Meng Po Gave Her a Bowl of Soup (GL) - Chapter 12

—”According to the law, this behavior is considered trespassing and has legal consequences. Do you understand?”

Xu Ruying, arms crossed, looked at Huang Ruo with no trace of courtesy, only a stern, businesslike demeanor.

Her natural commanding presence was even more pronounced with the anger she was holding inside, which seemed to overflow uncontrollably.

Not to mention how well she knew the shamelessness of this “second aunt,” she was someone who had already faced death once. In the past, she might have tolerated various things for different reasons, but now, with only a one year left, she could no longer endure it.

Anyone who touched her and Wanyue was crossing a line with her.

Huang Ruo’s face turned red with anger. “You’re slandering me. This is my sister’s house. How can it be considered trespassing? You… I can sue you…right, my son?”

She turned to look at Song Lian, her confidence wavering. Song Lian, visibly frightened, dared not breathe. His job, which Mingyu had worked hard to secure for him, paid him about 10,000 yuan after taxes and deductions. Whether his mother could get money or how much she could get was uncertain, but he absolutely could not afford to lose this job.

With Xiao Mingyu now dead, if he lost his job, with his qualifications and abilities, he might only get a salary of 4,000 or 5,000 yuan, and that would be for demanding, early-to-late work. He was used to office work and could no longer endure such hardship.

Xu Ruying gave a cold smile, raising an eyebrow and looking at Lawyer Zhao. “Slander?”

Lawyer Zhao smiled slightly, his demeanor refined. “The old lady is mistaken. According to Article 245, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, the act of refusing to leave a citizen’s residence upon request is indeed subject to legal responsibility.”

He glanced at Song Wanyue. “Miss Song, did you not ask this old lady to leave just now?”

Song Wanyue nodded. Her eyes, like autumn waters, held Xu Ruying’s gaze. She observed Xu Ruying’s lifted chin, her smile that seemed neither fully genuine nor fully mocking, and the deliberate, slow motion of her fingers on her left hand.

“That will be dealt with separately.” Lawyer Zhao produced a copy of the will left by Xiao Mingyu. “This is Director Xiao’s will, which clearly states that all assets are to go to Ms. Song and have nothing to do with her mother, let alone any distant relatives like you.”

Huang Ruo, her neck stretched and face flushed, protested, “I can’t read!”

She knew she had lost but was still making a final, desperate struggle.

Xu Ruying curled her lips into a smile and looked at the sweating Song Lian. “Doesn’t Xiao Song know how to read?”

Song Lian turned pale.

He was caught between a rock and a hard place, facing a question that felt like a death sentence.

Logically, he should have been aligned with his mother at this moment, and given his usual temperament, a confrontation was inevitable.

However, with his direct boss right there, if he admitted he couldn’t read, his only option would be to pack up and leave.

“Um… General Manager Xu… I…”

Xu Ruying smiled gently, her tone softening. “Don’t be nervous, take your time. Oh, by the way, I heard you recently found a decent job for your brother in Yizhuang Wensen Development Zone. It’s about to be finalized.”

Mention of her eldest brother made Huang Ruo’s eyes flash like knives. The job of her eldest son, a family’s face, had been a sore spot for her, and now that it was nearly settled, she had even prepared a grand feast at home.

Song Lian stared at Xu Ruying, his expression blank. Xu Ruying continued to smile, “I’m quite familiar with the head of Wensen. Would you like me to put in a word to expedite his employment?”

Her words were both veiled praise and clear threat, making Song Lian look like a ghost. Huang Ruo was on the brink of fainting from anger. “You vicious woman! This is our family matter. Who do you think you are to interfere?!”

She lunged forward, but Song Lian clutched her tightly, preventing her from confronting Xu Ruying.

“This is your family matter? Haha, wasn’t it you who said Miss Song was an outsider just now?” Xu Ruying leaned back slightly, as if to avoid contamination, and dusted off her clothes. “Since you can’t understand a straightforward conversation, let’s handle it officially.”

Her eyes were cold and determined, with a sense of ruthless resolve.

Huang Lan, who had never seen such scenes before, felt a mix of excitement and inexplicable fear. Song Wanyue looked at Xu Ruying, who was showing a level of coldness that Mingyu had never displayed before, despite having always been treated as a precious one.

Xu Ruying leaned against the sofa, her voice icy as snow. “I don’t want to see you here again. If there’s another incident—” Her gaze turned sharp. “I will make sure you two brothers have no standing in this city.”

She had the authority to make such threats.

The sweat on Song Lian’s forehead finally fell, and Huang Ruo, struggling and panting, was half-performing and half-genuinely frightened. Though she had never interacted with Xu Ruying before, she understood her son’s fear, and it made her anxious.

Huang Ruo had never been so humiliated in her life; she was dragged away by her son.

Downstairs, she erupted, her voice sharp like metal scraping the ground. “Why are you so spineless??? Just leave like that??? How will I show my face in the family now—”

“Be quiet!!!”

Song Lian exploded after a long silence, veins bulging in his neck. “Do you know who she is??? Are you trying to ruin us for that little money???”

Huang Ruo staggered at the shout, looking at Song Lian, her voice weakening. “She… She’s in the capital; how can she control you like this? You…”

Before she could finish, Song Lian’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, quickly signaled Huang Ruo, and stepped aside to answer the call.

“Hello, what’s the matter?”

On the other end came a furious voice. Moments later, Song Lian’s face turned as white as a sheet as he ended the call.

Huang Ruo saw his expression and finally felt fear. “Wh-what happened?”

Song Lian took a deep breath, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. “They said my work issues have been investigated by headquarters and that I’m to be suspended for a week.”

Huang Ruo was stunned, her hands cold as the wind chilled her to the bone. She struggled, “How about I go to your company and make a scene? I—”

“Shut up!”

