Hearing her husband speak up for their daughter, Hong Yan felt a bit displeased.
"I'm only thinking of you. This child has no worldly experience, she's been timid since she was little. Going out will only bring shame to our family."
Speaking this way in front of the child, Youngest Uncle Shi couldn't argue with his wife, so he had to use his elderly mother as a shield, "If you keep talking like this and mother hears it, what if she kicks us out to sleep under a bridge? My five or six thousand salary isn't enough to pay rent."
After wandering for three years, Youngest Uncle Shi knew well that he was nothing without his family. Now he was especially obedient in front of his mother and two older brothers.
He understood clearly who provided for him.
Hong Yan didn't want to back down in front of her sister-in-law Huang Jie, feeling it would make her seem inferior.
But fearing that her mother-in-law might really kick them out, she forcibly swallowed her harsh words. Unable to take out her anger on Song Ying, she still had Youngest Uncle Shi as a punching bag.
Hong Yan glared at Youngest Uncle Shi, "I'm not good with words. Please don't misunderstand, I wasn't trying to scold Song Ying just now. I just think that since she's just entered a new school and her foundation isn't strong, it's best if she stays home on weekends to study hard and catch up with the school's progress quickly."
Seeing that her previous tactic didn't work, Hong Yan came up with another plan. She wanted the child to study at home on weekends. She hadn't used a single word to scold Song Ying in her previous statement. As a mother, what was wrong with hoping for her to improve her grades? Surely Shi's Grandmother couldn't kick her out for this.
Hong Yan looked somewhat smugly at Shi Li, not believing she could find any loopholes this time.
Shi Li couldn't find any loopholes, she just smiled slightly, "Song Ying ranked first in her class in the last monthly exam. You shouldn't set your expectations for the child too high. While studying is important, appropriate entertainment to cultivate one's temperament is also very important."
Shi Li wasn't lying, Song Ying's results were indeed first in her class.
However, this first place had some inflation. Her ranking in the whole school was tenth, which showed that her original grades were not bad.
But the main reason Song Ying could achieve first place was that the top students from Class 1, represented by Shi Li, were all strictly ordered by their families to stay at home for observation and rest that day due to a group fight.
Song Ying, being well-protected, was hardly injured and could go to take the exam normally. In fact, even if Song Ying had been injured that day, the possibility of her family requiring her to rest and observe at home was low. Hong Yan, as her "mother," showed almost zero concern for her, and Youngest Uncle Shi, as her foster father, wouldn't overly worry about his adopted daughter.
Although other people in the old house had goodwill towards Song Ying, they weren't her biological parents after all. If Song Ying was injured, no one would notice.
Hong Yan's smug smile instantly froze on her face. Learning of Song Ying's excellence was more unbearable than a man's death.
She forced out a couple of dry laughs, "Song Ying, how could you not tell mom about such good news? Do you see me as an outsider?"
When Song Ying was young and achieved good results, like other children, she was willing to tell Hong Yan, but never received praise from her.
As she grew older, Song Ying learned to read the room. She discovered that Hong Yan didn't want to see her achieve good results.
Song Ying knew clearly what she wanted and didn't deliberately neglect her studies to please Hong Yan.
Home is a child's safe haven. Whether happy or sad, Song Ying wouldn't share or complain to Hong Yan.
Now being criticized by Hong Yan for this reason, Song Ying inwardly sneered, thinking Hong Yan was really something now, even learning to turn the tables.
Song Ying calmly said, "The results were just given out today, I was just about to tell you."
In fact, the results had been released four days ago. She had now learned the skill of lying without blushing, just like her classmates.
In front of Hong Yan, Song Ying had always presented a meek image. She confidently believed that Song Ying wouldn't lie to her.
This excuse wouldn't work. Hong Yan racked her brains trying to think of what excuse to use to reject Shi Li.
Youngest Uncle Shi leaned back on the sofa, picked up a cup of tea, and casually asked, "Which company is hosting the charity gala? I heard at the company today that Xitai Investment and some other company were jointly hosting a charity gala, seems like it's also next week."
Considering that charity galas weren't like turnips in a field, abundant and easy to come by, the youngest uncle said, "The charity gala you're taking Song Ying to is the one hosted by Xitai Investment, right?"
Shi Li didn't want to say yes, intending to gloss over this question.
Even though Shi Li hadn't said yes, Hong Yan, hearing her husband's words, took it as fact.
Hong Yan couldn't stand hearing the words "Xitai Investment." She took a sharp, excited breath, "Xitai? No, Song Ying can't go!"
This was the first time Youngest Uncle Shi had seen Hong Yan like this, "What's wrong, dear?"
Realizing her reaction just now was a bit extreme, Hong Yan explained, "Xitai Investment has quite a reputation. I'm afraid Song Ying might be bullied at the charity gala."
