I Married My Heartless Ex-Wife’s Black Lotus Sister - Chapter 37

The words were calm yet merciless, instantly shattering the last sliver of hope in Song Qi’an’s heart.

Panicked, Song Qi’an tried to dissuade Song Yanqing. “Sis, you have so many other matters to handle. There’s no need to take on Ding Rui as well…”

“Qi’an.” Song Yanqing called her name again, her tone firm. Song Qi’an instinctively fell silent, only to hear her sister say, “I’m not discussing this with you.”

“I’m informing you. Understand?”

The woman’s voice was always gentle and pleasant, never carrying any hint of aggression. But now, everything Song Qi’an had once taken for granted vanished without a trace.

Song Yanqing’s tone left no room for negotiation, icy and unyielding. “I’ve given you plenty of chances.”

“The first time you went against all objections to push Lin Xiaoxiao. The first time you ignored Yili’s feelings for Lin Xiaoxiao and dumped her on me. The first time you turned a blind eye to right and wrong for Lin Xiaoxiao, casually blaming others. And most recently—”

“You trusted Lin Xiaoxiao’s lies and wronged the innocent Meng Sulan, then turned a blind eye to her actions, shielding her.” Each word was like a sharp blade pressing deeper into Song Qi’an’s chest. “No one forced you to do any of this, did they?”

“How can I continue to trust you with Ding Rui when you’re so blinded by infatuation that you can’t distinguish right from wrong?”

Song Yanqing’s voice was frigid. “Qi’an, is this position really so indispensable to you?”

“Our family owns countless companies. Why insist on Ding Rui alone? There are far more promising businesses I could hand over to you.”

Her tone, which had been measured a moment ago, suddenly shifted, carrying a chill that could freeze one to the bone. “You refuse to leave Ding Rui—is it because of Lin Xiaoxiao?”

Silence stretched endlessly on the other end of the line.

Only now did Song Qi’an fully realize she had no choice left. If she stubbornly clung to this position, the misunderstanding between her and Lin Xiaoxiao would deepen irreparably.

Everyone would assume she stayed for Lin Xiaoxiao—abandoning her fiancée, turning against her sister.

But Lin Xiaoxiao wasn’t worth that. Not worth betraying everyone for—at least, not now.

With a bitter laugh, Song Qi’an finally broke the suffocating silence. “Fine. I’ll follow your arrangements.”

Her wishes no longer mattered. Lin Xiaoxiao had stirred up too much this time. The public hadn’t fully reacted yet, or perhaps Zheng Yili hadn’t made her move. Otherwise, she would have already suffered the same fate as Zheng Yili—unjustly dragged into the storm, vilified by all.

If Meng Sulan’s mistakes implicated her boss Zheng Yili, then Lin Xiaoxiao’s mistakes would inevitably implicate her former boss—Song Qi’an herself.

Song Yanqing always thought of everything, always treated her so well—so well it felt oppressive, stirring something dark within her.

Song Yanqing’s lips curled into a faint smile. “In that case, I hope you’ll submit your resignation letter as soon as possible. I’ll contact the company to issue a statement.”

“Qi’an, after leaving Ding Rui, I don’t want you interfering in Lin Xiaoxiao’s affairs in any way.”

Song Qi’an detected the murderous intent in her words and couldn’t help asking, “Are you planning to take action against Lin Xiaoxiao?” She frowned subconsciously and added, “Perhaps she just temporarily lost her judgment, or maybe she was simply misled by her assistant…”

“Song Qi’an.” The woman interrupted coldly, “Have you already forgotten what I just said?”

Hearing the suppressed anger in her voice, Song Qi’an quietly closed her mouth. “I haven’t forgotten. I’m sorry, I know I was wrong.”

Song Yanqing didn’t pursue the matter further, merely stating indifferently, “Apologizing for mistakes is only natural.”

“Things the police can’t handle, matters you can’t address impartially—I’ll give Yili the justice she deserves. There’s no reason she should swallow all this humiliation when she’s done nothing wrong. Don’t you agree?”

Song Qi’an stared blankly into the night, lost in confusion.

How could she have done that? How could she have pushed her own fiancée away for some insignificant outsider, breaking her heart so thoroughly that she chose to leave without hesitation?

Clutching her head in agony, Song Qi’an frantically denied it in her heart.

No, that wasn’t like her.

She wouldn’t do such a thing.

After storming home in anger, Zheng Yili buried herself in the study.

The room was unlit, with only the gentle moonlight streaming in, softly illuminating her delicate, fair face.

Her patience with Song Qi’an had worn thin.

With a face as dark as storm clouds, she gazed at the ceiling, contemplating how to remove the other woman from her position at Ding Rui. To completely crush Lin Xiaoxiao, she first needed to deal with Song Qi’an.