Song Lian’s face was twisted with rage. “Are you trying to ruin me completely?”

••••

After Xu Ruying resolved the matter, Huang Lan was at a loss for how to express her gratitude. She was older now and had always been oppressed by the family. When Mingyu was alive, work was already stressful, and whenever they met, Huang Lan was more concerned about her. Much of her own pain and distress had been hidden away.

Wanyue remained silent, sitting on the sofa, lost in her thoughts, and did not speak a word throughout.

Xu Ruying couldn’t bear to see her mother’s humble, uncertain expression of gratitude. Feeling a lump in her throat, she found an excuse to escort Lawyer Zhao out of the house.

Wanyue watched her retreating figure for a long time in silence.

Once inside, Xu Ruying crossed her arms and observed the dramatic scene downstairs between mother and son.

“Inform President Sen that Song Lian’s brother cannot be approved.”

She wasn’t denying anyone a chance.

It was just that some people had gone too far.

She needed to make them understand the meaning of “fear.”

She wanted them to come and beg her.

Lawyer Zhao respectfully nodded. He felt that Xu Ruying seemed different, though he couldn’t pinpoint how.

Turning around, Xu Ruying looked at Lawyer Zhao with her pitch-black eyes and said, “Thank you for your hard work today.”

If it weren’t for professional reasons, Lawyer Zhao was usually quite sentimental. He was taken aback by her words. What stood out was that Xu Ruying’s tone wasn’t merely a formal gesture from a superior to a subordinate but carried a hint of genuine emotion. At that moment, Lawyer Zhao, moved, said to Xu Ruying, “Actually, I should be the one thanking you. Director Xiao did me a great favor back then. Today, it’s only right that I repay it.”

Xiao Mingyu had indeed done Lawyer Zhao a great favor.

Years ago, Lawyer Zhao had taken on a case that angered the wrong people, leaving him on the brink of quitting the legal profession.

One rainy evening after work, Mingyu saw someone squatting in a corner of the company, sobbing uncontrollably while clutching his tie.

A grown man, crying his eyes out.

By that time, Mingyu had earned the recognition of her superiors and, with her years of experience in the city, she was able to help mend some relationships and assist him.

Her help was initially incidental, and she never mentioned it, but Lawyer Zhao was a man who valued gratitude. Every year during holidays, he would visit Mingyu, bringing gifts regardless of size.

Though he was not familiar with Wanyue, he would always address her as “sister-in-law.”

When Mingyu suddenly passed away, Lawyer Zhao attended the funeral, mourned deeply, and wanted to visit them, but Wanyue had politely refused.

Now, as Xu Ruying made the arrangements, she looked at Lawyer Zhao’s slightly reddened eyes and nodded. “In the future, if they encounter any difficulties, please help them out.”

She was already starting to weave a safety net for the year ahead, preparing for a time when she would not be there.

She didn’t know how large this net would be, but she hoped it could offer some protection for the mother and daughter.

Lawyer Zhao, trembling, responded, “That’s a given.”

••••

Why was Xu Ruying suddenly so polite? He was quite unaccustomed to it.

After settling these matters, Xu Ruying said she would see Lawyer Zhao off, but he was quick to decline, not daring to let her accompany him.

Seeing his fearful reaction, Xu Ruying almost wanted to laugh. She finally instructed, “Remember, if Miss Song asks you about my reasons for helping them, just say it’s because I feel indebted to Director Xiao.”

Lawyer Zhao nodded. “Understood.”

He said this, but internally, he was beginning to have doubts.

Although it was understandable that Xu Ruying felt guilty because Mingyu’s death was related to her work, he knew she had made other arrangements for Huang Lan and Wanyue, so was her help truly just out of guilt? Was there a possibility that she… had some feelings for Wanyue?

He didn’t dare to think further and hurriedly left.

After closing the door, Xu Ruying rubbed her temples, exhausted, and leaned back on the sofa.

She was truly tired.

Since her rebirth, she had been preoccupied with Wanyue and her mother. Coupled with the nightmares from this body’s past, she could never rest well.

Now, as time passed, she had to face many people and matters at the company as “General Manager Xu.”

This approach served two purposes: one, to leave some leeway for the return of Xu Ruying; and two, to avoid arousing further suspicion in Wanyue.

If it was indeed as Meng Po said—if someone revealed that she was Xiao Mingyu, her soul would disperse into reincarnation with no chance of reversal.

Then, even this brief year of companionship would be taken from her.

She couldn’t bear it…

As Lawyer Zhao left Xu Ruying’s home in good spirits, carrying his briefcase downstairs, a long-waited figure emerged from the shadows, blocking his way.

Looking up, Lawyer Zhao was stunned to see Song Wanyue. “Sister-in-law?”

Song Wanyue nodded, wearing a white long dress with her hair cascading over her shoulders. Despite light makeup, her exhaustion was evident. “I’d like to talk with you.”

Hearing “talk,” Lawyer Zhao immediately recalled Xu Ruying’s instructions. He began to mentally prepare to explain Xu Ruying’s guilt.

In the night.

Song Wanyue was silent for a moment. When she looked up again, her eyes were slightly red. “Brother Zhao, with Mingyu gone, I have few people I can trust.”

Lawyer Zhao stiffened, his heart tugged by her gaze. “Sister-in-law, you… you…”

No.

He couldn’t be swayed.

He had promised, no matter how she questioned or tempted him, he would only answer that Xu Ruying’s help was out of guilt.

Song Wanyue’s dark eyes fixed on Lawyer Zhao, her lips slightly parted. “Do you think General Manager Xu is helping me because of guilt?”

Caught off guard and almost stumbling, Lawyer Zhao responded: …???