Shi Li's sarcastic voice rang in Song Ying's ears alone, [I'm afraid Song Ying might be bullied~ Yeah right~]
As everyone knew, Hong Yan was the one who bullied Song Ying the most.
The youngest uncle had always thought his wife was an innocent little flower. He patiently explained to her that the CEO of Xitai Investment was a very good person, and because of that, their company culture was also positive. They wouldn't let Song Ying be bullied. Moreover, with his second sister-in-law and Shi Li accompanying Song Ying, they would absolutely not let anyone bully her, so she could rest assured.
After thinking for a moment, Hong Yan asked again, "I agree to let Song Ying attend the charity gala, but as Song Ying's mother, I should go with her to the gala. I'd feel more at ease, in case she gets bullied."
Shi Li silently mocked in her heart, [Huh, you just want to see your own biological daughter, right?]
Song Ying silently translated in her mind, hearing these words meant that Hong Yan's biological daughter would also be at the scene.
So Hong Yan had a biological daughter too. Song Ying quickly thought of someone - Xu Xing had a daughter.
If she was Xu Xing's daughter, then who was Xu Xing's daughter?
Song Ying had always had a bold guess in her heart, and Shi Li's two sentences in her mind confirmed Song Ying's guess.
She was the daughter of the Xu family, while the Xu family's daughter was actually Hong Yan's biological daughter.
Shi Li, of course, couldn't agree to Hong Yan going along, "That's not quite appropriate. Maybe next time."
[Next time after next time, how many next times are there?]
Before Hong Yan could say anything more, Shi Li had already taken Song Ying's hand and run out of the villa.
They went to the mall and bought two little dresses for Song Ying. Seeing the beautiful clothes, Shi Li lost control for a moment and bought two pieces for herself as well.
Song Ying had always been uncomfortable accepting others' efforts and kindness.
Especially since the Shi family had no blood relation to her, but after moving into the Shi family's villa, Song Ying had received too much kindness from the Shi family members.
Shi's Grandmother's care, the clothes her aunt-in-law had sent someone to buy, and now Shi Li knowing she had no formal dress, specially bringing her to the store to buy a little formal dress.
Being cared for and valued, this feeling was really nice.
Thinking about how she was similarly loved and protected by everyone in her class, Song Ying felt grateful inside.
Knowing that everyone loved gossip, she wasn't stingy about sharing her affairs with everyone. Not for them to help her strategize, but just hoping to satisfy her classmates' desire for gossip.
This really hit everyone's sweet spot. This was clearly an occasion to watch the show, how could they not go?
Although Little Fatty Uncle had a part in organizing the charity gala, because it was related to the company and not just an idle spring outing, Little Fatty Uncle hadn't called his nephew to go along, so naturally Little Fatty didn't know about this.
After the commotion at the Lan family's wedding, Shi Qiuyu, as Shi Li's best friend, was seen by everyone as a good soldier to infiltrate the enemy camp. They hoped she would share Shi Li's gossip updates with everyone in the future, leading the classmates to gossip together.
However, the people's good soldier hadn't truly infiltrated the inner circle yet, unlike Song Ying who had already changed from within.
Song Ying was truly the one who could lead everyone to keep up with Shi Li's gossip pace.
With Song Ying as their informant, the classmates used various means to obtain invitations to the charity gala, determined to get first-hand gossip.
With Xitai Investment backing it, this charity gala was quite grand.
It was Song Ying's first time attending such an occasion. She followed Shi Li into the gala's entrance, and as soon as they entered, she was almost dazzled by the overwhelming opulence.
The Shi family's old mansion was the most luxurious place Song Ying had ever seen, but this banquet hall was even more opulent than the Shi family villa.
Song Ying's command of Chinese language was not bad, but at this moment she could only think of two words to describe it: dazzling.
Shi Li felt the fingers gripping her wrist tighten. She patted Song Ying's hand, signaling her not to be afraid.
Song Ying wasn't afraid; she was just nervous about meeting Xu Xing and Madam Xu in a moment.
Huang Jie acted as if she were taking her two daughters out, introducing them to familiar acquaintances.
When people heard Huang Jie introduce Song Ying as Youngest Uncle Shi's adopted daughter, they immediately knew who she was, and their gazes towards Song Ying instantly became cold.
Song Ying didn't mind the cold, scrutinizing looks from those around her. These gazes were far less hurtful than Hong Yan's insults had once been.
However, when she saw a beautiful woman with a charming smile standing in front of her, she recognized a face she had once kept saved in her phone's photo album.
Song Ying would open her phone's photo album every night before bed to look at it.
That photo Song Ying often looked at was taken more than a decade ago. Although time had passed, she felt the woman before her was even more beautiful than in the photo, and also more approachable.
Huang Jie had a free-spirited nature and didn't fuss over trivial matters, which made her well-liked by others.
She introduced the two young ladies behind her to Madam Xu, and they both greeted Madam Xu politely.
Unlike others who treated Song Ying rather coldly, Madam Xu seemed more interested in her.
