Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 41

As soon as the words fell, the entire room went silent.

Father Song’s breathing grew heavier, and his hand clenched tightly around the door handle.

Song Zhen was anxious. She glanced at Zhu Sui, comforting herself with the thought that Zhu Sui was always dependable—if she said Father Song had taken his medication, then she must have personally ensured it. There shouldn’t be any problems.

What Song Zhen didn’t know was that, at that very moment, Zhu Sui herself was filled with lingering dread. She was immensely relieved that she’d made Father Song take his medication before coming to confront

Song Zhen. Had he walked in on this scene unmedicated, who knew what might’ve happened to him? She might have been the one to collapse from fright.

Nobody spoke. After a long beat, Zhu Sui softly asked, “Uncle Song, are you alright?”

It was the very question Song Zhen had been dying to ask.

Father Song’s expression was complicated. After a long silence, he let out a sigh, and in that moment, it was as if a dozen tangled threads in his mind had finally unraveled.

“I’m fine. It’s alright.” His voice carried a faint, indescribable weariness.

Zhu Sui gave a dry chuckle. “Well, since Ms. Song is here… ahem, I’ll leave you all to talk.”

She paused, braving the awkward atmosphere and continuing as if nothing were wrong. “I’m sure you all have things to discuss. I’ll go get the car. Ms. Song, Uncle Song—I’ll take your luggage downstairs to wait for you.”

Zhu Sui had always had excellent judgment. She knew she was still an outsider in the eyes of everyone here. Staying would only make things more difficult. And clearly, Father Song must have things he wanted to say in private. Now that things had come to light, Zhu Sui quietly stepped aside, returning space and agency to Song Zhen—this was her battle to handle.

Sure enough, the moment Zhu Sui left, Father Song let out a tiny breath of relief.

With that breath came a deeper realization. “No wonder it’s always Suisui driving lately, and not you and Langlang together.”

Now it made sense. If they’d already divorced and their relationship had ended, all the inconsistencies from the past few visits finally fell into place.

And come to think of it, in the past, every time he worried about Song Zhen, she’d sing Langlang’s praises—how even when her mother said harsh things, Langlang would defend her. But this time, not a single word of defense. Father Song had assumed Madam Cheng had bypassed her daughter and pressured Song Zhen directly.

But now—so this was the truth all along. How had he not noticed?

“Dad, I—” Song Zhen had just said two words when Cheng’s mother came to her senses as well.

One blow after another had left her emotionally overwhelmed. She suddenly snapped, “Explain yourself! What do you mean by cheating? I know my Langlang best! She’s loved you since she was little. I tried to stop her, but she insisted on marrying you. She’s done everything for you! Don’t try to fool me—how could she have cheated? That kind of accusation isn’t something you can throw around casually!”

Song Zhen let out a cold laugh. “I saw it with my own eyes. Is that not enough for you?”

Cheng’s mother faltered. “W-Well, maybe it was a misunderstanding…”

She didn’t believe her own words, but she found it even harder to believe that Langlang would cheat. Between the two implausible options, the one that painted her daughter in a better light somehow felt more reasonable.

“Yes, yes! Maybe it was a misunderstanding,” she nodded fervently. “You two didn’t even talk it out—”

“Mom!” Cheng Lang snapped, unable to take it anymore. Holding her forehead, she groaned, “Can you not make things worse? Please, I’m begging you!”

“What do you mean by that?”

Faced with her daughter’s interruption, Cheng’s mother’s mind went blank. She didn’t want to believe what it implied.

Father Song scoffed, cutting straight through the denial. “Zhang Lan, are you regressing with age? What other ‘meaning’ could it have? It means everything Song Zhen just said is true. Your daughter is telling you to stop embarrassing yourselves.”

“I—she… how could that be!” Madam Cheng stomped her feet and rushed over to Cheng Lang, grabbing her by the sleeve in a panic. “Langlang, how could you?! You’ve loved Song Zhen since childhood. You stayed up late doing extra homework just to get into her class in high school. She went to university in Beijing, and you applied to the same one without hesitation!”

“Yes, and during her junior year she was working on that research project—you stayed up with her every night! You two even got married before going abroad just to reassure her. You didn’t even tell me, afraid I’d object. You loved her so much! How could you—”

“Mom! That’s enough! I’m a mess already, could you please just stop talking?! Please!” Cheng Lang yanked her sleeve back, shouting in frustration.

The outburst was as good as a confession.