The relationship between the older generation of the Song family was too complicated, making the bond between Song Yanqing and Song Qi’an equally inscrutable.

Zheng Yili couldn’t gauge how far Song Yanqing’s punishment or discipline of Song Qi’an would go, but having learned her lesson once, she wouldn’t pin her hopes on others again.

Shen Yun favored her own daughter, while Uncle Song paid little attention to conflicts among the younger generation…

Apart from using Song Lin’s connections to have Lin Xiaoxiao arrested and hiring the best lawyers to protect her rights, Zheng Yili had no other options.

Lin Xiaoxiao always seemed to have incredible luck, with influential figures constantly cleaning up her messes.

Song Qi’an was one, Liang Xin another—Zheng Yili’s thoughts paused abruptly, her eyes narrowing. Then, in the darkness, a cruel smile slowly spread across her lips.

She’d start with Liang Xin, then.

For old and new grudges, she ought to collect some interest first.

After immediately calling to have Liang Xin’s background thoroughly investigated, Zheng Yili had just leaned back to relax when a video call popped up.

She answered to see the enlarged faces of Zhou Jiaoyuan and Feng Ying on the screen.

Puzzled, she asked, “Why are you two together so late at night?”

Zhou Jiaoyuan smiled without answering Zheng Yili’s question, instead eagerly gossiping with excitement: “Lili, there’s been a shake-up at Ding Rui, did you know?!”

“What?” Zheng Yili instinctively straightened her posture, muscles tensing as her eyes widened slightly. “Did Ding Rui go bankrupt?”

Zhou Jiaoyuan choked, then replied sheepishly, “Well… no.”

“Oh.” Zheng Yili’s body slumped back in disappointment. “Then what happened?”

“Song Qi’an resigned,” Zhou Jiaoyuan’s eyes sparkled. “She’s no longer the CEO of Ding Rui. Guess who the new CEO is?!”

Without giving Zheng Yili a chance to guess, Zhou Jiaoyuan revealed the answer: “It’s Song Yanqing!”

“This is insider information I spent a lot of time and effort digging up.”

Feng Ying chimed in: “At the earliest, news will break this week, or by next month at the latest. But rumors will start circulating before then.”

“Now that Lin Xiaoxiao has lost Song Qi’an as her backer, let’s see how she can keep stirring up trouble in Ding Rui, the entertainment industry, or in front of you,” Zhou Jiaoyuan sneered. “Don’t worry, Lili, I’ll make sure you get your revenge.”

“And from what I know, Song Qi’an is in deep trouble herself now, so she won’t have the energy to support Lin Xiaoxiao anymore.”

Zhou Jiaoyuan suddenly narrowed her eyes with a smile. “That’s our elder sister for you—striking decisively when she acts.” Her admiration for Song Yanqing was practically overflowing. “I always knew she was the best. If not for her health issues over the years, Song Qi’an would never have had so many opportunities…”

After politely letting Zhou Jiaoyuan finish, Feng Ying couldn’t resist a sarcastic jab. “Elder sister? How sweet.”

Zhou Jiaoyuan’s excited expression froze before she shot Feng Ying an annoyed glare. “What else should I call her? Fine, fine, I won’t say it anymore.”

Zheng Yili, lost in thought, didn’t notice the strange tension between them.

She was filled with confusion.

Earlier at Song Lin’s house, she had assumed Song Yanqing’s criticism of Song Qi’an was just perfunctory. Yet in less than half a day, she had already stripped her of her position?

In her past life, Song Yanqing hadn’t been this assertive at this stage.

What had she been doing back then? Zheng Yili frowned, then flushed slightly with embarrassment.

If she remembered correctly… she had fallen ill under the combined pressure from Lin Xiaoxiao and An Xian. After recovering, she had stormed straight to Song Qi’an and Lin Xiaoxiao, grabbing their hair like a madwoman—only for Lin Xiaoxiao’s obsessive fan to film the scene and spread it online, causing a massive scandal.

As her elder sister, Song Yanqing had been swamped, trying to console her while managing the online fallout.

“Lili,” Zhou Jiaoyuan’s voice snapped her back to reality. “With Song Qi’an gone from Ding Rui, your good days are coming! None of your plans for revenge against Lin Xiaoxiao will be blocked now.”

“And if Song Yanqing dares to side with Song Qi’an and Lin Xiaoxiao against you, I’ll be the first to take her down!”

Zhou Jiaoyuan raised her fist threateningly: “With her sickly physique, I could take down two of her with one punch.”

“Same here,” Feng Ying chimed in.

A warm current flowed slowly through Zheng Yili’s heart, her eyes growing slightly moist. “Thank you,” she said with a soft smile. “It’s so good to have you both.”

