Hearing this name, Hong Yan's expression visibly stiffened. Song Ying pretended not to notice and said, "Mom, you never told me before that you knew the wife of the CEO of Xitai Investment."
Hong Yan's lips twitched as she replied, "That's ancient history, not worth mentioning."
But Song Ying persisted, "Oh my, Madam Xu said you two used to be best friends. How can that not be worth mentioning?"
Huang Jie had originally planned to just make a brief appearance and leave, but seeing Hong Yan's discomfort, she decided to stay.
To cover up her unease, Hong Yan began to bluster, "You ungrateful girl, if it weren't for marrying your useless father and giving birth to you, a harbinger of misfortune, how could I have ended up living like this? How could I have lost touch with my good friend?"
[What nonsense. You deliberately cut off contact with your friend after swapping the two babies, fearing she and her husband would discover the truth.]
[You gave your own child to your wealthy friend to raise, while you constantly beat and scold her child, hoping the girl would end up debased and lowered.]
Huang Jie said mockingly, "So you're blaming Third Brother for not giving you a good life, is that it?"
Hong Yan didn't dare talk back to Huang Jie, but her expression vividly conveyed her disdain.
"Mom, Madam Xu said she felt so close to me when she saw me, like I was her own daughter," Song Ying continued.
Hong Yan, never good at hiding her emotions, found her facial expressions increasingly hard to control.
Song Ying pressed on relentlessly, "Madam Xu also said that you two had agreed to be godmothers to each other's children back then. She even asked me to call her godmother."
Unlike the clueless Youngest Uncle Shi, Huang Jie vaguely sensed that something wasn't quite right here.
Considering it had nothing to do with her either way, Huang Jie decided to just watch the drama unfold without getting involved.
Hong Yan had intended to scold Song Ying to change the subject, but upon hearing this, she had a different thought.
Since swapping the two children, she hadn't seen her own child even once, not even a photo on social media.
Every time Hong Yan looked at Song Ying, she was reminded of the child she had given away.
She hated Geng Jingya and Song Ying, this mother and daughter pair. If it weren't for them, how could she have gone over a decade without seeing her own flesh and blood?
Hong Yan tentatively asked, "We did talk about being godmothers to each other's children back then. Did you see the Xu family's daughter today?"
Shi Li coolly remarked, "How strange. You're indifferent to your own daughter, yet so curious about someone else's."
Huang Jie, observing with folded arms, raised an eyebrow. This was getting more and more interesting.
Hong Yan said dismissively, "I was just asking casually. How did that become interest and curiosity in your eyes?"
She added, "Besides, that is my good friend's child after all. It's perfectly normal for me to ask about her."
Shi Li put on an innocent face. "I didn't mean anything by it. I didn't say you had a guilty conscience, so there's no need to be so nervous."
Hong Yan gave a dry laugh. "I'm not nervous, just curious."
Shi Li nodded along. "I know."
Shi Li's pointed remarks made even someone as dim as Youngest Uncle Shi sense that something was off.
His gaze was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Shi Li smiled and said, "Oh right, Madam Xu said she'd come visit you at home in a few days. She asked us to make sure to let you know."
Song Ying smacked her forehead. "That's right, I can't believe I almost forgot about that."
Unable to scold Shi Li, Hong Yan could only express her dissatisfaction by criticizing Song Ying.
"You stupid girl, you can't even remember two simple sentences. What can you remember? In my opinion, with that pig brain of yours, don't even think about going to college. You'd be better off getting a job early, at least you could earn some money to help support the family instead of always being a burden."
Though Youngest Uncle Shi was generally unreliable, he always firmly supported the idea that children should get an education, especially girls, whenever the topic of not letting Song Ying continue her studies came up.
"How can you say such things again? She's just a young girl, what else can she do if she doesn't study?"
"What can't she do? I only finished middle school, and I've lived just fine until now."
Shi Li silently mocked: [Looking at you, one can see the importance of education.]
Before knowing that Hong Yan wasn't her birth mother, Song Ying always felt numb with a hint of hurt whenever she heard her criticisms.
Since learning that Hong Yan was only her adoptive mother, Song Ying let the harsh words go in one ear and out the other, though some of the vulgar language still disgusted her.
After hearing Shi Li's mockery, Song Ying's disgust turned to amusement.
Shi Li gently reminded Hong Yan, "You could have said that a bit louder just now. Wake up Grandma so she can find out you're scolding Little Ying again. Then you can pack up and go sleep under a bridge."
Hong Yan choked, glaring hatefully at Song Ying. "Hurry up and go study. You're already not smart, and you don't even know to work hard."
With no more drama to watch, Huang Jie said, "Alright, let's head home."
Shi Li naturally had no objections.
The next day when school started, what left everyone feeling unsatisfied wasn't the end of the holiday, but rather last night's charity gala full of knowledge points. It seemed like every few minutes, a topic that might be tested came up.
During the afternoon self-study period, the homeroom teacher walked in from outside and rapped on the podium. "Tonight's evening self-study session is canceled."
Before the teacher could finish speaking, cheers erupted from the students.
He knocked on the podium forcefully twice. "Let me finish before you get excited."
[I have a feeling this isn't something to be happy about.]
Shi Li's inner thoughts were drowned out by everyone's cheers. Even the sound of the teacher knocking on the podium went unnoticed.
Only when the students' cheers gradually subsided did the homeroom teacher speak again. "The spring scenery is beautiful, and the school has prepared a spring outing activity for all the students. It will take a few days, during which you won't have to attend classes."
[What? No way, not again?]
The other students assumed Shi Li just disliked physical activity and that's why she was so averse to the school's spring outing.
The homeroom teacher smiled at everyone. "Students need to prepare comfortable shoes and clothes for activities, as well as some equipment needed for outdoor activities. Please make sure you're well-prepared."
[Is there any possibility I can skip this spring outing?]
Homeroom teacher: I heard that, so no, there isn't.
Everyone else: The spring outing is so much fun, why would you want to skip it? QAQ