Madam Cheng’s lips trembled. Her hands began to shake. After a long silence, she turned back to look at Song Zhen and Father Song, still unable to believe what she was hearing.

“No… no, this can’t be real. There has to be some kind of misunderstanding. Everyone knows how Langlang is. I—I…”

Song Zhen had had enough. “There are pictures. And video. If you don’t believe me, just have Cheng Lang show them to you.”

Madam Cheng’s eyes widened in stunned horror.

Song Zhen’s voice was clear and sharp. “I saw it with my own eyes. The smart system in our house recorded it all. When we divorced, I gave everything to Cheng Lang in exchange for the divorce.”

Father Song’s hand clenched again around the doorknob.

Seeing his face pale, Song Zhen grew worried. If Cheng’s mother kept on with her outbursts, she might say something cruel enough to push Father Song over the edge.

Song Zhen didn’t want to risk it. She stepped closer and gently said, “This was my mistake. Dad, let’s talk somewhere else, okay?”

His hands were trembling. He wanted to speak his mind to Cheng’s mother and daughter, but he knew his body couldn’t take it. He forced himself to hold in the rage.

When Song Zhen took his hand, he realized just how tightly he’d been gripping the handle. Seeing the worry in her eyes, he nodded hoarsely, “Okay. Let’s go.”

After all, Zhenzhen had only ever had him as a father. If something happened to him, who would she rely on?

He had to take care of himself.

“I want to leave. I don’t want to be around them anymore.”

He turned to walk away. The first step was shaky—a stumble. Song Zhen hurried to support him.

“Dad!”

On the other side, Cheng Lang also reached out and cried, “Dad!”

“Don’t touch me!” Father Song growled, slapping her hand away.

Cheng Lang panicked. “No—Dad—Uncle Song, this… this was my fault. But there’s more to it! There were misunderstandings too! I really do love Zhenzhen, I—please…”

It was incoherent. She didn’t even know what she wanted to say, only that she couldn’t let Father Song leave. If he walked out now—

But before she could stop him, Father Song had heard enough. With a surge of fury, he punched Cheng Lang squarely in the face—no holding back, directly on the nose.

Bl00d gushed instantly.

Cheng’s mother screamed as Cheng Lang stumbled backward, clutching her face.

Shocked, Song Zhen quickly helped her father out the door and toward the elevator.

Tears streamed down Cheng Lang’s face from the pain. She looked up once the dizziness passed, but the hallway was already empty—Song Zhen and her father were gone.

“Zhenzhen… Dad… Uncle Song…” she muttered, eyes brimming with despair.

In the chaos, Cheng’s mother finally regained her senses. She rushed over with tissues. “Why is it bleeding like this?! That old Song really hit you that hard?! Come, here, let me wipe it…”

Before her hand could reach Cheng Lang, it was pushed away with force. Caught up in a storm of emotions, Cheng Lang’s shove was powerful—Madam Cheng nearly stumbled to the ground.

“What are you doing?!” she cried out in shock.

Cheng Lang was on the verge of a breakdown. She had been holding it in for far too long. Ignoring everything else, she shouted, “I told you not to come, but you insisted! I begged you to stop talking, and you kept going! Are you happy now? You found out we’re divorced—are you secretly celebrating? Seriously… people who know you’d call you my mom, but anyone else would think we’re enemies!”

“What… what did you just say?” Madam Cheng’s eyes went wide with disbelief.

Covered in bl00d and tears, Cheng Lang didn’t bother taking the tissues her mother offered. She grabbed two herself, voice hoarse and raw: “If you don’t want to push me to the edge, just give me some peace, I’m begging you!”

With that, she pressed the tissue to her nose, slammed the door, and ran out after them.

Madam Cheng stood frozen for a moment, then suddenly slapped her thighs and began wailing. “What kind of sin have I committed to raise a daughter like this?!”

—

On the other side, Father Song had gotten into Zhu Sui’s car. Fearing Cheng Lang might come chasing after them, Zhu Sui floored the accelerator.

They drove for a while, making sure there were no signs of pursuit. Only then did Zhu Sui speak, “Ms. Song, there’s water by the door. Uncle Song, are you alright? Please, have a drink.”

Song Zhen, familiar with Zhu Sui’s car, immediately fetched the bottle and opened it for her father.

After he took a few sips and looked a little better, Father Song said awkwardly, “Chief Zhu, sorry you had to see all that.”

