Chapter 464: 437 Afraid I’ll expose your vicious true colors in front of our father?
Regarding the Wen Family’s family feast, Song Lili was not intimidated.
Soldiers would meet soldiers, water would soil as it came.
But, to Lili’s surprise, at three o’clock in the afternoon, her father Song Jiayu came to visit her at President Mansion, accompanied by Miu Lerong.
Song Lili invited them to sit in the living room.
Song Jiayu had also only learned before Wen Nian’s wedding that Lili had been alive all along, but this was the first time father and daughter had seen each other in four years.
"Sit down, Dad, don’t just stand,"
Song Lili told Song Jiayu, although as she spoke, it was hard for her to look directly at her father.
Her heart was also a complex mix of emotions.
After a while, even in close relationships like father and daughter, seeing each other again could be awkward, let alone the fact that their separation had extended far beyond four years.
Song Jiayu looked at his daughter who no longer showed any hint of petulance or childishness, her brow and demeanor revealing her refinement and decisiveness.
Miu Lerong said hurriedly,
"Lili, you really are heartless. Do you have any idea how upset we were when we thought you died in a car accident four years ago?"
"Aunt Miu, you were upset?"
Song Lili’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, a reaction that made Miu Lerong feel somewhat embarrassed,
"Of course, I was upset. Even though I am only your stepmother, after all, we are family."
"I thought Aunt Miu couldn’t wait for me to disappear from this world as soon as possible."
Song Lili sat opposite them, leaning on the soft sofa, her posture quite relaxed,
"However, no matter what, I’m still very thankful to Aunt Miu for remaining by my father’s side all this time."
Miu Lerong’s hands were tightly clasped together, still as elegant, beautiful, and refined as ever.
Truth be told, compared to Miu Lerong, a famous socialite highly esteemed in Anlin City, my father, who was merely a retired sergeant at the time, had married above his station.
Song Jiayu sat beside Miu Lerong, always a man of few words, especially in front of Song Lili.
Lili’s gaze swept back and forth between the two of them...
"Dad, you didn’t come all this way today just to see me, did you?"
"Xiao Li, Dad came especially to see you."
Song Jiayu quickly responded,
"Dad always thought you were dead. It was only before His Excellency’s wedding that I was told you are still alive and well, you have no idea how thrilled Dad was."
Song Lili pursed her lips, feeling very calm upon seeing her father again.
Four years earlier, she had wondered whether it would be possible for her relationship with her father to return to the days when her mother had been alive, but time had passed too quickly...
She found that even if she had the inclination, the warmth of kinship, once faded, simply faded.
"So... is it Aunt Miu who has something to discuss with me?"
Song Lili looked at Miu Lerong, noticing her intertwined hands tighten, and Lili knew she was right.
It appeared Miu Lerong was hesitant and finding it hard to speak.
Not wanting to waste time guessing their thoughts, Lili got straight to the point, "About... the Vice President’s wife?"
"Xiao Li, Xiangqiao is your sister."
"The sister who was dead set on getting rid of me?"
"Xiao Li, how could that be! You’ve really misunderstood Xiangqiao greatly! She has always respected and loved you!"
Song Lili saw that Song Jiayu’s cup was empty and immediately stood up to refill his tea. Song Jiayu hurriedly got up to decline,
"I’ll do it myself!"
"You’re my father, and you would reject a cup of tea from your daughter?"
Between father and daughter, to have come to such a distant stage...
Their gazes collided in the air before Song Jiayu finally sat down again, watching Lili pour him tea...
The middle-aged man in his fifties suddenly had blurred vision.
The sorrow in his heart was something Lili could not feel.
"As for Xiangqiao’s matter, what position does Dad think I should take?"
Song Lili put down the teapot and asked casually.
Song Jiayu felt his lips were a little dry, "Lili should decide on her own, I... do not have the right to give you advice."
Song Lili tugged at the corner of her mouth, smiled faintly,
"I know Dad has always liked Xiangqiao very much. Compared to me, Xiangqiao is much smarter and obliging. Blended families are bound to bring many conflicts and clashes, but the magnanimity and tolerance that Xiangqiao has shown, I can’t do it, leaving you only with headaches, guilt, and helplessness when you think of me."
"Xiao Li, it’s not like that. Dad genuinely owes you and has never found you to be trouble! Really!"
"At the beginning of April, Ah Nian and I went to Ruicheng to visit Mom. Dad... how long has it been since you last visited Mom’s grave?"
"...This year, I really had matters to attend to, in previous years..."
Song Lili raised her hand to stop Song Jiayu’s explanation,
"I’m not trying to blame you. I can understand... people tend to be fickle, and there are few who are deeply devoted. It has been so many years since Mom died, and if I didn’t often look at pictures, I might also forget what Mom looked like."
"I respect your remarriage and moving out, but maybe what hurts me the most is... your fading memory of Mother."
"That is also why I initially found it hard to accept Aunt Miu, to accept Xiangqiao and even my brother."
"Lili... I’m sorry, really, Dad in this lifetime—"
"Let me finish."
Song Lili took a shallow breath and continued speaking calmly,
"I did try to accept Miu Lerong and Miu Xiangqiao, but I failed. They are a mother and daughter with hearts of snakes and scorpions, unscrupulously doing anything to achieve their goals."
"..."
Miu Lerong’s expression changed instantly,
"Lili, you don’t like me, and that’s fine if you don’t want to help Xiangqiao, but to say we have hearts of snakes and scorpions is a bit too much, don’t you think?"
"Miu Lerong, are you scared? Afraid I’ll tell Father in front of you all the things you and your daughter have done to me?"
Song Lili leaned back comfortably, looking even more relaxed and composed.
"Also, you’ve worked so hard to raise Miu Xiangqiao into such an excellent woman. Isn’t it because you want her to become the President’s wife?"
"Lili, what do you mean by that?"
Song Jiayu listened, somewhat confounded.
"Song Lili, the way you say it, as if anyone who wants to be the President’s wife can just be one."
"Song Xiangqiao has liked Wen Nian since she was young, haven’t I got that right?"
"...I’ve never heard Xiangqiao mention that."
"She likes Wen Nian, and thus set her heart on working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once in the Ministry, she could stay by Wen Nian’s side. You all believe that with her charm and background, she couldn’t possibly fail to win over Wen Nian."
"But who knows... man’s plans are no match for fate’s. Song Xiangqiao found out that Wen Nian and I were already married, so she smartly informed Wen Liangyu about our secret marriage."
"How ruthless and decisive is Mr. Wen Liangyu? How could he fancy such an insignificant girl like me?"
"Song Xiangqiao succeeded. Mr. Wen Liangyu spared no expense, even losing a driver of twenty years, in his effort to have me killed."
Song Lili said nonchalantly, but Song Jiayu listened with a heart filled with fear...
"If it wasn’t for Wen Nian being prepared early on, I truly wouldn’t have survived until today."