“Hey, what’s between the three of us? We grew up together—we’re as tight as can be!”

“Lili, you must focus on your career and carve out your own path, make Song Qi’an regret—no, no.” Zhou Jiaoyuan quickly corrected herself. “Whether Song Qi’an regrets or not doesn’t matter to us. We should live splendidly for ourselves.”

Zhou Jiaoyuan cupped her cheeks. “I look forward to the day when I see you in a formal suit, with all the big shots approaching you with smiles, eager to network and chat.”

That future seemed so distant, something Zheng Yili had never dared to envision.

But that didn’t stop her ambition from growing bit by bit under Zhou Jiaoyuan’s sweet words, until it became the driving force propelling her forward.

She could do it.

She always could.

In her past life, she had been too unwilling to accept losing to Lin Xiaoxiao, that woman who had nothing, which led her to cling stubbornly and refuse to face reality.

But now was different. She was healthy, and she no longer held any lingering feelings for Song Qi’an. Most importantly, without An Xian’s interference and meddling, she had successfully preserved the legacy left by her grandparents.

She had already reached greater heights than in her previous life.

Zheng Yili gazed at the now-dark computer screen, catching sight of the enormous rabbit plushie Song Yanqing had carefully selected and sent her in her peripheral vision. The rabbit seemed to possess the same comforting, steadfast energy as Song Yanqing, inexplicably filling her with the courage to take on the world.

A faint smile lingered on Zheng Yili’s lips without her realizing it, but soon, a trace of worry creased her brow.

Shen Yun was no pushover. Could Song Yanqing… handle her alone?

Having taken over Ding Rui in place of Song Qi’an, Shen Yun would surely throw a fit and make a scene. Recalling Shen Yun’s tactics from her past life, Zheng Yili hesitated for a moment before sending Song Yanqing a message: “Be careful of Shen Yun.”

With Song Yanqing’s intelligence, she would surely be on guard after seeing the warning.

“Thank you,” Song Yanqing replied.

Reading the message, Zheng Yili couldn’t help but ask another question. “Where are you now?”

“At the Song residence.”

Zheng Yili sat up abruptly. At the Song residence? That meant she was currently facing Shen Yun’s harassment? She immediately grew uneasy. “Do you need my help?”

“Not for now,” came the polite reply, but then another message followed: “Are you worried about me?”

“Though I’ve already said thank you, I still want to thank you again.”

“Knowing you’re worried about me—it makes me happy. So even if my mother gives me a hard time, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

This woman!

Zheng Yili’s eyebrows shot up. Couldn’t she be serious for once? They were discussing important matters.

Zheng Yili could almost picture Song Yanqing’s gentle demeanor laced with a hint of playful mischief. She blinked uncertainly, feeling that the current Song Yanqing was worlds apart from the version she remembered from her past life.

Could this be the butterfly effect I triggered?

Zheng Yili was utterly baffled.

At the Song residence, Shen Yun was berating Song Yanqing with unbridled fury: “Tell me honestly, as Qi’an’s elder sister, don’t you bear any responsibility for the mess she and Lin Xiaoxiao have caused?!”

“While Qi’an manages the company day-to-day, all you do is rest, tend to flowers, and sip tea. As her sister, have you fulfilled your duty to keep an eye on her?”

Shen Yun’s rage burned hotter. “You’re well-connected—why didn’t you force Qi’an to cut ties with Lin Xiaoxiao the moment she appeared?”

“I refuse to believe you didn’t see through Lin Xiaoxiao’s schemes!”

This was pure irrationality. The smile on Song Yanqing’s face faded slightly as she slowly lifted her eyes, dark as ink. “I thought I had done more than enough.”

“After all, Qi’an’s birth mother callously and ruthlessly killed my own mother for her own sake, didn’t she?”

“Given that, why should I be obliged to treat her daughter with kindness? And knowing Qi’an’s stubbornness, once she sets her mind on something, not even ten oxen could drag her back.”

Song Yanqing’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Mother, your words just now… are rather unreasonable.”

For years, Song Yanqing had maintained a gentle and harmless demeanor in the Song household. Now, as she mercilessly dragged Shen Yun’s past misdeeds into the light, Shen Yun paled.

“You…” Her finger trembled as she pointed. “You knew all along?”

“Yes, you must have known. That old hag Wang Ma must have spilled the truth to you ages ago.” Shen Yun muttered to herself, panic flickering in her eyes. “What do you want?”

She tried to sound authoritative. “Let me make this clear—everything in the Song family belongs to Qi’an. You won’t get a single cent.”

“If you dare compete with Qi’an, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

Song Yanqing didn’t argue. Her faint smile remained. “Even if I don’t fight, do you really think Qi’an can hold onto these things?”

