Chapter 66 Lin Wei's Tricks
As the banquet drew to a close, Lin Wei knew she had to take action.
Tonight, everything spiraled out of control—Song Zhiyi not only didn't show any weakness in front of her, but instead shone brightly. From coordinating the overall situation to providing emergency care, that woman's performance was so perfect it was almost despairing.
As for Huo Yanli... the way he looked at Song Zhiyi was completely different from before.
Lin Wei picked up her wine glass and took another big gulp of red wine. The alcohol made her head spin a little, but it also gave her courage.
She staggered toward Huo Yanli. He was standing in the courtyard talking to several uncles and elders. When he saw her coming, he frowned slightly.
"Yanli..." Lin Wei's voice was deliberately slurred with drunkenness, "I...I feel so dizzy...Can you take me home?"
As she spoke, her body went limp, and she was about to fall onto Huo Yanli.
Huo Yanli subconsciously took a half step back and reached out to support her arm, but did not let her lean closer: "Miss Lin, you've had too much to drink. I'll have the driver take you."
"I don't want a driver!" Lin Wei's voice trembled with tears. "Yanli, I just want you to take me... just like before... Have you forgotten? Back in college, when I got drunk, you always took me back to my dorm..."
Her voice was quite loud, and several uncles and elders around her looked over with varying expressions.
Huo Yanli's face darkened. Just as he was about to speak, a calm voice interrupted:
"Secretary Li."
Song Zhiyi walked over. She had already tidied her hair and clothes, and apart from the fatigue in her eyes, there was almost no trace of the disarray she had shown during the emergency rescue.
She said to Huo Yanli's secretary, who was standing to the side, "Take Miss Lin home. Use the company car, and the expenses will be covered by administrative hospitality. Be careful on the road and make sure Miss Lin gets home safely."
Secretary Li immediately stepped forward: "Miss Lin, please come with me."
Lin Wei was stunned. She hadn't expected Song Zhiyi to handle things this way—businesslike, calm, and efficient, treating her entirely as a "problem" to be solved, rather than a "love rival."
"I..." she wanted to say something.
“Miss Lin has had too much to drink and needs to rest.” Song Zhiyi looked at her, her eyes calm as if she were saying, ‘The weather is nice today.’ “Secretary Li will take good care of you.”
Her tone was gentle but firm. Lin Wei opened her mouth, only to find herself unable to refute—if she continued to make a scene, she would only appear unreasonable.
As Huo Yanli watched this scene, he suddenly felt a subtle emotion.
When Lin Wei approached him, his first reaction was annoyance and embarrassment. But after Song Zhiyi appeared, she resolved the issue in just a few words—not by being jealous or defiant as a "wife," but by handling an unexpected situation as the "mistress of the Huo family."
She didn't even glance at him, as if his involvement was completely unnecessary.
Secretary Li helped the reluctant Lin Wei leave. The uncles and elders around them also discreetly dispersed.
Only Huo Yanli and Song Zhiyi remained in the courtyard.
"You..." Huo Yanli began, but didn't know what to say.
Song Zhiyi glanced at her watch: "It's almost ten o'clock. I'll go check if Grandpa is asleep. You should get some rest too; you've had a hard day."
She nodded to him and turned to walk towards the main house.
Huo Yanli stood there, watching her departing figure.
Moonlight spilled onto the bluestone slabs, casting a long shadow of her. A night breeze blew by, carrying the faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms in the courtyard.
He suddenly realized that this was the first time Song Zhiyi had "arranged" for him—not as a request, not as a discussion, but as a natural assumption that "this matter should be handled this way," and then she did just that.
And he didn't feel offended at all.
On the contrary, I feel... that's how it should be.
Just like how she coordinated the entire dinner tonight, just like how she rescued that old man, just like how she dealt with Lin Wei's provocation—she always knew what to do, and then she did it.
It requires no one's approval or recognition.
Because she is who she is. Song Zhiyi.
Huo Yanli looked up at the night sky. The stars were sparse in the autumn night, but very bright.
Just like her.
It is not dazzling, but it shines its own light steadfastly.
And he seemed to be just beginning to appreciate this light.
On the second floor of the main house, in Old Master Huo's room.
Song Zhiyi gently pushed open the door and saw that the old man was still awake, leaning against the headboard reading a book.
"Grandpa, it's time to rest," she said softly.
Huo Qishan put down his book and looked at her: "You've worked hard tonight. I've heard about it—you saved Old Master Wang's life."
"Of course." Song Zhiyi sat down by the bed. "How are you feeling, Grandpa? Are you tired?"
"I'm not tired. I'm happy to see that you've arranged everything so well." Huo Qishan held her hand. "Zhiyi, the Huo family is blessed to have you."
Song Zhiyi smiled slightly: "Grandpa, you flatter me."
“It’s not an overstatement,” Huo Qishan said earnestly. “Yanli… he needs time. But he’s not stupid; he can see your good qualities.”
Song Zhiyi was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Grandpa, I did these things not so that he would see them."
“I know.” Huo Qishan patted her hand. “You’re doing what you should do. But that’s more precious, child.”
The sound of cars starting could be heard outside the window; the last group of guests were leaving.
One by one, the lights in the courtyard were turned off, and the ancient house gradually sank into the quiet night.
Song Zhiyi tucked the blanket around the old man, turned off the light, and quietly left the room.
The corridor was dark, with only moonlight shining through the window lattices.
She walked to the window and looked at the figure still standing in the courtyard.
Huo Yanli was still standing there, looking up at the night sky.
The moonlight shone on him, casting a long shadow.
Song Zhiyi watched for a while, then turned and walked towards her room.
Her footsteps were light, as if afraid of disturbing the peaceful night.
Behind her, Huo Yanli finally turned around and looked at the window on the second floor of the main house that had just lit up and then gone out.
He stood there for a long time.
Until the night breeze grew cool.
Until somewhere in my heart, something completely changed shape.
We can never go back to the way things were.
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