I Married My Heartless Ex-Wife’s Black Lotus Sister - Chapter 18

Song Qi’an appeared.

Realizing this, Zheng Yili panicked.

She instinctively shrank back, hiding her entire body in Song Yanqing’s shadow, afraid of being seen. It wasn’t that she cared about the other woman.

She just wanted to avoid trouble.

At this moment, Zheng Yili was filled with regret. Why hadn’t she walked faster earlier? Now, things had escalated into this awkward and suffocating situation.

Zheng Yili bit her lip tightly and looked up at Song Yanqing with pleading eyes.

Song Yanqing smirked, a hint of mischief in her gaze. “Scared already?”

“No…” Zheng Yili denied immediately. Song Yanqing wasn’t surprised by her response and only smiled wider, nudging Zheng Yili into a dimly lit area covered by flower vines. “You’re back.”

Her voice was calm and composed, betraying no trace of panic at being caught.

Song Qi’an frowned, her instincts telling her something was off about Song Yanqing. But no matter how hard she peered behind her sister, she saw nothing.

There were only a few sparse flowers there—not even a ghostly shadow in sight.

“Yeah.” Song Qi’an’s expression remained dark and aloof. “Why didn’t you invite me for barbecue?” she demanded. “Is it fun eating alone?”

“Wang Ma kept me company. It was fine.” Song Yanqing answered without batting an eye, then changed the subject. “Don’t worry, I didn’t forget you. Knowing you’d be back, I asked Wang Ma to save some for you.”

Song Yanqing smiled faintly. “Go inside first. I’ll join you after I finish tending to this little flower.”

Song Qi’an nodded, unsuspecting, and stepped into the courtyard. She knew Song Yanqing had always been fond of gardening, but she hadn’t expected her to be this obsessed.

Who goes into the bushes in the middle of the night? Aren’t you afraid of bugs?

As soon as Song Qi’an disappeared from view, Zheng Yili let out a long sigh of relief. Her tense body relaxed slightly, but fearing Song Yanqing might do something bold again, she hurriedly said, “I should go home now.”

She turned to leave, only to be stopped by Song Yanqing’s question: “Did you get bitten earlier?”

Zheng Yili checked and shook her head.

“Goodnight.” This time, Song Yanqing didn’t tease her further and let her go like a perfect gentleman. Zheng Yili immediately hunched over and scurried back to her room like a thief in the night.

Song Yanqing watched her with amusement, the faint light from the door crack making Zheng Yili grit her teeth.

Song Yanqing was nothing like the gentle, harmless woman she pretended to be. In fact, she was even worse than that heartless scoundrel Song Qi’an. Zheng Yili gripped the door tightly before slamming it shut without hesitation.

With Zheng Yili completely out of sight, Song Yanqing turned and leisurely walked over to Song Qi’an. “What are you doing here so late? You’re disturbing my rest.”

“?” Song Qi’an raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Sis, you weren’t like this earlier.”

“Out with it. Did you cause trouble again and need me to clean up after you?” Song Yanqing sat down gracefully, leisurely pouring herself a cup of tea.

Instead of answering, Song Qi’an suddenly sniffed the air. “Have you been drinking?”

“A little.” Song Yanqing didn’t deny it, her tone casual.

What was she doing drinking alone in the middle of the night? The strange and suspicious feelings in Song Qi’an’s heart grew stronger. She subtly scanned her surroundings and, as expected, saw no one else besides Song Yanqing.

Just then, Aunt Wang came out, and Song Qi’an inexplicably called out to her, “Aunt Wang, who was drinking with my sister tonight?”

Aunt Wang glanced at Song Qi’an and replied with an awkward smile, “Qi’an, it’s better if you ask the young mistress yourself. I’m not too sure about it.” Her hesitant answer only made Song Qi’an more suspicious.

“Enough,” Song Yanqing interrupted impatiently. “Just say it—what do you need my help with at this hour?”

“Oh, it’s about Zheng Yili—” Song Qi’an suddenly paused, her expression shifting uncertainly before she finally asked in an unsure tone, “Don’t you think she’s been acting strange lately?”

