood by the car, clutching her purse tightly, tears welling in her eyes. She was sobbing softly as she pulled Fang Xiaoju close beside her, saying, "What have I done with my life? I worked so hard to raise my son, and now I'm being ostracized by an outsider..."
Seeing Qiao Wanyin approach, she immediately raised the back of her hand and forcefully wiped away the tears on her face. Her fingertips trembled slightly, and her eyes were still red.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all her emotions, and her expression instantly became cold and distant, as if the vulnerability she had just experienced had never existed.
"Mom," Qiao Wanyin took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady and her tone restrained, "Be careful on the road. The weather is getting colder, remember to wear warm clothes. When you get home, don't forget to call Li An to let him know you're safe. He's worried about you."
Song Jinfeng snorted coldly, a mocking smile curving her lips, her eyes filled with disdain and resentment. "Stop pretending to be a good person! I know now what you're up to, Qiao Wanyin, I'm not done with you! You think you can pretend nothing happened just like this? Dream on!"
Fang Xiaoju gently supported Song Jinfeng's arm, her movements tender and considerate, but a hint of smugness and pleasure flashed in her eyes.
She spoke with feigned regret, her tone tinged with reproach: "Sister Wanyin, how can you be so disrespectful to your elders and speak so carelessly? Aren't you afraid of being punished someday? Filial piety comes first. If outsiders see you doing this, won't they say that the Fu family has failed in raising their daughter?"
Qiao Wanyin lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, but she never looked at Fang Xiaoju.
She ignored the deliberate provocation and calmly looked up at her mother-in-law, Song Jinfeng, her tone gentle yet firm: "Mom, whenever you're in a good mood, or if you'd like to talk to Li An, you're always welcome to come over. We've always been ready."
It's always good to say things politely.
No matter how bad the other party's attitude was, she didn't want to completely sever the relationship.
After all, the other party was Fu Li'an's biological mother, a family member she had tried so hard to get close to.
"Looking after my son is fine, but looking after you? Forget it!"
Song Jinfeng's tone was sharp, like a knife piercing the heart, and her face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.
She abruptly shook off Fang Xiaoju's hand, turned around and walked towards the car parked by the roadside, her high heels making a crisp and rapid sound on the cement ground.
Just then, a familiar yet abrupt voice drifted from the direction of the hospital entrance: "Oh dear, so many people? What's going on, a family meeting?"
Qiao Wanyin's body stiffened abruptly, her back instantly straightening as if struck by a cold electric shock.
She slowly turned around, her pupils contracted slightly, and her gaze was fixed on the figure walking towards her.
Lin Zhiming wore a well-tailored dark gray suit with smooth shoulder lines, which made him look tall and elegant.
He held a bunch of pure white calla lilies in his hand, the petals still covered with tiny water droplets, glistening in the sunlight.
He walked slowly and leisurely, as if everything was within his expectations.
The sunlight shone at an angle, falling on his gold-rimmed glasses and reflecting a blinding light, making it impossible to see the emotions in his eyes.
His lips curled slightly upward, a faint smile playing on his lips. The smile was neither sincere nor mocking, but rather carried an unsettling, playful quality.
"Lin Zhiming?"
Qiao Wanyin gritted her teeth, her voice low and suppressed, each word seeming to be squeezed out of her throat, "How did you get here? Who told you I was here?"
Lin Zhiming raised his eyebrows in feigned surprise, a look of innocence and regret on his face. "Aqing, why are you being so formal? We had such a good chat a few days ago. You even said on the phone that you were in a good mood lately. How come you're giving me the cold shoulder today? That's really hurtful."
Song Jinfeng also stopped and looked at the man who had suddenly appeared with suspicion.
She frowned, her tone wary: "Who is this? Do you know each other?"
Lin Zhiming bowed slightly, his movements as perfect as a textbook etiquette lesson, his attitude respectful yet commanding.
"You must be Mrs. Fu, right? I've long admired your name, it's a great honor to meet you today."
He paused, lowering his voice slightly but making it all the more weighty: "I am Lin Zhiming, the head of the Lin Group in Hong Kong, and also..."
He glanced at Qiao Wanyin meaningfully, his eyes like hooks, carrying a hint of provocation and reminiscence, "An old acquaintance of Aqing."
"An old acquaintance?"
Song Jinfeng was stunned for a moment, then her eyes suddenly sharpened.
She looked suspiciously at the well-dressed, distinguished man in front of her, then turned to look at her daughter-in-law—Qiao Wanyin's face had turned slightly pale, her lips were tightly pursed, and her fingers were secretly clenching the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning blue.
What exactly is their relationship?
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