“A mere Lin Xiaoxiao nearly bewitched her into such absurd actions.” Her smile deepened. “If I were to intervene, how long do you think she could resist?”

“I’ve shown her kindness out of sympathy, knowing she was merely an unwitting bystander in that incident, and that you’ve never treated her well.”

“I’m well aware that you were the one who committed those atrocities, and I’ve no wish to drag the innocent into this. But that doesn’t give you the right to repeatedly manipulate me with morality, demanding I sacrifice everything for your daughter’s sake.”

When Song Yanqing fixed her gaze on someone, her usually amiable expression carried a sharp edge.

Her slightly upturned eyes were like frigid pools—dark, bottomless, devoid of light, terrifying to meet directly.

Shen Yun instinctively took half a step back before flushing with anger. “Fine, just fine. You’ve grown up, and your wings have hardened.”

Her face twisted, clearly gearing up for another round of irrational tirades.

Song Yanqing had no patience left to listen to the other party’s unreasonable lecturing and directly interrupted, “If Qi’an refuses to leave Ding Rui, fine. But that company I originally intended to give her—she can forget about ever getting it now.”

“As for Ding Rui,” Song Yanqing enunciated each word deliberately, “it was my mother’s life’s work to begin with. Even if she objects, I’ll personally take it back.”

These thieves had stolen her mother’s legacy, then used it to hurt the person she cherished most in this world. Song Yanqing tilted her head back to gaze at the starry sky, the air around her practically freezing over.

Just as Zheng Yili was preparing to retire for the night, she saw Song Yanqing’s car return.

The woman’s expression was somber, her entire being radiating an indescribable sorrow. Zheng Yili had never seen Song Yanqing like this before—fragile, as if her heart had already been torn to shreds back at the Song residence.

Remembering the information Madam Ji had previously revealed, Zheng Yili hesitated for a moment before finally going downstairs. Wrapped in a shawl, she cautiously approached the car and gently tapped on the window.

Song Yanqing snapped out of her thoughts and looked up.

Meeting the other woman’s concerned and slightly worried face, she forced a faint smile and rolled down the window. “What is it?”

“You’ve been sitting here for quite a while,” Zheng Yili chose her words carefully. “Why aren’t you going inside to rest? It’s almost midnight.”

“Just wanted some fresh air.”

Song Yanqing smiled at her before asking, “Why aren’t you resting either?”

“I was about to, but then I saw you return and just sit here in the car staring blankly… I wondered if something unpleasant happened at home.”

“Hmm.” Song Yanqing didn’t deny it.

She opened the car door, her beautiful eyes carrying a hint of expectation. “Would you take a walk with me? Just for a little while—a few minutes.”

A walk at this hour?

Zheng Yili frowned slightly. The residential area was very safe, so there was no need to worry about danger. Seeing the poorly concealed dejection in Song Yanqing’s eyes, she relented after a brief internal struggle. “Alright.”

The other woman immediately brightened with a radiant smile that was dazzling enough to be disorienting even in the pitch-black night.

Zheng Yili felt as if her eyes had been scalded. She hastily averted her gaze, looking elsewhere. In truth, she was already beginning to regret her decision.

Given Song Yanqing’s feelings for her, there was no guarantee the woman wouldn’t say or do something later.

But considering Song Yanqing’s frail physique… Zheng Yili stole a few surreptitious glances out of the corner of her eye and felt reassured. The woman probably couldn’t even withstand one punch from her.

The thought of her proud boxing skills completely put Zheng Yili at ease.

Song Yanqing noted all these subtle expressions with quiet amusement, though her faint smile soon vanished, leaving behind only an inscrutable emotion.

“I made Qi’an withdraw from Ding Rui voluntarily,” she said softly. “But because of that decision, I had a huge fight with Mother.”

Although Zheng Yili had already known this outcome, hearing it directly from Song Yanqing still made her so delighted she nearly laughed out loud.

She couldn’t help but stop in her tracks, speaking with absolute certainty: “You didn’t do anything wrong. She was never suited for that position.”

“Don’t be afraid. If her mother dares to threaten or bully you, just tell me. I’ll spare no effort to help you.” Zheng Yili’s sparkling eyes resembled the starlight overhead—brilliant yet not piercing.

Song Yanqing looked at her with an expression that seemed to say, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” and couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Then, he politely declined, saying, “No need, I can handle such trivial matters myself.”

“Actually, what I want more right now…” Song Yanqing paused for a moment, and then fell silent for a long time.

Zheng Yili felt her heart race instantly; she could hear her own slightly disordered breathing mingling with the rapid, intense beating of her heart, pulling her mind taut to the extreme.

“It’s support for your career.” Song Yanqing smiled gently, “I wonder if Ding Rui will have the opportunity to collaborate with Xing Yue in the future.