“What are you saying, Uncle? Not at all.” Zhu Sui quickly dismissed it, careful not to say too much.

Glancing at the road ahead, she checked with Song Zhen, “So should I drive to the new hotel now?”

Song Zhen shook her head. “No, let’s just go home.”

Home?

Zhu Sui’s hands paused briefly on the steering wheel. Through the mirror, she caught the certainty in Song Zhen’s eyes. After a few silent thoughts, she said nothing and turned the wheel toward home.

From the underground garage, they made their way up.

Once inside, Song Zhen asked Zhu Sui if her father could stay at the house. Zhu Sui didn’t mind at all—but if Father Song stayed here, didn’t that mean…?

Something clicked, but she didn’t voice it, waiting for Song Zhen to explain in her own time.

With permission granted, Song Zhen asked Zhu Sui to point out a guest room so she could prepare it for her father.

But Zhu Sui stopped her, glancing at Father Song in the living room. She whispered, “It’s just changing sheets and covers. I know the house better—I’ll do it. You two probably haven’t finished your conversation

yet. Why don’t you talk in the study?”

Song Zhen hesitated. “Is that really okay…”

After all, it was Zhu Sui’s home. How could she let the host clean for her?

“It’s fine, really. You two talk. I’ll keep busy.” Zhu Sui gave her a light shove toward the study.

Worried that Father Song wouldn’t be used to the environment, Zhu Sui chose the guest room farthest from the master bedroom.

She used the best bedding, brand-new pillows—both soft and firm, since she didn’t know his preference. Humming a little tune, confident the father and daughter were still deep in conversation, she set everything up so he could sleep however he liked.

Once the suitcase was moved in, there was nothing more to clean—the housekeeper had been keeping things spotless.

Done, she checked the time. Figuring the talk must be wrapping up, and that tea might not be suitable for the evening, she freshly juiced three glasses of fruit and carried them to the study—part to check in, part to gauge the mood.

The study door was open. As soon as she reached it, Song Zhen spotted her and waved her in.

From the sound of their conversation, the matter with Cheng Lang seemed mostly settled. Father Song’s mood had clearly calmed.

Zhu Sui handed him the juice. He sensed something odd but couldn’t quite place it, so he accepted it with a smile and took a sip.

Father Song gently reassured his daughter, “If it’s over, then it’s over. It’s best you’re able to cut ties cleanly. If you meet someone new—someone local, great. If not, come back. There are many wonderful children of teachers here in Jiangcheng. I can introduce you—none of them are any worse than Cheng Lang.”

Song Zhen lowered her gaze for a second, then met Zhu Sui’s eyes. Zhu Sui instantly understood.

Song Zhen took a deep breath. “Dad, there are… actually two more things I haven’t told you.”

“First, I’ve presented. Like Mom—I’m an Omega.”

“Second…”

She glanced at Zhu Sui again, prompting Father Song to follow her line of sight. That’s when it finally struck him—something was off.

Wasn’t this Song Zhen’s new home? They’d returned—so why hadn’t Zhu Sui left? She was even bringing them juice, treating them like guests. How close were they really?

And what’s more, Song Zhen had no qualms discussing her presentation in front of Zhu Sui. Zhu Sui already knew?

Even as these thoughts churned, Song Zhen pointed at Zhu Sui.

Zhu Sui, taking the cue, turned to Father Song with a smile.

Though she had guessed earlier that Song Zhen was going to reveal their relationship, now that the moment had truly come—meeting her partner’s parent for the first time—Zhu Sui was genuinely nervous.

So she smiled—a charming, ingratiating kind of smile, the kind that screamed “meeting-the-parents jitters” and tried to be as adorable and inoffensive as possible.

Song Zhen swallowed hard. “So… Dad, you don’t have to introduce anyone. I… after the divorce… remarried. Right away.”

Father Song froze. The words made sense individually, but together, they left him completely baffled.

But Song Zhen pushed through. Under his stare, she said, “Let me introduce you—this is my new spouse. Zhu Sui.”

Father Song’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Zhu Sui.

Zhu Sui kept grinning—so hard it looked awkward—and waved sheepishly, voice small and hesitant. “H-Haha… uh… hi, Dad!”

She paused, then remembered something. Still smiling with exaggerated sweetness, she quickly added:

“Oh, and about earlier—you didn’t hear wrong this afternoon. I, uh, accidentally slipped up when I called you that. It’s just… you know, because of our relationship now, heh… Please don’t mind it, Dad!”