Song Yanqing looked at her calmly. “Yes.”

The woman’s tone was firm. “You’ve been acting strange too.”

“Right? So, I’m not the only one who thinks so…” Their voices overlapped, and Song Qi’an raised an eyebrow in surprise. “How am I acting strange? She’s the one who’s clearly the most off.”

“Sis, haven’t you been spending a lot of time with her these days? Did she say anything to you?”

Song Qi’an lit a slender cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled white smoke everywhere. Song Yanqing wrinkled her nose and turned on the air purifier before crossing her legs on the sofa. “She doesn’t love you anymore.”

“So, you’re panicking.”

Those ten short words struck Song Qi’an like a blow. Her face darkened as she retorted defensively, “Why would I panic? There’s no way I’d panic.”

Song Qi’an let out a cold laugh. “I’m not scared at all.”

Song Yanqing merely shrugged, sitting upright on the sofa as she sipped her tea, making no effort to mediate or placate Song Qi’an as she usually would.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Song Qi’an asked, puzzled. Then, remembering how the other woman had chosen to drink alone rather than call her, her dissatisfaction grew.

“How do you want me to respond?” Song Yanqing lazily lifted her eyelids. “Should I keep comforting you like before, reassuring you over and over that Yili still loves and cares for you?”

Song Yanqing shook her head. “Qi’an, I’ve warned you many times—don’t trample on someone’s sincerity so carelessly.”

“Yili could endure ten years, twenty years, but she might not be able to endure forever. One-sided love without any hope will eventually come to an end. She’ll wake up one day.”

“Sis,” Song Qi’an cut her off, her voice tinged with irritation. “I didn’t come here to be lectured.”

Song Yanqing promptly shut her mouth. “Then I have nothing more to say.”

Song Qi’an was momentarily speechless, staring at her sister with a complicated expression. Just as Song Yanqing yawned, thinking the conversation was over, Song Qi’an spoke again softly, “How long do you think she’ll keep giving me the cold shoulder this time?”

Instead of answering directly, Song Yanqing countered lightly, “What do you think?”

Song Qi’an fell silent, her long legs casually propped against the coffee table, her entire demeanor exuding listlessness. “I don’t know.” But this despondency lasted only a brief moment before she straightened up again. “She wouldn’t break up with me just because of Lin Xiaoxiao, would she?”

“Have you considered,” Song Yanqing said quietly, watching her, “that she might have already broken up with you unilaterally?”

“The only reason your engagement hasn’t been formally dissolved is that she’s too busy right now to sit down with Mother and discuss it thoroughly.”

With every word Song Yanqing spoke, Song Qi’an’s expression darkened further.

Finally, Song Qi’an stood up in a rage, fingers impatiently undoing two buttons of her shirt. “Song Yanqing, have you been turned or bought off by her?”

“Why are you suddenly taking her side?”

Song Yanqing remained calm. “I’m merely stating facts.” She smiled faintly. “Qi’an, Yili is single now, did you know? Even when she was devoted to you before, she never lacked suitors.”

“Everyone treasures her like a jewel—only you keep trampling on her over and over…”

“Enough.” Song Qi’an clenched her fists, her face icy. “What happens between us is none of your concern—not now, not ever.” She emphasized.

Song Yanqing smiled. “Perfect. I don’t want to be involved either.”

Perhaps too angered by these words, Song Qi’an took a deep breath and after this unpleasant exchange with Song Yanqing, stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Housekeeper Wang eyed the freshly grilled beef skewers. “Miss, what should we do now?”

“Save them for tomorrow.”

“Aren’t you going to comfort the Second Miss?”

“No.” Song Yanqing turned away, her tone indifferent. “What’s there to comfort about a grown woman in her twenties?” After a few steps, she glanced back, her gaze profound as she watched Song Qi’an’s car disappear into the distance. The corners of her lips curled slightly, her voice barely audible. “The one I should be comforting… is someone else entirely.”